Best grills of 2022: our top 10 gas, charcoal, and pellet grills

Transform your yard into a second kitchen with the best grills of 2022. From smoker grills designed to achieve that perfect brisket, to gas grills that will sear your hot dogs with perfect grill lines, our top ten grills are designed to offer something for everyone. We have included grills from Weber, Traeger, Char-Broil, Z Grills, and Kamado Joe in our guide, with grills in a variety of sizes to suit any gathering. 

If you are buying a new grill it is either because you want to upgrade to the very best grill for your money, or because you did not previously have a grill, and want to get in on the action in time for summer. If you do already own a grill and are looking for a more souped-up model, we suggest taking a look at a grill with a side burner. This relatively new invention has transformed outdoor cooking, allowing you to heat up sauces or simmer vegetables for a warm summer salad without ever leaving the yard. 

Newcomers to the grilling game will want to consider the amount of burners they need. We always think that bigger is better when it comes to entertaining a crowd, especially if you are using the best gas grill which won't require you to use the entire cooking area, all of the time. However, you will have to store the grill you do opt for, and will need to consider the space you have available.

Best grills 2022: Our top 10

The Genesis II E-335 comes with Weber's smart technology built right in, and can even be paired with your smartphone for remote monitoring. With a 9,000 BTU sear zone burner and a 12,000 BTU side burner, it's a mighty grill that's up to just about any task you could throw its way. 

Infinity ignition meant we were able to get the Genesis II E-335 cooking in no time at all. It was ready to cook in just 10 minutes, and the Flavorizer bars are angled stainless steel, which left a classic grid-mark pattern on steaks and vegetables when grilling. 

We were able to pair the probe with our smartphone, and set it to monitor for a specific type of meat and preference in cooking. It alerted us when the meat was at the perfect temperature for juicy, medium-rare steak, with no guesswork involved.

At nearly 85kg, there is no denying that this is a hefty grill. Assembly took a while too, but once we had everything set up and ready to go, it was more than worth the trouble it took to assemble. 

You can monitor the grill from your phone but you cannot change the temperature or control it, so keep this in mind when slow cooking your meat. 

Traeger revolutionized the grilling game when they introduced the world to wood pellet grills over 30 years ago. Though other wood pellet grill companies have surfaced, Traeger is still a hard one to beat, especially when you consider their Traeger Ironwood 650 Pellet Grill.

To fuel the Traeger Ironwood 650 Pellet Grill, you plug it into an outlet, then add hardwood pellets to the hopper which are then moved to an auger where they’re ignited. The hardwood pellets provide a wonderful smokey wood flavor to vegetables and meats that you can't quite achieve with gas grills. If you want the smoky flavor to be more intense, hit the Super Smoke Mode button. 

To keep the fire going, a fan circulates the heat and smoke, while a drip tray catches grease and other drippings so the flames continue and heat flare-ups are prevented. With 650 square inches of cooking capacity, you can fit eight whole chickens, six pork butts, or five rib racks at a time. 

The technological features of this Traeger Ironwood 650 are impressive. For instance, once you've set the temperature, the grill maintains that temperature for you. Plus, it's outfitted with WiFi and a built-in meat probe, so you can monitor the internal temperature of the food and the grill all on your phone. 

Weber's Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill has a 22-inch diameter that can fit a family-sized amount of hamburgers or hot dogs. For parties though, you may struggle with its singular burner.

Other charcoal grills such as the Kamado Joe Classic II feature side shelves, which can make serving up and storing plates and accessories easier. While the Weber Kettle lacks this, it is also a mere fraction of the price. 

This charcoal grill has a hinged lid that makes it easy to add briquets while cooking. There's also an ash-catcher on the underside that makes clearing away straightforward when the fun is over. 

The lid has a thermometer to make warming up and maintaining temperature a breeze. You can use the dampers to make controlling the temperature even easier. You can also enjoy the two wheels and the fact that it weighs just slightly over 3 pounds. This makes the grill very portable. 

If you plan to grill meat, you’re going to want to use the Kamado Joe Classic III. Even though it takes a bit longer to heat than gas grills, the Kamado Joe Classic III is the most advanced ceramic charcoal grill on the market that offers the perfect sear and tenderness to your protein, and a smoky flavor to match.

What makes the Kamado Joe Classic III so unique is the brand’s SlōRoller Hyperbolic Smoke Chamber insert. It’s designed to evenly distribute the smoke and heat in rolling waves so that the food cooks more thoroughly without the peskiness of hot spots. Better yet, it’s outfitted with a multi-level rack so that you can cook on the top 18-inch surface, or utilize four additional half-moon grates for a total of 510-square-inches of cooking surface.

Overall, this charcoal grill can reach temperatures of 225 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit, though when using the SlōRoller, the grill has a maximum temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. You can control the air and temperature with an airlift hinge on the top.

Weber has been in the game for 65 years, and the Weber Genesis II S-335 is one of the smartest you can buy. It's compatible with the Grill 3, which is a smart thermometer that can sync with your phone for the utmost insight into your cooking in real-time. 

The Weber Genesis II S-335 features sear station, which is designed to leave those classic charred lines in your steaks and burgers for maximum flavor by creating an intense heat zone. There's also a side burner that can be used to prep side dishes or cook off smaller items that can't go on the main grill. This burner is powered by gas, like the Weber Genesis II S-335 itself. 

There's also a foldable warming rack that can be used to heat up burger buns or keep hot dogs warm when they're done cooking, which will allow you to prep your meals at different timings, but with the same intended serving time. 

As the name implies, this grill has three burners that heat 500 square inches of primary cooking surface and 175 square inches on the second rack. Where most gas grills create convection heat, the SABER Elite 3-Burner Gas Grill uses propane or natural gas to generate infrared or ‘radiant’ heat which directs airflow away from the surface of the grill so that the food retains moisture. In theory, it produces juicier meats and vegetables, reduces cook times, eliminates flare-ups, and vaporizes drippings and debris. Most importantly, it results in using 30 percent less propane than other gas grills. 

On the left side of the grill is a dual tube side burner that can be used for making sauces or cooking side dishes. A rotisserie motor kit and rod are included so a night of rotisserie chicken, lamb, or beef roast is certainly on the menu.

To make your grilling experience easier, use the side table for preparation, and the below cabinet basket to store condiments. Store the propane tank on a pull-out tray that's hidden behind doors. Halogen lights and above-knob LED lighting allow you to grill at night.

The Weber Genesis II E-310 Gas Grill is found on many ‘best gas grill’ lists because it's dependable, easy-to-use, and great for novice and intermediate grillmasters.

The three stainless steel burners offer an output of 39,000 BTUs, which isn't as high as other gas grills, but it'll still get the job done. With a Tuck-Away warming rack, barbecue enthusiasts have a total of 660-square inches of cooking area  (the main grate is 513 square inches). Flavorizer bars catch grease and food drippings, which protects the burner tubes and prevents flare-ups. More importantly, when the grease hits the bars, it vaporizes and is then absorbed into the food making it juicier and tastier.  

Weber installed a center-mounted thermometer in this grill, though for the cook who wants a more high-tech experience, purchase an iGrill 3 thermometer. When paired with the Weber Genesis II E-310, it monitors the temperature of up to four cuts of meat at a time and will send a notification to your phone when the protein is cooked through. 

If you are able to plug it in, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill is an amazing renter-friendly option. Because it's not a charcoal or gas grill, this grill can sneak its way into some communities that otherwise prohibit traditional grills. 

While it's compact, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill has space for 12 burgers at any one time. It's also equipped with porcelain-coated cooking grates that are sure to inject some smokey flavor into your meals for that classic barbecue taste.

The warming racks and cooking grate are both rust-resistant, and they're also convenient to clean thanks to that porcelain coating. 

Although the main grill area offers about 240 square inches of primary cooking space, the removable warming rack adds another 80 square inches. The heat is adjustable thanks to the front dial, and the lid-mounted temperature gauge will help you to keep track of your cooking temperatures. 

Planning on traveling this summer? The Weber Q 1200 Portable Grill is built to be taken on the go. It's got two foldable side tables for preparing dishes when you've set up camp, but simply fold them back up when you want to set off again. 

This gas grill weighs only 20 pounds, which is impressive considering the porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates. These can be removed for easy cleaning and while there is only one burner, it can be used to power the entirety of the 189-square-inch cooking area. 

Another portable element of the Q1200 is its fuel, which is designed to pair with 14- or 16-ounce propane cylinders as opposed to large tanks. Each one will last at least an hour, so it's perfectly suitable for some vacation cooking and traveling light. 

The Z Grills ZPG-450A will deliver that tasty wood-smoked flavor you want from a grill, thanks to the pellet fuels which offer cost-effective and low-maintenance cooking. 

For a start, there's the price, which hits at the right spot for a medium-capacity and smart grill. It has a medium cooking size of 452 square inches and the design is compact enough to store when not in use. 

The Z Grills ZPG-450A has a smart dial that can be turned from 180 to 450 degrees, allowing you to cook at high heat but also to smoke and roast at the lower end. Because the hopper capacity is 15 pounds, it will also keep itself running for hours with little-to-no maintenance. 

Under the hood, you'll find enough space for a medium-sized family. There are also eight modes of cooking available to you, with grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill options. 

What is the best grill in 2022? 

Our top pick of the best grills is the Weber Genesis II E-335. It has everything we love from Weber, including a smart sear station to ensure your steaks and burgers get those classic char-marks. We think the three burners are a good size for most families and would serve well at small-to-medium-sized gatherings. 

If you want to step away from gas cooking, the Traeger Grills Ironwood 650 is also a top pick. It runs on wood pellets and has an in-built meat probe to make cooking easier. 

How we review grills

We like to get hands-on experience with the products which you see featured in our guides, and the best grill is no exception. From Traegar to Z Grills, it is our mission to get as many of these grills into our backyards as possible; don't worry, we have an expert panel to help us. It'll take us to to eight weeks to review these products but since the majority of them reside in the yard, the weather could extend this period of time.

As we work our way through the list we've considered what other customers think about the grill. We've also called upon our barbecuing knowledge thus-far so we can help you decide what would be a good choice of investment.

The things we look out for in customer reviews, and those of our own, are factors such as the ease of set-up and use, cleaning, maintenance and storage and ultimately, how well it cooked the foods. These are certainly elements which we would like to know when looking to buy a grill, so we hope it'll help you to choose a really good one for you.

Which type of grill is best? 

The most conventional type of grill is a charcoal grill, which will slow-cook all manner of dishes for smoked meat or chargrilled vegetables. Gas grills are loved for their convenience. They are easy to ignite and you can work the burners independently, whether that is at different temperatures or for smaller servings without wasting gas.

More popular in recent years is the smoker grill. Powered by pellets, they often feature intelligent temperature probes and auto-dosing burners to keep your grill cooking for hours on end, even when unattended. 

Charcoal grills

Pros: Charcoal grills provide a phenomenal smoky flavor to food, which is especially tasty in meats.

Cons: They take longer to heat up and the temperature can be somewhat harder to control. Even grills that have charcoal boxes that keep the ash contained require some time toward cleaning. 

Liquid propane or gas grills

Pros: Gas grills are quick to heat, easy to adjust the temperature, and don’t require a lot of prep or clean-up time. Gas grills are best for those who are new to grilling.

Cons: They may offer great sear and grill lines and have the capabilities to keep your meats juicy and tender, but unless the grill is outfitted with a built-in or separate wood box, you can’t achieve the same delicious smoky flavor that's provided with charcoal or wood pellet grills.

Electric grills

Pros: Some electric grills can be used indoors and others must be used outdoors. They heat quickly and don't require a lot of post-grilling maintenance. 

Cons: Indoor electric grills are small. If you have an outdoor grill that needs electricity, like a wood pellet grill, you’ll need an outdoor outlet, which may not be placed in the most ideal (or safe) grilling location.

Wood pellet grills

Pros: Meats come out juicy, tender, smoky, and fully-flavored with a wood pellet grill. Once you set the temperature on a wood pellet grill, the grill maintains that temperature for you, so your attention can be elsewhere. If you like cooking with wood, you'll love the best pizza ovens. 

Cons: These types of grills require electricity to function, so you’ll need a good outlet in a safe location outdoors.  

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