How Much Food to Order for Shabbos: A Tray-by-Tray Guide
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Ordering Shabbos food for a crowd is mostly a math problem. Every tray at Poppers Plus lists how many people it serves, so you can plan by headcount instead of guessing. Here are the real serving sizes from our menu, and a simple way to build a full Shabbos table.
Start with your headcount
Count adults and kids separately. Kids usually eat about half an adult portion, so two kids count as roughly one adult. If you're hosting a long Friday night meal with guests, round up rather than down.
Mains: chicken and beef
- Classic chicken fingers, Hot Poppers and other breaded chicken: a 9x13 serves 10-12, a roaster 20-24, a deep roaster 35-40.
- Sesame chicken: 9x13 serves 10-12, roaster 20-25, deep roaster 35-40.
- Brisket and hot pastrami: 9x13 serves 14-16, roaster 30-35.
For a mixed table, plan one main per 10-12 people and offer two different mains once you pass 20 guests.
Fish and soup for Friday night
- Gefilte fish serves 20.
- Soups like barley come in 10 lb (serves 15) or 25 lb (serves 40).
Kugels and sides
- Overnight potato kugel: 9x13 serves 20, roaster 40.
- Yerushalmi kugel: 9x13 serves 20, roaster 40, deep roaster 50.
- Mashed potatoes serve 25. White and yellow rice: a 9x13 serves 20.
Sides go further than mains, so one 9x13 side covers about twice as many people as one 9x13 main.
Shabbos day: cholent
Beef cholent is available Thursdays and Fridays: 9x13 serves 10, roaster 25, deep roaster 45. Pair it with a kugel for Shabbos day.
A sample table for 20
- Gefilte fish (serves 20)
- One 10 lb soup plus a second as backup, or one 25 lb
- Two different chicken 9x13s
- One 9x13 potato kugel and one 9x13 Yerushalmi kugel
- One side, plus dips and salads
- Challah or rolls
Ready to order?
Build your meal from our Shabbos menu, or pick a ready-made Shabbos simcha package. Everything is prepared in Lakewood under the hashgacha of KCL. Choose your date and time at checkout, or call 732-800-6660.