If you’ve ever wondered what tools, gadgets, and ingredients I actually use in my own kitchen, these are my favorite kitchen essentials , from cooking and baking to meal planning. They’re the same products I rely on to create easy recipes for my own family!
Updated for the holiday season! I’ve added my go-to picks for Thanksgiving hosting and cookie season. If you’re getting ready for the holidays, browse my Christmas recipes too.
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Thanksgiving Hosting Must Haves
Hosting is easier when your tools do the work. These help me keep dishes hot, carve with confidence, and get food to the table on time.
Need a menu? Start with my Thanksgiving recipes , then grab my free cooking schedule printable to plan what goes in the oven and when.
Instant-Read Meat Thermometer
It takes the guesswork out of the turkey, so you know it’s done without cutting into it. It’s also useful for roasts, chicken, and casseroles.
Roasting Pan with Rack
The rack lifts the turkey off the bottom of the pan so heat circulates and the skin crisps. A sturdy pan also makes it easier to move a heavy bird in and out of the oven.
Fat Separator
A fat separator pulls the grease off your pan drippings, which gives you smoother gravy.
Electric Carving Knife
Carving gets easier and neater, which also means more even slices for everyone. It’s especially helpful when you’re serving a crowd.
Insulated Casserole Carrier
Keeps dishes hot (or cold) on the way to someone else’s house and helps prevent spills. It’s great if you’re bringing the green bean casserole or mac and cheese.
Deep Dish Pie Pan
A deep dish pan holds fillings for pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies.
Christmas Baking Must Haves
December means cookie exchanges, gingerbread, and holiday treats for everyone on your list. These are the tools I reach for every year to make decorating easier and cleanup quicker. They also make great gifts for the bakers in your life.
Looking for something to make with them? Try my Christmas cookie exchange ideas or these cute Christmas desserts .
Christmas Cookie Cutters
Cookie cutters in classic shapes like gingerbread men, trees, stars, and snowflakes are perfect for your holiday baking needs!
Piping Bags & Tips
Piping bags and a few tips give you cleaner frosting lines and fancier details on cookies and cupcakes. A set with reusable and disposable bags keeps cleanup quick.
3-Tier Cooling Rack
Stack it up when you’re baking batch after batch so cookies can cool without taking over your counter. It’s a lifesaver during cookie exchange season.
Cookie Scoop Set
Scoops give you evenly sized cookies that bake at the same rate. They also speed up scooping dough, which helps when you’re making dozens.
Silicone Baking Mats
Mats keep cookies from sticking and make cleanup easy! Meaning, fewer ruined batches and less scrubbing.
Rolling Pin with Thickness Guides
The guides help you roll dough to an even thickness, which means cutout cookies bake evenly. It’s a simple way to get better sugar cookies and gingerbread.
Mini Bundt Pans
Perfect for individual holiday cakes that look impressive with very little effort. They’re great for parties, gifts, and recipes like my Christmas mini bundt cakes .
Christmas Sprinkles
These are the quick ways to make desserts look festive. Sprinkle them on cookies, dip pretzels, or add them to bark and brownies for an easy holiday touch.
Meal Prep Must-Haves Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale, Digital Grams and Ounces for Weight Loss, Baking, Cooking, Keto and Meal Prep, LCD Display, Medium, 304 Stainless Steel Felli On the Go Yogurt Parfait Snack Cup 12 oz with Spoon & Lid, 100% Leak Proof Granola Holder for To Go Breakfast Cereal Fruit Overnight Oats Container Reusable, Travel Hiking Camping (2, White) Chicken Shredder Tool Twist Large – 10” Pro Meat Shredders for Chicken Breast,Visible Kitchen Gadgets Grinder Machine with Brush,Strong Anti-Slip Strip,Ergonomic Handle,BPA Free (Black) Weekly Meal Planner and Grocery List – 50 Undated Sheets Planning Pad for Organized Daily Menu, Tear-Off Notepad for Convenient Shopping HomArtist Glass Overnight Oats Containers with Lids and Spoon, 16oz Wide Mouth Mason Jars for Overnight Oats, Cereal, Yogurt, Salad Lunch Container with Measurement Marks – Pink 4 Pack Fullstar The Original Pro Chopper – Vegetable Chopper and Spiralizer, Food Chopper with Container, Fruit Slicer, Kitchen Gadgets & Gifts, Home Essentials (4 in 1, White) Silicone Freezer Molds for Soup with Lid – 1-Cup Soup Container Style Ice Cube Trays for Freezer, Meal Prep & Food Storage, Freeze 250mL/125mL Portions – 2 Pack 6×1.6 Oz Salad Dressing Containers With Lids, Small Leakproof Reusable Stainless Steel Salad Dressing Container To Go For Lunch Boxes,Sauce containers, Picnics,Travel Meal Prep And Kitchen Storage. Meat Chopper, Hamburger Grinder, Premium Heat Resistant Smasher for Ground Beef, Burger Grinder Nylon Potato Mix Tool, Meat & Poultry Tenderizers-Black Taiuloo 2 Pack Divided Veggie Tray with Lid, Salad Bar Containers for Fridge Organizer, 5 Compartment Snackle Box Container, Clear Plastic Food Storage & Seving for Fruit, Vegetable, Snack, Meal Prep Caperci 4 Pack Bento Snack Boxes Lunchable Containers for Kids & Adults, Wheat Straw 4-Compartment Reusable Food Storage Containers for Snacks & Small Meal (Multicolor & Clear Lids) Freshware Meal Prep Containers [15 Pack] 2 Compartment with Lids, Food Storage Containers, Bento Box, BPA Free, Stackable, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe (28 oz), Black Meal Prep Bundle. Includes 1 Magnetic Acrylic Meal Planner Board, 1 Kitchen Conversion Chart Magnet, and 100 Freezer Labels for Food Storage & Organization Palksky Snackle Box Container Stainless Steel, Reusable Snack Containers with Lids, 3 Compartment Divided Food Storage Containers for School, Home, Travel
Pantry & Storage Must-Haves LARGER Compartment – Stackable Water Bottle Organizer Holder – for Stanley & Others’ Large Tumbler – Clear Wine Rack, Cup Bottle Holder for Cabinet Home Countertop Fridge Pantry Shelf, 3 Tier Hold 9 Airtight Food Storage Containers with Lids, 24 PCS Kitchen and Pantry Organization Canisters, BPA-Free, PVC-Free, Food-grade Plastic Leak-proof Jars for Cereal, Flour, Sugar, Extra 24 Labels & Marker LAMU 2 Tier Lazy Susan Turntable Organizer 9.25” Rotating Spice Rack Organization for Cabinet, Kitchen, Pantry, Countertop, Bathroom, Vanity, Medicine Cabinet Organizer, Clear OKZEST 3-Tier Rolling Pantry Floor Organizer and Storage Cart with Wheels, Stackable Wire Pantry Baskets for Pantry Shelves, Kitchen Fruit Basket Stand and Storage Rack for Fruit Snack Onion Potato JUPELI Foil and Plastic Wrap Organizer, Expandable Kitchen Pantry Storage, Height Adjustable Cabinet Rack for Kitchen Organization, Aluminum Foil -3 Tier 9.8 LAMU 3 Pack Lazy Susan Organizer Turntable for Cabinet, Pantry Organizers and Storage, Rotating Condiment Organizer for Kitchen, Table Top, Fridge, Countertop, Spice Organization, 9.25” 10.6” 12” ClearSpace Pantry Organizers and Storage with Removable Dividers – Pantry Organization and Storage Bins or Kitchen and Fridge Organizer – Refrigerator Organizer Bins, Snack Organizers Potato and Onion Storage Bin for Pantry and Kitchen Counter – Ventilated Stackable Bamboo Organizer Baskets with Handles – Multipurpose Organization Containers for Fruit, Vegetable, Pantry – 3 Pack SpaceAid Bamboo Pull Out Spice Rack Organizer for Cabinet, Heavy Duty Slide Out Seasoning Kitchen Pantry Sliding Vertical Organization, 7.6 spospo 2 Pack Trash Bag Holder with Bamboo Lid, Stackable Trashbag Dispenser, Extra Large Garbage Bag Holder for Kitchen Laundry Room Under Sink Organization and Storage SpaceAid Bag Storage Organizer for Kitchen Drawer, Bamboo Organizer, Compatible with Gallon, Quart, Sandwich and Snack Variety Size Bag (1 Box 4 Slots) YouCopia ShelfBin Packet Organizer, 4-Tier Stairstep Raised Divided Bin, BPA-Free Storage Caddy for Kitchen Pantry and Cabinet Organization, Tea Bags, Medicine, and More YouCopia UpSpace Adjustable Box Organizer for Foil Wrap and Kitchen Cabinet Storage, Original, White 2 Set Stackable Wire Basket with Openable Top, Kitchen Counter, Pantry Organizer and Storage Produce Onion Potato Fruits Vegs Bread Food Snack Spice Organizing Bin for Cabinet Shelf Countertop Floor Talented Kitchen Pantry Labels for Food Containers – 157-Piece, Black Script Vinyl – Jar & Bin Labels & Food Storage Organization Stickers YouCopia StoreMore Adjustable Bakeware Rack, Cookie Sheet Baking Pan and Tray Organizer for Kitchen Cabinet and Pantry Storage, Standard, White 308 Kitchen Pantry Labels for Food Containers, 3 Sizes White Minimalist Labels for Organizing, Food Label for Jars, Storage Bins, Preprinted Waterproof Pantry Label for Containers
Set-It-and-Forget-It Kitchen Favorites If you want an easy win, be sure to check out my set-it-and-forget-it recipes made in the Instant Pot , Air Fryer , and Crock Pot .
Crockpot 2-Quart Classic Slow Cooker Small Slow Cooker Black Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Auto Warm Setting Black Stainless Steel Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count Ninja | Air Fryer | 4 QT Capacity | 4-in1 Roast, Crisp, Roast, Reheats, & Dehydrates | Dishwasher Safe Parts | Includes 20 Easy & Healthy Recipes | Compact | Grey | AF101 ZEREOOY Oil Sprayer for Cooking Olive Oil Sprayer Mister for Air Fryer Vegetable Vinegar Oil Portable Mini Kitchen Gadgets for Baking,Salad,Grilling,BBQ,Roasting(1 Pack) Air Fryer Cheat Sheet Magnets Cooking Guide Booklet – Air Fryer Cookbooks – Air Fryer Liners – Air Fryers Kitchen Gifts Gadgets 2025 and 2026 – Air Fryer Accessories – Air Fryer Cooking Guide Air Fryer Liners Disposable, 150Pcs 8 Puyeipt 2 Pack Air Fryer Egg Bite Molds, 4-Cup Mini Round Muffin Pans Silicone Baking Molds for for Oven, Air Fryer and Pot Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer & Sterilizer, Includes App With Over 800 Recipes, Stainless Steel, 3 Quart Instant Pot Magnetic Cheat Sheet Magnet – Instant Pot Accessories – Cookbooks Pressure Cooker Cooking Guide – 7”x 6” Instapot Booklet – Instantpot Cooking – Kitchen Gifts for Women – Kitchen Gadgets Instant Pot Official Mesh Steamer Basket Set, Stainless Steel, Dual-Purpose Steamer & Strainer, Easy-Lift Handle, Dishwasher Safe, Rust-Resistant, Essential Accessory for Healthy Cooking MIBOTE 98 Pcs Accessories Set for Instant Pot 5,6,8 Qt, 2 Steamer Baskets, Springform Pan, Egg Steamer Rack, Egg Bites Mold, Kitchen Tong, Silicone Pad, Oven Mitts, Cheat Sheet Magnet, and etc ThermoPro TP03B Digital Meat Thermometer for Cooking, Instant Read Thermometer with Backlight, Kitchen Food Thermometer for Grill Smoker BBQ Oil Deep Fry Candy Bread Coffee with Pop-up Meat Probe
Must Haves in the Kitchen
Cooking at home is so much easier (and way more fun!) when you have the right tools. Here are my go-to kitchen essentials that help me get dinner on the table fast — and make clean-up a breeze!
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven, 7.25 qt., Cerise CAROTE 8 Inch Non Stick Frying Pan with Lid,White Granite Nonstick Skillet Omelet Pans, Egg Pan Granite Cookware, PFOS & PFOA Free Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Auto Warm Setting Black Stainless Steel Instant Pot, 8-Quart Whisper Quiet 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer & Sterilizer, App With Over 800 Recipes, Stainless Steel, Duo Plus Ninja | Air Fryer | 4 QT Capacity | 4-in1 Roast, Crisp, Roast, Reheats, & Dehydrates | Dishwasher Safe Parts | Includes 20 Easy & Healthy Recipes | Compact | Grey | AF101
Riveira Bamboo Cooking Spoons 6-Piece – Wooden Cooking Utensils Set with Wooden Spoons for Cooking & Spatulas Wooden Utensil Sets – Premium Kitchen Utensils Set – Durable First Apartment Essentials Coukre 2 Pack Silicone Spatula Set, High Heat Resistant, BPA Free Kitchen Spatula, Solid & Slotted Turner for Non-Stick Pans, Sautéing, and Flipping (2, PureBlack) Stainless Steel Whisk Set, 6 HENCKELS Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Set with Block, Razor-Sharp, German Engineered Knife Informed by over 100 Years of Masterful Knife Making, Lightweight and Strong, Dishwasher Safe AOZITA [2 PACK] 17 oz Glass Olive Oil Dispenser Bottle Set – 500ml Clear Oil & Vinegar Cruet Bottle with Pourers, Funnel and Labels
Baking Must Haves
Whether you’re whipping up a batch of cookies or decorating a cake for the holidays, these baking must-haves are the secret to perfect results every time. These are the tools and ingredients I reach for again and again!
Baking Sheet Set of 3, Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Cookie Sheets for Baking, 12/16/17.5 Inch, Thicker and Firmer Baking Pans Set, Rust & Warp Resistant & Nonstick, Nontoxic&Heavy Duty&Easy Clean Silicone Baking Mats, 3 Pack Non-Stick Mats for Baking, Silicone Baking Mats Cookie Sheet, Easy Clean & Reusable Oven Baking Sheet for Making Cookies, Macaroons, Bread Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Muffin Pan, 12 Cup Amazon Basics Reusable Silicone Baking Cups, BPA Free Muffin Liners, Dishwasher Safe, 2.9 x 2.9 x 1.3 in (LxWxH), Multicolor, Pack of 12 Fimary Silicone Mini Muffin Pan With Metal Reinforced Frame – 24 Cups Durable Silicone Cupcake Pan for Muffin, Cupcakes, BPA Free and Dishwasher Safe – 1 Piece Beige with Rainbow Spots GoodCook Nonstick Loaf Pan 8 x 4-Inch Heavy-Duty Steel Bakeware with Easy-Clean Non-Stick Coating, Oven & Dishwasher Safe Pan for Meatloaf Breads Lasagnas Casseroles & More, Set of 2, Gray Nordic Ware ProForm Bundt, 12 Cup, Gray
KitchenAid KQ909 Dual Platform Digital Kitchen and Food Scale, 11 pound capacity and Precision 16oz capacity, Black with Stainless Steel KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield KSM150PS, Aqua Sky KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer – KHM926 Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor, 24-Ounce Mini Food Processor to Chop Herbs, Vegetables, and Hard Cheese, 24-Ounce Work Bowl, Reversible Stainless Steel Blade, DLC-2ABC, Brushed Chrome/Nickel Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack for Cookies, Cake and More – Cool Batches of Cookies, Cake Layers or Finger Foods, Black Progressive ProKeeper Baker’s Airtight Kitchen Storage Canister Container Set for Flour, Sugar & More, Keeps Ingredients Fresh, with Accessories (Black Latches, 6- Piece)
I’m always testing new kitchen gadgets, pantry staples, and time-saving tools — and when I find something that truly makes life easier (or tastier!), you’ll see it added here. Check back each month for my latest picks and seasonal favorites!
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![Freshware Meal Prep Containers [15 Pack] 2 Compartment with Lids, Food Storage Containers, Bento Box, BPA Free, Stackable, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe (28 oz), Black](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51IOBQVmAoL._SL500_.jpg)
![AOZITA [2 PACK] 17 oz Glass Olive Oil Dispenser Bottle Set - 500ml Clear Oil & Vinegar Cruet Bottle with Pourers, Funnel and Labels](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515mAd65plL._SL500_.jpg)
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