Best Small Outdoor Charcoal Grill In 2021 | Ultimate Buying Guide & Expert Recommendation

Want to camp outside the house frequently or arrange a barbeque session with friends with the usual smoke-flavour? If you’re one of them, you’re probably searching for a portable solution. As thing stand, you must need a charcoal grill. 

Why?

For small families, camping and travelling freak people, a small charcoal grill is a superb solution. Because of their lightweight design, it’s trendy in the BBQ genre. You can cook burgers and steaks both over direct fire & get smokey flavours. It’s more of a challenge to cook on a small grill, but a little practice and some advice will help you to be like a pro.

Here, we will represent you with the 5 best small outdoor charcoal grill with a buying guide. Pick your suitable charcoal grill for our recommended top picks.

WHY SMALL CHARCOAL GRILL?

First of all, the small size matters a lot. You can carry these lightweight grills anywhere you can. Charcoal grills give you complete power over the cooking process, allowing you to create drool-worthy recipes precisely the way you like them every time. 

Cook directly over the coals for a burnt exterior, or switch them to a less hot spot for more delicate cooking and a smoky flavour. 

However, keep an eye on the coals because they can need to be replenished before the cooking is over. On the other side, don’t hesitate to extinguish them before putting your grill away. Always choose the best charcoal grill smoker combo for the ultimate performance.

FEATURES TO LOOK FOR IN A SMALL OUTDOOR CHARCOAL GRILL

Basic Stands

Often aim to choose a barbecue with sturdy stands. Since the grill will deliver such a lot of warmth and remain under the flame broil, the surface territory will be harmed.

Accessibility

When you feel like you need to add more charcoal to the grill, it’s humid that it isn’t easy to do so. A few grills have an entryway that permits you to put more charcoal inside rapidly.

Ash removal Process

The removal of ash is critical, and if you don’t clean it when frying, it will reduce the heat of the barbecue. So, to get the correct heat, you can remove ash when cooking, which requires an ash-removal device in your barbecue.

Ignitor for Electronic Gases

Don’t you want to light your grill manually? Then it will be beneficial if you purchased a grill with an electronic gas ignitor, which would make it easier to light the grill.

Customizable Handle

A moving handle is an essential feature of the best portable barbecue. If your barbecue grill has a rotating handle, you can comfortably hold it in one hand if it lets you carry it. As a result, we recommend purchasing grills that have a robust and customized handle.

BUYING GUIDE OF SMALL CHARCOAL GRILL: BASIC THINGS TO CONSIDER

There are several best high-end charcoal grill on the market; try to observe the steps below before purchasing one.

Quality Construction

First and foremost, when you consider the best portable charcoal grill, the construction quality is a top priority. The handle must have to be heavy-duty.

Charcoal grills are usually made of cast iron, cast aluminium, or ceramics. Still aim to purchase grills made of these products.

Dimensions

Is camping outside your primary motivation for purchasing a barbecue grill? So, opt for a medium-sized item that will be easy to transport.

If camping is not a priority for you, you can purchase either of them based on your needs. There are two kinds of sizes: body size and cooking surface size.

Area for Cooking

It is the most crucial factor to remember. This place is often seen in a barbecue grill. If you purchase a large barbecue, you can have a larger cooking space.

If you want to prepare a meal for your four-person family, a 300-square-foot kitchen area will suffice. However, if you’re going to cook for many people, you can purchase a medium or large one.

You might wonder if you can cook for a large group of people in a medium-sized pot. Why Not? Of course, you can!

Product’s Weight

If you want to go camping with your friends or family outside the house, you can get a light one because you would have to drive a long distance with it. Since we’re talking about a portable barbecue, it should be light. Numerous best charcoal grills under $500 offer this feature.

Maintenance

Are you concerned about the upkeep of a barbecue grill? Don’t worry; it’s easy and straightforward. For heavy use, you will need to replace this once a year. However, if you scrub the grate well, it will last for a long time.

OUR TOP PICKS

In-depth Review & Suggestions

Weber 121020 Small Outdoor Charcoal Grill

According to John Ruskin:

“Quality is never by chance. It is all about the consequence of careful planning.”

Weber is such a kind of quality brand which consistently produces the best quality cooking gadgets.

Weber is the best-selling small charcoal grill on Amazon. If you know why this is happening? The first explanation comes from Weber. Weber portable charcoal grills are, without a doubt, the finest on the market.

They still make their goods from the finest ingredients, which is why they last so long. As is customary in this model, the highest quality porcelain-coated cast iron was used, making it more durable.

Now we should look at the weight since it is considered portable. It weighs nearly 6.59 kilograms, which is adequate for a portable charcoal grill. Portable grills should be lightweight since you would be transporting them away from home.

It has a porcelain-coated cook box that is very durable, compact, and easy to store in any place.

PROS

• Ideal for a small family
• Temperature adjustable.
• Using high-quality components in construction
• Lid lock system and portability
• Legs that fold up and a carry handle

CONS

• Grates are not movable.
• There is no mechanical ignitor.

Why do we Recommend Weber?

We strongly recommend this one because of the high-quality materials and well-designed lid lock mechanism. Consider your options carefully before purchasing this piece since it is a high-end item with a hefty price tag.

BUY ON AMAZON:

Cuisinart CCG-100 Portable Outdoor Charcoal Grill

Let’s speak about another outstanding brand, Cuisinart: the maker of the CCG-100 Portable Grills. This is a one-of-a-kind grill from this company, with a lift mechanism that allows you to add more charcoal if desired. There is no need to hit the grate while adding more charcoal.

What are your thoughts on the weather? You are receiving a fantastic temperature regulation scheme. We should classify it as a medium-sized grill because it has 240 square inches of cooking surface, which is very generous.

It has an ash disposal bin for collecting extra ashes when cooking. It will aid in obtaining the desired heat from the charcoals. It has about 240 square inches of cooking space as a portable barbecue, which is enough to prepare a big meal for your family.

CCG-100 has a temperature-controlling device that also aids in temperature regulation. There’s no reason to hit the grill’s hot spots. It has a large, heat-resistant stainless steel handle.

Pros

• Temperature control
• Ash recycling bin with a lift system
• Handle that is immune to heat

Cons

• The price should be reduced.
• Below standard handle

Why do we Recommend Cuisinart?

We recommend this grill because it has a variety of features, such as temperature control, an ashtray, and a lift system. We may confidently claim that it is one of the best portable charcoal grills of 2021.

BUY ON AMAZON:

Char-Broil Small Outdoor Charcoal Grill

Char-Broil is a trusted brand, and the CB500x is one of the best portable charcoal grills they produce on a regular basis due to customer demand. Broil is made of cast iron, which makes it dependable and vigorous.

Do you look for the best charcoal grill consumer reports for identifying the best compact choice? Then have a close glance at it.

Its grate is flexible, and the temperature of the grill can also be adjusted for improved efficiency. It has an ash cleaning box that works appropriately for quick ash cleaning.

You’ll get 240 square inches of cooking surface, which is far more than any other compact barbecue grill. You can enter the charcoal chamber through a fence, and you can add or extract charcoals when cooking.

There is still a damper that allows you to regulate the temperature.

Pros

• The heat is simple to regulate.
• Long-lasting ash removal method
• The affordable grill
• Highly portable option

Cons

• Slightly heavy

Why do we Recommend Char-Broil?

The fundamental explanation for the endorsement is that it is easy to use and has several outstanding features for beginners.

BUY ON AMAZON:

Fox Outfitters Quick Small Outdoor Charcoal Grill

Stainless steels are excellent materials for charcoal grills. Fox Outfitters produced this lightweight BBQ grill out of high-quality stainless steel.

It takes some time to set up. It’s a medium-sized barbecue grill with a huge cooking surface on which you can comfortably cook for your entire family at once.

It can be set up conveniently in a few minutes and folded up comfortably due to its lightweight size. You will receive a carrying bag that will allow you to transport it to any place conveniently. Its ports are so well built that air can quickly flow through to the grill. Because of its lightweight size, it takes up less space in your home.

Because of its compact scale, this grill is best suited for small families. The big grill can also be a challenge for those who don’t have enough room in their home because they have a small family. Overall, this is an excellent kit for a small family.

Pros

• Food-grade based robust design
• A proper air passage device is included
• Very Portable
• Lightweight
• Large cooking space

Cons

• Not a robust construction

Why Do We Recommend It?

We recommend it because of its low price and food-grade material, as well as its portability.

BUY ON AMAZON:

Kamado KJ13RH Small Outdoor Charcoal Grill

When you need something compact but don’t want to compromise on consistency, the Kamado Joe Jr. is an outstanding option. This compact, robust, and reliable grill and smoker would last for years of tailgating, trips to the pool, and beachside barbecues.

Many people can wonder if the Kamado Joe Jr is too tiny for its size. We’re here to warn you that it’s not as little as you think.

Joe’s trademark Kamado makes one of the finest Charcoal grills that are both robust and long-lasting. This is the perfect portable barbecue grill if you want a premium, heavy-duty, durable charcoal grill.

The entire body is made of ceramic, and the stands are stainless steel. You’ll get approximately 140 square inches of cooking surface, which is sufficient for small gatherings. You don’t have to worry about the efficiency because it’s a heavy-duty outdoor charcoal grill. It will deliver the best results for many years.

PROS

• It has a temperature gauge.
• It enhances the smoky taste of food.
• Offer great longevity
• Method for regulating temperature.
• Very durable and long-lasting

CONS

• Bit expensive

WHY DO WE RECOMMEND IT?

One can enjoy naturally smoked beef by picking this charcoal masterpiece. It produces the natural taste of the food with its charcoal brewed flavour. The commodity seemed to have a lightweight grill-like appearance and style.

Although the price is marginally higher, we still prefer this one due to its long-lasting durability and heavy-duty charcoal grill.

BUY ON AMAZON:

FAQ’s

• How To Start An Outdoor Charcoal Grill?

There are numerous techniques for lighting a grill barbecue; however, utilizing a chimney stack starter is typically the most secure decision. Put folded paper in the lower part of the apparatus and cover it with charcoal; after lighting the base, the charcoal will be prepared to add to the barbecue in around 10 minutes.

Another decision is to utilize an electric charcoal lighter, which you put on the barbecue close by the charcoal to warm the coals.

• How can you neutralize a barbecue grill?

At the point when you’re finished broiling, the most straightforward approach to stifle hot coals is to close the top and close both the upper and lower vents to remove the oxygen supply. This will extinguish the flares. However, remember that it can require some investment for them to chill.

• How can you clean an outdoor grill?

When the coals have been doused, and the flame broil has cooled, utilize a scrubber and a wire barbecue cleaner to clean the meshes. If essential, eliminate the meshes and absorb them sudsy water for a few hours to deliver food and oil. When they’re perfect, utilize a cloth or paper towel to grease them to stay away from consumption.

Final Thoughts

To taste the classic flavor of BBQ, you must use the best small outdoor charcoal grill because only charcoal grills can provide you with a smoky flavor in BBQ.

We researched the charcoal grill and chose some of the best grills for you to be the best investment for your money. Everything you have to do is carefully read the purchasing guide and picks the right portable barbecue grill for you.

In general, each individual has a unique sense of taste. As a result, we attempted to reflect the top five grill’s characteristics one by one.

So, go ahead and get your suitable portable barbecue grill today. If you expect a further recommendation from us, we will suggest picking the Weber or Char-Broil charcoal grill.

Farhana Bithi

I am Farhana Bithi. I am a content writer. I always love to write articles on kitchen items. I am the founder of this blog “BestStoveBuyingGuide.com“. Actually, I am a housewife. I love to cook. I am using several brand cookware sets, gas stoves, and electric stoves. So I always share my experience on this blog.
I  always dedicated to helping you find the best cookware sets, gas stoves on the market.