How many pounds of pasta to feed 60-70?

[Disneyfreak]

I'm making pasta to feed a bunch of high school kids after a rehearsal. There will also be meatballs, chicken wings, salad and bread.

[grampart]

You're gonna need a really big pot!

[Disneyfreak]

I made 12 pounds of pasta and 7 nice sized jars of sauce (served on the side). Plus we had meatballs, salad, bread, two kinds of chicken wings, and 1 pan of a ground turkey, elbow macaroni casserole. For dessert we had apple slices, a sheet cake from Costco and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Pretty much all the food went, but I don't think anyone went hungry. The kids got 2nds (and some came up for 3rds) if they wanted.

[RelishPDX]

Thanks for reporting back with the follow-up. 12 lbs. is 3.2 oz. dry pasta per person for 60, 2.74 oz. each for 70 people.

I didn't think I was going crazy suggesting 3 oz. per person with the sides you described.

[Disneyfreak]

People thought I was crazy for cooking 12 pounds. They couldn't imagine cooking that much.

[pinehurst]

You're very cool to have done this!

[Disneyfreak]

Thank you! I am doing it again tonight for another show dinner. I think I will make 12 pounds.

[lisaonthecape]

I'm presently feeding two teenaged boys and also help with feeding their drama club friends at cast parties. I wouldn't do less than 15 pounds of pasta, and a little extra never hurts.

[RelishPDX]

Perhaps I haven't fed hungry high school students in a while, as I'm surprised by the 1/3 lb. answers. That's 5.33 oz. dry per person.

My usual guideline for a main dish is 3 oz. dry pasta per serving, especially if there are accompaniments such as wings, meatballs, bread, etc. I'm a grown adult male, and that's plenty for me.

[hawkeyeui93]

Even by your calculations, it would require 11-13 pounds .... I would err on having a little too much than not enough.

[CCSPRINGS]

These are teenagers so I rounded up a bit. When I was 16, two plates of food was a minimum.

[RelishPDX]

5.33 oz. times 70 divided by 16 is 23 1/3 lbs. of dry pasta. Heck of a lot of food considering there'll be a sauce on it too, then meatballs, wings, salad, and bread.

I'll be interested to see how much of that gets eaten!

[Bada Bing]

Well, 3oz per person would suggest that a 1lb box would be a bit more than needed for 5 people. That might be true in many contexts, but I cook routinely for two teeneagers for whom a whole pound of pasta is barely enough, unless they're seriously supplemented with other proteins and starches.

This meal has other stuff going on, but pasta is pretty cheap, and I'd shoot north of 3oz per person myself.

[ctfoodguy]

That sounds about right 15-20 pounds will do it

[CCSPRINGS]

You are brave. Since there will be bread, salad and meat I would say 1/3 pound per hungry student. So about 20 pounds.