How Much Chicken Per Person BBQ? Complete Guide

How Much Chicken per Person for BBQ?

Chicken is one of the most popular BBQ dishes — but how much do you actually need? The answer varies per cut of chicken. A whole chicken looks large but yields less meat than you might think. Chicken thighs are more compact but juicier. On this page, we explain exactly how much to buy per cut, per group size, and how much rub you need.

The Rule of Thumb for Chicken on the BBQ

  • As a main course: count on 300–400 grams raw weight per person
  • As part of a larger BBQ menu: count on 150–200 grams raw weight per person
  • For big eaters: count on 400–500 grams raw weight per person

Chicken shrinks by approximately 20–25% during grilling — less than pork, but keep it in mind.

How Much Chicken per Person per Cut

Whole Chicken

Number of People Number of Chickens Raw Weight
2 people 1 chicken approx. 1.5 kg
4 people 1–2 chickens approx. 1.5–3 kg
6 people 2 chickens approx. 3 kg
8 people 2–3 chickens approx. 3–4.5 kg
10 people 3 chickens approx. 4.5 kg

→ Whole chicken on the BBQ — recipe

Chicken Thighs (bone-in, skin-on)

Number of People Number of Thighs Raw Weight
2 people 4–6 thighs approx. 600–900 g
4 people 8–10 thighs approx. 1.2–1.5 kg
6 people 12–14 thighs approx. 1.8–2.1 kg
8 people 16–18 thighs approx. 2.4–2.7 kg
10 people 20–22 thighs approx. 3–3.3 kg

→ Chicken thighs on the BBQ — recipe

Chicken Wings

Use Per Person For 4 People For 10 People
As an appetizer/snack 4–6 pieces (approx. 250 g) approx. 1 kg approx. 2.5 kg
As a main course 8–10 pieces (approx. 500 g) approx. 2 kg approx. 5 kg

→ Chicken wings on the BBQ — recipe

Drumsticks

Number of People Number of Drumsticks Raw Weight
2 people 4–6 pieces approx. 500–700 g
4 people 8–10 pieces approx. 1–1.2 kg
6 people 12–14 pieces approx. 1.5–1.7 kg
10 people 20–22 pieces approx. 2.5–2.7 kg

→ Chicken drumsticks on the BBQ — recipe

Pulled Chicken

Pulled chicken shrinks by approximately 25–30%. Count on 200–250 grams cooked meat per person — buy approximately 300–350 grams raw per person.

→ Pulled chicken recipe

How much dry rub do you need for chicken?

Use approximately 15 grams of rub per kilo of raw weight for chicken — that's about 2 tablespoons per kilo.

Chicken Raw Weight Rub Needed Recommended Bag Size
1 whole chicken approx. 1.5 kg 25–30 g 50g bag
2 whole chickens approx. 3 kg 45–60 g 100g bag
Chicken thighs (4 pers.) approx. 1.2 kg 20–25 g 50g bag
Wings (4 pers. snack) approx. 1 kg 15–20 g 50g bag
Chicken for large group (10+) approx. 4 kg 60–80 g 100g bag

→ More about how much rub to use per kilo of meat
→ Chicken on the BBQ: how long and at what temperature?

Tips for Chicken for Large Groups

  • Chicken thighs over whole chicken — easier to portion, more even cooking, and more forgiving
  • Make more than you think you need — chicken is always eaten quickly
  • Marinate in advance — rub in the spices the night before for the deepest flavor
  • Multiple BBQ sessions — for 10+ people: grill in batches and keep warm in the oven at 80°C
  • Pulled chicken for large groups — easy to prepare and reheat

Frequently Asked Questions

How much chicken for 10 people BBQ?

As a main course: 3–4 kg raw — 3 whole chickens, or approximately 20 chicken thighs, or approximately 2.5 kg of wings as an appetizer.

How much chicken for 20 people BBQ?

As a main course: 6–8 kg raw — 5–6 whole chickens or approximately 40 chicken thighs. Consider pulled chicken for large groups — easier to prepare.

Which chicken cut is easiest for large groups?

Chicken thighs — they are more forgiving than chicken breast, easier to portion than whole chicken, and cook more evenly than drumsticks.

More Quantity Guides

Ready to Order?

Choose the right amount of rub for your group: