How to Prepare for a Cocktail Party in Less Than an Hour

You did it. You threw out an impromptu invitation for friends to come over for drinks and snacks?” You love to host, but how do you do it in a short amount of time without stressing yourself out? Here’s how.

Take five minutes to make a plan

First things first: You need a plan. Take a quick look at what you have in your cabinets, fridge, and freezer. Do you need to order beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, or ask a friend to bring  a bottle or two? Do you have ice? Prioritize getting drinks ready, and put bottles of soda, wine, and beer in the freezer or, even better, in an ice bucket or cooler with ice and cold water. What snacks do you have on-hand? Preheat your oven to 350°F while you plan; chances are, you’ll need it to heat up bread or warm up cheese or olives. Get it warming up now so you can adjust the temperature and be ready to whip up a few quick appetizers. 

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Set up your space

Where will everyone gather? Your kitchen island, your deck or patio, the sofa and coffee table, the dining table? Do a quick clean up around that area so you aren’t sitting on stray scraps of paper or the sock that fell out of your laundry bag. Wipe down the table or surface where everyone will gather, so it’s ready when you start putting out food, plates, and napkins. Set up your bar area with a bowl for ice and glasses. 

Determine your drink strategy

I like to have beer and wine on-hand, and then pick a cocktail to feature, ideally something you can mix a large batch of and then offer in a pitcher, so guests can pour for themselves. Make sure you have plenty of nonalcoholic options: soda, juice, or N/A cocktails.

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Lean on a variety of easy snacks

There are a few easy snacks you can put out quickly so there’s something people can crunch on when they arrive. I like to make sure I have something salty, like potato chips, nuts, popcorn, or crackers. Salty foods make people thirsty, so they drink more, which makes them circulate more, which gives the party more energy. This can be simple; you can put out some potato chips with dip to get started, and build from there.

Next, use that preheated oven to toast some crostini, which are a great, filling appetizer you can top with anything from cheese to charcuterie and spreads. Something with bread helps people feel more full and like they ate something substantial, plus it helps soak up alcohol if needed

Then, add some raw vegetables to the table, to have something cool and crunchy to serve as a palate cleanser. Make it next-level by dipping carrots, sturdy lettuce leaves, or wedges in dressing, then topping them with crushed nuts or spices.

If you have time, look for something that will make a bigger impact. An appetizer with melted cheese makes your place smell amazing. Did you pick up some specialty olives, tinned seafood, or salami on your last vacation? Put it out; it’s a great chance to tell the story of how you found it while sharing the experience with your friends, which was the whole point of having them over, right?