How Much Pulled Pork Per Person

Knowing how much pulled pork to serve per person is a pretty popular question. When hosting a gathering, you don’t want to run out of food, but you also don’t want to be swimming in leftovers for weeks to come. So, what’s the right amount?

Plan for one-third to half a pound of cooked pulled pork per person. If you’re also feeding children, we would calculate about one-fourth pound per child.

How Much Pulled Pork Should I Buy?

When you calculate how much pulled pork per person you need to buy, there are really two questions you want to ask yourself:

1. How many people are you feeding?
2. Is the meat boneless or bone-in pork?

When you calculate boneless pork shoulder, you should plan for 1/3 pound per person of boneless pork.

A simple formula would be (amount of guests x 1/3) x 2 = raw boneless pork shoulder.

When you calculate bone-in pork shoulder or pork butt, you should plan for 1/2 pound per person of bone-in pork.

A simple formula would be (amount of guests x 1/2) x 2 = raw bone-in pork shoulder/pork butt

Because cooked pulled pork weighs about half the amount of uncooked pork we are multiplying our answer to determine how much raw meat we should purchase.

For Example:

Say you have 12 guests coming to your cookout and you want to make sure you buy the perfect amount of pork to prepare.

You’d take your 12 guests and multiply by 1/3 (or divide 1 by 3).  That makes 4 pounds of cooked pulled pork your end goal.

4 pounds of cooked pulled pork times 2 equals 8 pounds of raw pork that you should buy.

At a Glance — Table of Amount of Pulled Pork for Different Size Groups

We made this table to help you decide how much raw pork is needed to host your gathering.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person (Boneless vs Bone-In)

If you are looking for a number of guests that are not listed on our table, we have created a pulled pork calculator to help you determine how much meat you will need. We added children to the list since many outdoor gatherings are for the whole family. We calculate about a one-quarter pound per child of pulled pork meat.

Save this calculator for when you’re in a pinch and need to formulate if you have enough pulled pork.

Cooked Pork Will Weigh Half as Much as Raw Pork

Raw pork will cook down in weight by almost half. Deciding the best amount is determined before you cook the pork. It may seem like so much meat when you’re planning but I can promise you that it will cook down in size.

During the cooking process, moisture from water and other juices evaporates out of the pork – leaving the end result weighing significantly less than the pork was in its raw state.  So if you have 4 pounds of pork shoulder or pork butt that go onto your smoker, expect a yield of about 2 pounds of smoked pulled pork.

Which Cut of Pork to Use for Pulled Pork?

Pulled pork meat typically comes from the shoulder or “butt” of the pig. These cuts, known as pork shoulder or pork butt, are located above the front leg and below the back of the pig. Despite the name, “pork butt” does not come from the actual rear end of the pig.

You can typically find these cuts of meat at big box supermarkets or your local butcher. Really comes down to personal preference.

We have a great write-up on Pork Shoulder vs Pork Butt if you’re unsure of the difference.

Serving Size for Children?

We generally like to plan for 0.25 pounds of cooked pulled pork per child for any of our cookouts. If your kids are like my kids, then they’ll go straight to the mac and cheese and cupcakes. So definitely account for less meat when the event has a lot of kids (see above our built-in calculator for the exact measuring).

How do I determine the serving size of pulled pork for my guests?

There are a few factors to consider in determining how much meat to serve per person. Before deciding how much raw pork to buy, ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. What type of event are you hosting?
2. Are you serving other dishes alongside?
3. Are you hosting a lunch or dinner party?

Let’s dive into these three questions:

Type of Event

The setting of your cookout plays a big role.  Will you have enough meat for a sit-down dinner or a poolside cookout?

When cooking for a sit-down dinner, people tend to eat their portion and then move on to dessert or whatever the after-party treat may be.

If you’re hosting a cookout or tailgate party, your guests may eat in more than one place setting. Since the setup is more buffet, you can easily go back for seconds.

The Average Cost of Pork Per Pound

The average cost of pork per pound is $3.20. You have to factor in the cut of meat, quality, location, and market conditions. Certain cuts can be as low as $0.50 per pound up to $6.00 per pound. Different cuts of pork, such as pork chops, pork loin, pork shoulder, and bacon can vary in price.

Other Dishes

Is pulled pork the main dish?  Or are you also grilling burgers or smoking other types of meat to go along with your pork?  If you have other main course-style foods for your guests to choose from, you might want to cut down on how much pork you plan to cook. Maybe account for 1/4lb per person.

You can add a few other side dishes for your guests to pick on. If you have a bunch of delicious sides to go with your pulled pork, you probably don’t need to create a mountain of pork.

A potato side dish is the perfect crowd-pleaser to both impress and fill your guests.

Lunch or Dinner

The rule of thumb would be less for lunch and more for dinner. We find ourselves overlapping the two when hosting so sticking with the calculated amount of pulled pork listed above is the best way to approach your next event. Always expect your guests to have hearty appetites

Another great thing about choosing pork is you can serve pulled pork sandwiches for a crowd at lunchtime or dinnertime, and leftovers are even better!

Recipe for the Classic Pulled Pork Sandwich

• 8-10 pound (3.6-4.5 kg) raw pork shoulder (also known as pork butt)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons black pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• Wood chips (such as hickory, apple, or cherry), soaked in water for 30 minutes
• Bbq sauce (optional)
• Hamburger buns or rolls for serving

Instructions:

1. Preheat your smoker to a temperature of 225°F (107°C)
2. In a bowl, combine the brown sugar and dry ingredients (paprika, salt/pepper, garlic, onion, chili powder, and cayenne pepper). Mix well to create a dry rub.
3. Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels. Rub the dry rub mixture all over the pork, until evenly coated. You can also inject the pork with a marinade or apple juice for added flavor and moisture.
4. Place the seasoned pork shoulder on the smoker grates, fat side up. Close the lid and smoke for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours per pound (3.3 to 4.4 kg), or until the internal temperature reaches 195-205°F (90-96°C).
5. Periodically check the temperature of the smoker to maintain steady heat.
6. Once the pork reaches the desired temperature, remove it from the smoker and carefully wrap it in aluminum foil. Let it rest for about 1 hour. This resting period allows the meat to retain its moisture.
7. Use two forks or meat claws to shred the meat, throwing away any excess fat. You can mix in bbq sauce or serve it on the side for individual preference.
8. Serve the pulled pork on a hamburger bun or your favorite roll. You can serve it alongside coleslaw, pickles, or other desired toppings.

Storing Leftover Pulled Pork

Proper storage is key to delicious pork leftovers and preserving the flavor of your pulled pork.

To store leftover pulled pork, use a sealable airtight container or plastic freezer bag.  Place your leftovers inside the container and be sure to spoon in any excess juices that remain in your serving pan.  You can also mix in extra bbq sauce. The juices are key to being able to have moisture and reheat your leftover BBQ properly.

• If refrigerated, you should plan to consume your food within 48 hours to ensure it is safe.
• Frozen pork will keep for 4-12 months in the freezer if stored properly.  After that, the meat may start to deteriorate and have freezer burn.

Ideas for Leftover Pulled Pork

Here are a few of our fav leftover pork recipes:

1. Southwest Shredded Pork Salad
2. Pulled Pork Pizza
3. Pulled Pork Tacos

Check out the post we did on how to reheat pulled pork.

FAQ

• How many calories are in a bbq sandwich? The number of calories in a BBQ sandwich will depend on the ingredients used, but typically, it ranges from 300 to 500 calories.
• What is the average cost of pork per pound? The average cost of pork per pound is $3.20. You have to factor in the cut of meat, quality, location, and market conditions. Certain cuts can be as low as $0.50 per pound up to $6.00 per pound. 
• Can you use a slow cooker to cook pulled pork?  Absolutely! Using pork for pulled pork slow cooker is an easy and delicious lunch or dinner. 
• How much pulled pork per person for sliders? For mini slider rolls, you can estimate about 1 to 1.5 ounces of cooked pulled pork per slider. Mini rolls are typically smaller than regular-sized slider buns, so you’ll need less filling to create the perfect bite-sized portion.

Conclusion: How Much Pulled Pork Per Person?

• You want to serve 1/3-1/2 lb cooked weight of pulled pork per person or 1/4 lb per child.
• Using our calculator above can help you determine exactly how much you will need to host your gathering.
• Cooking pork will reduce its weight by almost half.
• Pulled pork is made from the pork shoulders or pork butts of a pig.
• Smoking pulled pork is a slow cooking and low process, so be prepared for it to take several hours.
• You can serve pulled pork alongside other dishes to help keep the serving size per person at a reasonable amount.
• Store leftovers and enjoy another yummy meal down the road like pulled pork tacos.

Just in case we’ve put the cart ahead of the horse here, check out our guide on how to pull pork next if you want to learn the fundamentals of pulled pork.

Thanks for stopping by, and let us know if you have any other thoughts or questions for us about the best way to serve your future BBQ feasts!  Get in touch with us in the comments section below.

Classic Pulled Pork Sandwich

Jenna Hansen

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Print Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 hours hrs

Course Main Course

Cuisine BBQ

Servings 8 people

Equipment

• Smoker

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 8 pound 3.6kg raw pork shoulder (also known as pork butt)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons black pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper adjust to taste
• Wood chips such as hickory, apple, or cherry, soaked in water for 30 minutes
• Bbq sauce optional
• Hamburger buns or rolls for serving

Instructions

 

• Preheat your smoker to a temperature of 225°F (107°C)
• In a bowl, combine the brown sugar and dry ingredients (paprika, salt/pepper, garlic, onion, chili powder, and cayenne pepper). Mix well to create a dry rub.
• Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels. Rub the dry rub mixture all over the pork, until evenly coated. You can also inject the pork with a marinade or apple juice for added flavor and moisture.
• Place the seasoned pork shoulder on the smoker grates, fat side up. Close the lid and smoke for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours per pound (3.3 to 4.4 kg), or until the internal temperature reaches 195-205°F (90-96°C).
• Periodically check the temperature of the smoker to maintain steady heat.
• Once the pork reaches the desired temperature, remove it from the smoker and carefully wrap it in aluminum foil. Let it rest for about 1 hour. This resting period allows the meat to retain its moisture.
• Use two forks or meat claws to shred the meat, throwing away any excess fat. You can mix in bbq sauce or serve it on the side for individual preference.
• Serve the pulled pork on a hamburger bun or your favorite roll. You can serve it alongside coleslaw, pickles, or other desired toppings.

Keyword BBQ, pulled pork

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