The top propane gas grill under 300 is the Char-Broil Classic 360. It has a great cooking surface area, great grill features, and excellent heat output, and is a good investment to boot!
The first time that I needed a gas grill was when I moved into my first apartment. This was just after I graduated from college so I was pretty low on funds. With the help of one of my pitmaster friends, I set out to find an affordable, well performing grill.
In this post, I will reveal the best gas grill under 300, offer up some additional options, and provide you with a buying guide too!
Here is your guide to the top gas grills under 300:
Best Overall
This Char-Broil grill is on the smaller side but I do like that there is still plenty of cooking surface area for you to enjoy. To begin with, you have 360 sq. inches of primary cooking area for you to enjoy. This makes this a good option for a small or even mid-sized family.
In addition to the main burners, you also have a side burner. This is excellent for anything from cooking a separate dish to making a sauce or other side dish for your food.
One of the things that makes this one of the best gas grills under 300 is that the manufacturer has done it with a smaller grill. For instance, you have a warming rack that can swing out of the way if needed.
At the same time, you also have a side shelf that is excellent for storing food that should go on or come off the grill. In any case, it makes the grilling experience far more efficient.
Another reason that this gas grill topped the list for the best gas grills under 300 was because of the heat production. With a 30,000 BTU rating, this gas grill is great for cooking everything from steak to pork.
I also like the fact that the heat distribution is even across the stainless steel burners. In turn, this ensures that the heat across the cooking grates is also evenly maintained.
There are limits to what you can expect from a gas grill under 300. However, after using the Classic 360, I have found that this is a good quality gas grill. It offers up a good grilling performance and the overall quality of the materials and setup is good.
The only complaint that I have with this gas grill is that it is pretty difficult to set up. You are going to need at least one other person and several hours before you get it together.
Best Portable Gas Grill
Now, I don’t expect much of portable gas grills in terms of heat and performance. However, I was pleasantly surprised by what this Weber grill offered up.
With a simple flick of a switch, this portable grill roared to life. The flame was hot, it heated up the cast iron grates quickly. Thanks to even heat distribution, all the food is cooked at an even rate.
Another thing that I was really impressed by was the temperature control. In fact, it is probably one of the main reasons that this model is at the top of the best gas grills under 300 list.
Not only was the temperature setting accurate, but I also found that the grill was able to hold and maintain those temperatures throughout the cook. As a result, the cook times were a lot more reliable.
Portable gas grills aren’t known for their great design but I feel like this gas grill really hits the mark. For one thing, even though it is a smaller grill, you still have useful features like side tables.
The balance on this grill is great and it can be set on practically any surface. As an added bonus, it can also be placed on top of a Weber stand for a more elevated design.
The only issue that I have with the design is that it is tricky to screw in smaller propane gas bottles as the handle gets in the way.
While this portable grill isn’t exactly a budget option, I do like the fact that you get stainless steel burners, a cast aluminum body, and cast iron grates. If you are looking for good quality gas grills, then this should be one of your top picks.
Best Budget Gas Grill
I like that despite being a budget grill that this liquid propane gas grill has plenty of cooking surface area to offer. You can easily cook for two or more people. The warming rack can be utilized for slow cooking food. When not in use it can be moved away.
Another thing that makes this one of the best gas grills under 300 dollars is that I really like the layout. At this price point, having two side shelves is a really cool feature. I love that I can store everything from uncooked and cooked food to sauces on these side tables.
I was pleasantly surprised to see just how great the grilling performance was on this model. From the reliable electronic ignition to the fact that I could control the temperature easily, it was an absolute delight to put this gas grill to use.
Now, this grill isn’t perfect – while it does boast stainless steel grates and porcelain coated grill grates, the build quality is just decent.
As long as you don’t move this gas grill around too much, it will hold up well. However, if you try to transport it around or leave it out in windy weather, it may not last all that long.
That being said, for the money, you do get a good quality grill. It is just a matter of taking care of it.
What makes this one of the best gas grills under 300 for me is the temperature features on this propane gas grill. Not only do the burners light up quickly but the grill gets hot incredibly quickly.
Not only does this make this gas grill ideal for searing, but it also means that there is less downtime when waiting for the grill to heat up.
My only hiccup with this gas grill is that the ignition system can be a little tricky. It loosened a short time after I got the grill and I had to reach out to customer service to fix the issue.
While the cooking surface area isn’t huge, I do like the cooking area. It is more than enough for two people and you are able to cook different types of food at the same time without the food touching each other. So, it is a good option for small families.
I really like that there are side shelves on either side of the gas grill. This comes in handy while you are grilling. I find it easy to either keep food that needs to go on the grill or come off the grill there.
The other feature that I like is the covered front portion. This works well if you want to hide the gas tank behind this area.
The cooking surface area on this grill is pretty great. All in all, you can cook up to 25 burger patties on the entire surface. This means that you can easily cook anything from ribs to steaks on this grill. It is also a good option for feeding a mid-sized family quickly.
The only thing that I am a bit concerned about with this gas grill is that it can feel a little flimsy. Due to this, you do have to be careful about how you use it.
Although the heat is a little bit lower than some of the other gas grills on this list, it still boasts a powerful amount of heat. Due to this, you can grill at high temperatures and even sear meat without any problem.
The temperature control on this grill is quite impressive. It is equally good at low temperatures as well as high temperatures. I especially like the fact that once you set the temperature on this grill, it doesn’t budge.
If you are looking for a portable gas grill, then this is definitely one that you should consider. It is lightweight enough to be managed by a single person. Also, due to its compact size, you will be able to set it up anywhere that you like.
The only design issue I can find with the gas grill is that the legs are a bit flimsy. Due to this, you have to be careful how you set the grill down and how you move it around.
I don’t expect much from portable gas grills which is why I was pleasantly surprised at how much heat power this grill is capable of. Despite its smaller size, you will be able to cook any cut of meat that you like and quickly!
I was also really impressed by how good the temperature control was. I used an external thermometer to monitor the temperature gauge on the gas grill. I found that there were very few fluctuations during this period.
This is a sizable cooking area, one of the largest on this list. This is a good gas grill for anyone who has a mid-sized or even large family. Such a gas grill also works well if you like to cook different types of food at once.
There are two elements of heat that I like about this grill. The first is that the heat output and distribution are excellent. As a result, the heat is evenly distributed throughout the cooking grates. So, you can cook the same cuts of meat at a similar rate.
I have to say that as far as these cheaper gas grills go, the design of this grill has really impressed me. One of the things that I love is that there is a window on the lid. This allows you to keep an eye on the food without lifting the heat and messing with the temperature inside the cooking chamber.
The other thing that I like is the two side tables. They are excellent for storing anything from sauces and condiments to cooked or uncooked food.
The construction on this gas grill is pretty good. It has a solid foundation which allows the grill to withstand wear and tear with ease. I also find that these kinds of gas grills look more expensive as well.
My only complaint with this grill is that assembly can be tricky and can take quite a while.
Here are the top tips to choose a great cheaper gas grill:
Now, this is not a hard and fast rule. After all, not all reputable brand names will produce good cheaper options.
That being said, it can be a good idea to start your search with gas grills that you are already familiar with. These brands tend to uphold certain standards. As a result, you will find it easier to find a good quality option with a longer warranty.
Now, when looking for a gas grill, it can be easy to get caught up on the idea of a cooking area or the number of burners that you should be buying.
While these are two significant independent factors, it is just as important for you to consider how one factor affects the other.
For instance, if you are looking to grill for yourself and maybe one other person, then you will not need such a large cooking area. In this instance, a cooking area of less than 300 square inches and a single burner or two burners will work for you.
Have a slightly larger family? Then you should look for 300 to 500 square inches.
For this kind of surface area, you should get a gas grill with three to four stainless steel burners.
There is also the matter of the side burner. It is up to you to decide if this is a feature that you need. Some people like to use this burner to cook sauces or prep side dishes. However, just as many people don’t have as much of a use for a side burner.
And, so, the decision rests with you.
At this price point, you may think that you aren’t really getting a quality grill no matter which one you choose. Well, you will be surprised to discover that this isn’t the case at all!
There are plenty of affordable grills that are actually worth the investment. It is just a matter of trying to figure out which features to pay attention to.
The material of the frame is important. Aluminum is a good option – it is strong and durable but still affordable. For that extra durable touch, look for a stainless steel lid.
As for the burners, stainless steel burners are the way to go. When it to cooking grates, you have a few more options. You can get stainless steel grill grates or go with the traditional porcelain coated cast iron.
I do want to mention that just because a grill mentions a certain number of BTUs as the heat output doesn’t mean that it is an accurate description of how hot the grill can get.
That being said, BTUs are a standardized way of knowing just how hot your grill can be. Due to this, the more BTUs per burner, the better.
To really know how hot a grill is, what the heat distribution is like, and the temperature management, you have to read reviews. It is the only way to get an honest picture of the function before you invest in the grill yourself.
Even at this price point, you can find additional features for your gas grill. So, what do these features look like?
Well, sometimes it is as simple as a warming rack. This is a rack above the main cooking area. It is great for storing buns or food that has just been cooked.
The other thing to consider is siding shelves. Personally, I find these non negotiable. They are great for storing seasoning, and sauces, or just a place to store the food before it goes onto the grill or after it comes off of it.
If you are short on space, I would suggest getting foldable shelves.
The other feature that can be quite useful is a window in the hood of the cooking chamber. This is a great feature if you have a tendency to keep opening the lid when you check on the food. See, when you do this, you cause hot air to go out and cold air to rush in. In turn, this messes up the temperature inside the cooking chamber, causing delays and issues.
The window takes care of such a problem.
Now, this is not a feature that you typically find with cheaper grills. However, I would suggest considering looking for it nonetheless.
These are tool hooks. As the name suggests, these are hooks from which you hang your BBQ utensils.
I have found these hooks to be quite useful while grilling as all of my tools are then right on hand.
There you have it – the best gas grill under 300 – the Char-Broil Classic 360. You get a sizable cooking area, high powered burners, a great grilling performance, and a good quality frame and features to boot.
I would advise you to check out all the grills on this list. This is because they each have their own unique features and functions. So, you can never tell which make and model may be just right for you!
