How much green bean casserole for 20 people?
For 20 people at ½ cup each plus 10% extra, make about 2.8 qt of green bean casserole (5.5 lb) — 1 pan.
How to work it out
- 20 adults × 1.1 (appetite & extra) = 22 servings × 4 oz (about ½ cup) = 5.5 lb
- 2.8 qt ÷ about 4 qt per half-size pan = 1 pan
Green bean casserole is the vegetable side on many Thanksgiving tables, which means it shares the plate with five or six other dishes. A standard ½ cup scoop each is plenty.
Adjust for your project
More options: Kids · Extra
- Finished dish by volume
- 2.8 qt · green beans (0.7 gal)
- Half-size pans, 2½ in deep (about 4 qt each)
- 1 pan · green beans
- Servings (incl. extra)
- 22 servings · green beans
- Per adult serving
- 4 oz (about ½ cup)
- Perishable food should not sit out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90 °F / 32 °C). Keep hot food at 140 °F (60 °C) or above and cold food at 40 °F (4 °C) or below (USDA FSIS).
This side dish by number of guests
| Guests | Finished dish (approx.) | Finished dish by volume |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2.8 lb | 1.4 qt |
| 20 | 5.5 lb | 2.8 qt |
| 30 | 8.3 lb | 4.1 qt |
| 50 | 13.8 lb | 6.9 qt |
| 75 | 20.6 lb | 10.3 qt |
| 100 | 27.5 lb | 13.8 qt |
| 150 | 41.3 lb | 20.6 qt |
Half a cup each, about 11 cups in all
Iowa State Extension plans side dishes at 4 to 6 oz per person, and quantity tables use ½ cup as the standard side serving. For twenty guests with 10% extra, that is 22 servings — about 11 cups, or 2¾ quarts. One half-size steam-table pan 2½ in deep holds about 4 quarts, so it fits with room to bubble; two smaller baking dishes work too.
| Guests | Servings (+10%) | Casserole | Half-size pans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 9 | about 1¼ qt | 1 |
| 12 | 14 | about 1¾ qt | 1 |
| 20 | 22 | about 2¾ qt | 1 |
| 40 | 44 | about 5½ qt | 2 |
Holiday tips
- With many sides, go lighter. On a seven-side Thanksgiving table, set the appetite to light — people take a spoonful of everything.
- Assemble ahead, bake on the day. Keep the assembled casserole refrigerated and add the crispy topping just before baking so it stays crisp.
- Oven space is the real limit. Bake it while the turkey rests, or in a second oven.
- Reheat leftovers to 165 °F (74 °C), and refrigerate them within 2 hours.
The rest of the holiday table: how much gravy for 50 people, how much mashed potatoes for 100 people and how big a turkey for 20 people.
Different size? Use the full Side Dish Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Disposable aluminum pans (half size)Budget price
For cooking, carrying and serving sides and pulled meat for a crowd. Lids make them easy to stack in a car or cooler.
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Frequently asked questions
How much green bean casserole for 12 people?
About 1.7 qt — 1 pan.
How much stuffing for 40 people?
About 5.5 qt of stuffing (11 lb) at ½ cup each with 10% extra.
How much green bean casserole for 40 people?
About 5.5 qt — 2 pans.
Other common sizes
- How much mashed potatoes for 100 people — 27.5 lb (39.6 lb raw potatoes)
- How much mac and cheese for 50 people — 5.5 lb dry macaroni (6.9 qt finished)
- How much potato salad for 50 people — 16.5 lb (about 6.9 qt)
- How much baked beans for 50 people — 11 qt (24.8 lb)
- How much gravy for 50 people — 3 qt
Sources
- Clay County, Minnesota — Amounts of food to serve fifty (cooking for large groups) (opens in a new tab) — Quantity table for 50 servings, built on a 3 oz cooked meat serving; sides, rolls, desserts, punch and lemonade.
- Iowa State University Extension (AnswerLine) — Graduation party tips (opens in a new tab) — Per person: sandwich meat 3–4 oz, sliders 1.5–2 oz, burgers 4–6 oz, sides 4–6 oz; 1 to 1.5 lb of food per guest; soda 2 cans and water 2 bottles per hour; punch 6 oz.
- University of Missouri Extension — In a Pinch: Food Yields (MP563) (opens in a new tab) — 1 lb of potatoes gives 1¾–2 cups mashed; 1 cup of dry macaroni gives 2–2¼ cups cooked.