Heatwave be damned, we’re still gonna be grilling. Whether you’re a gas or charcoal kind of guy, there are quite a few different options on the market for grills that fit your needs. We dug through all the options on Amazon to find our favorite options that won’t break the bank. These are the 6 best grills under $400.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill
Lodge is a name that needs no introduction around these parts. Everyone knows they make some of the best cast iron cooking pans on the market. All their work on cast-iron skillets and dutch ovens was eventually going to lead Lodge to create a Hibachi style grill, and here it is. The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill. For less than a hundred bucks you can get your hands on a small, portable and charcoal-powered Hibachi-style grill made of durable cast iron by one of your favorite manufacturers. Like all things cast iron, it’s kind of a pain in the ass to clean, but it’s more than worth it. This little grill that will last more than a few lifetimes. $86
Weber 22″ Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
No list of best grills would be complete without at least one Weber Kettle Grill. It’s a classic. It’s the OG. It’s the kind of grill your dad used to teach you about or the one you learned to use during college. Size isn’t important in this regard because it doesn’t matter if you’re using the 14″, 18″, 22″ or 26″, the process is the same—get your charcoal up to temp, cook your food and enjoy the fruits of your labor. For what’s it worth, we’d go with this 22″ option because it’s porcelain-enameled, has a hinged grill inside and has a cooking area large enough to accommodate a meal for four people. $149
Cuisinart All-Foods Tabletop Gas Grill
Cuisinart has been making the home appliances you’ve come to know, love, and trust for almost half a century. It should come as absolutely no surprise that one of their inventions is a grill worth your time. If we’re being completely honest, the Cuisinart All-Foods Tabletop Gas Grill reminds us of an upsized Foreman grill designed to function like a traditional gas grill while still being portable enough to move about anywhere. It’s a 12,000-BTU grill with dual side trays, twist-start ignition, temperature gauge and removable drip tray, which makes it one of the best tailgate grills out there. You can use it on a table, truck bed, or a balcony without having to worry about burning your prized possessions to the ground. And when you’re done, cleanup is easy! $154
Blackstone 36″ Outdoor Flat Top Gas Griddle Station
Rated the Amazon Best Seller in both the Outdoor Grills and Gas Grills categories, the Blackstone 36″ Outdoor Flat Top Gas Griddle Station is a propane-fueled, restaurant-grade, professional-grade cooking appliance that many reviewers agree was the “best purchase” they ever made. Okay, so, “technically”, it’s a flat top station ripped straight from a restaurant and not really something we’d picture when we think of a grill, but we’re going to allow it for a few reasons. We’ve always dreamed of having a flat top with enough space for burgers, dogs, buns or veggies, and this option from Blackstone delivers. It’s also portable enough to take with you to campsites, is the perfect place to make a killer breakfast of hash browns and eggs, and has four independently controlled 15,000 BTU stainless burners. This thing does everything. $250
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill and Smoker
When you’re debating with yourself about whether to go cheap grill vs. expensive grill there are a lot of things to consider. What kind of features? How much to spend? Who makes it? We’re gonna help make that decision easy by telling you to pick up the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill and Smoker. In case the name wasn’t indication enough, this highly-rated beast grills and smokes because of its egg shape. With a combination of cast iron, 22 gauge steel, powder-coated steel and porcelain-coated steel, this grill is durable, well-built and designed to handle everything from steaks to corn cobs to full chickens without breaking a sweat. If you want a grill/smoker you can grow into that still won’t break the bank, say hello to your new best friend. $306
Weber 22″ Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill
Not quite ready to give up the Weber Kettle Grill cooking experience but looking to add a few more features to your hardware? Enter the Weber 22″ Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill. At first glance, this might seem like your traditional grill cart with a Weber kettle-style grill mounted inside, but it’s so much more than that. Even with a chimney, lighting a charcoal grill is a pain, but that’s not an issue with this grill’s electronic Touch-N-Go gas ignition system. Cleanup is even easier than usual with the aluminized One-Touch cleaning system with ash catcher. There’s also an LCD cook timer, built-in thermometer, charcoal storage, a prep area/work space and durable wheels in case it needs to be moved. It’s the grown-up version of the Weber you’re already familiar with. $399
