9 Best Outdoor Griddles for Burgers, Breakfast, and More
Use a versatile outdoor griddle to cook everything from hamburgers and hot dogs to eggs and pancakes.
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A flat-top griddle does things a standard grill simply can't: smash burgers with crispy edges, fried rice that actually fries (and doesn't fall through the grates!) and breakfast for a crowd, including items like eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, and more.
Our top picks:
- Best overall: Pit Boss 4-Burner Griddle with Folding Shelves
- Best value: Nexgrill Daytona 4-Burner Griddle
- Best large: Blackstone 36-Inch Griddle with Hard Cover
I'm the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, and my team and I have tested more than 90 outdoor grills, including eight outdoor griddles. To create this list of the best outdoor griddles, we evaluated cooking performance, heat distribution, ease of use, and cleanup. We also incorporated long-term feedback from at-home testers to identify the models that deliver the best real-world performance.
Pros
- Four independently controlled burners for flexible zone cooking
- Included lid protects the cooktop between uses
- Four locking wheels for easy moving and stability
Cons
- One less burner than the previous model
This griddle replaces the older Pit Boss model we previously tested and is the closest match you can buy today. It has all the same features we liked, including four independently controlled stainless steel burners (previous model had five), 62,000 BTUs of cooking power, a roomy 37-by-20-inch cooking surface, and a simple push-and-turn ignition that doesn't need batteries.
The front grease trap sits in the same position as the previous model and is easy to monitor and empty. The folding side shelves have built-in tool hooks, and the bottom shelf spans the full width of the unit for storing ingredients and supplies while you cook. A dedicated lid protects the cooktop surface between cooks and doubles as a windscreen during cooking, a practical addition that helps on breezy days.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: On paper, it's nearly identical to the previous version, with the same cooking power, ignition system, and overall size, so we expect it to perform much the same.
| Length of cooktop | 37 in. |
| Cooking area | 753 sq. in. |
| Burners | 4 |
| BTUs | 62,000 |
Pros
- Many ease-of-use features, like a condiment caddy
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Location of drainage holes limits the size of the cooking space
Nexgrill's four-burner griddle offers solid performance and many ease-of-use features, all at a great price for the category. In our tests, this model did a good job of cooking a variety of foods, from eggs and pancakes to burgers and grilled cheese.
This pick has two grease-drainage holes—one on either side of the griddle—which make cleanup easy but limit cooking space a bit, since small foods can easily fall through. Both drip trays are accessible from the front of the unit.
The griddle has two side shelves equipped with one set of tool holders and a condiment caddy, two underrated and useful features. We also appreciate the storage and work area the shelves provide, as well as the inclusion of a stainless steel lid.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Kate Merker, our chief food director, tested this grill and said she particularly liked the griddle's size and that she could cook an assortment of food quickly and in one batch. She noted that ensuring your griddle is set up on a level surface is important because her eggs ran to one side during the test. A workaround is to use egg molds to keep whites contained.
Merker has been using the griddle for about two years now, and her go-to dinner items to cook on the griddle are hibachi-style fried rice and fajitas, which she noted are "great for a crowd, and I definitely get my show on." She also notes that she likes making breakfast, but when making pancakes, she has to avoid uneven spots; otherwise, the pancakes can look "a bit funny."
TAKE NOTE: As is common with many outdoor griddles, seasoning the griddle took time, according to our testers. This task was a pain point across the outdoor griddle category.
| Length of cooktop | 36 in. |
| Cooking area | 756 sq. in. |
| Burners | 4 |
| BTUs | 60,000 |
Pros
- Powerful
- Large cooking surface
- Loaded with handy features like tool holders, a paper towel holder, and bottle opener
Cons
- Frame material is sturdy but a little thin
For many cooks, Blackstone is synonymous with outdoor griddles. The model we tested is powerful, with a large, 769-square-inch cooktop. It has four burners, folding side shelves, and a bottom shelf, a magnetic tool holder, additional tool holders on the sides of the shelves, a paper towel holder and a bottle opener.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Bacon cooked up crispy, and we could gently cook eggs on the low setting with minimal sticking. While we cooked, we noticed that grease automatically pooled in the center back of the griddle, where the drainage hole is, which helped food brown more evenly, reduced smoking, and sped up cleanup. The griddle was also easy to season, but note that the steel's lighter hue means it will discolor over time.
TAKE NOTE: Overall, the frame is solid, but its material feels thin, and the lid on our sample arrived dented and is a little wobbly. It's designed to hang on the back of your griddle when not in use, but it doesn't lie flush against the back of the unit when the drip pan is in place.
| Length of cooktop | 36 in. |
| Cooking area | 769 sq. in. |
| Burners | 4 |
| BTUs | 60,000 |
Pros
- Built like a tank, with a heavy-duty feel right out of the box
- Hinged lid can be used during cooking
- Subtle smoky flavor
Cons
- Single cooking zone, so there's no way to shift food to a cooler side
- Took longer to reach high heat than gas griddles in this lineup
This is the only wood pellet griddle in our lineup, and it cooks differently from the gas models here. The 480-square-inch cooktop is heated by burning wood pellets from an 18-pound hopper rather than flames from a propane tank. (Hello, smoky flavor!) The temperature dial is large and easy to read in shadows or at night, but is tough to see in direct sunlight. One of my favorite features? The SmokeStone 480 can uniquely be used with the lid closed, which Recteq says improves heat retention and speeds up cook times. We found it useful for thicker foods that benefit from trapped heat, similar to how a cloche works on a standard griddle.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Assembly was straightforward, and the unit felt solid once built. Having a helping hand was definitely useful. We followed Recteq's seasoning instructions, which took about a half hour after the burn-in.
For our first cook, we started with bacon, then moved to eggs and steak. The griddle took longer to reach high heat than the gas models in this lineup, because the pellet heating mechanism works differently from a direct propane flame. The wood-fired flavor was present but subtle rather than pronounced, and a great addition for those who enjoy that taste.
TAKE NOTE: The grease drainage hole sits in the front right corner and runs smaller than on some competitors. A larger hole would cut into usable cooking surface, so it's a reasonable trade-off, but it takes some maneuvering to clean the griddle. The single burner also means no built-in low- and high-heat zones, so anyone who likes to push food to a cooler side while finishing something else will need to work around that.
| Length of cooktop | 27 in. |
| Cooking area | 480 sq. in. |
| Burners | 1 |
| BTUs | N/A |
Pros
- Burners light easily and heat up fast
- Dual heat zones let you sear on one side and keep food warm on the other
- Hinged lid locks closed for transport and can be used during cooking
Cons
- Small grease trap needs to be emptied after every cook
- Heavy enough that moving it may take two people
The Gridiron Gameday is built for people who want real flat-top cooking away from home, not a flimsy tabletop unit that wobbles at the tailgate. With 425 square inches of cooking space and two independent burners, it has enough room to feed a crowd. The two independent heat zones are one of its better features: you can sear smash burgers on one side while keeping finished food warm on the other without having to shuffle food around. The hinged lid locks in place during transport so the cooktop stays protected on the way there, and it can also be used in the closed position while cooking, which helps with thicker foods that need more time to cook through.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Assembly was straightforward for one person, and the griddle felt solid and heavy once built, as did the lid. The burners lit easily, and the surface got hot quickly. Camp Chef says the cooktop ships pre-seasoned, but we still did a full burn-in followed by four coats of avocado oil before cooking. Sausages and smash burgers both turned out great.
TAKE NOTE: The grease trap sits at the front left corner and slides out easily for cleaning, but it's small enough that you'll want to empty it after every cook. The griddle can pick up grease on its exterior during a session, so wipe it down before loading it back into a vehicle. One standard propane bottle may not be enough if you're cooking for a large group, so bring a spare.
| Length of cooktop | 24 in. |
| Cooking area | 425 sq. in. |
| Burners | 2 |
| BTUs | 24,000 |
Pros
- Premium design
- Has large, oversized shelves and a contained grease collector
Cons
- AC power required to access flame and propane level sensors.
Though this outdoor griddle is the priciest on our list, it stands out for being the sturdiest and most feature-rich, making it easy to use. One tester who helped put the griddle together commented that it felt premium right out of the box. It has a slick, easy-to-clean exterior, large oversize folding shelves, a hinged lid, and handles on either side. Its cooking surface is smaller than the others we tested but still offers plenty of room.
Unlike many other outdoor griddles, the cooktop is recessed, i.e., it sits inside the unit's frame right above its three U-shaped burners. The design is intended to make it better at evenly distributing heat than its competitors, which situate the griddle atop the burners—with room between the cooktop and frame—and are susceptible to wind.
This model has one of the largest rectangular drainage holes we tested; it's located on the front center of the griddle. The hole directs the grease below into a large, enclosed container with an oversize handle that helps it slide in and out easily. The container can be lined with disposable trays that the brand sells for easy cleanup. You can also buy additional accessories for the frame to hold your tools or paper towels.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: We cooked all sorts of food with no trouble. Eggs cooked up great, as did veggies and steaks. The cooktop got nice and hot but never burned our food, and it wasn't too hot to work with.
TAKE NOTE: One unique detail about this griddle is that the ignition is electric and needs to be plugged in or powered by a battery to turn on. When plugged in, the griddle features flame and fuel sensors that confirm which burners are on and how much propane you have in the tank.
| Length of cooktop | 33 in. |
| Cooking area | 594 sq. in. |
| Burners | 3 |
| BTUs | Not provided |
Pros
- Preseasoned surface
- Burners light easily and heat evenly
- Excellent storage
Cons
- Shelves don't fold down
The Weber comes preseasoned, so you're making breakfast the day it arrives, not babying a surface for a week first. Three independent burners mean you can run a hot zone for searing and a low zone for keeping food warm at the same time, and a built-in thermometer takes the guesswork out of reaching the right temperature. The large storage cabinets underneath keep cooking utensils and cleaning accessories hidden and protected.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Our testers ran it through real cooking, not just a quick heat check. The burners fired up fast and stayed even. Steaks and vegetables both picked up a solid sear. Grease drains out through the front corner, so cleanup doesn't turn into a project.
TAKE NOTE: The one trade-off is size. The shelves are fixed, not foldable, so the footprint stays large no matter what. If your patio space is tight, measure twice before you buy.
| Length of cooktop | 23.5 in. |
| Cooking area | 540 sq. in |
| Burners | 3 |
| BTUs | 36,000 |
Pros
- Portable
- Two burners for independent cooking zones
Cons
- Small drip pan
This outdoor tabletop griddle is great whether you have a small outdoor space, want to make a quick meal, or need something powerful to cook on while camping or on a picnic. It's compatible with a small propane tank and is powerful at 22,000 BTUs. It has two burners, so you can cook with high heat on one side (for, say, sausage) and low heat on the other (great for pancakes).
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Like the large Blackstone we tested, the drain hole is in the center back of the griddle, giving you ample cooking space. The cooktop stands up to the durability and performance of similar full-sized models. It has a sturdy build that helps you feel confident while cooking, but it's just 32 pounds, so you can move it around easily.
TAKE NOTE: The drip pan is smaller than the full-sized model, so remember to empty it often.
| Length of cooktop | 22 in. |
| Cooking area | 339 sq. in. |
| Burners | 2 |
| BTUs | 24,000 |
Pros
- Comes in an assortment of sizes to fit on top of several Weber grills
- Large drain spout
- Can be used with the lid closed
Cons
- Cumbersome to store since most grills models aren't equipped to do so yet
Weber makes it super easy to turn your gas grill into a griddle with this full-size insert. It comes in several sizes and fits right into the brand's Spirit II 300, Genesis II 300, and Genesis II 400 lines of gas grills when you remove the grill grates.
While the griddle insert comes preseasoned, we seasoned it before using it as recommended by the manufacturer. The bread was evenly toasted in our tests, though the results were lighter than those from others tested over medium heat. The griddle insert performed well cooking bacon, chicken breasts, steak, eggs, and veggies like asparagus. The drainage hole is located in the back corner and is easy to push grease into. The grease falls into the grill's drip pan below, which is easy to clean.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Our favorite thing about this insert is that it allows you to griddle with the benefits of a gas grill. Using the grill's warming rack was neat, as was being able to griddle with the lid closed, a task that most outdoor griddles can't handle. As a result, we could cook thicker foods, like a thick chicken breast, more easily than we would have been able to by using a cloche on an outdoor griddle.
TAKE NOTE: One downfall is that the insert is bulky to store if your grill doesn't have a storage area.
| Length of cooktop | 25.67 in. |
| Cooking area | 479 sq. in. |
| Burners | 3 (per grill series it fits) |
| BTUs | As powerful as your gas grill |
How we test outdoor griddles
Our team of experienced product analysts, mechanical engineers, and food editors in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab tested every full-size outdoor griddle on this list. We assembled the griddles, cooked on them repeatedly, and stored them outdoors the way a home user would.
We assessed how evenly each griddle cooked, how well each seared food, like steak and chicken, whether it could handle low-temperature cooking, and how easy it was to clean up.
We also noted how easy it was to assemble the griddles and to season them. We scored ease-of-use features—such as shelves, wheels, tool holders, and more—and evaluated whether the propane tank and grease collector were easy to access.
What to look for when buying an outdoor griddle
✔️ Size: For the most part, we tested 36-inch outdoor griddles. This popular size allows you to feed a crowd. Remember that these large surfaces get hot, so a smaller option might feel more manageable for new griddle cooks. Smaller sizes are also great for smaller spaces and are more affordable. So, if you're willing to work in batches (or you're not cooking for many folks at once), a smaller model will save you money while requiring little cooking time.
✔️ Griddle material: It's common for griddles to be made of carbon steel, which is highly durable and can reach high temps. Carbon steel is quite good at retaining heat, too, so we recommend starting with different temperature zones rather than cranking all the burners up too high and turning them down later. Most griddle surfaces require seasoning to help prevent sticking and rusting. Some may be ceramic-coated for easy cleanup, but you want to be gentler with tools on this cooktop style.
✔️ Lid: Many outdoor griddles now come with lids. For the most part, the lids cannot be used during cooking—they're intended to cover the griddle for storage. Lids help create a barrier between your used griddle and the grill cover, keeping the cover clean. We prefer hinged lids versus lids that hang off the side of the griddle when not in use.
✔️ Grease drainage hole: A large, strategically positioned drainage hole makes cooking and cleanup easier. Griddles accumulate a lot of fat during cooking, and it often needs to be pushed away from the food and into the hole. You'll likely get used to whichever style you opt for, but we've found that ones that are big enough to scrape your spatula against are quite helpful.
✔️ Extra features: As with all outdoor grills, it's smart to look for outdoor griddles with features that will make your cooking experience easier. We like strong, oversized shelves with tool holders. We also value propane holders and grease traps that are easy to access.
Are griddles as good as grills?
Griddles and grills are different. Griddles can cook almost the same foods as a grill, but you won't get grill marks. Unlike grills, they're great for cooking small foods like rice and shrimp, as well as runny foods like pancakes and eggs.
Griddles don't typically have covers, so they're ideal for thin, quick-cooking foods but less suited to large cuts of meat, like a pork butt or whole chicken. You can use a cloche to help thicker foods cook evenly and quickly, but cloches limit the size and quantity of food you can fit.
Griddles offer a lot of versatility, but some people will miss cooking food over a direct flame, which lets you achieve the charred, smoky taste you get with a grill. It's common for people to have both a griddle and a grill, since each is good at different things.
Do I need to season my outdoor griddle?
Most outdoor griddles must be seasoned before the first use because they're often made of carbon steel. Carbon steel is a durable material, but it must be properly cared for. When you season it, a.k.a. cure it with oil at a high temperature like a cast iron pan, the coating helps prevent rust and helps make the surface nonstick.
Some outdoor griddles come preseasoned, which is helpful, but you'll want to keep up with the seasoning to extend the life of the surface. Refer to your outdoor griddle's user guide for the best way to season it.
Outdoor griddles with nonstick coatings don't need to be seasoned, but they're more prone to wear and won't last as long as a standard outdoor griddle.
How do I maintain my outdoor griddle?
At the end of every cook, I make sure to scrape the flat top clean with a griddle scraper. I like to use water from a squeeze bottle to help remove stubborn bits from the griddle (be careful when you squirt water onto a hot griddle because it will steam); I then use paper towels and long BBQ tongs to wipe up residue. Be sure to fully dry or cook off any remaining water to help prevent rusting.
I can usually skip seasoning the griddle if I've cooked something greasy like bacon or burgers. But in other instances, I use the cleanup as an opportunity to reseason my griddle. I squirt the surface with vegetable or canola oil from a squeeze bottle and carefully spread it across the entire surface with fresh paper towels and long BBQ tongs.
Once the oil starts to smoke and the smoke dissipates, I turn off my griddle and let it cool completely before covering it with my griddle's lid and then a griddle cover. The covers I've used, like this griddle cover from Blackstone, have been weatherproof, but you could always move your griddle under a shelter to help keep it looking like new even longer.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, where she oversees all testing and content related to kitchen appliances, tools, and more. She's been the team's lead grill tester since she joined in 2019 and has tested more than 40 outdoor grills. She led testing of these outdoor griddles and continues to use three of them to collect long-term data. They've become one of her favorite ways to cook.
Timothy Dahl is a contributing writer for Good Housekeeping. He worked with Nicole to update the latest version of this article. He loves to grill and has found that his griddle is now his go-to for outdoor cooking.
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