How Much Ground Beef for Twenty People? A Detailed Guide

Planning to host a gathering for twenty people and wondering how much ground beef you need to buy? Figuring out the right quantity of ground beef for a crowd can be tricky. But with some simple calculations, you can determine the exact amount you need.

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through the steps to find out how much ground beef for twenty people is required for different recipes like burgers meatballs, tacos, chili, casseroles and more.

Factors That Determine Ground Beef Quantity Per Person

There are a few key factors that impact the amount of ground beef needed per person

• Recipe Type: The portion size varies widely depending on how the ground beef is used in the recipe. Main entrees like salisbury steak require more meat per serving than casseroles or dishes with a sauce.

• Meat Fat Content: Fattier ground beef shrinks more during cooking. So 80/20 ground beef will yield less cooked beef than 90/10.

• Cooking Method: Grilling causes more shrinkage compared to pan frying or baking.

• Meal Time: Lunch portions are usually smaller than dinner.

• Appetites: Kid portions are smaller than adult portions. Heavy eaters need more than light eaters. These tend to balance out in a group.

• Leftovers: Planning for a little extra allows for leftovers.

How Much Ground Beef for Burgers

Burgers are a backyard barbecue favorite. Figure 4 to 6 ounces of ground beef per burger patty. An average adult will eat 2 burgers.

For 20 people:

• 20 people x 2 burgers each = 40 burgers
• 40 burgers x 5 ounces per patty = 200 ounces
• 200 ounces = 12.5 pounds of ground beef

Round up to 13 pounds to allow for some extra.

How Much Ground Beef for Sloppy Joes

A popular sandwich for feeding crowds, sloppy joes require about 3 ounces of ground beef per sandwich.

For 20 people:

• 20 people x 1 sandwich each = 20 sandwiches
• 20 sandwiches x 3 ounces per sandwich = 60 ounces
• 60 ounces = 3.75 pounds of ground beef

Round up to 4 pounds for safety.

How Much Ground Beef for Meatballs

Meatball portion sizes vary more. Figure 1/3 to 1/2 ounce of ground beef per meatball. People will eat 4-8 meatballs.

For 20 people:

• 20 people x 6 meatballs each = 120 meatballs
• 120 meatballs x 0.4 ounces per meatball = 48 ounces
• 48 ounces = 3 pounds of ground beef

Round up to 3.5 pounds to be safe.

How Much Ground Beef for Casseroles

In dishes like lasagna, chili or shepherd’s pie plan on about 4 ounces of ground beef per person.

For 20 people:

• 20 people x 4 ounces per person = 80 ounces
• 80 ounces = 5 pounds of ground beef

Round up to 5.5 pounds to account for leftovers.

How Much Ground Beef for Tacos

Tacos and taco salad both use less meat per serving. Plan on about 2-3 ounces of ground beef per taco.

For 20 people:

• 20 people x 2 tacos each = 40 tacos
• 40 tacos x 2.5 ounces per taco = 100 ounces
• 100 ounces = 6.25 pounds of ground beef

Round up to 7 pounds to be safe.

How Much Raw Ground Beef Equals How Much Cooked?

Raw ground beef shrinks when cooked due to fat and moisture loss. With 80/20 ground beef, figure a 25% reduction.

• 1 pound raw = about 3/4 pound cooked
• 5 pounds raw = about 3.75 pounds cooked

For recipes like chili or sloppy joes made with already cooked ground beef, use the cooked weight in your calculations.

Handy Table for Ground Beef Needs

Use this handy table as a reference for how much ground beef you need to buy for twenty people based on the recipe:

Shopping Tips for Buying in Bulk

When purchasing large quantities of ground beef:

• Ask the butcher counter to repackage into smaller 1-2 pound packages for easier storage and defrosting.

• Separate into recipe-specific amounts so you have pre-measured meat ready for each dish.

• Buy additional lean ground beef for extending fried rice, chili, pasta sauce or soups.

• Look for bulk or family pack deals on 80/20 or 85/15 ground beef. Avoid exta-lean blends, which can dry out when cooking for crowds.

• Make sure to freeze promptly for maximum freshness and food safety.

Key Takeaways

Figuring out the right quantity of ground beef per person for twenty guests does take some calculations. But you can determine the exact amount needed for burgers, sloppy joes, meatballs and any other recipe with a little planning. Use the appropriate ounces per serving, multiply by the number of people, check the cooked yield and round up slightly to end up with the ideal amount of ground beef to buy. With this handy guide, you’ll buy just enough without having tons of leftovers.