How much chili

[horn section]

How many pounds of meat do you think I would need to feed about 15-20 people. I am gonna use moslty beef but will use a couple pounds of deer. There will be beans on the side for whomever wants them and cornbread, but no other sides.

I think I am gonna make it on Sunday and just reheat it for the game on Monday. I was hoping it was gonna be cooler but oh well. It is a pretty good size pot and not sure if it will fit in my fridge. I was wondering if i covered it and set it in an ice chest, surrounded by ice, if it would be cool eniugh. If not I will have to take it to my parents and leave it in there fridge over night. Thanks in advance.

 

[Napoleon]

There's probably going to be so much salt in the stuff that you could leave it on the stove overnight and not worry about it, but whatever.

I don't know the cooking questions.

(No chopped onions or cheddar cheese on the side?)

Will you have a whole mess of tortilla chips in case people want to scoop it up with a chip instead of a spoon?

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

 

[horn section]

There will be cheese and fritos on the side and some crackers

 

[CanaTigers]

I usually go with 1/4 to 1/3 lb meat per person when making chili for a crowd. Crackers, fritos, cheese, onions and sour cream are the only sides I put out. Go with the little bags of fritos for in the bag frito pie and saves on the clean up or paper bowls.

 

[l00p]

For me two pounds yields six good servings, sometimes five if the servings are bigger.

But plan on some people wanting more than one serving or bowl and for you wanting leftovers. If you are making for 15, really plan on 20.

 

[THEU]

horn section,
It depends a bit on your recipe. I put very little 'filler' in my chili, so that would up the meat content just a bit. Sounds like you will have a pretty 'authentic' chili since you said you were having beans on the side even.
Part of the amount depends on the make up of your crowd? Lots of big college age guys? Or little old ladies eating?

As a general rule of thumb I would do 6 oz of meat (roughly the 1/4 to 1/3 lb mentioned above) per person. If you know you have some big eaters you might want to up it to 8 oz. Some will eat less some will eat more. Remember that chili freezes well also, so if you make some extra to be eaten within the next 3 months you might want to consider doing a bit more than just for Monday night.
Actually, if you freeze the chili for not too long, it might be even better!

 

[12thStudStan]

I would go with at least 1/3lb up to 1/2lb per person and just freeze the leftovers.

A couple of days ago I made chili with 9lbs of meat for 18 along with venison tamales and chicken enchiladas plus lots of appetizers and sides and there was only about 2-3 servings of chili left. Granted there were several males between the ages of 16-19 in the group, which can play hell with portioning rules of thumbs, but I would much rather plan for leftovers than come up short.