The best portable barbecues on test

Read on to discover the results of our test. For over 400 buyers' guides, visit our reviews section and find reviews of charcoal and gas barbecues, pizza ovens, and much more.

Best portable BBQs at a glance

• Best portable electric BBQ: Ninja Woodfire BBQ Grill and Smoker, £237
• Best portable gas BBQ: Weber Q1200 gas barbecue, £254
• Best portable BBQ for couples: Char-Broil Grill2Go, £147.99
• Best budget portable BBQ: George Foreman GFSBBQ1 single burner, £132.99
• Best portable BBQ that heats up quickly: Lotus Grill, £139.95
• Best portable charcoal BBQ: Berghoff tabletop barbecue, £149.95
• Best multi-purpose portable BBQ: Cobb barbecue cooking system, £169.99
• Best portable BBQ for durability: Weber Smokey Joe Premium, £83.99

Jump to:

• Best portable BBQs to buy in 2024
• How we tested portable BBQs

Best portable BBQs to buy in 2024

Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker

Best portable electric BBQ

Pros:

• Compact
• No fuel needed
• Varied functionality
• Large heat-proof handle
• Good-looking
• Intuitive to use
• Great cooking results

Cons:

• Short cord
• The pellets are only available via Ninja
• Food doesn't have 'barbecued' char
• Unable to ignite pellets when grill is hot

Star rating: 5/5

This Ninja barbecue was among our product testers' favourite gadgets of 2023 and earned star-buy status as a result. It plugs in easily at the wall, but unlike most electric barbecues, it has an inbuilt smoker that burns wood pellets, imparting a smoky flavour to ingredients without using open flames, charcoal or gas.

Included with the barbecue are a woodfire pellet starter pack, pellet scoop, crisper basket, and quick-start guide, the latter of which has recipes and cooking charts. The grill is designed to be weather resistant, too, so you can use it year-round.

Read our full Ninja Woodfire BBQ Grill and Smoker review.

Weber Q1200 gas barbecue

Best portable gas BBQ

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Compact to store

Cons:

• Comparatively expensive
• Compact-sized grill means best suited to smaller gatherings
• Not very non-stick

Star rating: 4.5/5

As you might expect with this trusted brand, the Q1200 portable gas barbecue is easy to use and cooks well, albeit without the fancy features of larger models. Despite using a small C500 gas cartridge, it heats efficiently, but the temperature quickly drops if the lid is opened for any length of time. It takes several minutes to regain heat after this, especially once the grill is covered with food.

Clear instructions mean it’s easy to assemble, and it can be used without the stand, so it’s a sensible option if space is tight or to take out and about. One word of warning: make sure the plastic side tables don’t accidentally touch the hot grill as they are likely to scorch.

This is a versatile bit of kit, which can be used with or without the stand, making it completely portable, whether you’re in the garden or on the beach. Read our full Weber Q1200 review.

Char-Broil Grill2Go

Best portable gas BBQ for couples

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight
• Easy to set up and use
• Good cooking results

Cons:

• Some flare-ups despite manufacturer claims
• Tricky to cook slower dishes like the aubergine
• Cool spot in whole front of BBQ
• Noticeably hotter on right side
• No extra tools/storage

Star rating: 4/5

This is a single-burner gas model. It's quick to reach temperature, hitting the top temp in just five minutes. For ease, there's also a thermometer in the lid. The 44cm x 28cm cooking area is generous and the entire unit is compact enough to take camping, too.

We couldn't fault the burgers we cooked on this barbecue; they each had well-defined grill lines and retained moisture well. The veggie kebabs we cooked were crisped and charred on the outside, and remained soft inside. While we loved the impressive power of the grill, it was still pretty ferocious, even when cooking at lower temperatures.

Read our full Char-Broil Grill2Go review.

George Foreman GFSBBQ1 Single Burner

Best budget portable BBQ

Pros:

• Low price for a gas barbecue
• Even heat coverage
• Easy to set up with clear instructions
  Cooks well

Cons:

• Basic with no extra tools or functions
• Have to assemble the regulator yourself
• Limited one-year warranty

Star rating: 4/5

This George Foreman single burner barbecue is a great choice for three people, or up to four people at a push. This reached temperature in just five minutes, plus the knob to the side of the barbecue made it easy to control. All test dishes cooked on this model turned out brilliantly.

There are no bells and whistles with this barbecue – it's simplistic in design and there are no additional functions. The char lines produced were good, but we definitely saw better from some of the other models in this list. That said, we found this barbecue easy to set up, save for the fiddly regulator valve.

For simple burgers, sausages and buns on a sunny day, this model did a good job. Read our full George Foreman GFSBBQ1 Single Burner review.

Lotus Grill

Best portable barbecue that heats up quickly

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Quick to light
• Smoke-free
• Dishwasher-safe parts
• Simple design that stays cool to the touch

Cons:

• Needs batteries, lighting gel and chips
• Limited size, although larger models are available

If the worst part of barbecuing is waiting for your food, this is the portable grill for you. The LotusGrill has a built-in fan that helps the charcoal get to temperature in around five minutes.

Compared to other charcoal barbecues, we couldn’t believe the ease with which you could cook – no need to coax the coals, simply fire it up and expect good heat for over half an hour. The charcoal is in an enclosed container, and with a fan going, you don’t get much in the way of charcoal flavour, but the efficiency and generous cooking area far outweighs this.

Read our full Lotus Grill charcoal barbecue review.

Berghoff tabletop barbecue

• Available from Amazon (£149.95)

Best portable charcoal barbecue

Pros:

• Ultra easy to carry
• Has a cork lid to double as a mat on grass

Cons:

• Limited cooking space

Star rating: 3.5/5

This stylish Berghoff barbecue is lightweight, despite being made of sturdy carbon steel. The strong carrying strap is more than fit for purpose, then the cork lid cleverly doubles as a heatproof mat when using the grill on grass. When alight, the lid also acts as the vent to allow or prevent too much air coming into the firebox from the bottom.

Read our full Berghoff portable barbecue review.

Available from:

• Amazon (£149.95)

Cobb barbecue cooking system

Best multipurpose portable barbecue

Pros:

• Easy to carry
• Versatile

Cons:

• No griddle grooves

This is a serious piece of al fresco cooking kit – not only does it barbecue food, it’s also suitable for smoking, roasting and pizza making. The design is sleek and futuristic, it requires minimal charcoal and the Teflon cooking plate is easy to clean. It's worth pointing out that as it doesn’t have traditional griddle grooves, our sausages rolled around and got a bit unruly.

Weber Smokey Joe Premium

Portable barbecue that's durable and reliable

Pros:

• Classic American barbecue design at its finest

Cons:

• None

Weber doesn't just do barbecues – it does epic, Tony-Soprano-friendly contraptions the size of small sheds. For those of us without acres of lawn, it also makes this neat, dinky dome. The porcelain enamelled material is deceptively lightweight and extremely durable, with a handy lid that clips onto the side for protection against the wind, plus it’s a doddle to clean. We left ours outside uncovered for an entire winter and it barely diminished, despite considerable pummelling from the British weather.

How we tested portable barbecues

• Ease of assembly and use: convenience is key here. We looked for models that can be assembled in minutes.
• Portability and storage: how easily the barbecue can be carried and how heavy it is, plus how well it can be stored in the long term.
• Design: we're suckers for nifty aesthetic flashes.
• How quickly it cools down: we don’t want to be trapped in the park, sat around burning cinders until dawn.
• Durability and accessories: the quality of the metal and whether it comes with added extras.

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