Top 5 Best Camping Grills for Cooking Outdoors

Looking for the best camping grill before your next cookout? Believe it or not, but a portable grill—like a PK Grill—does not necessarily mean a simplified version of a grill, and many can still even serve as combo grills. Many of the best camping grills have wonderful capabilities on par with standard home grill counterparts, making them ideal for anyone looking to have a nice cookout while going on a camping trip!

However, finding the best camping grill isn’t as easy as it sounds. Because there is such a large variety of different products on the market, it can feel intimidating to know just where to start. Below you’ll find camping grill reviews and ratings so you can pick out your favorite.

The 5 Top Camping Grills

If you aren’t a big fan of camping stoves or camping wood stoves, try taking a look at camping grills instead. I’ve spent a lot of time hunting down the best camping grills, and I know I’ve found a winner for every need. Because of this, I highly recommend that you check out the top 5 best camping grills below.

* Ratings are determined using our specialized rating system.

Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill, Red

Out of all of the products I looked into when making this article, none were as impressive as this Cuisinart CGG-180T. As a portable grill, the CGG-180T gets the job done, supplying you with 5,500 BTUs of heat to cook with! On top of this, the design of the product is also quite durable, using stainless-steel and aluminum to give you a solid foundation to cook on.

My personal favorite part of this device is that it so closely resembles the type of grill that I have at home while also being incredibly portable! The entire kit itself breaks down to a convenient briefcase size that only weights 13.5 pounds so you can easily bring it with you to your next destination or support it on any size of grill stand.

Coleman Propane Grill | RoadTrip LXE Portable Gas Grill

The Coleman Propane Grill | RoadTrip LXE Portable Gas Grill is the perfect grill for someone who wants a portable version of the grill they have at home. This grill supplies you with 20,000 BTUs of heat that are spread across 285 square inches of surface for cooking. 

There are also side tables for you to put bbq grilling gloves and tools from your grill tool set, and plates to lay food on when they’re done being cooked. This grill also collapses quite easily when you’re done, making it one of the more convenient models on this list.

Coleman Fold N Go Instastart Grill

The Coleman Fold N Go Instastart Grill is an affordable and reliable grill. This portable grill is no different, giving you 6,000 BTUs and 105 square inches of cooking surface. 

On top of all of this, it’s also incredibly small and durable! This device’s cooking surface is also dishwasher compatible, allowing you to clean it easily. This grill weighs just over 10 pounds, so it’s also easy to carry while camping.

Cajun Classic Round Seasoned Cast Iron Charcoal Hibachi Grill

The Cajun Classic Round Seasoned Cast Iron Charcoal Hibachi Grill is for campers who want to cook food that is truly flavorful will appreciate this charcoal hibachi-style grill. It comes with a draft door that regulates heat and also allows you to adjust the height so you can cook exactly the way you want to. 

Because this grill is made from cast iron, it’s definitely heavy. If you’re determined to get a grill like this, be prepared to carry 42 pounds. Something that I love about this product is that it is seasoned with vegetable oil, preventing you from getting chemical tastes on other products.

George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill

The George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill is a portable grill that is ready to go right out of the box. I especially love how delicious burgers taste when I cook them on this grill! This grill also has the cooking space to make it a good choice for small camping parties. 

In the event that something happens to the grill, you can also order replacement grates separately! The only downside to this product is that it doesn’t come with a carrying case. The handle is convenient, but not easy to bring with you while hiking, so this grill is best for the RV.

If you’re interested in other grills like this one, check out our review on the best electric grills for camping and our George Foreman grills review.

Important Camping Grill Features to Consider

The first thing you should pay attention to while shopping for a portable camping grill is the size of the grill itself. Depending on what you want to cook, cheaper models of grills might not have enough room to accommodate your food. However, if you’re just somebody who needs to cook a small meal for two, then a small charcoal grill with a bag of quality charcoal for grilling may be right for you. However, if you love party cooking, a raclette grill or an efficient Kamado Joe kamado grill may hold great appeal.

Another essential aspect of grill hunting is to make sure that the grill you’re purchasing has enough flexibility for your cooking habits. For example, if you’re somebody who likes to get a smoky taste on your food, then perhaps you should invest in an offset smoker, smoker grill, or pellet grill that cooks using wood chips, rather than an infrared grill. If you don’t, other types of grills can put forth different flavors for food as well, like kettle grills and natural gas grills.

Don’t forget to buy a camping cooking utensil set for your new portable camping grill or tailgate grill, too! Some grills may come with a set of tongs or a fork, but you need to be prepared to cook, and that requires a full arsenal of utensils.

What are the Advantages of Camping Grills?

Having a portable camping grill can make camping a lot easier. Because you don’t have to worry about an unpredictable campfire, they’re safer to use, and you can control how hot the grill is. You can even use a boat grill while you’re out on the water! Camping grills are made to be portable, so it’s easy to clean them with your grill brush or take one with you on your next trip, but they still have all the great features that we love in our standard sized grills at home.

Precautions to Take When Using a Camping Grill

Camping grills are wonderful, but they can also be hazardous if you’re not careful enough. Because portable camping grills can light fires in the forest, you need to familiarize yourself with the specific product you’re using and its manual to ensure that you’re using the grill in an appropriate manner. As long as you read the manual and treat the device with the utmost care, though, you should not run into any problems.

Another thing to keep track of is where exactly you’re using your camping grill. For example, many camping areas will have explicitly labeled spots to use grills, while others might be more vague. Using a portable camping grill or a compact two burner grill in a place where you normally wouldn’t might not just be unsafe, but it could also be against the law. In order to ensure that you’re not going against camp regulations, familiarize yourself with the area and laws before you go on your trip.

Something that many people forget while camping is how much trash they are leaving behind. It can be easy to have a cookout and mistakenly leave things around the grill, so be sure to be extra careful about not leaving trash near the grilling site. Not only will you help protect the environment, but you’ll also lower the chances of any type of accident occurring!

Last, make sure you’re taking care of your camping grill. Use a grill cover and other protective gear to prolong the life of your grill.

Conclusion

If you’re somebody who wants to go camping without sacrificing your ability to cook wonderful meals on a nightly basis, you definitely want to invest in a camping grill. Though there is a wide variety of different products available on the market, it’s very likely that you’ll find something that suits your specific needs.

If you want an all-around good product, you can’t go wrong with the Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill. It’s a moderately-priced product, and it’s also the closest thing to a portable version of a standard grill. Not only is it capable of cooking meat incredibly thoroughly, but the design also follows the design of a normal grill so you don’t have to change your technique when cooking in the woods.

At the end of the day, the best camping grill for you will depend on your personal preference, whether you choose a Traeger or a Pit Boss grill. All products on the market have their own positive and negative aspects for grilling food outdoors, so you’ll eventually have to decide which one you prefer. However, I hope that my guide has been informative so you can make the right decision when the time comes!

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