We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Product Reviews and Buying Guides Grill & BBQ Tool Reviews Grilling on the Go Is the Best It's Ever Been With These Portable Grills They can finally get hot enough to sear a steak! By Donna Currie Donna Currie Donna Currie has been in love with cooking and gadgets since she was a child and has written for food publications for over a decade. Her reviews have been published at Serious Eats, The Washington Post, The Spruce Eats, and more. She has also published a cookbook: "Make Ahead Bread." Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on May 22, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews My Takeaway How to Pick Common Questions Why Take Our Word For It Photo: Allrecipes / Alli Waataja Maybe you don’t have much outdoor space, or simply like to grill while camping or during pregame tailgates, but those are all situations where portable grills really shine. They can be set up for grilling, then tucked away when not in use, and the flavor is going to be more summery than cooking indoors on a grill pan. Of course, portability is sometimes in the eye (and arm muscles) of the beholder. The smallest and most compact grills are the most portable and can be loaded into the car or even rolled or carried into a rugged campsite.Whether you’re looking for something you can move onto the apartment balcony, or you just need to save space for the kid’s roughhousing in a tiny backyard, it’s a sure bet one of these grills will be the perfect choice. Our Top Picks My Top Pick: SALE Weber Lumin Electric Grill at Amazon $352 $299 Jump to Review Best Gas: SALE Monument Grills Clearview Portable 2-Burner Propane Gas Grill at Amazon $219 $152 Jump to Review Best Charcoal: SALE Cuisinart 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill at Amazon $30 $25 Jump to Review Best Budget: SALE Char-Broil Portable Gas Grill at Amazon $50 $40 Jump to Review Best for Camping: Coleman Propane Grill at Amazon $320 Jump to Review Best Splurge: Weber Q 2800N+ Liquid Propane Grill at Amazon $399 Jump to Review Most Compact: Fire Sense 60508 Notebook BBQ Grill at Amazon Jump to Review My Top Pick Weber Lumin Electric Grill PHOTO: Weber $352 $299 at Amazon $30 at Walmart $449 at Wayfair Why It’s Great: No need for charcoal or gas supplies; heats to 600°F; attractive colors Grain of Salt: Expensive; not the lightest grill The Lumin is an impressive electric grill that easily gives gas grills a run for their money. When I first got it, I wondered why it couldn’t be used indoors, since there’s no burning gas or fire to contend with. Once I used it, I understood. Because of its impressive heat output, the smoke generated wouldn’t play well indoors, even by an open window or exhaust fan. This comes with a tray that can be used for smoking or steaming, making it even more versatile, and a stand is sold separately. I liked the smoking option a lot, although it’s not quite the same as a super-long smoke in a dedicated smoker. But, hey, it added nice flavor to my ribs, chops, and brats. This grill comes in different colors if you want to add some pizzazz to the deck or patio. This isn’t the lightest portable grill, but it can be carried where it needs to go. All it really needs is a stable outdoor table by an electric outlet, and it'll be ready to cook your food. This makes it great for a backyard, deck, balcony, or RV travel. Cleanup is easy, too. There’s a front grease tray to get rid of drippings, and since it heats to 600°F, most food debris on the grill burns off. The Details: 23.55 x 19.45 x 12.52 inches; 242 square inches cooking space; 36.5 pounds Best Gas Monument Grills Clearview Portable 2-Burner Propane Gas Grill PHOTO: Amazon $219 $152 at Amazon $189 at Home Depot $189 at Lowe's Why It’s Great: Powerful 15,000 BTUs; two decent-sized burners; window in lid to monitor cookingGrain of Salt: Needs adapter for smaller tank When it comes to grilling, heat output is a primary consideration; it’s hard to beat the 15,000 BTUs of cooking power this grill's two burners produce! I also love the compact, suitcase-style case with a large handle on the lid, and two knobs to control the burners.What’s particularly impressive is the glass in the lid that lets the cook peek at the food without letting heat out. Great for checking the doneness of chicken wings or making sure the cheese on the burgers is melted just enough. At 200 square inches of cooking space, there’s plenty of room for burgers for the family. This is made to connect to a 20-pound gas tank for plenty of cooking time. An adapter is available to connect it to a 1-pound tank for easier portability. The Details: 18.8 x 18.1 x 13.5 inches; 200 square inches cooking space; 23.8 pounds Best Charcoal Cuisinart 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill $30 $25 at Amazon $33 at Wayfair View on Perigold.com Why It’s Great: Weighs less than five pounds; familiar to use; lid latches closed for transportGrain of Salt: Best with a table to cook on Cuisinart may have started by making whirly-choppy machines, but now it has a wide range of products, like this cute little charcoal grill. The dome shape is familiar—some might even say comforting—while the size means it can fit on a table. This is lightweight enough for easy transport, and the lid locks on to help keep charcoal and ash from getting all over the trunk on the way home from a picnic. Anyone who has worked with a charcoal kettle grill before will know how this one works—it’s just in a mini size so you don’t need a lot of tips or hacks to get those hot dogs grilled. It's great for travel, and can also be used in the backyard without taking up excess space. Meanwhile, it’s hard to beat the price. It’s available in red or black in the 14-inch size, and it’s also available in a slightly larger 16-inch size in black. The Details: 14.5 x 14.5 x 15.2 inches; 150 square inches cooking space; 4.2 pounds I've Tested Grills for Over a Decade—These Are the Best Charcoal Grills Best Budget Char-Broil Portable Gas Grill PHOTO: Amazon $50 $40 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $49 at Wayfair Why It’s Great: Very lightweight for transport; powerful enough for searing; easy cleaningGrain of Salt: Only one burner; might be too light on windy days Char-Broil makes plenty of higher-end grills, but this little propane model does the job without breaking the bank. It’s small enough to carry easily and runs off a small camping-size propane tank. It’s got legs that fold for more compact storage, while they keep surfaces safe from cooking heat when it’s in use. The 190-square-inch cooking space can handle up to eight burgers, or enough to feed a family their entree. This grill's single burner provides 11,000 BTUs of cooking power, enough to sear a steak with ease. It also heats quickly with the lid keeping the heat in for longer cooks. The porcelain-covered grates are easy to clean when cooking is done. The Details: 24 x 12 x 15 inches; 190 square inches cooking space; 1 pound Best for Camping Coleman Propane Grill PHOTO: Amazon $320 at Amazon $320 $296 at Target $22 at Walmart Why It’s Great: Three burners; push-button ignition; great size for a portable; wheeled cartGrain of Salt: Relatively heavy Lightweight grills are great for carrying across the yard. But this comes with a wheeled cart so it can be easily moved across the yard, across the neighborhood, or across a camping site. When set up, it’s at a comfortable height for cooking, while the side tables offer that oh-so-important space to hold barbecue tools and sauces. This has three burners, and push-button ignition, just like larger non-portable grills, so it’s easy to use and provides up to 20,000 BTUs of cooking power to sear steaks, char brats, and cook all the burgers you need for the family on the 285 square inches of cooking space. Speaking of space, the legs fold up when it’s time to toss it into the trunk for further travel. The Details: 45.6 x 19.5 x 35 inches; 285 square inches cooking space; 46.7 pounds Best Splurge Weber Q 2800N+ Liquid Propane Grill PHOTO: Weber $399 at Amazon $24 at Walmart $399 at Home Depot Why It’s Great: Plus burner for extra searing power; can do low and slow cooking; available with or without a standGrain of Salt: Expensive; is on the heavier side The Weber Q 2800N+ is the high end of the Weber Q propane grills with the impressive ability to reach up to 700°F, and sturdy enameled cast-iron grates for ideal grill marks. It has an updated look, but still has the two wing-like side tables that can hold tools and condiments. Those tables are detachable and can be stored inside the grill for more compact storage when grilling season is over. A new feature, and one that I find most alluring, is the Plus (+) burner that can be used along with the main burner for extra heat when searing meat, or it can be used alone for low-and-slow cooking, down to 250°F. I’ve used a similar grill without this feature, but I like these new abilities so much better. For even more versatility, there’s an available rolling stand, and a griddle-grate is sold separately. The Details: 19.7 x 30 x 16.7 inches; 320 square inches cooking space; 31.6 pounds The Best Grilling Accessories To Put You at the Top of Your Open-Flame Game Most Compact Fire Sense 60508 Notebook BBQ Grill View on Amazon $29 at Walmart $25 at Home Depot Why It’s Great: Folds to very small size; large cooking surface for its size; simple cleaningGrain of Salt: You’ll definitely need gloves to handle it It’s hard to beat this one when it comes to compact grills. It folds instantly to one inch flat and weighs only eight pounds so it’s easy to carry on a hike or to a different spot in the backyard. Even the grates fold so they’re more compact. Despite the compact size, it has a reasonable cooking area of 205 square inches. The grill itself is made from high-heat-resistant painted steel and has plated cooking grates. For new cooks who need supplies, or for gifting, this is also available in a bundle with either charcoal or a chimney starter. While you’re at it, a pair of grilling gloves is a good idea, since this will be hot to handle. The Details: 18 x 13 x 13 inches; 205 square inches cooking space; 8 pounds My Takeaway If you have an outlet for your portable grill, I highly recommend the Weber Lumin Outdoor Electric Barbecue Grill. I understand wanting more “traditional” outdoor grilling though. In that case, I love the Monument Grills Clearview Tabletop Propane Gas Grill and the Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill. How to Pick the Right Portable Grill Portability Lighter and more compact grills are obviously more portable. For easier moving, look for grills with handles or identifiable grips. It also helps if the grill is easy to disassemble (and reassemble). Then, you'll only have to worry about the weight of the parts (and can play Tetris in your trunk). I turned to Jay Ducote, a chef, speaker, and pitmaster, for expert advice on portable girls. He says that, when it comes to portability, grills that have true wheels are definitely the better option. “Casters are fine for rolling around a paved patio, but otherwise it is nice to have a wheelbase that can take a curb,” Ducote says. Cooking Space Since Ducote comes from a world of competition and commercial cooking, he’s used to working with very large grills. He says that smaller grills, under 26 inches in diameter or side length are “good for personal use, cooking for a couple, or for a very small family. There usually isn't room for multiple slabs of meat or excess side items.” You should be able to cook enough food on your portable grills, just not enough for a full backyard party. Smaller grills are also more difficult to set up for indirect cooking. Features Grills come in all shapes and forms, so a standard is tricky. Generally speaking, though, “get one with a lid so you can create some convection cooking,” says Ducote, and with enough surface area to grill enough food. For that surface, look for grills where you can switch out the grates to a griddle or smoker tray. On gas grills, I like easy one-button ignitions and easy tank connections. Ash traps on charcoal grills tend to help with the cleanup. Common Questions Can you use a portable grill indoors? “I would never use a gas or charcoal grill indoors,” says Ducote. I, and the Allrecipes team, concur with this. Beyond the issue of smoke and getting rid of it properly, there are multiple safety issues. When cooking with charcoal or gas, you create carbon monoxide which can easily build up to dangerous levels indoors. Gas has the additional concern of a possible propane leak, which you won’t realize until it’s too late. Grills can also be hotter than your stovetop and create a fire risk. What are BTUs and how many do you need? BTUs stands for British Thermal Units. It is a measure of heat output of a burner. Jay suggests that “most gas grills should give an output of 75 and 100 BTUs per square inch of heating surface.” So it’s not the total BTUs, but the amount of BTUs for the cooking space. How do you clean a portable grill? There can be a lot to this, but ultimately make sure the grill grate is brushed and the gas lines are free of debris. Also, any grease or food residue in the bottom of the grill should be removed. At least once a season (but preferably more often), give the grill a good deep clean. This will not only make your grill easier to use, but it will also prevent safety issues. Why Take Our Word For It? Donna Currie is a cookbook author and cooking gadget fiend. She's written about cooking gear for over a decade, and has been collecting cooking equipment for much, much longer. To help sort through the technical aspects of grilling, she interviewed Jay Ducote. He’s a chef, pitmaster, and a Food Network personality who won on “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Superchef Grudge Match,” and has appeared on other shows as well. From Smoking Chicken Wings To Grilling Steaks—the Best Kamado Grills Do It All