Best Gifts for Home Cooks Under $50 (Picked by Our Kitchen Store)

Every family has one: the person who lives in the kitchen, already owns the good knife and says "oh, you didn't have to" before tucking your gadget into the back of a drawer. Shopping for a home cook is tricky. They've got the spatula, the cutting board and the favorite pan, so what's left?

Here's what we've learned helping customers shop for them: the gifts that get used are the little upgrades a cook would never buy for themselves. And most of the best ones cost less than $50.

We pulled this list from our own shelves here in Colorado Springs. Every pick is something we'd happily wrap for our own families, and they're the same gifts we recommend every day to customers looking for something special for the home cook who has everything. You'll find little stocking-sized treats, cast iron tools, baking gifts and ready-to-give sets that save you a trip to the gift wrap aisle.

Jump to: Under $25 · For the Everyday Cook · For the Cast Iron Fan · For the Baker · Ready-to-Give Gift Sets · FAQs

Shop every pick from this guide →

Quick Picks

Gifts Under $25

Small enough for a stocking, nice enough to stand on its own.

Cangshan HELENA Paring Knife with Sheath

A good paring knife gets used more than almost any other tool in the kitchen. This 3.5-inch one has a slim, balanced handle and comes with its own sheath, so it can live in a drawer without getting dinged. Pick a color that suits them. Shop the HELENA Paring Knife →

Truly Greek Stuffed Olives

We think these are the best stuffed olives around. They're Greek Halkidiki olives from family groves, stuffed with jalapeño, garlic or lemon. Put a jar out with cheese and crackers, drop a few in a martini, or just eat them straight from the jar. Shop the Truly Greek Stuffed Olives →

Saltroot Botanical Simmer Pots

Add water, set it on the stove and the whole house smells like the holidays. Saltroot makes these in small batches with sea salt, dried fruit, herbs and spices, and there are several winter scents to choose from. They make a sweet teacher or neighbor gift too. Shop the Saltroot Simmer Pots →

Geometry Greetings from Colorado Tea Towel

For the friend who just moved here, or the one who moved away and misses the mountains. Geometry towels are quick-drying and made from recycled materials, and this one has a fun Colorado print. Shop the Greetings from Colorado Tea Towel →

Gifts $25 to $50 for the Everyday Cook

These are the tools and table pieces they'll reach for all year, long after the wrapping paper is gone.

Epicurean All-in-One Cutting Board

We recommend this board all the time. One side has a juice groove for carving, the other is flat for chopping, and silicone feet keep it from sliding around. It's made in the USA and goes right in the dishwasher. Shop the Epicurean All-in-One Cutting Board →

Malia Salt and Pepper Mill Set

A handsome pair for the table. The pepper mill has a carbon steel grinder, the salt mill has a ceramic one that won't corrode, and both adjust from fine to coarse. They arrive filled, so they're ready to use the day they're unwrapped. Shop the Malia Mill Set →

Le Creuset Heritage Butter Dish

Soft butter on the table makes holiday rolls even better. This stoneware dish holds a standard stick and is wide enough for most European-style butters too. It's a pretty, practical gift for anyone who hosts. Shop the Le Creuset Butter Dish →

Le Creuset Signature Spoon Rest

It keeps sauce off the stovetop and looks nice sitting out between meals. Pair it with a Le Creuset piece they already own, or start them on a new color. Shop the Le Creuset Spoon Rest →

Le Creuset Signature Garlic Keeper

A cheerful little stoneware crock that keeps garlic bulbs fresh on the counter, with holes in the base for airflow. It also goes in the oven for roasting garlic, which any cook will appreciate. It's pretty enough to leave out on the counter all year. Shop the Le Creuset Garlic Keeper →

Olivelle Brown Butter Infused Olive Oil

All the warm, nutty flavor of brown butter in a vegan-friendly olive oil. Drizzle it over roasted squash, popcorn or mashed potatoes. Tuck it in a basket with a rub or two and you've got a foodie gift in minutes. Shop the Brown Butter Olive Oil →

Made In Chef Towels, Set of 3

Cooks go through towels fast. These cotton chef towels are built for real kitchen messes, and they come in a set of three in classic colors. Shop the Made In Chef Towels →

Metro Kitchen Apron in Blue or Red

A classic striped cotton apron with a front utensil pocket and an easy-to-adjust D-ring neck tie. Pick blue or cherry red. It's an easy gift for the person who always ends up with flour on their sweater. Shop the Metro Kitchen Apron →

For the Cast Iron Fan

If they own a Smithey skillet (or wish they did), these four make a great little bundle.

Smithey Mighty Spatula

An extra-wide stainless steel spatula with a walnut handle. It's perfect for smash burgers, but it also lifts cornbread, hash browns and big pancakes in one go. Shop the Smithey Mighty Spatula →

Smithey Leather Skillet Handle Sleeve

Cast iron handles get hot. This oil-tanned leather sleeve slips right over the handle and looks better the more it's used. Shop the Smithey Leather Sleeve →

Smithey Chainmail Scrubber

Anyone who cooks in cast iron knows the struggle of stuck-on bits. This stainless steel chainmail pad takes care of them without a lot of elbow grease. It's a small gift that earns its spot by the sink. Shop the Smithey Chainmail Scrubber →

Seasoned: The Art and Craft of Cast Iron Cooking

Smithey's cookbook covers everything from cheesy skillet dips to crispy-skin salmon, plus tips for cooking with cast iron. It's new on our shelves this month and a lovely gift to pair with any of the tools above. Shop the Seasoned Cookbook →

For the Baker

Holiday baking season is the best time to give a baker something special.

OXO Good Grips Cookie Press

Spritz cookies are a holiday tradition in so many families, and this press makes them easy. One pump of the big lever shapes each cookie, it comes apart for filling and cleaning, and 12 stainless steel disks (including a snowflake, tree and wreath) store in their own case. Add the Christmas Disk Set for Santa, snowmen and stars. Shop the OXO Cookie Press →

Handmade Bread Warmer

Warm the terracotta stone in the oven, tuck it into the handwoven basket and the rolls stay warm all through dinner. Each one is handmade, so no two look exactly alike. Shop the Handmade Bread Warmer →

Le Creuset Pie Bird

An old-fashioned baker's trick in a cheerful stoneware bird. It vents steam from the filling to help keep pies from bubbling over, and it's a charming stocking stuffer for the family pie maker. Shop the Le Creuset Pie Bird →

Ready-to-Give Gift Sets

We put these together in the shop so you don't have to. Each one pairs a few favorites that go together.

Holiday Tea and Geometry Luxe Towel Gift Set

The Republic of Tea's holiday sampler, with three seasonal flavors, paired with a festive Geometry luxe towel. It's a cozy gift for a coworker, a teacher or anyone who loves a quiet cup in the afternoon. Shop the Holiday Tea Gift Set →

All Is Calm Candle and Tea Towel Gift Set

A Rewined holiday candle and our All Is Calm tea towel. Choose the candle scent you like best. It's the kind of gift that tells someone to sit down and take a breath. Shop the All Is Calm Gift Set →

Movie Night Popcorn Gift Set

Olivelle's silicone microwave popper with a Pop'N Wow Carnival Classics set. Wrap it up with a favorite holiday movie and you've got a family gift everyone can enjoy. Shop the Movie Night Gift Set →

Want more ideas?

Browse our Gifts for the Serious Home Chef, Gifts for the Sourdough Baker and Holiday Hostess Gifts collections, or pick up something made close to home in our Colorado Local shop. Looking for smaller gifts? Our Stocking Stuffers Under $25 guide has plenty more.

Shop all of our gifts under $50 →

FAQs

What is a good gift for a home cook under $50?

Look for an upgrade to something they use every day: a better cutting board, a good paring knife, nice salt and pepper mills or a sturdy spatula. Gourmet pantry items like infused olive oil or a specialty rub are great too, because most cooks don't buy them for themselves.

What do you get someone who already has everything in their kitchen?

Go for something that makes cooking or hosting a little nicer rather than another gadget. A bread warmer, a butter dish, a cookbook or a gift set with tea and a towel all feel special without duplicating what they own.

What are good kitchen gifts for bakers?

A cookie press, a pie bird and a bread warmer are all fun for bakers this time of year. For the bread baker, browse our Gifts for the Sourdough Baker collection.

Are Le Creuset gifts available under $50?

Yes. Le Creuset makes several smaller pieces that come in under $50, including the garlic keeper, the pie bird, the spoon rest and the butter dish. They come in the same colors as the brand's cookware, so they're easy to match.

Where can I shop these in Colorado Springs?

Visit us at Aspen Kitchens Home + Gift, 5020 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO. Call us at 719-264-9200, or shop online anytime at shop.aspenkitchens.com.