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Seasoned grill owners know that there’s a lot more to grilling than just your grill. Whether it’s something as simple as always having charcoal on hand or a gadget that you bought to make your favorite grilled dish, the best grilling accessories will make your time behind the grill more enjoyable and your food just a little bit more tasty.
Meggan of Culinary Hill helped me put together this list of the best grill accessories, including several tools that she owns and loves. We scoured customer ratings, product reviews, and more to bring you the necessities to elevate your grill game, whether you own a pellet or charcoal grill. From an excellent pair of tongs to a trustworthy meat thermometer, here’s everything you need for the perfect backyard barbecue or solo dinner night.
Our Top Picks
- Best Tongs: Weber Precision Grill Tongs – $21.49 at Amazon
- Best Meat Thermometer: Thermoworks Thermapen One – $109 at ThermoWorks
- Best Grill Brush: GRILLART Grill Brush – $16.95 at Amazon
- Best Charcoal: Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes – $8.79 at Amazon
- Best Spatula: Weber Precision Grill Spatula – $19.99 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Grill Accessories
1. Best Tongs: Weber Precision Grill Tongs
From carefully placing a steak for its initial sear to moving the coals around, you can’t get by grilling without a hardy set of tongs. This stainless steel pair, which is one of our favorite Weber grill accessories, is easy to use with a grippy handle and a handy locking mechanism. Keep your hands safely away from the heat as you cook your food with ease.
2. Best Meat Thermometer: Thermoworks Thermapen One
Whether you’re cooking on the grill or on the stove, a reliable meat thermometer is key to the perfectly done BBQ chicken or grilled tri-tip. This thermometer from Thermoworks is expensive, but it’s Meggan’s favorite meat thermometer that she swears by over and over again. For those who prefer a perfect medium rare cook or just want to make sure their food is safe to consume, this precise meat thermometer will never let you down.
3. Best Grill Brush: GRILLART Grill Brush
This durable wire brush is dual-sided to help you remove food debris and clean your grill as efficiently as possible. It’s bristle-free, so you don’t have to worry about any stray bristles getting stuck to the grill or your food. Meggan loves how affordable and long-lasting this brush is, making it a great value for your money.
4. Best Charcoal: Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes
If you’re the proud owner of a charcoal grill, like Meggan, you need to find a reliable fuel source, like this charcoal from Kingsford. Unlike lump charcoal, these charcoal briquettes will help you grill low and slow without burning your food. Plus, she appreciates how one bag can get her through up to 15 hours of grilling.
5. Best Spatula: Weber Precision Grill Spatula
Whether flipping burgers or making chicken fajitas, you need a solid spatula to get the job done. Meggan loves this one from Weber because it’s made of durable stainless steel that won’t melt or break while you’re grilling. And if you want to save some cash, it comes in an affordable set paired with the Weber tongs mentioned above!
6. Best Grill Basket: Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket
This Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket is a must-have tool for keeping vegetables contained while grilling. You can chop them up for that smokey, charred flavor without worrying about them falling through the grates. It’s what Meggan uses on her own grill and it’s perfect for grills just 18 inches or larger.
7. Best Grill Lighter: RONXS Electric Lighter
This inexpensive electric lighter will help you jumpstart your coals. It’s flameless, has a long neck, and turns on with just the click of a button, making it as easy to use as it is safe. Meggan loves how helpful this lighter is for getting her charcoal grill going, making it one of her top charcoal grill accessories, and it works for candles! She’s not the only one who loves it—it’s also garnered almost 39,000 reviews on Amazon.
8. Best Grill Gloves: Artisan Griller Pit Glove
As fun and delicious as grilling is, it can also be dangerous if you don’t take the necessary safety precautions. Whether you’re laying some steaks on the grill or shredding a piping hot rotisserie chicken, you’ll want a pair of heat-resistant gloves by your side. These gloves are sure to make you feel like a real pitmaster without accidentally getting any burns.
9. Best for Grilling Kabobs: Charcoal Companion Nonstick Kabob Grilling Baskets
If you love kabobs, then these kabob grilling baskets will become a staple in your grilling routine. These are basically little baskets for each individual kabob with handles to keep your hands off the hot surface of your grill. They also have a nonstick coating, making it easy to remove them once done cooking, even if there’s a good char on there. Say goodbye to skewers disappearing beneath the grill grate and hello to easier grilling. Serve over a bed of lemon rice pilaf, and you’ll have a restaurant-quality meal at home.
10. Best Fire Poker: GOODROPRO Ash Rake Tool
If you have a charcoal or wood-burning grill, you’ll need a way to stoke the coals or pellets every once in a while. Meggan owns and loves this fire poker that allows for 25 inches of buffer room between you and the heat. Plus, the tool comes with a heat-resistant glove, which is also great to have on hand (literally).
11. Best Drip Pans: Weber Aluminum Drip Pans
There’s a reason these drip pans have over 35,600 Amazon reviews and a whopping 4.8-star rating. If you need a way to catch grease and minimize your post-grilling cleanup, these Weber aluminum trays are simple yet effective. You can also use them for serving meals post-grilling in a pinch—just be sure to use a clean one.
12. Best Skewers: HIC Kitchen Bamboo BBQ
If you’re ready to cook up some grilled shrimp skewers, these bamboo skewers are a grilling basic worth keeping on hand. Available in a pack of 100, you won’t have to re-up on these skewers anytime soon. And you can choose between sizes ranging from 4-inch appetizer skewers to 12-inch ones for hardy kabobs.
While you may not use it much while your food grills, you’ll need a large cutting board to prep your veggies or carve your meat after cooking. While you can certainly find cheaper ones, this gorgeous wood cutting board from Virginia Boys Kitchens can easily last a lifetime if cared for properly. It has built-in grooves to catch the juices and make clean-up a breeze. It’s also a great housewarming or hosting gift for a fellow grillmaster.
14. Best Basting Brush: OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting Brush
Whether roasting the perfect turkey or making Meggan’s mini meatloafs, a basting brush is a necessary tool both in your kitchen and by your grill. This OXO basting brush comes in 2 sizes, has durable silicone bristles, and has a slightly angled head to prevent spills. Able to withstand heat up to 600 degrees F and safe to stick in the dishwasher, it’s no wonder this grill accessory is recommended by Wirecutter.
Why You Can Trust Us
I’m Grace, a food and home writer specializing in kitchen appliances and cookware, from coffee grinders to air fryers. Although not a grill owner myself, I love breaking out my cast-iron skillet for burgers, steak, and a nice charred pizza crust. For this article, I team up with Meggan, a classically trained chef, professional writer, and Culinary Hill’s resident grill expert, for insights and recommendations, including some of the gadgets she uses to grill up her own recipes.
I found the best grill accessories by consulting Meggan about the grilling tools that she loves and uses, and researching recommendations by trustworthy publishers, popular picks by major retailers, and positive reviews. We decided that performance and value were the most important factors as we narrowed our list to only the best bang-for-your-buck tools out there.
The Best Grill Recipes
Whether you prefer grilling or smoking, Meggan has tested and published tons of delicious recipes to make the most of your grill—with the help of your grill accessories, of course. Here are a few to get you started.
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
Grace Cooper is a freelance commerce and lifestyle writer, specializing in home, food, and beauty products. Her work has appeared in Apartment Therapy, Gear Patrol, The Penny Hoarder, Pittsburgh Magazine, and more.
