How To Throw An Absolutely Smashing Super Bowl Party At The Very Last Minute (Slideshow)

So, it's Friday night. The Super Bowl is just two days away, and you find yourself really itching to do something. You decided very last minute to throw a big party for all of your fellow procrastinator friends. The only thing is... you have very little time and a lot to do before the big game starts. Here's how to pull off an incredible party

Though the Super Bowl is a big celebration and throwing a party is always a bit of a production, don't sweat it. At the end of the day, this "holiday" is all about food, TV, and beer. Luckily, these things can all be pulled together quickly.

For your last-minute party, you need to be highly organized. Make a to-do list, broken down by the hour, so you know you'll be getting everything done before the pre-game coverage begins. Also, know how to work with your limited time. You're not going to get every single detail perfect, so figure out where you're the most comfortable cutting corners.

To learn how to entertain successfully at a moment's notice, click here.

You may be inclined to invite over everyone you know to every other party you throw, but for your last-minute Super Bowl soirée, keep the guest list small. Having fewer guests means that you'll need fewer resources, allowing you to allocate more effort into making each aspect of your party as smashing as possible.

Typically, we'd encourage you to invite friends over via email or phone call for a casual party such as the Super Bowl. However, since you're alerting people about your party with little notice, feel free to use the most direct communication possible: a text. Shoot them a quick message that you're having people over to watch the big game and ask if they want to come.

Lucky for you, a Super Bowl party is one of the easiest parties out there to throw. Neither you nor your guests have to dress up, an activity is already built in, and the standard menu is filled with American party favorites. Keeping the entire event casual is sure to keep you calm and will help things run smoothly.

To read about foods that will keep you calm, click here.

An easy way to help keep your party on theme and set it over the top is to have your guests dress in costume. Most of your friends will have an old football jersey or sports-related T-shirt, so encourage them to rock the spirit wear. At your party, supply some black grease pencils to paint on those little black lines football players always have on their faces.

If you want to help spread out the burden of hosting a Super Bowl party, make the event a potluck. When you invite your friends, ask them to bring along a dish, bag of chips, or six-pack of beer. Not only will this ease up your budget and save you precious time, making your Super Bowl party a potluck will introduce you to some of your friends' signature dishes.

For the nine best dishes to bring to a potluck, click here.

You don't want your guests watching the big game through a layer of dust on your TV set. Before everyone arrives, quickly vacuum the floors, dust off your coffee table and TV stand, and be sure to give your kitchen counters a good scrubbing. Be strategic with your cleaning, since you'll be limited for time. Don't bother, for instance, with an upstairs bathroom nobody will use or your bedroom. Save those for spring cleaning.

To read "6 Foods That Can Clean Your House," click here.

Before you head to the grocery store to buy party food and alcohol, shop your home. See what crackers, cheeses, and frozen appetizers that you already have on hand before you buy doubles at the store. Also, browse through your stock of beer and liquor to see what easy-to-make cocktails you can concoct to set your Super Bowl party over the top. Make a list and shop for the things that are missing in your stockpile.

To learn how to stock your bar for entertaining, click here.

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the busiest takeout days of the year. Some pizzerias, sandwich shops, and wing joints take orders weeks in advance. To save yourself some time, consider catering your own party with fast food, but know you may have long waits to pick up your food. Call around and see what delivery and pickup times will be like before you place an order, and then decide whether or not takeout is right for you.

To learn how to cater your party with fast food, click here.

Unlike some other big food holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fourth of July), Super Bowl Sunday is not a federal hoilday, so grocery stores will be operating under regular hours. Though you're sure to be busy prepping your home for guests, make a quick grocery store run. Go to the type of store that is a one-stop-shop with decorations, food, and alcohol.

For "America's Best Grocery Stores 2017," click here.

When you're at the grocery store, don't forget the booze. You don't need to worry about having a variety of beer and liquor types; just keep the menu simple. Pick up a big pack of American beers (think: Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller High Life) and a few classic spirits such as rum, vodka, and tequila along with basic mixers.

To read "Ranking America's 10 Best-Selling Beers: What Tastes Best?" click here.

Frozen food has come a long way in a short amount of time, so don't be afraid to take this shortcut for your Super Bowl party. You can really buy frozen anything, from mozzarella sticks to pre-flavored chicken wings to egg rolls. Go crazy in this aisle, fire up your oven, and you're already halfway to a killer Super Bowl buffet.

For the best frozen foods for your Super Bowl party, click here.

We love a homemade spinach and artichoke dip alongside some freshly baked pumpernickel bread as much as the next host, but that's not always a reality. Super Bowl guests love little munchies, so don't forget the chips and dip. Buy some pre-made salsas, spinach dip, guacamole, and hummus to help round out the menu.

To read "The Definitive Ranking of Store-Bought Spinach Dips," click here.

Luckily, a lot of Super Bowl foods are super simple. Pigs-in-a-blanket, hamburgers, pizza, and nachos are all incredibly easy to pull off at home (thanks to consisting mostly of pre-made ingredients). These party foods are salty, fatty, and satisfying, so fill up your spread with these dishes and your guests will surely be thankful.

For "20 Essential Super Bowl Party Foods and How to Make Them," click here.

Since the Super Bowl is such a big party and food day, grocery stores are all ready for people to stock up on supplies, including those inept at cooking. Most grocery stores will have football-themed cupcakes, pies, and brownies pre-made for you to purchase, put out on a platter, and serve. Buy one or two of these to help satisfy those guests with a sweet tooth.

Because a Super Bowl party really is simple at its core, you can either go without special decorations or go light on them. Your grocery store is likely to have festive plates, tablecloths, and maybe even a football-themed centerpiece or two. Also, feel free to rummage through your garage to find some old sports equipment and set that out. Just make sure your old football is clean before you put it too close to the food.

For "8 Football Decorations That Will Make Your Super Bowl Party Stand Out," click here.

To minimize the stress of cleaning up your home after rushing to pull off a killer Super Bowl party, feel free to go disposable with your flatware and silverware. Sure, the impact on the environment isn't great, but as we mentioned, football-themed plates and napkins can add an element of decoration and you can just scoop everything into a trash bag at the end of the evening.

So, maybe you're filling your menu with easy foods, pre-made appetizers, and store bought desserts, but that doesn't mean you don't need one thing that will blow your guests away at your party. Tap into your culinary expertise and serve that one dish that's sure to wow. Whether it's your famous guacamole, a spicy chili that's stewed all day, or a sticky, flavor-packed Kung Pao chicken wing sauce, spend time on one special thing.

For "All the Wing Recipes You Could Ever Want for Super Bowl Sunday," click here.

If you kept your guest list small, seating isn't likely to be an issue for your Super Bowl party. But, if you have more bodies than you do spots on your couch, create a cozy atmosphere for your guests to enjoy. We're talking pillows and blankets on the floor, picnic-style.

Not every person who attends a Super Bowl party is all that interested in football, so be sure to take those people into consideration, too. Create a separate space for those who don't want to watch the game within your home. Fill that room with alternative programming and activities so they don't talk over big plays and irritate those who are genuinely interested in watching the action unfold.

For "How to Throw a Great Super Bowl Party Even if You Don't Like Football," click here.

For children in attendance or for the previously mentioned uninterested guests, you will need something to keep them entertained. The easiest party entertainment, of course, is the classic board game. Open up your hall closet, break out a few classic games, and be sure to let your guests know that if they lose interest in the football game, there are plenty of other games ready to be tackled.

For the "11 Best Games for Dinner Parties," click here.

A big part of the Super Bowl is waging your bets, so don't forget to set this up for your guests, even if you're in a hurry. Don't worry about getting creative with odds and such; just roll out a big sheet of paper and play football squares.

When it's time for the big game, make sure that everyone who wants to tune in has a good viewing spot and can cheer and jeer uninterrupted. Blast the volume to centralize the party and enjoy!

You threw together an incredible event with very little notice... pat yourself on the back! But don't feel compelled to execute everything on your own. If a guest offers to pull an appetizer out of the oven, put some more beer on ice, or pick up a few plates here and there, don't turn them down.