5 Pieces of Backyard Cooking Equipment We Constantly Recommend

Outdoor cooking season is about to kick into full swing. We’ve tested plenty of gas grills, charcoal grills, flat-top grills, pizza ovens, and grilling accessories and have multiple recommendations in every category to suit any budget and buyer.

Still, our editors always wind up recommending some products more consistently than others for most people. 

To make things easier for you — and admittedly us — we’ve collected our most frequent outdoor cooking equipment recommendations in one place.

Welcome to Just Get This. We understand most of you have better things to do than spend hours researching what to buy (that’s our job). This series synthesizes the entirety of our product research to simplify and streamline your decision making.

Best Overall Gas Grill

Weber

Best Overall Gas Grill

Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill

Specs

Cooking Area	787 sq. in.
Fuel	Propane or Natural Gas
Max Temperature	~600° F
Dimensions	48.1" H x 61.5" W x 27" D

Pros

• Large grilling area
• Easy to use
• Grease cleanup is a breeze

Cons

• Side tables don't have a side burner
• We prefer steel grates over Weber's iron grates

• $899.00 at Home Depot

Best Overall Charcoal Grill

Weber

Best Charcoal Grill For Most People

Weber Original Kettle Premium

When you talk about charcoal grilling, you start with Weber’s kettle. The brand continues to represent the ideal mix of performance and price. Its customary porcelain-enameled steel body is sturdy enough to lock heat in and light enough to tow around without throwing out your back. Its construction is such that moving parts, screws and levers are kept to a bare minimum, which means it lasts much, much longer than other grills under $200.

READ OUR BEST CHARCOAL GRILLS GUIDE

Specs

Cooking Area	363 sq. in.
Fuel	Charcoal
Dimensions	39.5"H x 22.5"W x 27"D (Lid Closed)
Diameter	22"
Warranty	2 – 10 years depending on part

Pros

• Exceptional price-quality ratio
• Improved ash catch
• Extremely versatile with cooking methods

Cons

• Size is an issue if grilling for a crowd
• Built-in thermometer isn't accurate enough to use

• $239.00 at weber.com

Best Overall Pellet Smoker / Grill

pro

Best Overall Pellet Grill

Traeger Pro 575

Traeger is the original pellet grill and smoker brand, so naturally, it still makes the best in the biz. The Pro 575 is affordable, easy to set up, simple to use and is built like a tank. From beginners to seasoned smokers, this is pellet paradise.

RELATED: Best Pellet Grills & Smokers

Specs

Cooking Area	575 sq. in.
Total Weight	124 lbs
Connectivity	WiFire a.k.a Wifi-enabled control
Max Temperature	500° F
Pellet Hopper Capacity	18 lbs
Dimensions	53" H x 41" W x 27" D

Pros

• Great stainless-steel build
• Easy to assemble
• Excellent wheels

Cons

• On the smaller side
• Grill needs to be plugged in
• Lower max temp compared to gas and charcoal options
• No side tables for food prep staging

Read our full review of the Traeger Pro 575

• $70.00 at traeger.com

Best Overall Flattop Grill / Griddle

BBQ Guys

Best Overall Flat Top Grill

Blackstone Original 36-Inch Griddle Cooking Station W/ Hard Cover

Specs

Cooking Area	768 sq. in.
Fuel	Liquid Propane Gas
Dimensions	62.5"D x 22"W x 36"H
Weight	120 lbs

Pros

• Rolled carbon steel griddle will last for years
• Efficient grease management system
• Large cooking surface with four zones
• Tables fold away when not needed

Cons

• Lid isn't attached
• Propane tank can't be hidden

• $450.00 at bbqguys.com
  $499.99 (10% off)

Best Overall Pizza Oven

Ooni

Best Overall Pizza Oven

Ooni Karu 16

Ooni is perhaps the company most responsible for the outstanding current state of at-home pizza ovens. We’ve tested almost every single one of them, and the Karu 16 is the best pizza oven Ooni offers. Full stop. It’s also the only home pizza oven to have the distinction of being “Recommended for Domestic Use” by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the world’s foremost authority on Neapolitan pies. Many home pizza ovens have a steep learning curve, but this oven provides helpful features like an exterior digital thermometer that monitors the ambient temperature of the oven along with the “ViewFlame” hinged glass door that allows you to safely view your pizza as it cooks to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Specs

Cooking Surface	16.7 x 16.7 inches
Weight	61.6 pounds
Warranty	5 years

Pros

• Consistently outperforms the competition
• Easy to control, even for beginners
• Can cook with wood, charcoal or gas

Cons

• More expensive than most other pizza ovens
• The gas adaptor costs extra
• Heavy and awkward to move around

Read our full review of the Ooni Karu 16

• $639 at Ooni
  $799 (20% off)
• $639 at Huckberry
  $799 (20% off)
• $639 at Amazon
  $799 (20% off)

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