How Much Can 500g of Meat Feed? Your Ultimate Portion Guide

October 16, 2025 •

3 min read

According to nutritionists, the standard serving size for meat is around 150-200g of boneless, raw meat per person. But the true answer to how much can 500g of meat feed depends on the cut, the recipe, and the appetite of your diners. This guide will break down portion sizes for different scenarios, helping you maximize your ingredients and budget.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a breakdown of how many people 500g of meat can feed, considering factors like the meat type, cut, and preparation method. It details strategies for stretching meat further, ideal recipes, and portioning tips for various meal types and budgets.

Key Points

Serving Size Varies: The number of people 500g of meat can feed depends heavily on the type of meat and the recipe, from 1-2 for steaks to 4-8+ for stretched ground meat dishes.
Ground Meat is Versatile: For ground meat recipes like tacos or pasta sauce, 500g can serve a family of four, especially when bulked up with fillers.
Stretch with Fillers: Maximize your meat's volume by adding ingredients like cooked rice, beans, lentils, or finely grated vegetables.
Consider Cooked Weight: Remember that meat loses moisture during cooking, reducing its final weight. Factor this shrinkage into your meal planning.
Embrace Combined Dishes: Casseroles, stews, and stir-fries naturally extend your meat portions by integrating them with other filling ingredients.
Plan for Different Appetites: Adjust your serving estimates based on whether you are feeding adults, children, or a mix of appetites.

Understanding the Basics: Raw vs. Cooked Weight

Before calculating your meal, it's crucial to understand the difference between raw and cooked meat weight. Meat loses moisture and fat during cooking, causing a reduction in its overall weight. A 500g portion of raw meat, for instance, will weigh less once cooked, so consider this shrinkage when planning your meal. For ground meat in particular, a 500g pack might yield around 350-400g of cooked meat, which is important for accurate portioning.

Factor-Specific Calculations: How to Feed More with 500g

To determine how much can 500g of meat feed, you need to consider several variables. Are you preparing individual portions like steaks, or a combined dish like a casserole? Are you feeding adults with hearty appetites or children? Here's a look at different scenarios:

Scenario 1: Individual Steaks or Chops

When serving individual, distinct cuts of meat like steaks or chops, 500g is best suited for 1-2 people. A typical adult portion is between 200g and 250g, so 500g would provide two generous servings.

Scenario 2: Ground or Minced Meat

Ground meat offers the most flexibility. When stretched with other ingredients, 500g of minced beef can feed a family of four for up to three separate meals, as detailed in a blog post on frugal living. For a single meal like tacos or spaghetti bolognese, 500g can easily serve 4 people.

Scenario 3: Roasts and Slow-Cooked Dishes

For slow-cooked meals such as stews or curries where meat is combined with vegetables and other ingredients, 500g can serve more people. A general guideline is to allow 100-150g of meat per person in such dishes. This means 500g could serve 3-5 people generously. For a mini roast, 500g is typically suitable for 2-3 people.

Smart Strategies to Stretch Your Meat

Add legumes: Bulking up ground meat with cooked beans or lentils is an excellent way to extend your meal without losing protein or flavor.
Use grains: Incorporate cooked rice, couscous, or bulgar wheat into your recipe to add volume and texture.
Dice vegetables finely: Finely chopped or grated vegetables like mushrooms, carrots, or zucchini can be mixed into ground meat dishes, adding bulk and nutrients subtly.
Incorporate a binder: For patties or meatballs, ingredients like breadcrumbs or oats, along with an egg, help bind the mixture and increase its volume.
Embrace casseroles and stir-fries: Dishes where meat is not the sole star of the plate naturally stretch your portion. The meat becomes one component of a balanced, filling meal.

500g Meat Meal Plan Example

Here’s a practical look at how to use a single 500g package of ground beef for a week of meals:

Meatballs: Use 150g of the mince, combined with breadcrumbs and an egg, to make meatballs served with pasta. Serves 2.
Tacos: Use 200g of the mince, extended with cooked beans and spices, to create a flavorful filling for tacos. Serves 3.
Shepherd's Pie: Use the remaining 150g of mince, combined with finely diced vegetables and lentils, for a hearty shepherd's pie base. Serves 2-3.

Comparison of Meat Cuts and Potential Servings (500g Raw Weight)


Type of Meat (500g Raw)	Primary Meal Use	Est. No. of Servings	Strategy for Stretching
Individual Boneless Cuts (e.g., steak)	Grilling, Pan-searing	2	None, as it's meant to be a standalone portion.
Boneless Cubes/Strips	Curries, Stir-fries, Skewers	3-5	Combine with large quantities of vegetables and sauce.
Ground/Minced Meat	Bolognese, Tacos, Burgers, Meatballs	4-8+	Use high-volume fillers like oats, rice, lentils, or grated vegetables.
Bone-In Meat (e.g., ribs)	BBQ, Slow-roasting	Varies (weight includes bone)	Account for bone weight by assuming less edible meat per person.
Small Roast (e.g., mini beef roast)	Roasting	2-3	Serve with generous sides like potatoes and vegetables.

Conclusion

Ultimately, how much can 500g of meat feed is not a fixed number, but a function of culinary strategy. While it may only feed one to two people if prepared as individual, whole cuts, a strategic approach using fillers and clever recipes can extend that same 500g to feed a family of four for multiple meals. By combining meat with other nutritious and budget-friendly ingredients, you can ensure a flavorful and filling meal for everyone. This method not only helps your budget but also promotes more vegetable-rich and balanced dining habits.

Additional resources:

If you are interested in additional strategies for maximizing your ingredients, check out tips for frugal cooking at The Dollar Stretcher.

Frequently Asked Questions

When used in dishes like pasta sauce or tacos and extended with fillers like beans, lentils, or vegetables, 500g of ground beef can easily feed a family of four for one meal. For dishes with less filler, it will serve fewer people.

Yes, 500g of meat is generally more than enough for two people, especially if it is a boneless cut like steak. For two generous servings, a 500g portion provides around 250g per person, which is on the higher end of recommended serving sizes.

A 500g portion of raw meat will weigh less after cooking due to the loss of water and fat. The cooked weight is often around 70-80% of the raw weight, so it's important to consider this shrinkage when planning portions.

Effective and cheap fillers include cooked oats, breadcrumbs, grated vegetables (carrots, zucchini, mushrooms), cooked lentils, and cooked rice. These add bulk and nutrients without overpowering the flavor.

One creative method is to divide the 500g portion and combine it with different fillers and ingredients. For example, use a third for meatballs, a third for tacos, and the final third for a shepherd's pie base, each time stretching the meat with other bulk ingredients.

Boneless meat is a better option for maximizing servings from a 500g package because you are paying for only edible meat. Bone-in meat includes the weight of the bone, meaning less edible meat per person.

The standard, healthy portion size for boneless meat is typically 150-200g per person. However, this can be reduced to 100-150g per person in mixed dishes like casseroles and stir-fries.