How Much Meat Per Person for Tacos

Save Money By Knowing Exactly How Much Meat Per Person for Tacos For A Big Party

The catering gurus have a rule of thumb of not less than one-third of a cup of meat per taco. [ That is around 2 oz of meat per taco or 6 oz of taco meat per person for a full meal.]

Why so little meat?

One reason is so you can save money and complete the taco by using less expensive (but still “full of flavor” ) condiments like lettuce, tomato, chili, and cilantro. These can also be used in shrimp tacos.

My favorite is Avocado.

Doing it this way, you still end up with an amazing-looking taco!

Plus a taco that tastes out of this world!!

This Taco Is Really Out Of This World - TACOS in SPACE
This Taco Is Really Out Of This World – TACOS in SPACE

Now let’s turn it upside down – not the taco, I mean – but a related question is

How Many Tacos Does One Person Eat At A Sitting?

Well, look in the mirror – how many tacos per person do you eat?

When looking in the mirror who better to ask than Alice!

That’s right I asked Alice in Wonderland!

After all, she went to the Mad Hatter Tea Party!

Alice looks into the mirror and is thinking how many tacos do I need per guest for this party? “ how many tacos will one person eat

At least 3 tacos says the Queen of Hearts.

What would the Grinning Chesire Cat Say – well, I ask him also!

“Oh, three tacos, is it?” as the grinning cat was fading in and out. “Here in Wonderland, the question isn’t just who’s eating the tacos, but perhaps, my dear, are the tacos eating them?

Tacos Served At The Mad Hatter Tea Party - Three Per Person
Tacos Served At The Mad Hatter Tea Party – Three Per Person

So there you have your answer. One person will eat, on average, three tacos.

Read on, and we will list the top 20 taco fillings in America.

Now you may be wondering what if I have 10,20, 50 or 100 people – just how much ground is needed to ensure you have enough for guests to have a satisfying meal – click the link below and you will go straight to our handy online calculator or table on exactly how many pounds of ground beef per person for tacos?

Taco bar ideas for graduation party
Taco bar ideas for graduation party

How Much Meat Per Person For Tacos For A Big Party

If you are planning a party, perhaps even putting together a taco bar for a big family event like a wedding, graduation, birthday, or just watching the big game with a group of friends, you need to be able to estimate how much meat to buy, prepare and cook.

You can see on our Homepage more catering tips and tricks.

How Do You Calculate Taco Meat per Person?

If this is your first experience in feeding a big group of family or friends, here’s is a quick cheat to estimate just how much meat and how many tacos the average person will eat.

First, for each adult, budget on them eating three tacos each.

Second, Now you know the taco quantity for your big event, multiply the number by two, and that is the number of ounces of ground beef you will need to have ready to serve.

How Many Tacos Does the Average Person Eat
How Many Tacos Does the Average Person Eat

So, when you have a big party or large group, the answer to How Much Meat Per Person for Tacos is 6 oz per person.

I have run a number of large family picnics, Tailgates, and Superbowl parties and this amount of meat has never failed to fill enough tacos for everyone. I usually have about 10% leftover, and everyone always says, “you know how to serve the right amount of meat for tacos.”

But How Much Uncooked Or Raw Ground Beef Do You Need To Buy for a Big Group of People?

I would add a minimum of 25% to that number to arrive at how much raw ground beef to buy.

Why? – well, all meat loose weight when cooking, and medium-quality ground beef will lose about 25% – so one pound of ground beef will yield about 0.75 lbs or 12 ozs when cooked.

If you buy cheaper ground beef, it will contain more fat and therefore “shrink” or lose more weight in cooking. So, in that case, add thirty percent.

Why Would You Buy Fatty Ground Beef for Tacos

There are two reasons:

  1. Price – It is cheaper, and if you are serving tacos to a very large group, say 200 people, you might do this to save money on your tacos.
  2. The second reason is taste. Yes, if cooked well and the fat is rendered correctly, you will get a richer beef flavor from higher-fat ground beef, or any meat for that matter.

How Much Ground Beef Do I Need When Feeding Tacos To Children

For children who are under 11 years old, the guideline is about 3 ounces of beef per child.

How Many Tacos Do Children Eat

Children under 11 years old will eat, on average, 1.5 tacos each.

I recently served ten kids a taco bar with cheese, diced tomato, shredded lettuce, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

I found that there were 14 tacos consumed.

So here is a table for Tacos for Kids.

10 Kids15 Tacos
20 Kids30 Tacos
30 Kids45 Tacos
50 Kids75 Tacos
100 Kids100 Tacos
How Many Tacos To Serve At A Kids Party

Handy Table with Exact Amount of Meat per Person for Tacos

How Many Pounds of Hamburger per Person for Tacos?

Here is the answer – you will need 1/2 a pound of uncooked hamburger patties per person for tacos. That is 6 oz of cooked hamburger per person at your taco bar.

For 10 Guests How Much Meat Per Person For Tacos

  • For 10 guests, you will need 5 lb of uncooked taco meat (eg flank steak)
  • For 10 people, you will need 5 lb of Hamburger meat for tacos
  • For 10 people, you will need 5 lb of ground beef for tacos
  • For 10 guests, you will need 5 lb of shredded chicken or turkey for tacos

For 20 People At A Party How Much Meat Per Person For Tacos

  • For a party of 20 guests, you will need 10 lb of uncooked taco meat
  • For a group of 20 people, you will need 10 lb of Hamburger meat for tacos
  • For a gathering of 20 people, you will need 10 lb of ground beef for tacos
  • For 20 friends, you will need 10lb of shredded chicken or turkey for tacos

For 50 Guests How Much Meat Per Person For Tacos

  • For 50 guests, you will need 25 lb of uncooked taco meat
  • For 50 people, you will need 25 lb of Hamburger meat for tacos
  • For 50 people, you will need 25 pounds of ground beef for tacos
  • For 50 guests, you will need 25 pounds of shredded chicken or turkey for tacos

For 100 Guests At A Big Party How Much Meat Per Person For Tacos

  • For a larger group of 100 guests, you will need 50 lb of uncooked taco meat
  • For family and friends of a big group of 100 people, you will need 50 lb of hamburger meat for tacos
  • For 100 people, you will need 50 pounds of ground beef for tacos
  • For a party of 100, you will need 50 pounds of shredded chicken or turkey for tacos

Can You Make Taco Meat Ahead Of Time For A Party

Yes, you can absolutely make taco meat ahead of time for a party. Preparing the taco meat in advance can save you time and reduce stress on the day of the event.

In addition, the meat will be good for 2-3 days if stored correctly in the fridge, or longer in the freezer.

By making the meat ahead of time, you can focus on the taco fillings for the day of the party.

What Is The Most Popular Taco Meat For Taco For A Large Event Or Family Picnic?

I recently surveyed a group of people at a company BBQ and proposed a Taco Bar for the next company event. The survey was on what are the most popular meat or protein fillings for tacos at a large event.

  1. Shredded Chicken
  2. Ground Beef
  3. Pulled Pork Carnitas

For Vegetarian/Vegan options, use plant-based filling like seasoned black beans, grilled vegetables, or marinated tofu.

How Many Pounds Of Taco Meat Per Person Should I Buy?

Budget on buying 8 ounces (half a pound) so you have enough for every guest.

What Are the Best Sides, Fillings, And Toppings To Serve At A Taco Party For Lots Of People In America

What are the best sides, fillings, and toppings to serve at a Taco Party
What are the best sides, fillings, and toppings to serve at a Taco Party
  1. Shredded Lettuce
  2. Diced Tomatoes
  3. Chopped Onions
  4. Grated Cheese (Cheddar, Jack, or Queso Fresco)
  5. Sliced Avocado
  6. Lime Wedges
  7. Chopped Cilantro
  8. Sliced Radishes
  9. Pickled Jalapeños
  10. Shredded Cabbage
  11. Sliced Black Olives
  12. Sliced Green Onions
  13. Cotija Cheese (crumbly Mexican cheese)
  14. Picked Cucumbers
  15. Diced Pineapple
  16. Chopped Mango
  17. Red Cabbage Slaw
  18. Sliced Bell Peppers
  19. Sliced Scallions
  20. Corn Salsa

FAQ

How Many Tacos Will 2 Pounds Of Ground Beef Make?

Two pounds of cooked taco meat will make 12 tacos.

How Many Tacos Will 2 Pounds Of Ground Beef Make?

Two pounds of cooked taco meat will make 12 tacos.

How Much Ground Beef Do I Need For Tacos For 6 People

To feed six people, you will need 18 ounces of ground beef.

What Is The Ratio Of Ground Beef To Tacos

The exact ratio of ground beef to tacos is 3 oz of ground beef per taco

How Many Tacos Will 10 Pounds Of Ground Beef Make?

Ten pounds of cooked ground beef will make 60 tacos.

How Many Tacos Will 1lb Of Meat Make

One pound of cooked taco meat will make about 6 tacos.

How many pounds of ground beef per person for tacos?
How many pounds of ground beef per person for tacos?
Carnitas Taco - one half pound should be enough
Carnitas Taco – one-half pound should be enough

Carnitas Tacos

One of the most beloved Mexican dishes, carnitas tacos, are slow-cooked pork that is shredded and served in a soft tortilla. Usually, the pork is seasoned with garlic, chili powder, and other spices before being cooked until it is fall-apart tender.

Carnitas tacos are typically garnished with fresh salsa, lime juice, and cilantro, but there are endless possibilities for toppings. Some other popular ideas include guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and jalapeños.

No matter how you top them, carnitas tacos are sure to be a hit with everyone at your table!

What is carnitas?

Carnitas is a traditional dish from Mexico of slow-cooked pork that is shredded and served with various accompaniments. The word carnitas literally means “little meats” in Spanish, and is typically made with pork shoulder or butt.

The pork is first cooked in lard or other fat until it is tender, then shredded and served with tortillas, salsa, guacamole, and any toppings of your choice. Carnitas can also be served as a main dish, often with rice and beans.

This Is Carnitas
This Is Carnitas