Char Chimney

The Best Grilling Accessories Worth Owning

The small, cheap add-ons that fix a real grilling annoyance. Bristle-free brushes, chimney starters, grill lights and more, picked one standout per job.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

Accessories are where grilling gets easy — the small, cheap add-ons that fix a specific annoyance rather than replace the grill itself. The best ones solve a problem the cook has every time they fire up: a wire brush shedding bristles, small food falling through the grate, coals that take forever to light, or a grill you can’t see after dark.

Because most cost well under $25, they also make some of the smartest gifts on the site — genuinely useful, and things people rarely buy for themselves. Below we’ve picked one standout in each job, from charcoal lighting to smash burgers to grilling vegetables. For price-based gift ideas, see grilling gifts under $25, and for the matching hardware, the best grilling tools.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Our shortlist, with the price on every pick. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t tested these ourselves — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
GRILLART Bristle-Free 18-Inch Grill Brush

GRILLART Bristle-Free 18-Inch Grill Brush

A bristle-free coil brush that won't leave wire bristles in someone's burger — the safety-conscious upgrade over every wire brush, and a genuinely thoughtful gift once you explain why.

Best overall
$22.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Kingsford Heavy Duty Deluxe Charcoal Chimney Starter

Kingsford Heavy Duty Deluxe Charcoal Chimney Starter

The fastest way to light charcoal without lighter fluid or its taste — fill it, light a couple of sheets of newspaper, and you have even coals in about fifteen minutes. The most useful fourteen dollars a charcoal griller can receive.

Best for charcoal
$13.80 · View on Amazon

$14.535% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
KOSIN Magnetic LED Grill Light (2-Pack)

KOSIN Magnetic LED Grill Light (2-Pack)

Two magnetic gooseneck LED lights so they can actually see the food after dark — the small gift that solves a problem every evening-griller has and nobody thinks to fix.

Best for night grilling
$15.99 · View on Amazon

$16.996% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Weber Deluxe Stainless Grilling Basket

Weber Deluxe Stainless Grilling Basket

A stainless basket for the vegetables, shrimp and small stuff that fall through the grate — Weber-made, so it's built to last. The gift that quietly expands what someone can cook.

Best for vegetables
$34.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Grillaholics Non-Stick Grill Mats (Set of 2)

Grillaholics Non-Stick Grill Mats (Set of 2)

Reusable non-stick mats that keep delicate fish, veg and even eggs from falling through or sticking — the gift for a griller who's tired of losing dinner to the grate.

Best for delicate food
$19.95 · View on Amazon

$21.959% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
SanKonfu Cast Iron Burger & Bacon Press

SanKonfu Cast Iron Burger & Bacon Press

A heavy 7-inch cast-iron press for smash burgers, crispy bacon and evenly-seared everything — a cheap gift that instantly upgrades what someone can do on a flat top or grate.

Best for smash burgers
$10.99 · View on Amazon

$22.9952% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

7
Char Chimney Pick Stainless Corn Holders (24-Pack)

Char Chimney Pick Stainless Corn Holders (24-Pack)

Twenty-four stainless corn skewers so nobody burns their fingers on grilled corn — the six-dollar 'why didn't I own these' gift that rounds out a summer basket.

Best cheap add-on
$5.99 · View on Amazon

$6.8913% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

8
gmisun Refillable Oil Mister (2-Pack)

gmisun Refillable Oil Mister (2-Pack)

A refillable oil mister so they can coat grates and vegetables evenly instead of glugging oil from the bottle — a small, practical gift that quietly makes everything cook better.

Best for even oiling
$9.99 · View on Amazon

$11.9917% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall

GRILLART Bristle-Free 18-Inch Grill Brush

A bristle-free coil brush that won't leave wire bristles in someone's burger — the safety-conscious upgrade over every wire brush, and a genuinely thoughtful gift once you explain why.

Why it’s a good gift

  • No loose wire bristles — the real safety win
  • 18in handle keeps hands off the heat
  • Stainless coils scrape and clean

Worth knowing

  • Coil brushes need a firmer hand
  • Go gently on delicate porcelain grates

Best for: Replacing the dangerous old wire brush in their shed

Details read from the Amazon listing, last checked July 21, 2026. Prices change; the number above is fetched live.

#2Best for charcoal

Kingsford Heavy Duty Deluxe Charcoal Chimney Starter

The fastest way to light charcoal without lighter fluid or its taste — fill it, light a couple of sheets of newspaper, and you have even coals in about fifteen minutes. The most useful fourteen dollars a charcoal griller can receive.

Why it’s a good gift

  • Even, fast lighting with no fluid taste
  • Stay-cool handle and a heat shield
  • Large capacity for a full grate

Worth knowing

  • Charcoal only — useless for a gas owner
  • Gets very hot; needs a safe set-down spot

Best for: Any charcoal griller still using lighter fluid

Details read from the Amazon listing, last checked July 21, 2026. Prices change; the number above is fetched live.

#3Best for night grilling

KOSIN Magnetic LED Grill Light (2-Pack)

Two magnetic gooseneck LED lights so they can actually see the food after dark — the small gift that solves a problem every evening-griller has and nobody thinks to fix.

Why it’s a good gift

  • Magnetic base sticks to any grill hood
  • Flexible gooseneck aims the beam
  • Two in the pack — one to keep, one to lend

Worth knowing

  • Batteries will eventually need replacing
  • Not fully waterproof — bring it in

Best for: The after-work griller cooking in the dark

Details read from the Amazon listing, last checked July 21, 2026. Prices change; the number above is fetched live.

#4Best for vegetables

Weber Deluxe Stainless Grilling Basket

A stainless basket for the vegetables, shrimp and small stuff that fall through the grate — Weber-made, so it's built to last. The gift that quietly expands what someone can cook.

Why it’s a good gift

  • Keeps small food from falling through
  • Weber stainless build
  • Handles come off for storage

Worth knowing

  • Really hand-wash only
  • One more thing to store

Best for: The meat-only griller who should be grilling vegetables

Details read from the Amazon listing, last checked July 21, 2026. Prices change; the number above is fetched live.

#5Best for delicate food

Grillaholics Non-Stick Grill Mats (Set of 2)

Reusable non-stick mats that keep delicate fish, veg and even eggs from falling through or sticking — the gift for a griller who's tired of losing dinner to the grate.

Why it’s a good gift

  • Non-stick, reusable and trimmable
  • Stops small food falling through
  • Easy cleanup

Worth knowing

  • Lower max-heat than bare grates
  • No direct grill marks through the mat

Best for: The griller who cooks fish and delicate food

Details read from the Amazon listing, last checked July 21, 2026. Prices change; the number above is fetched live.

#6Best for smash burgers

SanKonfu Cast Iron Burger & Bacon Press

A heavy 7-inch cast-iron press for smash burgers, crispy bacon and evenly-seared everything — a cheap gift that instantly upgrades what someone can do on a flat top or grate.

Why it’s a good gift

  • Heavy cast iron presses evenly
  • Smash burgers, bacon, paninis
  • Under $12

Worth knowing

  • Cast iron needs drying to avoid rust
  • One trick, done well

Best for: The smash-burger convert

Details read from the Amazon listing, last checked July 21, 2026. Prices change; the number above is fetched live.

#7Best cheap add-on

Char Chimney Pick Stainless Corn Holders (24-Pack)

Twenty-four stainless corn skewers so nobody burns their fingers on grilled corn — the six-dollar 'why didn't I own these' gift that rounds out a summer basket.

Why it’s a good gift

  • 24 in a pack — enough for a party
  • Stainless and dishwasher-safe
  • Costs about six dollars

Worth knowing

  • As basic as a gift gets on its own
  • Best as a pair-with

Best for: The cookout host doing corn for a crowd

Details read from the Amazon listing, last checked July 21, 2026. Prices change; the number above is fetched live.

#8Best for even oiling

gmisun Refillable Oil Mister (2-Pack)

A refillable oil mister so they can coat grates and vegetables evenly instead of glugging oil from the bottle — a small, practical gift that quietly makes everything cook better.

Why it’s a good gift

  • Even, controlled oil coating
  • Food-grade and refillable — no aerosols
  • Two in the pack

Worth knowing

  • Thicker oils can clog the nozzle
  • Needs an occasional clean

Best for: Anyone who grills vegetables or oils their grates

Details read from the Amazon listing, last checked July 21, 2026. Prices change; the number above is fetched live.

How to choose grilling accessories

Buy for the fuel first. A charcoal griller gets huge value from a chimney starter like the Kingsford Deluxe, which lights coals fast without lighter fluid; a gas owner has no use for one. Match the accessory to how they actually cook before anything else.

Then fix their biggest annoyance. If small food falls through the grate, a Weber grilling basket or a set of Grillaholics mats solves it. If they grill after work in the dark, magnetic LED lights change the game. If they love smash burgers, a heavy cast-iron press is the whole trick.

Finally, don’t overlook the cheap stuff. Corn holders, an oil mister and a bristle-free brush cost a few dollars each but get used constantly — the kind of small upgrade that rounds out a bigger gift perfectly.

Frequently asked questions

What grilling accessories are actually useful?

The ones that fix a real problem. A bristle-free GRILLART brush cleans safely, a Kingsford chimney lights charcoal without fluid, a Weber basket keeps vegetables off the coals, and magnetic grill lights let you cook after dark. Skip single-use novelties; these get used every single cook.

What's a good grilling accessory gift under $25?

Almost all of them. A bristle-free brush, a chimney starter, magnetic LED grill lights, a cast-iron burger press or a pack of corn holders each cost well under $25 and get constant use. They're ideal because they're genuinely useful things people rarely buy for themselves.

What do I need to grill vegetables?

A grilling basket or mats keep small, soft food from falling through the grate. The Weber Deluxe basket is stainless and built to last; Grillaholics mats are non-stick and great for delicate items like fish and eggs. Add an oil mister to coat everything evenly before it hits the heat.

How do you light charcoal without lighter fluid?

Use a chimney starter. The Kingsford Heavy Duty Deluxe is the standout — fill it with charcoal, light a couple of sheets of newspaper underneath, and you have evenly lit coals in about fifteen minutes with no chemical taste. It's the most useful upgrade any charcoal griller can get.

What accessory makes the best smash burgers?

A heavy cast-iron press. The SanKonfu 7-inch press flattens burgers evenly for maximum crust and works for crispy bacon and paninis too. For under twelve dollars it instantly upgrades what someone can do on a flat top or grate — a small gift with an outsized payoff.

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