Pizza feeds more people per dollar than wings, subs, or any other party food — and it’s not close. At roughly $4-5 per person for a group of 20, pizza costs half what wings do and a third of what catering trays run. But wings have their place, and so do subs. Here’s the honest cost breakdown, the math on how much to order, and the best strategy for feeding a group without overspending or running out.
The Cost Comparison
This is where most party food decisions should start — not with what sounds good, but with what the math actually looks like per person. Here’s the real cost breakdown for feeding 20 people in San Antonio.
| Food | What You Need for 20 | Total Cost | Per Person | Prep Needed | Reheats? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza | 8 large pizzas | $150 (2 Pizza Packs) | $7.50 | None | Yes — well |
| Wings | ~80-100 wings (5 per person) | $130-$160 | $6.50-8 | Plates, napkins, wet wipes | No — gets rubbery |
| Sub trays | 3-4 six-foot subs or trays | $150-$200 | $7.50-10 | Cutting, plating | No — bread goes stale |
| Taco bar | Catered taco setup | $200-$300 | $10-15 | Full setup, warmers, condiments | No |
| Chicken tenders | 80-100 tenders + dips | $120-$180 | $6-9 | Plates, dipping sauces | Okay in oven |
| BBQ (catered) | Brisket/pulled pork trays | $250-$400 | $12.50-20 | Full setup, sides, buns | Yes — slowly |
Pizza wins on simplicity and consistency. Wings win on wow factor. Subs win on… honestly, subs don’t win on anything except maybe office lunches where people want to eat with one hand. BBQ wins on taste but loses badly on price and logistics.
Pizza — Why It’s the Default Party Food
Pizza became the default for a reason. Not because it’s the most exciting food — because it’s the most practical food for groups.
- No setup: Open boxes, eat. No plates required (though some people insist). No utensils. No chafing dishes, no warmers, no condiment stations
- Universal acceptance: Kids eat it. Adults eat it. The picky eater has cheese. The adventurous one has Taco Pie. The vegetarian has Veggie. Nobody gets left out
- Linear scaling: Double the people, double the pizza. The math stays simple at any group size. Our party pizza calculator handles the math for you
- Leftovers work: Leftover pizza reheats well the next day. Leftover wings don’t. Leftover subs definitely don’t. This matters more than people think — running out is bad, but wasting $50 of food that can’t be saved is also bad
- Budget predictability: A Pizza Pack is $75 for four large pizzas. That’s a fixed cost you can plan around. Wings and catering have variable pricing that surprises people at checkout
At Godfather’s, the math for a group of 20 is simple: two Pizza Packs (Large) at $75 each = $150 for 8 large pizzas, 64 slices, feeds 20 adults at 3 slices each with buffer. Done. Check our 20-person ordering guide for the full breakdown.
Wings — When They Actually Make Sense
Wings are not the enemy. They’re just not the base of the meal — they’re the supplement. Here’s when wings are the right call:
- Game day: Football, basketball, UFC — wings belong next to a screen. They’re snackable, they’re social, and people eat them slowly between plays
- Adult-only gatherings: No kids to feed, no dietary variety needed. A table of adults who all want wings is a perfectly valid party
- As a side to pizza: This is the sweet spot. Pizza as the base, wings as the flavor supplement. Everyone starts with pizza, then the wing tray comes out and the serious eaters go in
The problem with wings as the MAIN food: they’re expensive per person, they’re messy (plates, napkins, wet wipes are mandatory), they don’t reheat well, and picky eaters — especially kids — won’t touch them. For a mixed group, wings alone leaves gaps.
At Godfather’s, our wings come in bone-in or boneless, three sauce options (Buffalo, BBQ, Naked). Half order ($16.49) feeds 2-3 as a side. Full order ($26.49) feeds 3-4.
Subs — The Office Lunch Default
Sub trays make sense in exactly one scenario: a structured office lunch where people eat at their desks and need something portable. In every other scenario, pizza or wings beats them.
- Pros: Portioned, professional-looking, easy to eat at a desk, dietary variety (veggie, turkey, Italian)
- Cons: Bread goes stale fast, can’t reheat, portion control is harder than it looks (someone always takes a double portion), and the cost per person creeps up to $8-10 once you add chips and drinks
For office events specifically, our business lunch catering page shows how pizza handles the same scenario for less — and the food is hot, which subs can’t claim.
The Hybrid Strategy — Best of Both
The smartest party food order isn’t all pizza OR all wings. It’s pizza as the base with wings as the supplement. This covers every type of eater, keeps costs down, and makes the spread look like a real event instead of just a stack of pizza boxes.
Base: Two Pizza Packs (Lg) — 8 large pizzas, $150
Supplement: Two full wing orders (one Buffalo, one BBQ) — $53
Closer: Two Cinnamon Monkey Breads — $15.58
Total: $218.58 — under $11 per person
That’s pizza, wings, and dessert for 20 people. Nobody’s hungry, nobody’s bored, and nobody spent $15/head.
Adjust the ratio based on your group:
| Group Type | Pizza : Wings Ratio | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kids birthday party | 90% pizza, 10% sides | Kids want pizza and breadsticks, not wings |
| Game day (adults) | 60% pizza, 40% wings | Wings are part of the experience |
| Office lunch | 80% pizza, 20% sides | Professional, fast, low mess |
| Family gathering | 70% pizza, 20% wings, 10% dessert | Mixed ages, mixed tastes |
| Sports team (kids) | 100% pizza | Cheapest per kid, no mess, universally liked |
| Church/community event | 80% pizza, 10% sides, 10% dessert | Volume matters most — pizza scales cheapest |
Which Is Best for Your Event?
| Event | Best Choice | Runner-Up | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids birthday | Pizza | Chicken tenders | Cheapest, easiest, zero complaints from kids |
| Super Bowl / game day | Pizza + wings | Wings alone | Combo covers snacking and meals |
| Office lunch | Pizza | Sub trays | Hot food wins, lower cost, less waste |
| Youth sports team | Pizza | Nothing else is close | $4-5/kid, feeds 15 for under $80 |
| Graduation party | Pizza + wings + dessert | BBQ (if budget allows) | Full spread, under $12/person |
| Church potluck | Pizza | Taco bar | Feeds 50+ for under $400 |
| Military unit gathering | Pizza Packs | Pizza + wings | Best value at scale, we know the community |
For any event over 15 people, our party pizza calculator will tell you exactly how many pizzas you need. For events over 30, check our 50-person guide or call (210) 750-2222 and we’ll build the order with you.
The Real Math: Cost Per Full Stomach
The comparison table at the top shows cost per person, but “per person” hides an important detail: how full does each option actually leave people?
Three slices of a large pizza with a couple of breadsticks is a complete meal. Five wings is a snack — most adults want 8-10 to feel full, which doubles the per-person cost. A six-inch sub section is a meal for a smaller appetite but leaves bigger eaters reaching for more.
When you calculate cost per full stomach — the price to actually satisfy someone, not just put food in front of them — pizza pulls even further ahead:
- Pizza: $5-7 to fill an adult (3 slices + side)
- Wings: $10-14 to fill an adult (8-10 wings)
- Subs: $8-10 to fill an adult (8-10 inch portion)
- BBQ: $15-20 to fill an adult (brisket + sides)
That’s why pizza is the default. Not because it’s the most exciting food at the party — because it’s the most food per dollar, and food per dollar is what matters when you’re feeding a group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pizza or wings cheaper for a party?
Pizza is significantly cheaper. For 20 people, pizza costs roughly $7-8 per person (two Pizza Packs at $150 total), while wings cost $10-14 per person to actually fill everyone (most adults need 8-10 wings, not the 5 you’d estimate). The best value is pizza as the base with a smaller wing order on the side.
How much pizza do I need for 20 people?
Plan for 8 large pizzas — that’s 64 slices at 3 slices per adult. Two Godfather’s Pizza Packs (Large) at $75 each gives you exactly 8 large pizzas for $150, plus you can pick different toppings on each. See our 20-person ordering guide for topping recommendations.
What’s the cheapest way to feed a large group?
Pizza Packs — four large pizzas for $75, feeding 12-16 people. That’s under $5 per person for a full meal. For 50 people, five Pizza Packs at $375 total comes to $7.50 per person. No other catering option in San Antonio comes close to that per-person cost for hot, fresh food.
Should I get pizza and wings for a party?
Yes — the combo is the best strategy. Lead with pizza as the main food (80% of your budget) and add wings as a side (20%). For 20 people: two Pizza Packs ($150) plus two full wing orders ($53) gives you pizza, wings, and variety for about $10 per person. Everyone eats, nobody’s bored.
How much do wings cost per person for a party?
If wings are a side dish (5 per person), budget $6-8 per person. If wings are the main food (8-10 per person), budget $10-14 per person. That’s roughly double what pizza costs per person, which is why most party planners use pizza as the base and wings as a supplement rather than the other way around.
What’s the best party food for a youth sports team?
Pizza — and nothing else is close. For a team of 12-15 kids, 5-6 large pizzas costs $75-$90 (one Pizza Pack plus extras). That’s roughly $5 per player. Kids universally eat it, it requires no plates or utensils on a field, and there’s no mess to clean up. See our sports team pizza guide for ordering details.
