Best cheap propane grills
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Both I and my wife still enjoy sipping beer and eating mouthwatering grilled dishes with our friends and children in the weekend gatherings. Some people have asked me what the best grill I think that suits the most to a large group of people but comes with a cheap price.
It’s a difficult but interesting job for me to consider among key product features such as power (BTU), cooking surfaces, burner numbers, and especially prices.
I can understand your concern to buy the best device to serve our families while keeping the budget with a good-price purchase. So I used all my experience and research to summarize a list of 6 Best Cheap Propane Grills just for you. Let’s check it out!
Cuisinart CGG-180Editor’s Choice
Pros
- Compact, portable, and lightweight
- Easy to set up, use and clean up
- Fuel efficient
- Versatile to use as a tabletop or a freestanding grill
- Grill food evenly and faster
Cons
- The small greased pan that can be full quickly
- It doesn’t sit flat when folded
Is a grill that can place on the table while using as a freestanding sound great to you? Cuisinart CGG-180 is a versatile propane grill that fits medium families or BBQ parties on the go. The handle and foldable legs make it easy to carry on travels. Only take 3 seconds to set up or pack and lock like a safe suitcase.
It has a 5,500 –BTU burner and a temperature gauge that allows you to control the right heat to grill the food evenly. Don’t underestimate its power, it can be small and compact but it will grill your food as same as those large grills. The tiny grill place also retains more heat to cook the food faster than usual grills.
Features | |
---|---|
Accommodates | 3-4 people |
Primary Cooking Space (sq. in) | 160 |
BTUs | 5,500 |
Number of Burners | 1 |
Dimensions (in.) | 19 x 11. 5 x 10 |
Weight (lbs) | 17 |
Highlight Features | Compact and lightweight, Cooks evenly like large grills, Handle and foldable legs to carry anywhere |
Cuisinart CGG-180 is a unique suitcase-design grill to serve delicious food for a small group of people on the go.
Cuisinart CGG-059 GrillsterMost Lightweight
Pros
- Extra lightweight
- Compact and portable to carry with a handle
- Heat up fast and cook evenly
- Easy to set up and use
- Safe to bring on the go with a locked durable lid
Cons
- The cast iron grate is a bit hard to clean
- The vents are unnecessary sharp, which can injure you
When I ask my daughter what’s the best propane grill she thinks, she chooses this Cuisinart CGG-059 grill. And I know the reason immediately! You will be surprised because it’s lightweight, just 10lbs. If you love hiking, trekking, or parties on the go, this grill is the most ideal choice.
It also has a streamlined and aesthetic design with a handle to carry on with. Although it’s compact, it’s able to cook a whole meal for you and your friends with only one propane canister.
On the go, you won’t want to struggle to find a way to make your grill start. This Cuisinart propane grill is easy and simple to use. Its cleaning job is the same. The grate is coated with porcelain enamel so you can remove it to clean separately or put it in the dishwasher at home.
Features | |
---|---|
Accommodates | 2-4 people |
Primary Cooking Space (sq. in) | 146 |
BTUs | 8,000 |
Number of Burners | 1 |
Dimensions (in.) | 19 x 11. 5 x 10 |
Weight (lbs) | 10 |
Highlight Features | Extra lightweight, Compact and portable, Easy to set up, Dishwasher-safe cooking grate |
If you want to enjoy high-quality grilled food on your trips while having no worries about heavy packages, Cuisinart CGG-059 is for you.
Royal Gourmet PD1300Best Flat Top Grill
Pros
- Easy to put together, use and clean up
- Extra-large cooking surfaces up to 10 servings
- Three powerful burners
- Durable and portable
- Decrease fat with a greased pan
- Easy-to-use ignition system
Cons
- The ignition starter can break down if you don’t clean it regularly
- It can run hot
To be honest, Royal Gourmet PD1300 is also my dream propane grill because you can cook a whole home-based party with its giant 310 square inch cooking surfaces. Three burners can heat up to 27,000 BTUs to serve lots of food in a short time so I know no one in my family has to wait too long for the dishes to come out.
What I love the most about this propane grill is it grills your food through a porcelain coated griddle so the fat is reduced by dripping down a cup while keeping the food to be delicious and tender. After cooking, you only need to remove and clean the cup and griddle, so easy and simple. Not just dinner but you can cook any other food for your breakfast or lunch.
This propane grill is powerful yet very durable. The body is made of premium materials, including porcelain and stainless steel so it’s sturdy enough to use for a lifetime! While it’s solid, it amazes me by its portability. Comes with a cover, you can move it outside when needed or bring it to your picnics, trips with no hassles.
Features | |
---|---|
Accommodates | 10 people |
Primary Cooking Space (sq. in) | 316 |
BTUs | 27,000 |
Number of Burners | 3 |
Dimensions (in.) | 25.2 x 18 x 9.5 |
Weight (lbs) | 30 |
Highlight Features | Extra-large cooking surface, Strong power (27,000 BTUs), 3 separately controlled ring-shaped burners to cook faster |
Families who love to host BBQ parties all the time of the year will love this powerful giant grill Royal Gourmet PD1300.
Smoke Hollow VT280RDSBest Smoker Grill Combo
Pros
- Extra-large cooking surface
- Compact enough for camping or RV
- Two powerful burners with an extra smoke one
- Give food a great smoky flavor
- Foldable legs and tables
- Sturdy and portable
Cons
- Heavy
- Can flare-up while grilling
- Assembly can be time consuming
- The wood chip drawer is a little flimsy
Many people prefer the charcoal grill because they think it’s the only grill that can bring the traditional smoky flavor of grilled food. Well, then this Smoke Hollow propane grill can make them change their mind! The product has a smoke tray to produce more smoke to create the exact unique mouthwatering taste for your grilled dishes.
The third smoke tray can also cook your food with a 3,500-BTUs burner. You can have a powerful grill with a total of 16,500 BTUs. That’s incredible! If I’m going to host a fun party at home, I will buy this product to let it help me for sure. With a huge 367-squares cooking grate, this giant grill surpasses all my expectations.
When using, you only need to place on the sturdy legs and let it do its job. Two extra side tables allow you to store more food while cooking and can be folded down to take away. A simple tip for you to grill food better is to put more wood chips below.
Features | |
---|---|
Accommodates | 6-8 people |
Primary Cooking Space (sq. in) | 345 |
BTUs | 13,000 |
Number of Burners | 3 |
Dimensions (in.) | 19.25 x 24.96 x 15.98 |
Weight (lbs) | 40.9 |
Highlight Features | Extra-large cooking surface, Smoke tray to bring the original grilled taste, Powerful burner, Durable |
Smoke Hollow VT280RDS is the only propane grill smoker combo to create the unique smoky grilled flavor that we all love.
Cuisinart CGG-608Best For Searing
Pros
- Compact, portable, and lightweight
- Suitable for 1-3 persons
- Budget-friendly
- Powerful burner 10,000 BTU that is quick to get hot
- Built-in thermometer to control the heat
Cons
- The flame tamers are not made of stainless steel so it could be rusted
- Take a longer time to cook
I got stuck to find a small grill for singles or couples to enjoy appetizing dishes at their houses. Then I found this Cuisinart grill. It suits the best for 1-3 persons due to its lightweight and compact design. It also has a handle and durable legs to place on the balconies in tiny apartments.
While it’s small to not take many places to store, it can well-perform with a powerful 10,000-BTU burner. You can cook food evenly in a short time after spending 2 seconds to open the grill and twist the start button. Besides, the built-in thermometer lets you cook beautiful searing grill dishes if you want.
You can place it in the kitchen corner, RVs, or car trunks and use it to cook food for a small group of your beloved ones.
Features | |
---|---|
Accommodates | 1-3 people |
Primary Cooking Space (sq. in) | 176 |
BTUs | 10,000 |
Number of Burners | 1 |
Dimensions (in.) | 14.5 x 17.75 x 15 |
Weight (lbs) | 16.85 |
Highlight Features | Compact and portable, Powerful burner, Easy-to-use thermometer |
Cuisinart CGG-608 is the best wallet-friendly propane grill to cook searing food, especially for singles or couples.
Char-Broil Classic 360Best For A Large Group
Pros
- Large enough to serve many people
- Three powerful burners that get hot fast
- Durable porcelain-coated steel construction
- Fast startups with Piezo ignition system
- Extra storage and prep space with 2 side shelves
Cons
- Assembly is going to take you a while
- There is no grease pan
Char-Broil Classic 360 grill is a well-performed grill that can serve various kinds of dishes at the same time for a large group. With a primary cooking area of up to 360 sq.in., a warming rack of 170 sq.in. and a side burner, this product helps you to cook a full-course menu for the whole family and meet all your cooking needs.
Three in-line stainless steel burners perform better with higher heat retention and are less prone to erosion. Piezo ignition system helps start the grill with the push of a button, and two metal side shelves provide more storage and prep space.
With this product, I’m sure you will feel comfortable to use it to cook while having fun with your friends and family.
Features | |
---|---|
Accommodates | 15-20 people |
Primary Cooking Space (sq. in) | 360 |
BTUs | 30,000 |
Number of Burners | 3 |
Dimensions | 24.1 x 51.2 x 43.5 |
Weight | 48.5 |
Highlight Features | Extra-large cooking area for a huge group, 3 powerful burners, Piezo ignition, In-line stainless steel burners, Porcelain-coated steel lid & firebox |
If you are about to throw a large BBQ party in your backyard this summer, we suggest you this Char-Broil Classic 360 propane grill.
How To Choose The Best Cheap Propane Grills (Buying Guide)
Summer is the grilling season, and it’s closer than ever. You may think it’s very hard to choose a suitable product for both your needs and your budget. With many years of experience, I can say it can be difficult but it can be easy if you know the tips. Scroll down to find out what it is.Price
The price can be an important thing for some people or families. But you can relax knowing that all the products in this article are only from $92-$200. With under $200 to own a powerful grill that can cook for a small party, sounds great right?
Consider your needs to decide the most suitable price you can afford.
Your cooking needs

You won’t be happy to buy a small grill that cannot cook enough food for the whole family. That’s why you need to think about your cooking needs. Will you use it to cook for you and your husband or cook for your group of friends every weekend?
Usually, the one-burner grill fits the most for small cooking demands (1-3 persons). Two-burner grills and three-burner grills are more suitable to cook for many people.
The cooking surface is a measurement to know if it’s right for you. The grills with 200 to over 300-squares cooking surfaces can cook a huge amount of food.
Portability

Will you grill on-the-go or just use your grill at home? If you want to bring your grill on a camping trip or a tailgating party, make sure that you opt for a lightweight and compact grill with a carrying handle or even a cover.
If you only grill on your patio or deck, weight is less important yet your grill has to come with wheels for easy transport if you want to move it around or to store it.
Who Makes The Best Cheap Propane Grill?
Royal Gourmet
Royal Gourmet is a young grill brand that appeared in the market for around 10 years. They use innovation to produce high-quality products to leverage your BBQ experiences. You will feel relieved with their professional customer services to take care of and satisfy all your requirements.
Cuisinart
Founded in 1973, Cuisinart is the pioneer to bring the concept of art and cooking into one. Not only grills but they also produce other food processors to help people for their daily cooking jobs. The Cuisinart products gain lots of awards for exceptional quality and superior services.
Smoke Hollow
Smoke Hollow produces all kinds of grills and accessories for your greatest grilling experience. They also release the unique 2in1 smoker and grills to bring the exact smoky flavor to their customers. With the good quality and variety, Smoke Hollow is expected to become one of the most favorite grill manufacturers with many people.
FAQs
How long should a gas grill last?
You may already buy a good propane grill that you think it’s worth the money. But how long can it last? What’s the average lifespan of a gas grill?
No matter how durable the product is, it can break down after years of usage and you cannot use it for your whole life. Some people may think cheap propane gas grills won’t stay long and they will just have to replace it after 2-3 years.
The truth is a propane gas grill can last from 5 to 15 years if you use and maintain it correctly. And it’s very simple! Clean your grill carefully after each use, take it inside or use a cover to protect it from environmental factors, and replace broken parts. Do these steps and you can use your grill for years.
How often should you clean a gas grill?
You have to clean the grate after every session. The other part such as burner protectors can be deep clean every few months.
What is the best way to clean gas grill grates?
- Open the hood and remove the grate from the grill. If you find some metal heat diffusers, take them out too.
- Next, you may see a lot of charcoal and wood stuck around the grate. Put your glove in because it will be a dirty job.
- Use a nylon or wire brush to clean out the burner tube. Clean it from the center then move outward.
- Dip and soak the grate into a soapy tank and clean it all.
Should I leave the grill open or closed?
In the forums, many people have discussed this subject. What is better? Are my burgers and steaks still good if I open the lid while grilling?
Let me answer your concerns. Cooking with an open lid is the same as baking food in the oven with an open door. Every time you open the lid, the heat will release out and your food will never be done.
But there’s an exception here. Cooking while opening the lid can help to sear the food beautifully. So after you find your food is seared, you can close the lid.
Can a gas grill get wet?
If you let your grill outside in the rain, it can get wet. But don’t be worried, I have a trick to fix that.
- First, you need to take out the propane canister.
- Next, remove all the related parts to protect them from dripped water. If it’s difficult, you can follow the instruction’s steps in the guidebook.
- Dry it with a soft cloth or paper towel.
Can you leave propane attached to the grill?
You can leave your propane attached to the grill only when the tank valve is turned off. Nothing dangerous can happen if the burner is off.
Conclusion
Cheap propane grills are the best and most ideal choice for people who have to keep their budget on track. These propane grills in this article are affordable but amazingly good to bring you delicious grilled dishes. I spent my time and used my experience to choose the best cheap propane gas grills that I think are useful for people to make their purchase. I hope you will love it and I’m waiting to see you in my next post!