Since you’ve come here looking for a portable grill, we thought it made sense to recommend one for those of you who prize portability above all other features. Everything but the grill grate on the GoBQ is made of flame-retardant fabric, and the whole thing weighs nine pounds and packs easily into something about the size of a knife roll. There are a few choices when it comes to the best portable propane grill. Our top pick, the Weber Q1200 portable grill, is great for anyone looking for an all-around capable grill with plenty of built-in features. After evaluating each grill’s cooking ability, we determined how easy it was to clean the grill. We also looked at what additional features the grill offered, such as smart controls, integrated thermometers, and side tables.
The Gonzo Grill, contained by its included nylon bag, requires two hands to carry but is a little less fiddly otherwise. Models like this are easy to carry into the park to find your ideal picnic spot. With any grill, weber charcoal grill cleaning them before transporting them will lead to less mess. Things worth considering when it comes to size are where you’re going to use the grill, how many people you’re cooking for, and how you’ll get it there.
This larger version of our pick offers more cooking area and higher heat output. Note, that you should remove as much grease as possible before burying the grill. Some folks mentioned having trouble with assembly and misaligned parts in verified purchase reviews. I did not experience this, and the model came together in less than 30 minutes. It was not the easiest of them all to assemble but not so complicated as to dissuade you from buying it and, once assembled, felt compact and sturdy to the touch. Surely you’ve seen — and possibly owned — one of these little guys in the past.
It also wasn’t as easy to move as the GoBQ because…nothing was as easy to move as the GoBQ. Flattop grills operate like traditional portable gas grills without lids, but their stainless steel tops act like griddles. Cast-iron grates are durable but require frequent cleaning and oiling. Stainless steel is also durable and requires very little maintenance but doesn’t distribute heat as evenly as cast iron. The downside is that cast iron is quite heavy so is less suitable for some portable grills. The Portable BBQ Grill is perfect for grilling just about anywhere.
The compact size also created issues when we attempted to roast our kabobs. Closing the lid seemed to stymie airflow to the charcoal, which struggled to stay lit even with both vents wide open. This issue required us to remove and replace the lid periodically, allowing oxygen into the cooking chamber to keep the grill going while cooking our kabobs. Unlike a standard grill that’s open on at least three sides, the Davy Crockett has a single panel that grants access to the cooking surface, which is hard to access with a spatula or tongs. It was especially awkward to flip a burger patty or adjust our kabobs while crouching down.
Camping trips, road trips, tailgates, closet-size outdoor spaces—there are a lot of scenarios that call for a portable grill. But unfortunately, many of the factors that make a grill portable can also keep it from working well. For more details on how we tested and what we looked for, scroll down to the bottom. With its all-stainless steel body and cooking grates, the Pit Boss weber q Grills Stainless Steel Portable Grill is certainly one of the most handsome portable grills on the market. While it doesn’t heat as well as other gas grills, it differentiates itself with a vast cooking surface and the ability to create multiple cooking zones. To kick off testing, we unboxed each grill, assembled it if required, and examined its workmanship and build quality.
The base comes off and features a flip-out propane bottle holder (we discourage you from using those; see why below) as well as serving as a place to cut. The integrated bamboo cutting board fits on top of the base, which gives you somewhere to prep your meal even if there’s no picnic table around. If price is your number one consideration, you may want to think about it. It’s also a very small grill and very light, which kept it from being as effective as the heavier charcoal grills I tried.
Read on for answers to some of the most common queries about portable grills. Despite these issues, the Cuisinart produced flavorful food and is a great budget-priced option for those looking for a super-light grill to tote to a park or stadium parking lot. At 21 pounds, the George Foreman is fairly light and fit easily into the trunk of our SUV, though toting along the stand, which breaks down into three pieces, was a bit more cumbersome. We’d certainly prefer using it on a tabletop if we’re traveling with it.
But, it’s less portable than the smaller 16.4-ounce propane bottle some other grills use. This is a small grill with a big heart; it had no problem when covered with hamburger patties and buns. The dual-burner Cuisinart is our favorite small gas grill, delivering nearly perfect heat distribution across its surface, which is quite large for a portable appliance. A bottom vent and an aluminum top damper allowed us to dial in the airflow. Bring a little of that sizzling, smoky magic in tow wherever you go with a portable grill. We’re sharing the top portable grills to shop based on budget, fuel and lifestyle needs below.