Its cooking space is circular which gives the grill a bowl shape meaning that you can’t use it to indirectly cook foods, but no biggie. It was ready to cook within just 15–20 minutes and it stays hot for a good while, so I used it to batch cook for an entire party of people. I loved how the lid weber q can be used while you’re cooking or it can sit on the hinge and guard the grill against wind. If you put charcoal in it for a day trip, I am almost positive it would spill out in your car. Cuisinart’s Venture portable gas grill looks like something Apple would make, if Apple got into grills.
These grills for tailgating are easy to use with included stands that allow them to be set up at home, or removed for easy travel. Adjustable temperature dials make it easy to get the food just right, while dome lid gauges help you keep track of the heat. Portable doesn’t necessarily mean small, with some grills featuring 240 square inches of cooking space. Enjoy delicious grilled meats year round or wherever you go with portable BBQ grills from BJ’s Wholesale Club.
There is an add-on cast iron coal bed ($33) that holds charcoal, but I don’t see it as necessary (nice to have perhaps, but not necessary). Of all the charcoal grills I tested, the Weber Jumbo Joe strikes the best balance of affordability, features, and ease of use. Good to know
Though nice and portable, this is heavier than our other two picks. Also, I found it basically impossible to keep its orange interior clean.
Not only is it easy to pack and carry, it excelled at every cooking task I gave it. If you prefer a portable propane grill, Weber’s Traveler combines the quality Weber grills are generally known for with a smart design that is ready to take on the road. In terms of cooking, it performed almost identically to the Traveler. But the Q2200 is a tabletop grill and it is so wide, even with the two side tables folded, that I wouldn’t want to carry it too far.
Though round, the design of the base of this grill is flat so that you can use it to indirectly cook food if you wish. Designed to be used atop your table or on another stable outdoor surface, portable grills take up little to no floor space while in use. They also provide enough cooking space to feed a few people, and you can use them to batch-cook food, too. They’re ideal if you’re not one to use your grill more than 10 times a year, and if you’re searching for something that’s easy to clean, store and maintain all year long. The GoBQ weighs just 8 pounds and offers 185 inches of cooking space, making it a good option for couples on the go or a small family looking for a light meal. In my testing, cooking on the GoBQ was like cooking over a campfire.
All of the portable grills on this list are charcoal, and if you’re wondering how to start a charcoal grill, read our guide for help. In a world where the Nomad didn’t exist, portable bbq the Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler would be the top charcoal choice here. This grill feels like Oklahoma Joe’s just hit one of their full-size grills with a shrink ray.
No matter how you measure it, the Traveler’s 13,000-BTU burner gets plenty hot and really shines when searing. The 320-square-inch grilling surface is big enough to grill for a crowd. It’ll still fit in the trunk of most cars, but it definitely takes up a considerable amount of space.