The biggest differences between Blackstone and Camp Chef are the grease management system and the variety of griddles. Camp Chef has a grease trap in the front, and they make 3 different griddles. Blackstone griddles have a grease cup in the back and offer a ton of different griddles in various sizes.
I’ve had my 36” Camp Chef for a decade and a 36” Blackstone for two months. Last week, I grabbed a 17” Blackstone to use when I go camping – it’s a fantastic little griddle. I love flat-top cookers. They’re ideal machines for smash burgers, hibachi, and more.
If you’re in the market for a flat-top cooker, you’re in the right spot. I’m doing an in-depth breakdown of the differences between the two brands. This article is packed with everything you need to know about Blackstone and Camp Chef grills. Let’s find out which grill is right for you!
You can’t go wrong with a griddle from either manufacturer. Both Blackstone and Camp Chef are solid brands with reliable grills. If you need a griddle that’s smaller than 36”, Blackstone’s the griddle for you – 17” is the smallest they manufacture. Camp Chef only offers 31.5” or larger flat-tops as of this writing.
I’m going to compare the two models I own, which are the Blackstone 36 and the Camp Chef Flat Top 600. These models have similar specs and features.
| Product | Griddle Size | Total Heat Output | Fuel Source | Build | Versatility | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Blackstone 36'' Griddle |
720 square inches | 60,000 BTUs | Propane Gas Tank | Steel Frame & 4 Wheels | Griddle Only Option | Buy on Amazon |
 Camp Chef Flat Top 600 |
604 square inches | 48,000 BTUs | Propane Gas Tank | Steel Frame & 2 Wheels | Griddle Only (Previous Models Had a Griddle and a Grill Grate) | Buy on Camp Chef |
Now you’re armed with the technical specs on the grills, let’s do a deep dive into Camp Chef vs Blackstone.
The best outdoor griddles have a cooking surface that can withstand a flurry of cooking activity, high heat, cleaning, and outdoor storage. They need to be tough!
Both Blackstone and Camp Chef flat-top griddles have cold-rolled steel griddle surfaces. Cold-rolled steel is a very strong metal, and it’s ideal for a griddle’s cooking surface. It’s a durable material, and it has superior heat conductivity and retention.
Winner: Tie
These are both big cookers. If you’re grabbing a 36” flat top, you’ll have plenty of cooking space. You can make enough food to feed a small army. If you’re only looking to feed your family, a smaller model probably makes more sense. If you entertain a ton, go big and grab a 36” flat top.
The Blackstone 36” has a bit more cooking space than the Camp Chef. 720 square inches is enough cooking area for 30 burgers or 126 hot dogs. That’s a lot of hot dogs!
The Camp Chef 600 flat-top grill has a 604 square-inch griddle area. That’s still massive – plenty big for large get-togethers. But it’s slightly smaller than the Blackstone.
Winner: Blackstone 36
Camp Chef flat-top grill has the upper hand here – it distributes heat more evenly. The griddle has a heat plate attached beneath it. This helps spread heat to the griddle above it evenly.
On the Blackstone, there’s room between the burners and the griddle surface. So external factors such as strong winds can cause some heat loss. With the Camp Chef, the griddle surface is also closer to the burners, so the wind is less of a factor.
The 36” Blackstone cranks out more BTUs to make up for the bigger gap between the burners and the griddle surface. Despite the Blackstone’s robust BTU output (more on that in a bit), I find the Camp Chef to be more efficient at distributing heat.
Winner: Camp Chef 600
Old models (like mine) of the Camp Chef had a griddle and a grill. It’s a cool feature if you can find a used one for sale. You can switch out the flat-top griddle for a traditional grill grate. So it’s a griddle and gas grill combo.
The feature is no longer offered on newer Camp Chef griddles – they’re all solely flat-top cookers now.
The Blackstone only has the flat-top grill also. You’ll need to buy a gas or charcoal grill, an older Camp Chef, or an aftermarket grill grate if you want grill marks on your food.
Winner: N/A
The ignition systems on both models are automatic matchless systems, which makes them easy to use. Turn the control knob, and the grill should spark to life.
However, the burners on the Blackstone can only be ignited sequentially, which means you cannot use the first burner and the fourth burner without the middle two burners on. This is a minor nuisance to me, at most. In no way is this a dealbreaker.
The Camp Chef ignition system allows you to fire up any burner you would like and use it independently of the others. Perhaps you just want the front burners to make some hash browns. On the Camp Chef model, you can.
Camp Chef’s independent burners are a cool little feature, and give it a leg up on Blackstone in this category.
Winner: Camp Chef 600
BTU, which stands for British Thermal Unit, is a measure of heat output. The four stainless steel burners on the Blackstone have an output of 60,000 BTUs which is higher than the 48,000 BTUs that the Camp Chef flat-top grill produces.
Between my two cookers, I haven’t noticed a huge difference in terms of temperature. Both the Camp Chef and the Blackstone get plenty hot, around 600°F. That’s plenty hot for typical griddle fare like burgers, hot dogs, breakfast foods, and the like.
The Camp Chef also has four stainless steel burners. The overall heat output of the Camp Chef griddle is outstanding in terms of heat distribution and regulation.
To adjust the heat, use the four temperature control knobs. I like to leave one burner off or set it to low for food that’s fully cooked or nearly done cooking.
Both of these models come with a propane tank and holder.
Technically, Blackstone wins this round with the higher BTU output. But again, the Camp Chef gets plenty hot for all of your quick grilling needs.
Winner: Blackstone
The Blackstone flat-top grill has a rear grease management system – the grease cup hooks on the back center of the grill. The Camp Chef grease disposal trough is at the front of the cooking surface.
Do yourself a favor and buy disposable aluminum liners for your grease trap. Once the fat and food debris cool, you can toss the liner in the trash, leaving your grill grease trap nice and clean.
The Camp Chef grease trough empties through a grease drain hole into a collection cup attached to the left foldable shelf. This cup can simply be detached when you need to get rid of grease and food debris.
I find that it comes naturally to me to pull the grease and food debris towards myself, which is why I prefer the Camp Chef grease management system. This is a personal preference, and it’s a minor one – you might prefer the rear trap on the Blackstone.
Since my Blackstone is a recent addition, I am still pushing grease forward. I’m a slow learner who’s used to my Camp Chef! It’s just a habit I have to rewire as I get used to using the Blackstone griddle.
To me, the grease management system comes down to preference or simple habit. It will not affect the griddle’s performance. This seems to be an important factor for many people – I’m not sure why. At the end of the day, both grills are efficient at trapping grease. That’s the important thing.
Note: the grease collection systems on both grills only work if the grills are level. Put your griddle on a level surface.
Winner: Tie
Related Reading
Camp Chef griddles come preseasoned and are advertised as ready-to-cook surfaces.
Blackstone griddles should be seasoned before they are used to prevent any damage to the cooktop.
Here’s a great article that explains how to season your grill. Essentially, get your griddle hot, then wipe it with a layer of oil. Do it a few times, then allow the grill to cool. Then, you’re ready to cook!
The seasoning process is simple. Don’t let an unseasoned griddle sway your decision if you want a Blackstone.
The winner here is Camp Chef, but in no way is this a dealbreaker for a Blackstone. If wiping a grill surface with oil a few times is too much for you, grilling might not be the right hobby for you. I oil grilling surfaces every time I cook.
Winner: Camp Chef
Cold-rolled steel is very easy to clean and keep clean. The cooking surfaces will last a really long time if you keep them clean and free of any stuck foods or moisture that might encourage the formation of rust.
To clean: after cooking on a flat top, push any food scraps, juices, and oil to the waste tray. Turn the burners to high, and use a spatula to scrape any stuck food from the surface. Then, lightly oil the surface. Turn off the heat. You’re done!
You can also use soap and water if your cooker needs a deep clean.
Winner: Tie
The 36” Blackstone is available with or without a hood. The Camp Chef is only available with a hood.
The hoods are awesome. I’d definitely spring for one if you’re on the fence. You’ll unlock a bunch of new cooking techniques. When cooking, a hood can create a heat dome that will heat the food from above. Your burger cheese will get gooier. You can steam things, like your burger or hot dog buns.
The hood comes in handy for an array of foods. It traps heat, so cooking is more even and efficient. It also helps control splatter from greasier foods like bacon.
The negatives of hood life? Your griddle will be heavier, bulkier, and weigh more.
Blackstone wins this round for offering models with and without a hood.
Winner: Blackstone
Grill lovers are one step away from becoming campers. We love outdoor life. The lure of the outdoor experience is always calling, so a griddle that you can just fold up and pack into the back of the truck is an appealing choice. I mentioned my 17” Blackstone I use for tent camping in the intro – eat like a King or Queen at your campground.
Either Camp Chef or Blackstone would be a great choice for camping (and tailgating!), and they both meet the threshold for portability in my book. They’re heavy – you’ll need to team lift to load them. And they take up a fair amount of space. They’re great if you’re camping in a camper or RV.
The Blackstone is the better choice if you do go on a camping trip simply because it is twenty pounds lighter and folds up faster.
The fact that it has four wheels also means it is easier to push around. The Camp Chef only has two wheels, so it’s not as maneuverable.
A gas griddle can be set up anywhere. They are a world of fun.
If you’re a tent camper or don’t have a ton of space. you’ll likely want a smaller model. Blackstone makes several smaller griddles you can look into. Look for one that connects to a small can of LP (propane) for ultimate portability.
Camp Chef makes a portable version, but it’s still 34.5” long. It’s not ideal for tent camping or extreme portability.
Winner: Blackstone 36”
Both models are easy-to-assemble, but the Blackstone is so straightforward. Camp Chef may take a bit of time to put together, but this will not matter in the long run. Once assembled, you are good to go permanently.
Again, don’t let the slightly lengthier assembly time drive you away from grabbing a Camp Chef. You’ll own the grill your whole life. What’s an extra 5 minutes of assembly?
Winner: Blackstone 36”
As of this writing, both options with hoods are the same price: $599.99.
The hoodless 36” Blackstone is 399.99.
In general, both Camp Chef and Blackstone griddles can be considered pricey cooking machines. But take care of your flat top, and it will last your entire life. Both models are made with high-quality materials and boast impressive longevity, which is worth every penny.
Winner: Tie
Camp Chef is the winner as far as customer support is concerned. They’ve got great customer support. When I had an issue with my griddle igniter, I called their support number and was able to talk to a human being. They helped resolve my issue quickly.
Blackstone still has room for improvement here. They’re a newer company that expanded rapidly. I’ve not needed to contact them for any reason, but reviews among other BBQ enthusiasts are mixed.
Customer support is important. Making a big investment in a large grill is difficult enough but without sufficient support. Novices are particularly vulnerable since simple issues can cause panic if they cannot fix them on their own.
Winner: Camp Chef
For such impressive companies, their warranties truly fall short. Both companies offer a meager 1 year of coverage which is barely sufficient. If faults show up past the one-year mark, they will not cover them.
A one-year warranty is pretty lousy in my opinion. The upside is that both Camp Chef and Blackstone grills have stellar reputations as far as the workmanship is concerned, which means you may never need the warranty.
Blackstone has a slightly better warranty since it covers the paint and finishes in the one-year period, while Camp Chef grill warranties exclude damage to the paint and finishes.
Winner: Blackstone 36”
Blackstone is a relatively new American company that specializes in the manufacture of flat-top grills and griddles. Founded in 2008, Blackstone makes an array of outdoor cooking equipment and accessories, including griddle tools, apparel, and seasonings.
Their mission is to make the best outdoor cooking and grilling equipment on the planet. They are laser-focused on making outdoor cooking devices and tools.
Camp Chef is also an American brand, but unlike Blackstone, they have been in this market since 1990. This means Camp Chef has had a three-decade-long stint in this niche, making them a great company to buy from.
Camp Chef successfully filled the market gap for griddles with their dependable flat-top grills. The company is trusted for its consistent use of the best materials and quality workmanship.
In recent years, Camp Chef has diversified its portfolio to include other cooking appliances such as cast iron pans, smokers, fire pits, pizza ovens, as well as grilling apparel.
If you’re wondering whether getting yourself an outdoor griddle is a worthy investment, the answer is YES! Get one.
A regular grill is great, but you will be missing out on the versatility that outdoor griddles provide. You can cook a TON of food on these – enough to feed twenty or thirty people. And you can cook almost anything on a flat top, including burgers, sausages, corn, pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fried rice.
It’s tough to cook pancakes or fried eggs on your charcoal grill. (It can be done with a cast iron pan or Grill Grates, but not at the scale of a flat top.)
Outdoor griddles have a ton of cooking space, and you can cook a huge variety of dishes comfortably in one place and in one go.
Cooking also becomes a great experience for everyone if the whole party can enjoy the outdoors around the grill. You can churn out one delicacy after another to the delight of your family and friends. No one gets stuck in the kitchen, isolated from the fun outside. Bonus! Outdoor cooking keeps your home cooler in the summer.
An outdoor griddle is just the best. Seriously. Get one!
The griddle size dictates the amount of food you will be able to make at a time. A small cooking space will become tiresome if you’re cooking for a crowd. You’ll need to make the food in batches.
Griddle size is also related to the number of burners. This will directly impact the heat output that you will be working with.
If you’re going to use your griddle for family and a few friends, then a smaller, two-burner may be sufficient. But if you’re like me and like throwing barbeque lunches for friends, family, and neighbors, then the bigger griddle is the better choice.
Camp Chef and Blackstone use cold-rolled steel, which is durable, long-lasting, and evenly distributes heat.
These steel surfaces hold up well against corrosion but manual abrasion from metal spatulas can still damage both surfaces.
Blackstone and Camp Chef both run on propane.
Electric griddles are available on the market, but they restrict the movement and placement of the griddle station. You’ll need to be near an outlet. Your portability will be limited if your griddle is powered by electricity. A propane tank is more convenient.
A propane gas griddle provides greater mobility, and you can move your outdoor cooking equipment around on the deck. You can even use gas griddles on the grass. Just keep it level for the best results. My 17” Blackstone runs off a small propane canister, which makes it even more portable.
The cost of flat tops varies by model and brand. Some fetch a tidy sum. There are cheap knock-offs on the market, too. You get what you pay for. Reputable brands known for superior performance don’t come cheap and more than makeup for the extra money in longevity and stellar functionality.
Don’t be shy about spending some money on a good outdoor griddle.
Grilling is meant to be a carefree, relaxed activity compared to many other forms of cooking. (Looking at you, gourmet cooking). Not many other hobbies involve drinking a beer while you perform them. Grilling is an easy-going activity, and the fun lies in the simplicity.
Extra features and accessories often end up being underutilized or unused altogether.
Grill box attachments may also get in the way of moving the griddle from place to place since the griddle now has a bunch of items all over it. Camp Chef’s flat-top grill has a very simplistic build.
A good example of this is the air fryers that come with the Blackstone 36” 1868 flat-top grill unit. Everywhere I have seen this model, the air fryers are not being used. Partly because the griddling is the fun part and also because the air fryers need to be plugged in.
They run on electricity, confining the entire griddle to the porch. This means they tend to be underused, which is not great value for your money. While some accessories may come in handy, they are not necessary or crucial to that sweet griddle life.
I say simplify your life and ditch all the gizmos.
Camp Chef and Blackstone are both rock-solid brands to me. Weber is another quality brand that is now chasing the griddle market. There are other brands with inferior products. I’d stick to known brands when buying a griddle.
Blackstone stands out because it exploded the outdoor cooking market. Griddles weren’t prolific until Blackstone came along. The company has managed to secure the trust and approval of many griddle lovers. Blackstone griddles are proof that the manufacturer knows their craft.
I would place Camp Chef right up there alongside Blackstone. Blackstone vs Camp Chef is an even fight since these two brands make the best outdoor griddles and can go head-to-head in terms of quality and performance.
If you’re in the griddle market, grab a Blackstone or a Camp Chef, and you won’t look back. Both brands are excellent. While a flat top won’t replace the charcoal grill on my deck – I’d miss the live-fire flavor – it certainly has a place next to the old kettle grill. Nothing beats griddles when it comes to cranking out tons of food in a hurry.
Flat tops are cooking machines that can make almost everything, from eggs to sandwiches to hash browns to quesadillas.
