There’s no greater pleasure than standing behind a hot and smoky grill on a warm summer evening, putting the finishing touches on a juicy steak or chicken breast.
With the smoke billowing up towards the heavens as another sets, you almost forget that you’re standing in a parking lot with hundreds of other people tailgating before the big game. Portable grills have come that far in recent years and have even gotten to the point where we can’t tell the difference (okay, it may take a stretch of the imagination) between your tailgating grill and your old faithful back home.
If you’ve never found yourself in that situation, or you have a subpar small portable grill, check out this list of some of the best options out there. You, and your friends, won’t regret it.
Portable Gas Grills
Whether someone prefers using propane or natural gas, there are plenty of small portable gas grills to choose from. Although gas grills don’t always provide the same flavor and nuance as charcoal and wood-burning grills, But what they lack in that regard, gas grills, especially the portable kind, really make grilling a whole lot easier.
Char-Broil Grill2Go X200
Starting things off there is the Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 portable liquid propane gas grill whose features include a cast aluminum firebox and lid with dual stainless steel latches and temp gauge, a high-impact frame with legs and handles, and a no-flare cooking system on its 200 square-inch stainless steel grilling grate.
This grill comes in at a price of $112 with free delivery for Amazon Prime customers, and has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars as reviewed by 844 customers and counting.
Something like this would be ideal for the person who likes to bring a portable grill on a camping trip or tailgate once or twice a year. It’s a sure bet and won’t break the bank.
Coleman RoadTrip 285
Next up, there is the Coleman RoadTrip 285 portable stand-up propane grill that’s loaded with features like up to 20,000 BTUs of grilling power, 285 square inches of cooking area, three burners, a removable grease pan, two side tables, an instastart ignition, as well as quite a few others.
This grill can be purchased for $199 in red, blue, green, and orange, and for $229 in black. Of the 128 Amazon reviews, the Coleman RoadTrip has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
With all of its features and mid-range price, this grill could be used as a great traveling option or it would be great on the balcony of an apartment or condo. It’s quite versatile.
Portable Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills are typically going to be cheaper than their gas counterparts, and that’s also true for the portable versions of your trust slow-burning favorite charcoal grill. The following grills are just as versatile as the gas grills, but at a fraction of the cost.
Weber Smokey Joe
Everyone has either purchased, received, or randomly tripped over a portable Weber grill. There’s a good reason for that — they’re cheap, easy to use and clean, and can go pretty anywhere that allows grillin’ and chillin’.
The Weber Smokey Joe isn’t going to boast all of the features that the more expensive grills have, but it can cook up to five burgers at once, is compact and lightweight, has dampers that allow for heat adjustments, and has steel-plated grates that retain heat.
The best part is that the Weber Smoke Joe comes in at the low cost of $35 with free one-day shipping on Amazon Prime. And with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 1,400 customers, there’s no reason not to check it out.
Char-Griller Table Top Charcoal Grill And Side Fire Box
The only thing better than a portable grill is a portable grill that can also be used as a way to supplement the capabilities of a standard grill, and the Char-Griller table top charcoal grill and side fire box does just that.
With features like a removable ash pan, cast iron cooking grates and heavy steel construction, and the aforementioned ability to serve as a fire box, this grill can give its users the best of both worlds. It should be noted, however, that once the portable grill is added to the main grill, it must stay there and can’t go back to its original state.
This grill, at a cost of $66, is ideal for anyone who is looking to purchase a portable grill for a weekend camping trip while also looking for a nice fire box for their Char-Griller setup.
Which To Buy — Gas Or Charcoal?
Gas and charcoal both have their advantages and disadvantages, so making the decision between one or the other honestly depends on what each person wants from the grill. If they want to be able to get started without a long way, the gas grill then they should go that route; if they want a lot of flavor and aren’t in a rush, then charcoal is the best way to go.
No matter what, make sure to find a grill that meets your individual needs and works best for you.
