What do you do when you are invited to a pot luck and dont cook?

How about something in the 'brown & serve' department? You know, like a big basket full of brown and serve rolls and a dish of butter/margarine. Or even a couple of those bake and serve pies might do well. Or if you have a crock pot, buy a bunch of those cocktail weiners, (those little ones that are only about an inch or two long). Shove them in the crock pot and pour in a bottle of sweet and sour bbq sauce. They are already cooked, so basically you're just warming them. We love to take these to parties because they're easy, simple, cheap, and good for when the day is rushed. My crockpot always comes home empty. Don't worry too much about other peoples complaints, there was once a time when they didn't know how to cook either. Them getting grouchy about you not having to take the time to cook says more about them and their attitude than it does about you not cooking!

Well... let me think. I do cook but there are times when I just do not have time. I do tend to call the host and ask if there is something they need that nobody is bringing. I have brought plates and silverware before, drinks, dip/guacamole/salsa (spinach dip with a bread bowl is an excellent idea). If you don't like or have time to cook, you can always get some fruit and cut it up, people do like fresh fruit, even a whole melon or something can work. Usually NOBODY brings candy so you could bring a giant bag of M&Ms. Betty Crocker and Kraft actually have boxed salad things that you can make, you just boil the pasta, drain and rinse it, then mix the seasoning stuff with mayo and a little milk and they turn out super good. It's not really cooking, it's more like making a box of mac & cheese so it would work for someone who is cooking-impaired. There's even microwave directions on the box. If the host has a coffeemaker and anybody drinks coffee, suggest you bring a can of coffee, a container of flavored coffee creamer, and a package of coffee cups lol. I will keep thinking so I can give you some more ideas. Bake some cookies, just get the packages at the store that are already separated into cookie squares, maybe a container of mixed nuts?

i am sometimes in the same boat as you. i am not a very good cook but i think it doesnt matter what you bring (i will bring a shrimp tray or veggie tray with dip or donuts). i think it is more important if you bring something and not show up empty handed.

Well, if the soda machine is usually the one that people hit for drinks, then bring drinks would be redundant. Well, just tell them you suck at cooking. And then bring some peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches if they insist that you bring something homemade? Or how bout just boiling a few cans of soup according to instructions and bring some french loaves to go with the soup? Simple and easy to prepare. And reasonably cheap too. Otherwise, go to the market and get some corn. Break each corn into to or three parts, boil them and serve corn on the clob. Bring some margarine along if you can keep the corn hot when serving it at the pot luck.

I think those people who complain at a potluck should suck it up and just eat what puts in front of them. As long as you bring something. I hate the ones that complain at what is on the table yet bring NOTHING. The audacity of some people!!!

I would suggest to just bring drinks. they would gladly appreciate that. or maybe pair up with another person that cooks tell the person that you'll just pay the half of the whole cost of whatever she made.

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not cook. I do, however SHOP. LOL I feel no shame in buying something and bringing it to the dinner. Atleast it means I'm able to bring something. People would much rather eat my shopping than my cooking, and to be honest, so would I. There's no shame in not being able to cook.

I have brought a store bought pumpkin pie before. My family thought it was homemade, even after I told them it wasn't! LOL The pie wasn't very expensive and if you go this route you could always put it in a different dish so that it looks more homemade-ish. Just in case some of these people get on your case for not slaving in a hot kitchen for hours and hours. Just a thought!

Well just a suggestion....make deviled eggs. Whenever I have went to a pot luck and am short on time I bring those....and usually they are the first thing to go. If you don't know how to make them it's very easy..hard boil a dozen or so eggs...cut in half lengthwise..scoop out the yolk...mix it with a little pickle relish and mayo and a bit of onion....scoop it back into the egg...easy ...quick...good!

This has happened to me before also. I went threw the KFC drive threw and picked up a big bucket of chicken and a large family size order of biscuits and they acted weird because I didn't cook anything to bring. Since you can't afford take out I would suggest making a easy chicken or tuna salad and bring bread,lettuce,tomatoes,cheese and other things you can place in sandwiches,You could make this for under $10, it's affordable to make sandwich stuff like that then maybe add the bag of chips & dip or soda ( if you buy it at the dollar store). Or you can buy two cheap ready made pizza's from Little Caesars, if that is still too expensive just keep bringing the soda and chips.Your right though, as long as you're bringing something people shouldn't complain.

When i dont have time to cook I tend to do something like go and buy a dish from the local deli or i bring the napkins/chips/drinks - soda or juice mix and the stuff like that. A quick easy one i like to take is a bag of hashbrowns mixed with grated cheddar cheese and a container of sour cream. then covered with more grated cheese and baked in the oven until warm. Its quick its cheap and it goes over VERY well (i wish it would come home as left overs cause i love it). It takes about 5 minutes to mix up and about half an hour in the oven to warm.

Two options...lie and buy it in the store and put it in your own dishes or have someone else cook it for you and you can claim you made it. You don't want to know how many times my mom took something into work for a potluck and i am the one who actually made it. Half the time i get credit for it. She has gotten better about that and takes in like chili or soup that she can through together in the morning and let is simmer all day.

They always need biscuits or some kind of bread. Also, they can use carrots or a veggie dish. You can pick these things up at the store. If people don't understand then they have just gauged your friendship and how it will go down in the future. It is their problem, not yours as long as you have made it known to them before hand and they know what your input will be. On the other hand, if they are expecting you to bring certain things and you don't then you have let them down. Drinks are fine. You have to do what you have to do.

Usually we would agree beforehand what we would bring to a potluck, so that there will not be too many of the same dishes. I usually make known that I can't cook; so I will buy either fried chicken, pizzas, cheesecakes or whatever. I know that there are people who just like to grumble; but if it is agreed beforehand, they had better not complain!

Among my circle of friends, several people don't cook. A couple of them developed one fairly easy recipe each and they always bring that. Others pick up drinks, fruit platters, etc. I think this is okay. Even if everyone can cook really well, someone needs to bring bottles of soda or a bag of chips.

At our work potlucks thankfully we always come up with a list of things and you can sign up for just about anything. We are usually most thankful for people who can go buy things think cups, plates, soda, etc. Not everyone likes to try the homemade stuff due to the history of food poisonings.

Do you bake? I can't cook either, but I can make the brownies out of the box! :) Easy enough for me, and everyone usually loves em. and you can make the ones with and without nuts and let them choose. Inexpensive, doesn't take alot of time, and everyone loves you for it! I used to bring chips and stuff, but then other people did the same thing. Hope this helps! :)

I say you go with the easy and get something from the Deli or chips or something. Another thing to consider is bring drinks. There's always somebody that never brings in the drinks so a potluck always ends up drinking waters all day. Either that or bring in a crockpot full of cheese and bring some chips, that always works.

i also buy food that i could bring. most of the times, it would save me time but it would cost me more, but atleast i wouldnt worry if they would eat the food i've cooked... so i just have to buy something they havent cooked...

how about a big bowl of cut up fruit?