Today we feature the Best Outdoor Griddle you can buy in 2023. Preparing food on an Outdoor Griddle is a unique cooking experience that many people fall in love with the first time they try it.
To help you pick out the best Outdoor Griddle for your needs, we’ve spent hours researching features and actual tests for the ten best outdoor griddles on the market.
Today, it’s prevalent for serious grill enthusiasts to own their outdoor kitchen griddle – as a way to enhance their outdoor cooking. And whether it’s a full-size gas griddle, a portable propane griddle, or a griddle pan for your grill, there are many practical types of griddles to choose from.
An Outdoor Griddle is a handy piece of outdoor cooking equipment used for cooking food on a Flat Top surface. Outdoor griddles are available as Full-Size Gas Griddles, Portable Gas griddles, or Griddle Pans (Used with a Gas grill).
Best Type of Outdoor Griddles:
What is the best outdoor griddle? Depending on what “Size” of Griddle you need, the best full-size griddle (for a deck or patio) we recommend is the Blackstone 1554 with LP gas.
For tailgating or camping, the best Mid-size Griddle is the Cuisinart CG-501 portable LP gas griddle.
Lastly, the Best Griddle “Pan” for use on a standard outdoor grill is The Sizzle SQ180.
Three (3) Different Types of Outdoor Griddles:
- The First Type: is the “Full-Size” griddle on legs or caster wheels, which is a non-portable format meant to sit outside – much as your regular Grill does. Functioning in some ways similar to a Grill, The Full Sized griddle has storage for an LP Tank, is countertop height, and has wheels for mobility on your patio or deck. (Shown in the lead photo above – And the Editors Pick Outdoor Griddle from Blackstone).
- The Second Type: is the “Portable” griddle type, which allows you to move around as necessary, and can be used on the ground or tabletop. Because of its smaller size, this is probably the best griddle for camping and the best griddle for tailgaters to use. (See example below: The Runner-Up Griddle Pan from Cuisinart).
- The Third Type: is called “Griddle Pans.” These handy inventions are grill accessories meant to be set on your existing grill, allowing you to cook with a heated griddle without investing in a stand-alone griddle that requires its heat source. (See example below: Best Value Griddle Pan from Sizzle-Q)
In this griddle buyers guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about self-contained LP propane griddles and pan griddles (used on top of an existing outdoor grill).
The 10 Best Outdoor Griddles – In 2023
Editor’s Choice: Blackstone 1554 – Outdoor Griddle
Why We Like It
If you want to get your griddle heated in a hurry – this griddle, with four independent burners, gets it done the quickest.
With durable construction, and a large Blackstone 36″ griddle top, the Not-So-Portable Griddle from Blackstone 1554 stands out as the best overall griddle grill in our top griddle reviews. It uses an LP gas tank (like a grill – not included in purchase)
Whether you’re looking for something to cook large family breakfasts on, a versatile griddle, or grilling outdoors for parties, the Blackstone Flat Top is the best full-scale griddle option.
Specs
- Four burners
- Caster wheels
- 792 square inch cooking space (22 x 36″)
- Push-button ignition
- Steel construction – 60″ overall (with side shelves)
- 90-Day Warranty on All Parts
Our Takeaway
Overall, the Blackstone 1554 is a great griddle that will more than get the job done with your outdoor griddle cooking. For searing burgers or cooking eggs outside, there are a few options better than this one.
The one downside to this model is a less-than-adequate grease capture system that can sometimes allow grease to run over. Fix this by replacing it with a more significant grease catch receptacle.
Besides that slight flaw, this is one of the best propane griddles you’ll find for your patio – on the market today.
Blackstone – Editor’s Choice Best Griddle
Blackstone
Runner Up: Royal Gourmet – 36″ (4) Burner Outdoor Griddle
Why We Like It
One of the best 4-burner outdoor griddles on the market, the Royal Gourment GB4000, seems to check All the boxes. Royal Gourmet, once known only for upscale outdoor grills, is making huge strides in the outdoor griddle market and is poised to become one of the best-selling outdoor griddles sold in the U.S.A.
This is the same Outdoor Griddle I own, and after six months of use, I can hardly recommend this griddle. I found the four burners to run as hot or low as desired within the griddle top.
With this adjustability, you can cook at high or low heat anywhere on a large flattop surface, which is a chef’s dream.
The unique 22″ diameter Deep Concave cooker provides the ideal cooking surface for any type of grilling, including meats, vegetables, shrimp, eggs, bacon, and more.
A deep concave cooking bowl with 2″ sides allows for a wide cooking surface without worrying about the fear of juices or meals sliding off the side!
Specs
- Large 36″ x 22″ (784 sq. Inch) Cooking surface
- Gloss Ceramic
- Four 13,000 Btu Stainless Steel Burners
- Stainless Steel Control Panel
- Electronic Ignition
- Efficient Grease Management System
- Two Fold-up side shelves, Hvy Duty Bottom Shelf
- Cleans with water and oil – No soap required.
- Fully Mobile Caster Wheels
Our Takeaway
Super portable design involves a simple 3-piece assembly, stainless steel pan with powder-coat finish in your choice of black or red. Also adding to the convenience and portability – is the option to use a 16.4 oz green propane screw-on tank or a traditional but a little bulkier – 20 lb. propane tank when camping.
The Blackstone Griddle remains our #1 Outdoor Griddle, based on its large cooking surface and multiple burners. However, it’s hard to beat the Royal Gourment Griddle as a solid contender for the price.
Royal Gourmet Griddle Video
Watch this quick griddle video from Royal Gourmet – and see why we place this versatile outdoor cooker at the top of our outdoor griddle Reviews:
ROYAL GOURMET – 4 Burner Outdoor Griddle
ROYAL GOURMET
Best Value Blackstone Portable: Blackstone 22″ Griddle – Model 1666
Why We Like It
With a little more surface area than the 17-inch Blackstone model, this 22″ portable griddle offers the perfect option as a tabletop griddle, with excellent balance, mobility, and cooking space. At the same time, it still features all of the high quality we’ve come to expect in a Blackstone brand griddle.
Specs
- 330 square inch cooking surface
- Two H-shaped burners
- Built-in grease channel
- Steel construction
Our Takeaway
In our opinion, the Blackstone 22″ griddle is the perfect size for a portable model. It gives you the option to cook up larger meals without sacrificing mobility. The H-shaped burners are a nice touch and help you cook with even heating across the griddle’s surface.
Blackstone – Best “Blackstone Portable Griddle”
Blackstone
Best Upgrade: Pit Boss “Ultimate 3-Burner” Portable Griddle
Why We Like It
If you’re looking for one of the best outdoor griddles that’s fully portable (lifts off), The Pit Boss Ultimate Griddle is an exceptional mix of quality and value. With three stainless-steel burners, an impressive 36,000 BTUs, the features you want – and a few more.
Specs
- 3 Stainless Steel Burners
- 600 square inch “proprietary ceramic” cooking griddle surface
- Lift-Off Portable Griddle (use on a tabletop or stand)
- Lid with Chrome Handles
- Folding Shelves
- Stand with High Wheels for Uneven Ground
- 36,000 BTU’s
- Stainless Steel Burners
- Matchless – Push button ignition
Our Takeaway
Overall, the PIT BOSS “Ultimate” griddle revolutionizes the outdoor griddle market. The griddle surface is the best one you can cook on, and the portability is off the charts!
Imagine a large griddle that you can close the lid, disconnect the LP tank, load in your trunk, and go. Sometimes you only need the griddle as you will set it up for cooking at a picnic (table) site. You don’t need the stand or the shelves, leave them at home!
The griddle stand, however, does have some pretty great features; Extra tall rubber (skateboard) wheels that work excellent over rough terrain, built-in foldable shelves with chrome handles, and six utensil hooks.
Add to that a Paper Towel Roll Holder and, for all you beer fans, an attached “bottle opener” 🙂
Pit Boss “Ultimate Griddle” Video:
Pit Boss – “Ultimate Outdoor Griddle”
PIT BOSS
Best “5-Burner” Outdoor Griddle: Pit Boss 10762
Why We Like It
This Pit Boss, 10762 – 5 Burner Griddle with a whopping 753 sq. inches, can accommodate a small family dinner to the largest outdoor gatherings or groups you might be cooking for. The extra burner vs. the Blackstone 4 – Burner provides more even heat across the same size surface.
In addition, the fold-up shelves also double as a protective cover for the griddle surface when not in use.
Specs
- 750 square inch cooking surface
- 62,000 Btu’s
- LP gas Built-In Hose included (LP tank not included)
- Five stainless steel burners
- Ignition start and 5- controls
- Steel construction
Our Takeaway
Most people understand the notoriety of the Pit Boss brand regarding their “smokers”, but Pit Boss brings the same “A-Game” to the Outdoor Griddle market. In this griddle, they also provide what we consider great value.
Suppose you’re looking for a dependable, sizeable outdoor griddle with 5-burners, fold-up shelves to keep the outdoor critters off your griddle, and something large enough to take care of large groups. In that case, the Pit Boss Griddle is the top-rated griddle to consider.
PIT BOSS – Best Large 5-Burner Griddle
PIT BOSS
Best Value Griddle Pan: “Sizzle-Q” – SQ180
Why We Like It
Our first pick is this handy but high-quality stainless steel pan from Sizzle-Q to griddle pans used on standard gas or charcoal grills.
The beauty of a griddle pan like this is that you just set it on your current grill without spending the price of dedicated outdoor flat grills.
Specs
- Stainless steel construction
- 18″x13″
- Cross-bracing for extra support
- Even heat distribution
Our Takeaway
This griddle grill top is perfect for the person who wants the cooking convenience of a griddle without having to purchase an entirely new appliance.
“Sizzle-Q” Griddle Pan Video:
The Sizzle-Q – griddle pan also does an excellent job of cooking a wide variety of foods, proving that you don’t necessarily need a dedicated griddle to enjoy the benefits of griddle cooking.
Best Value “Griddle Pan” – Sizzle-Q Griddle Pan
Sizzle-Q
Best Portable 3-Burner Griddle: Royal Gourmet PD1300
Why We Like It
With three burners and more cooking surface than the 22-inch Blackstone, this griddle from Royal Gourmet is at the upper end of what could be considered portable.
The upshot is that this model makes cooking possible for larger groups of people and gives you more independent temperature control for high- and low-temperature foods.
Specs
- Three independent burners
- 325 square inch cooking surface
- Steel construction
- Porcelain coating for better heat distribution
- Push-button ignition
Our Takeaway
If you’re looking for something portable that will also give you more cooking flexibility and plenty of space to work with, the Royal Gourmet is a great option.
The porcelain coating is especially nice since it helps with even heating and makes the griddle a bit easier to clean. This is easily one of the best propane griddle models for “portable use.”
Royal Gourmet – Best 3-Burner Portable Griddle
Royal Gourmet
Best Priced Blackstone Griddle: The 17″ Table Top Portable Griddle
Why We Like It
Another portable griddle option we love is this 17-inch tabletop model from Blackstone. Much more compact than the Blackstone 1554, this griddle offers Blackstone’s outstanding quality in a small, accessible package and at a great price.
Specs
- 260 square inch cooking surface
- 1 H-shaped burner
- Push-button ignition
- Fast heating
Our Takeaway
This portable griddle grill top is exceptionally well made and excellent for mobile grilling. It also seems to do well with a wide range of foods, a fact made possible by its single H-shaped burner’s fast and even heat distribution.
As with the Cuisinart, this Blackstone griddle is great for taking to parties, camping, or any other on-the-fly excuse to cook food on the go.
Blackstone – Best Price for Portable Griddle
Blackstone
Best Griddle Pan With Handles: “Griddle – GQ120
Why We Like It
This griddle pan is very similar to the Sizzle-Q model, but with one vital difference – The Griddle GQ features “removable handles” that make it easy to take on and off the grill.
This minor feature is helpful, especially if you want to cook something else on your grill after preparing something on the griddle itself.
Specs
- Stainless steel construction
- Removable handles
- 14″x16″
- Cross bracing is used on the underside
Our Takeaway
The “Griddle Q” griddle pan is an excellent addition to any standard grill toolkit, even if you don’t use a griddle often. This griddle pan can help you accomplish more with your regular grill than before.
Best Griddle Pan With “Handles” – Griddle Q
Griddle Q
Best Grill and Griddle “Combo”: “Blackstone Tailgater”
Why We Like It
While a dedicated griddle is excellent, there are times when you’ll want to use a FLAT TOP griddle and an ordinary GRILL at the same time. For this reason, we love this combination model from Blackstone, which delivers the best of both worlds.
While it is on legs, this model is still considered a portable option – due to legs that quickly fold down for easy carrying.
Specs
- Two burners
- 512 square inches of total cooking space
- Grill box and griddle included
- Grill Size 16 x 16″
- Adjustable legs
- Griddle size: 17″ x 16″
Our Takeaway
If you’re looking for griddle outdoor options that are both functional and versatile, the Blackstone Tailgater is undoubtedly a hard option to beat.
You can cook practically anything on this grill, whether a large cut of meat or a big batch of eggs for a weekend family breakfast.
Another great option with this model – is that the four legs adjust independently, allowing you to set it up in spots where the ground is not entirely even without any difficulties.
Best Grill & Griddle Combo – Blackstone Tailgater Griddle
Blackstone
Best “Accessories” for Outdoor Griddles
When using a griddle, you can’t use the same accessories you would go with a standard grill due to the flat cooking surface of a griddle. Ideally, it would be best if you had a flat spatula and a scraper for managing food on the griddle.
But, If you’re just getting started with griddle cooking, Blackstone offers a griddle accessory kit that will give you All the essential tools you need to start using your griddle like a Pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re buying a griddle for the first time, you may have a few questions running through your mind. This FAQ section will look at a few of the most common questions to help you make an informed buying decision.
Is an Outdoor Griddle Better Than a Grill?
Not necessarily, but it is different. Griddles allow you to cook food differently than you could on a grill, such as sauteed vegetables, putting the perfect “sear” on meat, and griddles prevent common flare-ups that often occur using a grill.
The Outdoor Kitchen Griddle is a viral cooking tool – as evidenced by how often they are used in restaurants. According to restaurant business online, griddles have quickly become a staple in commercial kitchens and food trucks.
Do Griddles Need to Be Seasoned?
Yes. Think of your griddle like a giant, cast-iron skillet. It will need some good initial seasoning to prevent food from sticking, followed by occasional re-seasoning to keep it in top cooking condition.
Why Would I Want a Griddle?
Griddles give you outdoor cooking versatility that’s hard to achieve with any other tool. For instance, if you want to make pancakes, eggs, and bacon for a large group, neither your grill nor smoker will do the trick. Heck, you can even toast your bread on a griddle!
An outdoor griddle, though, will, in both instances, give you precisely what you need, and it gives you one more excuse to get outside when it’s hot inside!
Should I Get a “Portable, Non-portable, or Griddle Pan” Model?
The answer usually depends on “How” you plan to use your griddle.
A freestanding “non-portable griddle” is likely the best bet if you want to cook huge meals at home.
For camping, tailgating, or other mobile uses, a “portable griddle” is the only practical way for propane gas griddle cooking. As witnessed by many, the camping griddle is the most practical carry item for regular campers.
If you already own a grill and only need a griddle for occasional use, a “griddle pan” will probably meet your needs quite well. Check out the #1 model from Sizzle-Q – Above.
Conclusion
Depending on your outdoor cooking needs and Grilling Skills, we recommend the Blackstone 1554 Griddle as the best propane griddle to buy. Its four-burner set-up, large cooking surface, and fixed legs with caster wheels make it a terrific addition to cooking on any patio or deck.
If however, you’re looking for a more “portable griddle” – one that you can take to a tailgater or camping, we suggest you look at the Cuisinart CGG-501 propane griddle.
If you’re looking for the ultimate flexibility in griddle cooking – Our clear choice is the revolutionary PIT BOSS Ultimate Griddle. Hands down, the griddle you will use everywhere.
Finally, for those who prefer to use their Grill and add a “griddle pan” to one side – allowing them to grill and use a griddle simultaneously, our favorite is the “Sizzle Q – 18 x 13 x 3” griddle pan.
This little wonder is sure to be a crowd-pleaser as you sharpen your knives, saute vegetables, and prepare side dishes while grilling your favorite meats.
Whichever model you choose, we hope you’ve enjoyed the article and learned a lot more about Outdoor Griddles!
Thanks for visiting – be sure to check out our many other “Best Product” reviews @ BestHomeGear.Com
Additional Reading & Resources:
- “Recipe Guide” for Griddles From Blackstone.Com
- The Best Gas Fire Pit Tables You Can Buy – Besthomegear.com
- The Proper Way to Store a Propane tank from “WikiHow.”
- Best Leaf Blower Trimmer Combo To Buy – Besthomegear.com
- 5 Tips for Healthy Grilling – From Harvard University
- Best Infrared Heaters on the Market – Besthomegear.com
