The menu for 25, 50, 100 guests
| What to buy | Rule | 25 guests | 50 guests | 100 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone-in pork butts, 7–9 lb | 1/3 lb cooked per guest | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Slider buns, 12-packs | 2 per guest | 5 | 10 | 19 |
| Mac and cheese | 1/2 cup per guest | 14 cups | 28 cups | 55 cups |
| Baked beans, #10 cans | 1/2 cup per guest | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Coleslaw | 1/2 cup per guest | 14 cups | 28 cups | 55 cups |
| Half-sheet cakes, about 48 slices | 1 slice per guest | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Water and soda, cases of 24 | 4 per guest | 5 | 10 | 19 |
| Ice, 20-lb bags | 2 lb per guest outdoors | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| Plates, packs of 50 | 2 per guest | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Graduation party tips
- Open houses run long and guests come in waves, so keep half the pork warm in the oven and refill the tray as it empties.
- Most graduation parties are outside in late spring and early summer, so the ice is planned at the warm-weather rate: drinks and coolers both.
- Cook the pork a day ahead. Pulled pork reheats well with a splash of its own juices, which frees up the oven on party day.
Food safety: don't leave perishable food out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (USDA). Keep hot food hot and cold food on ice.
Each food on its own
Every line above has its own calculator with a chart for 10 to 200 people:
Graduation party questions
What food should I serve at a graduation party?
Something guests can serve themselves over a few hours: pulled pork sliders, two or three cold or slow-cooker sides, a sheet cake and plenty of cold drinks. It feeds a crowd without anyone standing at a grill all afternoon.
How do I plan food when I don't know how many will come?
Plan for the RSVPs plus the cushion, then lean on foods that stretch: buns, beans and slaw are cheap to add, and a second tray of pork can wait in the oven until you need it.