Best Charcoal Grills Of 2023
After spending hours researching we recommend:
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
What We Liked
- Easy and portable to use
- Easy to clean up and maintain
- Ideal for everyday use
- High value for your money
Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill
What We Liked
- Good price
- Easy temperature control
- Easy to bring together
- Made in the U.S
- Easy mobility
Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill
What We Liked
- Easy to assemble and handle
- Perfect for camping
- Amazing choice for urban grillers
- Lightweight and very portable
- Has a 10-year warranty
Best Charcoal Grills Of 2023
You should know that the art of charcoal grilling is more of an art than it is a science. This is because there are no premade hot spots to go by. Therefore, you would have to wing it and follow the feel all through the cooking process. This makes the job of charcoal grilling so easy to fail at since it is not so easy to produce food that is close inconsistency to the fuel used. You are rewarded when the food ends up being delicious, knowing you got it right. This list of the best charcoal grills in the market and this buying guide should be a great first step in understanding what kind of grill you want.
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Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro 830 Square Inch Charcoal Grill with Side Fire Box, Black
Buying Guide for Best Charcoal Grills
The size and type of a charcoal grill
There are several sizes and types of grills. We can differentiate between them by using classifications such as Ceramic & Kamado Grills, Barrel Grills & Smokers, and the most popular, Kettles. First of all, you need to know the size of the grill you need. In case you travel a lot and need a grill to take to the beach, the lake, or even camping, then you need to go for a lightweight and small bbq charcoal grill.
Control and temperature maintenance
This is an essential and significant aspect of every grilling. A grill needs to have a lid that would aid in blocking the warmth thoroughly. That way, you’d be enabled to cook the food using the right temperature and make use of lesser charcoal if the lid is not opened. Apart from this, you’d need to use more charcoals than is required.
Ash Removal
It is known to be a significant downside of charcoal grills, as it is created through the burning of charcoal. You need to pay extra attention to the problem of ash removal, as it needs to be dealt with expertly and intricately in your grill. Some of the most popular solutions include the usage of ash pans mostly on the side of the grill that can be removed easily and fast to throw out the ash or Ash Trays under the grill.
Top 11 Best Charcoal Grills
1.
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is everything you’d want to have in a charcoal grill and precisely nothing you do not wish to.
What We Liked
- Easy and portable to use
- Easy to clean up and maintain
- Ideal for everyday use
- High value for your money
What We Didn't Like
- Not ideal for extensive meat cooking
Detailed description
This is rightly described as one of the most user-friendly charcoal grills you would find around, if you’re not used to using charcoal, then the Weber Kettle is the standard for weekend warriors who would like to have weekend battles. It is seen as the ideal housewarming gift for a starter home or first-time apartment, as it is also an excellent pick for first-time buyers. Although this grill now has some newer features, it is still designed to be a straight forward charcoal grill.
The One-Touch cleaning system has then allowed you to move the debris into a full, removable ash bin, which can be cleaned up in no time at all. You are also in control of the temperature of the grill, as you can even do this without having to lift the lid or lose your valuable heat while grilling. This is made possible due to the dampers that help get a temperature that meets your grilling needs, and once you are through, you just shut them out completely to extinguish the coals.
The presence of a hinged cooking grate gives you the room to add to the charcoal while still grilling, and it doesn’t require much effort to clean it. There are durable wheels that help make the job of moving it around very easy, as this is a lightweight grill, and it can be wheeled to your favorite grilling spot. There is also an angled lid hook which serves to hold your lid, thereby leaving both of your hands-frees to turn your meat.
The cover also comes with a heat shield that is designed to prevent it from becoming too hot to touch. In case you’re planning on moving to Weber to handle your primary grilling needs, then I would like to congratulate you by letting you know that you’re on the right path, and this would be the ideal grill to start with. There are no whistles and bells, just the right old way of grilling.
2.
Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill
Although it is the smallest Weber, the Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill still works the same way as the cult Weber Kettle, and it even has similar looks.
What We Liked
- Good price
- Easy temperature control
- Easy to bring together
- Made in the U.S
- Easy mobility
What We Didn't Like
- The legs are not quality ones
Detailed description
Don’t be surprised that the small Kettle grill that can do a lot of things. The grilling area is about 147 square inches, and it is thus okay enough for a charcoal grill of its size. It is fantastic for picnics, camping, or even tailgate parties. It is effortless to assemble as it has only four parts and lightweight as well. It needs about 20 to 25 minutes to start cooking meat. In the simplest of expressions, it can be regarded as a mini version of the standard Weber Kettle Premium.
This grill has a simple design, and the construction is based on just three sturdy aluminum legs. Under the legs them there’s an ash catcher, which is an easy and fast way to get rid of ash while still keeping the grill clean. The air vents serve to function as much-improved temperature control. The closing lid lowers fuel consumption and heat loss.
3.
Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill, Black
This is known to be an excellent product for putting on the patio or deck and preparing to grill with your small family!
What We Liked
- Amazing value for money
- Comes with an ashtray
- Very easy to clean
- Convenient shelf under the grilling compartment
- Has a serving tray on the side
What We Didn't Like
- No in-built thermometer
- Not an ideal grilling space for large families
- No feature of multiple grilling areas
- No warming rack
Detailed description
The Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill is just about the needed size to grill for three or four people. Although it is not so significant when compared with some other products, and also does not have a designed way of separating the grill to use in different temperatures, it is still okay to meet up with your simple grilling needs. Apart from all this, the mere fact that this is an affordable model makes it a perfect pick for someone minding his/her budget and someone that also wants to have enough space on their grill to provide for food for a whole family.
It weighs about 50 lbs., which is basically because of the sturdy shell and cast iron cooking grates. This implies that it is very portable in terms of moving around the backyard. Although I would suggest that it is not advisable to put this grill in your car while going on trips. The wheels are designed to assist you further peradventure you need to move it around.
One insane feature of the Char-Griller is that the fuel tray allows you to easily add more charcoal even while grilling, as it comes out. Apart from this, the cleanup process has been made much easier due to the in-built ashtray. There is a great side air vent designed to help control the temperature, plus a detachable shelf, which can be used to serve the cooking finishes immediately. For a nice-looking and relatively compact grill that can conveniently work for a family, this is worth genuinely considering.
4.
Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill
This is a fantastic option for convenient and quick cooking, as it comes directly from Weber. From the name, you can adjudge that the Go-Anywhere is a great grill that goes anywhere you go.
What We Liked
- Easy to assemble and handle
- Perfect for camping
- Amazing choice for urban grillers
- Lightweight and very portable
- Has a 10-year warranty
What We Didn't Like
- No fold-out tables or arms
- No control of ashes or grease
Detailed description
It has a weight which is less than 15 pounds, and it can be carried easily by just one person. When you make use of the Weber hamburger press, you can easily create six patties that would fit on the grates. The grates allow for over 160 square inches of cooking space, which can hold and cook both seafood and chicken quickly as well as a couple of other foods. Although the grates use steel, they have a special coating that stops food from sticking to the grates or burning. That coating also helps to make the grate very easy to clean.
Because of the convenient locking lid, this grill can be used in a few ways. Anytime you lock the top, the heat and smoke inside are kept and stopped from escaping, which fastens the job of grilling. That lid can also be closed whenever you’re not using the grill to design the ideal environment needed to save your extra supplies. The most significant disadvantage of the Go-Anywhere is that it does not come to a hinge link like other grills do. What this means is that you would have to remove the lid altogether to check your food while grilling.
You need to know that there are not so many small grills like this one, which has an option to control the temperature, but Weber still managed to offer precisely this with the two separate dampers that are designed on the top. Cleaning after using it is relatively easy to do, and although there are not so many options basically because it is small, this is easily accessible on your street in case you want something to take with you during trips.
5.
PK Grills PK Original Outdoor Charcoal Portable Grill & Smoker Combination
This grill and smoker combination has set out to address one of the major issues a lot of BBQ lovers have, which is maintaining a consistent level of heat.
What We Liked
- It is fairly portable
- Large enough for big chunks of meat
- Has a 10-year warranty
- Two zones allow you to control heat
What We Didn't Like
- Doesn’t have a built-in thermometer
- Official model is quite expensive
Detailed description
Apart from the simple fact that this grill helps you out with its intelligent system of vents, it can also be easily set up such that you have two different zones moving at two different temperatures altogether. What this means is that you can now smoke or cook slowly in one zone, while still going ahead to heat something in the other.
This PK Grills Outdoor Charcoal Portable Grill & Smoker Combination is designed to last for long with the rustproof aluminum, which serves as the main component of the construction. Though it is not expected ever to rust, the manufacturers still help by providing a pretty impressive 10-year warranty on the product to offer people peace of mind.
The grill is deemed to be extremely portable, as it weighs under 50 lbs. Although it is a fact that it can be moved around easily and also designed on wheels all thanks to the smart tray system for serving, it is not precisely designed for people who like to place the grill in their cars and move it down to the beach. This is perfect for walking around the yard or even to the neighbors, although it is not fully portable. With that being said, the grill area cannot be detached from the stand, which makes the prospect of moving it around on the field much more comfortable. There are 300 square inches designed for the cooking surface. To put that further into perspective, this grill can effortlessly handle a rack of ribs or large turkey.
6.
Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Ceramic, Classic II Charcoal Grill
Kamado Grills have been able to gain a strong reputation over the years, and it is not so difficult to know why, as the Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic II Ceramic Charcoal Grill is indeed one of the best charcoal grills on our list.
What We Liked
- Easy to control the temperature
- Different levels of cooking
- Hard-wearing with a long warranty
- Lifetime warranty for the ceramics
What We Didn't Like
- Rather expensive
- Needs to have more instructions for easy usage
Detailed description
One major factor which makes this one of the best charcoal bbq grill you can get out there is the highly impressive build quality it has. The grill can last for a lot of years if you handle it well. This is also obvious in the generous warranty offered by the manufacturer, as they provide five years for the metal components and while they give lifetime on all of the other ceramics. The ceramic top on this is designed to be thick also envelope all of the moisture and smoke inside, in case this is something you want.
The fact that this grill can be used under any temperature between both 225 and 750’F means that this grill can be used for any smoking or grilling imaginable. You don’t exactly need to cook at any temperatures which are outside this range. A fantastic feature that helps out with the cleaning of this grill is the slide-out ashtray it has. This is very straightforward to empty after use, and it is something that makes grilling more comfortable, especially if you’re using charcoal. In spite of being hard-wearing and sturdy, the lid is very straightforward to use.
It can be closed and opened with the gentlest of touches, and also has an air vent which helps with the temperature control. This is very important in ensuring your food isn’t ruined! There is a Divide and Conquer Cooking System, which helps to maximize the little space available, and that means you are given the floor to cook on multiple levels. This implies that various foods can be grilled at different levels depending on the temperature required for them to prepare. The thermometer is oversized, thus allowing you to check the temperature inside without much ado.
7.
Marsh Allen 30052AMZ Kay Home Product's Cast Iron Hibachi Charcoal Grill
The word Hibachi is known to stand for the ‘Fire Bowl’ in Japanese. The traditional Japanese Hibachi Grill consists typically of a bowl-shaped or cylinder cooking unit usually made using clay.
What We Liked
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
- Excellent cast-iron grates
- Very durable
- 3 tier adjustable
- Comes at a low price
- Very portable
- 157 square inches
What We Didn't Like
- Vents don’t work
- Screws may need to be replaced
- Leaks some grease
Detailed description
The design has intentionally been made rustic. Most traditional Japanese chefs, when cooking at home and restaurant kitchens, tend to care more about the quality of materials that are used than the way they appear. Marsh Allen, as a brand, has followed that mantra in the design process of this model because you see clearly that the grill is a box-shaped piece of thick Cast-Iron, which features the Cast-Iron Grates. It is not so beautiful when considering aesthetics, but I can assure you that it would be very durable. This would most likely last for more than ten years, mainly because of the quality of the Cast-Iron used.
There are also wood handles on the Grates, which the designer claims does not get too hot. You could make use of these to place the Grates on the three adjustable levels, and it is very straightforward and easy to do. All you have to do is slot them into a groove, and they’ll stay. Apart from this, you get two different Adjustable Vents. So, in essence, this grill is pretty simple the way other traditional Japanese Grills often are designed to look like. There are two adjustable Grates, Vents, and even Cast-Iron base. All in all, this is not as bad as a design, and it stays faithful to the old Bowls.
8.
Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill, 14-Inch, Red
The Cuisinart CCG-190RB Portable Charcoal Grill, 14-Inch, Red is designed to be a fantastic grill, as it has many features that serve as a testament to this fact.
What We Liked
- Can be moved easily
- Can be assembled easily
- The lid can be locked easily
What We Didn't Like
- Food burns quickly
- Does not have clear cut instructions
- Grill grates seem to move easily
Detailed description
It comes with a 14 chrome-plated grill surface and has about 150 square inches of cooking space. You would also find that there’s a convenient mess-free ash catcher that comes with this grill. It features a dual venting system designed for charcoal management and temperature measurement. You need to know that there are three different secure lid locks which aid safe and comfortable transportation.
9.
Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker, Black
The Royal Gourmet grill is constructed to be sophisticated in design, and it comes with an incredible amount of cooking space: 179 square inches on the warming rack, 438 square inches in the main chamber, and about 183 square inches at the offset smoker.
What We Liked
- Has an affordable price
- Has a large cooking area
- Features an adjustable charcoal pan
What We Didn't Like
- Susceptible to rust and chipping
Detailed description
The Royal Gourmet grill is designed to be quite appealing and versatile to both traditional grill-users, mainly because of its main chamber. People who like to play around with classic smoked barbeque also want to use this brand. In terms of the central grilling and cooking itself, an adjustable damper is included to help with the airflow. It has cooking grates that are designed using porcelain steel, which also helps in maintaining the heat better.
There is a large capacity charcoal pan that can comfortably hold up to 5 pounds at once, and it has a height that can be further tweaked for better heating. In addition to all the features mentioned earlier, there is a steel mesh on the front and bottom shelves, which helps with storage and cooking. You are allowed to set plates on the shelves for secure transfer, or momentarily remove the meat off to know when it is done. The bottom is mainly used as a storage space, and it helps provide the grill with stability and even the entire frame.
10.
Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro 830 Square Inch Charcoal Grill with Side Fire Box, Black
Merely having the option to either grill or smoke food in your charcoal grill allows you to enjoy a whole new world of cooking opportunities. This is precisely what the Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro 830 Square Inch Charcoal Grill with Side Fire Box which is a smart, and compartmentalized grill has to offer. That is not to say you also enjoy tons of control over the temperature.
What We Liked
- It has a folding tray at the side
- Temperature can be controlled easily by using the dampers
- Comes insulated and suitable for grilling
What We Didn't Like
- Has just a one-year warranty
- Can be somewhat tricky to attach and remove the ashtray
Detailed description
As it is the best for cooking outside of your home, you can take it with you while going for a picnic or camping. The entire grates and construction were made using durable cast iron. It has a lot of advantages as well as a few disadvantages. The cooking area is not exactly big, but it can still serve a few people. It comes with two adjustable heights and Draft doors. This helps with the task of adjusting the temperature.
One advantage of this grill is the mere fact that it would be pretty efficient and useful everywhere. Since it is rather small, you can then take it with you whenever you’re on the move. It serves as an ideal competitor for portable gas grills. There’s no need to break anything down, as the taste of meat seared with a charcoal grill would always be better than that made with a gas grill.
There is no need to restate the fact that grills that are as small as those would have plenty of advantages and disadvantages. The cast iron can take a while before heating up. The size, in a way, limits your cooking options, as you need to know that not all types of meat would fit on this grill. It is quite perfect for vegetables that require high temperatures (hamburgers, sausages, steaks, fishes, vegetables, etc.), or small pieces of meat.
11.
Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman's Grill
The Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill offers users more than the required cooking space for about four New York stakes and a couple of burgers and many hot dogs and a skillet of veggies.
What We Liked
- Heats and retains heat quickly
- Quite sturdy and well-built
- Low-maintenance, heavy-duty, and simple
- Amazing flavor for your food
- Very affordable
- Long-lasting
What We Didn't Like
- Has a small cooking area
- Has rust issues
- Cast iron doesn’t cool down easily
- Cast iron takes a while to heat up
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Detailed description
As it is the best for cooking outside of your home, you can take it with you while going for a picnic or camping. The entire grates and construction were made using durable cast iron. It has a lot of advantages as well as a few disadvantages. The cooking area is not exactly big, but it can still serve a few people. It comes with two adjustable heights and Draft doors. This helps with the task of adjusting the temperature.
One advantage of this grill is the mere fact that it would be pretty efficient and useful everywhere. Since it is rather small, you can then take it with you whenever you’re on the move. It serves as an ideal competitor for portable gas grills. There’s no need to break anything down, as the taste of meat seared with a charcoal grill would always be better than that made with a gas grill.
There is no need to restate the fact that grills that are as small as those would have plenty of advantages and disadvantages. The cast iron can take a while before heating up. The size, in a way, limits your cooking options, as you need to know that not all types of meat would fit on this grill. It is quite perfect for vegetables that require high temperatures (hamburgers, sausages, steaks, fishes, vegetables, etc.), or small pieces of meat.
Conclusion
The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is my favorite in this review, and it is not so difficult to know why. This is rightly described as one of the most user-friendly charcoal grills you would find around, if you’re not used to using charcoal, then the Weber Kettle is the standard for weekend warriors who would like to have weekend battles. It is seen as the ideal housewarming gift for a starter home or first-time apartment, as it is also an excellent pick for first-time buyers.
Although this grill now has some newer features, it is still designed to be a straight forward charcoal grill. The One-Touch cleaning system has then allowed you to move the debris into a full, removable ash bin, which can be cleaned up in no time at all. You are also in control of the temperature of the grill, as you can even do this without having to lift the lid or lose your valuable heat while grilling. This is made possible due to the dampers that help get a temperature that meets your grilling needs, and once you are through, you just shut them out completely to extinguish the coals. The presence of a hinged cooking grate gives you the room to add to the charcoal while still grilling, and it doesn’t require much effort to clean it. There are durable wheels that help make the job of moving it around very easy, as this is a lightweight grill, and it can be wheeled to your favorite grilling spot.
There is also an angled lid hook which serves to hold your lid, thereby leaving both of your hands-frees to turn your meat. The cover also comes with a heat shield that is designed to prevent it from becoming too hot to touch. In case you’re planning on moving to Weber to handle your primary grilling needs, then I would like to congratulate you by letting you know that you’re on the right path, and this would be the ideal grill to start with. There are no whistles and bells, just the right old way of grilling.
