The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find I Buy 6 at a Time

As a meal planner and prepper, I enjoy making homemade sauces and marinades on the weekends. It feels really satisfying and worthwhile to prepare flavorful add-ons, toppings, and bases to make simple weeknight dinners feel special.

Between work, shuttling kids around, and everything else life throws at me, those weekend prep sessions don’t always happen. And some weeks, I’m lucky if I remember to defrost (or even buy) the chicken, let alone whip up a batch of anything from scratch. I know you get it.

That’s the headspace I was in a few weeks ago when I spotted McCormick’s Grill Mates seasoning packets at Dollar Tree for $1.25. I rarely buy seasoning packets unless I intend to test them out for work, but I grabbed a couple of different flavors, thinking they’d be perfect for the nights when homemade wasn’t happening.

What I didn’t expect was how much I’d end up liking them and how they’d help with quick weeknight cooking. 

Why I Love Dollar Tree’s McCormick Grill Mates Seasoning Packets

The convenience is what speaks to my busy-parent heart. Each packet is pre-measured, so I don’t have to chop and measure ingredients or rummage through the spice drawer for individual components. It’s also incredibly versatile. I’ve used the Garlic, Herb, & Wine blend on everything from chicken and pork to shrimp and veggies, and it always delivers robust Mediterranean-inspired flavor.

It’s also easy to prepare. I just combine the mix with a bit of water, oil, and a tablespoon of vinegar and add it to whatever I want to marinate. With minimal effort, I can transform plain proteins into something that feels more gourmet. I sometimes mix everything in one of these resealable plastic marinade bags to make cleanup even easier.

For the sake of my kids’ preferences (and my sanity), I also appreciate how consistent they are. We know exactly what we’re getting every time—and to my almost 4 and 9-year-olds, that matters. As a bonus, I can hand my husband a packet with some protein and know dinner will be delicious without any intervention from me.

How I Use the McCormick Grill Mates Blend

My favorite way to put this marinade to work is on boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They soak up all that flavor beautifully and cook quickly on the grill. I usually aim to marinate them for at least 30 minutes, but letting them sit for a few hours really deepens the flavor.

They also work magic on vegetables. Tossing bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion with a few tablespoons of the prepared marinade before grilling creates a delicious veggie medley my whole family loves. Beyond grilling, I’ve used this marinade on oven-roasted potatoes and pan-seared pork chops with equally tasty results. The potatoes are surprisingly reminiscent of the internet-famous Greek-style lemon potatoes.

When roasting or grilling veggies, I only need 2 to 3 tablespoons of marinade, so I always reserve that before adding raw meat. I’ll also sometimes use this same trick of reserving the marinade to brush it on the meat during the last few minutes of grilling for extra flavor and browning (As a friendly reminder, never reuse marinade that has touched raw meat).

The $1.25 price point makes stocking up a no-brainer. I’ve got six packets in my pantry right now, and honestly, that might not be enough.

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE}