9 Grill Season Upgrades Under $60 (That Aren’t a New Grill)

There’s a particular flavor of disappointment that comes from pulling the cover off your grill in May and realizing it’s not actually as ready for the season as you remembered. Crusty grates. A thermometer that may or may not be accurate. A spatula that’s been sitting outside since the cover blew off in March. Tongs you can’t find. The propane tank’s at some unknowable percentage.

I went through all of this last weekend, and instead of buying a new grill (which is $400 minimum and a real commitment), I made a list of the small upgrades that turn the grill I have into one I’ll actually enjoy using all summer. Nine picks, all under $60, and most are things I’ve personally used.

The five I’d grab first are flagged at the top. The other five are the second-tier upgrades I’d add if the budget allows.

If you only buy five things

1. ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer — $14.99 ⭐ Editor’s Pick
2. Charbroil Nylon Bristle Grill Brush — $14.99
3. Cuisinart 3-Piece Stainless Steel Grill Set — $24.99
4. UNICOOK Heavy Duty Waterproof BBQ Grill Cover — $32.99
5. Bear Mountain BBQ 3-Pack Hardwood Pellets — $60.00

The five below are the upgrades I’d add for hosting, for grilled-veggies-and-not-just-meat, and for the long-tail Memorial Day-through-Labor Day stretch.

1. ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer ⭐ Editor’s Pick

If you only buy one thing on this list, buy a thermometer. This one reads to 0.9°F accuracy in 3–4 seconds. The backlit display means you can grill into the dusk without squinting, and magnets mean it sticks to your grill or fridge for easier access. I use mine almost daily.

Approx. price: $21.99$14.99 · Prime

2. Charbroil Nylon Bristle Grill Brush

Wire-bristle brushes are slowly being phased out because the bristles occasionally come loose and end up in food. Nylon bristles prevent any dangerous shards, and the 18″ handle keeps your hand well clear of the heat. It’s the rare $20 upgrade where the safety improvement is also a quality improvement. This one has lasted us 3 summers.

Approx. price: $19.99$14.99 · Prime

3. Cuisinart 3-Piece Stainless Steel Grill Set

Cuisinart’s stainless is the right level for backyard grilling—heat-resistant, dishwasher-safe, and not so heavy that you’re fighting the tongs at the end of a long cookout. This set replaced the mismatched, random options we had when we first bought our grill, and we’re so glad we made the upgrade.

Approx. price: $24.99 · 3-piece · Prime

4. UNICOOK Heavy Duty Waterproof BBQ Grill Cover

The upgraded grill cover we bought 3 summers ago and is still going strong. Heavy 600D polyester, waterproof, comes in several sizes to fit most grills, and the integrated velcro straps mean it actually stays on in a windstorm—which the lightweight cover that came free with the grill does not.

Approx. price: $32.99 · Prime

5. Bear Mountain BBQ 3-Pack Hardwood Pellets

If you’ve got a pellet grill, or a smoker box on a gas grill, Bear Mountain is the brand most competition barbecue cooks actually use. This variety pack with hickory, apple, and gourmet blend chips lets you match the wood to the meat without committing to just any one flavor.

Approx. price: $60.00 · 3-flavor variety · Prime

6. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron 12″ Skillet

The grilled-vegetables-and-breakfast cheat code. A cast iron skillet on the grill grates handles asparagus, shishito peppers, scrambled eggs at sunrise, and the smash-burger crust you can’t get directly on the grates. Lodge’s 12″ pre-seasoned is the standard for a reason—it’s $30, lasts a lifetime (mine is going on 10 years now), and works on any heat source. If your grill has a side burner, this is also the pan for it.

Approx. price: $29.90 · 12″ · Prime

7. Spiceology 4-Pack Signature BBQ Rub Set

The flavor upgrade that doesn’t require learning anything. Spiceology’s four-pack—Black Magic, Chile Margarita, Smoky Honey Habanero, and Greek Freak—covers most of what you’d grill this summer. Shake it on, grill it, you’re done. Spiceology is a Spokane brand that actually started as a competition-barbecue supplier, which is why the rubs taste like they were tuned by someone who grills competitively, not by a focus group.

Approx. price: $54.99 · 4-pack · Prime

8. TOURIT 30-Can Insulated Soft Cooler Bag

The cooler that doesn’t take up the entire trunk. Soft-sided, leak-proof liner, holds 30 cans (or about a day’s worth of drinks for four people) with ice, and the shoulder strap means you can carry it to the patio without two hands. This is also the cooler I would take to the kid’s soccer games and outdoor concerts. The fact that it folds flat for storage in the off-season is the small thing that makes it actually live in regular rotation, and I love the multiple colors.

Approx. price: $35.99$25.99 · 30-can · Prime

9. YETI Rambler 16 oz Pint Glass

This insulated stainless pint glass keeps a cold drink cold for hours in 90-degree backyard heat. The 16 oz is the right size for a beer, a cocktail, or a glass of iced tea, and the matte powder coat means it doesn’t sweat onto the patio table. My in-laws use theirs constantly; enough of an endorsement for me to include them here.

Approx. price: $28.00 each · Prime

Still not sure? Here’s where I’d start

For the “my grill needs a tune-up” person: ThermoPro Thermometer ($15) + Charbroil Grill Brush ($15) + UNICOOK Cover ($33). Total: $63.

For the “I want to actually host this summer” person: Cuisinart Tool Set ($25) + TOURIT Cooler ($26) + YETI Rambler (×2) ($56). Total: $125.

For the “I want to cook things I haven’t tried before” person: Bear Mountain Pellets ($60) + Lodge Cast Iron ($30) + Spiceology Rubs ($55). Total: $145.

A few things I left out

I didn’t include a new grill (a serious purchase that deserves its own guide), a propane tank (most people have one), or smoker accessories that require a $400 smoker. I also skipped the “grilling apron” category—I’ve never met one I genuinely enjoy wearing, and most are decorative.

If you’ve found a Memorial Day weekend grill upgrade I missed, hit reply and let me know; the best ones make it into next year’s version.

Happy long weekend.

— Grace, your BBG Editor-in-Chief

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