Quantities · Crowd cooking
Jollof rice for 50 people
Exact ingredients, pots, timing, and budget for 50 servings of canonical Nigerian-style party jollof.

Shopping list
Rice
5.5 kg (30 cups)
Tomatoes
7 kg
Scotch bonnets
20
Vegetable oil
1.3 L
Stock
7 L
Equipment
Pots needed
3 (~38 cm diameter each)
Cooks required
2
Timing
Prep time
2 hours
Cook time
3 hours
Total
5 hours
Budget
In Lagos / Nigeria
₦38,000
In USA / UK / EU
$82
Budgets are 2026 estimates and exclude protein.
Notes
- · Three pots minimum.
- · Begin 4 hours ahead.
- · Have a designated rice-stirrer.
Calculate a different number
Frequently asked
How much rice for 50 people?
Approximately 5.5 kg (30 cups) of long-grain parboiled rice.
How long does it take to cook?
Plan 5 hours total — 2 hour prep and 3 hour cook.
How many cooks do I need?
2 cooks working in coordination.
Related
JollofHub editorial standards: every fact checked, every quantity tested.Our contributors