Best Small Portable Barbecue Grills in 2022

One of the nice things about barbecuing for your friends and family is that you don’t have to be an experienced master chef to produce quality food. Grilling delicious tasting meats and vegetables can be a simple but elegant way to spice up your dinners and meal times.

Of course, it takes a quality grill to produce quality results and as such, you should always look for the best grill possible, even when considering small, portable grills. From camping to tailgating to just spending time cooking in the backyard, a small portable grill is a great way to have tasty meals while on the go.

The Small Three!

Smoke Hollow 205 Stainless Steel TableTop Propane Gas Grill, Perfect for tailgating,camping or any outdoor event

Smoke Hollow 205 Stainless Steel TableTop Propane Gas Grill, Perfect for tailgating,camping or any outdoor event

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When it comes to grill, there are three characteristics that have to be in balance in order to produce quality results. These are heat retention, production, and distribution and this is where having a quality grill makes the difference. A grill that can’t produce the heat and retain the heat while appropriately distributing the heat is of no use to anyone. Often, people discount one characteristic or the other when it comes to portable grills, but all three should be in balance to achieve the best tasting results.

From barbecue to yakitori cooking, it takes a good grill to make it happen and that includes portable grills. Porcelain coated steel grills with solid grids are good choices and so are those that are made from cast iron, as these produce, retain and distribute heat very well. Aluminum grills are also good choices as these have a high heat conductivity compared to others but these are rare and hard to find, especially in portable styles. Clay grills such as Kamado grills work very well but are often not portable enough. One thing is certain, the old round, thin wall grills are not good choices even if they are inexpensive as these lose heat too rapidly to really produce quality results.

Five Great Portable Barbecue Grills

Best Portable Charcoal Grill

Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill

Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill

This inexpensive grill – Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Series Grill works well for camping, tailgating or using as a table top grill for burgers and more. It has a porcelain coated steel material that helps to retain and distribute the heat and thus also allows for excellent heat production.

It has 160 square inches of cooking space, enough for small groups and the cooking grates are sturdy enough to hold small pots for additional cooking options. It is a charcoal grill and it has dual dampeners so you get the most from you heat. Those that have this grill really like how well this grill performs and how easy to carry this model is.

Best Tabletop Propane Gas Grill

Smoke Hollow 205 Stainless Steel TableTop Propane Gas Grill, Perfect for tailgating,camping or any outdoor event

Smoke Hollow 205 Stainless Steel TableTop Propane Gas Grill, Perfect for tailgating,camping or any outdoor event

Bringing the advantage of stainless steel in a portable, table top style grill, the Smoke Hollow 205 Series Grill offers the convenience of propane grilling to use for camping and more. It has a built in temperature gauge so you can open up your cooking options. The stainless steel is also easy to clean and this model has a locking lid for easy portability and storage.

It has plenty of room for cooking generous portions while the U shaped burner offers plenty of heat production for a wide range of foods, including seafood. This model is popular and those that have this model really like how well it heat and cooks as well as how great it looks.

Best Grill for Tailgating

Coleman Road Trip Propane Portable Grill LXE

Coleman Road Trip Propane Portable Grill LXE

Another propane grills, this one is specifically designed for easy portability. The Coleman Road Trip LXE Series Grill has similar performance across all characteristics as other propane grills, this one is engineered to be easy to store and carry while also including a folding stand so you don’t have to use a table or other stand to support the grill.

It has two fold out side shelves for more storage space and the stand has two wheels for moving the grill about as necessary. This grill is perfect for tailgating and camping and those that use this grill really like how well it stores and how portable this grill is for their needs.

Best Rated Portable Gas Grill

Cuisinart CGG-240 All Foods Roll-Away Gas Grill

Cuisinart CGG-240 All Foods Roll-Away Gas Grill

Similar to the Coleman, this grill – Cuisinart CGG-240 All Foods Series Grill offers the added advantage of having a wheeled stand for easy support. This model is a propane grill but it has some better characteristics such as the angled lid that support better heat distribution so you can perform dual zone cooking.

It also has a higher BTU rating with a 15K burner, so you get more heat with the better distribution. It also has a built in temperature gauge for better heat monitoring. People who use this grill love the added heat and the easy port and carry aspect to this model.

Best Small Portable Barbecue Grill

Blackstone Grills Tailgater – Portable Gas Grill

The ultimate in portable grills, this model – Blackstone Tailgater Series Grill is perfect for all types of situations. It has a griddle and a grill so you can get more cooking options in one package. You can also remove the griddle and the grill to expose the burners so you get use large pots and pans, thus expanding the options even more.

It comes with a built in stand and the model folds down for easy storage and portability. If you love to grill or cook on the go, this is the model to choose. Those that have this grill remark about how great this model is and how well it heats and delivers quality results.

As with any purchase, be sure to read and follow all care instructions to get the most from your grill.