Fondue Shopping List: Ingredients and Amounts per Person
For cheese fondue as a main course, plan about 7 oz (200 g) of cheese and 7 oz of bread cubes per person. For meat fondue, plan 6 to 7 oz (180 to 200 g) of meat per person. One quart of broth or oil fills a pot for four. Here's the full list and a chart for 4 to 8 guests.
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Fondue night is easy to prep as long as the amounts are right. With cheese fondue, everyone dips bread into melted cheese; with meat fondue, everyone cooks their own bites at the table in hot broth or oil. The two need different shopping lists, so they're split below.
For a broth or oil fondue, guides plan about 9 to 10.5 oz (250 to 300 g) of food to cook per person: 5 to 6 oz of meat or fish and 3.5 to 5 oz of vegetables. Add sauces, bread, pickles and drinks.
Fondue Amounts per Person (Chart for 4, 6 and 8 People)
Amounts for adults when fondue is the main course. Use the lower end with lots of sides and the upper end for big appetites.
| Ingredient | Per person | 4 people | 6 people | 8 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meat (meat-only fondue) | 6–7 oz (180–200 g) | 1.6–1.75 lb | 2.4–2.6 lb | 3.2–3.5 lb |
| Meat or fish with vegetables | 5–6 oz (150–180 g) | 1.3–1.6 lb | 2–2.4 lb | 2.6–3.2 lb |
| Vegetables to cook | 3.5–5 oz (100–150 g) | 0.9–1.3 lb | 1.3–2 lb | 1.75–2.6 lb |
| Broth or oil | – | 1 quart (1 pot) | 1.5 quarts | 2 quarts (2 pots) |
| Cheese (cheese fondue) | 7 oz (200 g) | 1.75 lb | 2.6 lb | 3.5 lb |
| Bread cubes (cheese fondue) | 7 oz (200 g) | 1.75 lb | 2.6 lb | 3.5 lb |
| Dry white wine (cheese fondue) | 3.4 fl oz (100 ml) | 13.5 fl oz | 20 fl oz | 27 fl oz |
As an appetizer, about half is enough (roughly 3.5 oz of cheese per person). Kids usually eat much less.
Fondue Shopping List Checklist
Sorted by fondue type. Making cheese fondue only? Skip the meat, the vegetables to cook and the broth.
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Meat fondue: meat and fish 0/5
Vegetables to cook 0/6
Broth or oil 0/3
Cheese fondue 0/8
For dipping and sides 0/7
Sauces and dips 0/5
Drinks 0/3
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How Much Meat per Person for Fondue?
For a meat-only fondue, plan 6 to 7 oz (180 to 200 g) of meat per person. If you also cook fish and vegetables, 5 to 6 oz of meat or fish plus 3.5 to 5 oz of vegetables per person is enough. Some guides go up to 9 oz and more when there are few sides.
Mix two or three kinds, such as beef, pork and chicken, and cut everything into bite-size cubes so it cooks quickly and evenly. For ten people with few sides, that's about 4 to 4.4 lb of meat.
How Much Cheese per Person for Cheese Fondue?
As a main course, plan about 7 oz (200 g) of cheese per person, up to about 9 oz (250 g) for big eaters. As an appetizer, about 3.5 oz (100 g) is enough. Bread follows the same rule: about 7 oz of bread cubes per person.
A reliable ratio for the pot is 600 g (about 1.3 lb) of grated cheese, 300 ml (about 10 fl oz) of dry white wine, 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of kirsch. By the 7-oz rule, that serves three. Rub the pot with a halved garlic clove first.
Broth or Oil: Which Is Better?
Broth is the lighter option. The meat cooks a little more slowly, and the broth makes a soup at the end of the night. Plan one quart per pot for about four people and keep some extra for topping up.
Oil cooks faster and browns the meat. Use a high-heat oil and pat meat and vegetables dry first, or it will spatter. If you want both, set up two pots.
What Do You Need for Fondue? Sides and Sauces
Meat fondue goes with baguette, a green salad, pickled vegetables like cornichons, baby corn and olives, and two or three sauces. Garlic aioli, cocktail sauce and curry or chili sauce are popular.
With cheese fondue, serve apple and pear slices, grapes and small boiled potatoes alongside the bread. Cornichons and pearl onions add some acidity next to the rich cheese.
Fondue or Raclette?
Both work for long evenings with friends, such as New Year's Eve, because everyone cooks at the table. For raclette, plan 7 to 9 oz of cheese per person plus potatoes; the full list is in the raclette shopping list linked below.
Share the List: Who Brings What?
At a fondue night with friends, guests often bring something. In the Pauly app you dictate the list (“two pounds of beef tenderloin, mushrooms, two baguettes”) and the app sorts it by store section. Share the list by code or link and everyone sees in real time what's covered. Joining is free; creating a shared list needs Pauly Pro.
Sources for these amounts
- The Daily Meal: How much food to buy for a fondue party: At least 7 oz of cheese per person for a full meal
- Henri Willig: Which cheese do you choose for a fondue?: 200 to 250 g of cheese per person as a main course
- lecker.de: Fondue ingredients and amounts (German): Meat and bread per person, broth per pot
Fondue Shopping FAQ
How much meat per person for fondue?
6 to 7 oz (180 to 200 g) for a meat-only fondue. With fish and vegetables, 5 to 6 oz of meat or fish plus 3.5 to 5 oz of vegetables per person.
How much cheese per person for cheese fondue?
About 7 oz (200 g) as a main course and about 3.5 oz (100 g) as an appetizer, plus about 7 oz of bread cubes per person.
How much broth do you need for fondue?
About one quart per pot, which serves four. Keep extra broth on hand, because it reduces over the evening.
How much fondue for 10 people?
About 4.4 lb (2 kg) each of cheese and bread for cheese fondue, or 4 to 4.4 lb of meat for a meat-only fondue.
Can I cut the meat the day before?
Yes. Cube it the day before, keep it covered in the fridge and take it out just before dinner. For oil fondue, pat the pieces dry first.
Can I put this list on my phone?
Yes. In the free Pauly app you type or dictate the ingredients and it sorts them by store section. No account needed.
Your fondue list on your phone in 10 seconds
Dictate the ingredients into the free Pauly app. It sorts everything by category, and you check items off as you shop. For iPhone and Android.