Brunch Menu and Shopping List: How Much Food per Person
For a brunch crowd, plan about 2 eggs, 2 thick or 3 thin slices of bacon (or 2 sausage links) and one large pastry per person, plus roughly 5 oz of fruit. Use the chart for 6, 12 or 20 guests and the checklist for everything else.
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Brunch has lots of small items, and that's where the math slips: two dozen eggs too many, or the bagels gone by eleven. Per-person amounts keep the spread generous without a fridge full of leftovers.
The amounts below assume a full spread: eggs, a breakfast meat, potatoes, pastries and fruit. If you add a casserole or a waffle bar, use the lower end.
Brunch Amounts per Person (Chart for 6, 12 and 20 Guests)
Amounts for adults at a brunch with several dishes.
| Item | Per person | 6 guests | 12 guests | 20 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (scrambled) | 2 | 12 | 24 | 40 |
| Bacon | 2 thick or 3 thin slices | 12–18 slices | 24–36 slices | 40–60 slices |
| Sausage links | 2 | 12 | 24 | 40 |
| Large pastries, scones or bagels | 1 | 6 | 12 | 20 |
| Or small pastries and donuts | about 1.3 | 8 | 16 | 26 |
| Fruit salad | about 5 oz | about 2 lb | about 3.75 lb | about 6.25 lb |
| Hash browns | about 6.4 oz | about 2.4 lb | about 4.8 lb | about 8 lb |
Scaled down from a catering guide for 100 guests. Round up rather than down.
Brunch Shopping Checklist
Cross off what you won't serve. Bagels and pastries can be bought the day before.
0 / 35 done
Eggs and breakfast meats 0/4
Bread and pastries 0/4
Potatoes and savory 0/3
Sweet 0/5
Fruit 0/4
Spreads 0/5
Drinks 0/6
Hosting 0/4
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How Many Eggs per Person for Brunch?
For scrambled eggs, plan about two eggs per person. A catering guide for 100 guests calls for 16 to 18 dozen eggs, which works out to roughly two each. If you also serve an egg casserole or quiche, you can cut back.
How Much Bacon and Sausage per Person?
Plan two thick-cut or three thin slices of bacon per person, or two sausage links or patties.
Pastries, Potatoes and Fruit
Count one large pastry, scone or bagel per person, or about 1.3 small pastries or donuts. For hash browns, plan about 6.4 oz per person, and about 5 oz of fruit salad.
Brunch Menu Ideas
Pick one direction and the shopping list follows. The chart above works for all four.
Classic
Scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, fruit salad, coffee and orange juice.
Make-ahead
Overnight French toast casserole, an egg bake, muffins and fruit salad, all prepared the night before.
Bagel bar
Bagels, cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, red onion and tomatoes.
Sweet
Pancakes or waffles with berries and whipped cream, plus yogurt parfaits with granola.
What to Make the Night Before
Cut the fruit, assemble the egg casserole, bake muffins and set the table. In the morning you only bake, brew coffee and cook the bacon.
Share the List
Hosting with a partner or friend? Share the shopping list in the Pauly app by code or link, and whoever is at the store sees what the other one added. Creating the shared list needs Pauly Pro; joining is free.
Sources for these amounts
- Ellen's Kitchen: Planning breakfast for 100: Eggs, bacon, sausage, pastries, fruit and hash browns per person
Brunch Shopping FAQ
How many eggs per person for brunch?
About two eggs per person for scrambled eggs.
How much bacon per person?
Two thick-cut or three thin slices per person.
How many pastries per person?
One large pastry, scone or bagel per person, or about 1.3 small pastries.
How much food for a brunch for 20?
About 40 eggs, 40 to 60 slices of bacon or 40 sausage links, 20 large pastries, about 6 lb of fruit salad and 8 lb of hash browns.
What can I make the night before?
Fruit salad, an egg casserole or overnight French toast, muffins and any dips or spreads.
Can I put this list on my phone?
Yes. In the free Pauly app you type or dictate the items and it sorts them by store section. No account needed.
Your brunch list on your phone in 10 seconds
Dictate your groceries into the free Pauly app. It sorts everything by store section, and you check items off as you shop. For iPhone and Android.