The Best Hybrid Grills

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Hybrid Grills and hope the blog can help you.

Can’t decide between gas, charcoal, or a smoker? You don’t have to with one of these combo grills that offer more than just one way to barbecue.

When buying a new grill, backyard barbecue enthusiasts often find themselves forced to choose between the convenience of gas and the smokey flavor of charcoal. Hybrid grills don’t require such a compromise. Instead, these versatile grills allow you to cook with both charcoal and gas, often at the same time. These types of combination barbecues aren’t the only type of hybrid grills on the market. There are also grills that combine the convenience of a gas grill with a pellet smoker or a flat top grill. This guide will dive into what to look for in one of these backyard cooking appliances while reviewing some of the best hybrid grills on the market.

1. BEST OVERALL: Char-Griller Double Play Gas and Charcoal Grill
2. RUNNER-UP: Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Combo Smoker and Grill
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Char-Broil Gas2Coal 3-Burner Hybrid Grill
4. UPGRADE PICK: Lifetime Smoker Grill Combo
5. BEST PELLET: Pit Boss Pro Series 1100 Pellet and Gas Combo Grill
6. BEST WITH SMOKER: Char-Griller Texas Trio Gas and Charcoal Grill
7. BEST PORTABLE: Blackstone Tailgater Grill and Griddle Combo
8. BEST WITH GRIDDLE: Royal Gourmet 4-Burner Gas Grill and Griddle Combo

How We Chose the Best Hybrid Grills

We researched more than 20 hybrid grills when making our selections for this product guide. While most are combination gas and charcoal grills, in an effort to meet other preferences, we also included combination gas grills and pellet smokers as well as combination gas and flat top grills.

These combo grills are all about adding different ways to cook food. Keeping that in mind, we leaned toward models that offer even more ways to cook by including such additional features as smoker boxes and side burners. Hybrid grills have the potential to create twice the mess, so we chose models that counter that with designs to make cleaning easier, including removable trays for emptying charcoal ash and grease-catch systems. Finally, we also considered build quality by leaning toward grills that use heavier-gauge steel construction offered by reputable brands.

Our Top Picks

The hybrid grills ahead include those that can function as gas and charcoal grills as well as other hybrid models that include pellet smokers and flat top grills. All of these models give the home chef multiple ways to cook different types of foods.

Best Overall

Char-Griller Double Play Gas and Charcoal Grill

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Char-Griller’s take on the hybrid grill consists of a barrel-style gas grill that sits side by side with an identical barrel-style charcoal grill. Combined, they offer a vast 876 square inches of primary cooking surface (the main cooking area not including side burners or warming racks), with an additional 384 square inches of warming racks. The gas grill side is surprisingly versatile and powerful thanks to three burners that put out a whopping 40,800 British thermal units (BTUs). A side burner adds another 12,000 BTUs of heat. A clamshell lid and vent on the charcoal grill side along with an adjustable-height charcoal grate give you several options for controlling temperature when cooking with charcoal.

Both cook boxes on this charcoal-gas grill combo funnel to a single grease-catching system, and there’s a removable ashtray for fast post-grilling cleanup. In addition to the gas and charcoal grilling functions, there’s also a side burner for extra cooking space and a place to add a smoker box. Two wheels on one side of the base allow the grill to be rolled into and out of position.

Product Specs 

• Cooking surfaces: Primary: 876 square inches; secondary: 384 square inches
• Functions: Gas and charcoal grills
• Gas grill heat output: 40,800 BTUs

Pros

• 3 powerful burners provide ample heat for the gas grill side
• Includes a side burner for cooking additional foods like sauteed vegetables
• Can expand cooking functions with optional smoker box sold separately

Cons

• Some customers complain about poor welds and problems with rust

Get the Char-Griller Double Play hybrid grill at The Home Depot.

Runner-Up

Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Combo Smoker and Grill

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This hybrid grill is three backyard cooking appliances in one. At its center are side-by-side barrel-style charcoal and gas grills. Flanking the charcoal grill is an offset smoker box that allows the grill’s charcoal chamber to be used as a smoker. Combined, this charcoal-and-gas-grill combo and smoker has 750 square inches of primary cooking surface.

In addition to its cooking versatility, there are also plenty of extras to support the chef, including temperature gauges on the lids of the charcoal and gas grills, cool-touch handles, a handy side burner, and a bottom shelf for storage. There’s also a damper on the charcoal lid to help control temperature while smoking. At more than 6 feet wide, this hybrid grill has a sizable footprint, making it suitable for homes with a large deck or patio.

Product Specs 

• Cooking surfaces: Primary: 750 square inches; secondary: 310 square inches
• Functions: Gas and charcoal grills and smoker
• Gas grill heat output: 36,000 BTUs

Pros

• Can function as a gas grill, charcoal grill, and offset smoker
• Gas grill side has 3 powerful 12,000-BTU burners and a 12,000-BTU side burner
• Comes equipped with multiple temperature gauges and cool-touch handles

Cons

• Takes up a large footprint on a deck or patio at 6 feet 2 inches wide
• Some customers complain about the grill rusting after a few months of use

Get the Oklahoma Joe’s hybrid grill at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Tractor Supply Co., or Wayfair.

Best Bang for the Buck

Char-Broil Gas2Coal 3-Burner Hybrid Grill

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The Char-Broil Gas2Coal hybrid is essentially two grills for the price of one. It consists of a gas grill with a charcoal tray and comes equipped with three burners that put out a total of 40,000 BTUs, more than enough power to heat its 420 square inches of cooking surface. It also includes a 12,000-BTU side burner.

Unlike other hybrid grills that have two cook boxes, the Gas2Coal cannot be used to cook with charcoal and gas at the same time. The Gas2Coal’s smaller cook box does make it more compact than other hybrid grills though. This propane-charcoal grill measures just 52.5 inches wide, making it a great hybrid grill option for smaller spaces. Plus, when loaded with charcoal, the gas burners can be used to light the charcoal, eliminating the need for starter fluid. The Gas2Coal comes equipped with two large side tables, one of which includes a gas burner for cooking side dishes. A large charcoal tray sits below the burners for easy cleanup.

Product Specs 

• Cooking surfaces: Primary: 420 square inches; secondary: 130 square inches
• Functions: Gas and charcoal grills
• Gas grill heat output: 40,000 BTUs

Pros

• Gas burners can be used to light the charcoal, eliminating the need for starter fluid
• 2 large side tables with 1 built-in burner for prepping food and cooking sides
• Large charcoal tray under the cook box makes cleanup easy
• Compact size compared to other hybrid grills

Cons

• Doesn’t allow for simultaneous gas and charcoal grilling

Get the Char-Broil hybrid grill at Wayfair.

Upgrade Pick

Lifetime Smoker Grill Combo

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While most hybrid grills offer you the ability to cook with charcoal and gas, this model focuses on those who like to smoke meat by combining a large four-burner gas grill with a pellet smoker. The grill boasts 742 square inches of cooking surface for either grilling or smoking but doesn’t take up much space at just 25.3 inches long by 59 inches wide. Flanking the grill is a large 20-pound-capacity pellet hopper that has a dropout for easy removal of leftover pellets.

The pellet smoker comes equipped with a digital controller with a bright LCD screen and three meat temperature probes. Since this smoker has Wi-Fi connectivity, you can also control it via the Lifetime smartphone app. While this combination grill and pellet smoker doesn’t allow for simultaneous cooking as other hybrid grills do, cooks can use the gas burners to assist with temperature control when smoking in cold weather. Other notable features include a side table for prepping food, a storage box built into the side shelf, and additional storage under the cook box.

Product Specs 

• Cooking surfaces: 742 square inches total
• Functions: Gas grill and pellet smoker
• Gas grill heat output: N/A

Pros

• Can use gas grill to provide auxiliary heat when smoking in colder weather
• Large cooking surface with multiple cooking zones for grilling
• More compact size than other hybrid grills with separate cook boxes

Cons

• Doesn’t have the ability to grill and smoke simultaneously
• Some customers complain about large temperature swings while smoking in cold weather

Get the Lifetime hybrid grill at Amazonor The Home Depot.

Best Pellet

Pit Boss Pro Series 1100 Pellet and Gas Combo Grill

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Simultaneously sear a steak while smoking a rack of ribs with this Pit Boss combination gas grill and pellet smoker. As with other hybrid grills, the Pit Boss consists of two-barrel-shaped cook boxes that sit side by side. Its 1,262 square inches of main cooking surface are split evenly between the grill and smoker.

There are also plenty of extra features to make using both grills at the same time an easier process, including two meat probes and Wi-Fi connectivity on the pellet grill side that make maintaining and monitoring temperature easier. The gas grill side has four burners for grilling multiple foods at the same time and the Pit Boss’s own Flame Broiler Lever for searing at temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s also a side burner for additional cooking space. Stainless steel construction and cast-iron cooking grates make this Pit Boss one of the more durable hybrid grills on the market.

Product Specs 

• Cooking surfaces: 1,262 square inches total
• Functions: Gas grill and pellet smoker
• Gas grill heat output: N/A

Pros

• Gas grill side includes 4 burners and a sear lever for steaks and burgers
• Programmable pellet hopper with meat thermometers automates smoking
• Heavy gauge stainless steel construction with cast-iron grates

Cons

• Some customers complain that the smoker’s Wi-Fi app constantly crashes

Get the Pit Boss hybrid grill at Lowe’s.

Best With Smoker

Char-Griller Texas Trio Gas and Charcoal Grill

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Grill with gas while you’re smoking or barbecuing with charcoal with the Char-Griller Texas Trio. This grill features side-by-side gas and charcoal barrel grills with a combined 779 square inches of cooking surface split evenly between the two. The gas grill is supported by three burners that put out a combined 40,800 BTUs, ample power for evenly heating the gas side’s cooking surface and reaching the high temperatures required for searing. While this grill offers many options for cooking, it also occupies a lot of space at more than 6 feet wide.

A smoker box allows the charcoal side to double as an offset smoker, and there’s also a 12,000-BTU side burner to boot. There are dual-temperature gauges, three smoke stacks for controlling airflow, and an electronic igniter for easy start-ups.

Product Specs 

• Cooking surfaces: Primary: 779 square inches; secondary: 610 square inches
• Functions: Gas and charcoal grills and smoker
• Gas grill heat output: 40,800 BTUs

Pros

• Functions as a gas grill, charcoal grill, and smoker
• Gas side features 3 burners for even cooking and searing
• Also comes with a side burner for cooking sauces and side dishes

Cons

• At more than 6 feet wide, takes up a large amount of space on a deck or patio
• Some customers complain that it’s difficult to assemble