Grilling is popular among people at all times of the year. Many people have full size grills as a permanent fixture on their patios or decks. However, a lot of people don’t have room for a large grill. This is where the best small grill comes in handy. Whether you want to take your grill out whenever the opportunity arises or you enjoy taking your grill on a picnic with family and friends, you have a lot of great options. Continue reading to learn how to find the best portable grill.
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What To Look For
When you are looking for the best portable grill, there are certain features you need to consider. First of all, look at what foods it can cook. You might want something basic for burgers, chicken, and hot dogs, or you might be looking to have a more diverse menu.
You should consider temperature control to find out how the grill performs. Gas grills are very convenient because they are easy to start and get hot very quickly. You can find grills that use charcoal and electric grills as well. If you plan to use charcoal, bear in mind that you will need the charcoal. You can usually find it sold by the bag. An electric grill requires an outlet, so make sure that there will be a place to plug it in.
The smallest portable grill will likely fit into any vehicle you have, but some portable grills will need a larger place to transport it. Make sure that the size will fit in your vehicle before you purchase it. Finally, consider how much cleaning the grill needs once you finish using it, and determine whether or not you have a space available to clean it. Some grills close up and can be cleaned once you return home, but others will require cleaning before you put it back in your car. Continue reading to see the best portable grills.
Best Portable Grills
So, let’s see the eight choices we chose for you.
1) Weber Q1200 Propane Grill
If you are looking for the best small grill for convenience, you might want to try the Weber Q1200. It uses propane, and it is very easy to set it up and get to grilling. The convenience alone makes this grill worth looking into, and you will not have to focus on setting it up and getting it ready before you can start grilling.
This grill can cook food for a family of four or four friends on a camping trip. It is easy to use, and it has a built-in thermometer. It also has a couple of side tables where you can place your plates and cooking utensils. People consider it the best portable grill because it maintains consistent temperatures while it cooks, which allows you to cook your food more accurately. It is known to work well in most weather conditions, including wind and rain. In addition, it is not known for having flare ups, and it has cast-iron grates over the burners that are closed. This helps to minimize these flare-ups.
For all of this convenience, it does weigh about 30 pounds, so it is a bit heavy if you plan to take it with you frequently. There are different accessories that you can buy, including a stand, a storage cover, and a griddle. If you choose this grill, you will love how it cooks your food.
- High-quality Weber grill
- Easy to use
- Very small and portable
- Can add a griddle
- Can use large gas canisters
- Not as great for low temperature cooking
Our rating: 
4.8 / 5
2) Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill
This charcoal grill is affordable, has great features, and is easy to use. You can cook for up to six people while using the smallest portable grill that can fit into the trunk of your car. It can cook in different styles, including barbecuing, grilling, and smoking your food. This makes it incredibly versatile and makes it count as a best portable grill.
This charcoal grill has a dual vent system with one vent at the top and one at the bottom. As a result, you will be able to have the temperature control in this best small grill that you expect in the full-size grills.
It is very portable at just 22 pounds, and it has a carrying handle that has a bar that holds the top on when you travel. If you throw it in the back of your car or in the trunk, it doesn’t tip over easily. In addition, it does have an ash catcher at the bottom that allows you to easily clean it out before you leave your grilling site.
While it doesn’t include a thermometer, you can easily add one. You can buy a few accessories, but many people create their own to customize their grilling experience. This is definitely one of the best small grills on the market today.
- Great temperature control with dual venting system
- Easy to use and very portable
- Affordable
- Ash catcher makes it easy to clean
- Versatile grill that can smoke, barbeque, and grill food
- Three legs can be slightly unstable on uneven ground
- Not a lot of depth in the bowl
Our rating: 4.8 / 5
3) Kenyon Frontier Electric Grill
The Kenyon Frontier Electric Grill has a look that is similar to a gas grill, but if you live in an apartment building or are traveling to a place where you can’t use a gas or charcoal grill, this is a great option. It is more expensive than many of the grills on this list, but it gets hot enough to char and sear your meat very quickly. In addition, the cooking space maintains high temperatures more consistently than other grills.
This grill has an included grill plate that you can remove for easy cleaning. It is big enough to cook for more people, and it feels sturdy. At the same time, it is small enough to take with you camping or tailgating. If this grill is more than you need, Kenyon offers the Kenyon City Grill in a smaller package at a more affordable price.
- Easy to use
- Simple clean up
- Cook multiple foods
- Heats quickly and evenly
- Expensive
- Requires a power outlet
Our rating: 
4.7 / 5
4) Coleman Roadtrip 285
This grill by Coleman is easy to move around because it has a wheeled dolly system. The stand is included, which gives you extra space on your table during a picnic. It is large enough for a gathering with more people, even though it is still considered the best small grill. It has three interwoven burners, and each one has its own temperature control. This allows you to cook different food at the same time.
You get a thermometer on the lid which allows you to know the temperature. In addition, you can use a griddle accessory if you want to make pancakes while you are camping. There is a grease pan that you can slide out of the back of the grill for easy cleaning. It is convenient, versatile, and can accommodate you on most outings.
- Spacious cooking surface
- Space for plates and utensils
- Three burners individually controlled
- Portable at 26 pounds
- Use at home or on the road
- Thermometer isn’t always accurate
- The water tray’s design is quite inconvenient (long and shallow)
Our rating: 
4.6 / 5
5) Coleman Roadtrip 225
Although this grill is smaller than the Coleman Roadtrip 285, it is still a powerful grill designed for fewer people. The Coleman Roadtrip 225 has two burners that are adjustable, and it has a 225 square meter cooking surface. It comes with a side table that is strong and sturdy, and it will hold your plates, utensils, and sauces. It has an instant ignition and is simple to set up and use.
With the two temperature zones, you will have no trouble cooking meats and veggies together. You can cook a lot of different foods because it has great temperature control. The grill is easy to store and you can use it at home or out camping or tailgating. You can also get a griddle or stove grate to change the cooktop to suit your cooking style.
- Smallest portable grill
- Very lightweight and portable
- Surface for utensils and plates
- Heats and cooks more than one food at a time
- Easy to use
- Temperature zones are not side-by-side
- The lid does not lock, which makes the portability a bit tricky
Our rating: 
4.5 / 5
6) George Foreman Plate Portable Grill
If you want to use a grill indoors, the electric George Foreman Plate Grill is a great option. Not only is it the best small grill, but you can quickly and easily cook many different meats and more. This is a basic four-serving grill that allows you to cook hamburgers, and it can double as a panini press. It is really easy to use. All you do is plug it in, wait for it to heat up, and start cooking.
This grill is easy to clean. You simply pull the grates out to clean them. It also has a drip pan to catch any grease. It does cook the top and bottom of the food, which means you won’t have to flip your burgers. When you plug it in you wait for the green light to come on, and it is ready to go.
- Very small and compact
- You can use it indoors safely
- Can double as a panini press
- Easy and quick to use
- Cooks a variety of foods
- Very affordable
- Needs an outlet
- No temperature setting indicator
- Doesn’t get as hot as most electric grills
Our rating: 4.5 / 5
7) Coleman Fold N Go Propane Portable Grill
This is an inexpensive and compact grill that uses propane to cook your meals. It has a 105-inch cooking surface, and it is ideal for individuals or couples to use it. If you are looking for something simple to cook food when you are camping, this small, light grill will do the job well. You can cook steaks and burgers more easily with this small grill.
The grill has Perfect Flow technology to ensure that your food heats evenly. You need a 16.4-ounce propane cylinder, which will last up to three and a half hours when you cook on high settings. Both the grate and the grease tray remove easily for cleaning. This is a great choice when you are looking for the ultimate in lightweight and portable grills.
- Very lightweight and portable
- Easy to clean
- Grate and grease tray can go in dishwasher
- Doesn’t cook for large groups
- Made of cheaper materials
Our rating: 
4.4 / 5
8) Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Gas Grill
The Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Gas Grill is a portable grill that is considered by many to be a great option for the smallest portable grill. You can get a Versastand so that it works freestanding or on your tabletop at home. It is compact enough to take with you for an afternoon outing, but you can also use it at home or camping. You can cook as many as eight burgers at once, which makes it great for the family.
It is easy to get started with the twist start ignition, and it does have a temperature gauge if you want to be more precise. The Versastand allows the grill to sit at the perfect height for cooking, and it folds up easily for transport to and from your grilling location. At just 17 pounds, it won’t weigh you down if you want to take it with you. This is a wonderful grill for just about anyone.
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to setup and clean
- Legs fold for easy travel
- Sits at ideal cooking height
- Fuel efficient
- Doesn’t get super hot
- Can be unstable on uneven ground
Our rating: 4.4 / 5
Conclusion
If you enjoy grilling and are looking for portability, these small portable grills can do the job. They are easy to set up and use, and you can take them on an outing or use them in your yard. You can decide which type you prefer: electric, gas, or charcoal. You will be able to find the choice that appeals to you the most.
Once you decide how many people you want to accommodate, look through the options and choose the grill that you can use the most. No matter what type of griller you are, there is a great option available.
