Outdoor cooking covers a lot of ground, from a quick weeknight burger to a weekend of low-and-slow brisket, and the right grill depends on how you cook and who you feed. This roundup gathers grills and outdoor cookers across the main fuel types: propane gas for convenience, charcoal for smoky flavor, a flat top griddle for breakfasts and smash burgers, a gas-and-charcoal combo for flexibility, and a charcoal grill paired with an offset smoker for true barbecue. Every pick below is chosen from current Amazon listings, and the specifications we mention, such as burner count, BTU output, and cooking area in square inches, are claims taken from each manufacturer listing rather than numbers we produced ourselves.
Use the picks as a starting point, then match the fuel type, cooking area, and footprint to your space and your crowd. Always assemble and operate any grill according to its own manual, and only ever cook outdoors with proper ventilation.
How we chose these grills
We focused on outdoor cookers that fit a clear job: a full-size gas grill for everyday backyard use, a propane griddle for a flat top surface, a charcoal grill for flavor, a gas-and-charcoal combo for people who want both, a charcoal-and-offset-smoker for low-and-slow cooking, and a portable propane grill for cooking on the move. For each one we read the current listing and noted the headline claims, then weighed how that fuel and format would serve a typical home cook. We did not fire these up ourselves, so nothing here is a measured result. Burner counts, BTU figures, and square-inch cooking areas are listing claims, and your real-world results depend on fuel, weather, and technique. We also kept the spread honest: one standout per use case rather than six near-identical gas grills.
Our top picks for outdoor cooking
Top Pick: LazySunsets 4-Burner Propane Outdoor Grill
A four-burner propane grill is the default backyard workhorse, and this LazySunsets model leans into that role. The listing describes four main burners plus a side burner, a 49000 BTU output, cast iron grates, stainless steel construction, and side tables for prep space. In practice that layout lets you set up direct and indirect heat zones, searing over one burner while something finishes gently over another. Propane lights fast and gives you dial-in control, which is why gas remains the easiest choice for weeknight cooking. Remember that a grill like this needs a propane tank, bought separately, and that a full cart unit wants real patio or backyard space. If you host often and value convenience, this is the natural all-rounder in the group.
Best Griddle: Royal Gourmet PD4001 4-Burner Propane Gas Griddle
A flat top griddle is a different tool from a grate grill, and it earns its spot for breakfasts, smash burgers, fried rice, and anything that would fall through bars. The Royal Gourmet PD4001 is listed as a four-burner propane griddle on a removable standing cart, so you get independent heat zones across a large steel surface and the option to move or store the cart. Griddles reward a little care: season the steel, keep a scraper handy, and clean the surface after each cook. It still runs on propane, so a tank is required. For anyone whose outdoor cooking leans toward breakfast spreads and teppanyaki-style volume, a dedicated griddle beats trying to balance a pan on a grate.
Best Gas/Charcoal Combo: Grills House ZH3005Y Gas and Charcoal Combo
If you cannot decide between the speed of gas and the flavor of charcoal, a combo unit puts both in one footprint. This Grills House model is listed as a two-burner gas and charcoal grill combo, meaning you can run the gas side for a fast weeknight dinner, the charcoal side when you want smoke, or both at once when the menu calls for it. The trade-off is that you are maintaining two cooking chambers, each smaller than a dedicated grill of the same size, and the charcoal side still needs the usual lighting and ash management. For a household with mixed tastes, the flexibility is the whole point.
Best Charcoal: Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side Table
For cooks who want charcoal flavor and plenty of room, this barrel grill is listed with a 500 square inch cooking area and a side table for prep. The barrel shape holds heat well and gives you space to spread coals for two-zone cooking, searing on one side and cooking through on the other. Charcoal is more hands-on than gas: you light it, wait for it to ash over, manage the vents, and clean out ash afterward. The reward is the smoky character that gas simply cannot match. If flavor is your priority and you do not mind the extra effort, a large charcoal barrel is a satisfying choice.
Best with Smoker: Royal Gourmet CC1830S Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker
Low-and-slow barbecue needs indirect heat and time, and an offset smoker is built for exactly that. The Royal Gourmet CC1830S is listed as a charcoal grill paired with an offset smoker box, so you can grill directly over coals or run the offset firebox to smoke ribs, pork, and brisket at low temperatures. The listing also positions it for outdoor camping, which speaks to a manageable size. Offset smoking has a learning curve, since you are managing fuel, airflow, and temperature over hours, but it is one of the more approachable ways to get into barbecue without a large dedicated rig. Buy it if you want to grill and dabble in smoking from one unit.
Best Value: Charbroil Portable Convective 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Not every cook needs a full cart grill. This Charbroil portable model is listed as a convective one-burner propane gas grill, built to travel to tailgates, campsites, and balconies. A single burner limits capacity and means fewer heat zones, but propane still lights quickly and controls easily, and the compact footprint stores and transports without fuss. It uses a propane cylinder like any gas grill, so plan your fuel. For small-space cooks or anyone who grills away from home, a portable propane grill is the practical, flexible pick in this group.
How to choose a grill for outdoor cooking
Propane vs charcoal vs griddle vs combo. Propane gas grills light in seconds and let you control heat with a dial, which makes them the easiest for weeknight cooking, but they need a tank bought separately. Charcoal grills take more effort to light and tend, and they leave ash to clean, but they deliver the smoky flavor many cooks prefer. A flat top griddle trades grate marks for a solid surface that handles eggs, smash burgers, and stir-fries. A gas-and-charcoal combo tries to give you both fuels in one body, at the cost of two chambers to maintain.
Cooking area and burners for your crowd. Cooking area, usually listed in square inches, and burner count should scale with how many people you feed. A listed figure such as the barrel grill's 500 square inches suits larger groups, while a single-burner portable is sized for one or two. More burners also mean more independent heat zones, which helps when you are cooking several things at once. Treat BTU output as a listing claim about potential heat, not a guarantee of performance, since real heat depends on the grill design, the weather, and how you cook.
Portability vs backyard. Decide whether the grill lives on a patio or travels with you. A four-burner cart grill or a large charcoal barrel is a backyard fixture that wants dedicated space. A portable one-burner propane grill is made to pack up for camping and tailgating. An offset smoker sits in between: it rewards a stable spot where you can tend it over a long cook. Match the format to where and how often you will actually use it.
Assembly and safe outdoor use. Multi-burner grills and combo units ship in pieces and take time to assemble, so follow the manual step by step. Most important, every grill here is an outdoor cooker. Gas and charcoal both produce carbon monoxide, so never use these indoors, in a garage, or under a closed overhang. Set the grill on a level, stable surface, keep it clear of walls and anything flammable, and only ever cook outdoors with proper ventilation.
A note on fuel and safety
Keep the practical realities in mind as you choose. Propane grills and the propane griddle here need a tank, bought separately, so budget for fuel and keep a spare. Charcoal gives you the smoky flavor a lot of cooks chase, but it takes more effort to light, manage, and clean up. Whatever you pick, assemble it according to its manual, follow the safe-use and ventilation guidance, and never use a gas or charcoal grill indoors.
The bottom line
There is no single best grill for everyone, only the best grill for how you cook. The LazySunsets four-burner propane grill is the easiest all-rounder for a busy backyard, the Royal Gourmet griddle owns breakfasts and smash burgers, the barrel grill and the CC1830S deliver charcoal flavor and smoking, the Grills House combo keeps your options open, and the portable Charbroil travels anywhere. Pick the fuel and footprint that fit your space and your crowd, read the listing specs as claims rather than promises, and cook safely outdoors.
