We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A large Char-Broil gas grill so you can fit enough burgers, dogs, and veggies for a crowd without having to work in batches alllll afternoon. Between its four burners and warming rack, it can hold a whole lotta food.
Don't forget the propane tank!
Promising review: "This is my third gas grill and this is the best one so far. To me, the biggest issue is 'even heat' across the surface and this one is very even. My last grill had one super hot area, a couple of them just hot, and a couple of cooler areas. Was a pain, you had to stand there switching positions of the food so none got overcooked too fast. This grill doesn't have that issue. Very pleased with this purchase." —Ron
Get it from Amazon for $358.45.
2. Or a compact Weber charcoal grill to replace your old one that's a little rusted out if you're being honest with yourself. Now you can achieve even more of the smoky grill flavor everyone came over for.
Promising review: "Affordable and reliable. Perfect for our backyard. We prefer charcoal to gas, and we've cooked about everything under the sun on this bad boy. Easy to assemble. Easy to clean. Exactly what we wanted." —Marci Manley
Get it from Amazon for $139+ (available with or without a cover).
3. The TikTok-famous duo of Dan-O's seasonings you'll wanna coat everything you're BBQ-ing with. Doing some on-the-fly seasoning without trucking your entire spice rack to the backyard is gonna be clutch.
Promising review: "Life-changing. The best seasoning I’ve ever used. Definitely leveled up my cooking with this! Will order again — but the biggest size this time!" —Josie
Get a two-pack of the original and spicy seasonings on Amazon for $20.
4. A basic folding table so there's more than enough room for you guys to lay out the plentiful potluck dishes. Ya know what? Throw two in your cart just in case Rob decides to bring 10 dips again.
5. Some mesh food covers to ensure everyone's hard work is enjoyed by the party-goers, NOT only by insects and other creepy-crawlies.
Promising review: "These popped up in seconds. Zero assembly required and didn't blow away. Folded back to almost flat and easily stored in their original box once we were finished. These are a must for outside picnics and parties." —Professor X
Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in sets of six or 12).
6. An inexpensive set of cloth napkins because it's always nice to have a non-paper option on-hand. More environmentally friendly, all-around cuter, and not hard at all to just throw them in the wash.
Promising review: "I bought these napkins to style up my camping picnic basket. I love them. They wash super well and come out wavy from the dryer, but I don't care. They look natural, not wrinkled. The happy orange color is the best. I bought two more sets in other colors as presents after my purchase. No complaints! I recommend these napkins. Oh, they are quite large by the way. 20" x 20". Very nice." —Allison B.
Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 26 colors).
7. A set of stainless-steel serving spoons so everyone's dishes can be scooped with honor and you're not scrambling to find extras. You'll get three slotted ones and three regular ones, so be sure to distribute them accordingly.
8. And a 12-pack of serving tongs because sometimes folks take the phrase "finger food" a little too far. Between these two styles of tongs, you should have the right tool for picking up all the apps that arrive.
9. A spray bottle of Deet-free Repel to keep bugs at bay and the party rockin' all day and night bite-free.
Promising review: "In Georgia, you're the buffet for hordes of mosquitoes. This stuff is amazing. I can spray it on, go out for half a day and not get an itch! It smells nice, doesn't leave any residue. This little bottle packs a punch. Small enough to slip in your pocket to go to the park. The only thing I have to warn is that if you get any in your mouth you get a weird taste for a few minutes, like menthol cool but not exactly menthol-y taste. So if you have a picnic after you put this on, I suggest rinsing your hands first! But I will be buying this again when the weather warms!" —Mae
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.87.
10. A pair of grilling gloves that are heat-resistant up to a staggering 932 degrees so even the most accident-prone of BBQers have a chance at staying injury-free this year.
Promising review: "These gloves are exactly what I needed. I cook on a BBQ outdoors a lot and I cook with cast iron in my kitchen. These gloves allow me to handle hot pans and grates more easily than with potholders. These will become an integral part of my cooking routine from here on out." —Amazon Customer
Get a pair from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three sizes).
11. A set of color-coordinated prep trays to prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked meats. No more yelling across a crowded kitchen and over the BBQ playlist trying to figure out which tray has "chicken juice."
Promising review: "I honestly LOVE these two trays. I use the red for the 'raw' meat when I'm taking it to the grill and the black one for the cooked meat to put on it. It's only my husband and me, however when we cook we cook enough to have leftovers for a few meals apiece so we cook a good amount of food at a time, and when going to the grill these are a great size to take out the meat on and bring it back after cooking. Absolutely love them and would be willing to pick up again if we decide to get more!!" —B. White
Get a set of two from Amazon for $22.49.
12. A collapsible cooler with wheels if you're taking your picnic on the road and aren't keen on lugging a cooler by hand. This one is roomy enough to fit up to 36 cans with some ice — ahhhhh refreshing.
Promising review: "Perfect size and so lightweight! We use this for summer evening concerts in the park. Because it has the soft sides, it holds a TON! And still fits in the sports car! The top is flat, so I can even attach my portable wine cooler/bag to the top and it maneuvers like a dream! LOVE it!" —Tamara A Ranville
Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in three colors).
13. Or a Yeti Tundra 35 cooler because they really do make some seriously splurge-worthy coolers. This one has an impressive 4.8-star overall rating for its durability and, of course, ability to keep things cold for a wildly long time. A good pick for long days in sweltering heat.
14. A Scrubbin' Stone grill cleaner to get your grill back in tip-top shape before Aunt Marge sees burnt-on food and decides to get passive aggressive about it. Typical.
Each stone is good for up to two deep cleanings or 6–8 maintenance cleanings.
Promising review: "Completely restored my 3-year-old grill grates. Used to clean them with a box of Brillo pads and a headache but this product did the job so efficiently. Will definitely be keeping on hand for as needed cleaning. Would recommend cleaning in a deep sink so you can rinse stone residue off as you go, cannot use this at the grill without rinsing as the stone gets smaller as you go. Worth the price!" —hbinoc
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
15. A Thermapen meat thermometer that pros swear by for quick and accurate readings. If you're feeding a crowd, the pressure is on to deliver some juicy, tender goods. This'll help you really dial in your cook time and achieve legendary grill status.
Promising review: "This is the absolute best thermometer out there, I've had one for over a year now and use it nearly every weekend with great results. It's extremely fast, and always accurate and consistent. I had tried cheaper thermometers from retail stores and they were wildly inconsistent — probing the same spot would swing in a 30-degree difference! Once I got a Thermapen I threw all of those other thermometers away, there's just no comparison. Now that I have a fast and accurate way to check my temps, food off the grill, or smoker is cooked to perfection. Well worth the money!" —Matt
Get it from Thermapen for $85 (available in six colors).
16. A set of metal skewers whose flat shape helps keep food in place and able to be turned to cook evenly on all sides instead of just spinning around. Brilliant!
17. A set of tongs because they really are the most versatile kitchen tool, whether you're cooking indoors or out. Thank you, third, metal, grippy, temperature-resistant hand!
Promising review: "I have purchased several sets of tongs for my husband for grilling over the past few years. It is difficult to find tongs that are long enough and sturdy enough for grilling a lot. These are the best I’ve found. The longer ones are very good for grilling on a large grill when you need to reach across the heat. The grips are good and the locking mechanism works well. I think best of all is the gripping end of the tongs. They grip very well for food pieces large and small. They also clean up very well. I will be buying more of these as Christmas gifts." —CAgrios
Get a set of two from Amazon for $18.99.
18. A set of flexible grill lights so nobody is tasked with holding a flashlight over your shoulder if the cookout goes past sundown.
Promising review: "Absolutely LOVED this product. I purchased them as a gift for my brother when we were all using cell phones to see the grill one night. They are sturdy, provide sufficient lighting, and are high temperature resistant. Be careful, because when they are on the grill they do get hot on the outside, so take them off with some protection (gloves, towel, etc). I loved them so much I ended up purchasing a pair for my grill as well." —MVega
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in black or silver).
19. Some dip clips that attach right to plates and bowls, so everyone knows right where to find them and they don't feel the need to rummage through your fridge looking for ranch like last time.
Promising review: "We are a household that loves our condiments! They are perfect for separating sauces, and also for portion control while sharing. I like that they are different colors too! Definitely comes in handy when you are separating sauces for wings and need to be able to tell the difference. They stay on all of my plates great, including medium saucers. I highly recommend!" —Rebecca H.
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $9.99.
20. An outdoor extension cord juuuuust in case you need to run power to a slow cooker, light, speaker, or anything else that can take the party up a notch.
21. A grill basket so you can imbue veggies, shrimp, and other smaller foods with a finger-lickin' grill flavor without losing any to the fiery depths of the grate.
Promising review: "Exactly what I wanted and it is very sturdy. Perfect for grilling veggies or other loose things on the grill without losing them in between the grates." —Aaron Sholl
Get it from Amazon for $24.49+ (available in two sizes).
22. A canvas cross-back apron to protect your clothes from the ultimate enemies of laundry day: BBQ sauce, ketchup, and mustard.
Promising review: "Very happy with this apron! The adjustable fit is exceedingly comfortable and its fabric has a nice thickness, which makes it feel sturdy without being cumbersome. I especially dig those roomy pockets! Plenty of storage capacity to hold whatever you'd want to keep handy. All of the stitching and riveting is noticeably solid, and overall everything has a very quality feel. I expect to get many years of use out of this awesome apron! Labeled as a 'chef apron,' though will also be perfect in any variety of crafting/building/tinkering activities. Definitely a great value for its price." —Randy Butler
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in eight colors, and adjustable up to a unisex size XXL).
23. A water-resistant picnic blanket that rolls into its own little carrying case, so last-minute picnics are more possible than ever. Honestly, I think you should keep this little guy in the car, just in case.
Promising review: "Used this for the first time today at the park. The ground was still wet from last night’s rain, but the blanket kept all dampness out. It’s a big blanket and two adults, two children, and a large picnic basket fit easily on it with room to spare. It was easy to shake clean and folded right back up into its little bag (and fit into the bottom of our mostly empty picnic basket). Can’t wait to try it at the beach." —Lauren
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in seven sizes and six designs).
24. Or a versatile puffy Rumpl indoor/outdoor blanket that is my personal go-to for picnics, as seen below. Its smooth surface is water- and dirt-resistant, so there are no worries about exposing it to the elements, and during the wintertime, it's an amazing piece to have on-hand for staying warm around a campfire. It's 4.8-star overall rating backs me up here.
25. A Crock-Pot — the best way to make immensely delicious, simple, comforting home-cooked meals for a crowd. Just throw your ingredients in in the morning, go about your day, and enjoy being voted best chef at the potluck by the afternoon.
26. A nifty little folding table to literally take your picnic game up a notch and keep your precious spread of food and drink away from cartoonishly persistent ants.
It folds flat, and has a little handle for easy carrying!
Promising review: "The perfect addition to any picnic! It held our wine bottle, glasses, and food. We opened the legs when we had wine glasses, and dropped the legs when we just needed it set up as a charcuterie board on a picnic table. We got so many compliments, and recommended it to everyone! This would make a great gift for a wine lover." —Kristin
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three styles).
27. And finally, a pop-up trash can that will help you keep any and all waste contained. Easier cleanup is always a good thing, especially when you're the host.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.