The Best Portable Grills 2022 Tested and Reviewed My favorite portable grill, the Weber Q-1200, sits at about $259 but you can find it for less on sale. Most sturdy small grills should last you several years to a decade if the unit is cleaned, covered and cared for properly. The big drawback with this nifty portable oven is its cooking capacity. Since food has to be loaded into a tube, you can't really cook many of the traditional barbecue meats such as ribs. While the Weber Original Kettle may have taken the top spot in CNET's list ofbest charcoal grills, this newcomer is my pick for the best portable charcoal grill. Best of all, the lid can be inverted onto an included base and used as a second grill. In our tests, this grill quickly cooked a steak and four chicken thighs, all of which were juicy and tender. Whether you're headed camping or to a tailgate, or grilling out in your backyard, our portable grills have you covered. Lastly, whether you’re tailgating or having a picnic at the park, one thing is certain; you want a swift and easy cleanup, and our portable grills deliver just that. Our products, such as the Weber Premium 14-Inch Smokey Joe, which is a powerhouse despite its compact nature, is ideal for smaller outdoor spaces that can’t accommodate the larger counterparts. Like the Q above, Weber's Traveler uses a single burner that wraps around the entire bottom of the grill. That's covered by a two-piece cast iron grill grate that's solid where it runs over the burner, which acts as a heat diffuser and keeps the burner from getting covered in grease. Speaking of grease, it has a slide-out grease trap that's easy to empty. It also has a built-in thermometer that's reasonably accurate, but I still suggest getting a separate instant-read thermometer. Portable grills cost anywhere from $50 for a simple Weber charcoal grill all the way up to $500 or more for fancier gas and propane grills with bells and whistles galore. This Weber gas grill isn't just compact and easy to carry, it also retains heat better for a more consistent cook on all your meals. The locking lid on this portable propane grill makes it easier to transport from your house to the beach or park. This Blaze Grills product also comes complete with a lifetime warranty. Nevertheless, once we sorted out how to strategically set the charcoal, we could reliably create an indirect heat zone. Generally, we found it relatively easy to grill thinner foods—this is ideal for cooking burgers, hot dogs, boneless chicken, or fish at an intimate meal some place special or tailgating at the game. Charcoal can also be started using a chimney or electric charcoal starter. Do not overfill the charcoal tray or let charcoal touch the body of the grill. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use of the charcoal and lighter fluid. We immediately ruled out collapsible models because they’re made from thin steel and probably not durable enough for regular use. Portable kamado grills are gaining popularity, but we think their 12- to 14-inch grilling surfaces are too small to justify the high price. We didn’t focus heavily on hibachis because they’re lidless, primarily for high-heat grilling, and limited in performance. Or do you want to go low and slow for your signature 14-hour pulled pork? Perhaps you are after a portable grill design that is ideal for cooking hotdogs at the campsite or shrimp kebabs on the beach. From a go-anywhere camping grill to large backyard smokers, there is something for every grill-master's style in this collection. With 189 square inches of grilling area (17 by 12½ inches), the Weber Q 1200 has enough space to grill a full dinner for two or the main course for a small gathering. We found that this Weber model is capable of grilling six large burger patties, a whole cut-up chicken, or 10 bratwurst links at a time. And the single-tube 8,500 Btu burner runs along three edges for better heat distribution, so all of that space is usable. Wirecutter’s Michael J Kennelly used the Weber Q 1200 we tested to grill on his roof in Brooklyn from 2019 to 2020. They said the two-part grate was a little more annoying to deal with than the one-part grate on older Weber Q models, but it made up for it in ease of cleaning. They also noted that the burner tubes needed to be wiped down occasionally to make sure the grill would light effectively, especially if it's only used occasionally. But, they said, investing in the bonnet cover and the collapsable cart were both well worth it. And they liked that the propane canisters can be bought at any hardware store for about $6.