The 8 Best Portable Gas Grills for Tailgating in 2022

Over the years, tailgating has remained a popular trend for youths and vacationing families regarding outdoor fun. However, if you want to have an awesome cooking experience, there is one piece of equipment you cannot afford to take a chance on — a grill. In this blog post, I’ll share some insight into the best portable gas grill for tailgating enthusiasts in 2022. 

So, if you’re wondering which gas grill to buy for your tailgating adventures, don’t stop reading.

Top 8 Portable Gas Grill Options for Tailgating

1. Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Propane Grill

If you’ve been on the grill scene for a while, it is more than likely that you’ve heard or seen the Coleman brand. However, if you haven’t, we’ll catch you up on the essential details. Coleman is one of the top manufacturers in the grill industry, and their RoadTrip line is quite the rage amongst Tailgaters.

The Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Grill is a stand-up gas-powered grill that promises to help make your tailgating hangouts a delicious success. The grill features three different burners to give you a powerful heating system, complete with a thermometer. Altogether, the RoadTrip 285 offers you 285 sq. inches of grilling space and grilling power, reaching 20,000 BTUs.

Each of the three burners on this gas grill has a push-button ignition and an adjustable control to help you regulate the fire. This way, even if you have three different recipes, you can cook them all at once!

Additionally, the Coleman RoadTrip 285 comes with two built-in sliding tables to allow for convenient food preparation and serving. Thankfully, the tables do not affect the grill’s portability. The RoadTrip 285 comes with foldable legs that allow you to collapse the grill onto two sturdy wheels to facilitate each transportation. Of course, the grill is also relatively lightweight.

I should also mention that this grill comes in five different colors for more aesthetically inclined people.

Pros

Cons

Final Take

The Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Grill is an excellent choice for tailgating enthusiasts who wish to have more freedom while cooking.

2. Weber Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill

Another top-rated portable gas grill I discovered in my search is Weber’s Q2200 grill. This grill has all the necessary qualities you need to whip off mouth-watering dishes at your outdoor hangouts. Of course, you need to have the relevant skills to go. But, once you have the skills part down, this grill will get to where you need to go.

The Weber Q2200 has a relatively large cooking space, standing at approximately 280 sq. inches of grill space. It also comes with a set of beautiful porcelain-enameled cast-iron grill grates, complete with two foldable working tables to improve convenience.

As you probably guess already, the Q2200 runs on propane gas. However, that’s not even the best part. The grill has several top-end features which you’d not expect to find on a portable grill — from a built-in thermometer in its lid to an electric ignition and infinite burner control. Also, the burner can reach an impressive BTU per hour value of 12000!

In addition to its high-end specs, the Weber Q2200 is also quite portable. Its body is made out of light aluminum and a stainless steel burner, complete with side handles for easy movement and transportation.

Pros

Cons

Final Take

The Weber Q2200 gas grill is perfect if you want to enjoy a high-end grill that promises spectacular results while tailgating with friends and family.

3. Cuisinart CGG-306 Propane Tabletop Grill

Another top-quality option for you regarding portable gas grills for tailgating is the Cuisinart CGG-306 chef’s-style grill.

First off, the weight of this gas grill makes it ideal for outdoor hangouts, tailgating, picnics, and whatnot. The Cuisinart CGG-306 is super light and has a pair of handles to facilitate easy carrying. This way, you can enjoy a grill cookout wherever you want to without worrying about the hassles that come with lugging around a heavy grill.

However, it is not all about weight. Cuisinart’s CGG-306 grill has other desirable features that make it so popular.

The Cuisinart CGG-306 comes with a set of two impressive stainless steel burners that combine to give an impressive 20000 BTUs burners. In other words, each burner can reach 10000 BTUs, which makes for very efficient cooking.

This Cuisinart product is a great option if you are looking for the best portable grill for tailgating or outdoor cooking. The CGG-306 model is quite lightweight, making it perfectly portable and allowing you to enjoy a nice grill cookout wherever you want.

That is not all.

This gas grill also comes with an electronic ignition feature and two separate temperature control knobs to regulate the heat of both burners. The grill also has a built-in thermometer to help you keep track of your cooking temperature, as well as folding legs that allow easy stowing and moving.

Pros

Cons

Final Take

The design and construction of the Cuisinart CGG-306 gas grill make it perfect for tailgaters who want ultra-portability and high performance from their grill.

4. Springfield 1940057 Barbecue Grill

Not every ‘tailgater’ has the luxury of a vehicle that is equipped with a tailgate. Sometimes, there may not even be a picnic table on which you can set up your grill! In situations like this, the Springfield Hitch-Mount Grill can really come in handy.

The Springfield 1940057 Hitch-Mount grill was designed and built to fit into the receiver hitch of any vehicle. So, even if your vehicle is an SUV with a hatch that opens overhead, you’re good to go with the Springfield hitch-mount grill. However, you may also choose to set up on a grill by removing the base if you can.

The Springfield 1940057 Hitch-Mount Barbecue Grill offers you a relatively large 189 sq. inch cooking surface in terms of its cooking capabilities. Also, if you want to do griddle cooking instead, you have 130 sq. inches of space dedicated to that. I should also mention that this gas grill has a BTU rating of 12000.

Interestingly, once you finish cooking with the Springfield 1940057 Hitch-Mount Barbecue Grill, its legs can fold up to become handles to aid easy carry. However, the grill is designed to work with only a small propane tank (one pound). However, this is perfect for portability.

Pros

Cons

Final Take

The Springfield 1940057 Hitch-Mount Barbecue Grill is an ideal choice if you don’t have a vehicle equipped with a tailgate.

5. Weber Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill

Weber is a brand famous for its superior designs and high-performance grills, and this product is no different. No doubt, for many, the Weber Q1000 is the best tailgate grill out there, and we’ll tell you why.

The Weber Q1000 has a sleek, ultra-modern design, with a cast aluminum lid and a body built for durability. Of course, to ensure easy portability, the grill comes up to only 26.6 pounds in all. Furthermore, the grill boasts approximately 189 sq. inches of cooking surface with stainless steel burner of 8500 BTU rating to heat it.

In terms of its heating performance, the Weber Q1000 exceeds expectations as it distributes heat evenly across its heating surface. However, I recommend preheating the grill for at least 10 minutes before you start cooking.

Also, the Weber Q1000 comes with porcelain-covered cast-iron grates, push-button matchless ignition, and a large handle for convenient usage and carrying. Besides, thanks to its porcelain coating, the grill is very easy to clean. Its assembly method is also quite straightforward, and the grill comes with a drip tray.

Pros

Cons

Final Take

The Weber Q1000 is a highly recommended option for grilling enthusiasts who want a hassle-free and efficient cooking experience.

6. Camp Chef Stainless Steel Barbecue Grill

Next on my list of the top portable gas grills in 2022, I have a very compact small tailgate grill — the Camp Chef Stainless Barbecue Grill Box.

This portable folding gas grill comes in a box design that makes everything so compact, as the name implies. This way, it is super convenient to pack up and carry around whenever you need to. This makes the Camp Chef grill box perfect for tailgating and other outdoor hangouts.

The Camp Chef Stainless Barbecue Grill Box features a seasoned-finish cast-iron grate which not only ensures even heating throughout the grill but also sears your meat quite well. However, that’s not even the best part. 

This grill comes with a unique diffuser, which turns the burning flames directly into heat. This then results in the vaporization of excess grease that will otherwise drip out and cause a mess. Furthermore, the Camp Chef Stainless grill has a lip damper valve for controlling the heat and keeping the flavor in the food. 

The grill box weighs only 33 pounds and comes with a hinged lid with a lock and handle for safe and secure transportation.

Finally, the Camp Chef Stainless Barbecue Grill Box comes with three burners and a temperature gauge. No doubt, this grill meets the mark for versatility and high performance.

Pros

Cons

Final Take

The Camp Chef Stainless Barbecue Grill Box is an excellent choice if you want a high-performance grill that’s compact and easy to move around.

7. CAPT’N COOK OvenPlus Salamander Grill

This next product has a one-of-kind design that makes it a real favorite amongst tailgating enthusiasts everywhere. Indeed, many will argue that it is the best portable gas grill for tailgating in 2022. While that fact is subject, there is no doubt that the CAPT’N COOK Ovenplus Salamander Grill is amazing.

This gas grill offers more versatility and top-end performance than you’d expect to find in a portable outdoor grill. It has a unique double-deck design, which puts the fire above your food rather than under, as in most grills. As a result, flare-ups no longer occur as grease and fat cannot drip onto the flame. There is also less smoke while you cook.

If you’re worried about reducing cooking heat due to the unique design of the Capt’n Cook Ovenplus grill, there is no need to be. The upper grill can reach temperatures of up to 900F, while the lower one goes up to 700F.

Besides, the Salamander grill has a fast heat system and can reach 500F in approximately 15 minutes!

The Ovenplus essentially functions as both a grill and a stove. With the lid in the upper layer, you have an improvised stove. In other words, you can heat liquids, cook food that fits in a pot or griddle steak that you’ve seared in the underneath grill. However, when you close the lid, you get an oven that can reach extremely hot temperatures in minutes.

If you’re a pizza fan, the Ovenplus Salamander grill comes with a pizza stone that offers high efficient all-round heating. Indeed, with this grill, you don’t need to flip your pizza while it bakes.

The best part? According to the manufacturers, you can bake as many as 20 boxes of pizza within one hour or 80 salmon pieces.

If this doesn’t cater to the crowd at your tailgating hangout, you may need to buy a food truck instead.

Pros

Cons

Final Take

The CAPT’N COOK Ovenplus Salamander Grill offers a level of versatility and high-performance than you’d find with most outdoor grills. This makes it ideal for all tailgaters, especially those who are more adventurous with their cooking.

8. Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 Propane Gas Grill

For the final item in my compilation — I present the Char-Broil Grill2Go Infrared  Gas Grill. 

The Char-Broil Grill2Go comes with a rugged, corrosion-resistant cast-aluminum firebox, complete with a lid that keeps the heat in, where it matters. Its sturdy build makes it perfect for carrying around your various tailgating sites, as the body is designed to withstand the rigors without becoming damaged.

Furthermore, the Char-Broil Grill2Go offers you 200 sq. inches of prime cooking surface with a BTU rating of up to 9500. This ensures the grill heats up fast and achieves even heating throughout the grill. Besides, with the size of the grill, you can cook at least ten burgers at once!

Now, here comes the most interesting part. The Char-Broil comes with TRU-Infrared heating technology, where a special cooking grate sits below the grate. This puts a boundary between your food and the flame such that there is better heat distribution and reduced flare-ups.

Moreover, with infrared technology, there are no hotter or colder spots on the cooking surface.

I should also mention that the Char-Broil Grill2Go TRU-Infrared grill comes with a thermometer on its top to help you keep track of the heat. It also has a pair of stainless steel latches to help you keep the grill box safely secure while you transport it.

Pros

Cons

Final Take

The rugged build of the Char-Broil Grill2Go TRU-Infrared grill makes it perfect for lugging around with you from one tailgating hangout to the next. Its efficient TRU-infrared also gives you good value for your money in terms of the results you get.

Factors You Should Consider Before Buying A  Portable Gas Grill

Knowing the top portable gas grill options on the tailgating scene is only the first step towards securing one for yourself. The next step is choosing the best tailgate grill for you. To do this, there are several variables you need to keep in mind before making a decision. Keep reading to find out essential factors that should guide your buying decision.

Size of cooking surface

The size of your grill’s cooking surface is undoubtedly one of the most crucial factors you should consider, especially if you are buying a grill for tailgating. Depending on how large your tailgating gathering will be, you may need to choose a grill with a larger cooking surface area. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself having to cook several batches before food can go around at your tailgates.

Remember, you don’t have to buy a giant grill to secure a larger cooking capacity. Several gas grills offer larger cooking surfaces while remaining compact.

Portability

Portability is another essential characteristic of tailgating gas grills. You want to buy a lightweight product that’s easy to carry around. This will make moving your grill to and fro outdoor events so much more convenient.

Durability

Under ideal circumstances, a high-quality portable gas grill should last several years before you need to change it. Therefore, I advise you to check out the quality of construction of the grill you want before purchasing. Today, there are various options on the market —  stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, and even porcelain-coated grills, which are arguably the most durable.

Temperature control

If you want the best grilling results, it may be best to buy a model that allows you to control its heating temperature. This way, when the grill gets too hot, you can easily turn down the heat or crank it up when you need to. Most portable gas grills allow you to do this by simply turning a knob this way or that.

Design

The design of a gas grill goes beyond its aesthetics. It significantly impacts your activities with the grill — how you use it, how you store it, and even how you move it around. So, make sure to picture a gas grill that has a design that works for you.

Price

Finally, price is another vital factor that can influence the gas grill you buy. While price often impacts quality, it is not the case in every situation. In other words, buying an expensive grill does not necessarily mean you will end up with a high-end product. However, this does not mean you should settle for a product that’s way cheaper than normal as they are often subpar.

The trick is finding a nice balance between price and quality. Not to worry, every item on this list is a top-rated product and promises very satisfactory grilling results.

FAQs

What else do you need for tailgating?

Aside from your portable gas grill, you also need to acquire a propane cylinder to power the grill, your food, utensils, and some cold beverages.

Are gas grills the same as propane grills?

Yes. Gas grills, liquid propane grills, and propane grills all refer to the same thing.

Are gas grills safe?

A gas grill is a relatively safe piece of equipment as long as you follow certain safety and preventive measures. If there’s a gas leak, please turn off the grill until you have located and resolved the leak to prevent an explosion.

Wrap Up

Hopefully, you’ve gained some insight into the top options of gas grills on the tailgating scene. Remember, the quality of food you end up with significantly depends on the performance of your grill. So, make sure to buy a model that’s perfect for your need. The above tips should help you pick out the best portable gas grill for tailgating in 2022.