Shopping for a Crowd

Use this guide when you're planning to buy food for a large group. The size for one serving is listed, but plan about 1 1/2 servings for hearty eaters.

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

Beer Servings: 24 Serving Size: 12 ounces Amount Needed: 1 case of 24 cans/bottles

Wine Servings: 10 Serving Size: 5 ounces Amount Needed: 1.5 liter bottle

Desserts

Cake Servings: 24 Amount Needed: two 13x9-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

Pie Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1/8 pie Amount Needed: three 9-inch pies

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

Other

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