30 Holiday Gifts for Home Cooks (Updated 2023)

The holidays are here, which means it's time to get shopping!

But, shopping for a serious home cook who already seems to have everything they need can be a daunting task. That's why I've compiled this holiday gift guide just for you.

You won't find your typical knife block or cutting board set here. The items on this list are unique kitchen tools that I love and use almost every day in my own kitchen. They're the perfect gifts for cooks who have everything.

So, whether you're shopping for Black Friday deals or just looking for a great gift for that special home cook in your life, this list is for you.

Cookware

1. Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Dutch Oven

Without a doubt, my Dutch oven is the most-used pot in my kitchen. I have a Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven and I use it for just about everything. Especially throughout the fall and winter when warm and cozy comfort food meals are on repeat.

Dutch ovens are heavy cooking pots with tight-fitting lids, making them fantastic at retaining heat and moisture throughout the cooking process.

Use them for searing, then slowly braising large cuts of meat. Additionally, dutch ovens can be used to make soups, stews, meatballs, and much more.

>> Looking for recipes for your new dutch oven? Try my Slow-Braised Dutch Oven Turkey Breast or Dutch Oven Meatballs.

2. Cuisinart 10-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

A well-seasoned cast iron skillet is one of the most useful gifts for home cooks. Naturally non-stick, these versatile skillets can be used for searing, shallow frying, grilling, and even baking.

I love my Cuisinart 10-Inch Cast Iron Skillet and use it every single morning to make fried egg sandwiches.

>> Want to get creative with your cast iron skillet? Try my Brown Butter Skillet Cornbread or Greek Yogurt Buffalo Chicken Dip.

3. Cuisinart 10-Inch Stainless Steel Skillet

Another versatile piece of cookware, stainless steel skillets are a must for any serious home cook.

Similar to cast iron skillets, stainless steel skillets are great for searing, sautéing, and shallow frying.

However, stainless steel is less reactive than cast iron, which means it's better suited for cooking with acidic ingredients. If your favorite home cook loves tomato sauce or wine sauce, a good stainless steel skillet will be their new best friend.

4. HOMICHEF 24-Quart Stockpot

A large stockpot is a wonderful gift for those who love making their own stocks and broths at home.

I often prepare my homemade chicken stock or turkey stock in large batches. So, a 24-quart stockpot is exactly what I need to make the process hassle-free.

5. Pampered Chef Pizza Stone

Is your home cook a fan of homemade pizza? If so, then you have to get them a high-quality pizza stone.

I love my Pampered Chef Pizza Stone because it has easy-to-grab handles and is oven-safe up to 550°F.

Pizza cooked directly on a pizza stone at high heat is the closest you'll get to restaurant-quality pizza at home. In fact, it's so good that it's become a Friday night tradition at my house.

>> Want to make pizza from scratch? Try my 72-Hour Pizza Dough and Marinara Sauce recipe for your next pizza night.

6. Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle

Primarily used for pour-over coffee (more on that later), gooseneck kettles make pouring hot water easy.

I use my Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle daily for making home-brewed coffee in my Chemex coffee maker. It's also convenient for making tea and adding water to an in-oven water bath.

Small Appliances

7. KitchenAid Immersion Blender

I absolutely adore my KitchenAid Immersion Blender and think that it's an often overlooked kitchen appliance.

Perfect for blending soups and sauces, making purées, or emulsifying aioli, this handy little gadget makes kitchen life a breeze. No more pouring hot soup into a blender to achieve that smooth consistency.

>> Test out your immersion blender with my 4-Ingredient Potato Soup or Creamy Pumpkin Soup recipe.

8. KitchenAid Food Processor

One of my favorite gifts for home cooks, a food processor makes finely chopping and blending ingredients easy-peasy. I love using my KitchenAid Food Processor to make velvety smooth hummus, authentic falafel mixture, and creamy aioli.

>> Try making my Butternut Squash Hummus recipe or these Falafel Gyros in the food processor.

9. KitchenAid Stand Mixer

On the more expensive side of things, a stand mixer is perfect for the home cook who also loves baking. It is a bit of an investment, but one that will last a long time and that your favorite home baker will appreciate.

My KitchenAid Stand Mixer came with several mixing attachments, meaning I can use it for making cookies, cakes, whipped cream, and yeasted bread dough.

10. KitchenAid Hand Mixer

If you're on a budget, but still want to get your favorite home baker a fun gift, opt for a hand mixer.

Like a stand mixer, hand mixers are used for beating and mixing ingredients together. However, they do require a little more elbow grease than stand mixers do.

I love my KitchenAid Hand Mixer for quick and easy tasks such as making whipped cream or a small batch of cookies.

>> Want to test out your new hand mixer? Give my No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars or my Chocolate-Filled Chocolate Chip Cookies a try.

11. Tiger Rice Cooker

If you make rice often, you know how much of a pain it can be to cook. It bubbles over, sticks to the bottom of the pot, or turns out mushy. Not with a rice cooker!

A rice cooker makes consistently delicious rice. And it's completely hands-off.

The rice cooker is one appliance I never knew I needed until I had it. My fiancé and I were gifted a Tiger Rice Cooker as a housewarming gift and it quickly became one of my most-used small kitchen appliances.

>> Try using it to make my cilantro lime rice cooker rice or whole grain farro!

12. Ninja Max XL Air Fryer

Does your favorite home cook love fried food? Help them make it healthier with an air fryer!

Air fryers are all the rage lately and are great gifts for home cooks who love all things crispy and delicious. I've used my Ninja Max XL Air Fryer to make everything from crispy chicken wings, brussels sprouts, and french fries to steak tips, burgers, and fish.

>> Looking for air fryer recipes? Try these Air Fryer Broccoli Bites, Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries, or Air Fryer Halibut.

13. Hamilton Beach Belgian Waffle Maker

If your home-cooking bestie loves breakfast and brunch, give them the gift of brunch right at home with a Belgian waffle maker.

I've had my Hamilton Beach Belgian Waffle Maker for years now and it still works fabulously. My fiancé and I make chocolate chip waffles for breakfast almost every weekend.

>> Try my Sourdough Discard Waffles for your next weekend brunch menu.

14. Chemex Coffee Maker

Looking for the best gift for the coffee lover in your life?

Improve their mornings, their spending habits, and their coffee with a Chemex Coffee Maker.

This simple pour-over coffee carafe makes brewing and storing fresh coffee at home a breeze. Mine is still going strong after over 9 years of daily use.

15. Cuisinart Automatic Burr Coffee Grinder

This gift goes hand-in-hand with the coffee maker mentioned above.

Since most pour-over coffee makers recommend using coarse coffee grounds, a coffee grinder is a must-have kitchen gadget for any home brewer.

For years, I used a manual coffee grinder, which works well, but can be labor-intensive. When I upgraded to the Cuisinart Automatic Burr Coffee Grinder, I was so impressed by how easy and convenient it was.

If your favorite home cook is still grinding away by hand, give them the gift of an upgrade.

Gadgets & Tools

16. KOIOS Digital Kitchen Scale

If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive gift that will make a big difference, go for a kitchen scale.

This little tool makes baking and cooking a cinch. No more dirtying measuring cups just to accidentally over-measure the flour and end up with dry muffins. Simply place the mixing bowl on the kitchen scale and measure all of your ingredients directly in the bowl by weight. Game-changer!

17. Microplane Classic Zester

Want to really help your friend level up their cooking skills? A zester or grater is the perfect kitchen tool to do just that.

I use my Microplane constantly for grating garlic into dressings or for zesting citrus to add a pop of flavor to any dish.

18. Professional Box Cheese Grater

Another small tool that makes a big difference is a box cheese grater.

Any home cook worth their salt will know that pre-shredded cheese is a big no-no in most cases. It's coated in anti-caking agents, which means it doesn't melt as nicely or taste as fresh as cheese shredded at home from a block.

A Professional Box Cheese Grater will make quick work of any block of cheese and makes an excellent gift for the home cook.

19. Citrus Squeezer

Fresh citrus juice is often used in recipes to bring brightness, acidity, and balance to a dish.

Squeezing limes and lemons by hand can be tricky because you have to pay attention to the seeds. With a citrus squeezer, not only do you get more juice, but it also catches the seeds for you.

20. KitchenAid Kitchen Shears

A good pair of kitchen shears have many uses in the kitchen. From breaking down poultry to trimming herbs, this handy tool will make a home cook's life significantly easier.

In my opinion, kitchen shears are often overlooked but are one of the best gifts for home cooks.

21. ThermaPro Digital Meat Thermometer

Trying to determine if a whole roasted chicken is done just right isn't always easy.

Help your favorite home cook master this tricky task with a digital meat thermometer. A meat thermometer will let them cook the perfect roast every single time.

>> I always use a digital thermometer to ensure my Lemon-Garlic Roasted Chicken and my Turkey Smash Burgers are fully cooked through.

22. Stainless Steel Bench Scraper

If your cooking-obsessed friend or family member ever makes bread dough, pizza dough, or pie dough, this gift is for them.

A bench scraper makes kneading dough so easy. And it helps with clean-up too!

>> A bench scraper is the perfect tool to help make my 3-Ingredient Pie Crust or my Sourdough Discard Naan Bread recipe.

23. Cuisinart Fine Mesh Strainers

I went far too long before I bought myself a fine mesh strainer. But, I was so happy when I finally did.

If your favorite home cook ever makes their own stock or bone broth, a fine mesh strainer will be a helpful tool for them. These strainers are also fantastic for rinsing grains, washing berries, or straining pasta.

24. Oil Spritzer

An oil spritzer is like a can of cooking spray without all of the added ingredients.

Several months ago, I replaced my cooking spray with extra virgin olive oil in an oil sprayer and I love it. The flavor is so much better.

Plus, each spritz is ¼ teaspoon of oil so it's easy to control how much you use.

Miscellaneous

25. Echo Dot Smart Speaker

Of all the gifts for home cooks on this list, this one might be my favorite. And it's not even directly kitchen-related.

However, I use my smart speaker every time I'm in the kitchen. I use it to set timers and I love listening to podcasts or music while I cook. It makes cooking even more fun than it already is!

26. Chef'n EcoCrock Counter Compost Bin

If your favorite home chef is also an avid gardener, a countertop compost bin might just be the gift they never knew they needed.

This EcoCrock Compost Bin is super easy to use and convenient. I have it right next to me while chopping vegetables so I can throw any scraps I have right inside. Then, every few days, I empty it into my larger compost bin.

I love this one because the lid has small holes and a carbon filter to help prevent odor and molding.

27. Reusable Straws

While not technically related to cooking, reusable straws are something my fiancé and I use daily in our household.

They're perfect for homemade iced coffee or serving drinks when friends come to visit. Plus, they make great stocking stuffers.

28. Oven Mitts

You can never go wrong gifting a home cook a nice new pair of oven mitts.

Oven mitts often get dirty and stained after being used for years. Plus, there are so many fun options to choose from.

Find a pair of oven mitts that are customizable or fit your friend's unique personality and style.

29. Progressive Airtight Storage Containers

Airtight storage containers keep flour, sugar, and other pantry staples fresher for longer.

If your friend loves baking and staying organized, this 6-piece airtight storage container set is perfect for them. I've been using this brand for years and they've held up well.

30. Ball Mason Jars

Mason jars are useful for a variety of things. From canning garden produce to storing homemade spice blends, glass jars are one of my most used kitchen items.

Ball sells different sizes and styles. Personally, I use the 4-ounce jars for spice blends, 32-ounce jars for freezing stock, and 16-ounce jars for canning pickles and jams.

>> Need ideas for how to use mason jars? Try my Refrigerator Dill Pickles, Pickled Banana Peppers, Strawberry Apple Jam, and Homemade Chicken Stock.

Conclusion

I hope this list of 30 fun and unique holiday gifts for home cooks helps you find the perfect gift for the special home cook in your life this holiday season. These kitchen tools, gadgets, and appliances are all things I swear by and use often. And many I have used for years.