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#1 Weber Genesis II S-435 Gas Grill
This isn’t your typical grill — that’s why many agree it’s the best way to go. You can cook a wide variety of foods with the four stainless steel burners and a side burner. The grill is also compatible with the Weber Connect accessory that syncs to your smart device while monitoring food temperature as it cooks. “With quality, heavy duty construction from one of the most trusted names in grilling, this is a decade-plus quality grill, when cared for appropriately,” said Moore.
#2 Char-Griller 3001 Grillin’ Pro Gas Grill
This 100-pound grill isn’t just great because it can easily get around during backyard barbecues. You can cook in multiple heat zones with three main burners as well as a small sideburner. “This really opens up your cooking options here,” said Phan. “If you don’t use the smaller burner, you can close it down and you instantly have another side table available. However, the body is made from coated steel that will rust over time if you don’t take care or cover it
#3 Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22 Inches
The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22-inch has a grate that’s big enough for a whole mess of hamburger patties. However, because it’s easy to adjust the heat by opening and closing the vents in the bottom and in the lid, this grill is remarkably versatile and can definitely go beyond burgers and brats. It can cook a perfectly seared medium-rare porterhouse, or a tender chicken with a crispy golden brown skin. The grate is hinged on both sides so it’s easy to add more briquets if you’re having a party and turning out hot dogs throughout the evening.
Additional features include a thermometer inside the lid and hooks to hang up your tools. The lid is easy to lift and doesn’t pinch your hand. It also rests on the grill while you cook the steaks and ribs. Underneath the kettle, there’s a big bucket called an ash catcher; you use a lever to sweep the ashes into it and then it’s easy to remove and empty without leaving a trail of ashes along the way. Side tables to hold a plate are the only thing that is missing.
#4 Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill
If you want a Weber but don’t have big bucks to shell out, the Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill will give you the brand’s great cooking performance and a whole host of features for a lot less. It’s smaller than the Genesis but still has room for about 20 patties so unless you entertain hordes it should be plenty big enough for the family and some guests. Whether you’re grilling skirt steaks for fajitas, salmon, or ribs, you can control the heat to get food that’s browned and cooked to your ideal degree of doneness.
You won’t find a burner here, but it does have side tables, a warming rack, tool hooks, a thermometer in the hood, a gas gauge, and a storage shelf under the grill. The grease pan can be accessed easily and is empty. If you like, you can hook it up to an iGrill thermometer to get an alert on your mobile device when your steak is perfectly medium rare.
#5 Kamado Joe Classic 18-inch KJ23RH
Kamado grills are great for cooks who love to experiment with new foods and expand their culinary repertoire. The Kamado Joe Classic 18 inch KJ23RHC is the best. This ceramic baby is heavy and expensive, but it will provide you with incredible heat control.
You can make an artisanal pizza in minutes, smoke a pig for hours, and grill everything in-between. What you don’t get is a lot of room to load on the burgers– so you should expect to cook about 8 to 10 at once.
Instead of briquettes, you’ll need to stock up on lump hardwood charcoal. It is not easy to find, but it light easily and burns slowly. This kamado is also unique in that it comes with a wheeled base and side tables to place your sauce or cold beverage. When it’s time to clean up, all you have to do is slide out the ash drawer and dispose of the ashes. You can rest assured.
#6 Royal Gourmet CD1824E 23″ Charcoal BBQ Grill
The Royal Gourmet is a great option if you’re looking for something more than just hot dogs and burgers on a charcoal grill. The crank allows you to adjust the heat by raising and lowering the charcoal pan. Move the coals below the brats if you need to quickly grill them. To slow smoke a side dish of salmon without flare ups, lower the coals.
There’s even a door underneath the grates that makes it easy to keep adding charcoal as the hungry crowd thickens. Plus you’ll find you need a lot of charcoal to keep the Royal Gourmet burning, so make sure you stock up before the party starts.
This model features side tables, which can be used to store your tongs, trays, and platters, as opposed to a kettle-style barbecue. You’ll also find a thermometer in the lid to give you a rough idea as to how hot it is under the grill, a warming rack that’s helpful for heating buns, and an easy to remove ash tray. Below the grill there’s a bottom shelf to keep extra charcoal or a roll of paper towels.
#7 Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill
Smoking is easy with the Traeger Pro575 Pellet Grill. The grill will do the rest. You simply add hardwood pellets to the hopper and set a temperature. It has an electronically-controlled thermostat that works like the one in your indoor oven. The only caveat is that if the temp you want is super-hot to get a steak browned and crusty on the outside and rosy on the inside, you won’t be getting it from this grill which tops out at 500°F.
If you want to go about your yard work, or even just loll in a hammock while your ribs are smoking, you can connect the Traeger to an app which will let you know when it’s time to baste, raise the temp to finish them off, or alert you that they’re ready to serve.
#8 Blackstone 36″ Griddle Cooking Station With Accessory Side Shelf
The Blackstone 36” Griddle Cooking Station does away with grates and has a large flat cooking surface. That gives you room for 28 burgers at once, and means your hot dogs and shrimp won’t fall through the slats.
There are four burners under the stove that can be set to different temperatures so you can keep your garlic bread warm while you grill steaks. Just keep in mind that you won’t get grill marks, and won’t be able to smoke ribs or brisket.
On one of the side tables, there’s a built-in cutting board that can be removed for cleaning. There’s also a place to hang a roll of paper towels and hooks to hang a trash bag. On the bottom, there’s even a shelf to give you some storage space. The Blackstone is very easy to assemble. However, you will need to clean and season the griddle top before you start to fire it up.