Imagine the sizzle of bacon hitting a hot, flat surface on a sunny Saturday morning. Doesn’t that sound amazing? Many of us dream of that perfect outdoor cooking setup, a place where we can flip pancakes for the whole family or sear juicy burgers without juggling multiple pans on a tiny grill grate. But when you start looking at backyard griddles, the choices can feel overwhelming. You see different sizes, materials, and features, and suddenly that simple dream feels complicated.
Choosing the right griddle means balancing price, space, and what you actually plan to cook. Do you need a small tabletop model or a massive, permanent fixture? These decisions affect your whole outdoor cooking experience. We understand the confusion! That’s why we’ve put together this complete guide to break down everything you need to know about backyard griddles.
By the end of this post, you will know exactly what features matter most for your lifestyle. We will explore the best types available today and help you avoid common buying mistakes. Get ready to turn your backyard into the ultimate cooking destination!
Top Backyard Griddle Recommendations
- Cook for a Crowd: Whether you are cooking for a large or small group this griddle is equipped to handle the load. This 28” griddle has 524 square inches of cooking space and can hold up to 21 burgers or 15 pancakes so you can get to eating faster.
- Versatile Cooking Space: Make a variety of foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on this griddle top. Whether you are in the mood for traditional barbecue, breakfast foods, or gourmet grilled cheese you can make it on your griddle.
- Two H-Style Burners: This griddle features two independently controlled H-style burners with a combined 34,000 BTUs so you can cook on lower heat on one side of the griddle while another part of your meal cooks on a higher heat on the other side.
- Hassle-Free Cleanup: Make grease disposal easy by using the Blackstone-patented rear grease management system. Push any food debris or grease to the back of your griddle to collect in the rear grease cup for easy cleanup and disposal.
- Counter-Height Side Shelves: Enjoy the extra meal prep and serving room provided by the dual side shelves on this griddle and work on them more comfortably at their taller counter height.
- Free-standing Cart to Tabletop Design: This griddle adapts effortlessly to any outdoor setting, shifting from a stand grill to a tabletop grill when removed from the cart, offering flexible cooking wherever you want with ease and convenience
- Griddle Hood: The black heat-resistant hood keeps the cooking surface clean and shields it from unwanted elements, extending the griddle's lifespan when not in use. During cooking, keep the hood open to serve as a wind deflector and DO NOT CLOSE IT
- Consistent Even Heating: With a 389 sq. in. Sanding steel cooking surface and 34,000 BTU generated by four stainless steel burners, the grill caters to you with uniform heat distribution for perfectly cooked meals every time
- Handy Side Shelves: Side shelves on both sides provide extra preparation space for cooking, with room for items such as cooking ingredients, spices and plates. Each shelf also features 3 hooks for hanging tools
- Effortless Mobility and Solid Stability: Equipped with two wheels and two sturdy legs, this griddle offers easy mobility and exceptional stability when stationed, allowing you to move it effortlessly to your preferred cooking location
- Griddle on the Go: This griddle is compact and portable so you can take it to the beach, on a picnic, camping, to a tailgate, etc.
- Surprisingly Spacious Cooking Area: This compact griddle is more spacious than you would think. Cook up to 14 burgers at a time on the 22” griddle top with 361 square inches of cooking space.
- Versatile Cooking Space: A griddle top is a versatile cooking surface that can handle a variety of foods such as bacon, pancakes, veggies, burgers, and more.
- Two Evenly Heated Zones: Cook a few different items at different temperatures on the same griddle top thanks to two independently heated burners that put out a combined 24,000 BTUs and evenly heat the whole griddle top.
- Quick Cleanup: Guide any food debris and grease to the back of your griddle to be collected in the Blackstone-patented rear grease management system for easy grease disposal.
- 𝐆𝐚𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐨: Experience the endless possibilities with the our dual grill and griddle combo, catering to all your cooking needs. Whether youre grilling juicy steaks and sausages or sauting crisp vegetables and seafood, this combo grill handles it all with ease. Make every meal fresh and delicious, and enjoy the diverse cooking delights it brings
- 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚: 442 sq.in. porcelainenameled cast iron grill cooking area plus 253 sq.in. cast iron pan fry cooking area consist in 696 sq.in, bbq cooking area, and the gas grill part and flat top grill part are individually controllable, allowing you to use grill flexibly based on the type of your gathering, super suitable for your family and freinds parties
- 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧: Below the grill chamber body, there are a grease tray designed with a tilt so that the grease can flow directly into the hanging grease box below for propane gas grill. And a waste oil cup under the flattop griddle grill connected by a channel, no need to worry about oil dripping onto the burner. all these designs mean grilling cleaning much easier after BBQ time
- 𝟓𝟒,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐁𝐓𝐔 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐮𝐭: Featuring parallel and Hshaped stainless steel burners, this highpower gas grill ensures even heat distribution for goodly cooked meals every time. Its robust design and high heat output make it ideal for grilling steaks, vegetables, and a variety of other foods. Enjoy unmatched durability and consistent performance, and cook delicious dishes with ease
- 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: The enameled finish not only looks sleek but also provides excellent heat resistance and corrosion protection, keeping the interior looking like new for longer. With easy cleaning and maintenance, you can enjoy the joy of grilling without the hassle. Choose this enameled interior grill to add a touch of quality and style to your outdoor kitchen
- GRIDDLE GRILL COMBO: Perfect for every meal, from juicy steaks to sautéed veggies. Enjoy the versatility of grilling and griddling in one, making every meal fresh and flavorful. Perfect for any outdoor gathering
- COOKING FLEXIBILITY: Versatile Cooking for Every Occasion. Choose one or both lids to cook multiple dishes with independent temperature control depending on the number of guests, catering to various cooking needs efficiently
- SPACIOUS GRILLING SPACE: Experience 575 sq.in. of ample cooking area, featuring durable cast iron grates and a porcelain-enameled warming rack, perfect for large, enjoyable BBQs with family and friends
- EFFICIENT GRILLING ORGANIZATION: The front panel turns into a condiment station, and foldable shelves provide extra space for plates and prep. Tool hooks keep your grilling tools close, streamlining your cooking process
- EFFORTLESS CLEANUP: Experience the ease of post-BBQ cleaning with our full-sized, slide-out grease tray. Simply slide out to remove grease and residues, making cleanup a breeze and keeping your grill ready for the next delicious meal
- Tailgating Anytime & Anywhere: Portable enough for pickup cooking with 2-in-1 user-friendly combo design for satisfying your different needs and barely need to reassemble for fast and quick barbecue design for satisfying your different needs and barely need to reassemble for fast and quick barbecue
- Grill or Griddle, It's up to You: Ceramic-coated griddle plate and cast iron cooking grates are designed for versatile cooking options, such as pancakes, bacon strips, eggs, T-bone steaks, fish fillets and chicken breast
- Powerful Performance: four independently controlled stainless steel burners emit up to 40,000 BTU (10,000 BTU each) performance totally, which evenly distribute heat to 430 sq. in. cooking space for consistent cookout
- Spark Electronic Ignition: Turn the control knobs anti-clockwise to HIGH position and light up your combo with a simple push of one button at the middle of control panel
- Hassle-free Cleanup: The slightly grooved drip tray channels oil fast into the grease cup which collects residues for mess-free dumping and cleaning after use
- Griddle on the go: Blackstone on the go portable griddle features a collapsible "Roll and Go" scissor leg design for easy transportation to the beach, park, campground, tailgate, or any other outoor location. When you've decided to call it a night, our outdoor griddle folds to become a convenient cart.
- Side shelf to keep your cooking space organized: The side shelf of our gas griddle can be used to prep your food, hold spices and condiments, or to keep your cooking tools handy. The large handle on the side will help you raise and collapse the griddle easily.
- Multipurpose 22" cooking surface: Blackstone griddles aren't just for pancakes and sunny-side-up eggs. You can make everything from fried rice, burgers, steak to anything your stomach inspires you to cook up. Your cooking options are only limited to what you can imagine.
- Two individually controlled knobs: Two adjustable heat zones on our camping griddle makes for a versatile cooking surface where you can cook several foods at once and not burn a thing This also allows you to keep certain foods warm while others cook.
- Patented rear grease management system: If you plan on cooking bacon or any other juicy meats, clean-up can be tedious. Luckily, our stainless steel griddle features a rear grease trap that collects all the mess and makes after-cooking clean-up a breeze.
- 【Powerful 50,000 BTU Performance】This propane grill features 4 stainless steel main burners and a extra side burner, this propane gas grill delivers up to 50,000 BTUs of heating power—perfect for fast and even grilling, searing, or simmering your favorite BBQ dishes.
- 【480 Sq.in Cooking Area with 2-in-1 Cast Iron Grates】Features a spacious 480 square inches of cooking surface with heavy-duty cast iron grates and a flat griddle combo—ideal for burgers, steaks, eggs, or veggies. Also, an additional 220 sq. in. stainless steel warming rack. The 2-in-1 design lets you grill and griddle at the same time.
- 【Clear Viewing Window and Built-in Thermometer】Enjoy perfectly cooked meals with our oven's clear viewing window and built-in thermometer! Monitor progress without opening the door and ensure precise temperatures for delicious results every time. Barbecue made easy! Perfect for low-and-slow smoking or searing with precision.
- 【Easy to Clean with Slide-Out Grease Tray】The full-size grease tray that slides out smoothly and built-in drip pan to manage grease and drippings, making after-cooking cleanup fast and hassle-free.
- 【Thoughtful Designs】Gas bbq grills with large storage cabinet easily store your gas tank and offer sufficient space for grilling accessories; Built-in thermometer monitors temperature in real-time;Transparent glass window allows you to observe the cooking status of food in real time;Side hooks for hanging barbecue tools.
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Your Backyard Griddle Adventure Awaits
Ready to cook amazing meals outside? A backyard griddle is a fantastic outdoor cooking tool. It heats up fast and gives you a huge, flat surface for cooking. This guide helps you pick the perfect one for your yard.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping, check these important parts. They make cooking easier and the griddle last longer.
Cooking Surface Size
- Bigger is often better. Think about how many people you usually cook for. A large surface lets you cook pancakes, eggs, and bacon all at once!
- Look at the square inches (sq. in.). A small family might need 300 sq. in., while bigger parties need 600 sq. in. or more.
Heat Control and Burners
- Good griddles have multiple burners. This means you can have one hot spot for searing and a cooler spot for keeping food warm.
- Look for independent heat controls. Each burner should have its own knob. This gives you precise temperature control.
Grease Management
- Cooking creates grease. A good system catches it easily.
- Check for a removable grease tray or cup. Cleaning this out after cooking is much simpler.
Important Materials Matter
What your griddle is made of affects how well it cooks and how long it stays in good shape.
The Griddle Top (Cooking Surface)
- Cold-Rolled Steel: This is common. It heats up evenly once it gets hot. It needs seasoning (oiling and heating) before the first use to prevent rust and create a non-stick surface.
- Stainless Steel: More expensive, but it cleans up easier and resists rust better.
The Frame and Lid
- Most frames use powder-coated steel. This coating helps protect the metal from rain and rust.
- A sturdy lid is helpful. It protects the cooking surface when you are not using the griddle.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all griddles are built the same. A few details show you if the quality is high or low.
Factors That Improve Quality (Go for these!)
- Thick Steel: Thicker steel holds heat better. Thin metal loses heat quickly when you put cold food on it.
- Strong Wheels: If you plan to move it, make sure the wheels are large and durable.
- Easy Assembly: Read reviews. Some models are notoriously hard to put together.
Factors That Reduce Quality (Watch out for these!)
- Thin Burners: Weak burners mean uneven heating. Hot spots burn your food.
- Flimsy Side Shelves: If the side tables wobble when you set a plate down, the overall build quality is probably low.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how you plan to use your griddle every week. This guides your final choice.
Breakfast Powerhouse
Griddles shine at breakfast. You can cook a huge stack of pancakes for a crowd. Or, flip bacon, eggs, and hash browns all at the same time. The large surface means no more cooking in batches!
Lunch and Dinner Versatility
Don’t just think breakfast. Smash burgers cook perfectly on a hot griddle. Sauté vegetables for fajitas right next to your chicken. Many people use them for stir-fries too. A good griddle replaces several pans at once.
Cleaning Up
A quick wipe down is often all it takes, especially if you clean it while it’s still warm. A well-seasoned surface makes wiping away food scraps simple. This ease of cleaning is a huge win over traditional grills.
Backyard Griddle Buying Guide FAQ
Q: What is the most important thing to check before buying?
A: Check the thickness of the cooking surface. Thicker steel cooks more evenly. Thin steel causes frustrating hot spots.
Q: Do I have to season a new griddle?
A: Yes, most cold-rolled steel griddles need seasoning. This process involves oiling the surface and heating it up several times. Seasoning protects the steel from rust and helps food release easily.
Q: How many BTUs do I need?
A: BTUs measure heating power. For a medium-sized griddle (around 400 sq. in.), look for at least 30,000 total BTUs spread across all burners. More BTUs mean faster heat-up times.
Q: Can I use my griddle in the rain?
A: No. You should cover your griddle when it is not in use. Rain causes rust, especially on steel surfaces. Always store it under a cover.
Q: Are propane tanks the only fuel source?
A: Most backyard griddles run on standard 20-pound propane tanks. Some larger, stationary models can be converted to natural gas if you have a line run to your patio.
Q: How do I clean grease off the cooking surface?
A: Scrape the bulk of the food and grease into the grease trap while the griddle is still warm. Use a griddle scraper. Once cool, wipe the surface down with a damp cloth or paper towels.
Q: What is the difference between a griddle and a flat-top grill?
A: They are often the same thing! “Griddle” usually refers to the portable or smaller outdoor units. “Flat-top grill” often describes larger, built-in outdoor kitchen units, but the cooking concept is identical.
Q: Will a griddle work well in cold weather?
A: Yes, they generally work better than traditional grills in the cold. The solid surface traps heat well, so you can still cook pancakes even when it is chilly outside.
Q: Are side burners useful?
A: Side burners are very useful. You can boil water for coffee or heat up sauce while your main food cooks on the flat top. It acts like a full outdoor stove.
Q: How long should a good quality griddle last?
A: With proper care, seasoning, and using a good cover, a quality steel griddle should last 5 to 10 years. Stainless steel models can last even longer.