How Much Brisket Per Person Do I Need? (Calculator Included)

The calculation to determine how much brisket per person is quite simple. I estimate the average adult guest will eat 1/2 lbs. of cooked brisket, and kids will eat about .25 lbs. Brisket will lose almost half of its weight through the cooking and trimming process. This means that for every adult person, you will need 1 pound of uncooked meat. For example, 15 lbs. of uncooked brisket should feed 15 adults.

Brisket Calculator

For this calculator, we will assume .50 lb of cooked brisket per adult and .25 lbs of cooked meat per child. This will give you a good starting point and hopefully some leftovers to enjoy later.

Use the calculator to determine exactly how much uncooked brisket you will need based on the number of adults and children attending the cookout.

Understanding Brisket

Understanding brisket allows you to better estimate the amount you need for your party. The whole brisket, also known as the Packer’s cut, usually weighs 10-16 lbs. However, it is often sold in two separate cuts. The first cut, or the flat, is usually used for braising and has a much lower fat content. The second cut, or the point, is much fattier and is usually the preferred cut when using a grill or smoker.

As a general rule of thumb, you will require about 1/2 lb. of cooked brisket per adult person. The most crucial thing to remember while you are making your initial calculations is that the meat is going to lose close to 50% of its total volume due to the trimming process and the shrinkage during cooking. Therefore, if you are aiming for ½ lbs per adult, the simple calculation would be portioning 1 lbs. of meat per person before cooking.

Another consideration is the fact that you do not want to run out of food. When you are looking to smoke or slow-cook brisket, you are looking at a possible cooking time of anywhere between 12 and 20 hours. If you run out in the middle of your party, it will not be possible for you to go and make some more. On the other hand, if you have a little extra, to begin with, you can end up with some delicious leftovers that you can later use to make sandwiches, tacos, or any number of dishes.

If distance keeps you from visiting your local butcher shop, check out Snake River Farms! They carry all sorts of wonderful cuts of meat, including the notorious Wagyu brisket!

Know Your Crowd

If you are cooking for friends and family, you will likely already know about the appetites of the people you have invited. Therefore, you can adjust your portions, keeping in mind people who like to eat heartily when there is meat involved. You can also make adjustments for children and vegetarians.

While portioning the meat, remember to consider half the usual portion size for children. Do not forget to include tasty vegetarian options like mushrooms or vegetable skewers for your vegetarian guests. It’s crucial to pay close attention during the cooking stages so as not to cause cross-contamination when you are cooking both vegetables and meat.

What To Do With Leftover Brisket?

Don’t fret if you have leftovers. It is better than not having enough. There are so many things you can do with your leftover brisket. I personally love making simple sandwiches. Reheat the meat, throw it on some bread or a large Kaiser bun, add some of our homemade BBQ sauce, and eat.

Try our leftover brisket taco recipe. You’ll never want to use ground beef again. Brisket meat makes a much better taco meat.

What Else Are You Serving?

One of the most important parts of your portion control, when you are serving brisket, is to take into account everything else that you are planning to serve. If you are serving a full meal, you would be likely to have appetizers and a salad served beforehand, one or more side dishes and sauces along with the brisket, and a nice dessert to round things off. We always enjoy mac and cheese as a side dish. A nice coleslaw as a side also works well.

Depending on how filling these other dishes are, you would need to adjust your portions accordingly so that you do not end up with a lot of extra brisket when you are done. If it is a tailgating party where you are planning to serve alcohol, on the other hand, it’s integral to remember that people tend to eat more quantity and spread out eating over a longer period of time when there is drinking involved. Here, making room for some extra brisket will not be remiss.

Other Considerations

Keeping these basic premises in mind, you would be able to shop for the right amount of brisket while keeping within your budget. You would also have to complete the shopping in good time to allow it to cook and rest properly before you can serve. If you go with the calculation between ¼ lbs. to ¾ lbs. of brisket per person, planning your party, and getting everyone fed properly, should be something that you can easily accomplish.