The Best Father's Day Gifts for the Griller

The best Father's Day gift for a griller is something he can put to work at the grill this summer: a small-batch barbecue sauce, a steak sauce or marinade, a rub, a bag of jerky to snack on while the coals heat, or premium meat for the main event. These gifts get used, which beats another gadget that sits in a drawer. The picks below are all live and in stock at Madeline's, span nine independent makers, and run from about $6.99 to $150, so you can grab one sauce or build a full grilling kit.

The short answer: for a splurge, the Five Oaks Farm Wagyu ground beef bundle turns burger night into the main event. For an easy, useful gift, a bottle of Beer Bacon Maple BBQ Sauce or Triple C Steak Sauce goes straight onto the grill. For a snack he can open right away, reach for Beer Maple BBQ Beef Jerky.

The main event

Wagyu Ground Beef Bundle (10 lb)

This 10-pound bundle of wagyu ground beef from Five Oaks Farm Wagyu is a serious upgrade for burger night and a freezer's worth of cookouts. Wagyu's higher marbling makes for a rich, juicy patty. At about $150 it is the splurge gift for a griller who takes burgers seriously.

Sauces and steak sauces

Beer Bacon Maple BBQ Sauce

This sweet-and-smoky sauce from Elijah's Xtreme leans on beer, bacon, and maple, which suits ribs, pulled pork, and burgers. It is a flavorful step up from a standard grocery sauce. At about $13 it is an easy, useful gift.

Savannah Sweet Heat BBQ Sauce

This sweet-with-a-kick sauce from Savannah Sauce Company works on chicken, ribs, and grilled vegetables. The balance of sweet and heat makes it an easy crowd-pleaser. At about $10 it is a low-cost way to add a new sauce to his lineup.

Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce

This mustard-based Carolina Gold sauce from Food with Roots is the tangy, Southern style that pairs especially well with pork and chicken. It gives a griller a different sauce profile from the usual tomato base. At about $8.99 it is an affordable way to expand his range.

Triple C Steak Sauce

This steak sauce from Cin Chili & Company in Connecticut is built for grilled beef, from burgers to a ribeye. It is a simple finishing sauce that a griller will reach for often. At about $8.99 it is an easy add to a grilling kit.

Aged Balsamic Steak Sauce

This steak sauce from Taycte is made with aged balsamic vinegar of Modena for a deeper, slightly sweet finish on grilled beef. It is a more refined take on a steakhouse sauce. At about $6.99 it is the lowest-cost pick here and an easy way to try something new.

Marinades, rubs, and grilling oil

Jerk Marinade

This jerk marinade from Food with Roots brings warm, spicy Caribbean flavor to chicken, pork, and shrimp before they hit the grill. A marinade does the work ahead of time, which a griller appreciates. At about $10 it is an easy gift that adds a new flavor.

Mesquite Hickory Smoke Infused Olive Oil

This smoke-infused olive oil from Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar adds a grilled, smoky note to vegetables and meats without a smoker. It is a versatile bottle for someone who likes that char flavor. At about $8 it is a low-cost, useful gift.

Cindy's Cin-Fully Hot Cayenne Hot Sauce

This cayenne hot sauce from Cin Chili & Company is for the griller who likes heat on wings, burgers, and tacos. It is a simple way to add a kick at the table. At about $8.99 it is an affordable stocking-style add.

Snacks for the grill master

Beer Maple BBQ Beef Jerky

This beef jerky from Elijah's Xtreme carries the same beer-and-maple BBQ flavor as the sauce, made for snacking while the grill heats up. It is a ready-to-eat treat that needs no prep. At about $13 it is an easy add to a grilling gift.

Barbecue Vegetable Seed Collection

This seed collection from Survival Garden Seeds gathers six heirloom vegetables chosen for grilling, from peppers to corn. It is a fun gift for a griller who also gardens, with a summer of cookouts ahead. At about $9.98 it is an affordable, original pick.

How to pick the right gift for a griller

Start with what he already cooks. If he sticks to burgers and steak, a steak sauce, a smoke-infused oil, or the wagyu beef are direct hits. If he likes to experiment, a mustard-based Carolina Gold, a jerk marinade, or a hot sauce widens his range. To build one grilling kit, pick two or three sauces with different profiles (sweet-and-smoky, mustard, steak) and add a snack like jerky. Sauces, rubs, and marinades are the safest gifts because they get used up and replaced, unlike tools he may already own.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Father's Day gift for someone who loves to grill?

Pick things he will use at the grill. A small-batch BBQ sauce like Beer Bacon Maple, a steak sauce like Triple C, a jerk marinade, and a smoke-infused olive oil are all direct hits. For a splurge, the Five Oaks Farm wagyu ground beef bundle upgrades burger night.

What is a good inexpensive gift for a griller?

Most of the sauces and marinades here are about $7 to $13, including the Aged Balsamic Steak Sauce, Carolina Gold, Triple C Steak Sauce, and the jerk marinade. Two or three together make a complete gift for under $30.

What can I put in a grilling gift basket?

A good mix is two or three sauces with different styles, a marinade or rub, and a snack. For example: Beer Bacon Maple BBQ Sauce, Carolina Gold, the jerk marinade, the smoke-infused olive oil, and a bag of Beer Maple BBQ Beef Jerky.

What is the best gift for a griller who has every tool already?

Go consumable. Premium meat like the wagyu ground beef, or a set of small-batch sauces and a marinade, give him something new to cook with rather than another gadget. These get used and replaced, so they never sit unused.

Related

Shop the collections: BBQ Sauce & Marinades, Meat & Seafood, and Condiments.

More guides: The Best Artisan Sausages for Grilling and Cookouts and The Best Hot Sauces for Chicken Wings.