Grilling is fun. Whether you’re having a party cookout or just a family meal, cooking foods on the grill can be a great experience for all.
And as we concluded in our grill recipes, “With a small gas grill the possibilities for further recipes are endless, including grilled fish, meats, vegetables, and even fruit.”
However, there are so many grills to choose from. The biggest competition is charcoal versus gas. While we are not here to make a decision as to which one is better, we will give you a couple reasons why you may pick a small gas grill.
Gas can be cheaper than charcoal, and you don’t have to spend time waiting for the coals to ignite. As to why you may want a small grill, there are several reasons.
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Why A Small Gas Grill?
Having a big grill can be quite fun. It feels like you’re a 4-star chef with a large workstation to play around with. However, going smaller can have its own benefits as well, including:
Takes Up Less Space
Not everyone has the pleasure of living in a home with a big yard. Your yard may be small, or you may have other circumstances that make it difficult for you own a large grill.
It’s Portable
One of the reasons why one person may get a small grill is that it’s portable. Small grills can be carried with you when you travel, making them excellent for camping trips or during a move. You can’t exactly put a bigger gas grill in the car and drag it to the middle of the woods, can you?
Some people have a bigger grill as their main attraction, and a portable one when they want to travel.
It Can Be Just as Good
Another reason why small gas grills are worth the price is that at the end of the day, they can be just as good as a regular-sized grill.
Back in the day, smaller grills were a little unreliable. However, that’s now the past. Today’s gas grills can be just as powerful as their bigger counterparts, giving you that hot, even cook you’re craving.
It’s Cheaper
Finally, there’s the cost. A gas grill can be cheaper than a bigger one. That’s an obvious rule of law. If you’re on a budget, you may go for a smaller grill.
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So, you may not have much space in your yard. Or you may not cook for many people. Finally, bigger grills are usually going to cost more, and vice versa.
So let’s look at the top 10 small gas grills.
1. Weber Q1200 Portable Gas Grill
Who Is This Best For?
This is a good gas grill for those who want a premium grilling experience in the smallest grill possible. It’s a single burner grill that has a lot going for it, as you will soon find out.
Specs
Dimensions: 20.5 x 40.9 x 24.6 inches
Burners: 1
BTU: 8,500
This grill is a nice one. It may not have as many bells and whistles as other grills, but it makes up for that in pure quality. It’s coated in porcelain and has a stainless-steel burner that is ready for action. You don’t have to worry about assembling it, either. It’s assembled fresh out of the box.
Its frame is made of nylon, giving it durability and keeping the heat in the grill. Plus, it’s easily portable as well.
2. Coleman Camping Stove
Who Is This Best For?
This is good for people who want to cook food stovetop-style. As the name implies, this is suited for people who like to camp or like to be outdoors quite often.
Specs
Dimensions: 4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 inches ; 4 ounces
Burners: 2
BTU: Up to 20,000
If you’re looking to cook something on the stove rather than grill, this is for you. This portable stove has two burners that are easily adjustable, just like the stove in your kitchen. What makes this portable stove great is that not only is it cheap and portable, but it’s easy to use and can withstand the elements.
If it’s windy, you don’t have to worry too much. Its panels manage to shield the burners from wind and other conditions. In addition, the pressure regulator makes the stove quite resistant toward extreme conditions and gives it a consistent performance.
For a 16.4 oz propane cylinder, this stove goes for about an hour, meaning you can put it to good use during your trip. Fry up some meat, or make some delicious kettle-cooked popcorn during your camping trip. Overall, there isn’t much else to say besides the fact that this is one great stovetop, especially for those who like to camp.
3. Cuisinart Tabletop Grill
Who Is This Best For?
This is great for people who have a small table or other platform they can use to put a grill on. You can put it in your kitchen, on your porch, on a bench at a park, or any other safe and stable surface.
Specs
Dimensions: 21.5 x 19 x 15 inches
Burners: 2 (1 burner version available as well)
BTU: 20,000
Tabletop grills are nothing new. Chances are, you have owned one of those electric grills you can put on the tabletop. However, those are not great for when you’re out camping and, while they can make some good food, they don’t quite deliver the same taste as a gas grill.
This grill is great for the traveler. It needs no assembly whatsoever. Newbies and veterans alike can get started, and once they do, they’ll find a grill that is easy for any user to try out.
At 22 pounds, this is a very portable grill as well. Few people will have any problems taking this with them when they travel, or when they are going camping.
The grill has a stainless steel grate and a grease trap, along with an electric ignition system that is quite easy to implement. Overall, this is a great grill if you are looking for the next level of tabletop grilling.
4. Coleman Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill
Who Is This Good For?
This is good for people who want everything that a traditional gas grill has to offer: legs to stand up on, a little table to serve the food, and a traditional look that reminds you of your dad’s backyard barbecues. These are some reasons why you may want this grill.
Specs
Dimensions: 28.8 x 18.3 x 14.2 inches; 35.1 pounds
Burners: 2
BTU: 11,000
This is a small gas grill that doesn’t have anything too fancy, but it’s great if you’re looking for a gas grill that can stand up on its legs, which you can fold to carry it around.
This grill has two adjustable burners that work quite well, and it also has matchless lighting. It’s overall a killer grill that we highly recommend.
5. Capt’n Cook Ovenplus Salamander Grill
Who Is this Good For?
This is great for someone who wants everything in one. It’s not only a gas grill, but a cooker and pizza oven. This is great if you’re having a backyard bash and want to cook a little bit of everything. If you’re out camping with the family, it’s great as well. It’s also perfect for someone who thinks a bit of chicken would go well with that pizza.
Specs
Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 13 inches
Burners: 2 Butterfly Burners
This is definitely one of the most extravagant grills we have on this list in regard to what it can do, but we think it’s worth it. This combines the gas grill with a stove and pizza oven. It even comes with a pizza cover and plate to serve the pizza.
One feature of this all-in-one is its butterfly burners. Instead of vertical burning, it burns horizontally. The idea is that it will prevent the food from burning by separating the fire from the flame.
Every part of this grill is designed to have an even temperature, making it great for people who want a crisp pizza or another meal that’s evenly cooked.
6. Coleman Bottletop
Who Is This Good For?
This is great for someone who wants to be as portable and as minimalistic as possible. This is a burner that you attach to a propane tank, and it allows you to cook a single meal on it.
Specs
Dimensions: 7.75 x 7.81 x 6.62 inches
BTU: 10,000
This is a neat little thing. It consists of a single burner, which cooks your meal in a fuel-efficient manner. You can even still control the pressure for the best performance possible.
It’s not a full-powered gas grill, but it’s great for people who just need a single burner. Some people may buy it as a backup, or as a piece of survival equipment. No matter how you use it, we say that this is well worth the price. Try it out and see if it works for you.
7. Cuisinart CGG-750
Who Would Want This?
The people who would want this gas grill are people who are going on a nice picnic, and don’t want to make some dull sandwiches. This is an easily portable grill that has a beautiful aesthetic to it, as well as amazing performance.
Specs
Dimensions: 16.25 x 13 x 10.75 inches
BTU: 9,000
Burners: 1
At first glance, this does not look like a gas grill. It looks like a picnic basket, or a cooler you take with you during a nice little park gathering. However, don’t let the looks fool you. This is a powerful little gas grill, giving you a beautiful cooking grate that can cook your food as evenly as possible.
Despite its power, It’s also a very lightweight grill at only 20 pounds. It also comes with a stand, so you can either sit it on the ground or let it stand on its own.
Plus, the lid that covers the grill, which has a beautiful wooden aesthetic, also doubles as a chopping board. You can prepare some vegetables on it, and then put them on the grill. It’s easy to do.
8. Coleman Gas Camping Stove
Who Is This Good For?
This is great for people who want pure portability and compactness. This grill is only eight pounds and is quite small. However, don’t let its small size fool you — this is one powerful little grill. Oh yeah, and it’s a stove as well.
Specs
Dimensions: 23.90 x 12.30 x 7.70 inches
BTU: 20,000
This is another cool little two in one. It’s a grill, but it’s also a stovetop. It comes with everything you expect in a good small gas grill. It has a one-button ignition and adjustable burners.
Its panels can block wind, making it much easier for you to cook without it blowing out. These panels can double as tables as well. It also has a one hour cooking time, which means that it should last you during the camping trip.
9. NOMADIQ Portable
Who Is This Good For?
These grills are great for people who want a grill that is truly portable. While the other grills on this list do have portability, this one has a handle on top, allowing you to carry it from point A to point B with less of a struggle. It’s also very lightweight, at only 12 pounds. Anyone should be able to carry this grill.
Specs
Dimensions: 14.2 x 16 x 5.2 inches
BTU: 9,200
Burners: 2
This grill is one of the most portable on this list. Besides having a handle, this grill also has a carrying strap, making it even easier to carry.
However, the portable gimmick only goes so far. How is the actual cooking? The grill cooks quite well. It has dual burners with a good amount of BTU, giving you the ability to cook evenly and quickly.
The grates themselves are ceramic and non-stick, and they are also dishwasher safe. And while this grill is small, it is quite durable. You won’t have to worry about breaking it.
10. Coleman Party Propane Grill
Who Needs This?
This is a good grill for those on a budget. It’s not the flashiest or the best rated portable gas grill, but if you’re in a pinch, it may be worth the purchase. As you can infer from the name, this is also good for a party. It’s a nice, cheap grill to have if you’re looking for one that can take a beating at a party.
Specs
Dimensions: 13.20 x 13.40 x 7 inches
Burners: 1
BTU: 8,000
This grill has a bit of a mixed reception on Amazon, which is why it’s lower on the list. Some people are not satisfied with the performance or the fact that it has no lid.
However, if you’re looking for a cheapie grill that can be good for a crazy party, we say that this is worth it. First, it’s easy to bring to the party. You just take off the legs, and you’re good to go. Second, it does have some quality to it. It uses PerfectFlow, making it good for weather conditions that are less than favorable. It also has an instant ignition.
How to Choose a Small Gas Grill
Of course, there are more grills out there than just these, and you may find a grill that fits your needs better than the grills we have on this list. It is a little subjective, after all. With that said, there are going to be some criteria that every gas grill should meet as much as possible. Let’s discuss some of them.
Size
Obviously, a small gas grill needs to be small. In the context of this article, small means portable. It needs to be something you can put in your car and carry around with you when you are traveling. If it’s not, then it isn’t a small grill.
Weight
Besides size, another consideration is weight. Some grills may be small, but they are heavy! On the other hand, one that is too light may be unstable. You want that happy medium, usually. Around the 20 pound range is usually good, but this can depend from person to person.
Other Portable Features
Some grills will come with collapsible legs or have their own carrying case, which can make travel even easier.
Assembly
With grills, putting them together can be a bit of a hassle. The appeal of small gas grills is that many of them will not require assembly, or have little at all. There is something purely satisfying about opening up the box and not having to do much. You may have to remove some plastic, but other than that, it’s helpful when the grill is good to go.
Weather Resistance
These grills are mainly for camping and other activities involving the outdoors. As such, it does make sense that the grill should be fairly resistant to weather. Even if you believe it will be a clear day, you never know.
Cheaper grills may be put out because of wind, or are unable to handle a couple rain droplets. In contrast, a good grill will come with some weather resistance features, like shields to protect the burners from wind, a lid to cover the grill if it’s rainy, etc.
Easy Controls
What makes a gas grill so appealing is that you can control the heat level to get the right cook for you. Also, it’s fun to hit a button and let the burners do their magic. The appeal of gas grills is that they require less effort than charcoal grills if you want to get cooking right away. So if a gas grill has frustrating controls or complex assembly, that’s a no go.
Even Cooking
The best part about gas grills is that they manage to cook the food evenly. Make sure that the grill you purchase has the most even cook possible.
BTU
During this article, you probably noticed the BTU numbers on the specs. Grilling masters will know what this means. However, if you’re a newbie to grilling, you may be a little confused.
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. The bigger the unit, the more heat the grill can make. Therefore, it’s easy to assume that the more BTUs a grill has, the hotter it can get. However, BTUs can be a marketing gimmick. Some grills have more BTUs than necessary, making them gas guzzlers. Others have a BTU level that does not match the cooking surface.
A good rule of thumb is 80-100 BTUs per square inch. Also, besides the BTU number, you have to consider the materials the grill is made from and the style of its lid.
Burner Numbers
Small gas grills won’t have many burners, but some will have more than one. If you’re only cooking for yourself and someone else, you may settle for a single burner grill.
Fuel Efficiency
Gas grills will require propane tanks, and they will usually use smaller tanks. Because of this, they may not last as long as the bigger ones. However, a quality small grill will still last you a good hour or so. Always check how long the gas grill will last on a tank before you purchase it.
Easy Lighting
Back in the day, one had to use a match or another lighter to light up the grill, which could be a little frustrating. You bring your grill to the park, get out the food, and are ready to cook, only to realize you forgot the match!
However, most grills today have a one button ignition. Just press it once and you’re good to go. With that said, it doesn’t hurt to double check before buying.
Easy Cleaning
Cleaning a grill can be such a pain. A grill where the food sticks easily can sour the experience for you. Luckily, there are grills out there with grates that are nonstick, meaning you won’t have to worry as much about food sticking.
Also, some grates on these small gas grills are dishwasher safe, which means you can just pop them in the machine and let that take care of all the work for you.
Fuel Used
When it comes to gas grills, there are two main types. You have the gas grills that are natural, which means that they connect to your home’s gas line. Then, you have the propane grills. These use a propane tank that powers them.
Since these grills are portable, most of them will use a propane tank. However, you should make sure. Some may have the ability to connect to your natural gas line, too.
Lid
The lid of any grill is important. A tight lid ensures the heat does not escape and the food is cooked as fast as possible. With that said, you do need a lid that is easy to remove as well. A lid needs to be that perfect balance between light and tight.
Conclusion
Having a gas grill can make cooking so much easier, and a small gas grill can make it portable and fun. These are just some of the many gas grills available on the market. There are a whole lot to choose from, so if you want to grill out this summer, you have a wide variety. Look at these ten and see which one you believe is for you.
We hope this list served you well. Grilling is a fun experience, so why not get yourself a fun-sized grill? Good luck!
Jeff Wilson is a writer, product comparison expert, and grilling enthusiast, passionate about helping you save money on popular home products.
