A few things upgrade your tailgating loadout, like a solid portable grill. It’s the centerpiece for most game-day get-togethers—the one appliance that friends, families, and even hungry strangers gather ’round eagerly awaiting their turn at freshly grilled burgers, brats, kebabs, and more. If you want to cook up some serious culinary fun while tailgating this season, then one of these best portable grills will serve your alfresco cooking needs well.
Kenyon City Grill
Pair Kenyon’s City Grill with a beefy portable power station, and you’re ready for go-anywhere electric grilling. This plug-in model could well be the only grill you use at home thanks to its superb heat control and the high temperatures it can reach. You can clean the grate by hand or in the dishwasher, and the easy-clean drip trays last for many uses but can be tossed once overly soiled. Shout out to Kenyon for keeping things simple: The grill is controlled with just one knob, which features an off position and eight different heat settings ranging from low to high. Also, this is the “Official Grill of the Boston Red Sox,” so there’s that.
Camp Chef Lumberjack Over-Fire Grill
There’s no more primal way to cook than with an open fire. This rugged grill folds flat for storage and opens up into a sturdy, durable cook surface that perches atop the flames of your campfire charcoal bed. Its 24-inch by 16-inch cooktop accommodates several steaks, up to eight burgers, and plenty of roasting veggies. Just brush up on your campfire-building skills, and you’ll be good to go.
Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill
Ah, the little grill that could. If you’ve never cooked using a Weber, you’re missing out on a classic slice of American life. This little grill is every bit as capable as its iconic larger cousin, the Kettle Grill. The Smokey Joe, however, weighs less than 10 pounds and will fit in your compact car’s trunk, making it perfect for tailgating. Just don’t forget the charcoal. And maybe some lighter fluid. Oh, and the meat … never forget the meat.
UCO Grilliput Portable Camping Grill
Design nerds and outdoor cooking enthusiasts, unite! UCO’s ultra-portable, lightweight grill is brilliant and capable — each piece slides into a steel tube when disassembled, and assembly takes just a few minutes. The result is a 10-inch by 9-inch grill surface that perches above your firepit, cooking perfectly seared meats. With a packed weight of less than 20 ounces, this clever, compact grill is light enough to carry during days of trekking the backcountry yet versatile enough to use on game day. Great food and the great outdoors, together at last. Bonus: You also don’t need to be a grill-cleaning pro on how to clean a grill to take care of it.
Solaire Infrared Portable Anywhere Grill
Hate waiting for your grill to warm up? If so, the Solaire Infrared Portable Anywhere Grill is just the thing for you. The infrared burner heats up in just three minutes and, according to the brand, the high temperatures generated cook your food up to 30% faster while retaining up to 35% more natural juices. Another cool feature of this grill is the V-Grate, which helps eliminate flare-ups during grilling.
Char-Broil Portable Tabletop Charcoal Grill
Sometimes, the simplest option is the best. This tabletop charcoal grill from Char-Broil takes tailgate grilling back to basics. There are no fancy bells or whistles; it just does what it’s supposed to, and it does it well. The grill only weighs 7.5 pounds, and it folds up, making for easy transport and storage. With little to set up or assemble, you’ll be game-day grilling in no time.
Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
With almost 200 square inches of cook space, the Weber Q1200 is a great all-around option when you’re looking for a portable tailgate-friendly grill. Equipped with one burner that generates 8,500 BTU per hour, this grill makes short work of any meal you may concoct on the go. Folding side tables make the grill easy to store or move, too, so you’ll really have no worries about bringing it along.
Traeger Ranger Pellet Grill
We love just about everything Traeger Grills puts out, and this portable pellet grill is no exception. With an eight-pound hopper and a cooking space that accommodates up to six burgers or one rack of ribs at a time, you’ll be cranking out delicious game-day food over your own personal blend of pellets in no time. The grill even comes with a cast iron griddle, allowing you to cook everything from breakfast to dinner. The one notable downside is that it weighs 60 pounds, making it not so great for bringing into the woods to cook while camping.
