56 Best Gifts for People Who Love to Cook

Cater to the home chef in your life with these thoughtful gift ideas, from pantry staples to cookbooks to cookware.

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Updated on November 21, 2023

Whether your friend or family member has been into cooking for years or if they're new to the cooking world, they'll love kitchen gadgets and accessories that make prepping tasty treats even more enjoyable. Shop our top gift ideas that the cook in your life will use and enjoy for years to come.

PANTRY STAPLES + ACCESSORIES

The secret to being able to whip up delicious meals on any weeknight, no matter if they meal planned or not, is a well-stocked pantry. Elevate their staple ingredients with a set of olive oil from the popular brand Brightland. Fancy olive oil is something they probably wouldn't buy for themselves, but you know they would use, making it the perfect gift. Plus, the gorgeous bottles are display-worthy and designed to protect the olive oil from sunlight. A good chef always needs salt, so gift them a box of quality Maldon salt and pair it with a chic salt cellar.

COOKBOOKS + RECIPE STORAGE

A new cookbook always makes a great, budget-friendly gift for any home chef, especially if they also like to display cookbooks as decor like I do. Whether they're a beginner looking to develop their skills or are trying to expand their vegetarian dish options, these cookbooks would make great additions to their kitchens. If you want to spend a little more, pair it with a cookbook stand, or, if you know they prefer to reference recipes digitally, skip the cookbook and stick to a stand that works for both books and tablets or phones. For a more decorative gift, this fun citrus print recipe box from Kate Spade would make the perfect home for their select favorite family recipes. Personalize the gift by filling out a recipe card or two with some of your favorite recipes to start their collection.

KITCHEN ACCESSORIES

You can't go wrong with a stylish apron like one from Hedley & Bennett, which has endless colors, patterns and styles to choose from. If you're not very familiar with what they already have and don't want to spend too much, a unique and stylish ceramic spoon rest is a great option. Home chefs really can't have too many cutting boards, and we love the stylish reBoards from Material Kitchen that are made from recycled materials and come in several fun colors. If you've noticed the person you're shopping for always uses pot holders as makeshift trivets or is always running out of places to put a hot pan, snag this fun "Yum" trivet from The Cellar collection at Macy's. It's practical and functional, but will add a touch of whimsy to their kitchen and can even be hung up as whimsical wall art when not in use. Another nifty gadget that makes cleanup easier and saves counter space is this roll-up silicone drying rack. They can use it for drying dishes or produce, and it rolls up for easy storage.

COOKWARE + BAKEWARE

If you're shopping for a beginner chef who's still building their cookware collection or a seasoned chef who has worn their cookware out and is in need of replacements, you can't go wrong with these staples. Free of PTFE, this non-toxic cookware from Caraway, which is Food Network's pick for best overall non-toxic cookware, consists of non-stick ceramic, aluminum core, & stainless steel handles and is safe to go in the oven up to 550 degrees! Plus, this bundle is available in fun trendy colors and comes with convenient storage for pans and lids for easy organizing. A set of textured baking sheets for roasting veggies, a cast-iron Dutch oven on mega-sale and a budget-friendly Lodge cast-iron pan would also make excellent gifts.

KITCHEN TOOLS

The right tools make all the difference in the kitchen, so upgrade their essential kitchen knives with this 3-piece set from Material Kitchen. If the home chef in your life already has high-quality knives, gift them this nifty compact ceramic knife sharpener, so they can keep their tools in tip-top shape and save money by not needing to hire a professional to sharpen knives in the future. This compact electric chopper is a major time-saver for dicing and finely chopping veggies, garlic and other key ingredients.

ECO-CONSCIOUS KITCHEN GIFTS

For the person who's mindful of the environmental impact of our food systems and food waste, surprise them with a thoughtful earth-friendly gift. If they are interested in growing their own food but live in a small space or just want to minimize wasting grocery store herbs, this HGTV editor-approved AeroGarden Harvest indoor hydroponic garden would make be a perfect addition to their kitchen countertop. A bamboo countertop compost bin will help them reduce their food waste in style. Make it easy for them to ditch plastic in the kitchen with multipurpose and reusable silicone Stasher bags that are dishwasher-, microwave- and freezer-safe. Upgrade their reusable grocery store tote bags to this roomy, sturdy canvas tote with multiple compartments for all of their precious grocery cargo, from wine to flowers to eggs.

GIFTS FOR THE LITTLEST CHEFS

For the littles in your life interested in developing culinary skills, make the kitchen more accessible (literally) to them with a handy convertible kitchen stand from the Etsy shop Montessori House Bed. This stand comes in sleek neutral colors that won't cramp your home's style, and it allows young kids to safely access kitchen counters. It also converts to a kid's table. For a budget-friendly gift, this parent-and-me kit from Girl Meets Farm by Molly Yeh includes an apron for an adult and a kid, plus several fun accessories like spatulas and cookie cutters. For older and more independent kids, keep them busy and learning with a fun cook-along sushi-making kit from Raddish Kids or a National Geographic book of edible science experiments.

FOR THE MEAL PREP ENTHUSIAST

With more employees returning to the office and commuting again, keep the chef or health enthusiast in your life organized and stress-free with some meal-prepping essentials. The brand Souper Cubes, as seen on Shark Tank, makes freezable silicone trays with lids in various serving sizes like half-cup, 1-cup, or 2-cup proportions to simplify meal prep and freezer storage. They're perfect for soups, sauces, stocks, smoothie ingredients and more. When chopping a lot of vegetables at once, a mandolin slicer comes in super handy, and durable glass storage containers are a must. If they already have these essentials, a vacuum sealer, like this one from NutriChef that HGTV editors love, is a handy gadget they might appreciate.

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