Eating time is family time, and there’s no better way to spend quality mealtime with your family than sitting on your back patio enjoying the sunshine, a refreshing drink, and delicious food. And there’s almost nothing more delicious than food cooked on the perfect gas grill. Grill up some classic steaks, some barbecued chicken, a few pieces of fish for the pescatarians, some veggie burgers and asparagus for your vegan niec. there’s no end to the foods you can cook. Whether you’re cooking for your immediate family or hosting a backyard party, a grill is the way to go.
But good outdoor entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive. There are some amazing grills on the market that will endlessly prove their value to you. We’ve rounded up the 10 best gas grills under $500 in 2023 for you to choose from, and honestly, they’re all winners.
Best Gas Grills under $500
1. Weber 50060001 Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill
We’ve given you one standalone unit to start with, so now let’s give you a tabletop unit: the Weber 50060001 Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill. This tabletop is small, with only one burner at 8,500 BTUs (compared to 10,000 BTUs for most burners on this list). But if you don’t mind that and its 189 in2 of cooking space, you’ll love this portable little grill. It even has a compatible griddle (sold separately), which lets you cook breakfast and dinner from the same unit!
If you’re just looking for a small unit that can cook a nice meal infrequently, you can’t go wrong with this Weber pick (although some commenters pointed out heating issues, so keep an eye out for that).
Pros
- Tabletop—requires a flat surface
- One burner at 8500 BTUs
- Porcelain-enameled cast-iron grill gates help make it nonstick
- 189 in2 of cooking space
- Compatible griddle sold separately
Cons
- Small; can’t cook much food at once
- Some heating issues
2. Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill
Char-Broil calls itself “America’s favorite grill brand since 1948”, and for good reason—you’ve probably heard of them from their grills to their other products, like charcoal and grill accessories. This powerful standalone unit is truly a great addition to their great reputation. It’s a big machine, with 3 burners at 10,000 BTU each (for 30,000 total BTUs) and 360 in2 of cooking space. Its porcelain-coated exterior protects its exterior surface from elemental damage, while the porcelain coating on its grill grates helps make them nonstick.
Oh—and it has fast, reliable ignition, along with metal side selves to hold seasonings, utensils, prepared food, buns for hot dogs or burgers, a drink, or whatever else you want to keep handy! A really awesome choice!
Two notes before you buy one for every member of your family, though: the assembly may be difficult (as it can be with any standalone gas grill), and some reviewers don’t like the knob controls.
Pros
- Standalone
- Three burners (top!)
- 360 in2 of cooking space
- 30,000 BTU
- Metal side shelves
- Porcelain-coated exterior for weather-proofing
- Porcelain-coated grill gates help make it nonstick
- Fast, reliable ignition
Cons
- May be hard to assemble
- Some reviewers don’t like the knob controls
3. Weber 51010001 Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
The Weber 51010001 Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill is the most expensive gas grill on our list, at just around $200 (click here for latest price).
That said, it’s also the most adorable of the grills on this list, being offered in the whole rainbow of colors: fuchsia, black, blue, green, orange, red, and titanium. (Well, OK, they’re missing yellow—but it’s pretty close to the whole rainbow!) It also has porcelain-enameled grill grates, like many of the grills on our list, to help food not stick to the grates. And it has a built-in thermometer, which is just endlessly useful when grilling.
Aside from the high price tag, one other warning: the brass material on this grill exposes you to lead. You may want to wear gloves when handling, and be sure to wash your hands.
Pros
- Tabletop—requires a flat surface
- One burner at 8500 BTUs
- Comes in many fun colors
- Porcelain-enameled cast-iron grill gates
- Built-in thermometer
Cons
- Brass material on this grill exposes you to lead
- Most expensive gas grill on the list
4. Giantex Propane Tabletop Gas Grill Stainless Steel Two-Burner BBQ
Another tabletop unit, the Giantex Propane Tabletop Gas Grill Stainless Steel Two-Burner BBQ is one of the most convenient options on our list. Its stainless steel construction and conveniently folding legs make it lightweight and endlessly portable. Plus, it has two burners at 10,000 BTUs each, so you don’t sacrifice power and cooking space for portability.
Of course, the lightweight construction of this unit does come with a catch: it may not be as durable as some of the other options on this list. Still, it’s a great option that combines portability with power!
Pros
- Tabletop—requires a flat surface
- Two burners at 10,000 BTUs each
- Convenient foldable legs
- Lightweight for easy movement
- Stainless steel construction
Cons
- May not be as durable as the other options
5. Royal Gourmet GG2101 2-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane Gas Grill
Each of the Royal Gourmet GG2101 2-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane Gas Grill’s two burners boasts 12,000 BTUs, making them the most powerful burners on this list. This unit comes in black or red, with pull-out shelves to store seasonings or prepared food and a door on the bottom of the unit to hold and hide your propane tank. You’re left with a sturdy, aesthetically pleasing unit that’s sure to impress all the friends you’ll invite over—before they even taste your food. And it has other bells and whistles, too, like wheels for portability and a built-in thermometer. What a catch!
Pros
- Standalone
- Two burners, each 12,000 BTUs
- 405 in2 cooking space
- Wheels for easy movement
- Built-in thermometer
- Convenient cabinet to hold propane tank
- Pull-out shelves
Cons
- Assembly may be difficult (but expert assembly is available)
6. Happybuy Double Burner Stove Griddle Flat Top
This is one of the most unique gas grills on our list, because it’s both standalone and tabletop. It has detachable legs, so you can easily move between grilling on your back patio and grilling at your campsite. This unit has a crazy total of 150,000 BTU in its two burners—that’s a lot of power! And its 544 in2 cooking space should be more than enough to meet your needs.
One caveat to this gas grill: since it’s a flat top, it won’t give you the grill lines you may be looking for on a perfectly grilled steak. However, if that doesn’t matter to you (and/or if you would rather use it like a griddle to make some pancakes and eggs), you won’t have a problem.
Pros
- Standalone or tabletop
- Two burners with a total 150,000 BTU
- Stainless steel flat top
Cons
- Lightweight steel may be prone to warping
7. Martin Portable Propane BBQ Gas Grill
This is another unique entry: the Martin Portable Propane BBQ Gas Grill. This tabletop unit has only one burner, but rather than a traditional spiral burner, this one is tubular at 14,000 BTU, making it one of the more powerful burners on our list. The tubular design supports cooking on all 354 square inches of grill space—plenty of room! Its supportive legs are foldable for better portability, and its adjustable temperature knobs are great for a more customizable cooking experience. It’s a great little unit.
Pros
- Tabletop
- One tubular burner at 14,000 BTU
- 354 in2 grill space
- Folding support legs
- Adjustable temperature
Cons
- Requires a bit of assembly
8. MASTER COOK Propane Grills Classic
We finish the list with what might be the most powerful unit: the MASTER COOK Classic. This baby has three burners, each with 10,000 BTUs. It has fast, reliable ignition, foldable metal shelves, wheels for convenience, and porcelain-enameled grill grates. It’s very comparable to the Royal Gourmet option listed earlier, and just a few dollars cheaper (though we think it may be a tad less aesthetically pleasing than the Royal Gourmet pick.)
Pros
- Three burners
- Standalone
- 30,000 BTUs
- Built-in thermometer
- Wheels make it easy to move around
- Porcelain coated grill gates make it nonstick
- Porcelain coated exterior will last through tough weather
Cons
- Comparable to, but less pretty than, the Royal Gourmet pick
9. Cuisinart CGG-306 Professional Tabletop Gas Grill
We’ve included two Cuisinart tabletop grills on this list. The first, the Cuisinart CGG-306 Professional Tabletop Gas Grill, is a little bigger than its relative, with two burners instead of once. Each of these burners cooks at up to 10,000 BTUs, for 20,000 total. The stainless steel construction makes this unit very lightweight, which helps with portability (though you may sacrifice a bit of durability in the process). Plus, it comes with an integrated thermometer and heat control to help you cook your food to the perfect (and safe!) temperature. It’s a great little unit!
One caution: some reviewers had problems with the sharp vents on the sides of the grill, so take care when opening it.
Pros
- Tabletop—requires a flat surface
- Two burners, each 10,000 BTUs
- Stainless steel
- Fast and easy setup
- Lightweight
- Integrated thermometer and heat control
Cons
- Be careful opening it, as the vents may be sharp
- Not as high quality as some of the other grills on this list
10. Cuisinart CGG-180TB Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill
Our second entry from Cuisinart, another tabletop option, is our budget pick. The Cuisinart CGG-180TB Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill has one burner which offers 5,500 BTU and 145 in2 of cooking space. So while it’s smaller and less powerful than many of our other options, that might make it a perfect fit for a small family that doesn’t grill often. Plus, the size means this little unit is endlessly portable! It comes in black, silver, or red, and its porcelain-enabled grates will help food not stick to the grates.
Pros
- Tabletop—requires a flat surface
- One burner at 5,500 BTU
- 145 in2 of cooking space
- Cheapest option on our list
- Small and portable
- Porcelain-enameled grates
Cons
- Less cooking space; better for small cooking projects
- Less power
What is a gas grill?
Every grill needs a power source to be able to cook your food to perfection. There are many types of power sources, including electricity, propane, and gas.
Electricity grills aren’t as common to use outside, as many outdoor cooking areas don’t have access to a power outlet. Plus, traditional electric grills emit the most carbon out of any fuel sources.
Some people also use charcoal (briquettes or lumps) or wood (raw or pellets) to heat their grill, but the smoke given off from these grills can be problematic around those with asthma or other respiratory problems. Plus, the smoke given off from cooking with wood or charcoal is not eco-friendly, or as efficient as gas.
For these reasons, gas is one of the most popular fuel sources for grilling. It won’t give off as strong of a smoky flavor as charcoal or wood, but it’s arguably far easier and cleaner to use. They emit about half the amount of carbon dioxide as charcoal grills, and are about three to four times more efficient at cooking your food, meaning more of your heat is converted into delicious food power than is lost. (And if you’re really worried about the taste, you can use a hardwood grilling plank to impart a nice woody flavor.)
Things to consider before buying a gas grill under $200
Standalone or tabletop
A traditional gas grill is a standalone unit. Some of them come with wheels for portability, a cabinet to hide your propane tank (if it has one), or metal shelves to hold utensils, bread if you’re grilling for sandwiches, or seasonings. They’re usually a great option if you’re cooking for a large group of people.
However, some units are tabletop. This makes them portable (even to take camping with you), but they require a flat surface and usually offer far less cooking space. Choose which works best for your situation.
Power
We’ve talked a little about power sources (gas vs. propane), but you also need to consider how much power a gas grill is going to give. Gas grill power is measured in BTUs, or the British Thermal Unit. If you want to get technical, it measures how much heat you need for one pound of water to increase by one degree Fahrenheit. One standard burner offers about 10,000 BTUs, but a few on our list reach 8,500.
Number of burners
The number of burners is also an important factor. Large units usually come with more burners so that your food will be evenly cooked regardless of where you place it on the grill. This allows you to cook more food. So if you think you might be using your grill to host large parties, you may want to go with more burners.
Extra features
Once you’ve decided the type (standalone vs portable, natural gas vs propane) and size (number of burners) of your grill, you’ll want to consider the bells and whistles. Some of the grills listed below have wheels to make them easier to move around; some of them have metal shelves to hold more food; some of them are coated to protect them from elemental damage; and son on. Decide how useful these features seem to you; some of them are worth a little bump in price.
Brand
Some brands are more tried-and-true than others. Even a gas grill under $200 is an investment, so you want to make sure your product will last. We talk more below about the best brands of gas grills below.
Price
Price is the last factor you should consider. All these 10 gas grills we’ve reviewed are under $200, so they will be equally affordable—but you want a grill that’s going to last. You wouldn’t want to save a few dollars on a gas grill only to realize you could really do with those optional metal shelves!
Natural gas grill vs propane grill
It might be a little confusing to note that propane is a gas—so while all propane grills are gas grills, not all gas grills are propane. Most gas stations around the country have propane tanks that you can buy or refill, and about 98% of all grills use propane to run.
But for a natural gas grill, you don’t need to purchase a separate propane tank. You usually hook your gas grill up directly into your home’s existing gas line. Your normal gas bill will increase a bit as a result, but if you only grill once or twice a month, you probably won’t notice much of a change.
So long as you already have a gas line, natural gas is cheaper and more convenient, as it doesn’t require you to keep refilling your propane tank. However, you lose portability; since your gas line is hooked up directly into your home, you can’t move your grill around as you please. If you need portability, go propane; while it’s a little less convenient than natural gas, that doesn’t mean it’s inconvenient.
How does a gas grill work?
Using your new gas grill couldn’t be easier. Simply turn your grill on and ignite it (using the knobs, your igniter, or a lighter). Let it heat up for 15 to 20 minutes, then cook your food to the proper internal temperature. Remember to clean your gas grill after each use (we’ll tell you how below), and to heat your grill for at least ten minutes before grilling to burn off any residue from its last cleaning.
How to clean a gas grill
This is general advice for how to clean your gas grill; for more detailed cleaning instructions, see the user’s manual that comes with your grill, or contact the manufacturer.
First, you’ll need a wire brush to clean your gas grill. Once you have that, make sure you disconnect your gas line before starting. (And of course, you’ll want to wait until your grill has fully cooled before you wash it; safety first!)
Take your brush and a bucket of hot, soapy water. You should not use any toxic cleaning formulas for cleaning your grill.
Use the brush to clear off all the residue from your grill grates. Many grill brushes also come with a metal scraper at the end for careful use with any badly stuck-on food. For any parts that are water-friendly, like the inside surfaces or the flame shield, scrub with your metal brush and your soapy water. Dry all parts with a cloth. Then, the next time you grill, be sure to heat your grill for at least ten minutes to burn off any soapy residue.
Faq
What are the best brands of propane grill?
We have included a couple of great options from Weber and CuisineArt, which are both reliable brands. That said, Char-Broil claims that it’s been America’s favorite grill brand since 1948. All of the brands on this list will give you a high-quality cooking experience.
What do you need for a gas grill?
To operate your gas grill, you’ll need a fuel source (propane or natural gas) first and foremost. You’ll also need:
- Some utensils to use for cooking food (silicon or metal work best)
- A meat thermometer to make sure your food is cooked thoroughly
- Grill mitts for safety
- A grill cover to protect your grill from the elements
- A wire brush to help you scrub your gas grill clean
How much is gas for a gas grill?
If you hook your grill up to a natural gas line in your home, you may not even notice the changes to your utility bill. If you are buying propane, the cost varies based on the size of your tank. Once you purchase the tank for the first time, you should be able to refill it for three to four dollars per gallon.
How long do I grill burgers on a gas grill?
The most important metric for burger grilling isn’t the amount of time, but the temperature that the meat reaches. Your burger needs to be at least 120 degrees internally for a rare burger. On a hot grill, you’ll reach that in about three minutes per side. A well done burger will have a temperature of 160 degrees, which takes 7 minutes per side. The user’s manual of your new gas grill should have a chart explaining the best temperature for each type of meat you’re cooking.
Can I use propane on a natural gas grill?
No, as a natural gas grill will be hooked up to a gas line in your home.
Conclusion
We hope you have found this guide to 10 Best gas grills under $500 informative! Equipped with this information about types of gas grills, best gas grill brands, the difference between a natural gas grill and a propane gas grill, and more, you’ll be able to make your new purchase confidently.
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