There’s a unique kind of disappointment that sets in when you’re miles from home, surrounded by friends at a campsite or in a stadium parking lot, and your portable cooking setup fails you. I’ve been there. I’ve wrestled with flimsy, disposable charcoal grills that take an eternity to heat up, only to incinerate one hot dog while leaving another raw. I’ve tried balancing a pan over a sputtering camp stove, dreaming of the sear and flavor only a real grill can provide. The promise of adventure—tailgating, beach cookouts, RV trips—is often soured by the compromise on food quality. The goal isn’t just to eat; it’s to replicate the joy and taste of a backyard barbecue, wherever you happen to be. This challenge is precisely why a dedicated portable gas grill isn’t a luxury; for many, it’s an essential piece of gear for unlocking culinary freedom on the go.
- GAS GRILL: Powered by liquid propane gas, this grill runs on a 1-pound propane gas tank, not included. It reaches cooking temperatures quickly, delivers...
- COOKING AREA: Grill up to 10 burgers, 4 chicken breasts or 14 brats on a 240-square-inch grate.
What to Consider Before Buying a Portable Propane Grill
A portable propane grill is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for flavor, convenience, and community when you’re away from your full-size home unit. It solves the problem of inconsistent cooking temperatures, the mess of charcoal, and the limitations of a camp stove. The main benefits are speed, control, and portability. You can go from packed away to grilling in minutes, adjust the flame with a simple knob, and achieve a consistent, delicious result without the lengthy prep and cleanup of other methods. It transforms a simple outdoor gathering into a memorable culinary event, allowing you to grill everything from burgers and brats to steaks and vegetables with ease.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who lives an active, outdoor lifestyle. This includes RV enthusiasts, frequent campers, tailgating superfans, and apartment dwellers with limited patio space. They value convenience and performance in a compact package. On the other hand, this type of grill might not be suitable for those who primarily cook for large crowds at home. If you need to grill for more than 6-8 people regularly or require features like side burners and extensive warming racks, a full-size, multi-burner grill would be a much better investment. The Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill is purpose-built for mobility, and trying to make it a primary backyard grill for a large family will only lead to frustration.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Portability is a balance between weight, physical size, and cooking area. At 21.3 pounds and roughly 25 inches wide, this grill is substantial enough to be stable but light enough for one person to carry. Critically, assess its 240 square inches of cooking surface—generous for a portable unit, capable of handling about 10 burgers, but you’ll need to plan your cooking in waves for a larger group.
- Capacity/Performance: Don’t just look at the BTU number; consider how it’s delivered. The 9,500 BTU single burner on this model is designed for rapid, high-heat cooking. This is fantastic for searing, but as we’ll discuss, can make low-and-slow cooking a challenge. The presence of a lid-mounted temperature gauge is a vital feature for monitoring that heat.
- Materials & Durability: Look for materials that can withstand both high temperatures and the rigors of travel. The stainless steel body and handle of the Char-Broil are promising for longevity. The porcelain-coated wire grates are a significant plus, as they resist rust, are easier to clean, and provide excellent heat retention for those coveted grill marks.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features like a push-button Piezo igniter eliminate the need for matches and make startup effortless. For maintenance, a removable grease tray is non-negotiable for any grill you plan to transport, as it prevents messy spills and simplifies cleanup. Pay close attention to how the fuel source connects, as this can be a major point of failure or frustration.
While the Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill is an excellent choice for many, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- High-Heat Propane Gas BBQ Grill – This 4-burner gas grill with an additional 8,500 BTU side burner delivers a total of 46,500 BTU. Enjoy rapid...
- ❤ STAINLESS STEEL BURNERS: This propane gas grill has 3 Stainless Steel burners, can put out 30,000 BTU-per-hour with integrated piezoelectric ignition...
- Heavy-Duty Griddle Plate – Built with a 4mm thick, reinforced hot-pressed steel griddle that ensures excellent heat retention and durability. Perfect for...
Unboxing and First Impressions of the Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill
Upon opening the box, our first impression of the Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill was one of surprising substance. In a market flooded with flimsy, lightweight options, this grill feels sturdy and well-built. The stainless steel body has a reassuring heft, and the components feel like they’re designed to last more than one season. Assembly is required, and this is where we encountered our first mixed experience, a sentiment echoed across numerous user reports. For us, the process was relatively straightforward, taking about 20 minutes thanks to well-labeled hardware packets. However, we can see how the instructions, which sometimes depict parts that are already pre-assembled, could cause confusion and lead one to believe pieces are missing. We recommend laying everything out and cross-referencing with the diagrams before you start turning screws. Once assembled, the grill stands on four stout legs, creating a very stable cooking platform, which is a major advantage over top-heavy competitors. It’s a handsome, no-nonsense unit that looks ready for serious on-the-go cooking, and you can see its full feature set and design details here.
What We Like
- Impressive heat output that reaches searing temperatures quickly
- Generous 240-square-inch cooking surface for a portable model
- Sturdy construction with a stable base
- Easy push-button ignition and simple cleanup with removable grease tray
- Excellent value for its performance level
What We Didn’t Like
- Critically flawed propane regulator design is loose and wobbly
- Lacks a lid latch and carry handles, hindering portability
Deep Dive: Putting the Char-Broil Portable Grill to the Test
A grill’s worth is measured not on the assembly table, but over the fire. We spent extensive time with the Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill, putting it through its paces in various scenarios—from a quick weeknight patio dinner to a weekend camping trip. We grilled steaks, burgers, chicken, and vegetables to get a complete picture of its capabilities and, more importantly, its limitations. What emerged was a portrait of a powerful, capable little grill that is unfortunately held back by a few significant design oversights.
Searing Power and Temperature Management
The standout feature of this grill is, without a doubt, its heat output. The 9,500 BTU single burner is a beast. With the lid closed, we watched the built-in temperature gauge climb past 500°F and push towards 600°F in just a few minutes. This is phenomenal for a portable unit and is the key to achieving a fantastic, crusty sear on steaks and burgers. Many portable grills struggle to get hot enough for a proper sear, resulting in steamed, grey meat, but that is not an issue here. As one user aptly put it, the grill “cooked a steak perfectly.”
However, this raw power comes with a trade-off: finesse. The control knob offers some adjustment, but we found the temperature range to be heavily skewed towards the high end. Several users reported the grill having essentially one temperature: “hot.” While we were able, with some practice, to find a lower flame setting without it extinguishing, low-and-slow cooking is a genuine challenge. We attempted to cook bone-in chicken and found ourselves constantly moving the pieces to avoid burning the skin before the inside was cooked. The food is very close to the flame, and the heat shield directly under the grate is narrow, creating intense hotspots. The coolest area is, counterintuitively, directly over the solid part of the heat shield, with the hottest zones ringing it. For delicate items or longer cooks, you have to be an active, vigilant griller. One ingenious user suggested propping the lid open for venting to manage heat for ribs, a technique we found effective but not ideal. For those who want raw grilling power on the go, this grill’s heating capability is a major selling point.
Portability and On-the-Go Design: A Mixed Bag
Char-Broil markets this as a portable grill for tailgating and camping, and in many ways, it fits the bill. Its compact footprint doesn’t take up excessive space in a car trunk or RV storage bay. The 240-square-inch cooking surface is a sweet spot, providing enough room to cook a full meal for a small family without the bulk of a larger unit. We found it perfect for our needs on a weekend trip, easily handling burgers and brats for four people. The sturdy legs provide a confidence-inspiring, stable base on picnic tables or the ground, which is a crucial safety feature when dealing with fire and hot grease.
Unfortunately, the design seems to forget what “portable” truly means once you stop cooking. We were shocked to find two massive omissions: there is no lid latch and there are no side carry handles. The lack of a latch is baffling. If you pick the grill up to move it, the heavy porcelain-coated grate and the main body can separate from the lid, sending the grate crashing to the ground. This forces you to carry it awkwardly with two hands, like a large, unstable casserole dish. The absence of carry handles compounds this issue, leaving you to grab the unit by its legs or frame, which is clumsy and uncomfortable. These aren’t minor quibbles; they are fundamental flaws in a product sold on its portability.
The Achilles’ Heel: Assembly and a Critical Regulator Flaw
This is the most critical section of our review, as it addresses a recurring and potentially dangerous issue reported by a significant number of users, which we were able to replicate in our own testing. The assembly can be simple—some users report a breezy 15-minute setup. The hardware is well-packaged, and the core components fit together logically. But the instructions can be a source of frustration, and a few people have reported receiving units with missing hardware, like cotter pins.
The far more serious problem lies with the propane regulator attachment. This is the brass fitting that screws onto the grill and holds the 1-pound propane cylinder. On our test unit, and on many described in user feedback, this part is unacceptably loose. When the propane canister is attached, the entire assembly wobbles and spins freely. One user noted, “all of the propane just leaks right out,” while another described it as so wobbly it “feels like it might fall out.” This is not just an annoyance; it is a significant safety hazard. A leaking propane connection is a fire risk, and we cannot recommend using the grill as-is with this flaw present.
Thankfully, there is a simple, effective, and inexpensive fix. Echoing the advice of a particularly resourceful user, we found that placing a standard garden hose rubber washer over the grill’s male fitting before screwing on the regulator solves the problem completely. The washer is the perfect thickness to create the necessary tension, allowing the regulator to be tightened down securely. It eliminates the wobble and, in our leak test with soapy water, confirmed a perfect seal. It’s a two-cent part that fixes a major design flaw. While we are relieved a solution exists, it’s deeply disappointing that a consumer needs to perform a DIY modification to make a new product safe to operate. If you’re considering this grill, we strongly advise you to also purchase a pack of hose washers, a necessary addition to get the most out of this otherwise capable grill.
What Other Users Are Saying
Synthesizing the broad spectrum of user feedback confirms our own findings. The positive reviews consistently praise the Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill for its core function: getting hot and cooking well. One happy customer called it a “must-have for apartment living beach goers,” celebrating its even cooking and comprehensive features. Others note it’s the “perfect size for a portable grill” and ideal for small RVs. The easy assembly (for most) and the great results with steaks and burgers are common themes.
On the negative side, the chorus of complaints about the wobbly, leaking regulator is impossible to ignore. It is by far the most frequently cited one-star issue, with users calling the design “absolutely terrible” and “a defect.” The lack of a lid latch and carry handles is another common grievance that backs up our critique of its portability. While many love the grill’s performance, these significant design flaws are a recurring source of frustration and safety concerns for a notable portion of buyers.
How Does the Char-Broil Compare to the Competition?
No product exists in a vacuum. To understand its true value, we need to compare the Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill to some popular alternatives, each of which serves a slightly different purpose.
1. Masterbuilt MB20030819 Portable Propane Grill
- 288 square inches of total cooking surface
- 10,000 BTU stainless steel U shaped burner for maximum heat distribution
The Masterbuilt portable grill is a direct competitor that addresses some of Char-Broil’s biggest weaknesses. Its most significant advantage is the integrated folding legs, which make setup and transport far more convenient. It also boasts a slightly larger 288-square-inch cooking surface and a dedicated warming rack. While its 10,000 BTU burner offers similar power, the overall design is geared more toward convenience. If you prioritize an all-in-one, easy-to-carry solution and are willing to potentially trade some of the Char-Broil’s raw heat for better portability features, the Masterbuilt is an extremely compelling alternative.
2. Concord Professional 16″ Banjo Wok Burner with Stand
- Concord Professional 16" Stronghold burners are capable to putting out up to 270,000 BTU and are built like tanks. This is part of our professional series,...
- This is our DROP IN WOK Edition, this means that there is a custom built wok ring that allows you to drop your 11" or wider wok into the burner. Drop in...
This isn’t a grill at all, which makes it an interesting comparison of purpose. The Concord Banjo Burner is a specialized high-power cooker, delivering up to a staggering 270,000 BTUs. It’s not for grilling burgers; it’s for high-heat wok cooking, large-pot boils, or homebrewing. Someone might choose this over the Char-Broil if their outdoor cooking needs are less about searing steaks and more about specific, high-intensity tasks. If your idea of “tailgating” involves a giant pot of chili or a turkey fryer, this specialized burner is the right tool for the job, whereas the Char-Broil is the versatile, all-around griller.
3. Cuisinart 4-Burner Gas Grill
- POWERFUL BURNERS: Four 11,000 BTU burners deliver a total of 44,000 BTUs of heat for precise, even cooking.
- SPACIOUS COOKING: 443 square inches of primary cooking space with an additional 167 square-inch warming rack for extra versatility.
Comparing the portable Char-Broil to this full-size Cuisinart grill highlights the fundamental choice a buyer must make: mobility versus capacity. The Cuisinart is a stationary backyard workhorse with four burners, 44,000 BTUs, and ample prep space with its side tables. It’s designed for feeding a crowd and staying in one place. You would choose this if you’ve realized your primary need is for home grilling and a portable unit is too limiting. The Char-Broil is for taking the barbecue with you; the Cuisinart is for making your backyard the barbecue destination.
Final Verdict: Is the Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill Right for You?
After extensive testing, our verdict on the Char-Broil 1-Burner Portable Propane Grill is a strong but conditional recommendation. Its greatest strength is its incredible heat output, providing searing power that is rare in the portable category. Combined with a generous cooking surface and sturdy base, it cooks exceptionally well, turning out perfectly grilled food time and again. It truly brings backyard-quality results to the campsite or parking lot.
However, these strengths are undermined by glaring and frustrating design flaws. The lack of a lid latch and carry handles makes it awkward to transport, and the poorly designed regulator connection is a serious safety concern out of the box. We cannot recommend this grill without the strong caveat that you must implement the “hose washer fix” to ensure a safe, leak-free seal for your propane tank. If you are willing to make that one tiny, inexpensive modification, you will be rewarded with a fantastic and powerful portable grill that outperforms many of its more expensive competitors. For the adventurer or tailgater who prioritizes raw cooking power over polished convenience, this grill represents an incredible value. If you’re prepared for its quirks, check the latest price and add this little powerhouse to your outdoor gear today.
Last update on 2025-11-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API