How much roast beef for 6 adults? This roast uses the entire bottom loin, which weighs 5-6 pounds depending on fat content. The piece of meat is not iced, wrapped or refrigerated and will age naturally. Because there are no bones, this amount of roast beef will feed six adults by serving 1-inch slices per person.
What’s the Right Amount of Meat to Serve per Person?

Planning a whole dinner party can sometimes feel like a giant logic puzzle: If we serve this dessert, then we’ll do that appetizer, but if that person comes, then we won’t serve that, and on and on! Deciding how much meat to buy per person is all part of the game. How do you figure it out?
Whether you’re cooking for four people or 40 people, there’s an easy way to solve this math puzzle.
Plan Your Menu First
Before worrying about how much meat to buy, get started by planning your menu. Work backwards by looking at what else you want to serve, how the meat is going to be used, and what kind of appetites you think your guests will have.
It’s important to consider the side dishes you plan to serve. Will they be something heavier, like pasta or potatoes, or on the lighter side, like sautéed greens or roasted veggies?

Consider the Role of the Meat
Next, think about the role meat will play in the meal. Now that the menu is planned, what role does meat play in the meal? Is it the main part of the meal to be served along with sides and a salad, or is it part of a broader dish, like a ragout or curry? Knowing the answer to this is crucial in determining just the right amount of meat to purchase and prepare.
- When Meat Is the Main: When cooking something like steak, roast, chicken, or pork, where meat is the main feature of the meal and paired with a few side dishes, we recommend about 1/2 pound (eight ounces) per person, up to 3/4 (12 ounces) pound for bigger appetites and those who love leftovers.
- When Meat Is Just a Part: If the meat is part of a bigger dish, like pasta or curry, plan for 1/4 to 1/3 pound (four to six ounces) per person.
There’s usually a little more wiggle room in terms of number of servings with a large roast than there is with individually cut steaks or chicken breasts. If you’re really unsure about how much people will eat, stay away from dishes with those individual cuts and go for a recipe that gives more leeway for portioning.
Roast Beef
Allow around 375g beef per person, so for four people, you need a joint around 1.5kg, for six, 2.25kg, for eight, 3kg and for 10, 3.75kg.
- Preparation time:5 minutes
- Cooking time:1¼-2½ hours, plus resting
- Total time:1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours 55 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 joint matured rib of beef, on the bone, or matured sirloin, on the bone
- A little olive oil or good fat such as soft dripping
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Method
- Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas 7.
- Massage the whole joint with olive oil or dripping and season lightly, all over, with salt and pepper. Put in a roasting tray and put in the oven. Cook at this high heat for about 40 minutes, until the meat is well-browned and sizzling in the pan.
- Turn the oven down to 180°C/gas 4, (leave the oven door open for half a minute to help it cool quickly). After the “half-hour-sizzle”, allow 10-12 minutes per 500g for very pink meat, 12-15 for medium rare.
- Remove from the oven, put the joint on a warm plate or carving tray, cover loosely with foil, and leave to rest for no less than half an hour – this is very important – before carving and serving. This “relaxing” of the joint makes a vital difference to the final tenderness of the meat.
- While the meat is relaxing, you can deglaze the pan, attend to the Yorkshire puddings, and finish off the roast potatoes.
How Much Roast Beef Per Person?
Allow around 375g of beef per person, thus a 1.5kg joint will serve four people, a 2.25kg joint will serve six people, a 3kg joint will serve eight people, and a 3.75kg joint will serve ten people.
For 50 people, you will need roughly 35-40 pounds of cooked beef, but this can vary according on the appetites of the visitors, so plan accordingly. The usual serving size is between 8oz and 12oz (one half to three quarters of a pound). In addition, what else will you be offering with the steak? Is there something to eat for dessert? What is the expected number of children?
How many pounds of beef do I need per person?
Purchase around one rib per person if you’re making a semi-boneless rib roast. Purchase around 1/2 pound of meat per person for a full beef tenderloin or a boneless rib eye roast. A peeled beef tenderloin serves approximately one-third pound per person.
How much roast beef do you need for a dinner party?
For a dinner party, the amount of roast beef required to feed each guest varies based on the type of cut of roast beef chosen. Purchase around one rib per person if you’re making a semi-boneless rib roast. Purchase around 1/2 pound of meat per person for a full beef tenderloin or a boneless rib eye roast.
What is a serving size of roast beef?
In most cases, a serving of meat is 4 ounces or less.Keep in mind that the roast may shrink by as much as 25% throughout the cooking process, so you’ll need to account for it in your calculations.According to catering requirements, each individual should be served half a pound of meat, which is double the usual serving size (although possibly they mean uncooked, which will shrink when cooked).
How much sliced roast do I need for 15 people?
, I make everything from scratch. How much sliced roast beef is required to feed a group of 15 people? In most cases, a serving of meat is 4 ounces or less.
How much roast beef do you cook per person?
We recommend 1/2 pound (eight ounces) per person when cooking a main dish such as steak, roast, chicken, or pork, where the meat will be the main attraction of the meal and will be accompanied by a few side dishes.We recommend 3/4 pound (12 ounces) per person when cooking a main dish such as steak, roast, chicken, or pork where the meat will be the main attraction of the meal and will be accompanied by a few side dishes.

How many does a 3 pound roast serve?
It takes around 3 ounces to make a dish, which is roughly the same size as a deck of playing cards. A three-pound roast will yield around eight meals.
How many will 1kg of beef feed?
It takes around 3 ounces to make a serving, which is approximately the size of a standard deck of playing cards. This recipe makes around eight meals out of a 3-pound roast.
How much beef do I need for 5 adults?
An average serving size is around 3 ounces, which is roughly the same size as a deck of playing cards. A 3-pound roast will yield around 8 servings.
Boneless Meat | Number of People | Bone in meat |
---|---|---|
2lb / 0.91kg | 4 – 5 | 3lb / 1.36kg |
3lb / 1.36kg | 6 – 7 | 4lb / 1.82kg |
4lb / 1.82kg | 8 – 9 | 6lb / 2.73kg |
5lb / 2.27kg | 10 – 11 | 7lb / 3.18kg |
How much beef do I need for 4 adults?
So the math is straightforward: four ounces of raw beef tenderloin each person, with the possibility of unlimited extension. To feed four people, you will need 1 pound (16 ounces) of raw, trimmed beef tenderloin, which will provide 3 ounces of cooked steak per person if you cook it in the oven. A five-pound tenderloin with its fat removed will serve 20 people, and so on.
How much roast do I need for 8 adults?
If you’re serving the roast as part of a holiday buffet, figure that your guests will consume around 1/2 pound of meat each person. In the case of a sit-down meal, 1 pound per person or one rib for every two diners is a good rule of thumb for the main course. As an example, you may plan on a four-bone roast that will serve eight people quite generously.
How big of a roast do I need?
When purchasing a roast, allow for one pound of meat for every two visitors, and half a pound of meat for every two children. Then, just in case, or just because leftover roast makes for great future dinners, add one extra pound to the recipe.
How much is a serving of beef?
Beef is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. 3 ounces (approximately the size of a deck of cards) of beef or other meat is a standard serving size for most dishes. A 3-ounce portion of lean ground beef has around 180 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 15 percent of the daily recommended intake of iron, according to the USDA.
How many will 2kg beef feed?
A complete fillet weighs around 2kg and can serve 10-12 people; alternatively, a 1 kg piece may be roasted or used to make a wonderful beef wellington that would serve 4-6 people.
How do you calculate meat per person?
″How much meat do I require?″ is a question we are frequently asked. The following is a good starting point:
- 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children
- 1 pound per person for adults and 1/2 lb. per person for children
How long does a 2kg beef roast take to cook?
To roast for medium-rare, roast for 12 minutes each 450g/1lb (about 55 minutes for a 2kg/4lb 8oz joint), or for medium-well, roast for 15 minutes for 450g/1lb (approximately 1 hour 10 mins). Remove from the oven, transfer to a serving plate, cover with aluminum foil, and set aside for 30 minutes.
How many does a 2 pound chuck roast serve?
Per pound of bone-in beef chuck pot roast, you should expect to get 2 to 2-1/2 three-ounce portions of cooked, trimmed meat from the roast. Per pound of beef round roasts, you will get three-and-a-half to four three-ounce portions of cooked, trimmed meat. Per pound of cooked, trimmed beef, there are two servings.
What is the best cut for roast beef?
- The greatest cuts of meat for roast beef are: Prime Rib Roast, Shoulder Petite Tender, Sirloin Tip Center Steak, Bottom Round Steak, Eye of Round Roast, Sirloin Tip Roast, Chuck Roast, Beef Rump Roast, and Eye of Round Roast.
How many pounds is a prime rib roast?
A full prime rib is made up of 6 ribs (ribs 6 to 12), each of which can weigh anywhere from 12 to 16 pounds (depending on the size).
How much beef do I need for 4 adults?
So the math is straightforward: four ounces of raw beef tenderloin each person, with the possibility of unlimited extension. To feed four people, you will need 1 pound (16 ounces) of raw, trimmed beef tenderloin, which will provide 3 ounces of cooked steak per person if you cook it in the oven. A five-pound tenderloin with its fat removed will serve 20 people, and so on.
How much roast do I need for 8 adults?
If you’re serving the roast as part of a holiday buffet, figure that your guests will consume around 1/2 pound of meat each person. In the case of a sit-down meal, 1 pound per person or one rib for every two diners is a good rule of thumb for the main course. As an example, you may plan on a four-bone roast that will serve eight people quite generously.
How much roast do I need for 10 adults?
Servings | Bone-In Roast | Boneless Roast |
---|---|---|
5–6 adults | 6 lb. (3 bones) | 5 lb. |
6–7 adults | 7 lb. (3-4 bones) | 6 lb. |
8–10 adults | 10 lb. (5 bones) | 8 lb. |
10–12 adults | 14 lb. (7 bones) | 11 lb. |
How much BBQ should I order per person?
While a lot of your selection will be influenced by how hungry your diners are and whether or not you want leftovers, a good rule of thumb is to plan on a third to a half pound of total meat for each person in your party. Meredith Dean, the catering manager at Deep Run Roadhouse, has discovered that one pound of beef will normally serve around three people.
What temperature should I cook a beef roast to?
- Rib roast is one of the most popular varieties of roast in the world, and it is included in this list. There are other names for this dish, including standing rib roast and prime rib.
- It is recognized as the most tender roast in the world. Tenderloin is a form of roast that is noted for being the most tender.
- Tenderloin tri-top roast – this is a little triangular-shaped meat that is sliced from the top of the sirloin and is said to have the optimum amount of marbling.
How much prime rib per person should you cook?
The suggested serving size for bone-in prime rib is one pound per person, or one rib for every two diners, according to the USDA.As a result, a four-bone roast will serve eight individuals.Prime rib and ribeye are both considered to be the same item.Prime rib is referred to as a standing rib roast in some circles.The ribeye is cut from the same rib area as the ribeye, which makes it a more tender cut of meat.