Cooking BBQ for 80 People -- OH MY

[scottranda]

My wife and I love to host, but this got a little out of hand! We volunteered our house for a back-to-school BBQ for our church's Sunday School class. We thought maybe 25-30 people would come. Welllll, everyone responded "Yes". There are zero "No", and zero "Maybe" responses.

I'M COOKING FOR 80 PEOPLE!! It's going to be about half adults, half kids. There was an audible gasp in the room when I announced how many people are coming to the BBQ.

Luckily, I have my huge offset, so smoking 4 butts won't be a big deal. I'm more concerned about that many people in and around my house!

So, I now have to prepare all week to pull this off! My wife and I are at the point, where we're just trying to get it done, and not go all-out on the frills. We're providing pulled pork, buns, cups, plates, napkins, and water. Everyone is bringing something to share. I'm just sweating that many people coming over!

I'll post pictures on Sunday!

[DaveD]

That's a great game plan, keep it simple with the most forgiving cuts you can make, and that's pork butt! Good luck!

[Sid P]

I can’t even imagine it.

[HawkerXP]

When you have time, pray for a sunny day.

We do cul-de-sac parties here. Everyone with kids kicks in to rent a moon bounce for the day.

[scottranda]

I don’t think I have room in my yard for a bounce house!

[Greygoose]

U can handle it,,,,
Its only 20x4,,,,,,

[Jim White]

Sounds perfect. When I have my church folks over, I borrow tables and chairs from the church fellowship hall to put in the back yard. Would that be an option for you? Works well in our case. Don't forget an extra couple of tables for the food buffet line.

[scottranda]

We got a few tables, which will be helpful. But how many do I need for 80 people?!?! haha! 😆

[scottranda]

We asked people to bring chairs.

[Jim White]

Count on 6-8 people per standard rectangular table. So at least ten tables for eating and two more for serving.

[jfmorris]

Good luck with that! I know you will pull it off.

I've had 80 folks or more at the house before, more than once, and always seem to overcook. I did 9 butts, and 20 pounds of wings for one engagement party. Wings were gone in 10 minutes, but they only consumed 6 of the 9 butts. It was a LOT of 20-somethings and half of them guys - college friends of my daughter and her fiance at the time. The other party that large was all chicken kabobs, cooked on 4 grills, and held in steam table trays.

In ALL cases, the party was throughout the backyard and house, and the house got HOT due to folks leaving the doors open almost constantly. Not much you can do there, even if you pre-cool the house into the 60's. We also put every folding table and chair that we could beg, borrow or steal out in the back yard, down both sides of the pool, and out in the grass.

I've got a life group (Sunday school) party for a class I teach at church here on the 19th, and have promised everyone smash burgers. The biggest issue is that while I have 25 to 30 folks there on any given Sunday, there are literally 95 people on the class roll! I sure as heck hope only 25 to 30 folks come! As it is, I'll be smashing a lot of burgers on the griddle, and am going to keep things simple.

[scottranda]

Update!! I had 7 butts in my deep freezer!!! I may smoke 5 butts.

[jfmorris]

scottranda if you have 80 ADULTS coming, I would go for at least 5 or even 6 butts if that is the only protein you are offering. I had 80 adults consume 6 butts plus 20 pounds of grilled buffalo chicken wings, but there were like 30-40 guys in their 20's who eat a lot. If you put out buns, some folks will make a sandwich, which is probably 1/4 a pound of pulled pork. Some folks will heap their plate full of meat. You just never know.

[WayneT]

It sounds like scottranda needs to invite one more person, jfmorris, to this soiree.

[Draznnl]

It sounds like you have the cook down. I just hope you have plenty of bathrooms. 80 people eating and drinking (even without alcohol) can lead to lots of flushing.

[scottranda]

Find the nearest tree!!

[WayneT]

What do port-a-potties rent for?

[texastweeter]

Love me big cooks, I do them often.

[texastweeter]

gboss jfmorris negative on that, lol.

[jfmorris]

I was not in the gutter with gboss, I was reading it as "big cooks", haha.

[texastweeter]

jfmorris whew.

[scottranda]

Update!!! I found 7 butts in my deep freezer. I’m a genius back in the day!! So, I think I will cook 5 of them, for a total of just over 40 pounds for 80 people! I think that’ll be enough.

[jfmorris]

Remember shrinkage. Assuming 8 pounds per butt, 5 butts is 40 pounds precooked weight. That will lose about 40% during the cook, for a final weight of around 25 pounds of pulled pork. Remember you are losing bone weight, fat that renders out into the bottom of the smoker, and so on. I would personally feel safer doing 6, and freezing some leftovers, than running out.

[Bogy]

I smoked the pork for my installation service here. Two churches and guests, I figured on the outside we might have 100 people (small churches). If I remember right I did six butts. But I also threw on a beef roast to pull because I knew I had at least one person coming who could not eat pork. With 80 people coming, something to consider.

[rlozinak]

Good Luck on your big cook, I am sure you have this

[mrichie1229]

You've got this! You can always throw on some hot dogs for the kiddos as well.

[scottranda]

Thanks! I don’t want to do anything active (like hot dogs). I just want to pull and serve.

[Steve R.]

scottranda hotdogs can go in the smoker with the butts, just won't take nearly as long to cook. That's my favorite way to do hotdogs!

[MBMorgan]

Wear the flame hat, Scott. I'll bet at least 50 guests will see that from a block or two away, turn around, quietly get in their car(s), and go back home ... thereby lightening your workload considerably!

... regardless of how many show up, good luck and have fun

[scottranda]

The fire hat is necessary!! 🔥 it will be worn!!

[smokin fool]

You could always hope for a severe thunderstorms that day or a skunk infestation....
May not be so bad, people will be coming and going, not all 80 will be there at the same time, some may eat and go, some may not eat, some may just stop in and say Hi and go.
The cooking will be the easy part.

[scottranda]

Yeah, I think the cooking will be easy (considering my large offset). It's EVERYTHING ELSE that I'm worried about, haha!

[Richard Chrz]

80, and half being kids. I think you can get buy 6-7 butts. Take it easy, have fun, it almost always works out!

[Richard Chrz]

I think when you are doing your math, you are forgetting the actual amount of pork you will end up post cook, they will not be starting weight at the end.

[scottranda]

True. But, there will be sides and dessert. And a ton of kids who won't eat as much (if any).