These Are The Best Over-The-Top Backyard Grills Gallery
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
These Are the Best Over-the-Top Backyard Grills
For many, lighting up the grill on the first nice day of the year is a momentous occasion, but if you don't already own a grill, choosing one for the first time can be a daunting process. There are so many options available and so much grill jargon to wade through that a few minutes spent googling grills can end up costing you an entire afternoon — definitely a waste of a sunny day.
But don't fret, because we at The Daily Meal are here to help with this list of the best over-the-top grills as well as some of our top grilling related stories — for some extra inspiration and advice!
To curate this list, we turned to our sister site BestReviews, a website devoted to buying and testing an array of different products in order to recommend those that they feel are the very best quality and value. We pored through their pages of recommended grills and looked at every kind of grill they had reviewed, from charcoal and gas grills to pellet grills, kamado (Japanese ceramic grills), and natural gas grills. We also searched Amazon and looked at those grills that were Amazon best sellers and had the highest number of positive reviews. Along with a brief description of each grill (all the technical nitty-gritty) we have also included excerpts of some of the reviews (some of which we've edited gently for clarity), which can offer insight into why customers love these grills as much as they do!
These over-the-top grills are all pieces of equipment that cost more than $500, with many of them costing significantly more than that base amount. These are the grills you should buy if money is no obstacle — your dream grills that will last many, many years and are beautiful to look at. These outdoor kitchen investments are bigger than some cheaper grills, more powerful, and have all sorts of bells and whistles, like smokers and searing stations. Whether you are ready to spend that kind of money on a grill or you are just window shopping, read on to learn about the best over-the-top backyard grills!
Pit Boss Pellet Grill with Flame Broiler, 820 sq. in. $536.73
We kick off this list with this gorgeous grill. It has 820 square inches of cooking surface, a porcelain coated cast-iron grid and dial-in temperature control. If offers users a huge range of backyard grilling a smoking possibilities. At just over $500 this versatile piece of equipment is a great investment and the cheapest on this list.
Amazon reviews state:
"What a great pellet grill. Best buy ever. I'm now a smoke master!"
"This is the best grill ever!! Def user friendly! Love it! Thanks for a great product!"
"Everything I expected and then some".
For the 25 Best Grilled Chicken Recipes Gallery, click here.
Z 7-in-1 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, $599
This pellet grill, which comes in black or bronze, has Smart Smoke Technology, meaning you can set it and forget it, and an automated electric feed system will maintain a temperature from 180- 450 degrees F.
Customers on Amazon say:
"This grill is awesome, cant' say enough. Solid and heavy grill. cabinet with locking caster wheels. grill is equal too or better than a treager and at least 1/2 the price. came with a free cover – bonus..."
"This is a awsome grill. I used it to smoke a brisket. None of the charcoal and lighter fluid taste you get from past grilling ways. Just a natural and earthy flavor from smoke using wood. This is the way it should always be done!"
"Great smoked meats, super easy. Also, cook hamburgers without flare ups and NO FLIPPING. Even puts a smoke ring on them. And clean up is easy."
For the Grilled Sides Perfect for Steak Gallery , click here.
Eastwood 22 Wood Fired Grill in Silver Vien, $699.99
This Traeger grill offers users precise temperature control and automatic start-up and requires minimal cleanup due to grilling grates that have a powder coat finish, which is always a plus!
Fans of this grill say:
"I love love love this grill. It's worth EVERY PENNY!",
"Very easy to assemble. Startup/Shut down instructions easy to understand. A little getting used to cooking on takes a little longer than propane grill but well worth the time. Food turns out delicious."
"I would definitely recommend this Grill to anyone who likes to cook outdoors. Not a lot of assembly required and easy to follow instructions, if even needed. Had it now 2 weeks and have had to great meals come off the grill. Great web site with a ton of recipes and ideas to grill. I'm very happy with the easy of cooking with the wood pellets. No mess starting charcoal and you don't get that flavor from propane, at least I couldn't. Easy to clean up afterwards. I love this grill."
For the 21 Quick and Delicious Weeknight Grilling Ideas Gallery, click here.
Traeger Lil Tex Elite 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, $699.99
Here's another grill from Traeger at the same price. This model is simple and easy to use, gets up to temperature quickly and is nice and even for optimum grilling, smoking, baking and more!
Customers on Amazon write:
"Love my grill! It's a convection oven that blows smoke if anyone doesn't get what this type of grill does. Approximately 430 degrees Fahrenheit is what this will achieve according to it's own thermometer."
"I love this wood fired oven. :) Yes it smokes pork, beef, chicken, duck, excetera very well, but I baked a pizza at 425F and it was amazing!"
"We use it multiple times per week. Most things you cook in a regular oven will be elevated by throwing on the Traeger."
For the 10 Grilling Tools Every Outdoor Cook Needs Slideshow, click here.
Weber Genesis II E-310 Natural Gas Grill, Black, $699.00
This gas grill, available cooks meat perfectly without the need to babysit your proteins. It offers even heat, enameled cat iron grates. It has three burners, wheels, making it easy to move and a total cooking area of 669 square inches.
Customers write:
"Very well built product. It's by far the most solid BBQ I've ever owned. The heat seems to be perfectly evenly distributed, no hot spots."
"My favorite attribute if the grill is that it heats VERY evenly. This is very important when you have a full grill. The grates are very heavy which translates to excellent heat retention."
"Best grill I've ever owned, hands down. I've had a number of weber grills, and this one has done a great job. Heat is evenly distributed, easy to clean, easy to put together. Love it."
Camp Chef Flat Top Grill, $ 787.45
This versatile grill included a huge, interchangeable flat top griddle as well as the standard grilling surface, so you can really cook almost anything on this piece of equipment. From burgers and ribs to pancakes and eggs, this grill-griddle hybrid features four 12,000 BTU stainless steel burners, 604 square inches of cooking surface on the griddle insert and 501 square inches on the grilling surface.
Fans of this item write:
"Just had my first meal on this bad boy!! Let me start with the easy assembly of this grill. It took me about 30 minutes and I love the construction of this grill. Nice and sturdy good quality. I cooked bratwurst burgers, sliced potatoes and some veggies all at the same time. Food came out awesome! No flare ups no mess! Highly recommend this grill. Flat top cooking is the only way to go!"
"I've bought almost 150 items off Amazon in the last 2 years and there is no purchase I am happier with. This had changed that way my friends and I cook on a daily basis. I plan on buying one of these grills every time I need a house warming gift for one of my friends."
"Its really worth every cent one spends. Easy to use, cooks evenly, and easy to clean, oil drips off where it should. Great buy, would highly recommend it."
For the Best Steak Grilling Tips From the Pros Gallery, click here.
Camp Chef Woodwind Pellet Grill with Sear Box, $899.99
This grill, with digital temperature control and a system that automatically feed pellets into the grill for the perfect amount of smoke, has a cooking area of 570 square inches as well as a separate sear box that is perfect for finishing meats with a great sear.
Customers how have bought one say:
"I've used this grill just about every day since I bought it. Incredibly easy to use. Reliable pellet feed keeps a very constant temperature. My wife loves the sear box so that she can grill hamburgers, chicken breast, etc. without having to fire up the big rig. I do use a smoke tube to get a bit extra smoke into my cooks."
"This grill will not disappoint. It is a big investment, but well worth it. Spend the money on a sear box."
"This is the best grill I have ever owned! Is it expensive...yes. Is the food that comes out of it worth the price...an emphatic YES! I have cooked tons of stuff on it, including my first brisket, which came out incredible...and that never happens for me."
For The Rib Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Make Perfect Barbecued Ribs, click here.
Traeger Grills Texas Elite 34 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, $899.99
This grill, with an electric auto start, an integrated digital elite controller that keeps temperature steady within 20 degrees F, is easy to use and has a grilling surface of 646 square inches—a space that can easily accommodate up to 24 burgers, 6 chickens or 9 racks of ribs.
Fans write:
"This grill is clean and quick. Its cooked better food compared to any propane or charcoal grill I've ever owned. It's easy to assemble, easy to use and the food quality is amazing. It smokes and it cooks. It's quick, its clean there is no mess to clean. The pellets give a variety of flavors. I prefer to cook on my Traeger over my oven or stove. I'm hooked."
"Amazing grill, First time smoking Ribs and they came out perfect. No complaints, easy to use, fire and forget."
"Great quality smoker, large area to smoke lots of meats at the same time, and some great support, recipes, and information from the Traeger Grills website."
For the 15 Foods You Didn't Know You Could Grill Gallery, click here.
Kamado Joe Classic II, Blaze Red $1,199.00
People absolutely adore this Kamado grill—a modern, ceramic, charcoal fueled version of Chinese and Indian earthenware ovens. This piece of equipment, definitely built to last, has an easy to open lid, that seals tightly to lock in smoke and moisture, as well as a patented slide out ash drawer to easy cleaning. Customers compare this to the famous Big Green Egg, and many favor this version as a more cost effective purchase. They write:
"I got a chance to inspect the Kamado Joe at Costco and was very impressed. They took everything that's great about the BGE [Big Green Egg], and made improvements. The fittings are superior. The interior system is upgraded. The hinge is better. The nest is stronger. Stuff like that. But they didn't screw up anything of what is great about the Egg — that's key."
"This is by far the best grill I've ever had. I have had over 50 grills from a Weber gas grill to a Traeger pellet grill. This is by far the best. Food has unbelievable flavor. In my search for the best grill, I have found it."
"Absolutely love it. The innovations that Kamado Joe makes made my decision amongst other kamado grills for me. First cook I did was BBQ spatchcocked chicken and I couldn't believe how moist and juicy it was with a nice amount of smoke that wasn't overpowering. Best purchase I've made since my house!"
For the 10 Ways You've Been Grilling Your Chicken All Wrong Gallery, click here.
10 Napoleon Built-in Prestige 500, $1,099.00
This grill has 5 stainless steel burners, a total of 760 square inches of cooking space and uses natural gas.
Customers write:
"I've been using my Napoleon Prestige grill for several months and am very pleased with the quality and how it grills."
"I bought this as a replacement for a BBQ galore unit that was 15 years old. It fit the space very well. It looks great and operates seamlessly. The bonus was it did come with the rotisserie. My unit came from Arizona and came by freight so it takes a few extra days. IT came on a pallet well packed and secured. I bought one before for a grill on a rental property I own. It gets very hot so make sure that it is on a masonry support not wood. t looks great very prestigious"
"Great grill for the price"
For The 27 Absolute Best Grilled Fish and Shellfish Recipes Slideshow, click here.
Broil King Regal Pro - Stainless Steel - 5 Burner Propane Gas Grill $1,298.99
Here is another great gas grill. It has five burners, 625 square inches of cooking space, stainless steel shelves on either side and an enclosed cabinet to boot!
Amazon reviewers write:
"Let me start by saying I love this grill. I have had several others including Webers previously and would say it's on the same quality as Weber while providing more high end benefits at a lower cost. It can reach approximately 700 degrees in 5 minutes, comes with a motorized rotisserie, has a great side burner, illuminated LED knobs, and excellent heat distribution for even cooking."
"Fantastic grill overall (only wish the casters were a bit larger). I ordered it unassembled. It arrived on time and neatly packaged. With a little organization and taking my time, assembly was simple. Everything looks and works as it should. Looking forward to many years of great grilling."
"This is highest quality grill I have ever seen. It grills, bakes, rotisseries, and sautés perfectly. It is actually made in Indiana, USA. It is so superior to the 1200 dollar Weber I had. Just the right size for my patio. Surprisingly it is very efficient on gas. I have the propane model. We use it a lot and the tank lasts a long time. The features are second to none. It is a great buy for the price."
For the The Perfect Burgers, Hot Dogs, Ribs, and More for Backyard Barbecues Slideshow, click here.
Weber Genesis II LX S-340 Liquid Propane Grill, Stainless Steel $1,299.00
This Weber grill has three stainless steel burners, "Infinity Ignition" to ensure the gas will light and start with ease and a mounted side burner.
Amazon customers write:
"This is a great grill. The heat is even. Lots of space but not embarrassingly huge. Assembly was easy ( but I'm a DIYer from way back). Having the side burner for frying or boiling is very handy – you can cook an entire meal on this thing outdoors in the summer when the house is too hot for cooking. The only negative is that the hooks for hanging utensils are too small too be useful. No big deal."
"Assembly was really minimal. Instructions say you need three people to take it off the bottom of the packaging. I did it alone although a second person would have been helpful. Unit is well built and has performed flawlessly. Not a single regret about this purchase. Pricing on Webers is pretty uniform no matter which retailer you're shopping. I bought online since I couldn't find the exact model I wanted in stock at the two retailers I did shop."
"Superb product! I've used a few grills during summer BBQ's.. nothing beats Weber. Yes it's expensive and yes, it's worth it! Amazing quality, and the grill heats up pretty quickly. Takes less than 4 minutes to reach ideal grilling temperature of 400F."
For the 21 Essential Backyard Barbecue Classics Slideshow, click here.
Bull Outdoor Products Lonestar Select Natural Gas Drop-In Grill Head $1,349.00
This grill is built to last. It's easy to install, heats up quickly, cooks evenly and is easy to clean. This is a four-burner, drop in feature (not a stand alone), meaning you need a pre-existing outdoor kitchen to use this grill.
Customers say:
"This grill holds the heat well and disassembles for cleaning very easily. It's probably the low end of the high end grills but beats Weber by a long shot. Worth the money if you grill often."
"I'm very satisfied with this grill. It looks great installed at my outdoor kitchen. It was definitely a great addition."
"Love this grill...not only is it beautiful, but it appears to be made extremely well. Nothing cheap about it. Heavy duty and fairly easy to clean. I LOVE the large tray at the bottom that catches all the grease, etc..Just pull it out, wash with soap and water and line it with foil. Sweet. We chose the natural gas grill so we would never have to bother with gas tanks again! I highly recommend this grill."
Napoleon LEX 730 $1,849.00
This grill has 730 square inches of grilling space which means you can cook up to 40 burgers at the same time! It has infrared burners, a handy side shelf and a useful drip pan, as well as seven burners with backlit control knobs.
Customers say:
"This grill is wonderful. The build quality is very good and it grills very nice. I'm very happy with this purchase."
"What a great grill. Does everything as promised"
"I googled best propane grills and this brand came up #1 in a couple of polls. I had an old Char-Broil that came with a rotisserie burner and wanted that again , which is why I chose this over the Weber Genesis. A bit pricey, but EVERYTHING that matters on this grill is 640 stainless and high quality manufacturing and engineering. I put it together myself because I wanted to see how well it was made and I was impressed. Most expensive grill I ever bought, but so far( first year) it has been worth it. Everything works all the time and the blue backlit lights when grilling in the evening are nice. The infrared side burner and rotisserie burner is great!"
Weber Summit Stainless-Steel Natural-Gas Grill $2,529.00
This grill is easy to use, includes a smoker, a side burner, a searing station, a rotisserie system and is easy to assemble. The main cooking area measure 624 square inches, and it has an additional resting rack that is 145 square inches. It features 6 stainless steel burners, a thermometer and useful tool hooks to hang barbecue tools like brushed and tongs.
Reviews note:
"Love that it is a smoker, rotisserie and grill with a sear sectiin all in one and when you add the Gourmet grill it takes it to another level. Have had the grill for two months now. I have made from smoke ribs to rotisserie chicken all cooks evenly and no flare ups. Another great job from weber and their customer service is amazing have owned a weber before for 16 years (Genesis gold). Every time you talk with anyone in their customer service department they were courteous and very professional. Also one reason I stayed with Weber that and their product."
"I purchased this grill about a year ago. It heats quickly, cooks evenly, and gets VERY hot. In 10 minutes with lid closed it will heat to over 700 degrees. The grill is solidly built and has every feature we wanted. You get what you pay for (if you are lucky), and this grill is worth every penny and more. Life is short, but the grill !"
"I now grill 90% of the time rather than use our stove. Love the searing station for steaks/ chops."
Summit Stainless Steel Grill Center LP $3,299.00
Last but certainly not least, we come to this grill by Weber. It features a sear station, a tuck away rotisserie system and a stainless steel smoker box with its own dedicated burner.
Customers write:
"What a great product. Looks great, heats quickly. Love the pop-up rotisserie, the first thing I cooked on it was a rotisserie chicken."
"Purchased from local BBQ store in town. This is a fantastic piece of machinery, it is very easy to see the thought that Weber put into designing this product. It has plenty of burners and can get up to 600+F' very quickly, allowing for nicely done steaks. The burners run front to back on this grill, allowing for warm and hot zones on the grates which is useful for cooking different foods at the same time."
"Simply love this grill. It was easy to put together and it cooks great. My husband said it's the best grill he has ever owned."
You would certainly expect that, for the price tag, this grill would have it all, and it certainly seems to. If you are looking for something a little more wallet friendly however opt to shop for the best affordable backyard grills.
For the 19 Marinades That Will Up Your Steak Game Slideshow, click here.
More from The Daily Meal:
Healthy Summer Side Dishes
America's 25 Best Barbecue Chains for 2018
10 Ways You've Been Cooking Backyard Burgers All Wrong