At a get-together, Ina Garten provides insights on suitable food quantities.

The pressure of the holiday season is undeniable, and Ina Garten is here to lend a hand. Besides having numerous dishes suitable for various celebrations, she's now providing some valuable insights for those planning to invite friends and family over in the upcoming weeks.

Garten decided to host an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on her Instagram on December 14, where she responded to a variety of questions from her followers. Some of these queries ranged from useful cooking tips to handy life advice. Leading off the session, the esteemed Barefoot Contessa addressed a query about determining the right amount of food for a crowd, whether for a holiday event or another gathering. Mentioning her past experience as a caterer, she explained, "As a caterer, I always had to figure out how much food to make for 20, or 100, or 200 people."

Thanks to her background in catering, Garten was able to develop a formula for cooking ample food for a group, which she still employs today. She suggested, "For the main course, half a pound per person, and a quarter of a pound per person for the side dishes." This would equate to five pounds for the main dish (such as turkey, steak, fish, or a roast) and roughly 2.5 pounds for the sides, like mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables, for a crowd of 10 this holiday season. You can choose whatever main dish and side dishes you prefer.

While this amount of food should be sufficient for you and your guests, Garten acknowledged the apprehension of running out of food at the holiday table, remarking, "And then, personally, I would double it just to make sure we had enough food." She quickly added, "No, no, I'm not recommending you do that!" Nonetheless, you may want to consider preparing a little extra food or an additional side dish or salad, just in case. In the unlikely event that you end up with an abundance of food, you'll be greeted with some delightful leftovers instead.

When entertaining a large gathering, Garten favors easy yet delectable dishes that cater to everyone's taste buds. "I have one menu that I always make, I call it [the] ‘Getting to Know You Menu,'" she shared, referencing the cookbook where these popular dishes are listed. "It's a rack of lamb and orzo with roasted vegetables."

According to Garten, this trio of dishes has several advantages. As she put it, "I can make it in my sleep, it's absolutely delicious, and it's really easy to prepare."

Intriguingly, Garten announced that her next cookbook will be released in fall 2026, providing more recipes and helpful advice for devoted fans of her culinary endeavors.

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To ensure plenty of Party Food Drink for everyone during the Holidays Entertaining, Ina Garten recommends preparing half a pound of main dish per person and a quarter of a pound of side dishes per person.
RealSimple readers planning a holiday event can draw inspiration from Ina Garten's 'Getting to Know You Menu,' featuring a delectable rack of lamb, orzo, and roasted vegetables.
To cater to diverse taste buds when entertaining a large gathering, Ina Garten often opts for her fail-safe 'Getting to Know You Menu,' which includes a crowd-pleasing rack of lamb and orzo with roasted vegetables.