Grilling is a serious business. Every chance you get at lighting up a grilling station represents an opportunity for you to strike up a conversation. Whether you are sharing your wonderfully grilled meat and sidings with the people closest to your heart or, with total strangers, your grilling station and skills can help bring people together. Strangely, that’s why you want to grill and entertain.
Since you’re grilling anyway, wouldn’t you want to grill it right? Below you can find the pick of 9 best gas grills you can get under $500.
Top 9 Gas Grills Of 2020 Reviewed
1. Weber 57060001 Q3200 Liquid Propane Grill
This is the grill that’s almost just for your personal use given the limited grilling space it offers.This unit will be a great addition to your backpacking or camping gear. Although there are more portable alternatives out there, this one gives you portability and stability. It’s impossible to control how food cooks on this unit though. This is the kind of grill that requires your grilling skills and experience.
Several attempts after, you should get that succulent grilled meat nicely done. Materials used and build will not make this grill for keeps. It is most suitable for cookouts and grilling for yourself and a handful of friends but, not for barbecue parties and, perhaps, not even for frequent grilling. Many users are disappointed with grates that end up flaky and transfer to the food when it flakes, and it does get worn out too easily. Price is great but, if you’re looking for quality, it will be best to compare it with another grill with a similar functionality.
Features:
- Product Dimension: 30 x 50.2 x 55.5 inches
- Weight: 83.8 lbs.
- Grilling Space: 393 sq. in.
- Propane powered
- Matchless ignition
- BTUs: Up to 21,700
- Grates made from cast iron
- Body and lid made with cast aluminum
- Drip pan included
2. Weber 46510001 Spirit E310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill, Black
This griller is the latest offering from Weber, the grilling company with more than 30 years of experience innovating and inventing new ways for you to enjoy your food outdoors or, indoors now and in the years to come.
With this grill’s steady build, hood, and porcelain-coated grates, it is good enough to supply the barbecue cravings of one household. It keeps your grilling exciting by creating griddle marks on your meats and veggies. The Spirit E310 boasts of stainless steel burners, tubes and grates. However, a common customer complaint points to problems with the drain. Customer reviews also complain about flaking grates, burner coats and paints. Although this grill will be a handsome addition to your outdoor cooking ventures, it may not last you 10 years or so although, with proper and consistent maintenance, it could be possible.
Features:
- Product Dimension: With lid open, 63 x 52 x 32 inches
- Weight: 130 lbs.
- Grilling Space: 424 sq. in. with additional 105 sq. in. space for warming
- Propane powered
- Matchless ignition
- 4 legs on wheels for easy maneuvering that comes with lock features to keep it steady when grilling and during storage
- The weight of griller slate: 50 lbs.
- BTUs: Up to 32,000
- 3 burners
- Porcelain-coated, cast-iron cooking grates
- Porcelain-coated flavorizer bars
- Drip pan included
- Two-arm stands for sitting tools, condiments, meat and trays
- Comes closed bottom cabinet for storage
- Includes a hood with thermometer
- Includes propane tank gauge
3. Napoleon TQ285X-BL Portable Propane Grill with Cart
This unit is small in size, big in grilling. When it’s ease of transport that you are most concerned about, this is that grill that’s made for walking, spending the day in the beach or, even hiking.
This unit has your convenience of transport built into the design. Of course, you can always use this for grilling in your own backyard but, it is especially suited for remote settings. It provides plenty of cooking space for a major fambam and reuniting with friends. Unlike most heavy duty grilling units, however, you can’t put your steaks and hotdogs inside, cover and leave. Temperature is not evenly distributed and can easily burn your food. It requires constant turning over to avoid that. Clean up is easy breezy, except that the drip pan is not built to last and requires a replacement after just a few sessions of grilling. The portability of this unit, however, is unmatched. Take it to the extreme!
Features:
- Product Dimension: 44.2 x 20.5 x 37.2 inches
- Weight: 50 lbs.
- Grilling Space: 285 sq. in.
- Propane powered
- Matchless ignition
- Comes with scissor cart, foldable wagon design with two all-terrain wheels
- BTUs: Up to 12,000
- 2 burners
- Porcelain zed cast iron grilling slate
- Drip pan included
- Scissor cart comes with 2 stands for sitting tools, condiments, meat and trays
- Includes hood with a thermometer
4. Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo
This unit serves up your tastebuds’ desires just the way you like it: grilled or smoked. Two sides plus a mini side burner and a coal-fired section help you cook your meat, side dishes, and sauces to perfection.
If your top concern is keeping your grill grilling for many years to come, this unit will have great chances of withstanding the test of time as its major assets are its sturdy build and high-quality steel construction — down to the wheels. Too many users, however, have ranted about the wheels which function better as stands. The massive unit weight makes rolling it useless. Either you keep it where you’d want to grill in it too or, you’ll need to make plenty of friends to help you man-handle this thing around (that means more people to feed). This unit will give you nice grill marks with grates made of cast iron. The gas-powered side is easy to clean but, the coal chamber is not so. Inexpensive for this build, material and multiple functionalities.
Features:
- Product Dimension: 30 x 50.2 x 55.5 inches
- Weight: 83.8 lbs.
- Grilling Space: 1,060 sq. in.
- Propane powered with a section for coal-fired grilling
- Combination of matchless and fire-powered ignition
- BTUs: Up to 36,000 +12,000 BTUs for the side burner
- 3 burners, 1 side burner, and 1 coal chamber
- grates made from cast iron
- Drip pan included
- Includes bottom trays for your additional storage requirements
- Includes top cover with built-in temperature gauge
5. Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station
This flat grill and griddle station gives you the barbecue experience you love right in the comfort of your own home.
This product gives you great restaurant quality grilling that can live up to the tastes of your household members and, with its 4-burner top, it can even conveniently accommodate several of your friends. A cookout is never a hassle with two stainless steel foldable surfaces to help you move around more easily. However, the grease drain has not been well thought out and leaves a messy pod of grease after grilling. You can improvise to enhance the drainage so you can keep looking forward to more grilling moments. This grill makes up for this drawback by supplying sturdy grilling slate and burners that are relatively easier to clean than those of other makes and brands.
Features
- Product Dimension: 62.5 x 22 x 36 inches
- Weight: 120 lbs.
- Grilling Space: 720 sq. in.
- Propane powered
- Matchless ignition
- 4 legs on wheels for easy maneuvering that comes with lock features to keep it steady when grilling and during storage
- Weight of griller slate: 50 lbs.
- BTUs: Up to 60,000
- 4 burners
- Steel-made grilling slate
- Drip pan and drip bucket included
- Two-arm stands for sitting tools, condiments, meat and trays
6. Dyna-Glo DGE Series Propane Grill, 5 Burner
This unit is full of wonderful surprises, beginning with the design, durability of finish, 5 burners plus 1 side burner that enables high or low heat.
This heavy-duty grilling unit is a steal at well under $500. This unit does not include a hood, however. Adding a hood and thermometer will help you cook your meats at consistent heat and at just the right temperature to end up juicy. The side burner is built for low and high heat and proves practical for reheating requirements such as for cooked meat but also for sauces and veggies. While this unit will serve more people with big appetites for grilled food, it may not withstand the test of time as some users have complained about flaking. For being inexpensive for its line of grills, and a five-year warranty that comes with your purchase, however, this unit is still priced for value.
Features:
- Product Dimension: 53 x 24.6 x 47 inches
- Weight: 108 lbs.
- Grilling Space: 708 sq. in.
- Propane powered
- Matchless ignition
- BTUs: Up to 50,000 plus 12,000 BTUs for the side burner
- 5 burners, plus 1 side burner
- 7 mm stainless steel cooking grates
- Drip pan included
- Includes 2 side stands for sitting tools, condiments, meat and trays
- Includes enclosed bottom cabinets for your additional storage requirements
- Includes stainless steel warming rack, and stainless steel heat tents
- Comes with pull out shelf specially customized for the propane tank
7. Weber 65010001 Genesis II E-210 Natural Gas Grill
Weber is throwing away a 10-year warranty on this unit so, it must be really built to last. Made for more than just enjoying your food, this grill is made to ignite conversations around the fire.
This grill’s size is not too small and not too large. It provides just the right size of grill suitable for family backyard grilling. It may not be able to serve more people other than having a handful of your friends over. The biggest drawback is the open drip pan which leaves a mess all over because of the poor tube fitting. The ignition too, despite the no-fail startups promised by Weber, takes some getting used to. Overall, this Weber is built like any other from this brand that durability is no question at all. Plus, it’s already tech-enabled.
Features:
- Product Dimension: 32 x 33 x 26 inches
- Weight: 133 lbs.
- Grilling Space: 380 sq. in., with a warming rack 114 sq. in.
- Natural gas powered
- Matchless ignition with Infinity Ignition Technology
- BTUs: Up to 26,000
- 2 burners
- Grates made from cast iron
- Body and lid made with cast aluminum
- Drip pan included
- Includes hanging storage
- Comes with natural gas hose
- Includes top cover with built-in temperature gauge
- The unit is iGrill3 Ready, a technology that allows you to connect it to your phone so you can keep track of how your food is grilling remotely
8. Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 325 2-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane Gas Grill
Looking for an affordable yet effective gas grill for home use? The Char-Broil Signature is the best infrared 2-burner cabinet gas grill, given its ability to produce up to 18,000 BTUs of heat. With that kind of heat, you can easily grill your vegetables, meats, and other foods within a short period of time. Its primary source of fuel is piqued propane. After sucking this from the tank it converts it into natural gas but that’s only if after installing the natural gas conversion kit.
The cooking surface has an area of up to 325 square inches. It is made from cast iron gates, which are coated with porcelain to prevent corrosion. The swing-a-way rack is also coated with porcelain and is used for warming ready food. No need to light the grill using matches. It comes with an electronic ignition system. Just one spark is enough to light each one of the burners. This grill will last for a long time to come, given the stainless steel burners.
Features:
- Comes with a large primary cooking area of 325 square inches
- it has a porcelein-coated rack of 120 square inches for warming
- side-folding shelves for effortless storage and larger workspace
- electronic ignition structure for authentic sparks
- BTU for the main burner is 18000
- comes with a natural gas conversion gadget
- Matchless ignition
9. Royal Gourmet Classic Stainless Steel 6-Burner Cabinet Gas Grill with Side Sear Burner
This is a heavy-duty, a multifunctional grill that is so easy to use. Made with professionals and passionate grillers in mind, this unit will be just as suitable for beginners to use.
This grilling unit is made for heavy-duty use. Since it is designed with durable stainless steel material, you won’t have to worry about flaking or rusting or spending on replacing parts for the next 5 or so number of years. This product represents value for the heavy duty, professional quality and evenly cooked meat that you can get. Use it at home or, load it up for your next camping trip.
Features:
- Product Dimension: 62.6 x 21.3 x 47.2 inches
- Weight: 107 lbs.
- Grilling Space: 776 sq. in., with a warming rack 190 sq. in.
- Propane powered
- Matchless ignition
- BTUs: Up to 50,000 with 12,000 BTUs for the sear burner and 9,000 BTUs for the side burner
- 5 burners with 1 side burner
- Grates made from porcelain-coated cast iron
- 4 legs on wheels for easy maneuvering that comes with lock features to keep it steady when grilling and during storage
- Includes top cover with built-in temperature gauge
- Drip pan included
- Comes with covered bottom storage in stainless steel
How to Choose the Best Gas Grill: the Ultimate Buying Guide
Gas grills are one of the most economical, most practical means to get those beautiful grate lines on your meat. Your choice of gas grill affects the quality of your cooking. So what are the things that you need to look for in a gas grill?
Like choosing any other kitchen product, you have to examine your personal considerations for wanting to get a gas grill. Don’t go out on a shopping spree trying to see all of the choices that are available. When it comes to gas grills, it’s just not possible to see them all. Remember: what works well for your friend, neighbor and brother-in-law might not necessarily be good for you.
Here are the top factors you have to consider when buying a gas grill to make your hunt for the perfect unit purposive and not just based on what looks nice:
The Frequency of Grilling
How often do you grill? Do you like grilling so much that you need your fill once, perhaps several times every week? Or, maybe you grill only once in a month? How frequently you prepare grilled food will determine the amount of investment that you should make on a grilling unit and the value for money that you can derive from a gas grill.
What’s the Best Budget for a Gas Grill?
This is a major determinant of how much you should spend on a gas grill. In general, what you must know now is that a $500 budget will already give you great gas grill choices.
Is it necessary to go overboard for quality? Yes and no. Again, that depends on your intended use and grilling practices. If you like throwing get-togethers and wish to save up on catering services, getting a more expensive gas grill may be justified. Otherwise, if it’s mostly for household use, $500 and under will already give you the functionalities that you need.
Taste Preferences
There are many types of grills, gas grills only being one of those. You have to carefully study what kind of grilling soothes taste. If you absolutely prefer the smoked, woody flavor of charcoal grilling then, gas grilling may not be suitable for you.
The tasty, smoked flavor of burned wood or charcoal simply cannot be achieved with a gas grill. However, when you have an acquired taste for gas grilled steaks and sausages then, the gas grill should workout just fine.
Where you Plan to Grill
If you are planning this unit to be a regular fixture on your porch, garage or, backyard then, it may be practical to get a heavy-duty type which should serve you for many years. If you’re the type who adores the outdoor grilling and have plenty of outdoor activities and plan to tag along with your gas grill then, you need something more portable and lightweight.
The Number of People you are Looking to Serve
This is important because any gas grill will only be able to cook up to a given capacity. You don’t want your regulars to starve. When you are only bound to feed a small household of 4 family members then, a gas grill that has a small grilling space will suffice. However, if family and friends frequently hang out to have a fill of your delicious barbecues then, you need a larger grilling space to get more outputs per unit of time. You don’t want your guests to starve, do you?
Look for a Gas Grill that has Burners
It helps you control how much heat goes into each item that you are grilling. It will be ideal to have more burners if you will be feeding more people most of the time and if you usually grill several types of meat or sidings whenever you are grilling. Burners control each section of your grilling area.
Consider the Make and Build that you Need
Gas grills that are intended for heavy-duty home use mostly require a heftier investment but, with a $500 budget, you should be able to find an equally hardworking and durable unit to last you many years. For camping or cross-country adventure grilling, you can’t possibly take a gas grill with an all-stainless steel make.
What is the BTU and Gas Consumption?
BTU is the measure of the maximum amount of heat that you can derive from the unit to cook your food. It’s important because it helps determines how long you need to be on the grill to cook your grill menu. Gas consumption is also often missed. It adds to your budget every time you use your grill.
How does the Gas Grill Distribute Heat?
Grilling uses direct heat but also smoke for flavor. Gas grills that distribute heat more evenly are the ones that give you tastier sausages, juicier burgers, and more succulent grilled steaks and seafood. Ask about the cover as it helps trap and distribute heat more evenly. Some gas grills do not come with a lid. Hybrid grills incorporate booth gas and charcoal grills.. When you need to purchase the lid separately, you need to consider that in your budget.
Consider Maintenance
A product’s make helps improve maintenance. Some units are easier to clean than others. Easy cleanups are important because that helps determine how long your unit will last.
Final Words
Of the 9 products reviewed Royal Gourmet Classic Stainless Steel 6-Burner Cabinet Gas Grill with Side Sear Burner（Grill + Cover,) presents the best value for a $500 budget. It is made of the most durable material, less maintenance, and most hygienic design with an all stainless steel outer finish. Best value does not stop there. For under $500, you get 5 burners and a side burner which should be more than enough to achieve the grilling you want. For ordinary days and for the outdoors, you get an only professional grilling from the Royal Gourmet, the company that is committed to delivering only innovative products.
