Rather than choose between gas and charcoal, you can get the best of both worlds with a dual-fuel grill. A hybrid grill is a great choice when you want to mix up your outdoor cooking from time to time, and it saves you from having to purchase two different products.
So, we researched dozens of products to help you find the hybrid grill smoker that’s as high in quality as it is convenient. Take a look at our top picks below.
Best Hybrid Grills
1. Pit Boss PB1230G Wood Pellet and Gas Combo Grill
The PB1230G from Pit Boss is a versatile 8-in-1 combo grill that takes the of wood pellet grills and gas grills. There’s a spacious cooking surface to serve up multiple food items, and an option to easily cook with direct or indirect heat.
With this setup, you can choose to char-grill, roast, bake, grill, sear, braise, smoke, and barbecue. Further features include two meat probes, built-in tool hooks, a folding front shelf, and a high-temperature powder coat finish for longevity.
As a gas and pellet grill, consumers seem to like just how many different ways you can cook on it. They praise the spacious cooking area too in addition to enjoying the user-friendly layout such as the folding front shelf and area to hang tools from.
On the complaint side of things, some users reported rust issues after a short time.
Features
- 1261sqin cooking surface
- 16lb hopper capacity
- 180°F-500°F temperature range
- Dial-in digital control | LED readout
- Slide-plate flame broiler
- 2 stainless steel meat probes
Pros
- Versatile cooking methods
- Foldable prep area
- Plenty of room to cook different foods at once
Cons
- It May begin to rust after little use
2. Char-Griller Dual Function Gas/Charcoal Grill
The Char-Griller Dual Function Gas/Charcoal Grill is a robust combo grill that is designed with dual smokestacks to encourage consistent cooking with even heat distribution. With the electronic ignition, it’s quick and easy to get started.
Its adjustable grates allow for versatility in what you can cook, and thanks to the stay-cool handles, you’re kept safe as you check on your food throughout.
When used as a gas grill, several consumers noted that it heats up rather fast so you can start cooking sooner. Many feel it is the charcoal gas grill combination with an easily adjustable grate system that gives you more freedom to cook different types of food.
Some did say that they feel when using the charcoal grill, it doesn’t seal well enough for you to cook low and slow.
Features
- 1018sqin total cooking surface
- Adjustable fire grate
- 40,800 BTUs
- Stainless steel heat gauge
- Dual smokestacks
- Electronic ignition
Pros
- Fast heat-up process
- Stay-cool handles for safety
- Even cooking
Cons
- Could have a tighter seal for charcoal cooking
3. Dual Fuel Combination Charcoal/Gas Grill
The Dual Fuel Combination Charcoal/Gas Grill is a straightforward, affordable product that features integrated ignition for all three burners for easier use. There’s a quality amount of cooking and warming space when gearing up to serve a party.
With porcelain-coated heat plates, flare-ups are reduced. Also, you get immediate access to the charcoal thanks to the front access door. This also features integrated tool holders, two side shelves, a bottle opener, and two temperature gauges.
Consumers place this high among the combination grills thanks to how convenient it is to use beyond the versatile cooking areas. There’s plenty of space for prep and hanging up a collection of tools. For cooking, users appreciated how easily you can move the charcoal closer or further from the grates.
Some did feel that the cooking space could be larger, more so if you’re cooking for a group of people. Also, others mentioned that the slide-out drip pans could be made of higher-quality material.
Features
- 557sqin cooking space | 188sqin warming rack
- Gas-powered side burner | 12,000 BTUs
- 3-stainless steel burners | 24,000 BTUs
- Height-adjustable charcoal tray
- 2 spacious side shelves
- Cast iron cooking grids
Pros
- The quality adjustable charcoal tray
- Powerful burners
- A good amount of prep and storage space
Cons
- Not enough cooking surface
4. Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo
The Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn is a high-capacity grill and smoker combo. Its multipurpose design features a chamber for gas and charcoal as well as an attached offset firebox. The adjustable dampers help regulate the heat and smoke for versatile and even cooking.
There’s spacious storage space underneath the cooking area to hold different utensils and additional fuel if need be. For your safety, the combo grill and smoker have firm, cool-touch handles.
Several consumers praise the combo smoker and grill for its heavy-duty construction. They claim the gas side does well at distributing heat evenly. Also, they mention that the smoker side easily feeds into the charcoal side for consistency too.
Despite how well the heat and smoke were distributed, some consumers noted issues with the temperature gauges. They believe it isn’t accurate. Also, regardless of the well-built body, they mention the wheels could be designed better.
Features
- 750sqin primary cooking space | 310sqin secondary cooking space
- Multiple adjustable dampers
- 3-burner gas chamber each with 12,000 BTUs
- Porcelain-coated cast iron grates
- Lid-mounted temperature gauges
- Firebox access door
Pros
- Easy to adjust the dampers
- Heat distributes well
- A good deal of storage space
Cons
- Temperature gauges aren’t completely accurate
What to Look for When Buying
Deciding on which combo grill is best for your outdoor cooking needs can be a hassle when so many of them offer the same thing. Even with our list, we understand how difficult it can be to settle on just one.
So, we created a brief guide that addresses some key features to look for when shopping for hybrid outdoor grills. This way, you should be able to narrow down your choice.
Cooking Space
One of the most important considerations to think about when shopping for a hybrid grill is the cooking area. Are you planning on feeding a lot of people or will your grill mainly be used for smaller, family-centered cooking?
Depending on the answer, you may require a grill with more or less cooking space. Sometimes, it may be ideal to go for one with more than 800sqin worth of primary cooking surface room as that leaves you more breathing space to cook a variety of items.
Also, check if there is a secondary cooking space or warming area. This further makes the grill convenient if you’re preparing food for multiple people.
Power Output
The power behind a grill is measured using BTUs. Generally, if the number is high, then the grill can put out quite a deal of power for more effective cooking.
However, you want to see if the number is rated for the entire grill or per burner. If a high number is broken down according to each burner, it may not be as strong as you need it to be.
Construction Quality
As with any grill, the construction quality is a great determiner of whether or not it will last you through multiple, frequent cooking sessions as well as seasonal changes.
You’ll want to look for a grill with a robust body, but it also helps if it features quality wheels so you can move it out of the way as needed.
With that said, check if it features a heat-resistant powder coating as that can ensure it won’t rust or the paint won’t chip away.
User-Friendly Design
When we talk about a user-friendly hybrid grill, we think of something that doesn’t take too much effort to use. Cool-touch handles, built-in temperature gauges, and a good amount of storage space are strong indicators of something that won’t be a hassle to cook with.
It should also be straightforward enough to control the temperature via dampers for heat and smoking if that is an option. This way, you’ll have a better chance of getting even cooking.
FAQ
How does a multi-fuel grill work?When it comes to a dual-fuel grill, the fuel sources are generally separated by different cooking chambers. Others offer a seamless way to switch between the two using removable grates where you can add in or remove the charcoal. Some even provide a means to light the coal using gas rather than an alternative source.
How many burners should a hybrid grill have?A good majority of hybrid grills feature a 3-burner design as this provides an ample amount of power to support the dual design. Some offer an additional burner if there is a secondary cooking surface that may or may not be just as powerful as the main burners.
How much cooking surface is necessary?Consider the cooking surface of a grill based on your intended uses. More space means more room to cook larger quantities of versatile food at the same. Perhaps opt for grills with primary and secondary (or warming) areas to give you more room to cook and keep other food warm all at once.
Making the Decision
From our top six options, we feel that the Pit Boss is the dual-fuel outdoor grill. Both sides offer an adequate amount of cooking space, and the 3-burners offer an ideal amount of power.
The grill also does well at distributing the heat, and the multiple dampers make it simple for you to control it throughout your cooking process. Maintaining the PB1230G is also a straightforward task thanks to the easy-to-clean grates that wipe down well and don’t generally cause food to stick.
With reliable wheels and lockable castors, the grill is simple to move around if you need to. Nevertheless of our top pick, feel free to consider all of our options to see which hybrid grill is the right choice for your outdoor cooking needs.
