If you’re looking for a barbecue that you can take with you, a gas grill is an excellent option because of its portability and ease of use. While tailgating, camping, or hanging out at the beach, you don’t need to bring charcoal or worry about locating an electrical outlet if you have a small liquid propane tank with you.
It is important to consider aspects like weight and cooking area when shopping for a portable gas barbecue. Most essential, you’ll have to think about how much power you’ll need to cook with. To avoid running out of gas before it’s time, you’ll need a grill with a higher BTU rating.
Here are some of the greatest gas grills you can carry with you while you’re on the move.
1. Best Overall: Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill
We recommend the Weber Q 2200 as a gas grill you can take with you on all of your outdoor excursions, but it also performs well enough to be used at home. With 280 square inches of cooking surface, porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates, and two folding work tables, this portable grill has everything you need to cook up excellent meals. Our home tester put it to the test by grilling hot dogs, steaks, and vegetables at home and on the road, and he was quite pleased with the results.
Disposable liquid propane cylinders provide the power for the Weber Q 2200. (not included). An integrated lid thermometer, electrical ignition, and an infinitely adjustable burner valve are among the high-end features often reserved for full-size barbecues. With its cast aluminum body and ergonomic side handles, the device may be easily moved between locations.
This gas grill performs well in that it heats up fast, cooks meals uniformly, and is simple to clean up after use. Weighting in at over 43 pounds, it’s not exactly light for a portable choice, but the cast-iron grates that make up the most of that weight can be removed for simple travel. Additionally, our reviewer was impressed by how durable and substantial it felt for a grill that can be carried in a backpack.
What we like:
- Setting it up and using it is a breeze.
- Ample space for preparing meals
- Cast iron grates coated in porcelain enamel are heavy-duty.
- Tables for the living room that roll out into beds
What we don’t like:
- Somewhat cumbersome for a barbecue to be portable.
- Incorrect fit of catch pan
2. Best for Camping: Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Gas Grill With VersaStand
During our tests, this multifunctional gas grill cooked meals evenly and fast, so it’s a must-have if you’re planning a trip to the outdoors. The telescopic legs of the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill allow it to be transformed from a freestanding to a tabletop model in a matter of seconds, making it an excellent choice for outdoor cooking excursions.
However, we were unable to cook more than four 1/4-pound burgers at a time on the 145-square-inch porcelain-enameled cooking grate, which the manufacturer says can cook up to eight hamburgers at once.
Electronic ignition and a temperature indicator are all included into this Cuisinart grill’s 5,500-BTU burner. As soon as you are done cooking on it, you can simply fold up the legs and carry it with its suitcase handle—a it’s touch big, but it still gets the job done. On-the-go cooking is made easier by the fact that the grill is so simple to clean. According to our tester, the porcelain finish is nonstick, so it’s simple to wash it clean once it has cooled for a bit.
What we like:
- A little footprint
- A large patch of ground
- Tabletop to ground usage transitions
- Those are some nice grill marks.
What we don’t like:
- Weirdly unsteady
- There is no way to tell what the temperature is.
- Consistently latching.
3. Best Infrared: Char-Broil Grill2Go Infrared Portable Gas Grill
When it comes to grilling, you shouldn’t have to trade quality for portability, and Char-TRU-Infrared Broil’s Portable Gas Grill is a fantastic example of a high-quality grill that also happens to be portable and economical. To avoid flare-ups and ensure consistently balanced cooking, this grill makes use of TRU-Infrared technology. The unique grate prevents food from coming into contact with the hot embers by distributing heat evenly.
Die-cast aluminum, a stainless steel cooking grate, a push-button ignition start, and a lid-mounted temperature gauge are all included in this grill. When it comes to tailgating or a backyard barbecue, 200 square inches of grilling area is plenty. One-pound propane tanks may be used with it (sold separately).
4. Best Tabletop: PIT BOSS 2-Burner Portable LP Gas Grill
The Pit Boss Portable Gas Barbecue is an excellent alternative if you don’t have enough room for a freestanding grill. This has a 275-square-inch cooking surface and two burners that each provide 20,000 BTUs of heat, which may be independently adjusted (10,000 BTUs each). The grate’s temperature may be monitored with the use of an integrated dome thermometer and an electric ignition.
Because of the grill’s folding legs and locking canopy, it is simple to move about or store when not in use. With a flat scraper, the stainless-steel grates may be scraped clean once the party is over, and the grease tray can be removed and cleaned. It’s important to remember that this is for a 20-pound propane cylinder, which should only be used outdoors. Good quality, simplicity of use, and rapid heat-up make this a top pick in the tabletop gas grill category!
5. Best with Griddle: Camp Chef Expedition 3X 3-Burner Portable Propane Gas Grill
This gas grill from Camp Chef allows you to cook bacon, veggies, eggs, bread, and more right alongside your grilled meat. The high-capacity 30,000 BTU burners and a restaurant-style 16 x 24-inch steel griddle provide flexibility to the three-burner grill.
There are a plethora of appealing features on this lightweight gas barbecue. A three-foot line for connecting to your propane tank is included, making it simple to carry or store. The entire cooking space is 608 square inches, and there includes a three-sided windshield for those stormy days. The griddle allows you cook pancakes, bacon, shrimp, and more while you’re out in the great outdoors. The grill even has utensil hooks and a paper towel holder.
6. Best Design: nomadiQ Portable Propane Gas Grill
“Intuitive design” is how our tester described the NOMADIQ Propane Gas Grill, which was built for mobility. In addition to being lightweight and small, the design has two large grates that fold up when not in use to provide a sleek, compact shape with a built in handle.
The NOMADIQ Grill has two nonstick cooking surfaces with a combined cooking area of 226 square inches, each heated by a stainless steel burner with a BTU output of 9,200 per hour. For a smaller gathering, this means you can just use one burner, or cook the burgers on one side while warming the buns on the other.
There are two drip trays, a regulator, and an adjustable strap included with this grill, which the manufacturer says can be put up in as little as 45 seconds (our tester said she was ready to cook within 3 minutes). With an electrical ignition system and dishwasher-safe grates, it’s a breeze to clean up after a great day at the beach or amusement park.
No matter where we set the hamburgers and chicken, the grill produced an uniform flame and cooked them swiftly and evenly, no matter how tiny the grill was.
What we don’t like:
- Design that’s simple and elegant
- Extra-large charring area
- The ability to regulate two different temperatures
What we don’t like:
- Burners may be a real pain in the neck.
- There is no insurance.
7. Most Versatile: Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill
A tabletop grill or a freestanding one? Grill, griddle, or a combination of the three? With the Coleman Roadtrip 285 Stand-Up Propane Grill, you don’t have to make a choice between the two. Because of its many features and adaptability, this portable grill may be utilized in a broad range of scenarios.
Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates on the Roadtrip Grill’s three independent burners provide 285 square inches of cooking area. With interchangeable cooktops (not included), you can switch out your grill grates for griddles or stove grates, allowing you to make a variety of dishes. When folded, this grill can be easily towed behind you on its wheels thanks to its rapid fold design. It has two sliding side tables and an InstaStart ignition, as well as an in-built thermometer.
8. Best Budget: Weber Go-Anywhere 1-Burner Portable Propane Gas Grill
Weber’s Go-Anywhere Gas Barbecue is an excellent choice for a budget-friendly portable grill. Inexpensive and full of features, this barbecue from a well-known cooking brand is perfect for those on the road. It has a single stainless steel burner with a surface area of 160 square inches and a BTU output of 6,500 per hour.
The porcelain-enameled steel cooking grate, push-button ignition, and glass-reinforced nylon handles all come standard on the Weber Go-Anywhere grill. The plated steel legs of the grill can be swung up to secure the lid in place while being transported, which is a unique feature. The grill’s small size and low price make it an excellent choice for beach, camping, and other outdoor activities.
9. Best Professional: Blaze Outdoor Products Professional 34-Inch 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill
As far as portable grills go, this one from Blaze is a winner. It’s both professional-grade and portable. This portable grill has a 12,000 BTU cast stainless steel H burner, a flame tamer, and the same flame-thrower ignition start as the brand’s built-in barbecues, making it a worthwhile investment. Up to eight burgers may be cooked simultaneously on the 205 square inch grilling surface.
There are two front-facing locks to keep the lid secure, and tubular handles are provided for transport. A 20-pound tank may be used with the provided adaptor to power the grill. In addition, a limited lifetime guarantee is included for your convenience.
Portable Gas Grill Buying Guide
Size
However, despite their little size compared to traditional backyard barbecues, there are a wide variety of portable grills to choose from. You may want to consider a bigger grill if you just need to move it from the garage to the patio, where you’ll be able to cook more food. An ultra-compact and lightweight barbecue can be the best choice for carrying on a camping trip. Look at the grilling surface area to determine how much food you can cook at a time..
Type of Energy Source
In order to operate an electric grill, you must have access to power; they are best suited for home or RV cooking where an outlet is accessible. As long as an open flame is permitted, charcoal or propane grills may be used anywhere you have access to fuel. The gas connection is an important factor to consider when purchasing a portable gas grill, since you’ll need to transport it with you.
Table or Tall
Even while they may be used on the ground if you’re comfortable doing so, some portable grills are designed for tabletop usage. While tall grills allow you to work at a comfortable height, they are heavier and more cumbersome to transport.
FAQs
How can you start a gas barbecue that is on the go?’
To get a portable gas barbecue going, all you need to do is light the flame. Turn on the burner once you have connected the propane (s). A simple touch of a button is all that is required to start a gas barbecue such as the Weber Q 2200. To start the propane burner on a grill without this function, you’ll need extra-long matches or a match holder.
Do you know how to clean a gas grill?
Portable grills should be cleaned like full-size gas grills, therefore use the same procedure. Allow the grill to cool for a few minutes after you’re done cooking before using a grill brush to remove any remaining oil or food debris. Cleaning the grill’s inside may also be necessary, as well as emptying or disposing of the grease tray at the bottom.
Portable gas grills may be used inside
Propane-powered grills should never be used inside. Because of the potential for the grills to emit carbon monoxide, open air is required for effective ventilation. If you plan on cooking inside, you’ll need an electric indoor grill.
Is a gas regulator necessary for a portable grill?
There is no need for a regulator when using a portable gas barbecue with a 1-pound propane tank. If you wish to utilize a portable barbecue with a bigger propane tank, such a 20-pound tank, you’ll need an adapter and regulator. Attachments for portable grills are available from most manufacturers.
