We had a little party with a couple of pro chefs and a BBQ champ. What we wanted to know is how to find a great grill for home without spending a bunch of money.
We wanted to find the most dependable and useful grills that can sear meat without it sticking to the grates. We also wanted those grills to last for years. Anything with a history of problems or bad reviews was cast out.
We were left with five of the grills under $1000. And now we want to show them to you. Let’s pick these grills apart.
Pay attention to the features to find what works best for you. What customers say will give you a good idea of what others think of it, and the pros and cons will tell you the good and bad at a glance.
Best Natural Gas Grills under $1000:
1. Weber Genesis II E-330 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill
This Weber is the gas barbeque for under $1000 for people with the necessary accessories. It doesn’t come with any. But there are some cool ones available.
The iGrill3 is a Bluetooth probe thermometer station that mounts to the grill’s exterior and sends the temps of up to four cuts of meat right to your smartphone.
It’ll cook 20 burgers or several steaks while simmering some beans or sauce on the side burner. It’ll even quickly sear the meat over the special 9,000 BTU sear station.
Most buyers of this grill are repeat Weber customers. They came back for the quality. They talk about the great heat that sears so well. The side burner is a big hit, too.
Features
- 330 square inches of stainless steel cooking grate is big enough for 20 burgers
- 39,000 BTU main cooking area and 12,000 BTU side burner provide a lot of cooking heat
- The side burner can support 25 pounds and is good for sauces and skillet frying
- Upper rack toasts buns and keeps food warm
- Electronic ignition
- Stainless steel hood and body
- Unfortunately, no accessories are included
- An insulated grill cover costs an extra $80
- 10-year warranty
Pros
- Nice and hot
- Has toasting/warming rack
- Searing section
- Side burner
- Bluetooth compatible
Cons
- Doesn’t come with any accessories
2. Napoleon Rogue XT 425 SIB NG Grill
The star of this grill is the reversible porcelain-coated cooking grate. One side is a standard grate that puts nice dark sear marks on the meat. The other side has a deep groove that catches and holds juices for really moist meat.
The burners have special coverings, called flame tamers, that vaporize drippings before they hit the burner to minimize flare-ups. Due to its special porcelain enamel coating and 15-year warranty, this is the natural gas grill for anyone concerned with durability.
Folks feel like they got good value for their money with this grill. People who’ve had one for many years say that it holds up outdoors well, even when neglected. Those who are particular about their food like the flexibility of deep sear marks or very moist meat.
Features
- 425 square inches is plenty for 24 burgers or five large T-bones
- Porcelain-coated cast iron grid makes deep sear marks
- Three main burners and one side burner total 51,000 BTUs for high-heat cooking
- An infrared side burner can quickly heat and simmer sauces
- The warming tray brings the total cooking area up to almost 650 square inches
- Porcelain enamel lid and body stand up to all weather conditions
- The battery-free ignition system is fail-safe
- No accessories included
- 15-year warranty
Pros
- Big cooking area
- Reversible grate
- Durable
- Infrared cooking capabilities
Cons
- No accessories included
3. Broil King Sovereign 90
Stainless steel, zinc, and aluminum are all used in the right places to make this grill highly functional and durable. The grates and burners are steel for long life.
The cook box is aluminum, which makes for even closed-lid cooking and quick cool-downs after the cooking is done. It’ll handle all the cooking needed for a neighborhood barbeque, and it’ll do it season after season for years. The industry-leading warranty guarantees that.
It’s expandable with an iron griddle for all kinds of cooking and a rotisserie for the juiciest chicken and turkey.
Many have bought the rotisserie attachment for evenly cooking poultry. They love it. It adds a new dimension to grilling. But almost everyone does traditional grilling on it as well.
The main complaint is that the warming tray is so large that it gets in the way sometimes. Another drawback is the difficult assembly.
Features
- 450 square inches of primary 9mm stainless steel grate plus 275 square inch warming tray makes an impressive 725 inches of total cooking area
- Three main burners make 44,000 BTUs for even cooking
- 10,000 BTU side and 15,000 rear burners for sizzling veggies and cooking with the optional rotisserie kit
- The electronic ignition system is dependable
- Fold-down shelves offer extra convenience
- Zinc-coated steel exterior and frame will last for years with proper care
- The aluminum cook box helps the unit cool down quickly after use
- Limited lifetime warranty on the cook box, 10 years on burners, and two years on remaining parts and labor
Pros
- Great warranty
- Durable construction
- Cools down quickly after use
- Rotisserie and griddle accessories are available
Cons
- Complicated assembly and vague instructions
4. Dyna-Glo Premier 5-Burner
This could be the stainless steel gas grill under $1000 for you if you want a high level of heat and don’t mind going through a lot of gas to get it. It has five main burners that will cook up to 30 burgers at a time. The side burner will simmer sauces, and it gets hot enough to boil and pan-fry with no problem.
The stainless steel lid and body look good. It’s easy to clean as well. But you may get a lot of flare-ups from grease. The only thing keeping grease from hitting the burners are steel plates welded at an angle, and that angle can run the grease right to the burner.
There have been some complaints about gas usage. With all five main burners and the side range going, it can suck up some gas. There have also been some reports of flare-ups.
That can happen with any grill, but it is more common with the “A-frame” flame tamers like this grill has. It’s mostly an inconvenience. Aside from those two gripes, people are really happy with it. The big attraction is all that cooking space and even heat.
Features
- 552 square inch primary cooking area blazes with 60,000 BTUs
- Five steel tube burners push even heat from middle to sides
- The secondary cooking tray ups the total cooking area to over 750 square inches
- The side burner offers 12,000 BTUs for side dishes, beans, and sauces
- Porcelain-coated steel cooking grate makes a perfect sear and is easy to clean
- Stainless steel lid, frame, and cabinet doors stand up to regular use
- Two steel shelves for holding accessories and food
- Five-year warranty
Pros
- A ton of cooking area
- Five burners for even heat
- Easy to clean
- Good price
Cons
- Excessive flare-ups
- High rate of gas usage
5. Weber Spirit S-315 NG
Not everyone needs to cook a million burgers at once. Think of the gas that would take, anyway. This one is just big enough for the average family.
That smaller size means quicker heating and less gas consumption. You can even get the rotisserie attachment for it. And though smallish, this grill is just big enough to rotisserie a large turkey at Thanksgiving.
Weber has a lot of return customers. Most of the brags are the same. People love the dependability, durability, style, and function. People who need a good mid-sized grill really like this one.
Features
- 424 inches of cooking area will handle about 26 burgers
- 32000 BTUs offer the perfect balance of heat and gas efficiency
- Porcelain-coated steel cooking grate is easy to clean and very sturdy
- A warming tray can also toast buns
- Dependable electronic ignition
- Full stainless construction
- Porcelain enamel exterior lasts through many seasons without scratching and peeling
- Two integrated shelves and utensil hooks
- 10-year warranty
Pros
- Energy efficient
- Durable
- Food doesn’t stick easily to grate
- Nice enamel finish
Cons
- A bit pricey for a mid-sized Weber
Factors To Consider
Keep these things in mind while you’re making your decision, and you’re sure to make a winning choice.
Cooking Area
This is crucial. If you get a grill with too little cooking area, you’re going to have to cook your food in batches.
The first off will get cold while everyone is waiting for the rest of the meal. If you get one that’s too big, you’ll be wasting gas.
Natural gas isn’t as cheap as it once was, and chances are that it’s going to get more expensive. Pro grillers talk about burger space.
That’s how they relate to the size of a grill. A 350-square-inch grill will do about 20 to 22 burgers. 450 inches will give you 24 to 26. Big 550 square inch can handle 30.
And we’re talking about 4-inch burgers here. It gives you a good idea of what other kind of food you can fit on the cooking grate. Get the right size.
BTUs
A lot of people get confused here. Relax, it’s not an exact science. A BTU is a measure of thermal energy. The higher the number, the more heat the grill puts out. Bigger have a larger cooking area, thus they need more BTUs. Smaller could get away with less.
So what should you look for? Smaller in the 350 square inch cooking area range should give you a minimum of 30,000.
More is OK because you can always turn the burners down if it gets too hot.
Larger with around 450 square inches of cooking area should boast at least 40,000 BTUs.
The biggest home natural grills under $1000 with a cooking space of 550 inches or more need at least 50,000.
Understand Cooking Grates
Cooking grates are made of different materials. Know the difference so you know what you’re getting. The BBQ grills feature non-stick grates, and they come in three basic varieties. We’ll go over them here.
Cast iron grill grates are only non-stick if they are properly seasoned. You season them by coating them with oil and heating them for a couple of hours. But they last forever.
All you have to do is re-season them occasionally. If you get a dependable grill and plan to keep it for the rest of your life, you may well want to get one with an iron grate.
Stainless steel grates are highly resistant to rust. They must be cleaned well and oiled before each use, but they put an awesome sear on meats. You can save some money by getting a grill with a stainless steel grate.
Porcelain-coated steel grates are top-of-the-line. They are highly resistant to sticking, and they only rust if they are severely chipped. Spend the extra money if sticking meats frustrates you.
Available Accessories
A pitifully small number of grills come with any accessories nowadays. But you don’t need spatulas, tongs, and scrapers, do you? You probably already have them. If not, they’re affordable.
What you should look for is the cool accessories you can get, if you want them. Griddles fit over the grate and let you fry pancakes, eggs, bacon, and anything else you would normally cook in a pan or on a griddle. Rotisseries let you slowly and evenly roast cuts of meat or poultry to perfection.
Side burners come on some grills, and they’re great for cooking soup, sauces, or side dishes while your meat and veggies grill. They add a lot of flexibility to the grill.
Check out the things you can get to make your grill even more versatile and flexible.
Conclusion
The Weber Genesis II E-330 is a great mid-sized grill. It’s dependable, durable, and has all the features that grillers look for. It’s got a lot of heat to go around, and it’s easy to clean up afterward. And the price is right. That’s why it’s our top pick.
If you need a huge grill with a ton of heat, check out the Dyna-Glo Premier. It has five burners and just over 550 inches of cooking area, just in case you want to cook for a big party.
Each of the other three we think is top-tier is a champ in their own right. We wouldn’t steer you wrong.
Now that you’ve seen the gas grills under $1000 dollars, you can go ahead and get yours. You can almost hear the steaks sizzling now, can’t you?
