Soul Food Serving Calculator
Tell us who is coming and what you are cooking, and we will estimate how much of each dish to make. Built for Sunday dinners, holidays, reunions and any table where running out is not an option.
Estimated quantities
For 20 guests · sunday dinner
Macaroni and cheese
≈ 3 lbs dry macaroni
20 cups cooked
Collard greens
≈ 9 1/8 lbs raw greens
13.5 cups cooked
Cornbread
29 pieces
Chicken
14 lbs bone-in
These are planning estimates. Actual amounts vary with appetite, how many dishes are on the table and whether you are serving buffet style or plating.
Helpful planning notes
- All amounts are planning estimates. Appetite, menu size and serving style change the real numbers.
- The more dishes you select, the smaller each individual portion becomes — a seven-dish spread needs less of everything than a three-dish one.
- Children are counted at a reduced portion for most dishes, but nearly a full portion for macaroni and cheese.
- For holidays where guests take plates home, the holiday setting already adds a buffer of roughly 30 percent.
- Buying bone-in meat? Plan closer to 1 lb per adult; boneless cuts run about half that.