I love me a full Santa stocking! But, I’m also the first to admit that finding good quality, useful, smaller-sized things to throw in a stocking is difficult.
Especially when you want to make sure you’re getting them decent quality items that aren’t going to set you back a small fortune once the stockings full.
And, because we’re all absolute barbecue fanatics here at Burning Brisket, we’re sharing with you our list of ideas for stocking stuffers for bbq lovers.
In it we’ve tried to include a wide variety of tools plus some edibles that all are good quality but not too expensive.
Most things on this list retail for $25 or less. So, take your pick, mix and match and put together an epic stocking full of useful barbecue gifts they’ll actually use and love.
Any of the ideas on this list would also make great Secret Santa gifts, or could be wrapped alone for a budget-friendly but still great present.
And, if you’re looking for a bbq gift idea that’s a bit more expensive, check out these 25 ideas where none of them are the usual gloves!
Burning Brisket is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read our affiliate policy to learn more.
Table of Contents
Char-Broil Electric Charcoal Starter
If you’re shopping for someone who likes to keep things natural, this Char-Broil Electric Charcoal Starter will give them an easy and quick way to light charcoal or wood without having to use nasty fire starters.
Simply plug it in and use the heat to get the coals going. No lighter fluid, no chemicals, nothing but heat.
Effective and inexpensive, it’s a must-have for anyone who uses lump charcoal or natural briquettes.
Inkbird IBT-4X-B2 Bluetooth BBQ Meat Thermometer
A meat thermometer is pretty much an essential for anyone smoking. It gives that extra feedback you need to know exactly when to wrap, unwrap and how long to cook the meat for so that it’s not only safe to eat, but perfectly soft and flavorful.
And, this double probe wireless meat thermometer from Inkbird fits the bill, and, is affordable enough for a stocking.
With a rechargeable battery and a large LED display panel, it’s magnetic backing sticks straight to your bbq. One probe gives you your internal meat temperature and the other the ambient temp inside your smoker.
From there, you can use the app to connect your smartphone and get real-time updates on exactly how your meat is going.
Set a timer or an alarm and you don’t even need to check the meat.
There’s a 4 probe version that’s slightly more expensive but measures the temp of 3 pieces of meat.
Read our full review of the best wireless meat thermometers for more options.
Cuisinart Propane Tank Gauge
Small, inexpensive and oh-so-useful, the Cuisinart Propane Tank Gauge is an awesome item to include in any propane griller or smoker’s stocking.
It works on any 20 pound propane tank. Simply hook it on and lift it up. The gauge weights the tank to give you a more accurate reading than your intuition will so you’ll know exactly when it’s time to fill up.
Bryco Goods Pink Butchers Paper
This one might need to go next to the stocking. But, it’s too good not to include in this list so here it is.
Bryco Goods Pink Butchers Paper is food-grade, uncoated and unwaxed making it perfect for wrapping meat during smoking.
If you haven’t already tried this popular alternative to aluminum foil, pink butchers paper lets more smoke in and doesn’t trap the moisture which steams the meat and can ruin the bark. It also looks bomb for serving barbecue on. After all, it is what the restaurants use.
And, it’s still a great gift in your special someone uses it already because they’ll always need more.
Real Men Rub Their Meat: A BBQ Smoking Journal
There’s a lot of variables that go into cooking that perfect brisket. And, when you nail it, you won’t forget what you did if you’ve written it down.
Real Men Rub Their Meat is a purpose-designed notebook for doing just that.
There’s specific space to write which bbq you used, the rub and marinades, prep notes, cooking times and even what the weather was like.
With enough room to record 55 cooks, it might even see you through a year of smoking and perfecting the art.
LIZZQ Premium 12" Pellet Smoker Tube
One of these little tubes is good for three things; cold smoking, boosting smoke levels inside a smoker, and, is the cheapest and easiest way to smoke inside a grill.
Simply fill the LIZZQ Premium 12 Inch Pellet Smoker Tube with wood smoking pellets, light it and place it on the grate inside any barbecue.
It’s 12″ length gives you about 5 hours of smoking time. The perforated stainless steel distributes the smoke well, and, the hexagonal shape won’t roll around.
It even comes with a free eBook of recipe ideas.
BBQ Monster Meat Injector Syringe Kit
Open up a whole new world of next-level juicy meat with this BBQ Monster Meat Injector Syringe Kit.
Ideal for brining chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, beef, or anything really, it’s made from food-safe stainless steel with silicone seals. The needle is a little wider than others on the market so it’s less likely to get clogged. And, it comes with 4 different needle heads depending on what you’re doing.
Complete with cleaning brushes and spare O-rings, it’s a great kit that can handle pretty much any task you give it.
P.S. You’ve got to try injecting extra icing into cupcakes and fillings into donuts as well! It’s the bomb!
GRILLHOGS BBQ Basting Mop with Wooden Handle
Standard basting brushes aren’t great for thinner sauces like vinegar-based ones or what’s commonly used in Texas-style barbecue. But, these soft brush heads soak up the good stuff to transfer it to the meat better for more flavor and more moisture.
With an extra long handle, the Grillhogs Basting Mop keeps your hands away from the heat when you’re basting mid-cook. The heads are machine washable, and, it comes with 2 extra replacement heads.
They also work perfectly well for regular stuff in the kitchen like glazing pastry.
Easy Function Wood Grill Scraper
Wire cleaners can damage the grate and leave small flecks of metal there which you really don’t want to be eating.
This all-natural timber Easy Function Wood Grill Scraper is a safer alternative that’s also super effective.
Ideal for any type of barbecue, the scalloped blade wears into the hot grates so that it fits your grill perfectly. It’s got a lifetime guarantee and works on any grate surface; porcelain, ceramic, stainless steel & cast iron.
It’s our all-time favorite grate cleaning tool. But, if you want more choice, check out our best grill brush review.
Traeger All-Natural Grill Cleaner
This all-natural cleaner isn’t just good for Traeger, it’s the best cleaner for absolutely any barbecue.
Non-toxic, food-safe and biodegradable, it cuts through grease so well after you’re done it pretty much looks as good as it did on the day you bought it.
Just spray it on, walk away for a few minutes and then wipe the grime off.
If the person you’re buying it for isn’t excited by a cleaner when they pull it out of their stocking, they’ll definitely be impressed when they see how easily it can get the job done. And, one bottle lasts a good long time as well.
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 6" Boning Knife
A quality boning knife really does make light work of trimming up meat to barbecue. And, the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 6″ Boning Knife is great quality at what’s a surprisingly affordable price.
The thinner 6″ blade is ideal for slipping under the fat to remove it without taking the good stuff with it. It’s made from carbon stainless steel so with a bit of love, it’ll last for years and years to come.
Hardcore Carnivore Rubs
These are hands-down my favorite rubs out there!
The Red has incredible flavor but isn’t too sweet or too spicy, the activated charcoal of the Black gives the most awesome look on meat (and as a gift), and the tanginess of the Lone Star MeatChelada is absolutely top-notch.
They’re made in Texas and there’s absolutely no fillers, MSG or gluten.
Do it, just put one in there… just make sure you’re invited to dinner!
Spiceology
For more choice of flavors with the same great quality, Spiceology is another hot Santa option.
Spiceology do over 400 different spice blends. They’re all handpicked and ground in small batches to ensure the best freshness and quality.
Grab a single, or there’s more expensive gift packs. Two of our favorite are the Cowboy Crust: Espresso Chile BBQ Rub and the Black Magic: Cajun Seasoning.
Grill Masters BBQ Box
Yes, the Grill Master’s Club is a subscription box. But, there’s no reason you can’t just send one box to add to a stocking.
In it you’ll get one barbecue sauce, one rub, wood chips, a new recipe and a Chef’s Select surprise item. It’s really great value and can pretty much fill up a stocking in one go.
Great if you’re not quite sure about flavors and brands. All the products included in Grill Masters Club boxes are great quality. A lot of them are even award-winning.
And, if Santa wants to send a recurring subscription, ain’t nothing wrong with that either!
Southside Market Gift Card
You probably don’t want to put chilled meat in a stocking. But, a gift card to get meat from one of the most historic bbq restaurants in the country is totally doable.
Texas-based Southside Market ship already smoked meats on dry ice anywhere in the United States.
Grab a gift card and let them choose what and when they’d like their goodies to be delivered. They also sell their awesome seasonings and sauces if the person you’re giving it to would prefer to recreate their own historic bbq.
Carnivore Club Jerky
A meat option you can put straight into a stocking is Carnivore Club’s Jerky box.
Order as a one off or a recurring subscription and get two premium bags of jerky, selected from top brands around the country.
Featuring new artisans and unique flavors, the quality and taste is incredible.
Franklin Barbecue
LOVE THIS BOOK!
If you’re gifting to someone who wants to really learn how to smoke, Franklin Barbecue is a great guide that’s more focused on the technique behind smoking rather than the recipes themselves.
If you’re not familiar with the name Franklin Barbecue, it’s one of the top bbq restaurants in the country. And, Aaron Franklin, the man who started it, literally gives away his ‘secrets’.
There are recipes in here too. It’s not all talk. But, most are very simple and doable. It’s not fancy flashy business. Just darn good barbecue as it should be.
Smokin' with Myron Mixon
Another top-rated barbecue cookbook written by a man with a very well-proven track-record is this, Smokin’ with Myron Mixon.
Like Franklin Barbecue, Myron keeps things simple and shows you how to adapt his recipes to your barbecue. There’s no stressing about measuring exact quantities or being a stickler to times and temperatures.
He also talks about how he barbecues in his own backyard instead of focusing on competitive or restaurant cooking.
Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling
For a book that’s more focused on grilling with a bit of info on smoking, Meathead is our go-to.
Written by the well-respected Meathead Goldwyn, Meathead’s got something to teach everyone from the greenest of beginners to the more experienced pitmaster.
In here, you’ll find detailed teachings of the why, how, when and where of bbq. The focus being, giving you the knowledge to really barbecue, not just follow the steps in a recipe.
With over 100 recipes that cover everything from the basics to more creative meals, it’s suitable for using with any type of grill or smoker.
Read our full review of the best smoker cookbooks for more options.
DOSS SoundBox Touch Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Get the music cranking when you invite your mates around, or just chill out to some tunes while you’re tending to the bbq yourself. Either way, the DOSS SoundBox Touch is a great gift idea for a bbq enthusiast who’s got most of the bbq gear themselves.
Coming in at just a fraction higher than our $30 target, the DOSS SoundBox Touch syncs with your smartphone to play non-stop music for about 20 hours.
It’s IXP5 Waterproof, can give surprisingly great volume and has a sound quality that’s super impressive for a it’s low price.