Are you looking for a portable charcoal grill that you can take with you on your next camping trip or picnic? If so, then you've come to the right place!
In this post, we'll give you an overview of the best portable grills on the market, and guess what? They range from only $30-$200 and they're all great! You might wonder if they're any good compared with other portable grill units such as pellet and propane gas, and the answer is yes, they are good. They have fewer parts on them, so the price can be kept to a minimum, and it also means that less can go wrong.
So, read on to find the perfect grill for your next outdoor adventure!
How We Choose
When looking for the best portable charcoal grill for you, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind. When considering our initial long list of about 20 units we rated them against the following criteria:
- The size of the grill, as you'll want to choose a size that's large enough to accommodate your cooking needs but small enough to be easily transported.
- The weight, as some portable charcoal units aren't really very portable at all, although all of the units we have on our recommended list are truly mobile.
- Features you need (or want). For example, some grills come with side shelves or built-in storage options, which can be handy if you're short on space.
- Customer reviews, as they provide a great idea of what to expect from a product.
Best Mid-Price High-Quality Charcoal Grill
Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill, Black
What We Love
Introducing the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill, which is the perfect grill for those who love to cook on the go.
We love the tuck and carry lid lock and carry handles which are great for easy portability, and also the built-in lid hangers that enable you to rest the lid on the side of the cooking grate to create an effective barrier against the wind.
We also love this Amazon's Choice product that has fantastic customer feedback, and at only 6 pounds this is easily carried in one hand by most people.
What You Need To Know
This compact and lightweight grill is perfect for 2-3 people, or more if you'll keep the food coming.
It features a porcelain-enameled lid and base that retain heat and won’t rust or peel and dampers that allow easy cooking temperature control inside your grill.
The durable triple-nickel-coated steel grill grate retains heat and is easy to clean.
With a primary cooking area of 160 square inches of cooking space, this portable grill can accommodate up to six burgers made with a Weber burger press.
Don't forget to keep it clean, dry, and out of the elements if you want this unit to last, as even a quality Weber product will deteriorate if not looked after.
So whether you’re grilling at home or on the go, the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill is the perfect choice for delicious grilled meals!
Dimensions: 11.5"D x 19.5"W x 15"H
Hands Down Best Quality Portable Charcoal Grill in This Class
Oklahoma Joe's Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill, Black
What We Love
Meet the Oklahoma Joe's Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill: your new best friend for grilling at home and on the go.
What isn't there to love about this tough little grill?
This tabletop unit is packed with features, and one of our favorites is the height-adjustable charcoal tray that lets you grill with high heat or cook low and slow.
Another favorite is the full-size, removable ash pan that catches grease, ash, and drippings, so clean-up is a breeze.
This unit even has a professional temperature gauge with glow-in-the-dark accents to help perfect your cooking.
What You Need To Know
This grill is made of heavy-duty steel for supreme durability, which of course you'd expect from an Oklahoma Joe's grill! While it'll last, it is a heavy unit at 48.5 pounds, so may not be for everyone.
The Rambler features two thick, cast-iron grill grates that are perfect for searing steaks and other meats, as well as 218 square inches of cooking space.
The lid-mounted smoke stack helps to control airflow and temperature, while the large air dampers on the side of the grill allow you to regulate the heat.
The Rambler also features easy-to-grab rubberized handles on the lid that stay cool to the touch, making it easy and safe to open and close the grill.
When you're done cooking, simply remove the cooking grates and they're easy to clean.
So if you're looking for a durable, high-quality charcoal grill portable enough to take with you (albeit on the heavy side) then look no further than the Oklahoma Joe's Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill!
Dimensions: 26.8" length x 19.5" width x 21.8" height
Best Kamado Style for Price Point
Char-Griller Akorn JR. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill, Red
What We Love
Looking for an amazing kamado-style grill that you can take with you anywhere? Look no further than the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill!
We love this unit as it provides kamado cooking style at an awesome price.
In case you aren't sure, a kamado is a ceramic egg-shaped barbecue, originally from Japan, and this style of cooking is becoming more and more popular with BBQers.
We love the benefits of kamado, such as their heat retention for evenly cooked food, airflow adjustability to control heat and smoke for both direct and indirect cooking, and this little baby is portable so you can take it with you on camping trips or to tailgating parties.
What You Need To Know
The heavy-duty construction of the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. (heavy-gauge powder-coated steel) and its triple-walled insulated design make it durable and easy to use, and its cast iron cooking grates mean great heat retention and are built to last.
Heat levels can be controlled easily with the adjustable dual dampers (one at the top and one at the bottom) and built-in thermometer, and the Easy Dump ash pan makes for quick clean-ups.
This great little egg-shaped griller has a 155 square-inch cooking surface that can grill up to 8 burgers at once.
At 33 pounds, it's not particularly heavy and is considered portable for most people.
As always, I recommend getting a cover, and this AKORN pairs with the Char-Griller 6755 AKORN Jr. Grill Cover and 6211 AKORN Jr. Smokin' Stone (both sold separately).
So, if you're looking to try an entry-level kamado then consider the Char-Griller AKORN Kamado, as it's ready to deliver juicy, mouth-watering results every time, and at a fantastic price! Oh, and be sure to check out our FAQs at the bottom of this review for the best types of charcoal to use in this unit.
Dimensions: 20” length x 20” width x 26” height
What We Love
Looking for a reliable and easy-to-use portable charcoal grill? Then check out the Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill.
Yes, Webers are good enough to get two spots in this review article as they are excellent little units!
We love the simple design of this little griller, and of course, being a Weber, even though it's not at the high end of the market it's a pretty decent quality all-round portable charcoal unit. Thousands of great Amazon reviews are a testament to this too!
What You Need To Know
Yes, this unit is the baby brother of the Weber Jumbo Joe Grill which is 18" (as opposed to this grill's 14"). At 9.5 pounds this Smokey Joe is lightweight and compact, yet still sturdy and durable enough to handle whatever you throw at it.
The porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat well, so your food will always come out perfectly cooked.
And if you need to adjust the temperature, simply use the dampers to easily control the heat inside the grill.
When you're done cooking, the plated steel charcoal grate is easy to clean.
Note that this is quite a small grill and is fine for about 5 hamburgers at a time, so if you'd like something a little larger that's still portable then consider the Jumbo Joe Grill which is 5 inches larger.
3D interactive assembly instructions for this product are available through the free BILT app.
Grab your Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill today and hit the road!
Dimensions: Lid closed 17" height x 14.2" width x 14.5" depth
What We Love
Looking for a grill that's easy to transport and perfect for smaller spaces? Check out the Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill!
We love that this grill is #1 Best Seller in Amazon's Charcoal Grills category, and that's because of its simplicity and great price!
This unit has an ash catcher that can be emptied when you're done grilling, making it super easy to clean.
It only weighs 4.2 pounds so can easily be carried around with one arm.
What You Need to Know
This compact grill is just the right size to feed 2-3 people, and more if you just keep the food drip-feeding off the grill!
This Cuisinart grill features a 150 square inches of cooking rack (chrome-plated), a dual venting system for temperature control, three secure lid locks which are great for transportation, and an enamel-coated firebox with the ash catcher.
Note that customer feedback is mostly excellent, however, it isn't an expensive grill and some feedback reference it not being particularly sturdy and that it won't last forever, so please do consider this when deciding if it's right for you.
Of course, you can extend its life by keeping it dry and out of the elements, and this advice applies to any grill you are looking to buy.
So whether you're looking for a convenient way to grill at home or on the go, the Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill could be the right option for you!
Dimensions: 14.6" depth x 14" width x 15" height
Best Hibachi for Price Point
Giantex Charcoal Grill Hibachi Grill, Portable Cast Iron Grill
What We Love
In Japan, a Hibachi (literally meaning a fire bowl) is a traditional heating unit, typically square or round, and usually quite small. If you love this style of cooking then and want one that's very reasonably priced, then take a look at the Amazon's Choice Giantex charcoal Hibachi grill, which is perfect for camping and outdoor picnics.
We love the overall design of this unit at this price point, from the air-regulating door, the front fire gate, and its compact and sturdy cast iron construction.
We also love the double-sided grilling 'net' with two different heights.
What You Need to Know
The Giantex Hibachi grill is made for excellent meals, allowing you to fully enjoy the outdoor life.
This cast iron unit has great heat retention and thermal conductivity and is built to last for years.
Heat is easily adjusted by sliding the air-regulating door sideways, depending on what you're cooking and how hot you want your grill.
Having the fire gate at the front is convenient when adding or removing charcoal and typically makes it quite safe to access.
At only 20 pounds, this unit is very portable, and it's easy to store and transport.
Clean-up is easy with the detachable charcoal basket and grill grate.
So, if you're looking for a well-priced portable Hibachi grill then add the Giantex Charcoal Hibachi Grill to your shortlist of contenders!
Dimensions: 15.5" length x 10.5" width x 7" height
Best Heavy-Duty Portable Charcoal Grill that Doubles as Side Fire Box
Char-Griller E82424 Smoker Side Fire Box Portable Charcoal Grill, Black
What We Love
Yes, we have another Char-Griller unit in this review article, as they make a variety of great grills!
We love the large 250" cooking area for a portable grill, which can cook up to 12 burgers at once.
We also love that this unit can double as a side fire box for most Char-Griller outdoor grills and smokers, meaning awesome Texas-style offset smoking.
What You Need to Know
At around 40 pounds, the Char-Griller Smoker Side Fire Box Portable Grill isn't the lightest unit, but with its carry handles it's very portable and the weight is due to the heavy gauge powder-coated steel for long life and maximum durability. The heavy-duty construction is also great for heat retention when cooking and smoking.
Heat is controlled with adjustable dual dampers and the unit is quick and easy to clean with its removable easy-dump ash pan.
While this is a solid unit and it will last for years, of course as always I do recommend also getting the cover for an even longer life, and this unit pairs with the Char-Griller 2455 Table Top Grill/Side Fire Box Cover.
So, if you're looking for a solid compact grill that you can take on the road then seriously consider the Char-Griller Smoker Side Fire Box Portable Charcoal Grill as right for you!
Dimensions: 21” length x 18” width x 20" height
7 Awesome Portable Charcoal Grills on the Market FAQs
Below includes a list of the most frequently asked questions about the best low-cost portable charcoal grills on the market, and they will help you work out which portable grill is right for you before making a purchasing decision today.
What is the difference between charcoal and gas grills?
A charcoal grill uses charcoal as the heat source, while a gas grill uses propane or natural gas.
What are the benefits of a portable charcoal grill?
There are many benefits to using portable charcoal grills. Firstly, they're typically less expensive than other grill types, and once you get the hang of lighting charcoal they're very easy to set up and use. All you need is some charcoal, lighter fluid and a match or lighter, and you're good to go!
Portable charcoal grills are very versatile. They can be used for cooking virtually anything, from hamburgers and hot dogs to steak and vegetables. Plus, they're very light, so are perfect for tailgating or picnicking since they're so easy to transport.
Also, some would argue that charcoal produces the best flavors when it comes to cooking!
How do I start a charcoal grill?
There are several ways to start a charcoal grill, including with a chimney starter, a fire starter, or even lighter fluid. Alternatively, scrumpled up newspaper under charcoal with a little persistence.
Once you've litten your charcoal (with one of the above methods), then you need to wait for it to heat up before cooking your food. The best way to tell if they're hot enough is by looking for small flames that will be coming off of the coals. Once the coals have turned into these small flames, they'll be ready for cooking.
Be patient with this as it does take about 10-15 minutes to preheat a charcoal grill properly.
How much charcoal do I need to use?
It depends on the size of your grill and how much food you're cooking, (and the size of the coals), but as a rule of thumb, for a small grill, you would need about 10-15 pieces of charcoal. For a large grill, you would need about 25+ pieces of charcoal.
If you need to add coal then use tongs to place them on the existing charcoal bed.
What kind of charcoal works best in a kamado-style grill?
There are many types of charcoal that can be used in a kamado-style grill.
Some like to use hardwood charcoal because it burns hot and gives a strong flavor to food, while others prefer using lump charcoal because it doesn't produce any ash and is less likely to cause flare-ups.
Whatever type of charcoal you choose, it's important to make sure the pieces aren't too big, or they will take longer to light and will not get as hot as smaller pieces, and not too small, as they will burn up quickly and may not generate enough heat to cook food properly.
Does Charcoal burn faster with the lid on or off?
It depends on the type of charcoal. Briquettes, for example, burn faster with the lid on because they're denser and have less oxygen available to them.
Lump charcoal, on the other hand, burns slower and more evenly with the lid off because it has more oxygen available to it.
What are the parts of a charcoal grill called?
There are many parts to a charcoal grill. The most important parts are the grates, where the food is cooked, and the bottom chamber, where the charcoal is lit and stored (with kettle grills, the lower chamber is shaped like a kettle, which is where it got its name).
Other important parts include the lid, which seals in heat and smoke; the venting system or in some instances the chimney, which allows air to flow in and around the coals; and the ash catcher, which collects ashes from the coal fire. Some models have legs and wheels.
7 Awesome Portable Charcoal Grills on the Market
So, there you have it — our roundup of the seven best portable charcoal grills on the market for less than $200! We hope this guide has helped you narrow down your choices and find the perfect grill for your next outdoor adventure.
Happy grilling, and thanks for reading!
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