Backyard cooking gets messy fast when you’re juggling charcoal, gas, and side dishes across separate gear. A combo grill pulls those surfaces into one footprint, which matters when your patio is small, your evenings are short, and your guest list keeps growing. This roundup focuses on models that genuinely merge different cooking methods, not just grills with an extra burner bolted on. Five options cover tabletop weeknights, family-sized gatherings, and full outdoor kitchen builds, so you can match the setup to your space and your style.
An Overview Of The Picks
Labolata 2-Burner Propane Gas & Charcoal Grill Combo
SKOK Tabletop 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill Griddle Combo
Labolata Propane Gas Grill Griddle Combo with Side Burner
Bull Outdoor Products Complete Outdoor Kitchen Bundle
4-Burner Propane BBQ Gas Grill with Side Burner (Black)
Inside Each Recommended Option
Few combo grills actually deliver on the dual-fuel promise. This one does, splitting a propane side and a charcoal side into a single cabinet, then adding a third burner on the wing for pots and sauces. The gas side fires up fast for weekday burgers, while the charcoal bay gives you the slow, smoky sear weekend cookouts tend to call for.
If your household argues about fuel types, this layout settles the debate without forcing anyone to compromise. Cast-iron grates on the main surfaces hold heat well enough for thicker steaks, and the side burner frees up burner space on the main rack. In most mid-sized backyards, the footprint feels balanced rather than oversized.
Notable Upsides
- True dual-fuel design, with a propane section sitting alongside a separate charcoal chamber for genuine flavor variety.
- Side burner handles sides, sauces, and boiling water so the main grates stay free for protein.
- Cast-iron cooking grates retain heat for solid sear marks and steady recovery after lid opening.
- Warming rack keeps finished food ready while the next round cooks.
Things To Consider
- Two fuel systems mean more setup and cleanup than a single-source grill.
- Cast-iron grates need regular oiling to resist rust through wet seasons.
- Charcoal side requires ash disposal after every session, which adds to teardown time.
Who It Suits Best
Households split between gas convenience and charcoal flavor, cooking for a small group most weekends.
Where Another Pick Suits Better
Shoppers who never light charcoal should consider the SKOK tabletop model instead, since it skips charcoal entirely and fits smaller footprints.
Tabletop combo grills usually feel like compromises, but this one leans hard into the griddle side without abandoning the grill. Cast iron forms the cooking surface, two grates and a flat plate, so you get genuine searing capability in a footprint that fits on a small patio table or a tailgate. The viewing window helps you track food without lifting the lid and bleeding heat.
Apartment dwellers, campers, and anyone short on storage will find the format appealing. Three propane burners spread across the surfaces give you enough zone control for pancakes on one side and burgers on the other. Compared to the Labolata charcoal combo earlier in this list, you give up smoky flavor but gain portability and simpler cleanup.
Key Advantages
- Cast-iron grill grates plus a griddle plate handle breakfast foods and seared proteins in the same session.
- Three independent burners allow zone cooking, so delicate items and high-heat foods don’t fight for temperature.
- Viewing window cuts down on lid lifting, which keeps heat stable and reduces flare-ups.
- Tabletop size stores in a closet or garage shelf when not in use.
Worth Noting
- Compact grate size limits batch cooking for groups larger than four.
- Cast iron needs careful drying after washing to prevent surface rust.
Made For
Small-space cooks, campers, and tailgaters who want grill-plus-griddle flexibility without dedicating patio square footage.
Consider Something Else When
Anyone feeding a crowd of eight or more regularly should look at the La Bolata 4-Burner model, which offers a far larger cooking area.
This Labolata build skips charcoal and focuses on a clean propane workflow. The right side hosts a cast-iron grill grate for traditional searing, while the left side carries a 3mm stainless steel griddle plate that handles pancakes, eggs, and chopped vegetables without the seasoning demands of pure cast iron. A side burner rounds out the lineup for pots and warming sauces.
Weeknight cooks who want variety without juggling fuel types tend to land here. You get a true two-surface setup without committing to charcoal, and stainless steel cleans faster than cast iron on the griddle side. Compared to the tabletop SKOK model reviewed above, you trade portability for a sturdier stationary footprint and more burners.
Noteworthy Benefits
- Stainless steel griddle plate resists sticking and wipes clean faster than cast iron.
- Cast iron grill side delivers high-heat sear marks on steaks and burgers.
- Side burner doubles as a sauce station or pot warmer during longer cooks.
- Propane-only operation keeps startup predictable with a single fuel source.
Points To Keep In Mind
- Stainless griddle can develop hot spots if burners underneath aren’t matched to plate thickness.
- Stationary size requires dedicated patio space rather than closet storage.
Right Fit For
Families who cook dinner four or five nights a week and want one appliance to handle grilled proteins and griddled sides without swapping pans indoors.
Skip It When
If countertop cooking and portability matter more than cooking area, the SKOK tabletop model is a smarter fit for your situation.
This isn’t a grill with extras tacked on. The Bull bundle arrives as a coordinated outdoor kitchen system, centered on the Brahma built-in grill head and supported by doors, drawers, a glass-door cabinet, and a contemporary outdoor refrigerator. The included fitted cover protects the stainless surfaces when the season ends.
Homeowners building or upgrading a permanent outdoor entertaining space get the most from this bundle. It cuts out the guesswork of matching components, since the doors, drawers, and refrigeration are designed to flank the grill head in a single run. Compared to the La Bolata combos earlier in this list, you’re paying for integration and stainless construction rather than just burner count.
Useful Touches
- Coordinated bundle removes the compatibility headaches of mixing built-in components from different brands.
- Glass-door section and contemporary outdoor refrigerator keep drinks and prep items within arm’s reach of the grill.
- Trash and recycle drawer streamlines cleanup during multi-course cooks.
- Fitted cover shields stainless surfaces from weather between cookouts.
A Few Limitations
- Built-in design requires a masonry or framed island base, which adds installation cost.
- Stainless steel needs routine wiping to prevent fingerprints and water spots in humid climates.
Built With In Mind
Homeowners committed to a permanent outdoor kitchen build who want every component matched and ready for an island install.
Another Choice May Suit
Renters or anyone wanting a movable setup should consider the La Bolata 4-Burner model, which ships ready to roll into a garage.
La Bolata’s black 4-burner build trades charcoal flexibility for sheer cooking area. A cast iron wire cooking grate handles the main grilling surface, while a reversible cast iron griddle plate slides onto either side, letting you choose where the flat-top zone lives on cook day. A side burner covers pot duty without crowding the main rack.
For households hosting larger weekend crowds, the four-burner layout spreads the heat. Multiple zones mean chicken thighs can run low and slow while steaks hit high heat elsewhere, and the stainless warming rack keeps finished food table-ready. Against the Labolata grill-and-griddle combo reviewed above, you get more burner count and a wider grate, with the griddle plate repositionable to taste.
Good Reasons To Consider
- Four-burner configuration creates enough zones for varied proteins cooking simultaneously.
- Reversible griddle plate installs on either side, giving you layout control based on your cooking style.
- Warming rack holds finished food at serving temp while the main grate keeps producing.
- Cast iron wire grate handles large cuts and full racks without crowding.
Honest Caveats
- Reversible griddle means extra setup steps when switching between flat-top and grate-only sessions.
- Larger footprint may not suit compact patios or apartment balconies.
Best Suited To
Families who host weekend cookouts for six or more and want a single propane unit to anchor the patio.
Look Elsewhere When
Cooks needing charcoal flavor alongside gas should look back to the Labolata dual-fuel combo, which keeps both fuel types in play.
How To Pick A Combo Grill That Actually Fits
A combo grill earns its space when the surfaces you use the most line up with the surfaces it offers. Start with your dominant cooking style: if breakfast-for-dinner and smash burgers dominate, a grill-plus-griddle layout covers more of your week than a grill-plus-charcoal option. If slow-smoked ribs are your signature, dual-fuel or charcoal-friendly setups deserve a closer look.
Match The Footprint To Your Patio
Measure your usable patio space before falling for a large stainless build. Built-in bundles like the Bull outdoor kitchen require permanent island framing, which adds installation cost you won’t recover if you move. Freestanding propane combos are easier to reposition but still need clearance behind and beside for ventilation and hood clearance under patio covers. In apartment or rental settings, tabletop models store on a shelf between uses, which often matters more than cooking area.
Pay Attention To Grate Materials
Cast iron holds heat exceptionally well and produces defined sear marks, but it needs oiling and careful drying to avoid rust. Cast iron wire grates sear well and shed food cleanly, though they can be heavier to lift during cleaning. Stainless steel griddles heat evenly and wipe down fast, yet they don’t develop the same seasoning patina over time. For most home cooks, a cast iron main grate paired with a stainless or cast iron griddle plate strikes a workable balance.
Burner Count And BTU Output
More burners mean better zone control, which matters when cooking varied proteins at once. Three burners cover most family meals, while four-burner layouts handle full dinner-party spreads without crowding. BTU ratings are useful for comparison, though they tell you more about peak heat than real-world cooking efficiency. Distribution of heat across the grate matters more than a single peak number.
Side Burners And Warming Racks
Side burners tend to get used more than shoppers expect, especially for boiling corn, simmering beans, or warming sauces while the main grate keeps producing. Warming racks extend the practical cooking area by holding finished food at serving temperature. Together, those two features can save a trip back inside during longer cooks.
Smart Considerations Before You Decide
Common Shopping Slip Ups
Picking by peak BTU alone ignores how heat actually distributes across a grate. Some shoppers also overlook grate material, then resent the seasoning routine cast iron demands. Watch for hidden costs too: built-in bundles need masonry or framed island work that can exceed the grill’s own price.
What The Higher Tier Buys
Premium combo grills buy you stainless construction, coordinated component matching, and broader cooking surfaces. The Bull bundle, for instance, ships doors, drawers, and refrigeration designed to flank the grill head. You pay for integration, not just extra burners, and that integration saves time during planning and installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Combo Grill?
A combo grill combines two or more cooking surfaces, such as a grill grate and a griddle plate, into a single appliance. Some models also add a side burner or charcoal chamber for extra versatility.
Are Combo Grills Worth The Investment?
Combo grills earn their keep when you genuinely cook on multiple surfaces in a single session. Households that frequently run griddled sides alongside grilled proteins tend to get the most value from them.
How Do I Clean A Cast Iron Griddle On A Combo Grill?
Wipe the griddle down while still warm using a paper towel, then rinse with hot water and dry thoroughly. Apply a thin coat of oil before storage to prevent rust on cast iron surfaces.
Can Combo Grills Use Natural Gas Instead Of Propane?
Some models are convertible, though most ship configured for propane out of the box. Conversion kits are usually available through the manufacturer or a qualified service technician.
How Much Patio Space Do I Need For A Combo Grill?
Freestanding models typically need at least a few feet of clearance on all sides, while built-in bundles require permanent island framing. Always check the manufacturer’s clearance specs before placing a unit under a covered patio.
Bottom Line
Combo grills work best when their layout matches your cooking habits rather than your wish list. The picks above span tabletops, dual-fuel family rigs, and full outdoor kitchen systems, so the right choice depends on space, fuel preference, and how many people you typically feed. Start with the dominant cooking surface you actually use, then build outward from there.