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The iconic kettle grill has become a symbol of the American summer. Just the smell of smoldering charcoal means a burger is never too out of reach. But even if you’ve converted to a propane model, it can be easier to replicate the flavor and texture of the patties from your favorite burger spot on a griddle. Think about it: When was the last time you watched a short-order cook flipping burgers over grates?
Swapping out the metal bars for a solid slab of steel has a few advantages. It delivers a more uniform crust on whatever you’re cooking—more steel touching a greater percentage of the food’s surface area means more even cooking and a better Maillard-packing crust. Although you might miss the fancy diamond grill marks your Weber leaves behind, we think the trade-off is worth it. With a griddle, you can lean into smash burgers until your heart’s content, but that’s just the start.
Long the preferred cooker of tailgaters and car campers, griddles are getting a luxury makeover. Sure, you could add a cast-iron griddle or skillet over your grates, but that space is limited, especially if you plan on cooking a big breakfast outdoors in the sunshine (and you should be).
Below, the 10 best griddles that are sure to deliver as much golden-brown deliciousness as your summer can take.
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Le Griddle 30-inch Wide Propane Griddle and Cart
On the surface, the 464-square inch Le Griddle looks ordinary, but once you start cooking, you’ll realize it’s a different beast. Under the low maintenance stainless-steel griddle top is a massive cast-iron plate that provides excellent heat retention. With two burners pumping out 18,000 BTUs each, nearly every spot across the 29-by-19-inch cooking surface will have consistent temperature. Render the edges of a fatty steak by pressing it against the tall sides of the griddle, or use that extra height to mound sautéed veggies.
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Lynx 30-inch Asado Cooktop Freestanding Griddle
It’s a nuanced detail, but one that’s worth the money: Lynx doesn’t use mechanical fasteners to build its griddles, it relies on hand-welded seams to add strength and seal out the weather. Unlike most griddles that use a traditional gas burner, the Asado has two infrared burners under the 25-by-30-inch cooktop—the same technology on premium grills—to reach 46,000 BTUs. The stainless-steel griddle has an aluminum layer in the middle, such as high-end cookware, that speeds up the heating process.
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Camp Chef Flat Top Griddle 900
Hosting the in-laws? Feeding a Little League squad? The Camp Chef’s massive 877 square inches of griddle top will hold about 43 burgers, which makes feeding a crowd easier. But the size also lends a lot of flexibility. Use it as a French cooktop: the six burners underneath give you the control to have multiple cooking zones for food, skillets, or pots of boiling water. The top is cold rolled steel, and while it comes pre-seasoned with some non-stick attributes that stainless steel doesn’t have, it will require more maintenance to keep rust at bay.
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Blackstone Pro Series 36-inch Griddle Cooking Station
While it’s not stainless steel, the Blackstone’s griddle is similar to the carbon steel cookware in many pro kitchens—over time it will season to a near non-stick finish. The 60,000 BTUs spread over four burners provide a lot of control and versatility over the 760-square-inch surface. But it’s the convenient details you’ll appreciate most: a built-in cutting board; familiar, counter height shelves; and front magnetic strips to hold your tools; and waste bag and paper towel holders.
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Cooler Depot 36-Range Flat-Top Griddle with Full Oven
Remember what we said about short-order cooks? Well, most of them stand over a griddle with a hood and a built-in oven. Not only are they smashing and flipping loads of burgers, but they’re also baking, prepping, what have you—usually at one station. This is exactly what Cooler Depot provides with its griddle, a unit made for commercial use, but can easily fit into any home kitchen. The hood comes in handy, collecting all the steam, when you have several things on a burner that reaches 30,000 BTUs. And you’re able to roast a chicken or bake a pie all in one place. That’s what we call convenient.
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Evo Onyx Grill Cart with Affinity 30G Gas Griddle
Do you want to make a statement at your best BBQ party? Do you really want to show off? Evo has you covered. Just look at the sleek and expansive (the base width measures 70 inches) unit, the brand’s first outdoor griddle, which is made of durable powder-coated steel in svelt onyx and features a circular stainless-steel dual burner system that ranges from 225 to 700 degrees with 36,266 BTUs. It will certainly toast, sear, sauté, and, of course, grill anything evenly. And should you be prone to spills and slips, the burner sits atop a stainless-steel drip pan, which will catch stray vegetables or beef patties. What’s more, the cart features ample surface space, along with a wastebasket pullout, a towel holder, and two storage drawers.
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Fire Magic Echelon Portable Griddle
The beefier than normal 3/8-inch thick top on the Echelon helps with heat retention and delivers a solid sear. With 45,000 BTUs from the two burners, designers added a clever catch for all that rendered fat: It funnels into a hidden grease drip pan that is easy to pull out after cooking. The fold-down trays on each end help to keep a tidy footprint, and it’s worth carrying the griddle near an outlet because once you plug in, the blue backlight dials give it a sharp look after sunset.
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Blaze 30-Inch Gas Griddle
If you’re the type of home cook obsessed with an orderly mise-en-place, the Blaze’s cart is for you. The lower drawer is double-walled and insulated, so it will keep ice, and it comes with seven bins to hold your prepped food at the ready—keeping you at the party instead of back in the kitchen. Up top, the roughly 27.5-by-18-inch stainless steel griddle surface sits over two U-shaped burners, each delivering 18,000 BTUs. The cart’s deluxe package includes extensions on three sides for a more communal, hibachi feel.
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Cuisinart 360-Degree Griddle Cooking Center
Cuisinart: A name synonymous with some of the best pots, pans, and kitchen appliances—all the stuff you need to create a gourmet meal. The same could be said of its outdoor selection, especially its griddle. Like Evo’s grill cart (see above), this unit features a rounded cooking surface, a steel drip pan, and built-in towel holder. But this one is much more compact, due to its shape, and it has wheels. Which means it can easily be stored away on a rainy day.
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Royal Gourmet GD401 Portable Propane Gas Grill and Griddle Combo
Speaking of compact, Royal Burner offers a device that won’t take up too much room in your yard or patio, measuring 23.6 inches in width, the smallest on this list. The fold-down legs and wheels also means it can easily be tucked away. Yes, the cooking space is limited, but the fact that it’s a two-in-one grill and griddle really makes up for it. If you’re going to have a small gathering and want to offer both smashed burgers and ones with grill marks, this is the unit to have.
