Running a backyard on charcoal alone means longer waits, while propane-only setups can leave flavor on the table. Dual-fuel grills solve that tension, letting you sear burgers on gas in ten minutes, then drop a brisket onto the charcoal side for a long, smoky cook. This list rounds up seven charcoal-and-propane grill comboes built for exactly that kind of flexibility, from portable tailgaters to full-size rigs with offset smoking chambers.
The Shortlist At A Glance
Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco Pro Drum Smoker and Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Firecraft Series Modular Barrel Charcoal Grill
Charbroil Pro Series Amplifire 4-Burner Propane Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Offset Smoker
Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel Smoker and Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset Charcoal Smoker and Grill
The Picks, Examined More Closely
The Rambler earns its spot as the most grab-and-go option in this lineup. Where the larger Oklahoma Joe’s picks sit firmly in the backyard, this tabletop unit is built for a tailgate bed, a picnic table, or a small apartment balcony where storage space is the real constraint.
Its 218-square-inch grate is a thoughtful size for two to four people, enough for a couple of steaks, a round of burgers, or a small flat of vegetables. Because it’s strictly charcoal, you trade propane convenience for that fire-kissed flavor. For most casual cooks, that trade is exactly the point.
Where It Excels
- Tabletop size fits in a hatchback and stores flat against a garage wall.
- Adjustable charcoal tray lets you move coals closer or farther for direct sears and gentler cooks.
- Light enough to carry with one hand from the car to the cooking spot.
- Simple, no-frills design means fewer parts to clean after a cookout.
Points To Note
- No propane component, so it doesn’t fit shoppers specifically seeking a true dual-fuel setup.
- Owners commonly report the lid handle runs hot, so a glove is useful during longer sessions.
Right Fit For
Tailgaters, renters, and weekend campers who want authentic charcoal flavor without committing to a full-size pit.
Swap It Out When
You’d rather have gas speed on one side and charcoal on the other; the Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo covers that need.
The Bronco Pro is a purpose-built barrel smoker with a small footprint and a tall, vertical cooking chamber. Compared to the wide-open Rambler, this is the kind of rig a pit builder sets up when ribs and pork shoulders are the main event, not weeknight burgers.
The 366-square-inch grate supports a respectable spread of meat at once, and the sealed drum helps hold temperature steady through long cooks. It is strictly charcoal, so there’s no propane burner for fast sears.
What Pays Off
- Oversized charcoal basket supports extended smoking sessions with fewer refuels.
- Vertical layout keeps heat moving around hanging meat, useful for ribs and poultry.
- Tight seal and adjustable vents give meaningful control over airflow and burn rate.
- Compact barrel body fits on smaller patios where a full offset smoker won’t.
Things To Consider
- Single-fuel design means sears and sides require a second cooking station.
- Drum shape concentrates heat, so beginners may need a session or two to learn vent behavior.
- Ash clean-out from the bottom takes planning, especially after long, low cooks.
Feature Snapshot
Who Will Love This
Patient home pitmasters who chase competition-style bark and smoke rings on weekends.
Skip It When
You mostly grill weeknight dinners and need quick propane ignition; the Charbroil Pro Series fits that rhythm better.
The Firecraft barrel sits in a different lane than the Bronco Pro. Where the Bronco is a closed, vertical smoker, this one leans into open-fire cooking with 360-degree access to the flames. Think cookout centerpiece, not backyard workhorse.
With 480 square inches split across two round grates, the layout invites people to gather around and cook directly over the coals. It’s also designed to pull double duty as a fire pit, which adds real value after the meal wraps up.
What Earns Its Place
- Twist-Lock handles let you adjust or remove grates without dropping food into the fire.
- Heavy-gauge wire grates hold up well to direct contact with charcoal and resist corrosion.
- Open firebox design keeps the cook in the social circle rather than behind a closed lid.
- Doubles as a fire pit for after-dinner hangouts, stretching the value beyond grilling.
Honest Caveats
- Open design means no real smoking chamber, so low-and-slow ribs are out of reach here.
- Charcoal-only, which is a non-starter for shoppers looking for propane backup.
- Bare-flame cooking demands more attention than a closed lid to avoid flare-ups.
Best Suited To
Outdoor entertainers who want a showpiece grill that pulls double duty as a fire pit for gatherings.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Anyone focused on long, slow cooks should consider the Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset instead.
The Charbroil Pro Series is the propane-first entry on this list, and it leans hard into convenience. While the Oklahoma Joe’s picks here lean toward charcoal and offset smoking, this cabinet grill is built for the household that mostly wants fast, reliable weeknight cooking with charcoal available for occasional use.
The Amplifire infrared technology, simply put, is a burner design that radiates intense heat directly at the food for faster, more even searing. The included griddle insert and charcoal trays round out a versatile cook station under one cabinet lid.
What Helps Most
- Four-burner gas layout gets dinner started in minutes, no charcoal lighting wait.
- Side burner adds room for sauces, vegetables, or a pot of corn on the cob.
- Charcoal trays and griddle insert included, so a single rig handles grill, griddle, and smoke.
- Cabinet design conceals the propane tank and adds a shelf for tools and accessories.
Practical Considerations
- Larger cabinet footprint requires dedicated patio space, unlike the portable Rambler.
- Propane tank sold separately, which adds to the total setup cost.
- Stainless and painted finishes need periodic wiping to handle outdoor weather.
Feature Snapshot
Made For
Busy households that want propane speed most nights with charcoal flavor available when the mood strikes.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Slow smoking is the priority; the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow handles that workload better.
The Highland is the largest, most traditional offset smoker in this lineup. Where the Charbroil runs on gas and the Firecraft is open and casual, the Highland is a serious horizontal smoker with a firebox on the side and a baffle system that pushes smoke back across the meat.
The 1,093-square-inch total cooking area handles brisket, ribs, and pork butts for a crowd, and removable baffles let you switch between reverse-flow and traditional offset setups depending on the cook.
Advantages To Know
- Reverse-flow baffle evens out hot spots, which helps newcomers get consistent bark.
- Adjustable smokestack supports fine-tuning over multi-hour cooks.
- Large charcoal basket supports long burns with fewer mid-cook refuels.
- Side firebox doubles as a small direct grilling station for finishing sears.
Where It Is Less Suited
- Charcoal-only design means no propane option for quick weeknight meals.
- Large footprint demands a dedicated spot in the yard or driveway.
- Learning curve is steeper than a gas cabinet or simple kettle.
Feature Snapshot
Who Should Grab It
Hobbyists stepping up to full-size offset smoking who want capacity and airflow control in one rig.
Another Choice May Suit
Cooks who need gas speed and charcoal in the same footprint should look at the Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo.
The Canyon Combo is the closest match in this list for shoppers who specifically searched for a true charcoal-and-propane grill combo. Where the Highland runs strictly on charcoal and the Charbroil leans gas-first, this rig offers both under one hood.
A three-burner propane side delivers fast ignition for weeknight meals, while the offset charcoal chamber handles long cooks. The 1,031-square-inch total area handles ribs, burgers, and vegetables for a crowd.
The Case For It
- True dual-fuel design covers both quick gas grilling and low-and-slow smoking.
- 750-square-inch primary chamber handles two pork shoulders plus a rack of ribs.
- Three-burner gas side heats quickly and maintains even temperatures.
- Combines the strengths of the Charbroil cabinet and Highland offset in one footprint.
Points To Weigh
- Propane tank sold separately, adding a step before the first cook.
- Two cooking chambers mean more cleaning surface after a busy weekend.
- Size and weight make it a permanent backyard fixture, not portable.
Built With In Mind
Backyard hosts who regularly feed a crowd and want flexibility between fast gas cooks and long charcoal smokes.
Not Your Match When
Storage space is tight and a tabletop unit is more realistic; the Rambler is the friendlier pick there.
The Longhorn is the longtime workhorse of this lineup, and it shows what a traditional offset smoker does best. While the Highland adds reverse-flow baffles, the Longhorn keeps things simpler with a straightforward side-firebox layout.
Across 1,060 square inches, including a 751-square-inch primary chamber and a 309-square-inch secondary rack, you can run a brisket and a rack of ribs at the same time without crowding. It’s a charcoal-and-wood rig through and through, so propane isn’t part of the equation.
Bright Spots
- Classic offset design produces the smoke profile traditionalists expect.
- Two chambers let you manage direct and indirect cooking in one cook.
- Heavy-gauge steel body is built for year-round outdoor use.
- Long-standing design with widely shared setup and seasoning guidance.
Factors To Consider
- No propane option, so it doesn’t suit shoppers wanting true dual-fuel capability.
- Requires active fire management during long cooks to maintain steady temperature.
- Side firebox adds length, so plan yard space accordingly.
Feature Snapshot
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Home smokers who want a proven offset design and don’t need propane in the same package.
Consider Something Else When
Dual-fuel flexibility is the priority; the Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo delivers gas and charcoal in one rig.
Choosing The Right Charcoal And Propane Grill Comboes For Your Setup
Matching Fuel Layout To Your Cooking Style
Dual-fuel rigs split into a few real patterns. Side-by-side designs like the Canyon Combo let propane and charcoal cook at the same time, which matters during big gatherings with mixed menus. Cabinet-plus-charcoal layouts like the Charbroil Pro Series use propane as the main engine and treat charcoal as a flavor option. Pure offset smokers like the Longhorn and Highland give up propane entirely in exchange for traditional smoke performance.
Sizing Grates To Real Plates
Cook area numbers only matter when translated to food. A 218-square-inch grate covers a small group, while anything above 750 square inches handles a full brisket and ribs at once. For most households hosting six to ten people, the 1,000-square-inch range is the sweet spot, and the Highland, Canyon Combo, and Longhorn all land there.
Weighing Build Quality Against Price
Thicker steel holds heat more steadily and weathers seasons better, which matters for any rig left outdoors year-round. Drum smokers like the Bronco Pro and barrel designs like the Firecraft tend to run heavier gauge than thin portable kettles. The trade-off is weight and storage footprint, so consider how the grill will move and where it will sit when not in use.
Ventilation And Airflow Control
Airflow drives every charcoal cook, so adjustable vents and smokestacks are worth checking closely. Removable baffles, like those on the Highland, add flexibility by letting you swap between even reverse-flow heat and traditional offset patterns depending on the cook.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Pitfalls Shoppers Hit
Plenty of shoppers pick a grill by grate size alone, then end up with a rig that physically does not fit their patio. Measure the space, including clearance from siding and railings, before settling on anything above 1,000 square inches. Another common slip is buying a charcoal-only offset smoker expecting propane convenience. The Canyon Combo and Charbroil Pro Series are the two entries here that genuinely offer both fuels under one lid.
Where The Extra Money Goes
Higher-tier picks in this category earn their cost through thicker steel, more refined airflow hardware, and larger charcoal baskets that support longer burns. Reverse-flow baffles on the Highland are a clear upgrade over the Longhorn’s traditional layout, and the difference shows up in how even the heat feels across the grate. For weekend hobbyists, that upgrade is usually worth it. For casual cooks grilling a few times a season, a simpler rig does the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Charcoal And Propane Grill Combo?
A charcoal and propane grill combo is a single unit that supports both fuel types, usually with a gas burner on one side and a charcoal chamber on the other, so you can sear on gas or smoke on charcoal without owning two separate grills.
Do These Combo Grills Really Deliver Charcoal Flavor?
Yes, the charcoal side of any dual-fuel rig cooks the same way a standalone charcoal grill does, so the smoke and sear profile match what you’d get from a dedicated charcoal cooker.
How Much Space Do I Need For A Full-Size Combo?
Most full-size combos need a footprint of around 4 by 5 feet, plus clearance on the sides and back, so measure the patio before settling on a rig above 1,000 square inches.
Is A Side Burner Worth It For Combo Grills?
A side burner is useful for sauces, vegetables, and small pots, especially on propane-driven combos like the Charbroil Pro Series, since it keeps the main grate free for the main course.
How Do I Clean And Maintain A Dual-Fuel Grill?
Empty ash after each charcoal cook, wipe down grates while still warm, and cover the unit when not in use, with a deeper clean of burners and grease trays every few months.
The Takeaway
The right charcoal and propane grill combo comes down to how you actually cook: portable charcoal for the Rambler crowd, dedicated smoking for the Highland and Longhorn, and true dual-fuel performance for the Canyon Combo. Match the fuel layout to your real menu, and the rest tends to fall into place.