There’s a moment every host lives through. You’re staring at the group chat, trying to predict the future.“How hungry will everyone be?” “Do I need 20 empanadas or 200?” “Will Uncle Dan eat six by himself?”

We’ve all seen the empty-platter scenario or the fridge-overflowing-with-leftovers one.
When hunger meets chaos, you need math you can actually trust.

Whether you’re feeding your coworkers between back-to-back meetings, filling the coffee table for game night, or hosting a birthday where no one ever sits down, the real question is always the same: How many should I order?

In this blog, we’re breaking it all down: the quick calculator, portion tips by event type, how to build the perfect mix, what sides stretch your order, reheating tricks, and sample combos you can steal without thinking.

The Quick Calculator: Start Here

Here’s your reliable, “I have got this” guideline:

Light snacks / social hour? = 1-2 empanadas per person
Main food/game night? = 3 per person
Super hungry crowd / no sides? = 3-4 per person

Yes. That’s the whole secret. Simple, but very accurate.

A couple of real-world tweaks help you dial things in:

If everyone’s drinking, go with 1 per person
If you’re serving another main like pizza or salad, subtract 1
Kids under 10? Just plan for 1 each.

Once you see it, it clicks. Here’s what that looks like in the wild with 3 empanadas per person:

8 guests = approx. 24 empanadas
12 guests = approx. 36
20 guests = approx. 60
30 guests = approx. 90
50 guests = approx. 150

Suddenly, feeding a crowd feels doable.

Portioning By Event Type

Different gatherings call for different appetites. Here’s how we think about each one, based on real late-night hangs, office lunches, and living-room finales.

Office Meetings & Lunch-and-Learns

No one wants a heavy meal before a meeting. People want something handheld, tidy, dependable, and no pasta sauce on their shirt before a presentation.

Plan on 2-3 per person, especially if you’re also putting out fruit or salad. Label everything so nobody is playing mystery-meat roulette. Hand them a warm box, and suddenly everyone’s staying awake through the training session.

Game Nights & Watch Parties

Game nights are an Olympic sport. People start snacking before kickoff and somehow never stop.

You’ll want 3 per person, minimum. Chips and dips stretch your table nicely.
If the kickoff is late, keep a small batch warming so the second half is as delicious as the first.

Birthdays & Casual Gatherings

Guests wander, talk, dance, repeat. They’ll graze on snacks more than they’ll sit for dinner.

Plan for 2-3 per person, and throw in a sweet empanada for dessert: tiny, warm, and fun. Because there’s always that one friend who needs “just a little bite of something sweet.”

Build A Crowd-Pleasing Mix

This is where you become the hero. A good mix keeps everyone happy: meat lovers, veggie fans, spice-shy individuals, and spice-obsessed alike.

Start with familiar favorites like cheesesteak, pernil, shredded chicken empanada, spinach and cheese, and a good vegan pick.

Most crowds balance well with:

25-35% vegetarian/vegan
35-45% beef/pork
20-30% chicken/turkey

And please, label them. People take bold bites when they know what they’re eating.
If you’ve got picky eaters, keep a few mild or no-spice options off to the side like a peace treaty.

Don’t Forget The Sides & Sauces

Empanadas will carry your event, but sides and sauces make you look like you planned this for weeks.

At the table also:

Rice and beans
Small salads
Plantain chips
Sauces (green, creamy, spicy, grab a few)

A good baseline is ~1 oz of sauce per person. It sounds tiny, but trust us, a little goes a long way, especially with rich fillings.

If you’re traveling with food, keep hot and cold items in separate bags. No one likes sweaty plantain chips.

Holding & Reheating for Staggered Arrivals

Guests never arrive together. Someone’s parking. Someone’s “five minutes away.” Someone’s chronically late.

To keep everything tasty:

The quickest refresh: 350°F for 2-4 minutes
Microwave or oven combos work fine
Keep fried items vented
Paper towels help absorb steam

Crunch restored. Crisis avoided.

Delivery vs Pickup: The After-Hours Playbook

Late at night, when energy is low and hunger is high, your order needs to work for you.

The sweet spot is under 15-20 min travel time, whether you’re picking up or getting delivery.
Add cross streets + “call on arrival” to your notes.
Bright corners + clear handoff locations = smooth night.

Leaving work late? Schedule your pickup so you can grab and go right when you clock out.

Team Orders On Rotating Breaks

This is for nurses, newsroom folks, stage crews, security, and more.

Your trick is to order in waves. Send a batch first. Then another 20-30 minutes later.

This keeps the food fresh and warm without anyone missing out.

Add a note:

“hold sauces”
extra utensils
labels

If your workplace has an insulated tote, even better. It becomes a mini home base for quick bites.

Sample Orders You Can Copy

Sometimes you don’t want to calculate. Here, just steal these:

10 guests, game night (no other mains):
Approx. 30 empanadas
(12 beef/pork, 8 chicken, 8 veg/vegan) with sauces and a salad bowl
20 guests, office lunch (with salad and fruit):
Approx. 40 empanadas
(12 beef/pork, 12 chicken, 16 veg/vegan) with sauces
35 guests, mixed party (beer/wine):
Approx. 110 empanadas
(40 beef/pork, 30 chicken, 40 veg/vegan) with sauces and 2 salads

Ordering Checklist

Before you hit submit, take 20 seconds:

Headcount
Dietary notes
Flavor mix
Sides + sauces
Labels requested
Pickup/delivery time
Entrance/access notes
Napkins + utensils

If you have all that, you’re in good shape.

When You Need A Reliable Go-To

Empanadas are always the answer, especially when they’re hot, travel-friendly, and packed with flavor.

Spots like Empanada Mama keep New York night-owls alive for late hours, fast pickup, and empanadas that somehow stay delicious through the subway ride home.

Keep them on your favorites list. Trust us.

Order without confusion

Once you nail your order formula, you’ll never stress over feeding a crowd again.
Save your go-to mix, reorder in a couple of taps, and you’re golden.

Next time hunger hits, just order ahead from Empanada Mama for fast pickup, grab your boxes, and get back to the fun.

How Many To Order? Your Empanada Catering Calculator For Parties, Meetings & Game Nights