The Portable Charcoal Grill has been around for centuries and still remains a popular device. There are portable versions that you can take anywhere, as well as mobile ones which provide an excellent smokey flavor on your road trips or tailgating parties. These grills typically work best when placed near direct heat like fire pits so it’s easy to cook without having any trouble with hot spots in order to get consistent results time after time.
Portable charcoal grills are the perfect camping companions. They can be used in any setting and don’t require electricity, so you won’t have to worry about an accident like one might with a fuel-burning device or complicated appliance at home. With decent care for these types of items over many years, they could even last decades.
Grilling is a favorite pastime for many people. And, with the right grill, you can cook all sorts of food. Whether it be chicken on the bone or veggies without any fat, there are plenty of ways to make your grilling experience enjoyable. However, not every grill is created equal and some may not suit your needs, as well as others, might. That’s why we’ve put together this comparison table so that you can find the perfect portable charcoal grill for your needs.
List of 10 Best Portable Charcoal Grills Reviews
1. Weber Original Kettle Premium Portable Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black
- Introducing the Weber Original Kettle Premium Portable Charcoal Grill. This grill is perfect for backyard barbecues and outdoor events. It can hold up to 13 burgers made with a Weber burger press and comes with a built-in lid thermometer to ensure your food is cooked perfectly every time.
- The rust-resistant aluminum dampers help keep the heat consistent, while the one-touch cleaning system with a high-capacity ash catcher makes cleanup a breeze. The porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat, so your food will stay warm until you’re ready to eat. Plus, the cooking grate is hinged for easy adding of charcoal while grilling.
2. Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill
- Sizzle up some delicious burgers this summer with the Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill. This grill is perfect for picnics, camping trips, or backyard barbecues. The 13-burger capacity means that there’s plenty of room to cook for a crowd, and the one-touch cleaning system ensures easy cleanup.
- The porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat well and won’t rust or peel. The adjustable dampers provide easy temperature control, so you can cook your burgers just the way you like them. Plus, the lid hook prevents the lid from touching the ground when grilling.
3. Char-Griller 2137 Outlaw Portable Charcoal Grill, 950 Square Inch, Black
- This premium charcoal grill is perfect for those who want to cook their food at high heat. With its heavy-duty steel construction and powder coating finish, this barrel-style BBQ smoker can handle almost anything you put on it.
- The massive 950 square inch total cooking area will fit 38 burgers, 725 of which is primary-sized. There’s also a 225 sq in warming rack for your convenience.
- The barbecue grill is a very useful tool that can be used to cook food. It features cast iron cooking grates, adjustable fire grate and bottom storage shelf with warming rack stay-cool wooden handle wheels for easy mobility front & side shelves complete your kitchen look when you’re done using it.
4. Cuisinart CCG190RB Inch Portable Charcoal Grill, 14″, Red
- The 150-square inch chrome-plated cooking rack gives you plenty of space to cook your favorite meal. It’s strong and durable so that it can hold even more food than most other grates on the market.
- The Char-Broil American Gourmet Grill offers users the ultimate temperature control, with a dual venting system that distributes smoke evenly throughout your grill. Three secure lid locks make it easy to transport and store safely when not being used as well.
- The Camping and Tailgating Portable Grill is the perfect size for any occasion! It’s small enough to take anywhere but big on cooking power. The 14 x 14-inch aluminum body means that this little guy can cook up plenty of food – whether you’re camping or just hosting an outdoor party at home with friends over during the fall season.
5. Char-Griller E06614 AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Portable Charcoal Grill
- The portable charcoal grill is perfect for those who love to cook on the go. With its convenient handles and compact frame, it’s easy enough that you can even use this at home in your backyard or while camping.
- The newest and most technologically advanced barbecue in your neighborhood. The Insulated Design with Locking lid traps smoke, heat, moisture like expensive ceramic kamados for flavorful food. You can use less charcoal to cook delicious meals that won’t stick around too long on the grill- even if there’s a strong wind outside.
- Built to last, the cooking grates on this heavy-duty smoker are made from thick steel and coated in durable powder. The food won’t stick thanks to casting iron material that’s designed for heating up quickly so you can get back into cooking as soon as possible.
- This is the perfect outdoor kitchen for all your grilling needs. With an easy-to-use control panel and durable stainless steel construction, you won’t have any problem managing heat levels or cleaning up after delicious food.
6. Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II Portable Charcoal Grill
- The 2-tier divide and conquer flexible cooking system will transform your grill into the most powerful tool in all ofresses. This revolutionary multi-level half-moon design allows you to cook different foods at various temperatures or styles without any loss of productivity.
- The Kontrol Tower Top Vent is a sleek and stylish addition to your vehicle that ensures you stay smoking fresh no matter the weather. Using an innovative design with two adjustable settings, this top vent can maintain consistent airflow management during dome opening or closing ensuring precise control over how much smoke enters into each corner of our car’s interior as well as keeping harmful rainwater away from its inner workings so it stays dry at all times.
- With a single finger, you can remove your grill’s weight and enjoy the most comfortable grilling experience there is. The patented air lift hinge reduces the dome-related burden on shoulders with its efficient design that lifts up easily when needed for easy handling or lowers back down into place after use without ever leaving behind any heavy parts as other brands do.
7. Weber Jumbo Joe Portable Charcoal Grill 18 Inch Black
- The Weber Jumbo Joe Portable Charcoal Grill is perfect for the grilling aficionado on the go. This compact and lightweight grill hold up to eight burgers, so you can feed a small army with ease. The porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat and won’t rust or peel, making this grill a durable option for any outdoor activity.
- With dampers that allow you to easily control the temperature, you’ll be able to cook your food just the way you like it. And when you’re finished grilling, the Tuck-N-Carry lid lock doubles as a lid holder so you don’t have to put your grill down on the ground.
8. Weber Jumbo Joe Portable Charcoal Grill 18 Inch Black
- The Weber Jumbo Joe Portable Charcoal Grill is perfect for the grilling aficionado on the go. This compact and lightweight grill hold up to eight burgers, so you can feed a small army with ease. The porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat and won’t rust or peel, making this grill a durable option for any outdoor activity.
- With dampers that allow you to easily control the temperature, you’ll be able to cook your food just the way you like it. And when you’re finished grilling, the Tuck-N-Carry lid lock doubles as a lid holder so you don’t have to put your grill down on the ground.
9. Oklahoma Joe’s 19402088 Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill, Black
- This Oklahoma Joe’s 19402088 Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill is perfect for the outdoorsman who wants to grill up a storm. The heavy-duty steel construction ensures durability, while the thick cast-iron grates produce a perfect sear every time.
- The height-adjustable charcoal tray lets you cook low and slow or crank up the heat, while the large air dampers allow for accurate airflow control. When you’re done cooking, cleanup is easy with the full-size removable ash pan.
10. Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Portable Charcoal Grill
- Weber’s Go-Anywhere portable charcoal grill is perfect for on-the-go grilling. The compact and lightweight design makes it easy to take with you wherever you go, while the porcelain-enameled lid and base keep your food warm and prevent rusting or peeling.
- The lid locks for easy transport and dampers allow you to control the temperature inside your grill. With a primary cooking area of 160 square inches, this grill is perfect for cooking up burgers, hot dogs, and chicken breasts. The durable plated steel cooking grate makes grilling easy and cleanup a breeze.
Tips and guide to buying the best Portable Charcoal Grill
There are a lot of variables when picking out the best portable charcoal grill, but we’ve done all your work for you by checking and balancing customer reviews. Here’s what our team considered:
Size
Manufacturers make all sorts of claims when it comes to size. And, with different sizes come differences in grilling area. You might want a small Portable Charcoal Grill if you are only cooking for yourself or others maybe once every weekend, but typically one that is large enough to cook for families and friends will be better suited for your needs.
Fuel type
Charcoal is the most popular fuel used in portable grills, but some may have options to use wood chips or other combustibles instead of charcoal briquettes. Gas fuels are also available so you can get really close to propane-style results. If there are burners on both sides of the Portable Charcoal Grill, they’ll probably have more control over the heat distribution compared to large grills.
Power source
Some grills require electricity so you can plug them in, while others are strictly off-grid devices that will run solely on charcoal or whatever combustible you choose to use with them. This is the tradeoff that many people make when they choose one over the other, but it really comes down to your preferences and what you’ll be using the grill for.
Ease of use
There’s no question that some grills are easier to operate than others. If you want a Portable Charcoal Grill that is practically ready to go when you take it out of the box, then you should consider one with a push-button igniter or electric start. These little conveniences can make all the difference when you’re in a hurry or just don’t feel like fooling around with matches and newspapers.
Weight
Another thing to consider is how portable you want your grill to be. If you plan on taking it with you on picnics, camping trips, or other outings, then you’ll want to find one that’s not too heavy. Lighter grills are typically easier to move around even when they’re full of food and hot coals.
Safety
These grills are used in all different types of settings, but some might be safer than others. For example, many people purchase portable charcoal grills for tailgating so there is the chance that there could be open flames near power sources like generators and fuel canisters. This can be dangerous if people aren’t careful about fire safety while using the grill. So, look for ones with built-in ash catchers to keep hot coals contained when you’re done grilling or risk being fined or even having your grill confiscated.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a lot to keep in mind when shopping for the best portable charcoal grill. With so many features available in one product, it may seem like an overwhelming task to choose one that will meet all your needs. But with these tips and recommendations written in this article, we hope you’ll be able to make a wise decision about which grill will be the best for you.
We have shared with you the best portable charcoal grills in 10 different categories to help make this experience stress-free and easy for you. Our team has taken care of all your needs and wants by creating a great comparison table that we hope will guide you through making an informed decision on which grill is right for your outdoor cooking needs. Which one did we pick? Let’s find out. Buy now the product from our list below, or click here if it’s not available (should link to another website). Happy shopping!
Moo Lisa is the founder and editor of Food 4 Kitchen. She graduated in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She started learning about food and kitchen utensils in high school and still pursues it to this day.