Finding the right grill can feel overwhelming because of the many options. Grills differ in complexity, cooking styles, and price. You might wonder if every grill cooks the same foods. Don’t worry, we can help you decide. But first, let's break down the three main grill categories that dominate the world right now.
1. Charcoal Grills
How it works: You burn charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal wood to create glowing coals that radiate heat upward.
The Vibe: This is for the traditionalist. It takes longer to light and heat up, and you have to clean out the ash afterward, but it delivers that classic, authentic smoky flavor that you simply can't replicate with gas.
2. Gas Grills (Propane or Natural Gas)
How it works: It uses push-button ignition to light gas burners beneath the grates, utilizing metal tents or lava rocks to distribute heat.
The Vibe: This is all about ultimate convenience and speed. You turn a dial, push a button, and you're ready to cook in 5 to 10 minutes. Temperature control is as easy as turning a stove knob, making it the perfect choice for quick weeknight dinners like burgers, chicken breasts, and hot dogs.
3. Pellet Grills / Wood Pellet Smokers
How it works: An electric internal auger automatically feeds small, compressed hardwood sawdust pellets from a side hopper into a fire pot, while a fan circulates the smoke and heat.
The Vibe: This is the "set-it-and-forget-it" tech choice. You dial in a digital temperature (like a kitchen oven), and the grill automatically adjusts the pellet feed to maintain it. It is incredible for low-and-slow barbecue smoking (like ribs or brisket) and infuses food with a distinct, clean wood-fired flavor.
So now it's your turn to decide what suits you best.
1. Charcoal Grills
The Budget Choice: Weber 1-Touch Charcoal Grill
The ultimate backyard icon, this grill gives you that unmistakable smoky flavor without draining your wallet, featuring a massive 363 square inches of cooking space wrapped in classic, rust-resistant porcelain enamel. It's the perfect match for laid-back weekend gatherings where you want to crack open a cold drink and take your time flipping burgers over real wood coals.
The Mid-Range Choice: Weber 22-Inch Performer Smart Charcoal Grill
This is the ultimate upgrade for anyone who loves charcoal flavor but hates the slow, tedious startup process. With an integrated Touch-N-Go gas ignition system, you can light your coals instantly with the single press of a button while keeping your workspace clean, prepped, and organized using the heavy-duty side table and weather-protected storage bin.
The Premium Choice: Napoleon Charcoal Professional Grill Stainless Steel
This commercial-grade behemoth brings the premium construction and massive workspace of a luxury gas cart to pure charcoal purists. Built from heavy-duty stainless steel with an enormous 850 square inches of total cooking area, it features a front-loading fuel door and a hand-cranked adjustable charcoal bed, letting you raise the coals to sear steaks perfectly, or lower them down to slow-roast enough food for the entire neighborhood.
2. Gas Grills
Not a fan of charcoal? No worries, gas grills are great alternatives!
The Budget Choice: Weber Spirit EX-325 3-Burner Smart Liquid Propane Gas Grill
The ultimate multitasker's best friend, this 32,000 BTU smart grill takes all the guesswork out of weeknight dinners by sending step-by-step alerts and real-time temperature countdowns straight to your phone. It's the perfect match for busy homeowners who want to effortlessly prep a flawless, restaurant-quality sear on their steaks while still hanging out with family and entertaining guests.
The Mid-Range Choice: Napoleon Rogue PRO-S 625 RSIB 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill with Infrared Burner
If you love throwing massive backyard parties, this 5-burner powerhouse steps up the game with an enormous cooking area and heavy-duty, rust-resistant stainless steel construction. It is built for true outdoor entertaining, featuring an integrated infrared rear rotisserie burner for slow-roasting succulent meals, a steakhouse-style infrared side sear station, and backlit SafetyGlow knobs that turn bright red when the gas is flowing so you can safely keep the grill session going long after dark.
The Premium Choice: Napoleon Prestige PRO 665 Elite Natural Gas Grill with Electric Smoker Box
This is the absolute king of the backyard, an elite, 8-burner luxury cooking station delivering a massive 99,000 BTUs and 1,140 square inches of pure culinary firepower. It treats you to professional-grade versatility with an integrated wood chip smoker tray, a high-heat infrared side sear station, a built-in ice bucket, and LED Spectrum knobs that cycle through colors to make your patio the ultimate night-time entertainment destination.
3. Pellet Grill
Still, if none of those work for you, pellet is definitely the way to go then!
The Budget Choice: Coleman Cookout 700 Pellet Grill
The perfect, wallet-friendly entryway into wood-fired cooking, this versatile smoker packs a massive 20-pound hopper and an intuitive digital control system to manage an automated temperature range from 180°F to 500°F. Offering a total of 700 square inches of cooking space, it lets you effortlessly bake, roast, braise, or slow-smoke up to 34 burgers at a time with that rich, authentic hardwood flavor.
The Mid-Range Choice: Traeger TAILGATER 20 Portable Wood Pellet Grill
This is the ultimate upgrade for tailgaters, campers, and apartment dwellers who refuse to compromise on flavor just because they are on the move. Engineered with EZ-Fold legs for easy transport, it features a Digital Arc Controller that lets you lock in temperatures with 5-degree precision and a "Keep Warm" mode, ensuring you can bring effortless, 6-in-1 wood-fired versatility straight to the stadium parking lot or your balcony.
The Premium Choice: Broil King Regal Pellet 500 Smoker and Grill
The ultimate high-end powerhouse for serious pitmasters, this massive 14-gauge steel machine boasts 864 square inches of total cooking space and a massive 22-pound hopper. Equipped with a premium electric rotisserie kit, reversible heavy-duty cast iron grids, and an advanced WiFi/Bluetooth digital interface that lets you seamlessly transition from low-and-slow smoking at 225°F to high-heat searing at 600°F, it brings uncompromising commercial durability straight to your patio.
Pellet options
- Weber All-Natural Hardwood Pellets 40% Hickory/60% Oak/0% Fillers for Wood Pellet Grills
- Broil King Hickory Wood Pellets
BONUS GRILL
The Bonus Choice: Blackstone Culinary 22-Inch 2-Burner Liquid Propane Griddle with Flex-Fold Legs
This flat-top wildcard brings complete visual variety to the list, moving away from traditional grates to offer an elite, restaurant-style flat-top cooking surface. Delivering 21,000 BTUs across two independent heat zones with highly efficient Omnivore Griddle Plate Technology, its collapsible roll-and-go legs fold up effortlessly, making it the ultimate mobile breakfast, lunch, and dinner station to take with you to any campsite, tailgate, or neighborhood block party.
Accessories
You're going to need some accessories for your grill, whether it's to clean it or flip some patties, you can't grill without them!
