Kick off grilling season with a new gas, charcoal or wood pellet model. (iStock)
If you're planning to fire up the grill this spring and summer, now's the time to upgrade your setup. We rounded up top gas, charcoal and pellet options, from simple setups to advanced combos. With Memorial Day approaching, brands are already rolling out early deals — including a Camp Chef flat-top grill at 40% off, marking one of the best discounts we've seen this season.
Top grills, at a glance
Top flat-top grill deal: Camp Chef Gridiron Pro flat top grill
Best gas grill for backyard BBQs: Charbroil Performance Series 4-burner gas grill
Top pellet grill for wood-fired flavor: Traeger Grills Pro 22 wood pellet grill and smoker
Best griddle for outdoor cooking: Blackstone 2287 Original 29-inch griddle
Best portable option for on-the-go grilling: Weber original kettle charcoal grill
Best gas grills
Classic gas grills offer convenience, easy maintenance and ample cooking space. A few top models are even on sale.
Char-Broil Performance Series 4-burner gas grill: $399.99
This grill provides plenty of space for meats and sides. (Amazon)
What we love: Budget-friendly price, large cooking space and easy operation.
What to be aware of: It doesn't get as hot as premium models.
The Charbroil Performance Series grill is a reliable backyard grill for a family of five. With 435 square inches of primary grilling space, a 130-square-inch warming rack and a side burner for sauces or sides, it's roomy enough to handle burgers, steaks and veggies all at once. Porcelain-coated cast iron grates offer excellent heat retention and simple cleanup, while the cooking system helps reduce flare-ups and helps meats stay juicy.
Grilla Grills Primate gas grill and griddle set: $1,049.99 (39% off)
Original price: $1,729.98
Get the best of both worlds with a grill and griddle set. (Grilla Grills)
What we love: Full-size gas grill and flat-top griddle in one unit.
What to be aware of: No built-in thermometer.
The Grilla Grills Primate gas grill and griddle set combines traditional grill grates with a full-size steel griddle for more cooking options. Use the grates for burgers and steaks or the griddle for breakfast and stir-fry, all on a durable stainless steel build. With 60,000 BTUs across four burners and a specious cooktop, it's well suited for feeding a crowd.
READ MORE: From patio furniture to lawn equipment: Save up to 72% on outdoor deals
Captiva Designs grill and griddle: $541.48 (38% off)
Original price: $879.99
Cook a feast on this extra-large grill. (Amazon)
What we love: Dual zones with generous space and robust heat.
What to be aware of: Very large size is not ideal for small spaces.
The Captiva Designs propane gas grill and griddle combo combines a porcelain enamel grill grate with a cast iron griddle, giving you two cooking surfaces in one. With 696 square inches of space and five propane-powered burners, it heats quickly and can handle larger meals. Side shelves provide ample room for prep, tools or drinks.
Best charcoal grills
Save on a charcoal grill and add a distinct smoky flavor to your food.
Weber original kettle charcoal grill: $149 (6% off)
Original price: $159
Bring this small grill to your next tailgate or camping trip. (Amazon)
What we love: The compact size and classic smoky flavor.
What to be aware of: Requires more hands-on temperature control and has only one burner.
Weber is known for durable grills, and its classic kettle charcoal model remains a popular choice. It can cook up to 13 burgers at once, while still being compact enough for tailgates or camping. The steel construction and rust-resistant aluminum components are built to handle the elements, and an ash catcher helps simplify cleanup.
Royal Gourmet barrel charcoal grill with smoker: $149 (35% off)
Original price: $229.99
Smoke meat and grill sides at the same time. (Wayfair)
What we love: Massive cooking space with a built-in smoker.
What to be aware of: Assembly can be trickier than standard grills.
For a more traditional barbecue experience, the Royal Gourmet 30-inch charcoal grill and smoker combines a main grill with an offset smoker box. With 811 square inches of cooking space, it can handle burgers, ribs and sides at the same time. Cool-touch handles, a built-in lid thermometer and front and side shelves add convenience while cooking. Assembly can take longer than with simpler grills, but it's a solid option for charcoal cooking.
Best pellet grills and smokers
Shop deals on pellet grills and smokers that deliver constant heat and a smoky flavor with less effort.
Traeger Grills Pro 22 wood pellet grill and smoker: $497.49 (10% off)
Original price: $549.95
Grill, smoke, bake and more with this grill. (Amazon)
What we love: Smoke, grill, bake, roast, braise and barbecue all in one unit.
What to be aware of: Slower heat-up time compared to standard grills.
The Traeger Grills Pro 22 uses wood pellets to grill, smoke, roast and bake with consistent heat and a distinct wood-fired flavor. 572 square inches of cooking space provide enough space for up to 24 burgers, five racks of ribs or four whole chickens. Built-in meat probes let you monitor internal temperatures without lifting the lid, helping maintain steady results.
READ MORE: Build an outdoor kitchen in your own backyard with these Amazon finds
Lifetime wood pellet and gas combo grill: $849.96 (15% off)
Original price: $999
Choose gas or wood pellets for this stove. (Amazon)
What we love: Runs on propane and wood pellets to grill and smoke independently or at the same time.
What to be aware of: Large size makes it less practical for smaller spaces.
The Lifetime hybrid grill combines propane and wood pellet fuel for both grilling and smoking in one setup. It offers 742 square inches of cooking space, making it suitable for larger meals, and includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to monitor temperatures and adjust settings from your phone.
Pit Boss Navigator 850: $699.99 (13% off)
Original price: $799.99
Track your cooking progress anywhere with smart connectivity. (Pit Boss)
What we love: Massive cooking space and Wi-Fi connectivity.
What to be aware of: Requires more maintenance than gas grills.
The Pit Boss Navigator 850 uses wood pellets to grill and smoke with a consistent, smoky flavor. With 932 square inches of cooking space, it accommodates larger meals or big groups, and includes Wi-Fi connectivity for monitoring temperatures from your phone. Rapid ignition helps get it up and running more quickly than traditional pellet models.
Best portable grills
Grill on the go with popular options from Ninja and Nexgrill.
Ninja Woodfire Pro XL: $349.99
Small but powerful, this grill also smokes, air fries and bakes. (Amazon)
What we love: Grill, smoke, air fry and bake in one compact electric grill.
What to be aware of: Smaller cooking surface limits capacity.
The Ninja Woodfire Pro XL is a compact grill suited for small patios, decks or apartment spaces. It combines grilling, smoking, air frying and baking on one countertop appliance. The 180-square-inch cooking surface fits up to 10 burgers, two whole chickens or two racks of ribs. A built-in thermometer sends real-time alerts when food reaches the set temperature.
READ MORE: If winter wrecked your backyard, these spring deals can help — up to 39% off
Nexgrill Fortess 2-burner portable gas grill and griddle: $199
This portable grill is small but mighty. (Amazon)
What we love: Compact design with grill and griddle surfaces.
What to be aware of: Small cooking area.
Nexgrill's Fortress combines grill and griddle cooking in a compact, portable design. The small cooking space can fit a few burgers and sides, and includes a built-in temperature gauge to help monitor heat.
Best flat-top grills
Flat-top grills cook everything from bacon and eggs to burgers and steaks.
Blackstone 2287 Original 28-inch griddle: $355.99
Grill dozens of burgers on a Blackstone. (Amazon)
What we love: Large surface with dual heat zones for all kinds of meals.
What to be aware of: Lacks traditional grill grates, so it doesn't provide sear or grill marks.
The Blackstone 2287 Original uses a large flat-top surface for cooking a range of foods at once, from pancakes to burgers. The cooktop fits up to 33 eggs or 21 burgers, making it suitable for larger meals. Two independent heat zones allow you to cook at different temperatures on the same surface, while built-in wind guards help maintain steady heat. The flat design reduces flare-ups and prevents food from falling through grates.
Camp Chef Gridiron Pro flat top grill: $599.99 (40% off)
Original price: $999.99
This huge flat top has folding shelves and a side burner. (Camp Chef)
What we love: Magnetic tool storage and folding prep shelves add convenience.
What to be aware of: Large size may not fit smaller patios or decks.
The Camp Chef Gridiron Pro is a flat-top grill with a durable build, a side burner and folding prep shelves. Magnetic storage keeps tools like tongs and spatulas within reach, while propane power and a quick ignition system help it heat up efficiently. It’s currently available at a $400 discount.
Grilling accessories worth adding to your setup
Become a true grill master with extras ranging from a bristle-free grill brush to prep-and-serve mats.
ThermoMaven bristle-free grill brush: $36.53 (15% off)
Original price: $42.98
A safer way to clean your grill. (Amazon)
The metal bristles in wire grill brushes can break off and end up in your food. This bristle-free brush is a safer alternative that uses steam to loosen grease and scrub away buildup without worrying about stray wires.
35-piece griddle accessories kit: $26.49 (34% off)
Original price: $39.99
Get a variety of grilling accessories in one kit. (Amazon)
This 35-piece griddle accessories kit includes essential tools like spatulas and a griddle press, along with a carrying case for easy storage and transport.
Blackstone Cook and Carry griddle caddy: $59.99
Organize all your grill tools and accessories in one place. (Blackstone)
The Blackstone Cook and Carry griddle caddy is like a toolbox for your griddle accessories. It has pockets for spices, slots for utensils and a built-in bottle holder for water, oil or your go-to grilling beer.
Heat-resistant grilling gloves: $9.99 (23% off)
Original price: $12.99
Protect your hands from flames or knife cuts. (Amazon)
Heat-resistant grilling gloves let you cook confidently over open flames. Designed to handle high heat, they're perfect for flipping food, handling hot grates or even using sharp knives. Bonus: They're machine washable, so cleanup is quick.
For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals
Cuisinart grilling prep and serve mats: $21.51 (28% off)
Original price: $29.99
These mats have many uses. (Amazon)
These prep mats, currently priced at their 90-day low, create a clean, heat-resistant surface for resting tools, oils and sauces. They also double as prep trays for slicing vegetables or resting meats, and can go straight from the grill to the table.
FAQs
Buying a new grill can feel overwhelming. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions shoppers have when picking the right outdoor grill.
What type of grill should I buy?
Choosing a grill comes down to what you value most: convenience, flavor or tradition. Gas grills are a popular choice because they heat up fast, are widely available and easy to use — just hook up a propane tank and start cooking. Charcoal grills take more effort but deliver that classic smoky barbecue flavor. Pellet grills combine wood-fired flavor with push-button convenience. Electric grills offer the simplest setup, but they work best for apartments or places with fire restrictions and not backyard cookouts.
How do I clean an outdoor grill?
When new, clean and oil your grill grates after every use to keep it performing at its best. Each month, make sure to clean the grease trap — more if you grill daily. Cleaning the outside of your grill a few times a year keeps it looking new.
How long do grills last?
With proper care, a grill can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. Keep it in good shape by cleaning it regularly, covering it when not in use and storing it in a covered area during the winter, especially in colder climates.
What is the right grill size for me?
Most families need a three- to four-burner gas grill — often ranging from 400 to 500 square inches of cooking space. That gives you enough room to cook steaks, burgers, veggies and a side or two at the same time. If you're hosting a larger group, choose a grill with 600+ square inches or a side burner for sauces and sides.
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