In this day and age, portability has been a great factor in almost everything we do. We live in a fast-paced lifestyle that we don’t want to limit our life experiences in just one place. Portability is so popular that almost every stuff being sold have portable counterparts, including our grilling tools. Gone are the days when you can only grill in your backyard. Now you can maximize your grilling experience when you have the best portable gas grills!
When you have a portable gas grill, you can practically tow it anywhere and on whatever occasions. These are great for picnics, enjoy with the gang in a recreational vehicle (RV), camping in the wilderness, going for a road trip or tailgating events. It even comes in handy when you just want to change the pace a bit and have a barbecue on your friend or relative’s home. But they don’t own a grill, so it’s up to you to man up and bring the heat to them. Family outings or hanging out with friends have never been so fun and easy with these portable gas grills!
The only common issue with having a portable tool is that some cooking capacity is compromised. They tend to lack in some features and in power. So in this case, we’re not just looking for the smallest or the most portable grills. What makes the best portable gas grills are those that are durable, have the size and heat capacity to still cook food as delicious and flavorful as those with conventional grills, while still being portable.
So with that said, I have shortlisted my top 3 picks. Let’s come and check them out!
Best portable gas grills on the market
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The top gas grill picks and reviews
1. Coleman RoadTrip LXX Grill, Black
When it comes to camping and outdoor gears, you can’t go wrong with Coleman. Coleman takes pride as an American brand with over a century of experience on outdoor recreational products. So they’re not kidding when they say they are the outdoor experts! And true enough, this brand has been in the market for a long time that it clearly sets a high reputation for creating quality outdoor products, including grills.
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Wherein you can find that same quality in Coleman’s RoadTrip series as their hopefuls for the best portable gas grills. Having any of the RoadTrip models will surely make your road trip enjoyable. Honestly, you can either go for the LXE or LXX. While the LXE is a fan favorite as the best portable gas grills of this category, the LXX is actually the top variant of the RoadTrip line with the only slight price difference. So between the two, we’re putting the spotlight on LXX this time.
Although the LXE has colorful variants, the Coleman RoadTrip LXX looks masculine sporting an all black with few bare metal finishes. Since it’s made to be portable, it is easy to transport and assemble. Assembling this thing is really simple that even with 10 minutes is enough to do so.
To assemble, simply take it out of the box, unfold the legs then snap it into the cookbox, and put the plastic hubcaps on wheels. Finish it up by screwing a fuel source into its rear then put the griddle in place. And there you have it, you’re ready to grill on the RoadTrip LXX. It’s easy as ABC!
What makes the RoadTrip superior to others is due to its brilliant design. It works much like a stand-alone grill but still very mobile. It comes with collapsible legs that allow you to use it just like a full standing grill. Unlike the usual portable or tabletop type of grills, there’s no need to look for a level surface to place it on. It even has a sliding stainless steel side tables for additional working space for handling your tools, ingredients and etc.
Once you’re done with cooking, you can fold its legs to make it work like a push-pull trolley! You won’t even need to carry it from one place to another. One of the leg-supports becomes the pull handle when collapsed. With a large handle and wheels make it easy to pull and add ease of transport. You can effortlessly collapse and set it up again in no time. It’s so simple that it works seamlessly perfect.
To protect the grill from the elements, you won’t have any problem storing it in your garage or home since it doesn’t take up too much space at all. It folds compactly that it can even fit inside your car’s trunk and weighs averagely at 50 pounds.
When it comes to the actual grilling, you’ll be very happy to tag this along with your outdoor adventure! Despite the compact package, you won’t even feel there’s a drop of heat with the RoadTrip from the usual bigger grills. And since the LXX is the top variant, it has the highest heat capacity among the RoadTrip line.
It comes with dual burners firing at 11,000 BTU’s of cooking power. That gives you a total of 22,000 BTU’s across a spacious 285 square inches of cooking area. That is more than enough heat to fire up the grill really hot! In fact, it’s even rare to see a portable gas grill with such high firepower. While the cooking size can feed 3-4 persons without breaking a sweat. Each burner even has a low to high settings for your precise cooking.
As one of the best portable gas grills, LXX will never let your grilling experience compromised. That’s because it has the capacity to work just as good as traditional grills. It has the needed heat intensity with sufficient grilling size to cover your intimate group. Furthermore, you still get the same perks of side tables, tool hooks, thermometer and matchless lighting! The LXX has instastart push-button ignition which is very helpful in the outdoors.
But it still doesn’t stop there! The LXX offers little extras to set itself apart with its unique Swaptop interchangeable design. This enables you to switch your grill grates for a griddle top or stove grates, so you have various options for cooking! However, you have to buy these accessories separately. While its PerfectFlow technology ensures steady heat, even in the cold of the night or in extreme weather conditions.
Not fond of cleaning? Not an issue. The RoadTrip LXX has a grease tray to help lessen the oily mess while grilling. It’s also removable so it’s easy to dispose the grease and clean the tray. On the other hand, its cooking surface is porcelain-coated, which makes it easier to clean as well. All you need is a quick wipe with a dish sponge, warm water, and detergent for a fast and proper cleaning.
The only issue you might have with the RoadTrip line is its inability to separate the grill from its wheel stand while grilling. To avoid any fire hazards, it’s better to not attempt doing so at all. So if in case you can’t accommodate an extra footprint for a grill, opting for a tabletop gas grill might better suit you instead.
Nevertheless, the Coleman RoadTrip LXX looks extra sleek and indeed a powerful gas grill despite its portable design. Its performance can parallel to standard grills, making it one of the best gas grills under $300 as well. With the LXX, you won’t even feel like you left home while having a barbecue in the wild!
Here’s a Quick Recap of Coleman RoadTrip LXX Grill’s Sizzling Features
- Portable propane grill ideal for tailgating, picnicking, and camping
- Collapsible design is easy to transport and fits into most car trunks
- 2 Burners deliver 22,000 BTUs of adjustable cooking power across 285 square inches of grilling surface
- Swaptop interchangeable cooktops, sold separately, allow grill grates to be switched with griddle or stove grates
- Has sliding side tables and built-in thermometer to monitor temperature
- Instastart button ignites grill without the need for a match or lighter
What I like
- Large grilling space
- Has high heat output
- Free-standing grill
- Collapsible with easy pull design for easy transport
- Unique interchangeable cook tops
What I don’t like
- Legs cannot be separated from its cooktop
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2. Weber Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill
While Weber may not be the outdoor expert, it’s definitely a grill expert! It already has established itself as a household brand among grills, so it’s no surprise to see a Weber as a contender for the best portable gas grills.
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For this market, Weber offers the Weber Q lineup. Among the Weber Q models, I find the Q2200 to be the most ideal even though the Q3200 is its top variant. Because unlike the Q3200 and the RoadTrip grills, the Q2200 now gives you the option to use it as either a tabletop or stand-alone gas grill.
But let me just make it clear, the Q2200 only comes with the cookbox. You need to buy its leg stand separately, or buy them as a combo package to save more. The stand, by the way, also has wheels for mobility. As a package, you can buy the simpler cart as a cheaper option. But I prefer the Q cart with wide-splayed legs as it’s more heavy-duty and made to fit the newer Q2000 Weber models.
Despite the additional cost of the accessory, I still highly recommend it. Having a leg support for the grill allows flexibility in your barbecue needs and make it easier to transport. You can save up space, maximize its portability or even use it as a fixed install at home.
And for lazybones like me, Weber is such a treat! Since this product arrives pre-assembled, you don’t have to go through the hassles of assembling. Instead, you can just go right into the exciting part – grilling!
Weber simply sizzles its way into your heart without fail. Its overall size itself is compact, but it has a large grilling surface of 280 square inches. Heating the stainless steel burner up to 12,000 BTU’s, it can accommodate 18 hamburgers, 36 hotdogs, or 2 whole chickens!
Personally, the heat capacity is quite low to efficiently distribute heat to its size. Nevertheless, you still shouldn’t underestimate its cooking performance. Its single burner is huge to cover the whole thing, so heating it to about 300 degrees is pretty easy. While reaching it to more than 500 degrees may take some time but still manageable. Just make sure to close the lid and preheat the grill for 10-15 minutes.
On the upside, the Weber Q2200 doesn’t gulp in fuel too quickly, which is advantageous when you’re far from supply stores. To give you a quick picture, one pound (16.4oz) canister can approximately hold 21,600 BTU’s worth of gas. Given the 12,000 BTU output of Q2200, this will give you a maximum of 1.8 hours of grilling time with the single burner set to high.
However, how long a 1lb gas will actually last will still depend on how you use it, what you’re cooking and the temperature of your location. All which can affect your cooking time. To be safe, make sure to always have a spare tank with you.
In the end, you still get to perfectly sear your burgers and steaks with juices and flavors sealed in. Moreover, Weber Q2200’s lid is tall enough to accommodate smaller chickens and birds. You can have a wonderful Thanksgiving even with just this around.
I even tried cooking my favorite chicken recipe with it for about 15 minutes, set on high. The result was fantastic! It came out perfectly juicy with a slight crispiness on the edges. Even my wife found it really delicious that she’s willing to let go of her diet that day.
Weber Q2200 houses porcelain-enameled cast iron grates, which are just perfect to cook meat on. The porcelain coating adds resistance against rust and makes it easy to clean as well. While its lid and body use cast aluminum for durability since aluminum is a resilient material. It’s tough against cold weather, resists corrosion and has high thermal conductivity. This helps speed up heating the grill, especially with a closed lid, compensating for its lack of firepower.
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Weber Q2200 also has switchable grilling grates. And since there are two grilling grates, you can get creative with your cooking. You can replace the other one with a griddle to use it as a griddle and grate combination. This adds extra flexibility to your cooking. But similar to RoadTrip’s Swaptop, you have to buy the griddle separately.
Much like the standard nowadays, the Q2200 also has an ignition system for a reliable spark, a temperature gauge to monitor grill’s heat level, and an infinite burner control settings for accuracy. You can also find a grease catcher at the bottom to keep drippings and any droppings easy to clean. And with such small package, Weber still manages to include side tables. They are about 12 inches wide and are foldable when not in use.
If there’s one thing I don’t like with this Weber Q, that’ll the absence of Flavorizer bars! Weber is widely popular for its Flavorizer bars which give that savory taste of bacon to its grilled foods. Unfortunately, due to its smaller package, it’s quite understandable that Weber chooses not to include it.
On the other hand, due to its highly engineered cooking grate on a curvilinear burner tube design manages flare-ups and add flavor even without the Flavorizer bars.
Slightly lighter than the RoadTrip at around 45 pounds, the Weber Q2200 is an excellent option for the best portable gas grills for under 300 bucks. You’ll love its flexibility, ease of use and cooking prowess. Let us not forget that Weber is an American company! So, who can question its superb marksmanship? This grill is built to last with its heavy-duty cast aluminum.
Frequent outdoor trips won’t stop you from enjoying your personal grilled foods from fish to dozens of burgers and hotdogs for many years to come!
Here’s a Quick Recap of Weber Q2200 Gas Grill’s Sizzling Features
- One stainless steel burner produces 12,000 BTU-per-hour to heat 280 square inches of total cooking area
- Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and cast aluminum lid and body.
- Fully assembled out of box
- Has temperature gauge, foldable side tables, easy-start electronic ignition and infinite control burner valve settings
- Uses disposable 14.1 or 16.4 oz. LP cylinder (sold separately)
What I like
- Quality marksmanship
- Large grilling surface
- Can work as tabletop or freestanding grill
- Low fuel consumption
- Switchable grate or griddle surface
What I don’t like
- A bit underpowered for the size
- Has plastic parts on tables and handle
- The lid doesn’t have a lock to keep it closed while carrying it
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3. Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill with VersaStand
Last on our list is from a trusted name in the kitchen, the Cuisinart! Cuisinart has produced countless of successful home appliances, mostly related to food appliances. So we can also be confident that it can do an amazing job in cooking even outside the kitchen room. With that, Cusinart offers their CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Grill.
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Let’s face it, out of all the best portable gas grills on the list, Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Grill has the least cooking chops. For one,it only has 145 square inches of grilling surface. While the size is comparably smaller than the first 2 grills, it is still pretty decent but better suited for intimate barbecue outing.
It’s also lacking a bit in power with its 5,500 BTU stainless steel burner. Due to smaller cooking space, it could get away with lower BTU. But honestly, I would love it more if it could have a higher heat output to effectively distribute heat fast. Nonetheless, it can still get really hot for about 10 – 15 minutes preheat time on high, which is hot enough to warm up the cast iron.
You might not be able to sear like a pro, but your foods will still cook deliciously in a reasonable amount of time for sure! On the other hand, I like how its grates have porcelain enamel to help resist rust and distribute heat evenly. In addition, it’s also nonstick so none of your food gets stuck and it’s easy to clean.
Now the real selling point of Cuisinart Petit Gourmet is its portable design. Everything about Cuisinart screams portability.
As its name implies, Petit Gourmet comes in small package. It’s ultimately convenient to bring it anywhere and store it easily. It won’t even take too much space from kitchen countertop. So it’s not only perfect for outdoor trips but also suitable for intimate families who only have small decks, patios or balcony.
Although the grill is compact, its cooking grate is still large enough to accommodate 8 steaks, 8 burgers, 6 to 10 chicken breasts, or over 4 pounds of fish at a time. And due to its size, the fire is close to its cooking surface which helps heat it up much quicker despite the lower heat output capacity. It also uses far less gas than a full-sized grill.
Despite having a heavy cast-iron grill grate, it’s pretty lightweight at 17 pounds. You definitely won’t have a problem bringing it with you. Furthermore, its briefcase-style handle makes it even easier to hand-carry it around!
And similar to Weber, the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet has its own unique design which allows you to use it as a tabletop or freestanding grill. I highly recommend you to buy it with a VeraStand since the differential cost won’t set you back a lot. On the contrary, it works like a charm for the additional flexibility and ease of transport.
The VeraStand has integrated adjustable telescoping base that quickly transforms from table use to floor stand use! It even takes just seconds to set the stand up or pack it away. Hence, you can enjoy awesome grilled flavor anytime and anywhere with great convenience.
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Cuisinart also includes a drip pan under the grill to help ease cleaning and prevent flare-ups. Likewise, its gas control knob features a twist-start ignition for a fast and convenient way of lighting the grill. And with its hassle-free assembly, one person can set it up without worries.
When you’re done with grilling, simply shut the burners off, then wait for 10 minutes to cool off before closing its lid and bringing it home. Storing and transporting is really simple. And since it’s petite, it doesn’t take up too much room and will easily fit into your car’s trunk.
The problem of having a small grill though means having a small drip pan as well! Cuisinart’s drip pan has a very small capacity to catch drippings. Hence, it quickly fills up with grease which may expose it from catching fire.
A quick way to solve this is by removing the tray and replace it with a bigger pan and put it under the grill. The pan will reduce the mess from any grease which dripped through the ventilation holes.
For just under $125, you can nab the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet with a VeraStand. But if you really want to save up, you can opt to just buy it without a stand for less than hundred bucks. Either way, it works amazingly well and highly portable for an affordable price, making it even more attractive. Not only is it light to carry with you, but also light on your wallet.
It would also be wise to buy its carrying case. Since the drip pan in the back has a tendency to fall out and its legs to slide out when carrying it upright by the handle. The case helps prevent these from happening and also provides protection from the elements when not in use. Buying it as a package will only set you back for an extra of 10 bucks.
The Petit Gourmet may be small, but it’s big on functionality. It cooks well and easy to carry wherever you go. Be it on the beach, the RV, the campsite and tailgating, you can practically take it anywhere with you!
Here’s a Quick Recap of Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet’s Sizzling Features
- Portable gas grill with 145-square-inch grilling area and telescoping stand
- Reliable 5,500 BTU stainless-steel burner and even-heating porcelain-enameled grate
- VeraStand sets up and packs away in seconds
- Has integrated lid lock keeps lid secure
- Weighs 17 pounds with briefcase-style handle makes it easy to carry
- Unique design that allows you to use the grill as a freestanding or tabletop grill
What I like
- Small footprint
- Lightweight makes it highly portable
- Can work as either tabletop or freestanding grill
- Low fuel consumption
What I don’t like
- Underpowered burner for the size
- Small drip pan
- Has plastic parts
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The Round-Up
There you have it, my friends. Hopefully, you can find your outdoor barbecue needs among the top 3 picks for the best portable gas grills!
Coleman RoadTrip LXX is the hottest portable gas grill, literally! Its 2 burners able to produce the most heat output among the 3, allowing it to have the best ability to sear steak very well. Its cooking capabilities can parallel to those bigger, full-sized grills! It’s also easy to transport and use since it’s easy to collapse and set it up again. One of the legs even becomes a handle for easy pulling.
Weber Q2200 offers flexibility, convenience, and quality in your cooking. It even comes pre-assembled so you don’t have to hassle your way of putting the pieces together. With its name at stake, you can definitely trust its marksmanship!
When we talk of portability and smallest footprint alone, the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet tops the score! A small but terrible grill with reliable cooking capabilities anywhere you go.It’s definitely a modern Cuisine of art!
Whichever you choose can surely meet your needs and provides real value for your money. Wherever you are, you won’t have to miss out on an epic barbecue experience! The best portable gas grills will be your reliable companion to satisfy your meat cravings and help make your outdoor activities more enjoyable and memorable.
If you got more suggestions and other thoughts, feel free to fire those comments below. Because I’d love to hear them all!