The 8 Best Tailgate Grills in 2023

This rugged tough-looking grill from Lodge is all about traditional, flavorful cooking. It features a draft door for regulating heat and the flip down door to feed the coal and access it. Entirely made of cast iron, no chemicals are used for seasoning and this grill just gets better seasoned with every use.

It is compact and a perfect size for camping, tailgating, and BBQ parties. It is easy to assemble, clean, and use but some food may slide and slip over. You have to put more oil for better functioning. Also to make your job easier cleaning it, try to recover some half-burnt coals: it can be used for the second round of cooking and the ash will also die down quicker.

This is ideal for fast cooking, greater heat distribution and distinct, flavorful charcoal cooking for small and medium-sized families. It stays hot and doesn’t stick meat to its surface. The grill is heavy duty and may not be the lightest but it will surely last you years. The unit has two adjustable height levels.

This grill from Weber may look extremely small and compact, but it is highly functional and can grill an entire chicken or a rack full of steak. The design of this unit is extremely innovative and stylish. Some users have pointed out that the grill doesn’t get sufficiently hot due to the large distance of the grate from the charcoal bed; you can, however, solve this problem by controlling the air flow. Open the ventilation lid all the way or lift the grate for some time to increase air passage.

This unit also reduces wastage of coal and the ventilation lid provides optimum use of them. It’s a safe backup unit in times of power cut or storm events- it can be used conveniently in the porch or even for table-top grilling. The unit is sturdy and can be bear heavy-duty use.

This portable grill from Weber features an innovative and compact design and is available in multiple color variants- Fuchsia, Red, Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Purple, and Titanium. It has a cast aluminum lid and body, a sturdy nylon frame and porcelain enamel cast-iron cooking grate.

The lid has an embedded temperature gauge. There are two foldable side tables on either side of the unit. The removable catch pan is placed at the bottom to collect liquids, drippings, grease, etc.; it can easily be cleaned. It has various burner valve settings and electronic ignition. The unit will run on liquid propane from disposable containers. Using an adapter hose accessory, it can be connected to a larger tank of propane.

This rectangular plated steel portable grill takes innovation and compactness a notch higher. The unit looks like a briefcase: you can easily pack up, lay it out and grill on the go, whether tailgating, camping or just entertaining guests.

The entire unit is porcelain coated enamel to prevent rusting and ensure durability. The lid has a glass reinforced nylon handle that stays cool when cooking. The lid features two circular dampers, each with three vents for airflow. The handle at the top allows you to carry the unit easily.

The legs are foldable in such a way that it ensures the locking of the lid and is easy to fold out anywhere, within seconds, without requiring any assembly. Additionally, there are handles on either side for carrying. The grate provides 160 sq. in. of cooking surface.

This highly portable and functional grill from Weber features a heavy-gauge steel grate which has lids for lifting, allowing you to access the charcoal bed- an excellent feature. Porcelain enamel bowl and body prevents rusting while making the unit look stylish and well-constructed.

The air vents at the top and ash catcher tray at the bottom are made of aluminum. It has two top handle- one thin and one regular sized. The legs are durable and solid. There is sufficient space inside the unit from the grate till the top of the lid- but a little more is highly desirable.

The unit is made of rust-resistant cast aluminum lid and body and glass reinforced nylon frame. The stainless steel burner delivers 12,000 BTUs per hour input. The burner lights with the touch of a button and the removable tray collects drippings. The grate is made of porcelain enamel and has a cooking surface of about 280 sq. in.

There are two foldable tables to serve the food on either side and they can be folded for storage inside the unit. The temperature gauge is embedded inside the lid and measures temperature both in degrees Fahrenheit and degree Celsius. This unit runs on one AAA battery and provides infinite burner settings. It has a connector port for mounting LP cylinders (14.1 or 16.4 oz.).

The build quality is excellent and superior while the heat distribution is flawless. It heats up evenly and rapidly. The unit is best for camping, tailgating, for your porch or even home use- it is light, portable and can easily cook for 2-4 people. The design is stylish and innovative with a neutral color for greater appeal.

This affordable charcoal grill features a grate for placing the meat, bacon, vegetables, etc. while the lift system allows you to change or access the charcoal bed without touching the grate. The 240 sq. in.  cooking surface can be covered by the porcelain enamel-coated heavy lid (green in color): the surface is big enough to fit about four burgers. There is superior heating and well-controlled heat distribution which can be monitored by the temperature gauge on the top of the unit.

The base is wide, and sturdy for stability while the ashtray at the bottom of the unit collects ash and can be removed for easy cleaning. The unit is easy to assemble and since the instructions are simple, it is convenient and simple to use. The air flow system is adequate.

This highly efficient unit from Coleman is all about convenience – A small and compact unit, it is suitable for camping, tailgating, BBQ parties, or even for your home use. It has an accessory hose and using an adapter (separately purchased), you can connect it to a larger propane tank or a small gas canister without a hose.

This is easy to set up and use. It can be used with or without the foldable stand. The four legs spread out giving a stable support system and a wide leveler. It is not heavy for some but having a carry bag is helpful. You may want to get it with the bag accessory with the wheel for ease of carrying. It provides 20, 000 BTU of cooking and superior, fast, even cooking.

The unit comes with two sides- one is the grill for meat, burgers, hotdogs, bacon, etc. while the griddle is good for vegetables, pancakes, bread, buns, etc. Both the surfaces are made of aluminum. It has detachable side tables. The nonstick cooking surface heats up evenly without having any hot or cold spots.

Despite the unit appearing compact, there is a large cooking surface. The surface is very easy to clean- all the parts are washable and removable. However, a few users have pointed out about some or all accessories not fitting the dishwasher.