Inexpensive Kitchen Gift Ideas

If you’re looking to buy a gift for someone who likes to cook or bake, this list of affordable kitchen gift ideas will help you pick out something unique or useful. 

I own many of these items myself and use them on a regular enough basis that I think they are worth the space in my cupboard or pantry. Affiliate links included.

Kitchen Gift Ideas

Star War Burned Wooden Spoons Utensil Set
These are amazing for a Star Wars fan! They’ll definitely want to display these hanging or in a crock. There are other cute designs, including Nightmare before Christmas and more! We are a big fan of bamboo cooking utensils. They wash up easily with soap and water. 

Kitchen Towels by Primatives by Kathy
I love gifting these towels with funny/sweet sayings on them. There are options for every gift recipient, including grammas and moms, dog lovers, friends, teachers, and more. Some are sweet, some are sassy, and some are boozy. 

USA or State-shaped Cutting Board
Pick the perfect patriotic or state pride cutting board for everyone on your list.  Who couldn’t use a new cutting board that is attractive enough to leave out on the counter, or to use as a serving platter?  These come with a hole drilled and can be used as a wall hanging as well.  Most states are available, or choose the United States.  I think this would be a great option for a “greed” game gift exchange – you could even wrap it up in cellophane with a few packages of nuts or cheeses to really make it pop. 

Motivational Mugs and More
This is such a pretty tumbler – perfect for any type of drink! Pair it with a bottle of wine, a box of tea, cocoa, or coffee, or fill it with some candy! Super cute teacher gift too! 

Lodge Logic L10SK3 10-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet
We use our cast iron skillets constantly and Lodge is a great American brand to purchase. These come pre-seasoned, so less food will stick from the start and they will become even more non-stick with regular use. Cast iron pans are nearly indestructible with proper care, and can last for decades. If you’re only cooking for 1-2 people, the 10 inch skillet is the best option and is less expensive. 

Note: these pans are heavy, so if your recipient has strength limitations, these may not be a great option. We usually leave ours on the stovetop so we aren’t constantly having to move it around, but you can safely store it in the oven. They are completely oven-safe, so if you accidentally turn on the oven with it in there, it will be perfectly fine (just hot!).

Collapsible Colander, Over the Sink Colander with Handles

I’m kind of over how much space my metal strainer takes up in my cabinet, so this is going on my list this year! You can also find this type of item at TJMaxx, Marshall’s store! 

Home Canning Starter Kit 
Many folks are going back to basics and learning to live more self-sufficiently for financial and environmental reasons. Canning is back in style again and this kit will help the recipient get started. Include a canning cook book or some canning jars for a more complete gift. 

T-fal E9380864 Professional Total Nonstick Oven Safe Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator 12.5-Inch Fry Pan/Saute Pan Dishwasher Safe Cookware 
This nonstick pan was rated the highest by Cook’s Illustrated and has excellent reviews for it’s easy care and over safe uses.  It’s light and affordable and can help people cook with less fat without food sticking.  Nonstick pans need replaced every few years because they get scratched up easily, so anyone who has been using non-stick pans for a few years could probably use a replacement.  Pair this pan with a silicone or plastic spatula to help them keep their new pan free from scratches. 

Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet 
You won’t regret buying commercial grade baking sheets – the half sheet size is perfect for a residential oven as it’s just slightly larger than a standard baking sheet. They are so much sturdier, don’t buckle in the heat, won’t rust, and allow your cookies to bake more evenly, thanks to the heavy gauge. If you know someone who bakes, I bet they could use a new cookie sheet. Maybe they’ll bake you a batch as a thank you! 

Silicone Baking Mat for Half-Size Cookie Sheet
I’ve been baking on silicone mats for years and I’ll never go back.  Nothing sticks and it helps prevent cookies from burning on metal pans.  They are easy to cleanup and will last for years.  These can be use in place of parchment paper or foil in your pans, so you’ll create less waste too.  Pair this with a new cookie sheet or a homemade cookie gift jar. 

Norpro Mandoline Slicer Grater with Guard
Mandoline Slicers are a great gift for people who like to cook but don’t have excellent knife skills.  Slicers help create equal and uniform pieces quicker than using a knife.  This one has excellent ratings and is collapsible to save space – I own it myself. 

World Cuisine Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer 
I received one as a gift a few years ago and have since made many batches of curly fries, sweet potato fries, zucchini pasta, and apple strings.  It’s easy to use and easy to clean, and makes a great gift for the creative chef on your list.  This is perfect if you have anyone on your list who eats a low carb or Paleo diet. 

AmazonBasics 12-Piece Colored Knife Set
Gifting knives may not be exciting, but if the recipient likes cooking, new sharp knives will be welcome.  This set is particular great because they each have a cover and can be kept in a drawer without dulling the blades or stabbing someone.  Reviews are great! 

Zulay Kids Knife Set for Cooking and Cutting
Want your kids to help out in the kitchen safely? Buy them some serrated nylon knives so they can chop alongside you. They say that kids will try more varieties of food if they help prepare it! 

Oster Belgian Waffle Maker 
Waffles are the new doughnut – but even better because you can waffle nearly everything, including cookie dough, eggs, leftover mashed potatoes (do a Pinterest search for ideas).  My personal favorite?  Waffled glazed doughnuts.  The waffle pattern creates the perfect nooks for the glaze to pool.  This waffle maker is small, but cooks fast enough if you need to make multiple batches. 

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Kitchen Gift Ideas: Stocking Stuffers

O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Cream
This miracle creme will heal rough, dry, or cracked hands and is perfect to keep at the kitchen sink to use after washing dishes.  Over 4,000 reviews can’t be wrong! 

Zeroll Original Ice Cream Scoop
If you know an ice cream lover, they neeeeed this scoop.  This is the best ice cream scoop and is recommended by America’s Test Kitchen and Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Ice Cream!  So you know it’s the best. The heat conductive fluid inside the handle helps the scoop glide through even the hardest ice cream.  Different sizes are available, but the 4 oz is a good choice.  Pair it with an ice cream sundae gift basket or a pint of Jeni’s Ice Cream or Graeter’s Ice Cream. Another positive about this choice? These are made in the USA. 

Hostess Gift: Harney & Sons Fine Teas Hot Cinnamon Spice – 50 Tea bags
This tea is my absolute favorite wintertime tea.  It’s like Christmas in a mug, but isn’t too overwhelming. 

Spices, Sauces, and Such!

If you don’t know what items your recipient already has in the kitchen, consumables make a great choice! Various spices and sauces can make a great gift for someone who loves to cook! Trader Joes has some fun blends (21 Seasoning Salute and Everything But the Bagel spice mixes are perfection).

North Market has a variety of shops offering options, and Marshall’s and TJ Maxx always have tons of unique sauces, spices, and salts.  

Kitchen Gift Ideas: Splurge gift (or gift for yourself)

Instant Pot
Move over slow cooker…this fast cooker has take over the kitchen limelight.  If you’ve wondered whether buying one of these is worth it, I can tell you that it is.  This former slow cooker fan has moved that appliance down to the basement to make room for my Instant Pot.  Cook a frozen pork loin in 75 minutes or less?  Yes please!  This the ultimate kitchen appliance for the procrastinator.

2nd Splurge Gift (or put this on your own list!)

Airfryer: We got one for Christmas last year and use it MORE than the instant pot! It’s amazing for reheating pizza, making chicken nuggets or fries, roasting veggies, cooking skin-on chicken and chicken wings – and so many other things (basically, everything you can’t do well with an Instant Pot). Yes they are big and take up fair amount of space, but we use it so often that we keep it out on our counter. I would suggest a 6 qt one unless you only cook for 1-2 people. We have this NuWave one, but there are SO many other brands that you could buy. There’s even an Instant Pot/Air Fryer combo if you want both – it’s cheaper than purchasing separately! Expect discounts and price drops for all of these options on Black Friday and Cyber Monday! (affiliate link)

*affiliate links included.  Amazon prices may fluctuate.

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