Calculate your chili
Chili quantities chart
Classic pot: 1 lb ground beef + 1 can (15 oz) beans + 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes makes about 6 cups. Table shows main-course (1 cup) sizing.
| Guests | Beef (lb) | Beans (15oz) | Tomatoes (15oz) | Total cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| 20 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 | 21 |
| 30 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 31 |
| 50 | 8.5 | 9 | 9 | 51 |
| 100 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 101 |
At a topping bar with cheese, sour cream, onions and cornbread you can drop to 1/2 cup per person and stretch every pound of beef twice as far. Pair chili with the BBQ sides calculator for cornbread-friendly sides or the potluck calculator for a full shared spread.
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Chili for a crowd questions
How much chili per person?
Plan 1 cup of chili per adult as a main course, or about 1/2 cup when chili is one item on a buffet with other mains. Kids eat about 1/2 cup. Toppings like cheese and sour cream stretch each cup further.
How much chili for 20 people?
For 20 adults as a main course you need about 20 cups of chili: roughly 3.5 lb of ground beef plus 4 cans of beans and 4 cans of diced tomatoes. Double the beans and halve the meat for a leaner, cheaper pot.
How much chili for 50 people?
For 50 guests as a main, make about 50 cups (3 gallons): roughly 8.5 lb of ground beef, 9 cans of beans and 9 cans of diced tomatoes. Cook in two pots so flavors develop and refills stay hot.
How many people does a pound of ground beef feed in chili?
One pound of ground beef, stretched with a can of beans and a can of tomatoes, yields about 6 cups of finished chili - so it feeds 6 adults at 1 cup, or about 12 people at a half-cup topping bar.
How many people does a gallon of chili feed?
A gallon holds 16 cups, so it feeds about 16 adults at a 1-cup main-course serving, or up to 32 people when chili is served at 1/2 cup on a buffet.
Should I make chili ahead for a party?
Yes - chili is one of the best make-ahead party foods. It tastes better after a day in the fridge and reheats perfectly. Make it 1 to 2 days ahead, then hold it hot in a slow cooker set to low.