Keep these items on hand to whip up delicious glazes, sauces, marinades, rubs, and more.
Bacon. It makes everything taste better. Try wrapping a thin piece around a piece of halibut or a chicken breast before grilling.
Barbecue sauce. Tasty when homemade, a quality purchased one is always good to have on hand, too.
Beer. Refreshing to drink while grilling, it can also be brushed on food to add a little flavor and keep the meat moist. Apple juice makes a fine non-alcoholic substitute.
Bourbon and other booze. Bourbon is a southern favorite for mops and sauces, and tequila often adds flavor to marinades with a southwestern feel.
Brown sugar. When you want delicious caramelization, add a little brown sugar to your spice rub or marinade. It’s also a key component in many homemade barbecue sauces.
Citrus fruit, especially lemons, limes, and oranges. Use both the juice and zest to add flavor to marinades and rubs. A pretty wedge of lemon or lime on the plate lets guests add a bright burst of flavor to their grilled food.
Flavored butters. You can easily make flavored butter, also called compound butter, by adding herbs and other flavorings (shallots, anchovies, roasted peppers) to softened unsalted butter. A pat placed on hot grilled beef, chicken, or fish adds a ton of flavor.
Flavored oils. Flavored oils, purchased or homemade, can be delicious in marinades; toasted sesame is especially good in Asian-inspired ones. Use more delicate oils, such as herb-infused oils and truffle oil, to drizzle over grilled foods as a flavorful finish.
Freshly ground black pepper. Freshly ground pepper has a lot more flavor and a better texture than preground, and you can adjust the level of coarseness to suit your taste or the recipe.
Fresh herbs. Chopped and combined with a little olive oil, fresh herbs make a great coating for chicken, beef, lamb, and fish. They’re also delicious in sauces.
Garlic. Fresh garlic, chopped finely or pounded into a paste with salt, adds a lot of flavor to rubs and marinades. Garlic salt and granulated garlic are also widely used in classic barbecue spice rubs.
Ginger. Fresh ginger adds zing to marinades and is often combined with garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil for a delicious Asian marinade that’s perfect for shrimp, beef, or chicken.
Honey or maple syrup. A great way to add a little sweetness to a marinade or glaze, maple syrup can also boost the flavor of a brine.
Hot sauce. When you want a little kick in your salsa, sauce, or marinade, reach for a bottle of hot sauce. Sriracha, an Asian hot sauce, also makes a great condiment at the table.
Ketchup. Most obviously a condiment for hamburgers, ketchup can also be used in homemade barbecue sauce and marinades for steak.
Jams and jellies. For an instant glaze, brush some on at the end of grilling. Peach preserves with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes are delicious on pork tenderloin.
Mayonnaise. Though welcome on a burger, mayo is indispensable for whipping up a potato salad or slaw to serve with grilled fare.
Mustard. Beyond topping hot dogs, mustard is often used in combination with spice rubs, adding both flavor and moisture.
Olive oils. Save extra-virgin olive oil for vinaigrettes or to drizzle over grilled vegetables. For marinades, you can use regular pure olive oil.
Salt. Use kosher salt for seasoning. Not only does it taste better than table salt, but you can also easily see the individual grains, which means you can salt more evenly.
Soy sauce. A splash of soy sauce will add depth of flavor to just about any marinade, Asian-inspired or not.
Spices, whole and ground. Commonly used spices for grilling and barbecue include cayenne, chili powder, cumin, coriander, crushed red pepper flakes, fennel, and paprika. Asian spices like five-spice powder and star anise pack a lot of flavor. Or to add a smoky flavor, try smoked ground pepper, such as chipotle or pimentón.
Vegetable oils. These oils, especially canola and grapeseed, have a neutral flavor that works well in most marinades. They’re cheaper than good extra-virgin olive oil, too, so use them to oil the grill grate.
Vinegar. Often used in mops and sauces, vinegar nicely counters any sweetness from brown sugar or honey.