Bread For a Large Group (Here’s Exactly How Much You Need)

Bread is the staple of human agricultural development, and at its best, it is the perfect appetizer for a luxurious meal. How much of this delicious bread should be served per person?

During a dinner meal, there is a recommended 2 slices of bread per person. If a healthier bread is chosen, the serving size is 1 slice due to its density. It is recommended by nutritionists to have 1 slice of 100% whole grain bread; however, expect a common serving size of 2 to 4 slices.

To understand how to divide out bread for a gathering, the health factors behind bread, and the best meals to pair bread with, continue reading below.

What is the Most Common Serving of Bread Per Person?

When attending a get-together, you’re constantly snacking, slowly filling up on what should have been your dinner. Snacking foods comprise fruit, desserts, turkey, savory delights, and, of course, bread. When planning out this kind of get-together, how much bread should you plan for?

For starters, a general loaf of sandwich bread has 20 to 24 slices. Specialty or fancy bread has about 16 slices per loaf. For a small party, I estimated guests to eat 2 to 3 slices of bread as an appetizer. For easy math, let’s say you plan on having 2 slices of bread per guest. If you have 20 people coming and are using fancy bread, I recommend you to purchase two loaves. (Source)

For a clear-cut answer, the most common serving of bread per person would be 2 slices. Unfortunately, life is not this black and white and this kind of answer will depend on factors such as how many guests are coming, what kind of bread you are purchasing, if there will be other appetizers, and how long the event goes for. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)

For a clear-cut answer, the most common serving of bread per person would be 2 slices. Unfortunately, life is not this black and white and this kind of answer will depend on factors such as how many guests are coming, what kind of bread you are purchasing, if there will be other appetizers, and how long the event goes for.

Here is an easy-to-read chart that can help you decipher how much bread each guest will need.

Food Up to 10 guests 10 to 20 guests 20 to 30 guests 30 to 40 guests 40 to 50 guests
Rolls or bread slices20 pieces40 pieces60 pieces80 pieces100 pieces
(SourceOpens in a new tab.)

Is Eating Bread Healthy?

You’re at your favorite Italian restaurant. The server brings out a plate of warm, complimentary bread alongside a small bowl of olive oil and balsamic. You’re pretty hungry and hoping that this bread will fill your empty stomach. How much should you eat of this fancy bread or should you even eat it at all?

Homemade croissants with homemade jam and butter.
Homemade croissants with homemade jam and butter.

To answer this question, we need to know one thing: is bread healthy?

Whole grain bread gives us more minerals, vitamins, and fiber than refined white bread. Bread is a filling substance and while the sound of what makes the whole grain so healthy sounds appealing, too much of one thing is not a good idea. In fact, too much bread can lead to unhealthy weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and inconveniently enough, a gluten intolerance. (Source)

But it is okay to eat bread! Eating bread is not a bad thing or directly linked to all health issues. While we can link starchy or refined grains to weight gain based on the situation, the bread itself is not the cause of your demise. Know that, like anything, there are risks to what you put in your body depending on your lifestyle.

If you take anything away from this paragraph, know that bread is not dangerously unhealthy. It’s alright to eat the fancy bread at that Italian restaurant. 3 slices are the recommended serving size for appetizer breads.

(SourceOpens in a new tab.)

What is the Best Bread to Serve at a Party?

If you’re wanting some fancy bread for your gathering, here is a list of the best kinds of bread to purchase or make. Listed below are popular types of bread that go with many dishes. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)

Slices cut off from fresh banana bread on a wooden cutting board.
Slices cut off from fresh banana bread on a wooden cutting board.
  1. French Bread
    • One slice of French bread should be 1.6 ounces, 45 grams, and 100 calories. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
    • French bread is a great year-round choice as it can go with most meals and is a crowd pleaser.
  2. Sourdough
    • One slice of sourdough is 2.3 ounces, 65 grams, and 140 calories. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
    • Suitable for Fall and pared with soups or dips.
  3. Pumpkin Bread
    • One slice of pumpkin bread is 60 grams and 178 calories. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
    • Most popular during Fall. It is definitely a dessert bread, but it’s a cult classic.
    • StarbucksOpens in a new tab. and KneadersOpens in a new tab. have the most popular pumpkin bread that is sold commercially.
  4. Banana Bread
    • One slice of banana bread is 27 grams and 158 calories. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
    • Another popular dessert, banana bread, is a good choice for summer, as this dish is sweet and light in the stomach.
  5. Focaccia Bread
    • One slice of focaccia bread is 57 grams and 142 calories. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
    • A nice alternative to breakfast toast or croissants.
    • Focaccia is a healthy option because it does not contain classic white sugar and is made with extra virgin olive oil that gives us healthy fats.
  6. Pita Bread
    • One slice of pita bread is 39 grams and 90 calories. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
    • This is one of the world’s oldest forms of carbohydrates. It’s an organic and healthy alternative to appetizer bread.
    • Pita bread goes well with hummus.
    • Pita bread aids digestion, lowers glucose levels and serves as a healthy source of protein.
  7. Naan Bread
    • One slice of naan bread is 90 grams and a solid 262 calories. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
    • Naan offers a good amount of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins B1 and B3.
    • Store-bought naan bread may be high in sodium and saturated fat.
  8. Classic Dinner Rolls
    • One classic dinner roll is 100 grams and 84 calories. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
    • A popular year-round choice that pairs nicely with most dinners.
    • Not considered the fanciest bread choice, but it is a good start, especially when on a budget.

What are the Best Bread Toppings?

Butter

Butter block and knife on a wooden cutting board.
Butter block and knife on a wooden cutting board.
  • Butter is another cult classic. It’s perfect for your morning toast and arguably the best topping for any bread choice because its taste is so universal.

Goat Cheese

  • Goat cheese is a good topping for a party because it is sophisticated without having a strong taste. It can be paired with anything sweet or savory, from avocado to strawberries.

Hummus

  1. Hummus is another great appetizer for a gathering with an older audience.
  • Hummus can be an acquired taste, but is a more sophisticated option than butter.

Almond Butter

Butter block and knife on a wooden cutting board.
Butter block and knife on a wooden cutting board.
  • Almond butter is a beefier and healthier alternative to butter.
  • Although popular among health enthusiasts, almond butter can be sweetened with honey and enjoyed by those with a sweet tooth.
  • You can use almond butter as a topping for traditional sandwich bread, bagels, English muffins, pancakes or waffles. Almond butter is a better daily topping compared to the appetizer.

Where Can You Buy Large Quantities of Bread?

I would recommend going to your local or closest bakery for some quality-assured bread. However, this can be expensive depending on quantity and your location. Local grocery stores typically have a bakery inside them that may be less costly than a stand-alone bakery. 

Costco is another viable option. This franchise is known for selling items in bulk, so for larger events, Costco may be your best friend. There are also bakeries that will ship their products to your home, such as

Zingerman’s Bakehouse, La Farm Bakery, Russ & DaughterOpens in a new tab., and Bien Cut Bakery.

What are the Best Meals to Eat with Bread?

Although it might be tempting, you shouldn’t only eat bread. Bread is often served as a side, paired with main dishes. Here are some of the best dishes to serve alongside bread.

Plate of tagliolini, bread, a fork and knife, and pepper on a wooden table.
Plate of tagliolini, bread, a fork and knife, and pepper on a wooden table.
  1. Pasta- Italian culture is widely recognized for their love of quality food, bread included. A nice spaghetti and meatball with a side of sizzling garlic bread is a quintessential meal for any family.
  2. Soup– Tomato soup with a warm, crisp sourdough slice with some butter to top it off is an easy and light dinner.
  3. Pizza– Breadsticks and pizza is a popular combination. These are sold at almost any pizza parlor. Marinara sauce is often accompanied by breadsticks and works well as a side.
  4. Chicken Wings– To cleanse your palate, you can’t go wrong with some Barbecue chicken wings and a classic dinner roll. This is a popular finger food duo that works well for gatherings of any kind.
  5. Salad– A caesar salad with a garlic bread side is a classic and easy dish. Sometimes, salad, even with a protein in it, isn’t enough to fill you up. French bread would be another good side choice.

How to Store Leftover Bread

If you ever have some leftover bread that you want to keep fresh so you can eat it later, here are three easy ways to store your delicacy. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)

Homemade bread and a knife on a wooden cutting board.
Homemade bread and a knife on a wooden cutting board.
  1. Freeze It
    • This is one of the most popular ways to store bread, especially sandwich bread.
    • You can place wax paper between the slices for easy accessibility.
    • Fancy bread can be reheated in the oven at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, while small slices can be reheated in a toaster.
  2. Store in paper bread bags, not plastic
    • While air-tight plastic containers are a good storing option for bread, it actually promotes mold growth. If you’re storing your bread for an overnight you should be ok, but long-term storage is best in paper bread bags.
  3. Bread Boxes
    • Bread boxes are a sustainable and stylistic way to keep your bread fresh. It gives the bread room to breathe with easy accessibility. An online favorite bread box from Amazon.com is located hereOpens in a new tab..

Why Do We Serve Bread?

Now that you’ve done all this prep for your next event or meal, you may sit and wonder to yourself why you even bother about bread. What started all this?

If the goal of restaurants is to make as much money as possible, why do they give out free bread? Most of it is tied down to making a good impression. Having water and bread set and ready is a way for the server to make a good first impression on the customers and hopefully receive some tip money to get their paychecks.

It could also be because of tradition. Traditionally, Italian restaurants serve complimentary bread. Likewise, American restaurants will serve bread such as Cheesecake Factory. Restaurants want to be hospitable, welcoming, and leave a good impression. We want the same when serving a dinner or get-together, and bread is a way to tie those qualities into your event.

What Are Some Alternatives to Bread?

We now have a pretty good understanding of what serving bread is all about. Serving sizes range from 2 to 4 slices depending on the event, and bread is a pretty open-ended appetizer with creative toppings to choose from. But what if you have a gluten-intolerant guest, a health-focused relative, or someone that just isn’t a fan? (SourceOpens in a new tab.)

  1. Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes cooked in maple syrup with pecans.
Sweet potatoes cooked in maple syrup with pecans.
  1. Sweet potatoes can be put in the toaster just like traditional toast.
    • One sweet potato gives 400% of the vitamin A needed daily. This keeps your eyes, immune system, reproductive organs, heart, and kidneys quite healthy. (SourceOpens in a new tab.)
  2. Rice Cakes
    • Rice cakes are light on the stomach and make you feel like a very healthy human.
    • Rice cakes go best with peanut butter with honey and bananas added for a bit of a sweet treat.
  3. Lettuce Wrap
    • If one is concerned with their health, you can’t go wrong with using a literal piece of lettuce as a bread substitute.
    • Jokes aside, lettuce wraps serve great as a bread alternative for hamburgers.
  4. Rice Paper
    • Rice paper is a versatile option where you can wrap whatever you think would taste good to your guests with ease.
    • You can have vegetable and protein options alongside rice paper so guests can create their own meals.
  5. Grain-Free Tortillas
    • At the end of the day, wraps are a safe meal option when avoiding the taste of bread.
    • Grain-free tortillas are easily found at your local grocery store, so they are easy to purchase and are relatively cheap.

Anna Silver

Anna Silver is the principal creator of CookForFolks.com, a website dedicated to new go-to original recipes. Inspired by her grandmother’s love of cooking, Anna has a passion for treating the people in her life to delicious homemade food and loves to share her family recipes with the rest of the world.

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