4 Best Mini Charcoal Grills for Easy and Affordable Outdoor Cooking

This guide will help narrow down the best mini charcoal grill options within your budget that fit your needs. Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of mini charcoal grills on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for grilling in a small space (like a balcony or table) or a lightweight camping grill, a good mini charcoal grill is a great addition to your cooking collection, we’ve got just what you need. Let’s get grilling!

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1. Fire Sense 60508 Notebook Charcoal Grill

If you’re looking for the best portable charcoal grill with a minimalist design that can go anywhere and do anything, then you’ve found it. The Fire Sense 60508 Notebook Charcoal Grill is the perfect accessory for any outdoor enthusiast – whether camping, tailgating, or picnicking. This portable charcoal BBQ grill comes with a charcoal rack and grill rack to create an authentic barbecue experience anywhere. With a high heat-resistant painted steel construction and foldable design, this mini grill will be your new best friend when cooking outdoors! It is easy to carry in ways that not even a portable gas grill is.

2. Cuisinart CCG190RB Inch Portable BBQ Charcoal Grill

This portable charcoal grill features 150 square inches of cooking space, dual vents for temperature control, three secure lid locks for safe transport, an enamel-coated firebox, and an ash catcher to keep your food clean. The Cuisinart CCG190RB Inch Portable BBQ Charcoal Grill is perfect for balconies or decks as well as camping trips or tailgates. It also makes a great gift idea!

3. Samdray Charcoal Grill Kabob Grill Portable Grill

If you’re in the market for a quality, portable charcoal grill, the Samdray Charcoal Grill Kabob Grill Portable Grill is a great option. Made of thick stainless steel, this grill is durable and easy to clean. The foldable design makes it easy to assemble and use immediately, while the removable charcoal mesh and mess-free ash catcher make it a breeze to keep clean. With its large cooking surface and air ventilation design, this mini charcoal grill is perfect for outdoor family barbecue gatherings.

4. Primst Multifunctional Charcoal Barbecue Grill

The Primst Multifunctional Charcoal Barbecue Grill is a Korean-style mini charcoal grill that is perfect for traditional barbecue, but also for roasting vegetables or even making soup. It is made of stainless steel and has a detachable handle so you can carry it easily while camping or when traveling.

How To Choose The Best Mini Charcoal Grill

Portable charcoal grills are not a huge expense, and they are fairly basic technology. That said, you want a quality grill that fits your use. Here are a few things to look for.

Overall Size & Design

How big do you want it? Do you care if the lid overlaps the body, or does it need to be a perfect fit? What’s your cooking style – boiling, simmering, charcoal grilling on low heat? Some simple designs feature no legs and sit on top of a table. Others have fold-up side shelves and overhanging lids. Some are taller and others are wider. The larger the grill, the more likely you are to get hot spots in your cooking, but also the more fuel capacity you have available.

More heat is not always better! In fact, for limited uses, you could look at disposable charcoal grills. That said, most people find that a grill of around 11-12″ x 13-14″ is a good size. A 12″ x 16″ grill is only slightly larger, but it does increase the available space for grilling or cooking.

Most people prefer an all-in-one design that includes the cooking grate(s), charcoal catch pan, and ash catcher. That said, some prefer to have different components so they can combine a grate and pan with a separate ash catcher.

Size of the Cooking Grate

A cooking grate is what you will grill on, and it needs to be sized appropriately for your use. The smaller the food you’ll be grilling, the smaller the cooking area you want. You may also prefer a grate with more or less slats. For steak and vegetables, you may want a grate with wider slats so the food doesn’t fall through. For smaller items like hamburgers (well seasoned, I hope!) or fish fillets, more widely-spaced slats work better. Also, note that the cooking grates on most grills are replaceable if they don’t come large enough for your needs.

The Grill Grate

Not all grates are created equal. Look for quality materials, sturdy construction, and ideally lifetime guarantees against warping or rusting. Some cheap grills use thin stamped metal or coated steel that won’t last long or retain heat well. You can find decent grills for less than $25; these often come with one cooking grate (and sometimes an ash catcher). Prices usually go up from there, though the materials and build quality increase as well for the best grill options.

The Charcoal Catch Pan

A charcoal catch pan can be a big tray or bowl to hold the ashes when you lift out the cooking grates for cleaning or a more complex design with two trays. The most important thing is to make sure it’s large enough to hold all the ashes, but also easy to remove or flip out of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cook on a mini charcoal grill?

You can cook on a mini charcoal grill in several ways. The most common way is to use the grill rack to cook food directly over the heat. You can also use an indirect cooking method by placing the food to be cooked in an oven-safe dish and placing that dish on the grill rack, away from the direct heat. Another way to cook on a mini charcoal grill is to use the smoker box. The smoker box is filled with wood chips or pellets and placed next to the coals. This will produce smoke and add a smoky flavor to your food.

How much charcoal do you need for a mini grill?

For a mini grill, you’ll need about 10-15 coals. A mini bag from the grocery store should last for a couple of grill sessions at least.

How do you put out a charcoal grill?

You’ll need to let the charcoal burn down to ash, then dispose of the ash. Never throw away hot ash. In an urgent situation, you can also pour sand or water, though you’ll end up with quite a mess.

How do you clean a small charcoal grill?

To clean your small charcoal grill, use an old brush to scrub the cooking grate with some steel wool or a wire scrubber. You can also use a damp cloth with soap and water to wipe down the grates while removing any leftover food particles.

How do you start a charcoal grill?

Most charcoals are very flammable, so you’ll usually only need a match or lighter for ignition. The flames should spread on their own. For raw charcoal (i.e., not manufactured & bagged like Kingsford charcoal), you might need some lighter fluid to catch a flame. A small charcoal grill is designed for quick and successful grilling. The small amount of charcoal ensures a shorter burn time and better flavor than if it were doubled or tripled in size – so technically speaking, one bag could last you a while!