The Coleman 225 Portable Tabletop Propane Grill is an excellent option for a tabletop grill that is ideal for camping, tailgating, and other outdoor activities. Our most economical option is the Cuisinart CCG190 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill, which is lightweight and robust.
Before you pack for your next vacation to the great outdoors, make sure you have a portable grill that can withstand the weather and help you prepare a wonderful, camping-friendly dinner. You want a lightweight, space-efficient, and easily transportable grill to carry along for simple cooking whether you’re car or RV camping, tailgating, or trekking.
The grill’s fuel type, size, and mobility will all help you decide which model is best for you and your lifestyle. Keep in mind that camping grills are not the same as camping stoves. Camping stoves use propane burners, while camping grills use an open fire to cook.
1. Best Overall: Coleman 225 Portable Tabletop Propane Grill
What We Enjoy
- It has grates, a griddle, and stove grates.
- Simple to transport
- Large cooking area
What We Dislike
- Expensive
Who else endorses it? The Coleman Portable Propane Grill was also chosen by BestReviews.
What do purchasers think? This product received four stars or higher from 88% of the 700+ Amazon reviewers.
This portable tabletop grill is ready to use straight out of the box and requires no assembly. The simple knob ignition provides for a rapid flame and temperature adjustment (there are two heat zones). If you want to switch up your surfaces depending on what you’re cooking, the grill comes with cast iron grates, a griddle, and stove grates. With 225 square inches of cooking surface, you can prepare a full supper for four or more people.
The grease management technology also makes it very safe and simple to clean. Reviewers like how simple it is to maintain and clean, as well as the long-lasting cast-iron grates.
2. Best Propane: Weber Q 1200 Portable Gas Grill
What We Enjoy
- There is no assembly needed.
- Grates made of porcelain-enameled cast iron are long-lasting.
- Side tables that fold
What We Dislike
- Expensive
With a variety of color possibilities, this grill not only looks fantastic, but it can also produce some truly tasty cuisine on the move. For a long life, the cooking grates are constructed of porcelain-enameled cast iron, while the cover and body are made of cast aluminum. There’s no need to worry about constructing the grill since it arrives already constructed.
It also has a built-in lid thermometer, foldable side tables, a glass-reinforced nylon frame, and a retractable drip pan for simple, uncomplicated cleaning. With 189 square inches of cooking area, this is an excellent middle-of-the-road size for camping outings. This grill is designed for tabletop usage and is ideal for camping, picnics, and tailgating. Keep in mind that at roughly 30 pounds, it’s not the lightest portable barbecue you’ll find—you won’t want to take it too far.
3. Best Compact: Cuisinart CGG-180T Petite Gourmet Tabletop Gas Grill
What We Enjoy
- Large kitchen area
- Grates made of porcelain-coated steel
- Initiator that turns
What We Dislike
- Tray for small drips
The Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill is a tiny grill that is simple to operate. For convenient portability, the lightweight grill has a big handle and a locking lid. Despite its modest size, it features a 145-square-inch cooking space that can accommodate 8 hamburgers.
Extend the legs before using to make it stable on a picnic table and connect the gas tank. This grill comes with a turn-style igniter and a tiny 1-pound propane tank that can last for many cooking sessions, while a connector to connect the grill to a bigger tank is available for purchase. Unlike other tiny grills, the grill’s 5500-BTU heat is distributed evenly, and the lid may be closed while cooking. The nonstick porcelain-coated steel grates are simple to clean and cool rapidly. The grill has a drip pan, but it may fill up rapidly, making cleanup more difficult.
4. Best Budget: Cuisinart CCG-190 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill
What We Enjoy
- Lightweight and portable
- Dual vents for temperature regulation
- The lid features three locks for security.
What We Dislike
- It takes some time to heat up.
- There isn’t a lot of cooking space.
This ultra-lightweight charcoal grill is an excellent choice for someone who does not want to spend a lot of money on a camping barbecue. This grill is very lightweight, weighing just 2 pounds, making it an excellent choice for travel. With 150 square inches of cooking surface, you can still prepare a tasty dinner for two to four people. Because of its short legs, it is simple to pack and fit into small areas. The lid’s two vents let you to cook low and slow or ramp up the heat for searing burgers, steaks, and vegetables.
Charcoal takes longer to ignite than propane, but the food is far more delicious and smokier than what you cook on a propane barbecue. Reviewers mention that this grill is not as sturdy and strong as other models, so if you want a camping grill that will last you for years and years of outdoor cooking, you should invest in something of better quality.
5. The Best Portable Grills When You’re on the Move
What We Enjoy
- Wheeled carts are simple to transport.
- There are two cooking zones.
- It is simple and fast to light.
What We Dislike
- Expensive
With 285 square inches of cooking surface, this portable, stand-up grill is ideal for a large group, and the grill is powerful enough to produce a large amount of deeply charred dishes. Despite weighing just 40 pounds, this grill offers a massive power output. This camping grill is great for RVs, tailgating, or backyard cooking because to its bigger size and heavier weight. Dual burners allow for two-zone grilling, and a 10-second flame-throwing ignition makes starting the grill a breeze. Reviewers like how well the paint on the exterior has held up against the environment and heavy usage, as well as the fact that the grill needs no installation.
6. Best Over Fire: Rome 128 Pioneer Camp Grill
What We Enjoy
- Height may be adjusted
- Steel construction
- Compact and simple to store
What We Dislike
- There is no carrying case.
The Rome 128 Pioneer Camp Cook is a small chrome-plated steel grate that may be used to grill over a campfire. Though most campgrounds include cooking grates, they are not always clean or at the proper height for rapid grilling, so many campers choose to bring their own.
The grate is composed of food-safe alloy steel, allowing you to cook hotdogs and hamburgers directly on it, which is not true of all grates on the market. The height of the grate may be modified depending on where the legs are placed. Spread your legs wider to go closer to the flames, or stand your legs up straighter to gain height. The legs fold up for simple storage as well. This grate is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for hiking, vehicle camping, or RV use. Keep take note that this grating does not include a carrying case.
7. Best for a Group: Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill
What We Enjoy
- Simple to assemble and travel
- Large storage capacity
- There is a built-in side table.
What We Dislike
- Pricey
The Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill is a portable grill with a wide cooking surface, which is necessary for feeding a large gathering. When deflated, the clever design mimics a dolly, allowing for simple travel and setup with only one hand!
A push-button igniter fires the single burner, which produces 13,000 BTUs while utilizing a tiny propane tank effectively. The powerful burner heats the large 320-square-inch cooking surface, which has enough room to grill 15 burgers at once. This barbecue also has a side table for storing condiments or serving ware. The cast-iron porcelain-enameled cooking grates are simple to clean, and the drip guard collects oil. The Traveler is small enough to fit in a vehicle trunk and may be kept upright when not in use.
Final Decision
The Coleman 225 Portable Tabletop Propane Grill is an excellent option for a tabletop grill that is ideal for camping, tailgating, and other outdoor activities. Looking for that delicious smokey taste that comes from cooking over an open fire? No matter how tall your flame is, the Rome 128 Pioneer Camp Grill can grow.
What to Look for When Buying a Camping Grill
Type of Fuel
For camping, it is most popular to use a propane-fueled barbecue, but charcoal grills are also available. Always bring a propane canister or tank if you’re intending to use a gas grill (you’ll need an adapter hose for the tank). If you choose charcoal, you may need to do more hands-on labor to get the flame starting since it isn’t as simple as hitting a button and lighting propane. However, items cooked over charcoal are often tastier, smokier, and more flavourful. If you’re cooking with charcoal or pellets, be sure to bring them with you.
Size
The size of your grill is an important thing to consider. The bigger the grill, the more cooking surface area you’ll have, which is perfect if you usually prepare for four or more people. However, as the grill grows in size, it becomes heavier and thicker. You still want a lightweight, small barbecue that is easily portable and transportable.
Grates
When shopping for a new camping grill, it’s important to know what the grates are composed of. If the grates have a nonstick coating, cleaning will be considerably simpler, which is a huge plus since no one wants to spend their whole day in the great outdoors washing a grill grate. Stainless steel is another alternative that is both strong and easy to clean, as well as rust-resistant. Top-tier portable grills may have porcelain-enameled or cast iron grates, which are as tough as they get and are noted for keeping and dispersing heat evenly.
Portability
If you’re going to be packing up this grill in your vehicle or RV on a regular basis, be sure it matches your storage requirements and is simple to pack and transport. Folding legs, integrated handles, or wheels may make moving a camping barbecue much simpler. The heavier the grill, the more difficult it is to travel, so choose something lightweight if possible.
Features Exclusive to
There are a few more features and design elements that might distinguish camping grills from one another. Grills with drip trays to capture cooking oil and food debris are always preferable since they are simpler to clean. Folding shelves on the sides of the grill may provide additional prep area without taking up too much space when folded down. Some grills, whether tabletop or not, include adjustable legs that enable you to modify the height of the grill, allowing for more convenient and pleasant cooking. Thermometers and built-in ignition are always fantastic design components that provide you complete control over temperature settings and heat maintenance.
FAQs
Is it possible to grill on a camping stove?
Using a camp stove differs from grilling over an open fire using charcoal. Most camp stoves feature circular gas burners, which indicates they are propane-fueled. Although you may cook over this open flame, it is not the same as having a grill grate put over an open flame. Some camping stoves have a grill/griddle option, so if grilling with your camping stove is important to you, be sure the type you select has this capacity.
Is propane the same as camping gas?
Certain gases are labeled differently in various places and by different vendors, which may make distinguishing these goods difficult. Camping gas and propane are both members of the “LPG” gas family. LPG (liquefied petroleum gases) refers to propane, butane, isobutane, or any mixture of the three. When you purchase “propane,” you’re getting just propane, but camping gas might be a combination of the three.
