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With the baseball season in full flow (and my Yankees making a push for that 28th championship) and the NFL season looming right around the corner, there is no better time for Simply Tailgating to release its first ever Top 10 Best Grills For Tailgating of 2019.
Our goal here, as it is always, is to help our fellow tailgaters maximize their tailgating experiences by providing you with information on the best tailgating products around. You may ask how we came up with this list and what makes these grills better than the rest.
Well, great question! In compiling this Top Ten list, we conducted extensive research of the most popular grills on the market and selected the ones that have performed the best for consumers with the least amount of complaints.
We also considered those ever so important grill features that we always address in our grill reviews, such as functionality, cooking capacity, portability, maintenance, etc. So, before you make any rash decisions, take a look at this Top Ten list and feel free to use it as a guide for your next portable tailgating grill purchase. We promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Coleman RoadTrip LXE Propane Portable Grill – $230
The Coleman Roadtrip grill is at the top of the list because it was simply designed for tailgaters. It’s foldable and able to transform from a fully-fledged stand-up grill to a suitcase-sized drag-along piece of equipment in a matter of seconds. Two separate propane burners pump out a combined 20,000 BTUs of heat across 285 inches of porcelain-enameled cooking grates.
The non-stick grates are super easy to clean and the grill’s body is made of enameled steel. On top of all that, you also get side shelves for your prep area and space for your seasonings and sauces. So, if you’re thinking talismanic tailgate grills, look no further than the Coleman Roadtrip.
Weber Q 2200 Propane Portable Grill – $270
Our second choice for the best tailgating grill is the award-winning Weber Q 2200. When you’re out tailgating, you want a grill that can feed the masses while remaining functional and easy to operate. So with this one, you get 280 square inches of porcelain enameled cast iron cooking space heated by a 12,000 BTU single burner.
It also has a temperature gauge, so you’ll know what’s going on inside. The legs also fold inwards, and the grill weighs 42 pounds owing to the tough painted steel construction. You can roast a whole chicken on this bad boy with the lid closed. When tailgating with the Weber Q 2200, consider yourself having an almost full-sized grill bundled into a 32 inch long unit.
The Orion Cooker – $200
We chose to include the Orion Cooker in this best-of-the-best list for two reasons. One, it will cook your food in record time, and two, it’s charcoal-based but still portable. You may not be heating your meat directly in open flame as the cooking chamber is separate from the fire, but don’t be put off by that.
You can still smoke your brisket, steam some veggies or even roast a full-sized 20 pound turkey in under 3 hours thanks to its convection heating capabilities. Owing to its round tube-like shape, it comes with poultry stand, a lifting handle, three rib hangers and three cooking grates for easier cooking. The Orion Cooker is not a fancy grill, but this 4 pound cooker is grilling ingenuity at its best.
Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill – $400
The Solaire Anywhere is an all-stainless steel grill that has the cooking power of a restaurant-grade grill and the portability design of an RV grill. The 14,000 BTU infrared burner means you get high, sustainable heat for your thick steaks and with a 155 square inch cooking area, you can grill eight 4-inch burgers all at once.
With the lid down, the Solaire Anywhere Grill measures 21 inches wide,13 inches deep and 12 inches high, and weighs around 27 pounds living up to its “Anywhere” label. What makes this grill special is its heating capability and we all know how important high heat is if you’re going to bring out the flavor and juices in your meat.
Broil King Steel Keg 5000 Kamado Grill – $900
The Broil King Kamado 5000 is a high-end grill worth every penny. They designed it for performance and durability, some even call it the Ford F-150 of grills. And for good reason, as the egg-shaped grill features an insulated double-walled steel grill body, cast iron top damper, aluminum lower damper, and a heavy duty gasket.
This grill is also easy to clean with its removable steel ash catcher and cast iron blackened steel construction, meaning all you need to do is empty the trash, clean the grates with soapy water and season the cast iron surfaces. With the Broil King Kamado 5000, you also get 200 square inches of cooking area enclosed inside a 41 inch long, 27 inch wide and 128 pound unit. They also designed it to remain cool on the outside despite the hellfire heat burning inside.
Weber Jumbo Joe Portable Charcoal Grill – $70
If you’re looking for a lightweight, compact table top charcoal grill that’s truly portable, the Weber Jumbo Joe is what you should get. The round-shaped grill features a Tuck-N-Carry lid lock that doubles as a lid holder, a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl and a 240-inch plated steel cooking grate.
Soapy water should clean up the grill, with an ash catcher making cleaning even easier. Also, the dampers at the top make cooking with the Weber Jumbo Joe a walk in the park. Who wants to babysit the grill amidst all the tailgating fun anyway?
Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill – $200
The Char-Broil Patio-Bistro is for the environmentally conscious, but grilling-savvy tailgaters out there. This stellar all-steel grill features a 240 inch porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grate, side shelves and a temperature gauge above a 1750 watt TRU-Infrared burner. The Char-Broil Patio-Bistro also features a wheeled stand, domed lid and drain tray beneath the cook box. It may not have serious heating power compared to other grills on this list, but it definitely qualifies as a top 10 tailgating grill.
Coleman Roadtrip 285 Portable Stand-up Grill – $230
If you’re taking your gourmet cooking skills outdoors, then you’d better bring the Coleman Roadtrip 285 along with you. That’s because you’ll have a grill with three independently controlled burners breathing out a combined 20,000 BTUs of fire.
With an impressive 285 square inches of porcelain enameled cooking area, side shelves and a thermometer, you should come up with some pretty tasty meals. Similar to our number one choice of the best tailgating grills, you can easily drag the Coleman Roadtrip 285 to your setup area with one hand as it collapses to the size of a suitcase.
Lodge Cast Iron Hibachi Sportsman’s Grill – $100
This list wouldn’t be complete without mention of the Hibachi Sportsman’s Grill by Lodge. If you’re a no-joke grilling enthusiast, this grill should be your bible. You won’t get a lid, rotisserie, matchless lighting operation or anything like that. What you get is a genuine American all-cast iron Hibachi grill that you will probably hand down to the future grilling enthusiasts in the family.
With this grill, all you need to operate it is charcoal and a generous amount of seasoning oil for the cast iron. It’s surprisingly portable, weighing just 27 pounds and measures 18 inches long and 8 inches wide. So if you’re looking for a rugged, charcoal hibachi-style grill that’s perfect for picnics, tailgating or even camping, the Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s grill fits the bill.
Blackstone 36” Griddle Review – $280
If you’re thinking heat, space and portability, check out the Blackstone 36” Griddle. They supplied it with a whooping 60,000 BTUs underneath a 720 inch griddle. You have four burners to work with, each with their own knobs. You also get a powder-coated steel frame, a side shelf, grease tray and a bottom utility shelf translating into a functional, restaurant-grade grill. It may weigh 134 pounds (around the same weight as the Char-Broil Steel Keg), but the grill sits atop 4 really strong caster wheels.
The legs of the Blackstone 36” Griddle are foldable so you can just throw it in the trunk and still get it moving once you reach your tailgating site. It’s really attractive also, so you won’t have any problem turning a few heads. What more would you need from a tailgating grill that’s able to feed an army of 20 all at once?
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it. After extensive research, these 10 grills perfectly fit the bill as Simply Tailgating’s Top 10 Best Grills For Tailgating of 2019. The grills promise portability, serious cooking capability, easy cleaning, durability and, most importantly, are specifically designed for outdoor grilling.
If you agree that these grills are indeed the best around and you are looking to purchase any of them (or any other grill we’ve reviewed before), we recommend checking out Amazon.com for the best deals and discounts, such as free and fast shipping with the 1-3 Day Free Delivery if you’re a Prime Member.
Which grill do you think is the perfect tailgating grill? Did it make our list? Feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you and get your opinions about the best tailgating grills around!
Chris
I agree with your list Chris, but the Blackstone 36 sucks balls, it fell apart after a few months of use, it’s weak and the knobs fell out, and we couldn’t get replacement parts on amazon.
I’ve read the list and I agree with you for the most part, but the Hibachi should be number 1
Thanks for the clarification. I may have to add some of that feedback in my review. But based on our research, a lot of people had positive experiences with it. But clearly you didn’t, so I can respect that. Thanks again!