How much meat do you need?
Pick the meat. Pick the cut. Tell us who's coming. We'll tell you exactly how many pounds to buy.
Start Calculating ↓The Butcher's Math
Bone-in. Figure one rib bone per two guests.
Plan the whole meal
Tell us when dinner is served. We'll turn the 10.5 lb of prime rib into a shopping list and an hour-by-hour cook plan.
- 1:20 PMSame day
Oven: Prime Rib in at 325°F
- 3:00 PMSame day
Assemble and bake the stuffing
- 3:30 PMSame day
Boil, drain and mash the potatoes
- 4:00 PMSame day
Pull the prime rib, wrap it and let it rest
- 4:00 PMSame day
Make the gravy from the drippings
- 4:00 PMSame day
Trim, blanch and toss the green beans
- 4:15 PMSame day
Cook the corn
- 4:30 PMSame day
Warm the rolls in the oven
- 4:30 PMSame day
Wash, toss and dress the salad
- 4:35 PMSame day
Carve and slice the prime rib
- 4:45 PMSame day
Plate the cranberry sauce
- 5:00 PMSame day
Set the pies out for dessert
- 5:00 PMSame day
Chill the drinks and fill the ice bucket
- 5:00 PMSame day
Dinner is served
Times are guides, not law. Trust a probe thermometer over a clock every time.
Holiday cooking guides
See all guides →How Much Turkey Per Person?
The short answer is 1.5 pounds of whole turkey per person. Here's the chart, the kid math, and when to buy two birds instead of one.
Read guide ThanksgivingHow Long to Thaw a Turkey
One day in the fridge for every 4 to 5 pounds. Here's the chart, the cold water rescue plan, and the exact day to start for Thanksgiving 2026.
Read guide SmokingHow Long to Smoke a Turkey
About 20 to 25 minutes per pound at 275°F. Here's the time chart, the done temp, the best wood, and how to keep the skin from going rubbery.
Read guide ChristmasHow Much Prime Rib Per Person?
One bone feeds two people. Here's the size chart, how much to buy boneless, and when to pull the roast for a perfect medium rare.
Read guide
Whole turkey per guest. Bones are heavy.
Boneless meat per adult. The pitmaster's rule.
What brisket and pork butt lose on the smoker.