OK, I am hoping one of you mama's have this recipe or have made this before. I am making the Chicken pineapple salad as the main meal for a baby shower tomorrow. I have lost my recipe. I know how to make it - what I dont know is how much to make. The salad is to be served on large croissants. I cooked 3 1/2 whole chicken breasts already. The shredded chicken weighs 3 lbs, 5 oz. My MIL thinks I need 8 POUNDS!!! of chicken.
**Note** when I say "Whole chicken breast" I mean the whole breast that can be cut into 2 singletons. So I originally cooked 7 single breasts.
What are your thoughts? How much chicken do I need?
I should add that only 20 people have RSVP'd but I am making enough for 36 croissants.
Thanks for all the responses. Later that night I went out and picked up 3 more whole chicken breast and cooked that as well. So going into the party I had 2 huge serving bowls filled with chicken spread. Going into the party, like i said only 20 people had RSVP'd, but 26 people showed up. Well ladies - the 2nd bowl of chicken was never even used and everyone had it since it was the only main dish. I think with adding the pineapple and the miracle whip to make it into the actual "spread" added a lot more bulk than I think is realized since I weighed the chicken cooked and it was 3 lbs 5 oz and afterwards it was 7 lbs with the bowl. So I guess I hope if people are reading this will learn from my lack of knowledge in preparing for huge parties - that 3 1/2 whole chicken breast is plenty enough chicken/food for large get togethers when added with other ingredients. Thanks!!
I would do 1/2 pound per person...... then if you have leftovers no worries.. there is NO WAY 3 1/3 whole chicken breasts will be enough (IMO). I'm always in favor of too much than not enough.
Yes, you need more chicken. That's like 6.5 chicken breast for 20 people. It doesn't seem like enough to fill 36 croissants.
Are you serving lots of other stuff, too?
yoou need lot more chiecken when i made chicken salad for my family of 5 i made about 4 chicken breast ...so i think you will need about 10 pounds
I don't know in pounds but... I made 6 chicken breasts, which made 8 cups of chicken after shredding for 11 adults. It was too much for 11, but probably would have been good for 20 (but definitely not enough for 36). So, I think you probably need more chicken too.
I didn't make pineapple chicken salad, I made one with chopped apples and it was really good. I found the recipe online, if you google it, you can probably find a good one (with apples or with pineapple).
I am not familiar with the recipe but I would go for having too much than too little. You can always eat the leftovers!
3 chicken breasts for 36 people? Yeah, I'd cook up more chicken. After you shred the chicken and add the other ingredients, I think you'll be short if you are trying to make 36 prepared croissants. I'm thinking your MIL may be correct.
Well, this is a little bit math-y, but if you are making enough food for 36 people, then 8 pounds of chicken only yields 3.5 ounces per person. Even that doesn't really sound like enough.
Example: when I'm making dinner for myself, my husband, my 10 year old daughter & my 12 year old son, this is ONE MEAL, I cook 4 chicken breasts.
