Pigs in Blankets, Roast Potatoes and Turkey Per Person (UK)
Per person, allow 3 pigs in blankets, 200 g of roast potatoes (raw weight) and 675 g of turkey on the bone. Add 80 g each of sprouts, carrots and parsnips, 100 g of stuffing and 150 ml of gravy. The Christmas dinner calculator works out the whole shopping list for your guests.
Christmas dinner portions per person
These are standard portions for a British Christmas dinner with a few vegetables, the same ones the calculator uses. The vegetables are raw weights; the stuffing and gravy are what goes on the table.
| Item | Per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey (whole bird, as bought) | 675 g | 450 g at a minimum, 900 g for plenty of leftovers |
| Roast potatoes | 200 g | 250 g for big roast potato fans |
| Pigs in blankets | 3 | 2 as a small side, 4 to allow for some going missing |
| Brussels sprouts | 80 g | Raw weight, six to eight sprouts |
| Carrots | 80 g | Raw weight, before peeling |
| Parsnips | 80 g | Raw weight, before peeling |
| Stuffing | 100 g | Cooked weight |
| Gravy | 150 ml | |
| Cranberry sauce | 60 g | As a side |
| Christmas pudding | 125 g | The top of the 100 to 125 g range |
Pigs in blankets and roast potatoes by number of guests
All adults. The potatoes are rounded up to the next half kilo, so the same weight often covers both appetites. Each number of guests links to its full shopping list.
| Guests | Pigs at 2 each | At 3 each | At 4 each | Potatoes at 200 g | At 250 g | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | 4 | 6 | 8 | 0.5 kg | 0.5 kg | 1.5 kg |
| 4 people | 8 | 12 | 16 | 1 kg | 1 kg | 3 kg |
| 6 people | 12 | 18 | 24 | 1.5 kg | 1.5 kg | 4.5 kg |
| 8 people | 16 | 24 | 32 | 2 kg | 2 kg | 5.5 kg |
| 10 people | 20 | 30 | 40 | 2 kg | 2.5 kg | 7 kg |
| 12 people | 24 | 36 | 48 | 2.5 kg | 3 kg | 8.5 kg |
| 14 people | 28 | 42 | 56 | 3 kg | 3.5 kg | 9.5 kg |
| 16 people | 32 | 48 | 64 | 3.5 kg | 4 kg | 11 kg |
| 20 people | 40 | 60 | 80 | 4 kg | 5 kg | 13.5 kg |
The turkey for 16 and 20 is more than one bird: from 10 kg the Christmas turkey calculator splits the order into two birds, so 11 kg is two of about 5.5 kg and 13.5 kg is two of about 7 kg.
A worked example: 8 adults and 2 children
Children count as half, so this table eats like 9 adults. Pigs in blankets: 9 × 3 = 27. Roast potatoes: 9 × 200 g = 1,800 g, rounded up to 2 kg. Turkey: 9 × 675 g = 6,075 g, rounded up to a 6.5 kg bird. Put your own numbers in the calculator, set to 8 adults and 2 children, to see the rest of the list.
Why the turkey figure looks generous
The weight is for a whole bird as you buy it, and a good part of that is bone and skin, so 675 g gives a plate of meat with some left over for sandwiches. Choose 450 g a head when there is plenty of other food, or 900 g for cold turkey all week: the Christmas turkey calculator has all three settings, plus thawing and roasting times. A boneless joint has no carcass to weigh, so it goes further than the same weight of whole bird. The Christmas dinner timings plan when the turkey and the roast potatoes go in the oven.
Frequently asked questions
How many pigs in blankets per person?
3 per person is the standard allowance. Make it 4 if they are a favourite or will be eaten straight off the tray, and 2 if they are one small side among many. Count children as half: 8 adults and 2 children need 27.
How many roast potatoes per person for Christmas dinner?
200 g of raw potatoes per person, or 250 g if your family loves roast potatoes. For 10 adults that is 2 kg, or 2.5 kg at 250 g, bought by the half kilo.
How much turkey per person in the UK?
Allow 675 g of whole turkey per person, as bought with the bone in, which leaves some over. 450 g is the minimum when there is plenty of other food, and 900 g gives plenty of leftovers for Boxing Day. The what size turkey for Christmas guide has a chart by guests.
Do children eat a full portion?
The calculator counts each child as half an adult. Four adults and four children come to 6 portions, the same shopping list as 6 people: 18 pigs in blankets and 1.5 kg of roast potatoes.
More guides
Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.
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