For grilling, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Consider the following: Whether you live in an apartment or simply don’t grill that frequently, there are lots of reasons you may choose a grill that’s on the smaller side, and the good news is that you can find one that works just as well as its full-size counterparts.
As you browse for a small grill, you’ll want to consider about whether you want a tabletop or freestanding device, the sort of grill you like, and whether you want it to be portable. Also, consider how much cooking area the grill has to provide, since this may have an influence on your capacity to feed a large group.
As a result, the following are the finest little grills for huge taste.
1. Best Overall: Weber Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill
Weber has been a popular brand of barbecues for years, with good reason. They’re well-made, dependable, and look beautiful on the deck or in the backyard. This Spirit-series grill boasts two burners, Weber’s unique “flavorizer” bars that evaporate food drippings to generate fragrant smoke, and a total of 450 square inches of cooking surface. The open cart makes it simple to hide supplies underneath the grill, while six tool hooks keep grill brushes, tongs, and spatulas handily at reach.
This gas barbecue includes two huge wheels that make it easy to adjust when required and two solid legs that protect it from accidently moving during usage. When room is at a premium, the left side table folds down and then flips back up simply when you need space for condiments and dishes.
What We Like:
- The things that we enjoy
- Flavorizer bars create smokey flavor
- Side tables that fold up
- Heavy-duty tires
What We Don’t Like:
- Propane tank scale isn’t always correct
- Pricey for only two burners
2. Best Portable: Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill
Using an electric barbecue instead of a gas grill offers several advantages. For starters, you won’t have to worry about replacing charcoal or gas tanks or dealing with live flames. If you buy an electric grill like this one, you may use it while on vacation or in any other location where there is an outlet. It’s simply not a good idea to use it inside because of the amount of smoke it creates.
As of this writing, the Weber Q-1400 features 189 square inches of cooking area and a 1,560-watt electric heating element. Since the grates are made of porcelain-enameled cast iron, they’ll produce beautiful char marks on your meats. One of our tasters claimed the meal tasted great but lacked the deep, robust flavor only a charcoal grill can provide after grilling vegetable shish kebabs, hanger steak and marinated chicken breasts in their garden.
This grill has an aluminum cover and body, as well as a glass-reinforced nylon frame, which reduces the grill’s weight and makes it simpler to transport (also making it rust-proof). When you’re done cooking, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up after yourself. Because of the short chord (just 6 feet), you’ll have to keep it near to an outlet if you want to use it.
What We Like:
- It is long-lasting and portable.
- Easy assemblage
- Cast iron griddle pans help keep food warm longer after it has been cooked.
What We Don’t Like:
- The temperature is not shown.
- Preheating over a long period of time
3. Best Pellet Grill: Green Mountain Davy Crockett WiFi Control Portable Wood Pellet Grill
Pellet grills tend to be enormous and pricey, but this budget-friendly version has a smaller footprint, plus it’s Wi-Fi enabled. It includes several desired features that you’d generally find in bigger grills, such a thermal sensor that continually checks grill temperature, as well as a digital controller with Wi-Fi that can link to an app on your iOS or Android phone.
This pellet grill is also portable, so whether you want to store it or take it on the road, the legs fold up and act as handles. Since it’s made for travel, you can plug the grill into a conventional electric outlet, but it also comes with adapters for different power options—you even may operate it on 12V on the road. As far as storage, the peaked top enables you to cook taller meals with the cover in place, and a wire side rack with tool hooks offers you room for sauces and utensils.
Our tester stated this grill produced out wonderful burgers, brats, and more, but that it sometimes suffered with pellets not feeding correctly. It depends on gravity to feed the pellets down into the auger, and at times, the pellets didn’t drop in—especially when low. One approach is to always maintain the 8-pound hopper filled and continually check it to make sure everything is operating as planned. The problem also diminishes the advantage of the Wi-Fi/app functionality since being able to operate the smoker from anywhere doesn’t assist if the pellets aren’t feeding into it.
What We Like:
- Compact and light in weight
- A solid construction.
- Portable sources of energy.
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like:
- Temperature interface learning curve
- Some peculiarities of design
4. Best Propane Grill: Char-Broil Performance Series Black and Stainless Steel 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill
It’s great for warming meals, warming buns, or gently slow-cooking food with its 100-square-inch swing-away rack on top of the main cooking grate and 300-square-inch cooking surface on the main burner. When not in use, the grill’s two fold-down aluminum side shelves provide plenty of storage room for dishes, sauces, and condiments. As an added bonus, even additional tools and supplies may be concealed behind the locked cabinet.
In addition to the four casters, this grill contains two locking casters so it won’t roll away if it is hit. With a temperature sensor built into the lid, it’s easy to keep tabs on your food’s interior temperature.
What We Like:
- It has a large cooking surface and a warming rack
- Folding shelves for the side
- Caster wheels that can be locked.
- Enclosed space for storing goods.
What We Don’t Like:
- Problems starting the car
- Smaller barbecues don’t heat up as quickly.
5. Best Kamado: Char-Griller E06614 Charcoal Grill
You may not think of a kamado when you think of tiny grills, but this one is portable enough that you can take it to a tailgate party or the neighbor’s yard to cook. With a 14-inch grate and 155 square inches of cooking space, it’s similar to a full-size kamado grill in many ways.
Because it is made of 22-gauge steel and has porcelain-coated inside and powder-coated exterior surfaces, this Char-Griller model is both durable and lightweight, making it ideal for on-the-go cooking. The grill includes a top and bottom air damper for temperature control, as well as an ash tray that is simple to remove after cooking is finished. You can easily carry it from place to place with the help of the side handles and legs, and its dimensions of 26 inches high and 20 broad allow for convenient storage when it’s not in use.
What We Like:
- Excellent capacity for retaining heat
- Smoking is permitted with this product.
- Portable
What We Don’t Like:
- A modestly sized kitchen
- Not every thermometer is reliable.
6. Best Indoor/Outdoor: George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill
This unique electric pedestal grill from George Foreman, which can be used both inside and outdoors, is best known for its range of countertop contact grills. When the weather is beautiful, you can cook outside, but when it rains, you can use it inside. There are five temperature settings, and the grill can be removed from the stand so it may be used on the counter.
Grill markings were good on burgers and sausages, according to our test subjects. Cooking a frozen pizza proved to be unexpectedly successful, with a crisp bottom crust and a perfectly melted cheese covering. The fat and drippings from juicy dishes poured into the drip tray via the grill’s deliberately positioned perforations. The only drawback was that while using high heat, some oil splattered out the sides, making the control dial dirty and necessitating more cleanup on the tabletop.
Despite its diminutive size, the nonstick grates on this stove offer 240 square inches of cooking area. The grill plate can be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher, making cleanup a breeze.
What We Like:
- Large enough to cook for a group of people.
- Cleanup is a breeze with a nonstick grill plate.
- Useful both indoors and outside
What We Don’t Like:
- Grease may splatter on the thermostat.
- The grill might be more easily removed from the base.
7. Best Infrared: Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Kettleman Charcoal Grill
Infrared cooking grates have been added to Char-normal Broil’s charcoal grill design, allowing it to heat evenly and provide more heat with less fuel. Porcelain-enameled steel grates prevent corrosion, and a big vent on the top makes it easy to control the temperature while you’re preparing food. The charcoal grate may be moved closer or farther away from the heat source, giving you even more control over the cooking process.
The lid of this infrared grill is linked to the grill with a hinge, so there’s no need to seek for a place to put it down after you’re done cooking. With a simple temperature indicator, it’s easy to keep an eye on the interior temperature of the grill while it’s in use. The ash basin glides in and out of the grill with ease, making cleaning a breeze.
What We Like:
- Griddle with a movable charcoal bed
- Latch-type lid
- Dishwasher safe
What We Don’t Like:
- There aren’t any side tables.
- It’s a pain to lug about.
8. Best Budget: Weber Original Kettle 18-Inch Charcoal Grill
A backyard mainstay for decades, the Weber Original Kettle Grill is a grilling legend. Designed for heat retention and circulation, it is straightforward to use because to its plain form and lack of frills. Drop some more charcoal into the grates located below the handles, and adjust the heat accordingly. When it’s time to add or remove food from the grill, you don’t have to find a spot to put the lid down since it may be hung on the side of the grill instead.
When the grilling season is over, this Weber grill can be rolled into storage and rolled back out again with ease thanks to its two wheels and one-touch cleaning system, which removes the ash from the kettle and deposits it in a catch basin. It does the job, however a strong wind may blow the ash into the grill and ruin the ash collector.
What We Like:
- The design is simple and easy to use
- System for one-touch cleaning
- The grill’s lid rests on the side.
What We Don’t Like:
- The handle of the lid might become quite hot.
9. Best for Camping: Texsport Heavy Duty Over Fire Camp Grill
The legs of this barbecue fold under so that it may be conveniently transported when camping. There’s no need to carry along charcoal, propane, or other fuels, and no need to keep an eye on a separate fire for cooking thanks to the simple design.
As well as using it for direct cooking, this grill may also be used to hold hot pans and panini presses. If you don’t want to cook on it, you can use it as a little table to keep your camping gear off the ground while it’s not in use.
What We Like:
- Construction of the highest caliber
- For simple transportation, it folds up.
- Variations in size
What We Don’t Like:
- Distort the grate
- Some of the legs may be taller.
- Removing paint with a blowtorch
Buying Guides To Choose For in a Small Grill
Space for Cooking
This is a concern for just about every grill, but it’s arguably more crucial with tiny grills. When you’re preparing dinner for the family, can you fit everyone’s burger on the grill at the same time, or will you be cooking in turns as you’re attempting to keep everyone’s meal warm enough to eat? The most important thing is to get enough grill but not too much.
Portability
While all of these tiny grills are somewhat portable, some are meant to be hauled out of storage when you need them, while others are made to have a permanent position in your outside area. Your lifestyle and space will let you know which grill is perfect for you.
Type of Fuel
Some individuals think that charcoal delivers the finest taste, while others like the ease of propane. Meanwhile, there are those who can’t have a live-fire barbecue on their balcony or deck, therefore electric grills are the ideal solution. Each form of fuel has its perks and downsides, but no matter which you select, you’ll be enjoying outdoor cooking on any of them.
FAQs
For a small grill, how much charcoal is required to get the job done?
There are two techniques to determine how much charcoal you need for a small barbecue. If your grill has a chimney, you’ll want to fill it approximately one quarter full for lighter meals that cook fast, such as fish, and 50 to 75 percent full for heavier and thicker meats, like steaks. If it doesn’t have a chimney, a reasonable rule of thumb is roughly thirty briquettes. This is a fraction of what you’d require for a bigger, standard-sized barbecue.
Using a little grill, what kinds of foods can you prepare?
Even though tiny grills are best used for smaller items, they may be used to cook a wide variety of foods. Everything from hamburgers to chicken pieces and veggies to sausages and fruit may be served on mini-pizza plates or cedar planks of seafood. Try not to grill more than four people at a time, or to cook huge amounts of meat at a time. Grilling in an indirect manner is feasible, although it may be difficult to do so.
How can you get the most out of a tiny grill area?
Grill tongs that are long enough so that you can easily move your food around are a must before you start preparing your cuisine. Sausages and hot dogs that have already been cooked, such as those that have been seared, may be put on top of one another to finish cooking. Once your first batch of food is done, you can rapidly prepare a second batch by purchasing an extra grill grate.
How do you keep a little grill alight?
Even if your grill isn’t enormous, you may follow the same procedures to keep it burning. When grilling, always use dry charcoal, stack it as high as possible within the grill’s available area, and keep adding new coals until the old ones have burned out completely. The capacity of charcoal to keep lit will be impaired if your grill is covered with old ash from prior uses. The dampers at the bottom and the top of the grill should also be used, and they should be kept open at all times. Maintaining the fire with more oxygen is a viable option.
What is the best way to season a gas grill?
In the same way that you would season a bigger grill, a smaller one may be season as well. To begin, turn off the grill and wash out the inside with a moist cloth to remove any manufacturing residue. When the grill has been cleaned and sprayed with cooking spray or shortening, it’s time to coat the inside. Close the top, but leave the vents open when you add the charcoal and fire it. The charcoal should be allowed to burn out for at least an hour, with more charcoal being fed as necessary. The seasoning coating should be deeper in color after it has cooled to room temperature.
Is a smaller grill preferable if you eat out a lot?
If you want to prepare a lot of food on a grill, you may find that a smaller grill is more convenient. When using a gas or charcoal grill, you’ll consume less fuel since you’ll be heating a smaller area. Also, since grills must be cleaned after each use, a smaller grill will save you time in the long run by reducing the amount of surface area to clean. If you’re just cooking for yourself or a partner, a small grill is a preferable option for regular dinners. When cooking for a big group, a small grill will be inadequate, no matter how often you use it.
