Answer
May 28, 2026 - 10:47 AM
The short answer is yes, a pound of shrimp is a standard portion for two people, but you need to account for "yield." Once you peel a pound of raw, shell-on shrimp, you are left with approximately 10 to 12 ounces of actual meat.
How are you serving it?
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As a Main Course (e.g., Scampi, Fried, or Grilled): $1/2 \text{ lb}$ per person is the industry standard. For two people, 1 lb is perfect.
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In a "One-Pot" Dish (e.g., Gumbo, Jambalaya, or Pasta): Because these dishes are heavy on rice or noodles, you can stretch 1 lb of shrimp to feed 3 to 4 people.
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For a Traditional Shrimp Boil: In Louisiana, we throw the "standard" rules out the window. For a boil, locals typically plan for 1 to 2 lbs per person, as the shells and heads take up a lot of weight and the social nature of the meal leads to more eating.
The "Shrinkage" Guide
When planning your meal, keep in mind how much edible meat you actually get:
| Purchase Type | Weight for 2 People | Final Result |
| Peeled & Deveined | 1 lb | You get the full 16 oz of meat. |
| Headless (Shell-on) | 1 lb | You get ~12 oz of meat after peeling. |
| Head-on (Whole) | 1.5 lbs | You get ~12 oz of meat after removing heads/shells. |
