Grilling is a quintessentially American pastime. There are few things better than gathering a group of friends (with a cold summer beer or two) as the sounds of sizzling food ring out through your backyard over the hot flames. Sure, we’re a little romantic here, but it’s hard not to think about all the pros of grilling your own food. It’s fun, easy and makes everything taste better.
Finding the best grill can be difficult, though. There are so many options to choose from, whether it’s a gas grill, an electric grill, a charcoal grill, or a wood grill. The key thing to think about when considering a grill is how familiar you are with each method and the kind of flexibility you might want to have at some point or another. For example: are you looking for a grill that can offer up a few different ways to cook or do you exclusively want to grill in a specific way?
To help narrow things down a bit, we’ve rounded up eight of our favorites grills from beloved brands like Traeger, Weber, Char-Broil and more. No matter what you’re planning on grilling this summer or beyond, make sure it’s one of the best grills we’ve listed below.
1. Weber Genesis II S-335 Propane Gas Grill
BEST GAS GRILL
Weber is the name to beat when it comes to gas grills, and the Genesis II is one of the best the brand has to offer. A modest yet still impressive three burner setup provides cooks with the flexibility they need (doing a hot and cold zone is fast and easy) as well as a dedicated sear station that creates a hot zone to really lock in those grill-perfect sear marks and helps to decrease the overall time it takes to pre-heat the grill itself. The included side burner makes it easy to saute veggies or simmer a sauce. Additionally, the Grill app connects to the included thermometer to help you monitor your food from start to finish. Chock-full of tons of other features, this grill will likely be your one-stop shop for all your grilling needs for a long, long time.
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2. Traeger Pro 575 Wifi Pellet Grill and Smoker
BEST SMOKER
When it comes to any sort of smoker, Traeger should be your first and last stop. The brand has become synonymous with home smoking for how easy it is to smoke quality meats. The Pro 575 makes the process even easier thanks to included WiFi functionality that allows you to adjust the cooking temperature from your smartphone, so you don’t have to go back and forth to check on the status constantly. 575 square inches of cooking space is plenty for most home grillers and smokers without worry. Additionally, the Pro 575 can be used as a grill with ease, adding bonus functionality and making it more versatile. Easy to use, clean, and manage, this grill will have you looking for any excuse to smoke that perfect cut of pork.
3. Nexgrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
BEST ENTRY-LEVEL GAS GRILL
If you want the power that a gas grill provides but maybe want to get more accustomed to how it all works before upgrading, the Nexgrill 4-Burner propane gas grill is an excellent starter option. Four burner functionality makes it extremely easy to cook lots of different foods and features plenty of surface area (626 square inches, to be exact) to set up hot and cool zones. An included side burner is great for any a la carte work you may need to do. The Nexgrill also includes an internal temperature thermometer, is rust-resistant and even has a warming rack.
4. Weber Kettle Charcoal Grill
BEST CHARCOAL GRILL
For as great as food tastes on a gas grill, the flavor that comes from a charcoal grill is often unmatched. The trade-off with charcoal is that grilling becomes a little more involved, as you have to heat the coals ahead of time. However, with a 22-inch charcoal grill like this one from Weber, you’ll be ready to sear in that perfect coal flavor. The grill rolls, making it easy to move around when you need to adjust. A catch below the base collects any lingering ash, and the interior provides considerable amounts of grilling space.
5. Kamado Joe Classic III Grill
BEST KAMADO
For the unaware, kamado grills are a style of grill that originated in Japan thousands of years ago. The charcoal-based grill is shaped like an egg or an urn and allows you to grill some, bake BBQ, or even roast something on the grill. Additionally, a kamado helps retain moisture, so your food is nice and juicy every time. Kamado Joe is probably the best and most well-known brand of American kamado grills, and this version lets you cook up to three different foods at the same time.
6. Kenyon City Grill
BEST FOR APARTMENTS
For as many pros as a major city can have, one of the biggest cons is that it’s tough to find the space for a grill that also plays well with fire codes and various ordinances. The Kenyon City Grill is specifically designed to prevent flare-ups thanks to its sleek engineering. The grill itself doesn’t actually produce an open flame, which makes it safe to use indoors or outdoors in small spaces; just think of it as a super-charged George Foreman grill. The City Grill offers 155 square inches of cooking space, which might be a little tough for bulk cooking, but works perfectly if you’re making food for yourself and someone else.
7. Spark Grills Spark One Grill
BEST LOOKING
The Spark One grill from Spark looks to combine the incredible taste of charcoal with the streamlined effectiveness of an electric grill. The Spark One functions by placing, essentially, a charcoal pod into the base of the unit and then setting your temperature. The electric conduction ignites the pod and provides that rich flavor while letting you really customize that temperature. The grill itself looks incredible, with its inherently minimalist design that stands out in any yard. It’s the grill of the future, made for today.
8. Char-Broil 280 Gas Grill
BEST VALUE
You don’t need a lot of fancy features to grill good food, which is why we like the value gas grill from Char-Broil. The 280 square inches of cooking provide you enough room to grill a few different items. Additionally, even though it’s our value pick, you still get plenty of good bonus features like a side burner, rolling wheels, metal side shelves for storage space and more. It’s a grill with plenty to love, with a price that is tough to top.