Wouldn’t it be so much better if you could take your grill on adventures with you? You could be having grilled steaks, smoked briskets or even smoked salmon while you are camping, tailgating or even boating. The idea of doing both at the same time sounds good but it will be a burden to take your heavy grill with you on such adventures. It will probably be difficult to fit a traditional grill into your vehicle easily and it might not be suitable for such uses.
What if we told you that there are some travel-friendly grills that are easy to transport and can be used anywhere? You might want to look into portable grills if you are interested. A portable grill is a cooking appliance that you can take on your next camping trip or any outdoor events. It has a compact design that you can easily fit into your car and it often takes less effort to work a portable grill compared to traditional grilling methods.
This article includes the best portable grills that are worthy of being a part of your outdoor adventure.
Best Pick
The Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill is our best pick because of its high functionality, durable construction and effective grilling performance. This grill will serve you well and give you the ultimate grilling experience outdoors.
Budget Pick
The Weber 50060001 Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill is our budget pick because it is easy to assemble and has a compact design which makes it travel-friendly. Its convenient grilling features make the portable grill ideal for grilling in the open.
Quick Comparison: The 10 Best Portable Grills
| Product Name | Grade |
|---|---|
| Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill | A |
| Weber 50060001 Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill | A |
| Char-Broil Standard Portable Liquid Propane Gas Grill | B |
| Weber 54060001 Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill | A |
| Cuisinart CGG180 Petit Gourmet Gas Grill with VersaStand | A |
| Cuisinart CGG-059 Propane Grill | B |
| Weber 55020001 Q2400 Electric Grill | B |
| Cuisinart CGG-240 All Foods Roll-Away Gas Grill | A |
| Cuisinart CGG-180TS Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill | B |
| NOMADIQ Portable Propane Gas Grill | A |
1. Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill
The Coleman RoadTrip 285 is a portable gas grill that is built to make your grilling experience a lot better. It weighs 46.67 pounds. This propane grill has sturdy legs that are foldable to give you a suitcase-like shape. The two rugged wheels make it easy to transport the grill from one place to another, even on rough grounds.
The gas grill offers 285 square inches of cooking area that allows you to fit about 12-14 burgers at once. You can easily cook for a small crowd. Moreover, this grill has swappable cooktops. You can use stove grates or griddles instead of the cast-iron grill grates. This feature gives you the opportunity to cook in many different styles. You do not have to eat the same grilled food at every event.
The stand-up propane grill features three separate independent burners that produce 20,000 BTUs of grilling power. This allows you to set a temperature ranging from 350 degrees Fahrenheit to about 700 degrees Fahrenheit. You can slow cook your meals or sear them. It all depends on your food choice.
The grill comes with a built-in thermometer that lets you monitor the temperature inside the grill without having to use other methods. The InstaStart ignition makes this grill easy to operate. Just push the button to start your grill. You do not need to use matches to ignite this grill. Moreover, this grill lets you choose from five different colours that include red, blue, green, orange and black. You can pick your favourite according to your colour preference.
Pros
Cons
2. Weber 50060001 Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill
This liquid propane gas grill is perfect for cooking a meal for a small crowd of friends and family. The grill has a cooking surface of 189 square inches. You can easily fit up to 6 burgers on the cooking surface.
The cast-iron cooking grates are coated with porcelain to give you a more durable construction. These cooking grates can maintain a consistent temperature and will not rust or corrode easily.
The grill has a solid construction. The lid and the body of the grill are made with cast aluminium that makes the grill rust-resistant. The lid helps to retain a high temperature inside the grill. This comes in handy during cold or windy days. This compact grill has a stainless steel burner that produces 8,500 BTUs of heat output. This helps to cook food in a relatively shorter period of time.
The gas grill has handles on both sides and weighs only 23.3 pounds. This makes it easy to transport and store. The push-button ignition and the built-in temperature gauge make the grill user-friendly. Plus, you can use this grill both indoors and outdoors.
Pros
Cons
3. Char-Broil Standard Portable Liquid Propane Gas Grill
The Char-Broil propane gas grill is perfect for camping trips, tailgating or any outdoor activities that involve grilling food. It weighs only 10.2 pounds and the convenient structure of the grill makes it easy to transport from one area to another.
The propane grill has legs that are foldable and can be used to lock the lid in place. You can easily put it in the trunk of your vehicle as it does not take up much space.
With a cooking surface area of 187 square inches, you can easily grill up to 8 burgers at once. This makes the grill ideal for cooking small batches of food. The chrome-plated cooking grates are sturdy and are known for their heat-retaining properties. These grates do not rust or corrode easily. Plus, the grates are removable and are safe to be put into the dishwasher. This makes cleaning up easier.
The Char-Broil Standard comes with a burner that is capable of producing 11,000 BTUs of heat output. This allows your grill to reach high temperatures that help to cook your food faster and with more flavour. You can either use 14.1 oz or 16.4 oz propane cylinders to run your grill.
On the other hand, the gas grill has a solid finish. The body is made with high-quality steel that makes it durable. The unit does not corrode easily and it does not require much maintenance. The Char-Broil Standard grill is built to improve your outdoor cooking experience.
Pros
Cons
4. Weber 54060001 Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill
The portable Weber 54060001 has 280 square inches of grilling space that lets you cook a meal for 6-8 people easily. You can cook breakfast, lunch or dinner using this grill.
There is plenty of space under the lid which means that you can cook a whole turkey or large pieces of meat using this grill.
The grill has one stainless steel burner that blasts out a total of 12,000 BTUs of heat output per hour. This enables you to reach a high temperature without having to wait for long. The built-in thermometer helps you to read the inside temperature of the grill. This makes your cooking process easier.
The cast-iron cooking grates are coated with porcelain to make it more durable. The porcelain coating makes the grates rust-resistant. It also helps to retain heat well that allows you to cook fine meals evenly. The grill has electric ignition so you do not need to worry about using a match or a lighter to start your grill. Just press the button and your grill is ready for use. Moreover, the glass-reinforced nylon frame gives the grill a sturdy construction.
The gas grill comes with two foldable side tables that enable you to expand your prep station. You could keep the ingredients, plates and other appliances on the side tables for easy access. It also has a removable grease tray that makes cleaning easier.
Pros
Cons
5. Cuisinart CGG180 Petit Gourmet Gas Grill with VersaStand
The Cuisinart CGG180 allows you to make gourmet meals outdoors with ease. It features a spacious cooking surface of 160 square inches that lets you cook a variety of food suitable for a group of 4 people. You can take this grill anywhere with you since it has a portable design.
The petit grill comes with telescoping legs that can be folded to give you a compact-sized grill. The grill weighs only 2.2 pounds and the handle on the top makes it super easy to carry from one place to another.
Plus, the compact size of the grill makes it easy to store and fit into your vehicle. You can take this travel-friendly grill on any adventure with you. Be it camping or boating, this grill will deliver great performance.
The cooking grates are coated with porcelain that makes the grates rust-resistant. They are also removable and are safe to be put into the dishwasher for easy cleaning. Moreover, the porcelain coating allows the grates to heat up faster. The grill features a burner that produces 5,500 BTUs of grilling power. This enables the grill to have even heat distribution throughout the grilling surface.
Other features of the grill include a built-in temperature gauge and electronic ignition. The temperature gauge allows you to monitor the internal temperature of the grill. Electric ignition makes the grill easy to operate as you do not need to use a match or a lighter to start the grill. Simply twist the knob to power your gas grill. Moreover, the lid uses a 1lb propane cylinder that you can connect directly on to the grill.
Pros
Cons
6. Cuisinart CGG-059 Propane Grill
The Cuisinart CGG-059 is a portable, compact grill that is suitable for outdoor cooking. It weighs only 10 pounds and features a 146 square inch cooking surface that is perfect for cooking a meal for 2-3 people.
The legs are collapsible and the large handle on top allows you to carry the grill easily. You can take this grill to the beach with you or even on your next camping trip.
The enamelled steel cooking grates are dishwasher-friendly and do not rust easily. The grill has one burner that is capable of producing a maximum of 8,000 BTUs of heat output. This enables the grill to reach a high temperature within a very short period of time. This grill has a gas regulator that lets you adjust the flow of gas from the 1lb propane tank to your grill.
It comes with a drip tray that collects the grease from the cooked food. This makes cleaning up easier as the grease does not splatter everywhere. Moreover, the grill is easy to operate. To start your grill, just press the ignition button and you’re good to go.
7. Weber 55020001 Q2400 Electric Grill
The Weber 55020001 Q2400 Electric Grill is perfect for a small cookout with your close ones. It is the ideal grill for your backyard parties.
The electric grill weighs 42 pounds and has sturdy handles on each side. The grill comes fully assembled so you do not need to waste your time in going through long pages of instructions.
This electric grill uses 1560 Watts or 120 Volts of electrical energy to evenly heat the 280 square inch cooking surface. You can easily fit up to 12 burgers at once on the grilling surface. The cast-iron cooking grates have a porcelain coating which makes the grates last for a longer period of time. The grates do not rust easily. Moreover, the overall construction of the grill is pretty solid. Its lid and body are made of cast aluminium with a glass-reinforced nylon frame so you can expect your grill to serve you well.
The electric grill has an aluminium heat retention liner that allows the grill to distribute heat evenly throughout the cooking surface. It comes with a 6-foot power cord and infinite control burner valve settings. Your grill will be able to reach a high temperature quickly that will enable you to cook your food faster. Keep in mind that you need to warm up the grill for 20 minutes before you can start grilling your food.
Pros
Cons
8. Cuisinart CGG-240 All Foods Roll-Away Gas Grill
Looking for a grill that is highly and delivers great performance? Look no further because the Cuisinart CGG-240 has got you covered. With a grilling space of 240 square inches, you can easily feed 4-6 people easily without having to cook in several batches.
This grill is perfect for grilling any food that you like. From vegetables to even a pizza, you will be able to stun your guests with a wide variety of food.
The gas grill has a collapsible design that makes it easy to carry from one area to another. It has two large wheels which means that you can carry this 41-pound grill anywhere and everywhere. It has one stainless steel loop burner that produces a maximum of 15,000 BTUs of grilling power. Rest assured that the heating panel will generate heat evenly throughout the entire grilling space.
The porcelain-enamelled cast-iron cooking grates also help to retain heat well which helps to cook your food faster. The porcelain coating on the grates means that the grates do not rust easily. Hence, they are easy to clean and maintain. The grill comes with two stainless steel foldable side tables on which you can place the needed spices, chopped vegetables or the tongs. This allows for easy access and saves a lot of time.
Other features of this gas grill include a gas regulator that lets you control the flow of gas to and from the propane tank, a removable grease tray to collect the grease drippings from the food and an electronic ignition knob for easy startup. Just twist the knob to get your grill going.
Pros
Cons
9. Cuisinart CGG-180TS Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill
The Cuisinart CGG-180TS is a compact-sized gas grill that weighs only 13 pounds. It features 145 square inches of grilling space that lets you cook for 4-6 people easily. The grill comes in three versatile colours that include red, black and stainless steel.
The stainless steel body gives the grill a solid construction. With porcelain-enamelled cooking grates, you do not have to worry about having hot or cold spots on the grilling surface. Plus, the cooking grates are rust-resistant and don’t require much maintenance.
The grill features a single burner that generates 5,500 BTUs of heat output which is enough to distribute heat evenly throughout the 145-inch grilling space.
The Petit Gourmet grill has legs that are foldable. When folded, the grill looks similar to a small briefcase and the sturdy handle on top makes it easier to carry from place to place. The grill comes with a built-in temperature gauge that gives accurate readings. You can definitely rely on this grill for enhancing your outdoor cookout experience.
Pros
Cons
10. NOMADIQ Portable Propane Gas Grill
The Nomadiq Portable Propane Gas Grill is an innovative grill with a unique design. The grill weighs only 12.3 pounds and folds into a compact size easily. This means that you will be able to carry this grill to any place you like.
You can take it with you when you go camping, hiking, tailgating or even boating. You can also use it in the park or when you are having a backyard cookout session.
The grill opens into two parts that give you a large cooking surface of 226 square inches. You can easily fit up to 10 hamburgers at once on the grilling surface. The cast-iron cooking grates are coated with ceramic that gives the grates non-stick properties. This means that the food does not stick to the surface of the grill. Another feature that makes the grill convenient is that the cooking grates are dishwasher-friendly. You do not have to put in any effort to clean the grates.
The gas grill has two separate stainless steel burners on each side that are controlled independently. Each burner produces a maximum of 4,600 BTUs of heat output on each side, giving you a total of 9,200 BTUs of heat output. The BTUs gives the grill a more even heat distribution and an ability to reach high temperatures as well. With dual temperature controls, you will be able to adjust the temperature precisely.
You can use one side of the grill if you’re cooking a small batch of food or you can use both sides of the grill if you’re cooking a large batch of food. You have the option of doing both. The grill comes with electric ignition. Just press the switch and your grill is all fired up. Plus, the grill heats up quickly so that you do not have to wait for long to start your grilling session. Moreover, the grill has good wind resistance which makes it perfect for an outdoor cookout session.
Pros
Cons
Things To Consider Before Buying A Portable Grill
Size
The size of your portable grill will depend on the amount of space available to store it. Do you have a big vehicle or is your vehicle small? Where do you intend to store your grill when not in use? A big vehicle with a lot of space will allow you to fit a big sized grill inside it. However, a small vehicle or a packed vehicle may mean that you should look into compact grills that do not take up much space. Moreover, if you have limited space in the house, you should invest in a grill that is small in size or has a collapsible design.
Cooking Surface
If you intend to cook for a large number of people, you should invest in a portable grill that has a cooking surface of at least 400 square inches. A grill with a large cooking surface will enable you to fit several food items on the grill. This means that you can cook a large quantity of food at once which saves time. You will have more time to enjoy with your friends and family.
On the other hand, if you have a small family or usually cook for a small group of people, a grill with a cooking surface of 160-180 square inches will work just fine for you. You will be able to cook a large quantity of food with a small grilling surface as well but it will take you more time and you will need to cook in batches. This might be a tiresome process for many grillers.
Gas or Electric?
You might get a richer flavour in your food when cooking with a gas grill compared to when you are grilling using an electric grill. Gas grills are easier to clean and tend to hold consistent temperatures for longer periods of time. On the other hand, electric grills usually have a more even heat distribution throughout the grilling space. When using an electric grill, you will not need to worry about running out of propane in the middle of your cooking session. Plus, most electric grills are energy-efficient.
It is better to take a gas grill on getaway trips as you will not have to worry about finding a power outlet in the middle of a remote place. Moreover, your electric grill will not function during a power outage.
Assembly and Sturdiness
Grills that are easy to assemble will save you a lot of time. You can get right to grilling your favourite meals. Some of the mentioned grills come fully assembled so you do not need to go through lengthy manuals to figure it out. On the other hand, it is important for a grill to have clear instructions that are easy to follow if the assembly requires time and effort.
Grills with a sturdy design will save cost as you do not need to replace it frequently. Plus, a sturdy design is crucial if you want to take the grill on outdoor adventures with you. It needs to be well-built for the long trip.
Ease of transport
You should invest in a grill that is easy to carry from one place to another. Grills that are lightweight, include top or side handles and have foldable legs are easier to carry. Moreover, the grills that have legs with rugged wheels are also easy to transport.
Convenient Features
A grill with a built-in thermometer lets you monitor the internal temperature of your grill that lets you cook your meals to perfection. A lid on top makes it easy to maintain a certain temperature inside the grill, especially during cold or breezy days. This is because the lid prevents the hot air inside the grill from escaping into the outside air. Moreover, investing in a grill that comes with a removable catch pan will save you a lot of cleaning time. Other features that make your grill easy to operate include electronic ignition and control knobs.
Temperature Control
It is extremely important to have control over the temperature inside the grill. You do not want your food to be undercooked neither do you want to burn it. It might be a challenge to grill food using a grill that has a fluctuating temperature.
Temperature Range
A high temperature will cook your food faster. In order to sear meat, your grill needs to retain a high temperature throughout the cooking time. On the other hand, if you want a slow-cooked meal, then you should look for a grill that has the ability to maintain a low cooking temperature as well.