Chicken is a versatile and popular choice for dinner. But how much should you cook for two people? The answer depends on a few factors.
Appetites and Portion Sizes
First, consider the appetites of who will be eating. The general recommended portion size for chicken is around 6 ounces per person. This provides a healthy and filling amount of protein. However, if you are serving larger or more active appetites you may want to plan for 8-12 ounces of chicken per diner. When in doubt, err on the side of having leftovers rather than not enough food.
Here are some general chicken portion guidelines per person:
| Appetite/Diner | Portion Size |
|---|---|
| Child | 3-4 ounces |
| Average Adult | 6-8 ounces |
| Large or Active Appetite | 8-12 ounces |
Types of Cuts
The cut of chicken you select will also determine how much you need to purchase. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts tend to be the leanest and often stretch farthest in recipes. On the other hand, bone-in cuts like chicken thighs and drumsticks usually require a larger starting amount to yield the same amount of finished, edible chicken.
Here are some estimates for raw amounts needed for two 6-8 oz portions, depending on cut:
| Cut | Amount for 2 portions |
|---|---|
| Boneless, skinless breasts | 1 pound |
| Bone-in breasts | 1.25-1.5 pounds |
| Bone-in thighs | 1.25-1.5 pounds |
| Drumsticks | 1.5-2 pounds |
Cooking Method
The cooking method will also affect finished yields slightly. Dry heat methods like roasting, grilling, sautéing, or pan frying typically result in a bit more moisture loss versus methods like poaching, braising, or slow cooking in liquid. For example, the same 1 pound of raw boneless breasts may yield just 12-14 oz cooked over direct dry heat but closer to the full 16 oz cooked gently in liquid.
To maximize yield for dry cooking methods, factor in about 0.25-0.5 lbs extra per person. For moist methods, you can more closely match the raw amounts to desired cooked portions.
Side Dishes and Appetites
Consider side dishes when determining your chicken amounts. If serving with multiple hearty side dishes like potatoes, rice, pasta or breads, you may be able to get away with slightly smaller chicken portions. On the other hand, with lighter sides like a salad or vegetables only, larger portions of chicken may be warranted.
Also think about whether chicken will be the only main protein source of the meal. If serving fish or another meat alongside, smaller 4-6 oz individual portions may be adequate.
Leftovers
Finally, leftovers aren’t a bad thing with chicken! Shredded or cubed chicken works great for salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more the next day. Buying a bit extra can help stretch your meals further throughout the week.
Summary
In summary, the ideal chicken amount for two 6-8 oz portions is generally:
- 1-1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless breasts
- 1.25-2 pounds of bone-in cuts like thighs or drumsticks
But factor in your diners’ appetites, side dishes, cooking method and tolerance for leftovers. When starting out, it’s better to have too much than not enough. With practice, you’ll find the perfect chicken quantities for your two-person dinners.
Here is a quick reference table as a recap:
| Type of Chicken | Portion Size | Amount for 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Boneless breasts | 6-8 oz | 1-1.5 lbs |
| Bone-in breasts | 6-8 oz | 1.25-1.5 lbs |
| Bone-in thighs | 6-8 oz | 1.25-1.5 lbs |
| Drumsticks | 6-8 oz | 1.5-2 lbs |
Happy cooking! With the proper amounts, you’ll have perfectly portioned chicken for two each time.
Chicken is one of the most commonly consumed meats around the world. In the United States alone, chicken consumption has increased steadily over the past few decades, rising from 30 pounds per capita in 1960 to over 90 pounds per capita in 2018 according to the National Chicken Council. Clearly, chicken is a dinner staple in many households.
There are good reasons for chicken’s popularity. It’s versatile, lean and packed with protein. Chicken can be grilled, roasted, sautéed, baked and broiled. It pairs well with a wide variety of flavors and ingredients. Boneless, skinless breasts are low in fat and calories. And as a generally budget-friendly meat, chicken delivers excellent nutritional value affordably.
When cooking for two people at home, determining how much chicken to purchase and prepare can be tricky. You want to cook just enough to satisfy without having too many leftovers or not enough food. Paying attention to a few key factors can help you nail down just the right quantity for your needs.
Purpose of the Meal
First, consider the role chicken will play in the meal. Is it the main feature, part of a larger spread, or one component of a recipe?
If chicken is the undisputed star – served on its own, with simple sides – plan for larger 6-8 ounce portions per person. Leaner cuts like boneless, skinless breasts or tenderloins are good choices here. Budget 10-12 ounces raw weight per person.
For meals where chicken plays a supporting role, such as in pastas, sandwiches, salads etc, you can get away with less meat per serving. Four ounces cooked chicken can be sufficient as part of a more complex dish. In this case, bone-in thighs or drumsticks are economical options requiring 12-16 ounces raw per person.
In some recipes like soups, stews or curries, chicken may be paired with other proteins like beans or meat. For these meals, balance cost and quantity needed per serving when selecting your cut. Opt for bone-in or boneless cuts in the 8-12 ounce raw range for each diner.
Type of Cuts
Speaking of cuts, the variety of chicken you choose directly impacts how much you need to purchase. Bonless, skinless breasts and tenderloins offer the most concentrated meat-to-bone ratio and require smaller starting quantities. Parts with bones like thighs or drumsticks yield less edible chicken per pound, so you need more to hit serving targets.
Here are typical raw weights required per 6-8 oz cooked portion:
- Boneless, skinless breasts – 8-12 oz
- Chicken tenderloins – 8-12 oz
- Bone-in breasts – 12-16 oz
- Bone-in thighs – 12-16 oz
- Drumsticks – 16-20 oz
While boneless cuts involve less prep work, bone-in varieties offer more flavor and juiciness. Mix it up based on the needs of your recipes, budget and preferences.
Appetites
Think about your diners when meal planning too. Are you serving growing teenagers, hearty eaters, or those with smaller appetites like kids or seniors?
For larger appetites, lean towards the higher end of portion sizes and overall quantities. Teen boys or active adults may happily consume 10-12 ounces chicken at dinner. Buying 1 1⁄2 – 2 pounds total will give flexibility.
For lighter eaters like children or the elderly, lower your target cooked portion to 4-6 ounces each. In these cases, 1 pound raw chicken can easily feed two.
When in doubt, allow extra. Leftover chicken keeps and reheats well for lunches or future meals. You can also stretch smaller amounts further with generous veggie sides.
Cooking Method
How you cook your chicken will impact finished yields slightly. Dry cooking methods like grilling, roasting, pan searing and sautéing drive off all or some of the natural moisture in raw chicken. The end cooked meat weighs less than what you started with.
For example, if you grill a pound of boneless breasts over high heat, you may end up with just 12-14 ounces fully cooked. With drier methods, allow for about 20% loss through cooking. So increase raw amounts by 1⁄4 pound per person as a buffer.
Meanwhile, moist cooking methods like poaching, braising or slow cooking in liquid minimize moisture loss. Buying a pound of thighs to poach or braise can yield almost the entire pound ready to eat. You can more accurately match raw quantities to desired cooked portion sizes.
Side Dishes
Factor side dishes into your chicken calculations as well. If serving chicken breasts with hearty accompaniments like pasta or potatoes, you likely need less meat – 4 to 6 oz per person is often plenty.
With lighter sides like salads or veggies only, bump up chicken amounts closer to that 8 oz target portion to ensure satisfaction. And if making chicken the solo attraction with crumbs or condiments only, go for the full 10-12 oz boneless or 14-16 oz bone-in to guarantee fulfillment.
Number of Main Proteins
When serving chicken alongside fish, meat or other proteins, you can decrease individual portion sizes somewhat. Offering 4-6 oz chicken breast alongside a beef burger or salmon fillet makes for a varied, balanced meal.
Just ensure your sides can stretch to compensate. Beans, grains, bread and hearty vegetables are smart fillers if going lighter on chicken quantities.
Leftovers
Finally, remain open to leftovers! Shredded or diced leftover chicken is endlessly useful. Repurpose it in soups, salads, wraps, rice bowls and more throughout the week.
Overestimating slightly guarantees you have chicken ready for future meals. And today’s properly portioned leftovers are the antidote to ordering delivery or takeout when you don’t feel like cooking later in the week.
Key Considerations
To recap, keep the following factors in mind when calculating how much chicken to make for two:
- Main feature vs supporting role
- Type of cut and bone-in vs boneless
- Diners’ appetites
- Cooking method
- Side dishes
- Number of main proteins
- Leftover possibilities
Armed with this knowledge, you can confidently shop for and prepare the perfect quantity of chicken for your two-person dinners. Aim for 8-12 oz raw boneless or 12-16 oz raw bone-in per person as a starting guide. Then adjust depending on your specific meal plan. Don’t be afraid to have extra – leftovers last for quick lunches or dinners later in the week. Follow these tips for properly portioned chicken every time.
Chicken is a dinner staple for good reason – it’s versatile, nutritious and budget-friendly. Getting the right amount for two is all about factoring in your menu, your diners, and a bit of flexibility. Keep these guidelines in mind when planning chicken for two. Before long, you’ll have a sense for exactly how much chicken truly satisfies for any meal. Enjoy putting this knowledge into delicious practice in your kitchen!