What do you look for in the best portable charcoal grill, and what’s the grill that has it all? I did the work so you don’t have to.
Sponsored by Fire & Flavor. All opinions are my own.
Best Portable Charcoal Grill
I came to grilling late in life.
The first time I fired up a grill, I was just shy of my fortieth birthday. I enjoyed the rich flavor produced by our charcoal grill, but I couldn’t help wondering if there wasn’t an easier way to produce that flavor. Something that was a snap to light, and wasn’t cumbersome to set up, take down, and clean.
My search quickly led me to portable charcoal grills. As I studied the various models, I had to wonder: are portable BBQs any good? The answer is yes, they can be—if you get the right one!
So, what should you look for in a portable grill? And what is the best portable charcoal grill?
What to Look for in a Portable Grill
- Portability
- Ease of setup
- Quick and easy lighting
- Consistent temperature
- Dishwasher-safe cleanup
After researching, I came to the conclusion that I had the right grill in my back pocket, so to speak, all along.
What Is the Best Portable Charcoal Grill?
Those of you who’ve followed my blog for some time know that I love to use Fire & Flavor spice rubs, cedar planks, cedar wraps, turkey brine kits, and lump charcoal. I should’ve guessed they’d have a top-notch grill, too!
The Fire & Flavor HERO® Grill System is a complete grilling kit that meets all of my requirements.
- Sleek carrying case that holds everything you need
- Simple design with just two sturdy legs to fold down
- Easy-to-light charcoal pods that quickly heat up to the proper temperature
- Holds plenty: 12 hot dogs, or 6 burgers, or 8 wings, or 6 kabobs
- And you can pop the grill in the dishwasher when you’re done!
What I like most about it is that it’s so easy to use. Even non-grillers can easily fire up the HERO® Grill System and become a griller in no time at all.
Don’t believe me? Let me walk you through how to use it.
How to Use It
Step 1
Unpack the grill from its carrying case, unfold the legs, and place it on a non-combustible outdoor surface (like a picnic table, a hard cooler, a boat deck, or a truck tailgate, for example).
Grill setup
Step 2
Light the corner charcoals, immediately insert the pod into the grill, and then wait for the grill temperature to read 400°F on the included thermometer (about 10 minutes).
Lighting the charcoal pods
Checking the temperature
Step 3
Add food and grill to desired temperature.
Grilling corn
Grilled Mexican Street Corn
Step 4
Extinguish with water (mind the steam). When the grill is cool, wipe away excess grease. Dispose of cooled charcoal pod, or replace lid to pack out. Place grill in dishwasher, or hand wash if desired. Store in carrying bag.
Watch the video to see the grill in action.
Recipes for Your Portable Charcoal Grill
- Grilled Mexican Street Corn (pictured above)
- Whiskey Glazed Surf & Turf
- Tailgate Andouille Hot Dogs
- Grilled Whole Rainbow Trout
- Chicken Wings with White BBQ Sauce
- The Ultimate Burger with Smoked Cheddar
- Grilled Shrimp Tacos
- Camp Cinnamon Toast with Berries & Sausage
- Grilled S’mores
Get more portable charcoal grill recipes here!
Where to Get the HERO® Grill System
Get the HERO® Grill System 3 Charcoal Pod Bonus Pack, and you’ll start with 3 pods already included!
Click to shop for HERO® Grill System
Amber Myers
Oh cool, I need one of these. Our large one is falling apart, and I miss grilling out, so this would be perfect.
Beth
That looks like the perfect size for camping! I think the charcoal tray is a brilliant idea.
Tara Pittman
This grill would be perfect for camping. I love how small it is.
Sarah Bailey
Now this looks like an awesome grill to have at hand, I love that it is portable so you could pack it away for a staycation or take it with you on a day out!
Kelli A
So its essentially a disposable grill of sorts? Thats a pretty neat idea!
Katie Moseman
It’s very cool! The grill itself is metal, dishwasher safe, and reusable, but the charcoal pods can be disposed of.
Tasheena
This is such a cool idea, I have to look into getting this.
Richelle Escat
That grill looks so cute, and I love portable stuffs like this, so convenient!
Scarlett Brooklyn
It’s so cool to have this! So convenient for camping or even just for outdoor picnics or events.
Louisa
Wow .this is so cool and handy. This will especially be cute in a space space. Nice!
Crystal Carder
This is something I could actually use! I had no idea something like this even existed, but thanks for sharing – I am going to be looking into it now!
Jasmine Hewitt
i’ll have to think about this one. been wanting a new portable grill for a little while now
Ivan M. Jose
This will be useful in our home because we love grilled food. We love cooking barbecues on weekend but we don’t have a big space.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
This sounds like an awesome product. This sounds like a great product to bring along for tailgating or for backyard bbqs.
Marysa
What a cute grill! It is nice to have a good quality portable grill like this. I hadn’t heard of this before and it would be nice for camping.
Swathif
This portable grill looks really handy and make great food. I need to check it out. great for camping and hiking.
Catalina
OMG! This is exactly what I was looking for. We don’t have a yard so we are always looking for places in the nature where we can grill and this portable charcoal grill is so perfect for us!
Everything Enchanting
Oh wow, the Fire & Flavor HERO® Grill System looks like a great kit! I’ll have to check it out, thanks for sharing about this portable charcoal grill 🙂
Lynndee
That is such a handy grill. Back in my hometown, we have always used charcoal grill.
lynn
I didn’t even know that there was a portable charcoal grill! lol. This is really beneficial for outings