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Tabletop grills allow you to have a BBQ party anywhere, anytime. The best models are small, lightweight, and enable you to enjoy a perfectly seared hamburger or hot dog whenever you want. If you only want to cook for a few people or have a small space for grilling, then a tabletop grill is exactly what you need!
However, with so many different charcoal and gas grill brands available today, choosing the right one can be a confusing and time-consuming decision.
To ensure you don’t end up wasting your time or money, this guide includes reviews of some of the best models, the different types available, and things to keep in mind when making your purchase. Let’s get started!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Tabletop Grill
- OUR TOP PICK: Blackstone Table Top Grill
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Char-Broil American Gourmet
- Giantex Propane Tabletop Gas Grill
Comparison of the Best Tabletop Grills
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Why Are Tabletop Grills a Great Go-to?
There’s nothing more frustrating than finding out there’s not enough space in the car for a grill when going camping. Along with ensuring a memorable camping trip, some other advantages of a tabletop grill include:
Portability
Unlike traditional grills, tabletop grills can be easily moved around. Most traditional grills are cumbersome, big, and difficult to move, but portable grills usually weigh less than 30 pounds and can be folded up easily for quick and efficient moving.
Perfect for Individuals or Smaller Groups
Arguably, the biggest problem with traditional grills is that they draw a large amount of unnecessary energy if you’re cooking for only one person. This results in a lot of gas being wasted on the empty part of the grill.
Since portable grills can be easily moved around, they’re smaller in size and have cooking surfaces that are perfect for small groups. They’re also innovatively designed to save fuel, so you don’t have to worry about wasting gas or coals when using them.
Less Expensive
Portable grills have a smaller price tag than larger models. You can easily find a quality portable charcoal or gas grill for less than a hundred dollars that will surely last you a long time.
What Makes a Great Tabletop Grill?
To help you find a model that best suits your needs, here are some things you need to look for before finalizing your purchase:
Folding Legs
If you’re planning on taking your unit tailgating, picnicking, or camping, then it’s better to choose a model with folding legs, as they make packing easier. These extra inches can be a great help, especially if you’re running short on space. Even if the unit doesn’t have folding legs, it’s essential that the legs offer sufficient clearance to keep the grill’s hot exterior away from the surface it’s kept on.
Carrying Handles
Quality models are designed with a handle or handles to make them more convenient and easier to carry. It’s advisable to choose a unit with a top handle in a briefcase or lunchbox style. Also, make sure that the handles are firmly attached. Tiny screws or flimsy welds can lead to serious accidents.
Ease of Use
Some models require matches or a lighter to start the fire. However, quality units are designed with easy lighting or auto igniting to ensure ease of use. It’s also better to choose grills that are manufactured with stain-resistant materials and feature grates and easy access drip trays. These features make the grilling and cleaning process a whole lot easier.
Willy's Top Picks - Best Tabletop Grills
Here are the three best tabletop grills:
Review of the Best Tabletop Grills
To help narrow down your options, the following are detailed reviews of some of the best tabletop grills available in the market today. So, make sure you go through them to find the model that best suits your needs!
Best Overall:
Blackstone Tabletop Grill
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost everyone who purchased this unit loved it and stated that it cooked great. Users liked its lightweight design and said they could easily take it on a camping trip. While customers found clean up to be a snap, some reported that it did not get hot enough.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This model is designed with an electric igniter to ensure a smooth start, while the one-pound propane bottle makes cooking and grilling a truly effortless task. Once you’ve finished cooking, cleaning and winding it up are also incredibly simple. Boasting a natural cleaning process, a simple storage system, and a grease catcher, it ensures you have a fun outdoor experience.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is the perfect grill for every occasion and event. It is ideal for tailgating, hunting, camping, road trips, and even everyday, outdoor use. It can further be used to cook several different items, including pancakes, burgers, bacon, and eggs.
Bottom Line
The perfect option for all kinds of outdoor fun, this unit will serve you everywhere. With its tiny storage space and full cooking capability, it is incredibly portable and suitable for outdoor activities. The natural clean up process and grease catcher further make it extremely easy to use. However, the size of the drip tray could be increased.
Runner-up:
Char-Broil American Gourmet
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The majority of buyers were extremely happy with their purchase and stated that it did everything it claimed to do. Users stated that it was easy to assemble, cooked great, and was incredibly easy to clean. While customers found that it was perfect for RV camping, some reported that the paint started to peel off as soon as the charcoal was lit.
Why it Stands Out to Us
With a barrel-style design, this unit is designed with an ash disposal tray under the cast iron grill grate. However, it truly stands out because of its complex temperature control system. This intricate system regulates the airflow via vents situated on the upper chamber’s side. Moreover, it features a non-foldable four-legged stand, which ensures stability.
Who Will Use This Most
Sturdy and compact, this model is the perfect option for families. It has ample space and can be used to grill around six to eight burgers at the same time. Its portable and compact design further makes it ideal for camping, picnics, and tailgating.
Bottom Line
To put it simply, this unit certainly deserves a place on our list of top picks. The durable tube frame ensures stability, while the side carrying handles make it incredibly easy to transport. While its compact size is perfect for small patios and decks, the cooking space might be limited for some.
Best for the Money:
Giantex Propane Tabletop Gas Grill
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers were very happy with this unit’s quality and performance and said it was easy to set up. They stated that it provided excellent, even heat across the surface and that they could easily attach the hose. However, some customers were disappointed with the lack of fine gas controls, which resulted in extremely high temperatures. Some also reported that the grease ran down the front legs.
Why it Stands Out to Us
With a cooking space of over 266 square inches, this unit allows users to cook for a much larger gathering than other models. It boasts two burners that offer 10,000 BTUs each, enabling you to have different temperatures and heat zones across the unit. These multiple burners further allow you to reach higher heats, cook delicious foods, and get good sears.
Who Will Use This Most
Designed for BBQ-grillers, this model is perfect for camping, boating, tailgating, picnics, or anywhere the road takes you. Its cooking capacity further makes it suitable for medium-sized crowds and dinner parties. All in all, it’s ideal for grill enthusiasts who need the big grill experience when they’re away from home.
Bottom Line
A powerful combination of great design and raw grilling experience, this model is certified by the CSA. It’s big enough for a crowd but boasts features explicitly added for transport and storage. Perfectly straddling the line between full-size and tabletop grilling, it will undoubtedly make grilling a pleasurable experience.
Best Tabletop Electric Grill:
Kitchen Academy
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost everyone who invested in this unit was extremely satisfied with it and recommended it to other people, as well. Users had nothing bad to say about it and loved its rotisserie function. They stated that it was easy to use and everything turned out deliciously juicy.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This model primarily stands out to us because of its outstanding performance. Designed with a fast-heating feature, it ensures that your food is ready in no time. It also boasts an extremely high level of flexibility. Since it does not produce smoke, you can use it anywhere inside your house without fear.
Who Will Use This Most
Since this unit can reach a temperature of 450°F, it’s perfect for searing meat. The aluminum rack further makes it perfect for grilling vegetables and meat, while the rotisserie option can be used to grill chicken.
Bottom line
An upgrade to traditional indoor grills, this unit is designed with state-of-the-art technology. The smokeless infrared technology evenly heats the food, while the smart temperature control allows users to adjust the time and firepower according to the different requirements. However, the cooking space might be insufficient for some.
Best Tabletop Propane Grill:
Weber 51060001 Q1200
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers loved this model and said that it delivered exceptional performance. They stated that it heated up quickly and cooked fast with even heat. One user even said that they were able to grill a rib eye to perfection. However, customers were disappointed that it did not accommodate cooking at higher elevations, while several complained that the regulator did not let enough gas pass through.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The cooking surface is what makes this model stand out from its competition. The high-quality cast iron gates are constructed with a tough porcelain coating, ensuring reliability and longevity. Furthermore, once the unit has preheated properly, it will absorb and evenly distribute heat, resulting in a delicious seared-in flavor.
Who Will Use This Most
Thanks to minimal heat buildup, this unit is perfect for tailgating. If you don’t have enough space for a grill on your condo balcony or are looking for something that’s easy to move from your house to the weekend cabin, then this unit is the one for you! Moreover, it's big enough to grill about 18 regular hotdogs or six large hamburger patties at the same time.
Bottom Line
Truly an excellent grill, this model is a big grill in a compact and much smaller package. Perfect for patio use and RV owners, it requires minimal maintenance and ensures even heat distribution. While it’s easy to use, its design could be improved.
Best Weber Tabletop Grill:
Weber 1141001 Go-Anywhere
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers loved this unit and stated that it was easy to store and travel with. They said the temperature was easy to control, and it cooled down quickly, allowing safe transportation. While users found it easy to disassemble, they did not like the fact that it had to be cleaned out after every use. Some customers were also disappointed with the lack of a flavorizer bar.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This extremely portable unit has all the features of a simple grab-and-go cooking grill. The folding model is designed with plated steel legs that swivel up and secure the lid in place, making it extremely easy to store and transport. When in use, the legs further swivel down and latch together, creating a stable place on which the unit can be placed.
Who Will Use This Most
This model is ideal for campers, road-trippers, beach-goers, and campers who love grilling in the beautiful outdoors. While it’s not suitable for large crowds, it can easily be used to cook an entire meal for two to three people. Moreover, the cooking space is enough to grill six to eight chicken pieces or two medium-sized steaks at once.
Bottom Line
With an incredibly simple design and a beautiful square shape, you can never go wrong with this unit. It seals up nicely and prevents any ash or grease from dripping during transportation. While it’s the perfect grab-and-go cooking grill, the lack of an ash pan might be disappointing for some.
Best Coleman Tabletop Grill:
Coleman NXT Lite
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The majority of the buyers were satisfied with their purchase and said that the unit worked perfectly. They loved its quality finish, lightweight design, large cooking surface, and automatic igniter. Users said that it was easy to set up, but found it difficult to clean. Some customers also reported that it burned too hot, even on its lowest setting.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit’s versatility is what truly makes it stand out from the crowd. Along with a standard grilling surface, it comes with optional plates that can be used to turn the grill into stove grates or griddles. This gives users the ability to take only a single item on their trip, and use it as a griddle, a regular stove, or a traditional grill by only switching out the plates.
Who Will Use This Most
Perfect for picnicking, camping, and tailgating, this model gives you enough cooking power to cook vegetables or meat. Its large cooking area provides enough space to feed the entire family. All in all, it’s ideal for campers who want to grill burgers and hot dogs or even cook up a few pancakes at the same time.
Bottom Line
Coleman has always designed high-quality outdoor equipment, and this model is no different. Compact and incredibly easy to travel with, it’s the perfect choice for tailgating and camping. Although it offers unparalleled versatility, the cooking space might not be large enough for some.
Types of Tabletop Grills
You can easily get lost in the wide range of shiny, new grills available today, and while most of them look similar, there’s a huge difference in their quality and prices. Before purchasing a tabletop grill, it’s essential that you understand the different types. These include:
Gas Grills
The most popular type of tabletop grill, gas grills can run on both bottled propane and natural gas from the utility provider. They allow users to quickly start the fire and cook a meal without worrying about the cleanup and preparation of charcoal. However, they only add a slight hint of smoke flavor compared to genuine charcoal smokers or grills.
Charcoal Grills
These units use charcoal briquettes for firepower and fuel. While using charcoal grills is a bit more expensive and time-consuming than gas grills, some people prefer the smoky flavor that charcoal adds.
Electric Grills
Powered by electricity, these models cook meat with heated grill plates and do not require any fire. They are ideal for people living in the city who are prohibited from using charcoal or gas grills because of fire regulations. However, the smoky flavor is almost completely lost when using electric grills.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best tabletop grill, portability is the most crucial factor to consider, especially for regular campers. If you want a unit that’s simple and easy to move, then we recommend the Blackstone Tabletop Grill. Along with having exceptional features, it’s easily portable, which is what really matters in the long run.
However, your choice should ultimately depend on your budget and personal preferences. Hopefully, the aforementioned products and information will help make your decision easier.
