Looking forward to watching the game with friends or family and trying to figure out what to serve? Luckily, the team at Tony’s Pizza is sharing some of their favorite and easy game day food ideas!

Of course, you can make it even easier and just order from Tony’s (we’ll go into that a bit later). However, we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite things to make when we’re watching football, basketball, soccer or just having a party to celebrate friends and family.

Easy Game Day Food Ideas 

If you’re thinking about hosting a gathering and want to keep it simple, consider 3 courses or types of food to serve for game day. Primarily, you need:

  • Appetizers
  • Main Course
  • Desserts

Below, we’ve picked a recipe for each based on easy game day food ideas that we like to serve.

Awesome Appetizers 

First, start strong with an appetizer. Preferably, this should be easy to make and easy to eat. Think party finger foods. Generally, guests will munch on these while prepping for the game and debating on who’s going to win!

Plus, if you’re trying to figure out football game day food, these sort of look like little footballs! If you want to get really fancy, you could use piping to mimic football laces over the cream cheese stuffing with a softened version of cream cheese. Just add a touch of food coloring to either the main cream cheese filling or the laces to make it stand out.

Cheesy Jalapeño Poppers 

Ingredients

  • 10 jalapeños (halved and deseeded)
  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • Olive oil spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and paprika in a bowl.
  3. Spoon the cheese mixture into each jalapeño half.
  4. Dip the stuffed jalapeños into breadcrumbs to coat.
  5. Place on a baking tray, spray with olive oil, and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Prefer takeout? Tony’s Pizza’s famous wings and Italian meatballs make for fantastic crowd-pleasing appetizers! Or, we actually have jalapeno poppers that we can make for you!

Magnificent Main Course 

Second, a main course should be hearty. Lots of folks opt for chili which is a tasty choice. Similarly, nachos are a great go to. However, they can get a little soggy while sitting out. Thus, you could create a nacho-style bar instead for your party.

Loaded Nachos Bar 

Ingredients

  • Tortilla chips
  • 1 lb cooked ground beef (seasoned with taco spices), chicken or ground turkey
  • 1 cup black beans (drained)
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • Bowls of additional toppings of choice (salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, guacamole, chopped cilantro, shredded lettuce)
  • Seasonings such as dried cilantro, cumin and a team member favorite – Tajin!

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Spread tortilla chips evenly on a sheet pan.
  3. Scatter cheese on top.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts.
  5. Set out nachos with cheese among bowls of the toppings, black beans and beef (or chicken or ground turkey). Therefore, guests can add what they want, when they want it. You could also offer soft or hard tortilla shells in case a guest prefers a taco.

If cooking isn’t your thing, subs are the perfect main course as well. In fact, you can order multiple large subs and slice them up into smaller portions for easy, hand-held snacks. Conversely, pizza is pretty much always a safe bet for game day party food.

Plus, if you have guests who avoid gluten, we have gluten-free and cauliflower crust. Just keep in mind that flour does fly around our kitchen. Consequently, there is a possibility of cross-contamination so make sure your guests are aware of this!

Similarly, we have vegan cheese as well. So, let us know if you’re trying to avoid dairy.

Dive Into Party Desserts 

Finally, don’t forget all those sweet tooths (sweet teeth?) at your game day party. While decorated cupcakes are fun, we actually have a favorite twist on a classic 7-layer cookie that’s easy to make. Since we’re leaving out the coconut and nuts, we call them 5-layers cookies!

5-Layer Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups cups graham cracker crumbs (if you have a gluten-free guest, opt for GF)
  • 1 (11-oz) package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 (11-oz) package of butterscoth chips
  • ¾ cup of butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F.
  2. Combine cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press firmly into baking dish. 13×9 is what our team member uses.
  3. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over pressed crumb mixture. Then, layer semi-sweet and butterscotch chips evenly.
  4. Bake for 25 minutes (or until sides get a teeny bit caramel colored and bubbly).
  5. Let cool before cutting because they are a bit gooey but so yummy!!

Alternatively, we make desserts at Tony’s Pizza’s too. So, you can order some extra for varying taste buds. Or, save time and let us make all the desserts. We have rich tiramisu, crispy cannoli, cheesecake and limoncello mascarpone cake.

Quick Preparation for Game Day Treats

Rather spend less time prepping so you can hang with your guests? Below, we have some winning ideas for game day food prep:

  • Make Some Party Items Ahead: Chop veggies, cook proteins or meats, and pre-portion sauces the night before.
  • Go Disposable: Use disposable plates and utensils to minimize cleanup.
  • Order in Advance: Similarly, ordering hassle-free takeout from Tony’s Pizza means less time on the cooking and prepping in the kitchen. This equals more time enjoying the game. Keep it simple and serve our wings, meatballs, subs or pizzas straight out of the box!

Party Presentation for Game Day Food

Half of the food fun is creating an enticing spread. Luckily, we have tips to make everything look just as good as it tastes!

  • Go Buffet Style: Lay out food in themed sections (e.g., appetizers, main course, desserts). Use tiered serving trays for an appetizing layout.
  • Opt for Mini Portions: Slice subs or pizzas from Tony’s Pizza into smaller, bite-sized pieces for easy sharing. If you want your pizza double cut, let us know when you order.
  • Incorporate Decorations: Use team-themed napkins, tablecloths, and banners to tie everything together.
  • Label Everything: Small chalkboards or printable labels make it easy for guests to identify dishes and toppings. This is especially helpful if you have guests with dietary restrictions.

Game Day Takeout Timeline

If you’re planning to order some, or even all, of your party food from Tony’s Pizza, timing is essential. Fortunately, we also have tips on how to time your food pickup and layout.

Prior to Game Day 

Place your order online or call ahead, especially if you’re ordering large quantities or party trays. In fact, if you have a really large order, several days ahead is wise. Likewise, be sure to schedule your pickup time well before gametime so you don’t miss the best part.

2 Hours Before Gametime

Pick up your order well before the start of the game to avoid last-minute rushes. Preheat your oven for a quick warm-up just before serving.

30 Minutes Before Game Start 

Set out the food on your table or buffet station, ensuring everything is placed strategically for easy access.

Tony’s Pizza FAQs

Still have some questions about Tony’s Pizza before placing your game day takeout order? Then, read our FAQ section below.

Where Is Tony’s Pizza?

We have six locations spread conveniently throughout the Charlotte and Hickory area. From Mooresville and Huntersville to Galleria and beyond, our delicious food is nearby.

Can I Order Online?

Yes, we do accept online orders through our app or website. Although, as mentioned, if you are placing a large order, it’s best to call your nearest location. Thus, we can make sure that we are prepping your game day food ahead of time.

Does Tony’s Have Game Day Appetizers?

Considering easy game day food ideas that are just appetizers? Our menu includes a wide range of finger foods for your party. A few popular ones include:

  • Wings
  • Italian Meatballs
  • Garlic Cheesy Bread
  • Jalapeno Poppers
  • Onion Rings
  • Mozzarella Sticks
  • Fried Ravioli

Celebrate Game Day with Tony’s Pizza 

Ultimately, we want game day to be fun, delicious, and stress-free. After all, that’s why we’ve shared our easy game day food ideas with you. Whether you’re whipping up tasty apps or serving Tony’s Pizza favorites, we strive to keep you and your guests cheering.

For more easy game day food ideas, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!