Grilling season is coming! Are you ready? First of all, you’ll need a charcoal grill. But there are countless grills on the market, which should you buy? Here, we’ve done all the homework for you. We selected 10 best charcoal grills for various needs such as best portable, best budget and best charcoal gas grill combo…Make good use of the table of contents below. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
◈ Best Overall Charcoal Grill
Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill (741001)
Brand: Weber
Material: Alloy Steel
Power Source: Charcoal
Weight: 3.3 pounds (1.5 Kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 25 x 22.5 x 39.5 inches
Cooking Space: 363 sq. in.
| ✅ Value for Money ✅ Good Temperature Control ✅ Retain Heat Well ✅ Easy to Clean ✅ Easy to Assemble ✅ Can Be a Smoker | ❎ Some accessories may be delivered damage |
This Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill (741001) best suits those who want an all-round grill. It controls temperature and retains heat well, thus grilling excellently. Also, it is easy to clean and assemble with a reasonable price. All come together in this best overall grill. If you are too lazy to pick one from thousands of charcoal grills on the market, this is your choice!
◈ Best Budget Charcoal Grill
Cuisinart 18″ Kettle Charcoal Grill (CCG-290)
Brand: Cuisinart
Material: Alloy Steel
Power Source: Charcoal
Weight: 20 pounds (9 kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 23.5 x 23.1 x 36.5 inches
Cooking Space: 150 sq. in.
| ✅ Budget-Friendly ✅ Compact but Enough for >4 People ✅ Good Temperature Control ✅ Easy to Clean ✅ Hinged Grate | ❎ Not easy to assemble ❎ Gaps of the bottom fuel grate are too big |
Are you looking for an economic charcoal grill that has the basic features and grill well? Here, the Cuisinart CCG-290 18″ Kettle Charcoal Grill costs <$100 and grills greatly. Plus, it has some extra features such as hinged grates for easy charcoal adding. If you need a budget-friendly grill, choose this!
◈ Best Features Charcoal Grill
Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill (15501001)
Brand: Weber
Material: Porcelain Coated Steel
Power Source: Charcoal
Weight: 91 pounds (41 Kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 30 x 48 x 43.5 inches
Cooking Space: 363 sq. in.
| ✅ Easy Charcoal Ignition System ✅ Huge Working Spaces ✅ Easy to Clean ✅ Easy to Assemble ✅ Sturdy | ❎ Not cheap ❎ Not portable |
This Weber 15501001 Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill combines all the ideal features for grilling. It has a charcoal ignition system that allows you to ignite charcoal by just one touch. Besides that, there are large working spaces, a charcoal bin, hinged grates, an easy-to-clean system and many other lovely features. With it, you can enjoy a one-stop grilling party in one cart!
◈ Best Portable Charcoal Grill
Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Portable Charcoal Grill
Brand: Weber
Material: Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron
Power Source: Charcoal
Weight: 13.45 pounds (6.1 Kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 11.5 x 19.5 x 15 inches
Cooking Space: 160 sq. in.
| ✅ Portable ✅ Economical ✅ Good Quality of Material ✅ Durable ✅ Good Temperature Control ✅ Easy to Assemble | ❎ Limited cooking space |
If you’re a camping lover, this Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill is your best choice to bring. It is compact (enough for 2-3 people), lightweight and rectangular which is good for tailgating. The tuck-n-carry lid lock and the foldable plated steel legs makes it even portable. What’s more, it is economical and costs less than $80!
◈ Best Large Charcoal Grill
Royal Gourmet CC2036F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker
Brand: Royal Gourmet
Power Source: Charcoal
Weight: 3.3 pounds (1.5 Kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 65.9 x 30.7 x 51.2 inches
Cooking Space: 1188 sq. in. (654 sq. in. grill grate + 267 sq. in. smoker + 267 sq. in. warming rack)
| ✅ Large Cooking Space ✅ Precise Heat Control ✅ Ample Storage ✅ With Offset Smoker ✅ Easy Cleanup ✅ Sturdy | ❎ The built-in thermometer monitor isn’t precise ❎ Assembling consumes some time |
This Royal Gourmet CC2036F Charcoal Grill is spacious enough for 8 to 10 people gatherings. It has a total of 1188 square inches of cooking area. The offset smoker is what makes this grill a standout. Since it is seamlessly combined to the main chamber that provides an extra space for grilling or smoking. This grill is the best choice for a large grilling party!
◈ Best Charcoal Grill with Smoker
Royal Gourmet CC1830SC Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker
Brand: Royal Gourmet
Power Source: Charcoal
Weight: 54.3 pounds (24.68 Kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 53.39 x 27.95 x 48.82 inches
Cooking Space: 811 sq. in. (443 sq. in. grill grate + 184 sq. in. smoker + 184 sq. in. warming rack)
| ✅ Budget-Friendly ✅ With Offset Smoker ✅ Adjustable Heat Control ✅ User-Friendly Designs | ❎ May be delivered in damage |
The Royal Gourmet CC1830SC Charcoal Grill comes with an offset smoker. Hence, you can enjoy grilling and smoking at once. We know that smoking takes a long time while grilling is much quicker and convenient. Who wants to be hungry and wait for hours for just a few pieces of meat? So grilling and smoking at the same time won’t destroy the happy vibe.
◈ Best Charcoal Gas Grill Combo
BLOSSOMZ Dual Fuel Charcoal Gas Combo Grill
Brand: BLOSSOMZ
Power Source: Charcoal and Gas
Material: Alloy Steel
Weight: 103 pounds (46.7 Kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 64 x 28 x 49.75 inches
Cooking Space: 557 sq. in. (262 charcoal + 295 gas)
Warming Rack: 188 sq. in. (89 charcoal + 99 gas)
| ✅ Dual Fuel Charcoal Gas Combo ✅ Good Price ✅ Large Cooking Space ✅ Extra Side Burner ✅ Sturdy | ❎ Complicated assembling |
The BLOSSOMZ Dual Fuel Combination provides you both charcoal & gas grills in a single grill. At the charcoal side, the charcoal tray is height-adjustable and so you can control the grilling temperature. Also, adding charcoal is not annoying here since it has a front access door. It comes with a removable ash tray which makes cleanup far easier.
At the gas side, there are 3 stainless steel tube burners (8000 BTUs of cooking power each) plus a side burner (12000 BTUs). With this combo, the best of both worlds! Smoky flavors or faster cooking, up to you.
► Read More: 11 Best Gas Grill In 2023 for Different Needs
◈ Best Charcoal Kettle Grill
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22 Inch Black
Brand: Weber
Power Source: Charcoal
Material: Porcelain
Weight: 32.3 pounds (14.7 Kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 inches
Cooking Space: 363 sq. in.
| ✅ Precise Heat Control ✅ One-Touch Cleanup ✅ User-Friendly Designs ✅ Sturdy | ❎ Assembling may be hard |
This Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill (22 inch black) is excellent in heat control by adjusting the dampers. We also love its removable charcoal ash catcher that you can clean all the ash and debris with just one touch. Some other attentive designs are adorable as well. For example, the grate is hinged for hassle-free coal adding; and tool hooks for tidying.
◈ Best Kamado Grill
Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill 18 inch (KJ23RHC)
Brand: Kamado Joe
Material: Stainless Steel, Ceramic
Power Source: Charcoal and Wood
Weight: 250 pounds (114 Kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 26.4 x 26.4 x 36 inches
| ✅ Super Flexible & Versatile Cooking ✅ Excellent Heat Control ✅ Sturdy and Durable ✅ Easy to Clean ✅ Easy to Assemble ✅ Well Packaged | ❎ Not cheap ❎ The casters can be larger |
The Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill is perfect from tip to tail. Its unique 2-tier flexible cooking system is one of the glowing points. You can cook in 2 layers and replace different accessories in each layer. For instance, you can place a grilling grate and a griddle respectively at 2 layers in order to grill and sear at the same time.
What’s more, Kamado Joe designed some accessories in a half-moon shape. Therefore, one layer can have two kinds of styles like half cast iron griddle half soapstone. In other words, it’s possible to cook in 4 different styles simultaneously. Fun cooking!
◈ Best Park Style Charcoal Grill
Pilot Rock Heavy-Duty Park-Style Charcoal Grill (H-16 B6X2)
Brand: Pilot Rock
Material: Alloy Steel
Power Source: Charcoal
Weight: 66.84 pounds (30.32 kilograms)
Size (LxWxH): 24.2 x 18.7 x 12.3 inches
Cooking Space: 250 sq. in.
| ✅ Very Durable ✅ Rotatable Firebox ✅ Height-Adjustable Grate ✅ Easy to Clean | ❎ Longer post will be better |
The Pilot Rock Heavy-Duty Charcoal Grill has an iconic look and primitive simplicity as a Park-Style grill. The swivelable firebox and adjustable grate make it special. You can rotate the firebox 360° to control draft and adjust the height of the grate. With these features, temperature control is just a piece of cake!
Moreover, this Pilot Rock Park-Style Charcoal Grill is really heavy-duty. It is constructed from heavy-duty steel with matchless craftsmanship. No worries even under harsh weather.
► Read More: 8 Different Types of Grill – Choose The One You Love!
FAQs of Charcoal Grill
1. Why Use Charcoal Grill?
Using a charcoal grill can keep a high temperature constantly and consistently throughout the hours-long party. And the best point of grilling with charcoal is that it offers an awesome smoky flavor.
2. Charcoal briquettes vs Hardwood Lump Charcoal
There are two choices for choosing the fuel—charcoal briquettes and hardwood lump charcoal.
Charcoal briquettes are made of compressed sawdust and some other wood materials. It is long-lasting and cheap. But it does not provide the distinctive charred flavor of grilling. Charcoal briquettes also produce a lot of ash which may be annoying after grilling.
On the other side, hardwood lump charcoal is made of pure wood. It burns not that long a period of time as briquettes and costs a little bit more (but still affordable). However, it gives the fabulous flavor which is exactly what we want from grilling. And hardwood lumps produce less ashes.
We personally prefer hardwood lump charcoal and strongly recommend you choose it.
3. How to Grill With Charcoal?
- First, put the charcoal into the charcoal tray.
- Then, light the charcoal with a starter such as a lighter, torch or chimney starter.
- When it starts burning, wait until it’s hot enough. You can tell by the color of charcoal, white to glowing red means you can start grilling while black still needs some time.
- Time for the grilling party!
Tip: Cover with the lid during the cooking process if you want a richer smoky flavor.
► Read More: 10 Best Steaks to Grill & 4 Tips for Grilling the Perfect Steaks
4. When Should I Add Charcoal?
You should add charcoal when it starts to be covered with gray ash. Otherwise, the temperature may not be high enough. Better to refill when the foods are all finished grilling as the newly added coals take several minutes to reach the desired temp. The temperature change may affect the result.
If your charcoal does not burn with the existing coals, ignite them again with a starter.
Summary
Hey, did you find your favorite? All of the above grills are outstanding but the most important thing is your needs. Only the charcoal grill that fits your needs is the best for you. It’s time to revel for grill carnivals!
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