How much you’ll need to buy depends on the number of people you’re planning to serve, portion size, what you’re serving and whether you want leftovers. Generally, one whole 3-1/2 pound chicken will serve four and yields slightly over 3 cups of cooked, diced chicken meat without skin. What’s considered a serving? According to the USDA Food Pyramid, you’re looking at 2 to 3 ounces of cooked lean chicken, excluding skin and bones. That’s about the amount of meat in a breast half.