By TM Petaccia

When you’re feeding a full crew, whether it’s family, friends, or just a really big appetite, just “ordering a few extra sides” falls short. That’s where family-sized takeout and bulk snack/meal options shine. Skip the stove, skip the stress, and go straight for noshing down while watching the big game — or any game. A number of Charlotte restaurants and caterers offer hearty “feeds-a-crowd” menus, group platters, and family bundles — from soul food to to barbecue to pasta to pizza to tacos, to Mediterranean cuisine to much more. Here are our top choices:

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Benny Pennello’s, NoDa

Benny’s massive 28-inch pizzas easily satifies a good-sized family or gathering of friends. Choose from cheese, pepperoni, half cheese/half pepperoni, and garlic & mushroom. Order online.

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Bossy Beulah’s, multiple locations 

Choose one or more of the following fried chicken based party packs: Bossy’s signature chicken sandwich (12), chicken wings (20 or 40-count), chicken breast bites (40 or 60-count), and chicken tenders (12 or 24-count). Order online.

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Cheat’s Cheesesteaks, Chantilly/South End

Order cheesesteak, chicken cheesesteak, and Italian hoagie platters for 16 or 30 or Build-Your-Own cheesesteak bars for 10, 40, or 100. They now also offer 24 and 48-count wings with your choice of sauce (hot, BBQ, Carolina Gold, Barbalo, honey sriracha). Order online.

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Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, LoSo

Family Meal packages for up to six people are available for game day or any day. Main dishes range from pot roast to roast chicken to stuffed eggplant moussaka to adobo spiced tofu and others — along with a wide range of salads, grain bowls, sides, and desserts. View menu. Order online.

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Hawthorne’s, multiple locations

The restaurant offers a variety of packages. Jumbo wings come with 50 chicken wings and your choice of sauce. It’s served with your choice of dressing and celery. Their Full Meal package consists of four Elizabeth Special 18-inch pizzas, 30 garlic knots, two gallons of sweet tea, and a cannoli & brownie tray. Their Essentials package also feeds 15 and consists of two Elizabeth Special pizzas, two Meat Eater’s pizzas, one gallon of sweet tea, and gallon unsweetened. You can also order trays of hot Italian dishes, such as chicken parmasean, meatballs, baked ziti, and other items. Order online. 

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Mac’s Speed Shop, multiple locations

As mentioned in our story about Panthers placekicker, Ryan Fitzgerald, the Ryan Fitzgerald Give Back Pack is a tailgate spread of pork, brisket, collards, beans, slaw, and other accoutrements. Throughout the NFL season, 10 percent of sales from both items at all nine area Mac’s Speed Shop locations will be donated to Promise Youth Development, a Charlotte nonprofit providing mentorship and safe spaces for at-risk youth. Order online.

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Midwood Smokehouse, multiple locations

The wood-smoked barbecue spot offers a variety of party spreads built. The menu leans into Texas-style brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken, and racks of ribs. Their “Party Packs” pair meats with staples like mac and cheese, slaw, collards, and baked beans. Trays of pulled pork or pulled chicken sliders, Tex-Mex plates, or fresh salads can be added. Order online.

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Nana Morrison’s Soul Food, Yorkmont / Riverbend

Order half and full trays of comforting favorites such as smothered pork chops, fried chicken, jerk chicken, meat loaf, turkey wings, and more along with equally large options of sides such as sweet yams, collard greens, mac & cheese, stuffing, pinto beans, potato salad, and others. View catering menu. Order form.

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Noble Smoke, Enderly Park

With a focus on classic southern barbecue with both Carolina and Texas influences, Noble offers a wide array of catering packages with whole smoked meats such as brisket, pork butt, ribs, and turkey breast, along with combo packs that pair proteins with sides. Catering trays include mac and cheese, collard greens, pan-fried corn, beans, and slaws, all available in large portions. Sandwiches, salads, and desserts can be added to round out the meal. Order online.

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The Roasting Company, Montford Park/Rock Hill

The catering menu offers several options to meet your tailgating needs. There’s a hot buffet option that comes with a protein, a side, cornbread, and dessert. Menu options include pulled chicken, brisket, collard greens, mac and cheese, oatmeal raisin cookie, and more. There’s also a boxed lunch option for outdoor tailgating, which comes with either a sandwich, salad, or wrap, a side, and a dessert. Options include southern barbecue wrap, rotisserie chicken sandwich, smoked cheese and pasta salad, chocolate chunk cookie, and more. Additional options include snacks and stations, such as wing bar, taco, bar, nacho station, and build your own. Priced per person. View catering menu. Order form.

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The Salted Melon, South End / Eastover / SouthPark

For those morning and early afternoon games, The Salted Melon offers breakfast and lunch packages with options designed for small and large groups. Platters and trays are portioned in sizes to serve roughly 10, 16, or 22 people depending on the order. Examples include pastry platters, fruit and vegetable trays, and charcuterie boards, alongside full lunch buffets such as a sandwich spread or two-meat package. Dessert options like cookie or brownie trays and fresh fruit platters are also available, with pricing scaled by size. Order online.

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Sweet Lew’s BBQ, Belmont

Sweet Lew’s offers full-service BBQ catering with options for buffets, BBQ packages, and box lunches (up to 25 guests).  Their a la carte menu includes smoked meats by the pound (pulled pork, ribs, brisket, turkey, sausage), plus sides like mac & cheese, collards, baked beans, red slaw, potato salad, and hush puppies. Order online.

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YAFO Kitchen, multiple locations 

Choose from a variety of Mediterranean packages and buffet-style options. The Family Meal (feeds 3–4) includes an entrée choice (such as shawarma chicken, falafel, or Greek lemon chicken), Greek salad, hummus, jasmine rice, two additional sides, pita bread, and sauces. Limited-time meals like chicken schnitzel are also available. Larger “BYO Bowl” Family Meals serve 4–6 or 10–12, letting guests build their own bowls with proteins ranging from falafel and mushrooms to lamb or chicken. Additional bulk proteins include whole rotisserie chicken, 16-piece falafel, 12-piece spanikopita, harissa salmon, and grilled steak kabobs. Half-gallon juices and teas can be added. Order online.

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The Shop Zämbies, NoDa

Apparently NoDa loves huge pizzas. Like Benny Pennello’s, Zämbies sells impressive 28-inch pizzas along with garlic, vegan, and dessert knots. Pizza options include cheese, pepperoni, the “Sleeping Beauty” (parmesan cherry pepper sauce with cheese, red peppers, onions), vegan cheese, veggie, and others. Order online.

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