Tailgating on an empty stomach is a terrible idea, don’t even try it, especially if you’re downing adult beverages. You won’t like the hangover the morning after. That’s why tailgaters like me have an eye for quality grills. You probably feel the same and that’s why you’re going through Camp Chef Flat Top Grill reviews to determine whether this is the grill you want as your sidekick at the next tailgating event.

Well, we did the research so you don’t have to, and we have everything you need to know in this Camp Chef Flat Top Grill review. If what we dug up is anything to go by, you may want to read this review carefully. Consider yourself warned!

About Camp Chef Grills:

Company Highlights

• Company Name: Camp Chef
• URL: CampChef.com
• Address: 3985 N 75 W, Hyde Park, UT 84318-4111
• Business Management: Ty Measom, President

Camp Chef is a subsidiary of Logan Outdoor Products, LLC that was recently acquired by Vista Outdoor, LLC – a manufacturer of ammunition, guns and related equipment for hunters, military and law enforcement agencies. Camp Chef was founded in 1900 in Hyde Park, UT on the way to becoming one of the most popular grill manufacturers around.

Camp Chef Flat Top Grill Features:

Feature Highlights

• Fuel Source: Propane
• Cooking Capacity: 604 Sq. In.
• Burners: 4, 12,000 BTUs each
• Construction: Coated steel
• Elevation: Stand-up
• Size & Weight: 62.5″L, 22”W 37″H, 142 lbs
• Assembly: Required

If I’m shopping for a tailgate grill, its features should tell me what to expect, and how much fun I can have with it. So here’s what makes up the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill:

604 Square Inch Cooking Capacity – With just over 600 square inches of cooking space, your crew should stay fed throughout the event. If you’re roasting steaks or burgers, there’s a 500 square inch stainless steel grate beneath the removable flat top griddle.

Pre-seasoned Flat Top Griddle – They claim you don’t need to go through the whole seasoning process with the griddle as it always remains cook-ready. If you choose not to take their word for it, vegetable oil is always great for seasoning griddles. Underneath the griddle there are patterned dents that help distribute heat evenly, so you shouldn’t expect cold spots.

48,000 BTU Cooking Power – Each independently controlled burner contributes 12,000 BTUs of cooking power. They also added flame tamers above every burner to prevent flare-ups. The grease will just flow down a catch pan underneath the burners.

Folding Side Shelves and Wheels – You get two collapsible side shelves on either side of the grill, and two caster wheels for easy transport. They also placed two storage shelves under the firebox summing up the overall look of the grill.

Other Notable Features:

• Grease management system
• Grease tray
• Catch bucket
• Micro adjust griddle levelers
• Propane tank holder.
• Adjustable leg levelers.

Camp Chef Flat Top Grill Cleaning & Maintenance:

Proper cleaning and maintenance is the mark of a true grill owner. Otherwise, you’ll be back on the market for another one sooner than expected. Anyway, here’s how you go about cleaning the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill:

Exterior cleaning – Once the grill has completely cooled off, use a stainless steel cleaner and a grill brush to scrape food remnants and grease off the griddle top. Do the same for the steel grates beneath the griddle. The grill’s body and legs are made of coated steel except for the stainless steel knob frame. So you can use a stainless steel cleaner and wet cloth to wipe off grease and dust.

Interior Cleaning – Remove the stainless steel flame tamers and clean them with soapy water and a scrub. I got this $10 scrub on Amazon that cleans most grill parts quite nicely. Anyway, let the wet parts dry off before putting them back in. In case grease makes its way to the burners, use a damp towel to carefully wipe them clean.

Storage – Always store your grill under a cover. You can get one on Amazon if you don’t have it. They cost around $40. The grill has some pretty delicate parts so you should store it in a low traffic area, preferably outdoors.

Camp Chef Flat Top Grill Portability:

I know this is the part of the review you really want to read. Otherwise you wouldn’t be looking out for a tailgating grill. Anyway, the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill is quite large, and waist high, measuring 62 inches wide and 37 inches top to bottom, and the legs don’t fold. So you may want to make ample space for it in your cargo setup. Again, it weighs 142lbs not accounting for the propane tank, but the wheels should make up for the weight. So overall, the grill is portable if you have the space. Otherwise, it can be a bittersweet affair moving around with the grill.

Camp Chef Flat Top Grill Warranty:

Camp Chef claims that their grills’ finish wear down with time, so the Flat Top’s paint and other finishes will wear down over time. They’ll replace any damaged part at their sole discretion, as long as you have your proof of purchase. The 1 year warranty doesn’t cover damage, alterations and misuse by you. You can read their warranty disclaimer here.

At the end of the day, you want to shop for a grill where you don’t have to worry about warranty issues and can get returns settled conveniently. So, I recommend you buy this grill on Amazon.com, which will guarantee reliable customer service and hassle-free returns.

Camp Chef Flat Top Grill Accessories:

Accessories play a huge role in getting the most out of just about any appliance. So with the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill, here are some accessories you can get. They all carry a 90 day warranty.

• Barbecue box
• Utensil hooks and paper towel holder
• Cast iron conditioner
• Bacon panini press
• Griddle toolset

For the best price on these and more accessories, check out on Amazon.com especially if you’re keen on deals and discounts, like the FREE Guaranteed 1-3 Day Delivery if you’re a Prime member.

Camp Chef Flat Top Grill Replacement Parts:

A grill’s durability goes beyond cleaning and maintenance. Some parts may just wear out over time, thus needing replacement. So, before you buy any grill, make sure its parts are replaceable. With the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill, here are the available parts:

• Knob and handles
• Valves and regulators
• Grease cup
• Grill rack and griddle top
• Ignitor 

You can use their parts finder application to learn how to go about replacing the parts. Some of these parts are available on Amazon, so be sure to look there if you’re comparing prices and want the best deal.

Camp Chef Flat Top Grill Cost:

Depending on where you’re buying, the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill may set you back anywhere between $350-$500. So prices vary greatly. But in comparison, Amazon.com is clearly the better option for the best price and the advantage of FREE 1-3 day shipping if you’re a prime member.

What Do We Like?​

At Simply Tailgating, we fall for truly functional grills overall. While out partying, you want a grill with limitless capabilities, that’s able to cook nearly anything you can think of. So where does the Camp Chef Flat Top fit in with all this? Here’s what we like:

It’s functional and versatile – So Camp Chef says you can cook literally anything with this grill. I agree, but to some extent. All the same, grills with convertible griddle/grates are rare, but with this one you have two cooktops in one. So you can roast steaks on the grates and make eggs and pancakes on the flat top griddle without the need to spend extra on accessories.

Amazing cooking capability – So with 48,000 BTUs spread over 4 burners may be all the fire you need to cook almost anything. This grill doesn’t play around when it comes to bringing food to sear. Again, if you like cooking with indirect heat, this is the grill to gun for.

Great overall design – This grill was made to spend time outdoors. It’s a self-serve cook station. Nearly everything you may need to cook while out and about is included. You have side shelves, storage racks, flame tamers, independently controlled burners, an interchangeable cooktop, wheels, matchless igniter and more! Well, safe to say they took a pretty good shot at outdoing the Blackstone 36” that’s very comparable to this one.

Camp Chef Flat Top Grill Complaints:

Despite the outstanding features you’ve just read, the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill, like any other grill, does have some drawbacks you may want to know about.

It doesn’t adapt well to windy conditions – In the event you find yourself cooking when it’s windy outside, expect some cold spots. The flame goes out occasionally, especially while cooking under low heat. With no wind guard, the vents around the cookbox let in too much air and according to customers, you’ll need to be hot on the igniter.

Requires extra effort to clean – Apparently cleaning this grill is not the best experience you’ll have with it. It can get messy if you’re overly generous with your oil, unless you pay closer attention to managing the grease. Some customers say with the way the burners are set up cleaning it requires patience and a lot of effort unlike charcoal and pellet grills that don’t require too much cleaning.

Other Tailgating Grills You May Like:

If you’re still on the fence about this grill, here are some Camp Chef Flat Top grill alternatives that may tickle your fancy:

• Blackstone 36” Griddle – Similar design, slightly cheaper, more BTUs (60,000)
• George Foreman Electric Grill – Simplistic stand-up grill, electric, extra portable
• Coleman RoadTrip 285 – Stand-up grill with wheels, with 3 independently controlled burners
• Weber Smokey Joe – Charcoal tabletop grill, very affordable but smaller

Should You Buy The Camp Chef Flat Top Grill?

The Camp Chef Flat Top grill is well worth the buy, and here’s why. This self-serve cooking station comes with four independently controlled burners with a scorching 48,000 BTUs of maximum output. The griddle is pre-seasoned for a non-rust finish while the four burner strips are made of long life stainless steel. The built-in grease channel catches grease quite impressively ensuring easy cleanup. You can use the side and storage shelves for serving meals and storing sauces.

The Camp Chef Flat Top grill was clearly built with the vision of bringing families and friends together. It can feed anywhere from 2 to 20 hungry revelers with some of the best flavors and a short cooking time. The 600 square inch massive cooking surface fits 25 hamburgers or 12 restaurant-quality steaks and you can also do 60 hot dogs at once.

Anyone can become a grill master by using the Camp Chef Flat Top grill. It can cook everything from pancakes to steaks, burgers and vegetables. Contrary to a few random complaints, the smooth surface should be easy to clean. So there’s less time spent preparing and cleaning and more time for tailgating fun. If you like what you’ve read, you can buy it on Amazon.com for the best price plus discounts and deals like the 1-3 Day Amazon Prime delivery available to Prime members.

What’s Hot

• Functional and versatile
• Amazing cooking capability
• Great overall design

What’s Not

• Affected by wind
• Requires extra effort to clean

Well, that’s all she wrote! Do you agree with our Camp Chef Flat Top Grill review? More importantly, would you buy it? Feel free to drop us your thoughts in the comments section below. If you still need something cleared up about the grill, you may find answers on the product’s Amazon page.

Chris