Whether you’re buying chicken to plan meals for the week or to cook for a crowd, this post will explain how much chicken per person to purchase or serve.
And while the amount will depend on the cut of chicken and the occasion you’re cooking for, this post takes it all into consideration to help you figure out how much.
“How much chicken do I need to buy?” is a common question that comes up when planning a meal, gathering, or party with chicken. You want to make sure you have enough for everyone without buying too much and throwing away food. We’ll tell you for sure how many pounds of chicken you need for each person in this complete guide.
Key Factors That Determine Chicken Portions
Several key factors impact how much chicken is needed per person
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Weight of raw vs. cooked chicken: Chicken loses about 25% of its weight during cooking because it loses water. One-pound of raw chicken breast makes three-quarters of a pound of cooked chicken.
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Bone-in vs boneless: Boneless chicken requires less per person, about 1⁄2 – 3⁄4 lb. Bone-in portions need about 1 lb per person to account for bones.
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Type of cut: Breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and wings vary in edible meat. Breasts and thighs have more meat than wings.
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Appetite: Larger portions may be needed for adults with big appetites versus smaller portions for kids.
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Side dishes More chicken needed if it’s the main dish less if there are multiple sides.
Recommended Portion Sizes
Here are the recommended chicken portion sizes per person:
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Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 lb
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Boneless thighs: 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 lb
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Bone-in chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, legs): Approximately 1 lb
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Whole chicken: Around 1 1⁄2 to 2 lbs
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Wings 5-8 wings per person
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For kids: halve the adult portions
Planning Tips
Here are some tips for planning chicken meals for a group:
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Prepare extra for leftovers
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Use a kitchen scale for precision
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Account for cooking method – grilled chicken may need more
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Freeze extras for future meals
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Store cooked chicken safely for 3-4 days
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Thaw frozen chicken in the refrigerator
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Cook chicken to 165°F minimum internal temperature
Making Adjustments
You may need to adjust the basic portion recommendations based on your specific meal:
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More chicken needed: Main dish with few sides
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Less chicken needed: Multiple side dishes served
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Larger portions: Guests with big appetites
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Smaller portions: Kids and older adults
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Cook extra: Plan for leftovers
Sample Calculations
Let’s look at some examples to see portion calculations in action:
Example 1: Grilled chicken dinner for 4 adults
- Boneless chicken breasts
- 2 side dishes
- Average appetites
Solution:
- 4 adults x 0.5 lb boneless chicken per person = 2 lbs
- Add a bit more for grilling = 2.5 lbs raw chicken needed
Example 2: Whole roasted chicken dinner with sides for family of 2 adults, 2 kids
Solution:
- Adults: 2 x 1.5 lbs whole chicken per person = 3 lbs
- Kids: 2 x 0.75 lbs whole chicken per person = 1.5 lbs
- Total raw chicken needed = 4.5 lbs
Example 3: Chicken wings for party appetizers, 12 adults
Solution:
- 12 adults x 6 wings per person = 72 wings needed
The Bottom Line
When planning for a group, allot around 1⁄2 – 3⁄4 lb boneless or 1 lb bone-in chicken per average adult. Adjust up or down for side dishes, cooking method, appetites, kids, leftovers, and your specific menu. Follow safe storage and handling, and enjoy your perfectly portioned chicken meal!
How Much Chicken to Cook Per Person
The amount of chicken to cook per person depends on whether it’s the main dish or a part of the meal.
If chicken is the main entree, like these pan-seared chicken breasts, you can plan on 4 to 6 ounces per person.
It can also vary based on the number of side dishes you plan to serve.
If chicken is being added to pasta or stew, then you might not need a generous amount. In these cases 3 to 4 ounces per person is plenty.
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*The following serving amounts are based on the average cut of chicken but keep in mind the sizes can drastically vary. You can get more than 4 to 6 ounces of cooked meat from some cuts because they are much bigger. You can check the weight of the package and go from there, or if you need specific amounts get chicken from behind the meat counter.
How Many Chicken Legs Per Person
There are two types of chicken legs: drumsticks and leg quarters. Drumsticks are about 4 ounces with skin on and bone-in, with 1 ½ ounces of meat, so two per person is a good amount or up to three for larger appetites.
2 drumsticks per adults | 1 drumstick per child
Chicken leg quarters include both the drumstick and thigh, and have about 6 ounces worth of meat. So one leg quarter per person is perfect.
1 chicken leg quarter per person
What is a serving size of chicken breast?
FAQ
How many pounds of boneless chicken do I need for 10 people?
What weight of meat per person to order?Boneless MeatNumber of PeopleBone in meat3lb / 1. 36kg6 – 74lb / 1. 82kg4lb / 1. 82kg8 – 96lb / 2. 73kg5lb / 2. 27kg10 – 117lb / 3. 18kg6lb / 2. 73kg12 – 138lb / 3. 64kg.
How much chicken is needed for 8 adults?
| Size of bird | Portions |
|---|---|
| 1.8kg (3.9lb) | 3-4 people |
| 2kg (4.5lb) | 4-6 people |
| 2.5kg (5.5lb) | 6-8 people |
How many servings is 5 lbs of chicken?
5 LB Pack. Boneless/Skinless. Approximately 10 portions.
How many people does 1lb of chicken serve?
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken: This will yield about 3 to 4 servings. 1 pound of bone-in chicken: This will yield about 2 to 3 servings. 1 whole chicken (3 to 4 pounds): This will yield about 4 to 6 servings.
How many ounces of chicken should a pound of chicken serve?
When you are making a recipe where the meat is about ½ of the total ingredients, it is best to use ⅙ of a pound per person. This is when about 2-3 ounces of chicken per person should be used. An easy way to think of this also is that one pound of chicken in a pasta dish, such as my Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Spaghetti, serves 6 people.
How much chicken should a person eat per pound?
This is also typically when boneless skinless chicken pieces are used. It is best to use ⅙ of a pound of meat per person when the meat makes up about ½ of the main ingredients. This is when about 2-3 ounces of chicken per person should be used.
How much chicken do I need for 10 people?
For a party of 10 people, a safe estimate would be 5 to 7. 5 pounds of chicken, assuming bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces. 2. What if I am serving boneless, skinless chicken? When serving boneless, skinless chicken, consider calculating around 1 pound per person. 3. How many pounds of chicken do I need for a barbecue?.
How much chicken does a pound of chicken thighs eat?
For boneless breasts or thighs, you will need ½# of chicken meat per person. This is the case when you eat the chicken piece by itself as the main dish, like grilled chicken thighs. When enjoying it in a recipe like my Paleo Greek Chicken Thighs, 1 pound will feed 4 people, for 4 ounces of chicken per person.
How much chicken do I need for a barbecue?
When serving boneless, skinless chicken, consider calculating around 1 pound per person. 3. How many pounds of chicken do I need for a barbecue? For a barbecue where chicken is the primary protein, you might want to allocate 3/4 to 1 pound per person to account for the greater consumption in outdoor settings.
How many ounces of chicken per person?
These calculations are based on about ½# or 8 ounces per person for whole chicken as the main course. This is for a typical meal where 2-3 side dishes are being served also. if you want leftovers and/or only enjoy something light like a green salad with it, I suggest ¾# or 10-12 ounces of bone-in chicken per person.