The Best Built-In Grills for Backyard Barbecuing in 2024
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No self-respecting outdoor kitchen is complete without one of these cooking appliances.
A built-in grill is a staple of any outdoor kitchen. These luxury items of backyard barbecuing drop into an outdoor kitchen’s counters, creating a seamless look. A built-in BBQ for outdoor kitchens also offers better performance than a standard gas grill. Their powerful burners allow them to reach extreme temperatures, and they often come with useful extra features such as built-in rotisseries and smoker boxes.
Since these grills also come with a steep price tag, knowing what to look for is crucial to ensuring you get what you pay for when investing in one. Our pick for the best overall is the Blaze Professional LUX 34-Inch Built-In Grill. It’s made of commercial-grade stainless steel, has a large cooking surface, and comes with a grease-management system that makes cleanup easier. Ahead, learn what factors and features to consider when shopping for one of these luxury outdoor cooking appliances, and find out why the models below are some of the best built-in grills on the market.
- BEST OVERALL: Blaze Professional LUX 34-Inch Built-In Grill
↓ Jump to Review - RUNNER-UP: Summerset TRL Propane Gas Built-In Grill
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Bull Outdoor Products Outlaw Drop-In Grill Head
↓ Jump to Review - BEST DESIGN: DCS Series 9 36-Inch Built-In Natural Gas Grill
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PROPANE: Weber Summit S-460 Built-In Propane Gas Grill
↓ Jump to Review - BEST INFRARED: TEC Sterling Patio FR Infrared Built-In Grill
↓ Jump to Review - BEST DUAL GRILL: Napoleon Prestige Pro 825 Built-In Natural Gas Grill
↓ Jump to Review - BEST COMPACT: Coyote C-Series 28-Inch Built-In Natural Gas Grill
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR BEGINNERS: Blaze Prelude LBM 32-Inch Propane Gas Built-In Grill
↓ Jump to Review
How We Chose the Best Built-In Grills
We considered a variety of factors to make our selections for this type of grill, including performance, build quality, and additional cooking features. We chose outdoor kitchen grills that produce enough British thermal units (BTUs) to evenly heat the entire grill surface and reach the temperatures necessary for searing meat.
Build quality was also paramount. A built-in BBQ is an investment and therefore should last a long time. We only chose models with commercial-grade 304 stainless steel construction in the body, burners, and grates, ensuring they can resist rust and warping at high temperatures.
Keeping performance and build quality in mind, we stuck with grill brands that have a reputation for manufacturing quality built-in models, including Blaze, Bull, DCS, and Weber, to name a few. A good outdoor built-in grill should give users the ability to cook a variety of foods in multiple ways, so we leaned toward models that offer such features as infrared burners, rotisseries kits, and lighting for nighttime barbecuing.
Our Top Picks
Below we’ve compiled the best of the best when it comes to built-in gas grills. The lineup includes outdoor grill inserts with top-notch build quality, excellent performance, and useful additional features.
Best Overall
Blaze Professional LUX 34-Inch Built-In Grill
Photo: BBQGuys
Product Specs
- Main cooking surface size: 615 square inches
- Heat output: 54,000 BTUs (grilling surface); 10,000 BTUs (rotisserie burner)
- Dimensions: 24¼ inches tall by 34 inches wide by 28⅜ inches deep
- Burners: 3
What We Like
- Made of commercial-grade 304 stainless steel
- Heavy-duty 12-millimeter-thick hexagonal grill grates
- Lighting on the control panel and under the hood
- Includes searing rods and rotisserie kit
What We Don’t Like
- Some customers have mentioned that temperature control is difficult
One would be hard-pressed to find a better constructed built-in gas grill than the aptly named Blaze Professional LUX. Every inch of this grill consists of commercial-grade 304 stainless steel, including the firebox, burners, drip pan, searing rods, and hood. If that isn’t enough, heavy-duty 12-millimeter-thick hexagonal searing rods are further proof of just how rock-solid this grill is.
Those high-quality materials translate to impressive performance. Its three burners put out a whopping 54,000 BTUs, plenty of power to heat its 615 square inches of main cooking surface. There’s also a rotisserie kit that works with a 10,000 BTU infrared burner and a well-designed grease-management system that makes post-grilling cleanup easier. The Blaze Professional LUX is well equipped for nocturnal grilling thanks to red LED lighting on the control panel and built-in halogen lights under the hood.
Get the Blaze Professional LUX built-in grill at BBQGuys or Amazon.
Runner-up
Summerset TRL Propane Gas Built-In Grill
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Main cooking surface size: 603 square inches
- Heat output: 54,000 BTUs (grilling surface); 15,000 BTUs (rotisserie burner)
- Dimensions: 21¼ inches tall by 32 inches wide by 25 inches deep
- Burners: 3
What We Like
- Includes a rotisserie kit
- Comes with interior lights and sear zone options
- Durable stainless steel construction and heavy-duty grates
- Built-in ceramic briquettes retain heat
What We Don’t Like
- Briquettes can make searing difficult
The Summerset TRL’s unique cook-box design is what sets it apart from the competition. Ceramic briquettes sit just above the burners, helping the grill retain heat for even cooking temperatures on the cooking surface. The briquettes also have the added benefit of reducing flare-ups while making it easier to keep the grill clean.
Build quality for the Summerset TRL is what one would expect to find in a premium built-in outdoor kitchen grill. All components consist of 304 stainless steel, and the cooking grates are made from heavy-duty 8-millimeter-thick stainless steel rods. Other notable features include a rotisserie kit that uses a dedicated infrared burner, a reliable flamethrower ignition that doesn’t require batteries, interior halogen lighting for the cooking surface, exterior LED lights on the handles, a rear infrared burner, sear zone options, and blue LED lighting for the control knobs.
Get the Summerset built-in grill at BBQGuys, Amazon, or AJ Madison.
Best Bang For The Buck
Bull Outdoor Products Outlaw Drop-In Grill Head
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Main cooking surface size: 600 square inches
- Heat output: 60,000 BTUs
- Dimensions: 21.25 inches tall by 31 inches wide by 21 inches deep
- Burners: 4
What We Like
- Ample cooking space and powerful burners
- Durable 304 stainless steel in the grill body and burners
- 4 burners for 4 separate cooking zones
What We Don’t Like
- Less durable, ceramic-coated iron grill grates
- No rear burner
- Burners light via a piezo ignition
Those looking for a built-in barbecue at an affordable price will want to consider the Bull Outlaw. Its 31-inch width provides over 600 square inches of main cooking space. With four 15,000 BTU burners, you can create multiple cooking zones and provide even heat over the cooking surface. Similar to other high-end built-in grills, the Outlaw has excellent build quality thanks to commercial-grade 304 stainless steel.
There are some trade-offs for this budget-priced built-in. It comes with porcelain-coated grilling grates instead of the higher-end stainless steel grates found on most built-in grills, and it uses a piezo ignition over the more reliable igniter technologies one would expect to see on top-shelf grills. It also lacks extra features such as a sear burner or a rotisserie kit. Still, for the price, it’s tough to beat the value the Outlaw offers.
Get the Bull Outdoor built-in grill at Amazon or BBQGuys.
Best Design
DCS Series 9 36-Inch Built-In Natural Gas Grill
Photo: BBQGuys
Product Specs
- Main cooking surface size: 630 square inches
- Heat output: 75,000 BTUs (main cooking surface); 14,000 BTUs (infrared burner)
- Dimensions: 27¼ inches tall by 35 15/16 inches wide by 26⅞ inches deep
- Burners: 3
What We Like
- Wide temperature range between 300 and 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit
- Easy-to-lift 90-degree hood
- Double-sided cooking grates better manage grease
- Includes a full rotisseries system
What We Don’t Like
- One of the more expensive options
Not only does the DCS Series 9 grill offer rock-solid 304 stainless steel construction, but it also comes with design features and attention to detail simply not found on other built-in BBQ grills. It’s equipped with double-sided cooking grates, making it a larger grill than others included on this list. One side directs excess grease to a grease trap for fatty foods. Flip the grates for vegetables and leaner meats like fish and chicken to create more even heat and better grill marks. Other notable cooking features include a charcoal smoking tray and a water pan and racks for smoking meat.
Ceramic flame tamers cover the burners to better create even heat and searing temperatures over the cooking surface. That design coupled with three 25,000 BTU burners allows this built-in natural gas grill to create cooking surface temps of up to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s also a rotisserie system with a 14,000 BTU infrared burner, a smart beam gill light, two hood lights, and LED lights on the control panel.
Get the DCS built-in grill at Amazon, BBQGuys, or AJ Madison.
Best Propane
Weber Summit S-460 Built-In Propane Gas Grill
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Main cooking surface size: 580 square inches
- Heat output: 48,800 BTUs (main cooking surface); 10,600 BTUs (rotisserie burner)
- Dimensions: 50 inches tall by 34 inches wide by 31 inches deep
- Burners: 4
What We Like
- Includes a full-size cabinet for extra storage
- Made of durable stainless steel
- Features a rotisserie kit and smoking station
What We Don’t Like
- Relatively small main cooking surface
The aptly named Summit line of Weber gas grills represents the best that this well-known name in gas grills has to offer. While the stainless steel finish makes the Summit S-460 propane gas grill one of Weber’s most handsome and durable grills, it’s also loaded with features. A handle-mounted light automatically turns on and off when opening and closing the lid for nighttime cooking. There are also stainless steel “flavorizer bars” that vaporize drippings into smoke, returning flavor to the food above.
Weber packs in features that allow for cooking more types of foods, including a 10,600 BTU searing station, a full rotisserie kit with its own burner, and a wood-chip smoker box with a dedicated burner. Unlike other built-in propane grills that consist of a head only, the Summit S-460 propane gas grill also comes with a storage cabinet.
Get the Weber built-in grill at Amazon.
Best Infrared
TEC Sterling Patio FR Infrared Built-In Grill
Photo: BBQGuys
Product Specs
- Main cooking surface size: 592 square inches
- Heat output: 60,000 BTUs (main cooking surface)
- Dimensions: 17 inches tall by 44¼ inches wide by 26½ inches deep
- Burners: 2
What We Like
- Broad temperature range of 200 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit
- Glass panels eliminate hot and cold spots
- Self-cleans when set to high temperature
What We Don’t Like
- 2-burner design limits zone-cooking
- Includes few accessories
This built-in gas grill from TEC uses infrared energy and a unique design to give you more control over the cooking surface temperature. Below the 592-square-inch cooking surface, the TEC comes equipped with radiant glass panels that help to distribute heat, eliminating hot and cold spots while reducing flare-ups.
With its two 30,000 BTU burners, the TEC Sterling boasts top temperatures of 900 degrees Fahrenheit, which is more than hot enough to sear a nice crust on a steak or burger patty. It also has an impressive low range of 200 degrees Fahrenheit for more delicate meats and foods. A heat-zone divider that bisects the cooking surface helps to maintain different temperatures. The TEC is also durable thanks to a double-lined hood and top-to-bottom heavy-gauge stainless steel construction.
Get the TEC built-in grill at Amazon or BBQGuys.