How many appetizers should I serve before dinner?
Appetizers served before a buffet or full dinner are OPTIONAL. They just fill-in, helping the really hungry and the guests who are enjoying co*cktails. They DO reduce the intake of dinner food, but only about 10%. If you do choose to serve an appetizer, consider what will be served at the following meal and try to select complementary foods. Make the job simpler by choosing items you can prepare ahead and serve easily.
You do not have to serve a big variety or large amounts; 6-8 “bites” or taste portions per person per hour is a ball park figure. Caterers often plan a minimum of 4 different choices for groups of 25-100 or more, adding an additional choice for each 25 people.
A good rule of thumb for a dinner party, allow for 6 appetizers per person. For a co*cktail party consider making 12 appetizers per person.
What should I serve and why?
Veggies, crackers, chips are inexpensive fill-ins appetizer selections. They fill people up and keep well if not used. Be sure to provide at least one tasty dip. Marinated vegetables provide an attractive alternative to the usual carrots-broccoli-cauliflower-ranch dressing platters.
People will eat less if they have to assemble their own appetizers. Chunks of cheese, cheese balls, and make it yourself sandwiches disappear more slowly than cubes of cheese and pre-made tea sandwiches. Try to allow for some extra serving space because people will cluster around these stations.
Except for a few highly desirable items such as shrimp, roast beef and caviar, the more selections you add, the less amount of each item you will need. As you add more items to your menu, reduce the amounts of each accordingly.
Thinner sliced meats, cheeses and veggies and fruit, give you more servings per pound.
Decorate your plates and platters attractively, green leaf lettuce, kale, parsley and edible flowers.
Use toothpicks and small skewers to form interesting presentations. Thin stick pretzels make useful skewers for cheese bites and other dry items.
Deviled eggs, smoked salmon or oysters, tiny open faced sandwiches, are easy and appealing.
Meatballs or tiny sausages in a sauce or a hot spread for dipping can be served in a chafing dish or crock pot/ slow cooker.
Do not attempt individual hot appetizers unless you have adequate oven space and help. If you can only cook a pan of 20 at one time and each pan takes 20 minutes, they are not practical for large parties. Having an equal number of hot and cold foods available is also helpful so that while one appetizer is heating in the oven, a cold one can be circulating, keeping everyone nibbling happily.
FAQs
For an event during mealtime, plan on 12-15 total pieces per guest so that they're appetite is satisfied. If the event occurs between standard mealtimes, allocate 8 – 10 pieces per person for nibbling. Finally, for longer parties lasting longer than 4 hours, allocate 2 additional pieces per person, per hour.
How many appetizers per person co*cktail party? ›
If you're hosting a co*cktail party first, then the amount of food you need to offer would increase depending on how soon dinner will be served. For a one hour party, typically 4 – 5 bites per person would be appropriate.
How do you calculate the number of appetizers per person? ›
In general, calculate your appetizer number to be 6 pieces for every 1 guest in attendance. When planning out your wedding timeline, take into consideration how long it will be before guests eat dinner. If you have a long intermission between the ceremony and the reception, you may want to offer more appetizers.
How much food for a co*cktail party of 50 people? ›
However, an after-dinner co*cktail party requires much less food than an all-afternoon cookout. On average, plan for each adult to consume about 1 pound of food total (not including dessert). Count on children to consume about a ½ pound. Remember; the more options you have, the less you need of each.
How many appetizers for 100 guests? ›
Appetizers
If you're offering catered appetizers, plan for about six portions per guest. For a party of 100 guests, this adds up to roughly 600 appetizer portions.
How much finger food for 80 guests? ›
Lunch or dinner event
When catering a meal time event, where finger food will constitute the entire meal, we recommend serving 8-12 savoury canapés per person. Ideally this selection will include 2-4 of the larger finger food options - such as bao buns, roast beef dinner rolls or fish tacos.
What's the difference between appetizers and hors d'oeuvres? ›
You're supposed to eat hors d'oeuvres before a meal begins, versus appetizers, which are considered part of the meal. Then there is the quantity served, with appetizers being served once to a table, versus hors d'oeuvres being served several at a time.
How do you estimate a party for hors d oeuvres? ›
As a rule of thumb, most guests will consume 8 to 10 bite-size pieces for every 60 to 90 minutes of a party. However, the larger the variety of offerings, the more hors doeuvres that will be consumed because everyone will want to try at least one of each item.
Do you need appetizers at a dinner party? ›
Whether you're planning a formal affair or casual dinner party, appetizers are a must! While people socialize before dinner, it's important to have a few plates of light snacks. Offering an array of finger foods and one-bite appetizers allows people to munch and mingle before the big event.
How many hors d'oeuvres for 80 people? ›
For 80 guests, you may need around 480-640 hors d'oeuvres, depending on the type of appetizer and the serving size.
Quantity. A good rule of thumb when working with your caterer on just how many hors d'oeuvres to choose is as follows: for 10 – 12 guests a minimum of 5 selections, 25 guests a minimum of 9 selections and for 50 guests, a minimum of 13 selections.
How many food items for a co*cktail party? ›
co*cktail Party
These generally take place between or after mealtimes. co*cktail parties can feature between six and eight courses of finger food per person. Think of it like an eight-course meal but every serving is only one to three bites.
How to plan a menu for a co*cktail party? ›
co*cktail Party Food
It's not intended to be dinner, so you don't need to plan a full course meal for a co*cktail party. Simple foods, such as hors d'oeuvres and finger foods, allow guests to nibble throughout the event as they feel the need.
How many appetizers do I need for a co*cktail party? ›
If you only have an hour in between, it's safe to only have a couple different options available, totaling about six pieces per guest. If you will be longer than an hour, more is always better. Consider having four to five different options during your co*cktail hour, totaling eight to ten pieces per guest.
How do you calculate appetizers? ›
Here's a general guideline: Number of Appetizers: Plan for 4-6 different types of appetizers. Quantity per Person: Estimate around 5-6 pieces per person per hour. So for a 4-5 hour party, you'd aim for around 20-30 pieces per person in total.
How many trays of food for 40 guests? ›
For 40 guests, you may need around 4-5 trays of food, depending on the dish and the serving size.
How many appetizers plates per person? ›
For instance, guests can have three plates (dinnerware) at a formal corporate dinner. On the other hand, three appetizer plates (plus drinkware) would be ideal for each invitee at a co*cktail party. Also, 2.5 dinner plates, two appetizer plates, and 1.5 dessert plates are preferable per guest for a buffet dinner.
How much food do I need for 50 guests? ›
The “one-pound rule” is an established guideline that gives you a feel for how much your guests are likely to consume: The One Pound Rule = Provide one pound of food for each adult guest (not including dessert or drinks.) If you have children attending your event, simply cut this number in half.
How much seating do you need for a co*cktail party? ›
The first and most obvious factor when choosing furniture for your co*cktail event is your guest numbers. How many people will be joining you on the day? A good rule of thumb is to provide enough seating for between 50 – 70% of your guests at any one time, keeping in mind that not everyone will be sitting down.
