The menu for 25, 50, 100 guests
| What to buy | Rule | 25 guests | 50 guests | 100 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiral hams (bone-in), 7–9 lb | 1/4 lb sliced per guest | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Slider buns, 12-packs | 2 per guest | 5 | 10 | 19 |
| Frozen cocktail meatballs, 28-oz bags | 6 per guest | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| Dip, 15–16 oz jars or tubs | 3 tablespoons per guest | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| Chips, 13-oz party-size bags | 1.5 oz per guest | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| Cookies, by the dozen | 2 per guest | 5 | 10 | 19 |
| Wine, 750 ml bottles | 2.5 glasses per guest | 14 | 28 | 55 |
| Beer, cases of 24 | 3 per guest | 4 | 7 | 14 |
| Water and soda, cases of 24 | 4 per guest | 5 | 10 | 19 |
| Ice, 20-lb bags | 1 lb per guest indoors | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Plates, packs of 50 | 3 per guest | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Napkins, packs of 100 | 3 per guest | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Holiday party tips
- A spiral ham and a pack of rolls makes a self-serve slider station that needs no carving during the party.
- Meatballs hold for hours in a slow cooker on warm, which makes them the easiest hot appetizer for a crowd.
- Adults only? Kids count as zero for wine and beer, and as half a guest for food.
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:
Holiday party questions
How much food do I need for a holiday party?
For an evening of heavy appetizers, plan the menu on this page at your headcount. If you're serving a full dinner instead, switch the serving style in the planner and the amounts go up.
How much wine and beer for a holiday party?
The drink lines scale with the length of the party. Change the party length in the planner and the bottles and cases follow.