For Those Who Can't Cook, Here Are 11 Ways You Can Contribute To Thanksgiving Dinner

by N/A, 10 years ago | 3 min read

LOL, what is cooking?

Family thanksgiving Food/Cooking Non-Premium

So you sorta, kinda, maybe can't really cook...

It's not even that you hate cooking, but more the fact that every time you go near the stove/oven, it always ends badly.

So instead of being rude and pulling the "I can't cook" card, here's what you can do instead to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Make a killer playlist.

Every Thanksgiving requires some good music to enjoy in the background while you eat and converse. Whether your family is into some nice jazz, Holiday music, oldies or even top 40 hits (hey, every family is different), music always adds a sophisticated ambience while you enjoy a good meal.

2. Take charge of the drink menu.

Honestly, this is the best thing to be in charge of - because drinks matter just as much as the food! Whether its non-alcoholic cider, wine or mixed cocktails you want to experiment with, being in charge of the drink menu is a great privilege because people usually neglect it. And it makes eating that much more enjoyable.

3. Bring snacks.

It might feel weird bringing snacks to a giant feast, but snacks are absolutely necessary while you're waiting around for the main course. It'll keep people from getting hangry, which is essential to avoid family drama. Whoever's cooking will also feel less rushed if they know their guests have something to munch on in the meantime. Some snack ideas include chips and dip, a veggie tray, olives or cheese and crackers.

4. Bring ice (ice baby).

Ice is very underrated. It's always a good idea to grab a bag of ice before a big dinner like Thanksgiving, because you'll most certainly need it. Ice trays are annoying, and standing by the freezer waiting to get ice can take forever when there's a lot of people. Take one for the team and grab a bag of ice.

5. Set the mood with some pretty Thanksgiving decor.

Whether you craft name place cards, whip out the holiday decorations or set up candles and tablecloths, get in touch with your creative side to create a good ambience for dinner. Because a meal without any nice aesthetics is just pretty depressing.

6. Bring dessert from a fancy bakery.

Sure it might not be homemade, but it has the credibility of being from a bakery that got five stars on Yelp, which says a lot. Everyone will devour it because you can never have too much dessert, and it doesn't even matter that you didn't bake it.

7. Pick up some plastic utensils, paper plates and napkins.

Even if you're going to a gathering on the fancier side, having plastic silverware, paper plates and napkins is always nice for when it comes to dessert - and it means a very easy cleanup!

8. Bring along disposable containers.

One word: leftovers. There's always scraps left over from dinner that guests might want to take advantage of. Much like plastic silverware, you can't go wrong by bringing disposable containers so people can take their favorite things home with them (assuming your chef is that generous).

9. Bring tea or coffee.

You know what goes great with pie? Coffee and tea! Whoever's hosting Thanksgiving probably doesn't want to use up all of their tea and coffee to serve their guests, so bringing along some for everyone is a good idea!

10. Grab a board game.

Yay for family fun! Games are always a good ice breaker, and they don't just have to be for the kids - but bringing along a game everyone can partake in might be best.

11. Aaaand finally, you can help clean up.

Don't lie, you totally knew this one was coming. This is probably the most respectful thing you can do to help out the cook(s). Doing dishes is the worst, but just think about how happy your belly is with all the delicious food inside of it, and suck it up.

Or just make a run for it.