Chili for 200+ people. HELP!

[Rapchizzle]

I have been recruited to cook dinner for 200 people in mid May. The guy says chili would be a good idea and I like that idea. The only problem is, I've never cooked for that many people before, but would like to. If I am aiming to feed 200+ people, how much chili will I need to make? I have a few turkey fryers and plan on using those. Would one big fryer pot work or will I need more? I'm looking to keep it under $3 per person, $2.50 if at all possible so I can make a few bucks.

Any one have any easy recipes for that many people?

[wackemandstackem]

Talk to Poppa Bear he might be able to help ya.

Jon

[Turd Ferguson]

most recipes on line allow you to enter # of people and it calculates the ingredients for you-- let me find one

CHILI FOR 100 PEOPLE 30 lbs. hamburger
2 (6 lb.) cans chili beans
3 (6 lb.) cans kidney beans
2 (6 lb.) crushed tomatoes
1 (6 lb.) peeled tomatoes
1 (6 lb.) can tomato paste
40 tbsp. chili powder
16 to 18 sm. onions, chopped
4 green peppers, chopped (mild)
4 tbsp. sugar
Salt/pepper taste
Brown hamburger in skillet and drain off fat. Add all other ingredients and cook in several large Dutch ovens on low heat for 2 hours. Serve immediately. The chili freezes very well and may be placed in freezer containers.

[Lil' Bro]

Goo! Thats a lot of people. First you have to figure out how much one person could eat, then factor in the fat ass factor. Heres a recipe I found on Cooks.com for you. Its chili for 100 peeps, so just double everything or make it twice. lol.


CHILI FOR 100 PEOPLE
12 lbs. ground beef
5 1/2 oz. chili powder
3 tbsp. cumin
1 (#10) can ketchup
1 lb. onions, minced
1 tbsp. black pepper
2 (#10) cans tomato juice
4 to 5 (#10) cans beans or chili beans
Brown ground beef in large kettle; add onions. Cook until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, to blend flavors and bring to a serving temperature. This large amount will take most of the day to cook. I use an electric roaster. We have used this recipe annually for years.

[Rapchizzle]

This will be for a scenario(all day long) game at Paintball Charleston and the crowd will be a lot of teenagers and young adult men who will be able to pack away some chili. A lot of these will be kids that won't eat a lot or will go to a fast food place to spend their parents money. If there will be 200 people, I think I should cook for 250-300 servings.

I saw both of those recipes and have been trying to come up with my own that sort of follows them. Thanks guys

[Turd Ferguson]

just buy plenty of beans for filler- cornbread is a great filler also- but more work- cheap rolls maybe

[duckcrazed]

Second recipe has wayyy too much beans, first one way too much meat...I run a catering company and do a lot of chili with my oyster roasts. This makes for 250 8oz. bowls of chili, generally enough for 200 people.

This recipe always works out well for a crowd, not too spicy and relatively easy to make. You don't have to drain the meat, can cook in one (large) pot, and from start to finish you can get it done in an hour and a half....

Chili

30lbs. Beef
8 lg. onions
4 cans #10 whole tomatoes
2 can #10 Diced Tomatoes
2 can #10 Tomato sauce
1 #10 tomato paste
2 #10 crushed tomatoes
4 oz. crushed garlic
3 #10 light red kidney beans
2 bag white kidney beans (soaked till done)
1 #10 can chili beans
2 bag garbanzo beans (soaked till done)
3 oz. cumin
8 oz. chili powder

Brown meat and onions (julianned) in pots add salt and pepper to taste, when meat almost browned add garlic. When meat fully browned add #10 cans of tomato product (except paste) and cumin and chili powder. Crush whole tomatoes by hand to break them up. Bring up to heat and add beans, check flavor, add salt and pepper if necessary. Add tomato paste near end to thicken and add a little more flavor. Do this about 30 minutes before your ready to serve it, otherwise it thickens the chili and makes it so you have to stir a lot more often.

[duckcrazed]

Oh...and everything on the list can be found at Costco with the exception of the beans. I usually get #10 cans of those from Dochers in West Ashley. You need to call them a week before to order the #10 cans of Kidney beans, they stock the chili beans. You can also get cases of #10 kidneys (6) through US foods, but it's more then you need.

[Swamp Rat]

Years ago, I ate some of Duckcrazed's cookin' .... I'd listen to him. It was good stuff.

[Vikki]

I believe that you got your amount of servings correct, 250 - 300. I would say 1-½ cups per person - just use 12 oz bowls.

Are you going to have sides? I suggest chopped tomatoes, onions, grated cheese, hot sauce, (and maybe even bowl of plain macaroni noodles - very filling & inexpensive).

If you can, or know someone in the restaurant business, order your food through a food distributor, (like Sysco Foods). The savings will surprise you. You might even get a food distributor to donate the bulk of your needed food & paper products, (Sysco donated a large amount of the food we cooked for the youth hunt). It never hurts to ask!

The only other thing that I would suggest is this: cook the meat in batches. It will be easier to drain in batches.

You might find some tweaking ideas here:
http://www.pepperfool.com/recipes/chili_idx.html
http://www.famouschilirecipes.com/
http://www.pepperfool.com/recipes/ch...irty_dave.html

[Foie Gras]

If there will be 200 people, I think I should cook for 250-300 servings.

Do what you think is nessacary. Speaking from experience though, if you expect 200, 180 will show. Its the 20% rule and its pretty right on. Just tryin to help maximize your profits. Serve saltine crackers.

[Turd Ferguson]

8 ounces aint enough to create a fart- you better plan on 12 ounce or more-unless its the 90+ year old grannies garden club-- especially if it tastes good

break it down- 3 ounces meat 3 ounces beans 3 ounces tomato/peppers products- 3 ounces sauce-- thats already 12 ounces and I am still hungry- I mean hell who here can not eat a coke can size bowl of great tasting chili?

and if it tastes good- you can sell what is leftover to some kids that like to fart- plenty of them in todays society

[Vikki]

1-½ cups per person = 12 oz. per person

[Lil' Bro]

Im 27 and I still like to fart. Dutch ovening a chick is one of my favorite pastimes. Any ladies out there interested?

[Rapchizzle]

I appreciate all the help! I like your recipe better than the others I've found DC and I think that's about what I'll base mine off of.

I also like the idea of having saltines, grated cheese, onions, etc for sides.

I've never cooked for this many people before but I'm looking forward to it.

[Vikki]

I see that gentleman & manners are lacking in the Lowcountry! Even my teenaged daughter said, "Mom...that is so gross!".

[Poppa Bear]

Rotel Tomatoes !! That is the ticket for great Chili !!!

Cheesy Jalepeno Cornbread with Creamed Corn.....YUM YUM !!!!

[wskinner]

x2 on the rotel

[willk]

Who in the hell would want to eat Chili in May. Its a hot and heavy dish and it's the last thing I would want to eat if I were gonna be running around playing paintball. If I were you I would make hotdogs, slaw and potato chips. Ha, chili in May.

[BullCook]

Who in the hell would want to eat Chili in May. Its a hot and heavy dish and it's the last thing I would want to eat if I were gonna be running around playing paintball. If I were you I would make hotdogs, slaw and potato chips. Ha, chili in May.

BINGO !! I was wondering if I was the only one that felt chilli was wrong.
something you need to think about ........... you can fix the best chilli in the world, but once you serve it to a bunch of over heated and exhausted folks and then .......well let's just say cottonell time.
You reputation as a cook will be severly damaged.
In my opinion there are way better foods to serve to a crowd like that.
Check out your options and get prices from Costco, Sam's and Sysco, etc.
Just my thoughts, don't pay no attention to them.
Bill