10 Best portable camping barbecues
Nothing is more frustrating than having a bulky, heavy grill to pack and then lug to your campsite. Except, having to cook on a dirty campground fire grate. It almost isn’t worth the luxury of a hot meal. Almost, we like hot meals. But, camping is supposed to be about relaxing and enjoying your escape from daily life. Camping shouldn’t be stressful, that’s why we have created a list of the best portable barbecues.
We’ve done all the work, sorted the good from the bad and laid out all of the important details for you. All of these barbecues have at least two things in common: they’re portable and they won’t break your wallet, because camping isn’t supposed to be stressful for your wallet either.
Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill
The Smokey Joe is a standard charcoal grill, with ample cooking space. It is lightweight and compact, so it doesn’t take up much room. The lid and cooking bowl are porcelain enamelled, so it won’t rust. Rust resistance is important for camping gear and that’s one of our favourite things about this little grill.
The dampers, legs and catch tray are made of aluminium, no rust there either and the coated steel grill plate is easy to clean. This barbecue is perfect for weekend camping trips and you won’t have to worry about storing it in your tent, if it rains.
Dimensions With Lid – 17 H x 14.2 W x 14.5 D inches
Weight – 9.5 Lbs
Fuel – Charcoal
Pros:
Rust resistant
Compact
Lightweight
Cons:
Low to the ground
Lid does not lock to grill
Giantex BBQ Grill
This portable bbq grill brings style to the world of portable camping barbecues. It stands on four adjustable legs and features a non stick baking tray, as well as, a stainless steel grill plate. It also has detachable accessory boards, which make it easy to set plates, condiments, or utensils within reach.
The entire grill is constructed of stainless steel, so it is sturdy and rust resistant. It can be used with charcoal, or wood pellets and has an advanced ventilation system to distribute heat evenly across your food.
Giantex Outdoor Barbecue Grill
Dimensions – 45 x 22.5 x 32 inches
Fuel – Charcoal
Pros:
Multifunctional
Adjustable height
Removable charcoal basin
Cons:
Can be tipped over
No Lid
Weber 741001 Original Kettle Grill
This Weber barbecue grill isn’t as small, or compact as the Smokey Joe, but it is still portable. Two heavy duty wheels allow you to tip and pull, or push the grill. Like its smaller counterpart it is made of porcelain enameled steel and it won’t rust. It features an easy one touch cleaning system to keep ash off of you and out of your grill.
The grill plate has a 22 inch diameter and easily cooks up to 13 burgers at once. Which is perfect if you have a larger group to feed. It can be fueled by charcoal, or wood and the dampers easily adjust to allow adequate air flow for your fuel choice. The best part about this grill is the sturdy hook that allows you to hang the lid from the grill, no more having to set your lid on the ground.
Dimensions With Lid – 25 x 20.5 x 38.5 inches
Weight – 33.1 Lbs
Fuel – Charcoal
Pros:
Big enough for the whole family
Easy to clean
Lid hangs on grill
Cons:
A little bulky
Can tip over while moving it
Coleman Camp Grill/Stove
This compact camping barbecue grill features a stove and grill combo. It is propane fueled and easily folds into itself to be packed away. It has two wind block panels that shield the burners from the wind, to prevent your flame from being extinguished. The wind block panels can also be folded down and used to hold cooking utensils. It can fit a 10 inch pan on its stove, so it provides ample cooking space in a small package and delivers up to 20,000 BTUs of cooking power.
It also features a removable grease trap and non skid feet, to prevent the grill from sliding around as you cook. This little grill is small enough to be used in, or out of your tent, however if you choose to cook inside, be sure to have adequate ventilation, as any flame will produce carbon dioxide.
Dimensions – 24 x 15.4 x 6.3 inches
Weight – 15.26 Lbs
Fuel – Propane
Pros:
Foldable
Adjustable flame
Stove and grill combo
Cons:
No carrying handle
Grill plate could be better quality
Smoke Hollow 205 Stainless Steel TableTop Grill
The Smoke Hollow camping barbecue is completely constructed of stainless steel. It features a warming rack, in addition to the grilling rack, just like its full sized brethren. It’s sturdy stainless steel legs fold up for storage and the lid latches to the grill bowl. A sturdy handle makes it easy to carry the grill, requiring only one hand, instead of two. The lid has a thermometer that allows you to easily see the temperature your food is cooking at, without lifting the lid.
The stainless steel construction means this grill is highly rust resistant and you won’t have to worry about rain, or humidity ruining your cook out. It is fairly light and large enough to cook for your family, or a small group of friends.
Smoke Hollow
Dimensions – 15.8 x 26.9 x 11.8 inches
Weight – 20.4 Lbs
Fuel – Propane
Pros:
205 square inch cooking area
Carrying Handle
Stainless steel drip tray
Cons:
Heavy
The ignitor can be finicky
Grillerette Pro
The Grillerette Pro has something unique to offer. It features a built in battery powered fan. The fan stokes the charcoal for you, keeping your grill hot, while aiding in heat distribution. The innovative grease trap can be filled with water and keeps grease from dripping onto your coals.
This prevents smoke outs, while still allowing your food to absorb that great smoky, grilled taste. The contoured grill top directs grease directly into the grease trap. The round, layered design allows this little grill to be powerful, compact and lightweight. The Grillerette Pro easily reaches temps up to 400 C / 700 F degrees and can stay at temps over 500 F degrees consistently.
Dimensions – 14.5 x 14.5 x 6.5 inches
Weight – 8 Lbs
Fan Requires – 4 AA Batteries
Fuel – Charcoal
Pros:
Virtually smokeless
Small and compact
Requires very little charcoal
Cons:
Small cooking surface
Lid and accessories purchased separately
Fire Sense Notebook Grill
True to its name, this grill folds completely down and is only 1 inch thick when folded. It is a no fuss, no frills charcoal grill. However, while it lacks style, it has everyone beat when it comes to portability. It can be stored just about anywhere you could put a laptop, including your backpack. It is made from coated steel and is fairly sturdy for its size and function. The cooking surface is large enough to cook for a small family all at once and the heat is nicely distributed. If you don’t mind not having the fanciest grill, this one is a great choice.
Dimensions – 17.53 x 11.82 x 14.18 inches
Fuel – Charcoal
Pros:
Compact folding steel design
Simple 2 step set up
Decent cooking space
Cons:
Small pieces of charcoal fall through grate
It does not latch into its folded position
Quick Grill Medium Folding Barbecue
The Quick Grill Medium is completely designed of food grade stainless steel and comes with a carrying bag. This little grill is sturdy, nice to look at and easy to take camping. It can be used with either charcoal, or wood and the grill grate can be removed for open fire cooking. It has a 12 inch x 12 inch cooking area that allows plenty of room for you to cook, however you choose. The fold down style is clever and reminds us of origami, but it easy to assemble and collapse. This cheap, little camping barbecue delivers a better cooking experience than some of its higher priced competitors.
Dimensions – Assembled 13″ x 13″ x 8.5 inches, Folded 13.5″ x 7.25″ x 2.25 inches
Weight – 4.75 Lbs
Fuel – Charcoal, or wood
Pros:
Easy set up
Rust resistant
Easy to clean
Cons:
Grill plate tends to slide around
No Lid
Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet
Stylish, sleek and fully functional, this miniature propane grill is a nice addition to your camping gear. It features a locking lid, sturdy fold away legs and a sturdy carrying handle. It has a 145 inch enamelled porcelain cooking surface, so cooking enough food and cleaning up is easy. Unlike some propane camping grills, you can cook with the lid down on this one. It also features a twist ignite system that makes lighting this grill a breeze. If you don’t mind the bright red colour, this is a great little grill.
Cuisinart CGG Gourmet Barbecue Grill
Dimensions – 16 x 16.5 x 13 inches
Weight – 13.5 Lbs
Fuel – Propane
Pros:
Can grill with the lid down
Locking lid
Lightweight
Cons:
No thermometer
Only 5,500 Btus
The Perfect Campfire Grill
If you prefer cooking over a campfire, but don’t want your food on dirty campground grates, this grill has you covered. Its 20 x 25 inch cooking surface is large enough to cook enough food for an entire group and it has raised edges, so your food doesn’t roll off into the fire. This model hold pots and pans too. It is constructed from solid steel and it is easy to assemble. This grill also packs away into its own travel bag, to keep your vehicle from getting dirty. This convenient camping barbecue grate makes it easy to get the traditional camping experience, without the hassle.
Dimensions – 20 x 25 x 1 inches
Weight – 16 Lbs
Fuel – Campfire
Pros:
Very large cooking space
Can grill directly on rack, or use pots
Sturdy and built to last
Cons:
Can’t be used in places that don’t allow open burning
Not the best for rainy days
Final Verdict
Each of these grills have something a little bit different to offer. Depending on the size of your group, some of these barbecues may not be big enough to suit your needs. However, whether you prefer your meat propane grilled, charcoal charbroiled, or smoked over an open fire, we’re confident that one of these great camping barbecues will work for you.
‘As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases’