This Sunday, millions of Americans will be hosting Super Bowl parties. If you are one of the millions, here’s how to get the job done right.

The best thing about throwing a Super Bowl party is that they are informal, so you can invite everyone: friends, family and co-workers too. This is a good excuse to fill your home with a bunch of people you like and hope that they all end up getting along.

First things first, you might want to think about re-arranging your family room and add some seating, depending on how many people you have invited. Make sure that everyone will have a good view of the TV. That way you can avoid fights/arguments once everyone starts drinking. Also make sure that you put your valuables and breakables safe in another part of the house. That way your guests will feel free to move around, or jump up and down if they feel the need to.

Food is the central part of any Super Bowl party, and it can really make or break your party’s success. Finding foods that your guests can pick up easily is the key. Chicken wings are always a go-to and you can buy them in bulk. Or even better, you can stop by your local Wing Stop and pick up a bunch of different varieties, which will also save you some time in the kitchen. Just remember to buy a ton of napkins; wings can be a mess. If you have a crock pot, throw some mini-meatballs in and stick some toothpicks next to it. Those are all the rage at sports parties nowadays. Chips and dip are the old standard, as are barbequed hot dogs and burgers. Some things are so good they never need to change. If you want to look super swanky, throw some mini-burgers on the grill and call them “sliders,” which will in turn class up your party. Throw out some guacamole dip next to those chips and your party actually will be classy. Who doesn’t love guacamole?

Besides the food, the second most important part of your party is the booze. If you have a variety of guests coming, then buy a variety of booze. Some people prefer the “BYOB” method of throwing a party, but if you are over 30 and don’t want to supply the liquor, don’t throw a party. Buy cheap beer for your down-to-earth friends. Bud or Coors Light basically can’t fail. Buy a few six-packs of fancy beer too, in case there are some folks that prefer it. If there will be cocktail drinkers there too, pick up a few bottles of mid-shelf liquor. This gives you a chance to show off your bartendingskills. Come up with a few fun drinks, and buy some food coloring to throw in to match your team’s colors. Make sure you have soda on your shopping list too, for the kids and your sober friends.

After all is said and done, don’t forget to relax and have a great time! Take a ton of pictures to document everything. It’s your party, have a blast. Just make sure that you can still wake up for work on Monday. 😉

Here’s a link to some official NFL recipes! Check them out here: http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/0ap3000000461078/article/super-bowl-xlix-local-recipes