5 Best Propane Grill Under 500: Buying Guide and Review

Picking the ideal grill can be difficult, but the best propane grill under 500 is the best way to start. A reliable grill and stove don’t have to break the bank, although it should consider features like style, efficiency, capacity, size, and portability.

Among the many grill models and styles, the Weber Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill stands out best. It boasts a well-made construction using a top-quality combination of stainless steel, aluminum, and porcelain enamel.

It’s incredibly convenient right from the start as it comes fully assembled, taking no time to start with the barbecue party in the backyard. This grill provides a decent grilling surface to cook six steaks simultaneously, perfect for a small family or friend group. Besides its remarkable grilling performance, it’s also a fantastic addition to any backyard for its sleek and modern look.

The Weber Q1000 propane grill is all about functionality without compromising style, a common feature in most Weber grills.

Best propane grill under 500 Review

Weber 50060001 Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill

Features:

• Material – Aluminum/Stainless steel
• Total cooking area – 189 square inch
• BTU – 8500
• One stainless steel burner
• Porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates
• Cast-aluminum lid and body
• Push-button ignition
• Comes fully assembled

What We Like

Unlike other grill makers that release new models every time, Weber decided to update and redesign its previous best-seller, the Q100 propane grill. Now, the Weber Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill promises new and better features and specs, and, remarkably, Weber didn’t disappoint.

This redesigned grill features the same beautiful and expensive-looking design that Weber grills are well-known for, designed to be showstoppers. It’s sleek, modern, and well-made using Aluminum and stainless steel materials for a durable and long-lasting build.

Weber gave this grill a stainless steel burner, cast-aluminum body, lid, and porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates. Everything about the material and construction screens functionality and efficiency, but without compromising aesthetics. Also, these materials are easy to clean and maintain, which is always a plus for grills.

In terms of cooking performance, this grill can deliver up to 8,500 total BTU. It may not sound much but is more than enough, considering that the grill only has one burner.

The 189 square inch cooking space is also pretty decent for a portable grill, providing enough room to simultaneously cook six steaks. Plus, the grill is efficient in providing a steady heat to keep the food well-done on both sides, especially with the cast-iron grate that retains heat efficiently.

What Can Be Improved?

The Weber Q1000 is an absolute level-up from the Q100 model, a larger and more capable grill, although it’s still smaller than most models.

This one is only ideal for trailer and home use when only cooking for a couple of people. While it’s a pretty decent portable grill, it can’t handle cooking for crowds.

Coleman Camp Propane Grill and Stove

Features:

• Material – Synthetic
• Total cooking area – 130 square inch
• BTU – 20,000
• 2-in-1 design (grill, stove)
• 2-independent temperature zones
• Removable grease management tray
• Wind block panels
• PerfectHeat and PerfectFlow technologies
• Non-skid feet

What We Like

Coleman is a well-known maker of top-quality stoves that doesn’t break the bank. The Coleman Camp Grill and Stove is an excellent example of that, a dedicated grilling station that is also pocket-friendly.

It boasts 2-in-1 functionality, an efficient grill/burner in a single portable machine. This grill and stove come with two burners that can deliver up to 20,000 BTC, enough to handle most outdoor cooking needs.

These burners feature Coleman’s innovative PerfectFlow and PerfectHeat technologies, making them fuel-efficient and cost-effective, ideal for outdoor use. They also come with independently adjustable dials for more precise control of the heat. With the PerfectFlow technology, this grill boasts steady heat for efficiency when cooking favorite barbecue meals.

The grill’s 130 square inches cooking space is enough to handle a cooking spree for a small family or friend group. A 10-inch pan can fit on the stove without problems. Also, there’s an efficient windshield in all three sides of the burner, perfect for blocking the wind when cooking outdoors.

Besides its cooking capacity, this grill is also appealing because of its sleek look, visible through its high-quality materials, making it long-lasting.

The design also makes this griller convenient to clean and maintain, especially with the removable grease tray. The non-skid feet also add security and safety when using it on top of tables.

What Can Be Improved?

This grill is ready for transport once the lid or wind block panel gets shut. However, the locking latch is a bit flimsy and tends to accidentally open on its own, damaging the grill when unattended.

Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill

Features:

• Material – Stainless steel
• Total cooking area – 285 square inch
• BTU – 20,000
• 3-adjustable burners
• Swaptop interchange cooktop; use grate or griddle
• Push-button ignition
• Integrated built-in thermometer
• Sturdy quick-fold legs
• Stainless steel inserts
• Side shelves
• Lockable lid
• Two durable side tables

What We Like

This one from Coleman is a portable propane gas grill with three burners that can deliver up to 20,000 BTU. It offers maximum flexibility for a wide variety of cooking options, from seafood and vegetables to meats.

Portability is one of the apparent advantages of this grill against its competitors. Besides its compact and space-saving design, the Coleman Roadtrip 285 is also lightweight, even with foldable legs and two wheels. The combination of collapsible legs and wheels allow this grill to fit in narrow spaces like the back of the car when going camping or picnic.

Despite its pretty small size, the Coleman Roadtrip provides impressively decent cooking space for small family and friends. It has 285 square inch grilling space and features a Swaptop interchangeable cooktop, for swift change between a griddle and grate. Besides that, there are also two side tables, a remarkable addition for such a compact grill.

Another lovable feature of the Coleman Roadtrip is its easy-to-clean surface, stainless steel burner, and porcelain enamel grates. The C-shaped 3-burner setup also makes the grill’s grease management more efficient.

Plus, this grill is relatively ready for cooking right out of the box, with no complicated initial setup. It will only take ten to 15 minutes to get this portable grill set up and ready for its first barbecue party.

What Can Be Improved?

This grill is extremely portable, ideal for bringing anywhere like the beach or park for a fun barbecue outing with family and friends. The locking latch helps keep everything intact during transport, but it’s a bit flimsy compared to other grill parts.

Char-Broil Performance 4-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill

Features:

• Material – Stainless steel
• Total cooking area – 425 square inch
• BTU – 36,000
• Grill and 10,000 BTU side burner
• Removable porcelain-coated grease pan
• 4-stainless steel burners
• Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates
• 2-side shelves
• 150-inches swing-away warming rack
• Lid-mounted temperature gauge

What We Like

The best propane grill doesn’t have to be super expensive, even from a famous grill maker. Many models provide excellent value for an affordable price tag like the Char-Broil Performance Cart-Style Gas Grill.

This griller boasts an appealing stainless steel finish that is both stylish and durable against all weather conditions. It’s both flashy and functional, a remarkable addition to any patio backyard. It also has a porcelain coated grease pan for hassle-free cleaning and maintenance.

It’s a medium-sized gas grill with several remarkable features like four burners and an expansive 425 square inch cooking surface. It has enough grilling space to cook up to 20 burgers simultaneously. The grill also doesn’t have an issue reaching high temperatures, delivering up to 36,000 BTU.

Overall, it’s an excellent propane grill for barbecue weekends with family and friends, ideal for grilling meals fit for the crowd. If the griller doesn’t have enough room to cook burgers, there’s always the side burner that can deliver up to 10,000 BTU. There is also a swing-away rack, a built-in temperature gauge, and two convenient shelves.

Another appealing feature of this cart-style gas grill is its reliably steady ignition system for a fast and hassle-free startup. It also comes with impressive mobility, thanks to its two 7-inch wheels. It’s an affordable, efficient burner for every backyard party at home.

What Can Be Improved?

The grill’s stainless steel finish is sleek and stylish, but it’s thin and fragile, most likely to rust and dent. It would also be much better if the burner comes with a fuel gauge to check fuel levels quickly.

Mega Master 820-0065C Propane Gas Grill

Features:

• Material – Porcelain, Stainless steel
• Total cooking area – 360 square inch
• BTU – 11,000
• One stainless steel burner
• Piezo push-button ignition
• Porcelain-enameled cooking grate
• 20-inches firebox
• Compact tabletop grill design with secure lock lid
• Rectangular built-in temperature gauge
• Foldable legs

What We Like

Gas grills are not all those massive models ideal for patios and backyard gardens. Some are portable and perfect for use inside the house or a trailer, like the Mega Master 820-0065C Gas Grill. Plus, the brand is well-known for creating highly engineered and powerful grills, and this model is no different.

This portable grill features an extensive 360 square feet cooking area, impressive, especially as it looks small upfront, ideal for making quality foodstuff for the entire family. It can also deliver high heating intensity for such a small grill, delivering up to 11,000 BTU to cook food in bulk.

Design-wise, this tabletop grill offers a trustworthy cooking area, with one burner made of stainless steel and a reliable Piezo push-button ignition. The stainless steel frame also provides durability assurance, especially with its substantial body extensions.

The foldable legs also make this grill ultra-portable and space-saving when not in use. It’s also lighter than other propane gas grills, and at 14.42 pounds, it’s easy to carry around.

This portable grill is recommendable for people looking for the best propane grill under 500 that is ideal for camping, trailers, or homes. It boasts immense quality without breaking the bank, designed with sophistication inside and out.

What Can Be Improved?

Overall, the design of this tabletop grill is pretty impressive. It looks robust and well-engineered using quality and reliable materials, except for the handle. It’s a bit flimsy, especially considering the weight of the grill.

Also, the regulator can be a bit defective at times, which Mega Master could improve a lot of more seamless operation.

Types of Gas Grills and Stoves

Gas grills use liquid propane, which is efficient in fuel consumption and provides optimal heat temperatures faster than other grill types. It’s among the reasons why gas grills are some of the best sellers.

There are many types of gas grills available to buy, and it’s essential to find out what’s available for a better-informed purchase.

Natural Gas Grills

This type of gas grill uses power from hydrocarbon-based fuels from the gas pipeline used inside the house. They’ve become more prevalent in recent years for their advantages, including functionality, speed, and efficiency.

Infrared Gas Grills

This type of gas grill can either use natural gas or liquid propane, depending on the grill brand and model. The only difference is how it cooks or grills the food by a heated ceramic tile. Infrared gas grills allow preparing foods from veggies, fish, steaks, and burgers like in a traditional gas grill.

Built-in Gas Grills

Built-in gas grills have the advantage of being smaller and space-saving than traditional full-sized gas grills. This type of grill usually comes with a stand to sit on top of an island, suitable for barbecue fanatics with limited kitchen space.

Freestanding Gas Grills

This gas grill is the most portable, a significant advantage over the traditional bulky and heavy grilling stations.

Freestanding grills are mobile and can move around the yard or transport to the beach or park. It’s like a high-powered microwave but designed for maximum convenience for outdoor use.

Features to Look for in the Best Propane Grill

Propane gas grills provide maximum convenience to get that barbecue party started anytime and anywhere. However, not all of them are the same, and choosing the best propane grill under 500 should cover a few essential features.

Size and Cooking Surface

One of the primary considerations when buying a grill is the size. There are full-sized gas grills while other models are compact and can sit atop tables and counters. It should depend on personal preference and available space.

It’s also critical to consider the grill’s total cooking surface, usually measured in square inches. Those with 400 to 500 square-inch areas are typically sufficient to cook for larger gatherings, with enough space to grill 20 to 24 steaks.

Meanwhile, a 100 to 200 square-inch cooking surface can grill six to ten burgers simultaneously, ideal for small families and friend groups.

Number of Burners

Another feature to consider is the number of burners. Again, it will primarily depend on whether grilling food for a crowd or a couple of people.

A single-burner grill is often enough to cook for 2 to 4 people, but 3 to 4 burners are better for larger groups. Also, it’s worth noting that grills can get expensive the many burners they have.

BTUs

To purchase the best affordable grill, the BTU is another feature that should be on the top of the checklist. It indicates the grill’s gas output and the amount of heat it can deliver, or the power it can create.

However, higher BTU ratings don’t necessarily make one the best grill. It’s essential to keep in mind that grills and stoves with several burners or a wider cooking surface will need a higher BTU to be efficient.

The key here is to choose a high BTU rating based on the number of burners or the grill’s overall cooking surface.

Easy to Clean Surface

Grills are susceptible to grease after some time, and they can be challenging to clean. However, some models are not only functional but designed to be hassle-free to clean and maintain.

Look for the grease pans, and if they are removable, they will be much easier to wash. Grill surfaces made of polished aluminum and porcelain grates also offer easy-to-clean solutions.

Portability

The best thing about barbecue parties is they don’t always have to be inside the house. They can be held in the garden, the park, the beach, or while camping. Fixed grills in the backyard are fine, but much better if they are portable, bringing the party anywhere.

Most gas grillers nowadays are more portable, usually with two or for wheels for added mobility.

Extra Features

Even the best propane grill under 500 has some extra features that make it worth buying. For example, it can have a side burner or 2, providing extra cooking space to cater to more people.

Some models will also feature side tables for additional areas to prepare food, warming racks, and even shelves to keep some grilling items intact.

Built-in temperature monitors are also fantastic to have in a grill, including wind block panels.

Conclusion

The Weber Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill offers excellent value for the money, a fuel-efficient grill with a decent grilling surface. It’s a functional and portable grill that also looks stylish with a long-lasting build.

Choosing the best propane grill under 500 is no easy task, but shouldn’t be impossible when considering factors like size and type of grill, BTU, and design features.

Last update on 2024-06-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API