Serving up BBQ meals for big teams? Right here’s how a lot meat to cook dinner and the right way to pull it off in about 5 hours.

This recipe goes to set you up for fulfillment with two versatile smoked proteins and non-compulsory fixings you’ll be able to serve alongside it.
How a lot meals do I have to cook dinner?
That’s most likely the primary query individuals battle with once they’re making an attempt to determine the right way to plan meals for big gatherings.
Let’s begin with how a lot friends will eat. A very good rule of thumb while you’re determining how a lot to cook dinner is to plan for 4 ounces of meat per individual. Certain some individuals will eat a bit extra, however some (like the youngsters) will eat a bit much less.

4 ounces might not sound like loads, however it is a celebration. 4 ounces is sufficient for a big sandwich or 3-4 avenue tacos, and also you’re doubtless going to produce other sides like smoked mac and cheese or macaroni salad together with baked beans and chips and desserts.
It’d be good if one pound of meat might feed 4 individuals, however meat shrinks because it cooks, shedding moisture and fats. By the point it’s finished, that pound will weigh about 30–40% much less.
A greater rule of thumb: you’ll get about 2.3 servings per pound of uncooked, trimmed, boneless meat. So should you’re feeding 20 individuals, plan to cook dinner round 8.5 kilos of meat, plus your sides.
# OF PEOPLE | # OF POUNDS (RAW, TRIMMED, BONELESS MEAT) |
---|---|
8 | 3.5 |
10 | 4.5 |
15 | 6.5 |
20 | 8.5 |
30 | 13 |
40 | 17.5 |
50 | 22 |
Save time by serving shredded meat
You most likely make an incredible smoked pork butt and smoked brisket, however while you’re feeding a crowd, I like to recommend following this shortcut methodology as an alternative. One, as a result of it’s quicker and two as a result of it should yield constant tender, juicy outcomes each time.
The issue with making smoked brisket for a gathering is that it’s actually arduous to time it proper. In case you smoke it the day earlier than, you must reheat it. And when you slice it, it should begin to dry out.
So as an alternative, I like to recommend reducing your pork shoulder and brisket into 2-inch cubes and smoking them in pans. Then, you’ll braise them and shred them to perfection for sandwiches or tacos.
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Prep Meat: Trim the brisket to take away all however 1/4 inch fats cap. Lower into 2-inch cubes and place in two aluminum half pans. Lower the pork into 2-inch cubes and place in two aluminum pans.
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Season: Season the meat in each pans with 1/4 cup of rub per pan. Use the Brisket Rub on the brisket and the Pork Rub on the pork. Toss to coat.
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Warmth Grill: Warmth your grill to 275F levels, organising an oblique warmth zone.
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Smoke Meat: Place the pans of meat on the smoker and cook dinner for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, till the meat has a pleasant mahogany colour. The inner temperature will probably be 160-170F levels.
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Wrap Brisket: Take away the brisket pans from the smoker. Pour half a can of beef consommé into every pan. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of Brisket Rub into every pan. Cowl with foil and return to the smoker for about 3 hours.
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Wrap Pork: Take away the pork pans from the smoker. To every pan, add 1/2 stick of butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and a pair of tablespoons of Pork Rub. Cowl with foil. Return to the smoker for about 2 hours.
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Test: The meat is finished when it is fork tender. At this level, take away it from the grill and let it relaxation for about half-hour.
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Shred: As soon as the meat has rested, shred it and switch it into one other pan. Season with 2 tablespoons of rub. If it appears dry, pour in among the pan juices.
Non-obligatory Methods to Serve the Meat
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For BBQ Sandwiches: Pile 4 ounces of shredded meat on high of hamburger buns. Drizzle with BBQ sauce and high with coleslaw.
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For Tacos: Combine the onion, jalapeno and cilantro in a bowl. Add 1-2 ounces of shredded meat onto the tortillas, high with the onion combine. Serve with lime wedges.
In case you choose savory pork as an alternative of sweeter pork, braise with beef broth or rooster broth. You can even add diced onions and a can of inexperienced chiles for pork chile verde.
Energy: 586kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 46gFats: 21gSaturated Fats: 8gPolyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 8gTrans Fats: 0.2gLdl cholesterol: 128mgSodium: 841mgPotassium: 873mgFiber: 3gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 289IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 187mgIron: 7mg
Diet data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
Substances
- Pork Shoulder: You should buy bone-in or boneless, simply do not forget that when you take away the bone, you’ll lose some weight. I like shopping for the 2-pack of boneless pork butts from Costco when cooking for a crowd.
- Brisket: Use a full packer brisket or brisket flat. The total packer could have extra marbling and fats within the level muscle, however each choices work nice.
- Ladies Can Grill Pork Rub
- Ladies Can Grill Brisket Rub
- Beef Consommé
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Maple Syrup
The Fixings
- Buns
- BBQ Sauce
- Coleslaw
- Tortillas
- Onion, pepper cilantro
- Limes
Substitutions: As an alternative of brisket, it's also possible to comply with this recipe with a chuck roast.
See the total recipe card above for servings and a full listing of components.
Setup your grill with oblique warmth
You may cook dinner this recipe on a fuel grill, charcoal grill, pellet grill or Ninja Grill. The secret’s to cook dinner it over oblique warmth. Set your grill up with a temperature of 275F levels with an oblique warmth zone.
Fuel Grill: In case you’re utilizing a fuel grill, go away one burner off and switch at the very least one burner on. Regulate the burner temperature, till the grill temperature gauge registers between 275F levels. You’ll cook dinner the meat over the grill grate that has the burner turned off.
If you wish to add smoke taste, fill a smoke field or foil pouch with wooden chips and add it to the warmer aspect of the grill.
Charcoal Grill: In case you’re utilizing a kettle-style charcoal grill, push the recent coals to 1 aspect. Place the grill grate over the coals and cook dinner the meat over the aspect the place there are not any coals. In case you’re utilizing a drum smoker or ceramic cooker, use the diffuser to dam the direct warmth.
Pellet Grill: Pellet grills are robotically arrange with an oblique warmth zone as a result of they’ve a metallic diffuser plate that rests over the hearth pot. Merely, flip the grill to 275F levels and let it warmth up. Then, you’ll be able to place the meat wherever on the grill.
Ninja Grill: The smoker setting on the Ninja Grill is engineered to offer oblique warmth that circulates from the convection fan from the highest. Merely add wooden pellets and set the temperature and time.
Ninja FlexFlame: Set the operate to low & gradual and the temperature to 275F. Add pellets and push the woodfire taste button. You’ll want so as to add extra pellets all through the cook dinner.
How you can cook dinner BBQ for a crowd
- STEP ONE: Lower your meat into two-inch cubes. For the brisket, take away extra fats, so the fats layer is not more than 1/4 inch thick. Place 3-4 kilos of meat in every aluminum half pan in a single layer.
PRO TIP: By reducing the meat into cubes, it should cook dinner quicker in comparison with a complete pork shoulder roast or packer brisket.
- STEP TWO: Season the meat generously on all sides. Use about 1/4 cup of rub for each 3-4 kilos of meat. Use the Brisket Rub on the brisket and the Pork Rub on the pork.

- STEP THREE: Place the pans on the smoker over oblique warmth and smoke for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

You need the interior temperature to be about 160-170F levels and the bark to be fashioned on the skin.


- STEP FOUR: For the brisket, add a half can of beef consommé to every pan. Sprinkle on about 2 extra tablespoons of Brisket Rub. Cowl with foil and return to the smoker.

- STEP FIVE: For the pork, add 4 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and a pair of tablespoons of Pork Rub to every pan. Cowl with aluminum foil and return to the smoker.

PRO TIP: In case you choose extra savory pulled pork, contemplate including 1/4 cup diced onions, a can of inexperienced chiles and a few beef or rooster inventory as an alternative of the butter, sugar and syrup.
- STEP SIX: Proceed cooking till the meat is fork tender. The pork will take about 2 hours and the brisket will take about 3 hours.

- STEP SEVEN: As soon as it’s tender, take away the pans from the grill and let the meat relaxation for about half-hour.
- STEP EIGHT: Carrying warmth gloves or utilizing two forks, shred the meat and switch it to a different pan. If it appears dry, add among the liquid from the pan. Season with extra pork or brisket rub to style.

PRO TIP: In case you're not able to serve it instantly, maintain it lined with foil, and maintain it heat within the oven on it is lowest setting. You can even switch the meat to a gradual cooker on low.
Serving Recommendations
As soon as the meat is shredded, I wish to serve it one in all two methods:
- As BBQ sandwiches on hamburger buns, brioche buns or slider buns
- Or as tacos with small avenue taco flour tortillas.

When making BBQ sandwiches, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup barbecue sauce into the meat. Then, serve the shredded meat with the buns and coleslaw.
For the tacos, maintain issues easy. Mix white onion, jalapeno and cilantro in a bowl and serve the shredded meat alongside that with limes and tortillas. Use avenue taco dimension tortillas to get 3-4 tacos per serving.

You possibly can go fancier and provide a taco bar with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, bitter cream, salsa and guacamole. However that may add extra stress to your day and is much less budget-friendly. Plus, too many choices slows down the meals line.
Save that vitality for extra filling sides like refried beans, Spanish rice and tortilla chips with a wide range of enjoyable salsas.
How you can make the meat final
In case you plan on 4 ounces per individual try to be high quality, however there are two methods to stretch the meat additional.
- Put the meat on the finish of the meals line. This manner, friends will load up their plates with sides, leaving much less room for double meat parts.
- Use smaller plates. Nobody says you must purchase the mega-plates. With smaller plates, individuals will return for seconds in the event that they’re nonetheless hungry.
Storage
When feeding crowds, meals security is necessary. Just remember to maintain meat at 135F levels or above if it’s going to sit down out for greater than two hours. You are able to do that by utilizing warming trays or gradual cookers.
Chilly meals like potato salad and pasta salad must be saved at 40F levels or beneath in the event that they’re going to sit down out for greater than two hours.
You may both use chiller bowls, or put out smaller parts, saving some within the fridge. Then, simply refill as wanted.
GCG Professional Pitmaster Ideas
- Lower the meat into 2-inch cubes; season liberally
- Braise after it picks up a great colour and bark
- Cook dinner it till it’s fork tender
- Mess around with taste profiles to supply a wide range of simple meals
Continuously Requested Questions
One of many best and versatile meals you’ll be able to feed to a crowd is pulled pork and shredded brisket. Serve it with buns or tortillas and some sides, and your friends will probably be speaking about your celebration for days.
If you would like an incredible meal to feed 20 individuals, cook dinner BBQ pulled pork. A pork butt often weighs round 7-10 kilos, which is lots for that many individuals. You should use the meat to make BBQ sandwiches, tacos or enchiladas.
The easiest way to inform if the meat is prepared is to shred it with two forks. It ought to collapse while you do this. If it doesn’t, cook dinner it one other half-hour and examine it once more.
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