How Much Chicken Should You Cook Per Person?

Eating requirements and habits vary from person to person, especially regarding the type of meal involved. Chicken is high on protein and is one food that can go with almost every other meal combination. However, to meet the specific health conditions and body demands, you need to know the amount of chicken you need to cook for one person. So how much chicken should you cook per person?

Two main factors determine the amount of chicken to cook per person: if the chicken is part of the main dish and if the chicken is served with fries. Where the chicken makes the larger dish, a breast halve and a drumstick per person is okay. On the other hand, 2-3 pieces of thighs for each person are ideal when the chicken is a side dish.

The type of recipe you choose and the parts of the chicken you cook are the most significant determinants of the amount of chicken to serve per person. This article explains the chicken parts and how much is enough per person.

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How do you Know the Amount of Chicken you Cook per Person?

It is pretty challenging to know exactly how much you should cook per person to satisfy their hunger and appetite. Thus, you need to understand the following key factors that affect the weight and pieces of chicken to serve per person:

• Size of the chicken – When it is big, it produces heavy pieces of meat. Thus enabling you to serve fewer pieces per person. On the other hand, if the chicken is thin or small, the pieces will have less weight, thus more per serving.
• Chicken parts – various parts in a chicken produce different weights and meat. For instance, the whole leg is always with more meat than wings. Therefore, you serve fewer pieces when the chicken part is large and heavier. You can serve each person more pieces when the part is small with less meat.

How Much Chicken Breast Per Person?

Chicken breasts are a source of lean protein and essential vitamins and minerals for the human body. Even when taken with the healthiest foods, it is easy to overeat and surpass the recommended health amount. If you are going for lean or skinless breasts, one person should take three ounces. This contains 26 grams of protein, 2.7 grams of fat, and 128 calories. What you take depends on your goal, so you can go below this or above it to attain your health objective.                                   

Further, it is essential to know that chicken breasts come in different sizes and ounces, depending on the vendor. Therefore, there will be larger and smaller pieces if you do not get them from one vendor. You can use the palm of your hand to measure how much each person should get, which should be equivalent to the size of decks used to play cards.

How Much Boneless Chicken Breast Per Person?

When serving boneless chicken breasts, one person is supposed to eat a quarter or a third of pounds. In other words, one boneless chicken breast is enough for one person if it is part of the main meal. 

However, people will always have different appetites, so if you have guests, it is advisable to have additional boneless chicken breast for the big eaters. If you have chicken breast as the main meal, you should think of a different serving per person, where three to four boneless chicken breasts are for a single person.

How Much Fried Chicken per Person?

The amount of fried chicken you require per person depends on the size of each piece and the part of the chicken. For instance, if you compare a breast piece with a thigh, you will realize that the breast has more meat. Also, chicken wings have the least amount of meat in each piece. Therefore, you will need more servings per person if you plan to make fried wings.

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One or two fried breasts are enough for one person, equal to six or seven fried wings per person. Another thing to consider when determining the amount of fried chicken per person is the situation in which you serve the chicken. Where the chicken acts as an appetizer, you can serve a thigh or a breast per person, and if it is the main meal, then at least three pieces per person.

Chicken Pounds Per Person?

Whether preparing chicken for your family or on a special occasion, it is essential always to know the number of pounds for each person. 

Determining how many pounds to serve can sometimes be challenging. However, several calculations can help you know the pounds to put in every serving. Usually, adults can take 5 ounces of prepared chicken, while children should stick to 2 to 3 ounces.

How Many Pieces of Chicken Per Person?

Determining how many pieces of chicken each person should eat can be challenging. To avoid the challenge, it is advisable to break them down into various parts before serving. Here is how to do it.

Boneless Chicken

This can be either thighs or breasts; they generally produce about 6.5 ounces to 10 ounces. Thus, giving each person a single boneless breast or thigh can be ideal as they meet the necessary pounds per person. However, having extra pieces is essential because you might not know what is enough for your guests; some will want more while others will be satisfied.

Chicken Thighs

Chicken thigh size and weight vary based on the type and size of the chicken. Some will be thin while others will be thick. However, on average, a single cooked chicken thigh can yield 5 ounces. The recommended pound for chicken thighs is five to six ounces, only one piece. If you are serving guests, don’t be surprised that some will want more than one piece of chicken thigh, which always calls for you to have extra.

Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks are also available in various sizes and shapes, but an average drumstick weighs 4 ounces. When fully cooked, the weight is going to reduce by almost half. A good pound of chicken drumstick per person is four to seven ounces, which is 2 to 3 drumsticks.

Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are many people’s favorite. Consequently, this can be very tough when estimating the number of pieces each of your guests or family members should get. The correct number of pieces should be four to six whole wings, including the drum and the flat. 

Nevertheless, if you buy split wings or love splitting them, you should double the number of pieces you serve each person. Every person should get between 8 to 2 pieces of split chicken wings.

Full Legs

Chicken whole legs consist of the drumstick and the thigh, where they produce a range of 6 to 7 ounces when cooked. One piece of the chicken’s entire leg is enough for one adult person; even for those with big appetites, this will satisfy them. This is applicable where you will not break it into the thigh and drumstick: one whole leg, one adult person.

Final Thoughts

Determining how much chicken you should cook per person can be tricky, especially when you do not understand how your guests eat and how much they like chicken. Therefore, as much as you will stick to the recommended pieces and pounds, it is advisable to always have extra pieces in case your guests ask for more. If smoking your chicken, avoid starting your charcoal with light fluids as the might interfere with the flavor. Read on how to start a charcoal grill without a lighter fluid for more insights.