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If you like to grill, but hate the cleanup afterward, putting food inside a grill basket tremendously helps cut down on mess by preventing small bits of meat, fish, or vegetables from falling down into the grill.
The best grill baskets also make it easy to flip food over as it cooks on the grill, so everything cooks more evenly. If you’re looking for the right grill baskets for your next family meal or BBQ, I’ve got you covered with the best grilling baskets to cook all types of food.
I spent time researching a variety of grill baskets and made a list of the best grill baskets for fish, veggies, and more. I also included my top pick, the Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket, which is a heavy-duty option that’s perfect for cooking veggies. Read on to learn more details about grill baskets I love, as well as tips on how to choose the one that’s right for your needs.
My Top Picks:
- My Top Overall Choice: Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket – $30.99 at Amazon
- Runner-Up: Grillaholics Grill Basket – $29.95 at Amazon
- Best Grill Basket for Vegetables: Proud Grill Ultra Versatile Stainless Steel Grill Basket – $42.71 at Amazon
- Best Grill Basket for Fish: RSVP International Endurance BBQ Fish Basket – $22.93 at Amazon
- Best Cast Iron Grill Basket: Lodge Cast Iron Dual Handle Grill Basket – $29.90 at Amazon
- Best Rolling Grill Basket: BBQ Dragon Rolling Grill Basket – $39.99 at Amazon
- Best Budget Grill Basket: Char-Broil Non-Stick Grill Basket – $15.99 at Amazon
- Best Non-stick Grill Basket: Nordic Ware Nonstick 365 Indoor/Outdoor Grill ‘N Shake Basket – $26.78 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Grill Baskets
1. My Top Overall Choice: Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket
If you enjoy grilled vegetables as much as I do, the Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket is one of my favorite grilling accessories. It’s the perfect alternative to wrapping your food in aluminum foil and even has criss-cross slots to give your veggie some char and smoky flavor. This is the best BBQ grill basket for small pieces of meat and vegetables, like broccoli and zucchini.
It’s made from stainless steel and has high sides, which makes it easy to carry to and from the grill. Plus, it comes in both small and large sizes. While you can always pop in the dishwasher, reviews say that food tends to get stuck in the holes at the bottom, which makes it hard to clean. As long as you don’t mind putting in the elbow grease to clean, you won’t be disappointed.
The Specs:
- Size: 13.8 x 11.8 x 2.5 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Material: Stainless steel
The Pros:
- High Sides
- Comes in small and large sizes
- Dishwasher safe
The Cons:
- Hard to clean
What Others Are Saying
The Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from more than 7,600 reviews.
Buy the Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket:
2. Runner-Up: Grillaholics Grill Basket
The best grill baskets are the ones that are heavy-duty and can hold a lot of food, which is one of the big reasons I love the Grillaholics Grill Basket. Made from heavy-duty, thick-gauge stainless steel, this grill basket is durable and designed to last for a long time. The corners of the basket are also triple-reinforced, so you can crank up the heat without it peeling or warping. The grill basket works with both charcoal and gas grills.
Because the basket is extra-large, it allows me to grill large amounts of chicken wings, meat pieces, or my special green beans side dish, so I spend less time at the grill, and more time enjoying the BBQ with family and friends. To clean, just wipe it down with soapy water and a dishcloth or toss it in the dishwasher.
The Specs:
- Size: 11.5 x 11.5 x 2.5 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Material: Stainless steel
The Pros:
- Good for batch grilling
- Dishwasher safe
- Made from heavy-gauge stainless steel
- Works with charcoal and gas grills
The Cons:
- Hard to clean
What Others Are Saying
The Grillaholics Grill Basket has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from more than 3,700 reviews.
Buy the Grillaholics Grill Basket:
3. Best Grill Basket for Vegetables: Proud Grill Ultra Versatile Stainless Steel Grill Basket
This 12 x 7.5-inch stainless steel grilling basket is the best grill basket for veggies because it has 2 metal dividers that separate the basket into sections. This is especially handy when you’re throwing down lots of different veggies like portobello mushrooms, asparagus, and peppers on the grill at the same time. I like that the dividers can be hooked on the basket in 5 spots, so you can have sections in different sizes. Or just take them out completely, if you need the entire space.
The handle is also removable and can be attached to all 4 sides of the grilling basket, However, the holes on each side are quite large, which might not be ideal when I’m grilling loose vegetables, like squash or broccoli pieces.
The Specs:
- Size: 15 x 10 x 2.5 inches
- Weight: 2.7 pounds
- Material: Stainless Steel
The Pros:
- Ergonomic design
- Removable handle
- Metal dividers
The Cons:
- Vegetables may fall out the sides
What Others Are Saying
Business Insider and Good Housekeeping named Proud Grill Ultra Versatile Stainless Steel Grill Basket as one of the top grill baskets they tested.
Buy the Proud Grill Ultra Versatile Stainless Steel Grill Basket:
4. Best Grill Basket For Fish: RSVP International Endurance BBQ Fish Basket
Whether you like salmon, trout, or catfish, this affordable grill basket makes grilling the seafood of your choice effortless. The RSVP International Endurance BBQ Fish Basket measures 6 x 14.75 inches long (26 inches in overall length with the handle) and comes in the shape of a fish. It is big enough to hold several fillets or a small to medium-sized fish.
The basket’s standout feature is the extra-long wooden handle that makes it easy to flip fish over on the grill and keeps your hand from getting burned. However, the handle is made from rosewood and can only be washed in the sink to prevent damage. My only issue with this grill basket is that it’s made out of chrome, which is not as high quality as stainless steel and could be more prone to rusting.
The Specs:
- Size: 6 x 14.75 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Material: Chrome
The Pros:
- Beautiful rosewood handle
- Extra long handle
- Can hold several pieces or one big fish
The Cons:
- Handwash only
- Prone to rusting
Buy the RSVP International Endurance BBQ Fish Basket
5. Best Cast Iron Grill Basket: Lodge Cast Iron Dual Handle Grill Basket
Cast iron isn’t just for skillets! There are now cast iron grill baskets on the market, which are durable and good at retaining heat, so food cooks more easily. The 12-inch Lodge Cast Iron Grill Basket features tear-shaped holes that infuse your food with a smoky flavor and add char without burning. The cast iron grill basket works the same as any other grill basket, and can be placed on top of grill grates or an open flame.
Just like a cast iron skillet, it’s preseasoned with vegetable oil, which makes it easy to clean. However, you’ll have to maintain it properly (remember to keep it completely dry after washing!) to prevent rust from forming on it. Although there are handles on each side that make it easy to lift, it’s still really heavy, so keep that in mind.
The Specs:
- Size: 14.5 x 12.6 x 2.25 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Material: Cast iron
The Pros:
- Pre seasoned with vegetable oil
- Easy to clean
- Durable
- Tear-shaped design prevents food from dropping
The Cons:
- Heavy to lift
- Needs extra maintenance
What Others Are Saying
The Lodge 12-inch Cast Iron grill basket was tested and named the best value grill basket by Good Housekeeping.
Buy the Lodge Cast Iron Dual Handle Grill Basket:
6. Best Rolling Grill Basket: BBQ Dragon Rolling Grill Basket
If you want to spend more time socializing and less time flipping meat and veggies over the grill, I recommend choosing a cylindrical or rolling basket. The BBQ Dragon Rolling Basket looks like a round cage, which spins the food around on the grill, so you don’t have to flip anything individually.
It also takes up less space on the grill, and is dishwasher safe. The stainless steel basket securely closes with a latch, which some don’t like because it tends to be hard to open—especially when it’s hot off the grill. Also, the handle has no insulation protection, so you’ll have to wear oven gloves while handling it.
The Specs:
- Size: 13.5 x 5.6 x 5.6 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Material: Stainless steel
The Pros:
- Won’t take up a lot of space
- Easy to clean
- Dishwasher safe
- Makes grilling efficient
The Cons:
- Difficult to open when hot
- Hard to clean
Buy the BBQ Dragon Rolling Grill Basket:
7. Best Budget Grill Basket: Char-Broil Non-Stick Grill Basket
While most grilling baskets on the list are pretty inexpensive anyway, if you’re looking for an unbeatable bargain, I recommend getting the Char-Broil grill basket. Although it’s cheap, it grills food well, and can be used for vegetables and foods like my grilled teriyaki chicken.
In addition, the lid locks securely, so food stays in place and won’t spill when you flip it over. However, it might be difficult to open when it’s hot. Although its non-stick stainless steel surface is easy to clean, a little cooking spray or oil will help food slide out completely. At 11 x 10 inches, it’s quite large, so I would only buy this one if I had a big grill.
The Specs:
- Size: 11 x 10 x 2.3 inches
- Weight: 1.25 pounds
- Material: Stainless steel
The Pros:
- Non-stick
- Easy to flip over
- Spacious
- Locking lid
- Dual-sided
The Cons:
- Might take up a lot of space on the grill
- Difficult to open when hot
- Not for a small grill
What Others Are Saying
The Char-Broil Non-Stick Grill Basket has a 4.3-star rating on Amazon from more than 1,300 reviews.
Buy the Char-Broil Non-Stick Grill Basket:
8. Best Non-stick Grill Basket: Nordic Ware Nonstick 365 Indoor/Outdoor Grill ‘N Shake Basket
As much as I love my aluminum foil vegetable recipes, the Grill ‘N Shake Basket from Nordic Ware is a great alternative that’s just as simple. The basket has high sides, so you can load it up with large veggies, like husks of corn and peppers before putting it on the grill. It’s also non-stick and doesn’t contain PFOAs.
But, if you prefer it without a coating, there is a stainless steel option available, as well. You can also bake food in the oven with it, so you can still use it when you’re not grilling. It is oven-safe up to 400 ?. However, you won’t be able to use metal utensils to cook with it or you risk scratching the coating.
The Specs:
- Size: 14 x 12.13 x 2.75 inches
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
- Material: Aluminized steel or stainless steel
The Pros:
- Available in nonstick and stainless steel options
- High sides
- Oven safe
The Cons:
- Can’t use metal utensils
- Its nonstick coating may not be as durable
Buy the Nordic Ware Nonstick 365 Indoor/Outdoor Grill ‘N Shake Basket:
Other Grill Baskets I’ve Researched
Yukon Glory BBQ ‘N SERVE Grill Basket Set
This grill basket set consists of 3 stainless steel baskets and a serving tray, so you can take your BBQ items straight from the grill to the table. While I love its versatility, the baskets don’t hold a lot of food, so it might not work if you’re grilling for a crowd. The Yukon Glory BBQ ‘N SERVE Grill Basket Set is available at Amazon for $49.99.
Why You Can Trust Me
Hi! I’m Carrie, the creator behind Eating on a Dime, mother to 8 kids, and founder of Lazy Day Cooking Club, a membership designed to make dinner fast and easy for busy families!
As a busy mom, I’ve learned to incorporate shortcuts that make my life easier and save time in the kitchen. I use my grill when I need easy meals with amazing flavors and grill baskets make grilling much more efficient and mess-free. I’ve also created tons of delicious recipes that can be used with grill baskets which you can find on my site Grill on a Dime.
When putting together my list of the best grill baskets for veggies, fish, and more, I made sure to include my top pick from Grillaholics and research other top-rated models. I considered important factors like size, material, and features which would make it easy to choose the right grill basket for your needs.
What to Know About Grill Baskets
Size
You can find grill baskets in different sizes ranging from small to extra large. The best grilling basket size depends on your grill size and if you’re grilling vegetables, meat, or seafood. Some grill baskets are specially designed for fish or BBQ meats while others are better suited for just grilling vegetables.
Material
Most grill baskets are made from stainless steel or non-stick steel. However, there are cast iron options available, as well. Stainless steel grill baskets can withstand higher heat and are typically more durable than non-stick models. However, non-stick grill baskets are easier to clean and are commonly lower in price than stainless steel and cast iron options.
How to Use a Grill Basket
Before grilling, preheat the grill before putting the grill basket on it. You also want to apply oil or cooking spray to prevent food from sticking. While cooking, flip vegetables or meat inside the basket to cook evenly and get a charred, smoky flavor from the grill.
How to Clean a Grill Basket
I recommend soaking it first to loosen any gunk or leftover food inside the basket. Afterward, you can use dish soap, hot water, and a scrubber to ensure it’s thoroughly clean. Not all grill baskets are dishwasher safe, so you should always check the manufacturer’s instructions before putting them inside.
Are grill baskets worth it?
Grill baskets are worth it because they make grilling less messy, especially if they’re being used for a quick weeknight meal. The food is just as tasty but you might not get as much charring as you would if you put your food directly on the grill. If you want an even easier way to grill, my other hack is to wrap my food in aluminum foil which locks in moisture and cuts down on cleaning time.
Some of My Favorite Grill Recipes
Check out my scrumptious grill recipes for easy family dinners that you can make throughout the week:
- Parmesan Grilled Zuchinni
- Texas Roadhouse Grilled Shrimp
- Grilled Carrots
- Lemon Pepper Grilled Tilapia
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
