Background and objectives One of the ways to increase the content of biologically active substances in plants is elicitation. Elicitors cause moderate stress and induce the activity of antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of secondary metabolites. The study investigated the effect of elicitors on yield, nutrients content as well as phenolics and antioxidant properties of fully ripened winter wheat grain and the expression of genes related to antioxidant enzymes in grain at the milk-dough ripeness stage. Findings Among the elicitors used, only potassium iodide and UV-C significantly decreased the yield. Treatments did not affect phenolics content but distinctly elevated antiradical properties by about 28% in the case of crickets powder and hydrogen peroxide. After the application of L-phenylalanine, the grains were characterized by the highest values of chelating and reducing power. Only the treatment with L-phenylalanine modulated the relative expression level of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Conclusion L-phenylalanine, hydrogen peroxide, and crickets powder showed the most pronounced potential to increase the functional value of the wheat grain. Potassium iodide and UV-C significantly reduced the grain yield, therefore their using as elicitors is questionable. Significance and novelty These results are important for the global economy because increasing the functional value of the grain will improve human health and reduce medical costs.