The age old question... How much butt?

[aperalta85]

So I'm throwing a super bowl party and making some pulled pork for about 20-25 people. I know the rule of 1/2 pound of cooked meat per person but in addition to the pork we are having a 6ft hero (or sub or whatever you want to call it), a ton of appetizers and dips, chili, wings, and someone is bringing a brisket (I'm not sure how big though). Should try to get a big 10 pounder or go for two 6-8 pound butts or am I getting way too much pork and I should get less? I have a pellet smoker so I'm definitely not scared of smoking over night. I'm more concerned that I have enough food.

PS. I just moved down to GA from NY so if anyone is in the Cumming/Dawsonville/Alpharetta area maybe we can get together.

[Jerod Broussard]

I'd get two 8-10 pounders and split those in half.

[DeusDingo]

it freezes well. make more than you think and if you have leftovers it's better than running out. if you do a good job (which i'm sure you will since you are here) maybe people will want to take some home as well.

[Dr ROK]

When I'm calculating the amount of pulled pork for catering, I use 1/4 pound of cooked pulled pork per person. This is usually provides enough to have a little left over afterwards. Like DeusDingo mentioned, it also freezes beautifully, so always great to overestimate and have a great meal at a later date.

[aperalta85]

Thanks! I definitely know it freezes well. I made entirely too much in October for a friends daughters birthday party. My friend bagged it in portions and he was still eating it a couple of weeks ago!

[_John_]

Lots of variables, most importantly mix of women and children and then other food. Sounds like other food is a lot so one big one is probably fine but I would probably do 2 smaller ones, for a few extra bucks worth of meat (fuel is getting burned the same either way) you can be the hero if the brisket isn't a hit.

I can't recall ever having a brisket in GA so there might be a pretty good chance they messed it up

[Breadhead]

Hmmm... It depends on how good your pork butt tastes. A grown man that has never had really kick ass pulled pork is likely to consume huge quantities of food.😆

To much is much better than not enough.

Sometimes I'll smoke a big pork butt and shred it and add a taco bar around it, in addition to buns for pull pork sandwiches. I find they go about 1/2 and half, tacos and sandwiches.

[Dr ROK]

Found this today: http://www.bbqrevolution.com/caterin...-servings-per/

[aperalta85]

Awesome so 25/2.6=9.62 or 10 pounds of cooked food so 2 8 pounders should be way more than enough when factoring in everything else. Thanks!

[Dr ROK]

When I cater I figure 1/2 pound of raw meat for 1/4 pound of cooked product. (I typically lose around 50% of the original weight in my pork butts due to bone, trimming, and cooking.) So far 1/4 pound of cooked pulled pork per person has worked for me in my catering business. It depends on a lot of other factors as mentioned in article and the replies above, but I think you'll have plenty using 10 lbs of uncooked pork butt. It's always better to have too much than too little.