Bon Manzé How much meat per person?
It's THE question we get every week on WhatsApp: "we're 8, how much should I get?". Too little and the barbecue ends early; too much and you waste a product that deserves better. Here are the portions we use ourselves to advise our customers — tested on dozens of real orders.
The short answer: allow 350–450 g of raw meat per adult for a barbecue, 300–400 g for a steak served as the main, 200–250 g for a simmered dish (curry, rougaille), and 180–220 g of fish fillet. For children, halve it. The full detail is in the chart below.
The quantities chart
Weights are raw, per person. The "for 6 adults" examples use the middle of each range.
| Type of meal | Per adult | Per child | Example for 6 adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbecue / grill | 350–450 g | 150–200 g | 2.4 kg (mixed cuts) |
| Steak as the main (côte de bœuf, ribeye) | 300–400 g | 150 g | 2 kg |
| Simmered dish (curry, rougaille, stew) | 200–250 g | 100–125 g | 1.4 kg |
| Meal-soup (halim, broth) | 125–150 g | 75 g | 850 g |
| Whole roast chicken | ¼ chicken | ⅛ chicken | 2 × 1.5 kg chickens |
| Fish fillet | 180–220 g | 100 g | 1.2 kg |
| Whole fish (head and bones on) | 350–400 g | 200 g | 2.2 kg |
| Seafood (prawns) | 200–250 g | 100 g | 1.4 kg |
| Burgers | 1–2 patties (150 g each) | 1 patty | 9 patties |
| Skewers | 2–3 skewers | 1 skewer | 15 skewers |
Meat loses 20–30% of its weight in cooking (water and rendered fat). 400 g raw ≈ 300 g on the plate — already a very generous portion.
The 3 adjustments that change everything
- Sides count. Rice, lentils, salads, bread: the more there are, the lower in the range you can aim. A meat-focused barbecue with friends: aim high.
- How long the meal lasts. An all-afternoon barbecue consumes more than a seated dinner — the grill keeps going as long as people stay. Add 100 g per adult if it's going to last.
- Mixing the cuts. For a group, combine: one showpiece to share (côte de bœuf, tomahawk), reliable crowd-pleasers (skewers, sausages), and one discovery (Wagyu burgers). Everyone builds their plate and nothing is left over.
And for big occasions?
Wedding, birthday, end-of-year party: beyond 15 guests, leftovers are easier to manage — aim for the low end of the ranges and add one 1 kg "buffer" cut you can freeze if it doesn't go. Vacuum-packed meat keeps for months in the freezer without losing quality.
On calcule pour vous
Dites-nous combien vous êtes et ce que vous cuisinez — on compose le panier aux bonnes quantités, livré partout à Maurice.
Frequently asked questions
How much meat per person for a barbecue?
350–450 g of raw meat per adult, 150–200 g per child. For 6 adults, allow about 2.4 kg with a mix of cuts (one sharing piece, skewers, sausages).
How much meat for a curry or rougaille?
200–250 g per adult: the rice, lentils and sauce complete the dish. For a pot serving 6, 1.4 kg of shin or chuck is enough.
How much fish per person?
180–220 g as fillets, or 350–400 g as whole fish (head and bones weigh). For 6 guests, one 2 kg whole fish or 1.2 kg of fillets.
Raw or cooked — which weight counts?
Always raw — that's the weight you buy. Cooking loses 20–30%: 400 g raw gives about 300 g on the plate.
What to do with leftover raw meat?
Vacuum-packed meat freezes for months without losing quality. Freeze flat on delivery day and thaw overnight in the fridge, never at room temperature.