Holiday Food: Planning for a Crowd

Don’t be caught with way too much, or (heaven forbid) not enough pumpkin pie this year. Plan for your holiday gathering by buying and preparing the right amount of food for the number attending.

Please note: These quantities are for 24-25 people. Multiply or divide as needed.

Beverages

  • Coffee Servings: 25 Serving Size: 3/4 cup Amount Needed: 1/2 to 3/4 pound, ground
  • Milk Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1 cup Amount Needed: 1 1/2 gallons
  • Soft Drinks Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1 cup Amount Needed: three 2-liter bottles
  • Tea, hot Servings: 25 Serving Size: 3/4 cup Amount needed: 5 quarts (20-25 tea bags)
  • Tea, iced Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1 cup Amount Needed: 1 1/2 gallons (24-30 tea bags)
  • Orange Juice Servings: 32 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 1 gallon
  • Lemonade Servings: 32 Serving Size: 1 cup Amount Needed: 2 gallons

Desserts

  • Pie Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/8 pie Amount Needed: three 9-inch pies
  • Cake Servings: 24 Amount Needed: two 13×9-inch cakes or one 15x10x1-inch sheet
  • Ice Cream Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 3 quarts
  • Frozen Yogurt Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 3 quarts

Fruit

  • Canned Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: one 6-1/2 to 7-1/4-pound can
  • Fresh, Cut-up Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 3 quarts

Relishes

  • Carrot Sticks Servings: 25 Serving Size: 2 to 3 sticks (2-3 inches) Amount Needed: 1 to 1 1/4 pounds
  • Cauliflower Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: four 1-pound heads
  • Broccoli Florets Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: four 1-pound heads
  • Celery Servings: 25 Serving Size: 2 to 3 pieces (2-3 inches) Amount Needed: 2 to 3 bundles
  • Olives Servings: 25 Serving Size: 3 to 4 Amount Needed: 1 1/4 quarts (5 cups)
  • Pickles, sliced Servings: 25 Serving Size: 3 to 4 slices Amount Needed: 1 quart
  • Pickles, spears Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1 spear Amount Needed: 1 to 1 1/4 quarts

Rice and Pasta

  • Elbow Macaroni Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1 cup cooked Amount Needed: 2 1/4 pounds, uncooked
  • Rice, Long-Grain Servings: 24 Serving Size: 3/4 cup cooked Amount Needed: 2 3/4 pounds (6 cups) uncooked
  • Spaghetti Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1 cup cooked Amount Needed: 3 pounds, uncooked

Salads/Side Dishes

  • Gelatin Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: three 6-ounce packages, flavored
  • Lettuce Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1 cup Amount Needed: 6 quarts, torn (4 heads)
  • Potato Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 3 quarts
  • Pasta Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 3 quarts
  • Main Dish Salads Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 9 quarts

Soup

  • Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1 1/2 cup Amount Needed: three 50-ounce cans, condensed

Vegetables

  • Canned Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: one 6-1/2 to 7-1/4 pound can
  • Fresh Potatoes, Mashed Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 7 pounds
  • Fresh Potatoes, Scalloped Servings: 25 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: 7 pounds
  • Frozen Beans, Peas, Corn, or Mixed Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/2 cup Amount Needed: three 16-ounce packages

Miscellaneous

  • Butter or Margarine Servings: 32 Serving Size: 1 pat (1 teaspoon) Amount Needed: 1/2 pound
  • Pizza Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/3 of a 12-inch pizza Amount Needed: eight 12-inch pizzas
  • Potato or Corn Chips Servings: 25 Serving Size: 3/4 to 1 ounce (1 1/2 cups) Amount Needed: 1 to 1 1/2 pounds
  • Mixed Nuts Servings: 12 Serving Size: 1/4 cup Amount Needed: 12 ounces

 

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ailsaek
ailsaek
16 years ago

Is there such a thing as “too much pumpkin pie”?

Sarah Nussbaum
Admin
16 years ago

An excellent point. :) However, it probably doesn’t freeze very well…

Pat Veretto
16 years ago

You only need three pies for 24 people?? I didn’t know my family ate three times as much as others… LOL

This is great information, thanks for posting it.

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