Backyard cooks keep landing on the same crossroads: do you chase the deep, smoky kiss of charcoal, or do you want the no-fuss push-button heat of gas? The hybrid category solves that dilemma with two fuel systems on one frame, so weeknight burgers and weekend brisket share the same rig. The seven options below span portable pans, classic kettles, offset smokers, and true dual-fuel workhorses, giving you room to match the cook to your space, your patience for tending fires, and how many people you’re feeding on a Saturday.
A Snapshot Of The Selections
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22-Inch
Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco Pro 21.5 in. Heavy Duty Charcoal Drum Smoker
Oklahoma Joe’s Firecraft Series Modular Open Fire Barrel Charcoal Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset Reverse Flow Charcoal Smoker
Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel 3-Burner Smoker and Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset Charcoal Smoker and Grill
More Details On Our Top Picks
Few backyard rigs carry the same recognition as the kettle shape that started a backyard-cooking movement. The 22-inch porcelain-enameled bowl holds enough charcoal for family dinners and feeds roughly four to six people depending on cut and rack spacing.
Compared to the larger offsets covered below, this kettle is the lighter, easier everyday partner for someone who mostly grills and only occasionally smokes. The angled lid hook, ash catcher, and hinged cooking grate all add up to a smoother session, especially for cooks who hate lifting the whole grate mid-cook.
Bright Spots
- Hinged grate lets you add charcoal or wood without lifting the whole cooking surface off
- One-Touch ash system sweeps spent fuel into a high-capacity catcher, so end-of-night cleanup runs faster
- Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid hold heat well and resist peeling in normal backyard conditions
- 22-inch grate is roomy enough for a full pack of burgers plus vegetables on the side
Things To Consider
- Direct grilling only, so dedicated low-and-slow smokers will want a sealed option like the Bronco Pro covered later
- Bottom vents and lid dampers require occasional attention to keep temperature steady during longer cooks
Right Fit For
Anyone who wants a reliable charcoal grill for burgers, steaks, and weeknight chicken without the footprint or learning curve of a full offset rig.
Consider Something Else When
Long-haul brisket cooks should look at the Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco Pro instead, since its sealed drum is built for hours of stable heat.
Not every grill needs to dominate the patio. The Rambler is built for cooks who chase parking-lot tailgates, cabin weekends, and small apartment balconies, with a tight footprint that still delivers genuine charcoal flavor.
The height-adjustable charcoal tray is the clever trick here, since raising or lowering the coals changes the cooking style from sear-hot down to a gentle, low-and-slow smoke. That kind of range in a portable unit is uncommon and explains why it earns a spot above larger stationary options.
Practical Advantages
- 218 square inches fits roughly 8 to 10 burgers, enough for a small tailgate crew
- Adjustable tray lets you dial in heat without rebuilding the fire
- Tabletop design stores flat and travels in most car trunks
Honest Caveats
- Smaller grate means fewer smoke-roasting projects, so brisket flats are out of reach
- Lacks a sealed lid, so windy conditions can swing the temperature more than the bigger kettles or drums
Made For
Travelers, renters, and tailgaters who want real charcoal taste without hauling a 100-pound smoker to the game.
Skip It When
Family-scale cooks should reach for the Weber Original Kettle covered above, since the extra grate area changes the math on dinner for six.
The Bronco Pro is a different animal than the kettle above. Think of it as a vertical drum built to hold heat and smoke for hours, which is what competition-style cooks want when chasing bark and smoke ring on brisket and ribs.
For someone moving up from a kettle, the jump to a sealed drum feels like swapping a bicycle for a touring motorcycle. The airflow system and oversized charcoal basket support extended cooks without constant refueling, and that patience is rewarded with deeper smoke flavor.
What Works In Its Favor
- Sealed drum and engineered airflow keep temperature swings small over multi-hour cooks
- Oversized charcoal basket supports long burns with fewer mid-cook refuels
- 366 square inches of grate handles a full brisket flat or two slab racks comfortably
Points To Note
- Drum design requires learning to read bottom and top vents, which is a steeper curve than a kettle
- Heavier build and vertical layout make it a poor choice for anyone wanting to wheel a grill around the patio
Feature Snapshot
Best Suited To
Smokers focused on ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket who want competition-style control without moving to a full offset cabinet.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Cooks who also want a fast gas side for burgers should look at the Canyon Combo covered later, since it pairs both fuels on one frame.
Where the Bronco Pro hides the fire inside a sealed drum, the Firecraft barrel leans into the flame. The open-firebox layout means you see, hear, and smell the cook, which is a selling point for people who treat grilling like a social event.
Two round heavy-gauge grates split the 480-square-inch cook surface into 240-square-inch zones, and the twist-lock handle releases the grate so you can add fuel from any angle. After dinner, the same barrel doubles as a fire pit, which most dedicated smokers can’t claim.
Noteworthy Benefits
- Open design lets you tend the fire from 360 degrees without disturbing food
- Modular grate system pulls double duty as both grill and fire pit
- Heavy-gauge wire grates resist corrosion and handle direct heat well
Trade Offs
- Open firebox means heat escapes faster, so longer low-and-slow cooks demand more fuel than the sealed options above
- Smaller grate diameter per zone limits very large cuts compared to the offset smokers later in this list
Quick Facts
Who Should Grab It
Cooks who love the theater of open flame and want one piece that handles grilling, gathering around the fire, and weekend cookouts.
Look Elsewhere When
Long overnight smokes are easier on the Highland Offset covered next, since its enclosed cabinet and baffles hold steady heat for hours.
The Highland steps into true backyard-smokehouse territory. The 1,093-square-inch cook surface handles full packs of ribs, multiple pork shoulders, or a couple of briskets at the same time, which changes the planning math for big gatherings.
Removable baffles and an adjustable smokestack let you flip between reverse-flow and traditional offset smoking, which is genuinely useful depending on what you’re cooking. Reverse flow pushes heat along the bottom before it climbs up through the meat, evening out hot spots in larger loads.
Reasons It Performs
- Reverse-flow baffle system evens out heat across the large chamber, reducing the need to rotate meat mid-cook
- 1,093 square inches split between main and secondary chambers supports full-hog ambitions
- Charcoal and hardwood fuel gives flexibility in smoke flavor depending on what’s on hand
Possible Compromises
- Large footprint demands a dedicated patio or yard space and is harder to move than the drum or kettle options
- Offset firebox requires learning how to manage fuel and airflow for clean combustion, which new smokers may find intimidating
Core Details
Perfect Match For
Hosts running big gatherings, holidays, and competition-style cooks who need capacity and precise heat control in one cabinet.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Someone wanting gas convenience alongside charcoal should consider the Canyon Combo below, since it adds a 3-burner propane side to the picture.
The Canyon Combo is the most literal answer to the question this whole list was built around: charcoal and gas on the same chassis. The 3-burner propane side hits temperature quickly for weeknight burgers, while the charcoal firebox handles weekend ribs and brisket without needing a second rig.
The 1,031-square-inch cook surface is split between a 750-square-inch primary chamber for smoking and a generous gas side for fast grilling, which means you’re not constantly shuffling food between two separate grills. The propane tank is sold separately, so plan for that line item before lighting the first burner.
What Makes Sense
- Two fuel systems in one frame save patio space compared to running a separate smoker and gas grill
- 750-square-inch primary chamber fits two pork shoulders for smoke sessions
- 3-burner propane side delivers 36,000 BTU for fast, even sears when time matters
Where It Is Less Suited
- Propane tank is not included, so add that to the setup cost
- Larger combined footprint makes it less practical for small patios than the Weber Kettle or Rambler
Technical Highlights
Built With In Mind
Households that genuinely use both fuels and want to retire a separate gas grill without giving up charcoal flavor on weekends.
Swap It Out When
Shoppers focused purely on smoke and flavor should pick the Highland Offset covered above, since its dedicated cabinet is built for that single mission.
The Longhorn closes the list with the traditional offset shape most people picture when they imagine a smokehouse. It’s a straightforward charcoal rig, no gas assist, and that single-purpose focus is part of its appeal.
The 1,060-square-inch split (751 in the main chamber plus 309 in the secondary) handles family-scale smoke sessions, and the offset firebox gives you that classic indirect-heat setup that produces the bark and color low-and-slow cooks are known for.
What Pays Off
- Traditional offset design delivers the indirect-heat setup that defines classic American BBQ
- 751-square-inch main chamber plus 309-square-inch secondary supports multi-cut cooks at once
- Charcoal and hardwood fuel gives full control over smoke intensity and flavor
Worth Bearing In Mind
- Heavy steel construction requires a dedicated spot in the yard and is awkward to relocate
- Offset firebox needs practice to manage airflow, so first-timers may need a few cooks to get consistent results
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Backyard traditionalists who want that smokehouse silhouette and don’t need propane convenience on the same rig.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
Someone wanting gas and charcoal on the same chassis will find a better match in the Canyon Combo covered above, since it pairs both fuels in one footprint.
What Matters Most Before Choosing Charcoal And Gas Combo Grills
Fuel style shapes everything else. Pure charcoal rigs like the kettle, drum, barrel, and offset options in this list deliver the deepest smoke flavor but ask for more attention to vents, fuel, and timing. Dual-fuel picks like the Canyon Combo trade some of that smoke depth for weeknight speed, since propane reaches cooking temperature in minutes rather than the 20 to 30 minutes a charcoal fire needs.
Cooking area should match your guest list. A 218-square-inch portable grill feeds two to four people, while anything above 750 square inches supports full-pack rib racks and multiple pork shoulders for a crowd.
Footprint and storage often decide the real winner. Vertical drums and portable pans fit balconies and small patios, while full offsets need a permanent corner of the yard and a flat surface to sit on.
Build material affects how long the grill lasts. Porcelain-enameled bowls resist rust and clean easily, while heavy-gauge steel offsets handle decades of seasonal use if you keep them covered.
Key Things Worth Thinking Through
Wrong Turns To Avoid
The most common slip is choosing a grill that almost fits the space but doesn’t quite, leaving you shuffling a 200-pound offset through a narrow gate every spring. Measure the path from the garage or shed to the cook spot, not just the cook spot itself.
Another trap is buying a small charcoal kettle when you actually smoke most weekends. A kettle grills well but struggles with brisket flats and full rib racks, so you’ll end up buying a second rig anyway.
Why Top Tier Costs More
Higher-tier offsets and dual-fuel combos cost more because of thicker steel, sealed chambers, and engineered baffle systems that hold temperature steady over long cooks. The premium shows up in fewer refuels, more even bark, and a frame that survives a decade of seasonal storage.
For casual weeknight grilling, a kettle delivers most of the joy at a fraction of the cost. The upgrade only pays off when you’re running full smokes or hosting bigger groups on a regular basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do charcoal and gas combo grills actually deliver real smoke flavor?
Yes, as long as the charcoal side is a real firebox and not a small accessory tray. The charcoal chamber is where smoke and bark come from, while the gas side handles convenience cooking.
How much cooking area do you need for a family of four?
A 480 to 600 square inch surface handles most family dinners comfortably. Larger gatherings benefit from 750 square inches or more on the primary chamber.
Are offset smokers harder to learn than kettles?
Offset designs demand more attention to fire and airflow, so expect a few trial runs before your timing is consistent. Kettles and sealed drums are more forgiving for new cooks.
Can these grills stay outside year-round?
Most hold up under a cover, though steel offsets benefit from a grill cover or sheltered spot to slow surface rust over winter. Drain the ash catcher before long storage.
Is a dual-fuel grill worth it over a separate smoker and gas grill?
Dual-fuel rigs save patio space and simplify weeknight cooking, but dedicated smokers and gas grills usually deliver more focused results in each category. Choose based on whether space or specialization matters more.
The Takeaway
Charcoal and gas combo grills are really about flexibility, letting you fire up a quick weeknight burger on propane or settle into a slow Saturday brisket on charcoal without owning two separate rigs. Match the cook area to your guest list, the fuel style to your patience for tending fires, and the footprint to the space you actually have. The seven options above cover everything from apartment-friendly portables to full smokehouse cabinets, so the right one comes down to how you cook most often.