We asked a few outdoor cooking experts for advice on which grills work best on the go and came away with some rock solid suggestions just in time for summer cookout season. This red hot lineup includes a wild card from this year’s big winner of Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
Smash burgers on the beach
Brad Orrison and his sister, Brooke, and their team from The Shed have been competing at the Super Bowl of Swine for 17 years, taking the Grand Champion honors three times including this year. Orrison said the key to this year’s big win was going back to basics: “We did everything Old School, the way we used to,” Orrison said in a recent phone interview. “We’ve spent years trying this or that, and finally said why are we trying to fix the wheel that isn't broken?” Case closed, make way for another impressive trophy!
While he’s dedicated his professional cooking career at the family’s Ocean Springs, Miss., restaurant to the low-and-slow technique, when it comes to a cookout at the beach with his family, Orrison said he likes to go in an entirely different direction.
“We love smash burgers, so we load up the LoCo Tabletop Griddle on the golf cart and go,” he said.
His tips for a perfect smash burger? “Thinly sliced red onions, garlic, salt and pepper on the griddle, buttered buns toasted like a grilled cheese with dill pickles and pickled jalapenos on the side,” Orrison said. “And a hand cramping cold beer.” Sounds like a winner.
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Max Good is the go-to guy when it comes to reviewing all sorts of tools of the barbecue trade on the go-to site for deep knowledge on the subject of all things cooked on grills. Here are a few of his faves, from classic and affordable to fancy high-tech.
Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal Grill
No list of portable grills would be complete without Weber’s popular Smokey Joe. Nothing fancy, just a compact version of one of the greatest inventions in history, the iconic charcoal kettle grill that made Weber famous. It weighs 18 pounds and the Premium model has a "Tuck and Carry Lid Holder" that snaps the lid onto the bottom for easy handling.
Weber Go-Anywhere Portable Gas Grill
Weber's Go-Anywhere Grill has been copied by other manufacturers, but as usual, no one does it better. Lightweight, rugged, and effective, this little gasser runs off a 1 lb. propane cylinder and is also available in a charcoal model.
Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 Gas Grill
This solid portable gas grill employs Char-Broil's Amplifire burner design that produces searing temps while preventing flare-ups and retaining foods moisture. The cast aluminum lid and firebox hold in heat better than thin steel and will not rust.
PKGO Camp and Tailgate Grilling System
Self-described as "small but mighty", PKGO is beautiful, elegant, clever, effective, and versatile. PK’s unique rectangular shape and damper design excels at 2-zone setups, and the removable lid can be flipped over and used as a second grill.
Green Mountain Grills TREK Prime
Green Mountain’s portable TREK pellet cooker is small and light enough to use for tailgating, but large and sturdy enough for the back patio. Like all pellet grills, it needs electricity to operate, but TREK can plug into a wall outlet or a car cigarette lighter. Well-made and easy to operate, it is a great choice for both condos or camp sites.
Broil King’s Keg is not a heavy, fragile, ceramic kamado like the popular Big Green Egg. It is made of comparatively lightweight, insulated steel. An optional trailer hitch lets you mount BKK 5000 to the back of your vehicle for a mobile feast.
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Smoking hot suggestions
Namiko Chen is the founder, recipe developer and food blogger at Just One Cookbook, as well as an avid traveler. Here are a couple options she likes for those mobile meals.
Traeger Tailgater 20 Wood Pellet Grill
The Traeger Tailgate is a portable smoker that I highly recommend for small get-togethers, tailgates, camping trips and taking on the go. Its compact size and folding legs allow two people to transport it easily, yet it still delivers the consistency and quality that Traeger smokers are known for. Despite its portability, it can accommodate enough food to serve five or six people. I appreciate the versatility of Traeger smokers, as they allow me to use different types of pellets depending on what I'm cooking.
Camerons Large Stovetop Smoker
For those who want to smoke meat but are traveling somewhere that doesn't have a large balcony or outdoor space, I recommend the Camerons Large Stovetop Smoker. It's compact, easy to store, and comes with a variety of wood chips for smoking. You can use it over any gas stove, including portable ones, and it infuses a rich smoky flavor into your food. It's great for steak, fish, and other small cuts of protein and even doubles as a steamer, poacher, or roasting pan. Another perk of this smoker is that its small size makes cleaning it a breeze.
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