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
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.
How many appetizers per person for a dinner party? ›
For a one hour party, typically 4 – 5 bites per person would be appropriate. For a two hour party, because people will eat more the first hour than the second, you'll still need the 4-5 bites and also about 2-3 more per person for the second hour so a total of 6-8 bites per person.
How many pieces of food per person for a co*cktail party? ›
Six to eight bites per hour per person seems to be the logical planning number for a co*cktail party, and people will eat more of the more popular foods like cheeses, meats and shrimp. This is a great party to have at 5 p.m., especially since you are not providing dinner.
What is the standard rule of serving appetizers? ›
Appetizers. If you're only serving appetizers or snack food, plan on 4-6 bites per hour per guest. If you're serving a main meal in addition, plan on 6 total appetizers per person.
How do you calculate appetizers? ›
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 many pieces of finger food for a party? ›
co*cktail Party: For a stand-up co*cktail party where finger foods are the main focus and no other substantial meal is served, plan for 10-12 pieces per person per hour. Mixed Event: If your event includes finger foods as appetisers before a meal, aim for 3-5 pieces per person.
How many horderves for 50 people? ›
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.
What's the difference between appetizers and hors d'oeuvres? ›
Time Eaten: Hors d'oeuvres are typically served before the meal even begins, while appetizers tend to indicate the beginning of the meal. An hors d'oeuvre isn't considered to be part of the meal, but appetizers are usually chosen specifically to complement the following courses.
How much food for a co*cktail party for 40 people? ›
The traditional rule is one pound of food per guest.
How many types of appetizers for a co*cktail party? ›
If you're just going to be serving appetizers and co*cktails—and skipping the mains—be sure there is plenty of variety. You can still count on making two servings of each appetizer per person, but plan to make five to seven different types of apps.
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.
What is the basic rule in hors d oeuvres? ›
Hors d'oeuvres are defined as "apart from the main work" and served before sitting down to meal service. They may be hot or cold items. Because they are usually eaten while standing, hors d'oeuvres should be finger food that can be eaten without the use of utensils.
How do you know how much food to serve at a party? ›
Rules to Plan By
Each adult will consume 1 pound of food total; children, about 1/2 pound. The more options you have, the less you need of each; decrease the main course portion sizes by 1 to 2 ounces if served on a buffet. Guests will always eat — and drink — more at night than during the day.
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.
How many trays of appetizers for 100 guests? ›
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 many appetizers for party of 15? ›
Serving sizes to consider for an appetizer party
Another good guideline to follow is to have a selection of five different appetizers if you have between 10 to 12 guests; nine appetizers if you have 25 guests, and if you're really ambitious, a selection of 13 appetizers to serve 50 guests.
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.
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.
