Pretty, practical gifts for the foodie or cook in your life! Choose from practical kitchen tools, to budget-friendly picks, to delicious food gifts to try!
It’s been a weird year in the world, and I’ve had mixed feelings about putting together a holiday gift guide, but I’ve had a few requests for kitchen gear recommendations & budget-friendly kitchen gifts, so I decided to put one together!
Instead of picking random cute things around the internet, this year’s gift guide is full of tried-and-true, I’ve-used-it-myself, I-bought-these-things-with-my-own-money finds. Nothing is sponsored, paid, or perked. These are all actual things I’ve purchased for myself, put through their paces, and feel good recommending.
(As an added bonus, we are donating 50% of any affiliate link commissions to food pantries as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting those experiencing food insecurity.)
Pretty & Practical Kitchen Gifts For The Home Cook
First, let’s start with the most practical section. These are everyday essentials I’ve used and loved that are great for day-to-day cooking. They make everyday cooking better!
Affordable Dutch Oven/Soup Pot. We’ve had this White Dutch Oven for 5+ years and it’s held up BEAUTIFULLY. It’s large enough for soups, stews, and big batches of chili, but we’ve also used it for mashed potatoes, pot roast, making homemade caramel, and all kinds of other kitchen jobs. Use wooden or silicone utensils on it (not metal ones!) and it’ll last for AGES.
The BEST Sheet Pans Around. For baking, I swear by these NordicWare sheet pans. They’ll last for YEARS! For sheet pan dinners, I love these sturdier USA Pans. (The ribbing is great for dinners, but less great for baking cookies.)
A Sleek & Streamlined Slow Cooker. How old is your slow cooker? My beloved old one finally died a few months ago after 8+ years of regular use, and I cannot tell you how much I’ve loved this new slow cooker. It’s beautiful and functional, with lid clips that make transporting it a breeze and a large enough capacity for big batch recipes.
A Pretty Air Fryer. I got this air fryer for work videos because it looked so streamlined, but it’s also incredibly functional. I like using these parchment paper liners to keep it looking clean and to make clean-up easier.
The Actual Best Waffle Iron. I’ve owned and tried 9 different waffle makers in my almost 18 years of being married and this Belgian waffle maker is the best of them all. You can cook 2 big Belgian-style waffles at once, it has adjustable temperature settings, and works like a charm.
Linen Oven Mitts. Natural fibers, beautiful colors and prints, and they last for ages! I use these daily and wash them every week. They’ve held up SO WELL!
Foodie Gifts Under $50
These budget-friendly kitchen gifts are all under $50. There are practical picks (think our go-gadgets!) and some fun ideas too. (I’m looking at you, pizza pans!)
A Kitchen Scale For Baking. Using an inexpensive kitchen scale like this is the easiest way to INSTANTLY level up your baking skills. Baking using metric measurements (i.e. grams instead of cups) will give you consistent, reliable results every time AND you’ll use less dishes, since you won’t have to wash all those measuring cups!
A Meat Thermometer. No more overcooking (or undercooking!) meat! I use this every single week for checking meat temperatures. So great for grilling season, but I use it for air fryer, stovetop, and oven recipes, too!
Super Sharp Everything Knives. I use these 4-inch serrated knives for EVERYTHING. Slicing fruits & veggies, dicing chicken…you name it. They’re my most-used knife in the kitchen and under $15. (Hand wash them to keep them sharp!)
Microplane Zester. Grate garlic, shave parmesan cheese, or zest lemons, limes, and oranges with this fine zester. Works like a charm & makes these jobs a breeze!
A Cute Recipe Binder. If you want to get some of your favorite off your phone and into your kitchen, this cute recipe binder is a great place to start. I got myself one for my birthday and have loved adding family favorites to it. (This can be an extra fun idea for someone getting ready to go off to college or get married!)
Tea Infuser Mug. For the tea lover in your life! This heat-safe glass comes with an infuser you can use for loose tea leaves, but you can also use with fruits & herbs to infuse your water!
Pizza Pans! If you love homemade pizza as much as we do, you’ll flip for these nonstick pizza pans. I use a little oil under my pizza dough and the finished pizzas slide RIGHT off–not even a little bit of sticking. They wash & dry like a dream and can easily withstand super hot oven temps for pizza baking. We use them every week!
Food Gifts For A Foodie
Pizza Oil. Our very favorite is this Queen Creek Olive Mill Pizza Oil made by the NICEST family ever. (I’ve been to the mill, toured the grounds, watched oil being pressed/flavored, and chatted with the family. They’re LOVELY.) Another great choice is this zippy Brightland Pizza oil that adds a little heat.
Swedish Candy. It’s super popular right now, and for good reason. It’s delicious! (It’s also free of GMO ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, and several food dyes.) If you love fruity or gummy candy, you can’t go wrong with Mum’s gluten-free mix or BonBon Gluten-Free Mix (though they have regular mixes, too!) . We love their Sour Strawberry Fish and Sour Peach Fish!
Really Good Tea. I went to a fancy afternoon tea at for my birthday this year, and THIS was the brand they served. I only ever drink herbal tea, but every single one I’ve tried has been absolutely delicious. My favorites so far have been Pacific Mint, Caramelized Pear, and Raspberry, though new flavors come in and out of stock all the time.
Bequet Caramels. We LOVE this brand! Made in Montana, these certified gluten-free handmade caramels have an old-fashioned feel with modern flair. You can find classics like Sea Salt Caramel and Butterscotch, but they also have unique & seasonal limited time flavors on their site, like Caramel Apple, Dubai Chocolate, Campfire S’mores, and Sweet Cherry. YUM. Their smaller bags start at just $5.99!
Harry & David Pears. You don’t think of pears as being fancy, but these pears actually are. The flavor & juiciness are unparalleled! We love the Cream of the Crop pears, but you can also save a little money by getting the slightly smaller Family Affair pears!
Really Good Salt. My go-to is a box of flaky Maldon salt (good on everything from dinner to brownies), but Smoked Sea Salt is another fun choice!
Luxardo Cherries. A fun hostess gift or easy gift for a mocktail or cocktail lover. These bougie cherries are a luxurious step up from maraschino cherries and add a touch of glam to any fun drink! (They’re non-alcoholic!)
Flavored Olive Oil or Vinegar. Another great gift that’s perfect for holiday hosting or everyday cooking. We love the flavored olive oils from Queen Creek Olive Mill. Their Strawberry Balsamic Reduction and Fresh Basil Olive Oil are two of our favorites, but we’ve never tried one we didn’t like!
Really Good Ice Cream. This is actually a great gift for sending across the country (or across the street)! We’ve used Jeni’s ice cream and Salt & Straw ice cream nationwide delivery. It’s so fun to pick fun pints to send! Both of these shops let you filter by dietary needs, which making finding safe flavors easy.
A Few Fun Gifts For a Foodie
Last but not least are a couple of fun (if a bit splurgy) things I’ve really enjoyed this last year.
Gardyn. This smart indoor hydroponic garden is easy enough for beginners, tells you exactly what to do, and doesn’t require any dirt! I’ve grown tomatoes, strawberries, peas, fresh herbs, flowers, Swiss chard, spinach, bell peppers, and all of the lettuces around–right in my kitchen. Their early Black Friday prices are their best deal!
Thrive Market Membership. If you have special dietary needs or want to source clean products for your home, a Thrive Market membership can be a great option. It’s like Costco meets Whole Foods! We stock up monthly on pantry staples like gluten-free pasta, crackers, oats, and sauces, and I periodically order frozen boxes of sustainably sourced meats. Get $40 off your first order with my link!
Instacart Membership. If you have a family member who could use some extra support (surgery, disability, new baby, hard life stage), an Instacart membership is a great gift. They can get groceries delivered to their door! (Instacart members can also deliver groceries to friends & family members, which I’ve done several times. It’s been great to deliver some treats or groceries to loved ones far away when I can’t be there in person!) Get $10 off your first order with my link.
What would you add to my list? What’s the best kitchen gift you’ve given or received? Shout it out below!
