Best Small Gas Grill – Comprehensive Buying Guide
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The Best Small Gas Grills of 2020
If you’re looking for a quick and easy grilling experience, but space issues are holding you back, we’ve scoured the entire market to find the best small gas grill for you.
Aside from having more compact frames that make transport and storage easier, these small gas grills have plenty of other benefits to offer.
Top Pick – Weber (E-210) Spirit II LP Outdoor Gas Grill
Overall, we recommend the Weber E210. It wins in every category: heat distribution, durability, and heating time. It also comes with premium features like porcelain coatings, Flavorizer bars, and a stainless steel build that larger more expensive models sport.
People often think that smaller gas grills are harder to cook with and that the heat drops quickly whenever there’s a breeze. People also believe that a small gas grill equates to less power and lower-quality components that won’t last a long time, again they’re wrong.
Just because you’re short on available space, it doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on quality. Sure, you have fewer burners to work with, and you don’t get a built-in rotisserie, but the cooking quality should never be sacrificed.
We’ve created a comprehensive list of our favorite and what we think are the best small gas grills that are sure to fit in smaller spaces whilst living up to your cooking expectations!
Top 10 Best Small Gas Grills
The Grill Kings research, test, and recommend the best products. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
1. Weber (E-210) Spirit II LP Outdoor Grill
This small gas grill delivers the convenient features that Weber typically offer with their larger models into a smaller and neater frame. Don’t be fooled by its size though, the E-210 still packs quite a punch. It features a 450 square inch cooking space and a total power of 26,500 BTU’s. On top of that, you also get a 90-inch warming rack.
Weber upgraded this unit by implementing its new Gs4 system, which uses two burners supported by high-quality tubes made with stainless steel. This system isn’t just the typical tubing you get from most burners. They don’t rust, get damaged, or leak gas as easily. In fact, they’re specially built to be sturdy and long-lasting.
Despite having only two burners, this unit delivers the feel of a convenient portable kitchen. It features two drop-down tables for additional prepping space and six hanging hooks to store your tools on.
You also get Weber’s unique “Flavorizer” bar, electric ignition, and porcelain-coated grates. All of these features are added in such a small frame to give you the highest quality grilling experience.
What sets the Weber apart from the rest is how it consistently cooks your food quickly and evenly. We’ve tested this grill using a variety of different food items: hot dogs, ribs, chops, chicken breasts, burgers, steaks, etc. And all were evenly cooked without the experience of any cold spots.
While this unit doesn’t come with its own side burner, this is hardly a deal-breaker. Most of us don’t even need one. So if space is your main concern, we recommend the E-210 for an excellent cooking experience. Just have a look at its reviews on Amazon and you’ll see that a majority of its users are extremely satisfied with its performance.
2. Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner Cabinet Gas Grill
This small gas grill gives you two burners with a total power of 24,000 BTU’s, which is slightly less than the E-210, but the difference is not too substantial. It features a 300 square inch cooking space and an additional 100 square inch warming rack that’s perfect for keeping your food hot or toasting some buns.
The grates are coated in porcelain to allow for easier maintenance and even cooking. On top of that, it features a grease pan that collects all the gunk, making it easy to clean and remove. It also features an effective electronic ignition for easy and quick start-ups. It doesn’t have Weber’s patented Flavorizer bar though.
The storage cabinet has enough room to fit a propane tank and your grilling accessories. The foldable side tables let you tuck them neatly away when you’re not using them. You also get lockable casters for extra security. This feature deters any would-be thieves who think that small gas grills are an easy target.
The Performance 300 is a solid choice that we recommend if you want a similar build to Weber’s Spirit II without the extra features. If you check out this grill’s reviews on Amazon, it shows a health 4+ star ranking.
3. Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill
This Coleman unit deserves a high spot on our list for having an A+ in durability. The brand specifically built this unit with travel and transport in mind. So you know how tough and reliable it is. You’ll have an easier time bringing this unit along because of its collapsible design that can help you fit the whole thing in the trunk of your car.
It also sports an impressive 285 square inch cooking size, which is a similar size to the units above. It delivers 20,000 BTU’s of power and porcelain-coated grates that help with cleanup and even cooking.
This unit is easy to use from start to finish. It features an “InstaStart” ignition that lights everything up quickly without the need for matches. And after you’re done cooking, you can remove the grease trays for more efficient cleaning.
What we love best about this small gas grill is its interchangeable cooking system. You can switch between conventional stove grates and a griddle top if the need arises. This feature is useful if you’d like a bit of variety in your cooking.
We recommend the RoadTrip 285 for any outdoor lover who needs a compact and portable grilling unit. Just have a look at its reviews on Amazon, and you’ll see that many of its users love how it performs.
4. Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
This single burner grill lives up to the Weber brand’s quality and reliability. You get an 8,500 BTU burner made with stainless steel and a 189 square inch cooking area. Aside from that, the unit sports porcelain-enameled iron grates, an easy-start ignition system, and an aluminum lid.
You also get convenient side tables that provide enough room for you to do some prep work on. The Weber Q2000 comes with an effective burner valve and an overall design that’s portable and lightweight. You can perch it on a stable surface or you can purchase a frame for more versatility.
We recommend this unit if you want a quality grill that’s portable but still has enough room for a few servings.
5. Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner
So what else do you get from this Char-Broil grill? Well, it offers a 360 square inch cooking space and three burners that deliver a total power of 30,000 BTU’s of heat. The porcelain-coated grates create a non-stick surface and simplify your clean up. Also, the Piezo ignition system provides a quick, easy, and reliable burner start-up.
If you choose to include the optional side burner, its 8,000 BTU power is excellent for side dishes or sauces. You also have the option of having two side shelves installed if you want extra storage.
We recommend this small gas grill if you are on a budget.
6. Fuego Element Gas Grill F24C Carbon Steel
This unit is aptly named Fuego for having the ability to bring in the heat quickly. In just five minutes, it can reach up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, its dual heating system gives you two cooking options, one for slow-cooking and the other for rapid cooking. So regardless of what you’re planning to cook, the Fuego F24C’s multiple heating elements let you grill them to perfection.
The overall design is very compact. Most grills in the market sport flat and horizontal designs, but this one stands tall, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your storage situation. This grill doesn’t have any hot spot issues, so you get even heating throughout. It can also cook quite a big batch considering its slim frame.
When we tested it, we were able to fit in 14 burgers without much issue. If you’re looking for an unconventional unit that delivers excellent results, we recommend the F24C.
7. Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro 40,800-BTU Gas Grill
Because of its slightly larger size, the Char-Griller E3001 packs a ton of power between its three burners. You get 40,800 BTU’s that evenly heat its 438 square inch cooking space. It also features a side burner (12,000 BTU’s) that’s useful for extra prep. On top of that; you get a warming rack sized at 192 square inches.
The grate’s porcelain coating ensures easy cleaning and even grilling. And ignition is fast and easy due to its electronic system.
If you can accommodate a slightly larger gas grill, we highly recommend this powerful option.
8. Royal Gourmet GG2102 2-Burner Cabinet Gas Grill
It features two burners powered at 24,000 BTU’s and a decent sized 300 square inch cooking space. Also, a convenient 105 square inch warming rack. Both the cooking grates and lid are coated in porcelain to prevent rusting and allow for easier cleaning. Cleaning is also made easy due to the removable grease drip cup.
The large metal side table offers additional workspace and is also convenient for placing your favorite seasonings. The cabinet offers additional storage space to place a propane tank, BBQ tools, and other accessories.
The grill’s compact design and foldable side tables make it perfect for smaller patios and decks.
9. Cuisinart CGG-180TS Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill
The Petit Gourmet features a grilling space of 145 square inches with porcelain-enameled cooking grates. This can easily fit 8 average-sized burgers in one batch. The burner features 5,500 BTU’s of power, distributing heat evenly and efficiently.
While it might seem a bit lacking in features and power compared to the other small gas grills on our list, it is the smallest and most compact grill out of our picks. So if you want something very easy to store or compact enough to take anywhere, this one’s for you.
10. Cuisinart CGG-306 Chef’s Style Stainless Tabletop Grill
It sports a similar size as a panini press, except it packs a lot more power. This grill gives you the taste of outdoor cooking in the comfort of your own home. It features two stainless-steel burners with a combined power of 20,000 BTUs. It also has temperature control, twist start-type ignition, and foldable legs.
We recommend this small gas grill if you’re a grill lover who wants to have a similar indoor experience, with the added convenience of portability.
Conclusion
Just because you have a small outdoor or indoor space, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the fun and amazing taste grilling offers. Our top 10 small gas grills list provides a plentiful choice of grills that fit just about anywhere, but still provide the power and features of larger units.
However, if we were to pick the overall best small gas grill, it would have to be the Weber Spirit E-210. Although not the cheapest grill on our list, you just can’t go wrong with a Weber grill.
Image credit: Carnivore Style
