If you don’t have much time and just want to find out what the best gas and charcoal grill combo is, then I recommend the Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D as the best one.
Who doesn’t love that incredible smoky flavor that comes with cooking with charcoal? Then again, the precise temperature control and super quick heating-up process of a gas grill make them a joy to use.
Well, turns out you can have the best of both worlds.
I’ve cooked up this little combo grill guide, so you can get a better idea of the best gas and charcoal grill combo for you.
Once you’ve found your ideal combo grill, you’ll be able to enjoy an authentic and efficient grilling experience. But first, let’s take a look at the benefits of buying a combination gas charcoal grill.
Why Buy a Combo Grill?
If you’re one of those barbecue enthusiasts who’s passionate about keeping it genuine, yet wants to take some stress and hassle out of the whole experience, a combo grill might be the answer.
Flexible and affordable, yet still offering the primitive thrill that comes with cooking over charcoal, they’re a blend of the best aspects of charcoal and gas cooking.
So, if you want to slow cook incredible smoky beef short ribs and whip up a mouthwatering burger in the blink of an eye, a combo grill could be the way to go.
What to Look for in a Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo
Excited by the possibility of achieving that genuine smoky flavor on an easy-to-handle, versatile grill?
Before you dive in, there are few things you’ll need to know about what makes a charcoal and gas grill combo really shine.
So, let’s get to grips with the key features and get a better idea of the right kind of combo grill for you.
Build Quality
A combo grill is a big beautiful piece of equipment, with many moving parts and complex components. If it’s built on the cheap it’ll show a mile off.
So, when choosing your combination grill, construction quality and durability are crucial.
Look for stainless steel construction and cast-iron grates with a porcelain coating. If it’s built to last, you’ll save money in the long run.
Price
Speaking of money, not everyone has a fortune to blow on a crazily expensive gas and charcoal grill combo. Fortunately, there are plenty of great budget options available.
Obviously, quality is the main thing to look for when trying to find the best combination charcoal gas grill. Still, price is a huge factor and getting good value for money is essential. So look for a balance between build quality and price.
Cooking Surface
When grilling, space is key. You’ll need plenty of room to flip and turn. You don’t want to be crowding out those delicious cuts of meat on a tiny little cooking surface.
More surface means greater flexibility. A large cooking area will enable you to get your ‘sear and slide’ game on the go, getting a flash of high heat before moving your cut of meat and slowing things down a little.
Getting a good balance of direct cooking (right above the fire) and indirect cooking (to the side) really takes barbecuing to another level.
Cooking Chambers
Dual fuel grills come with a variety of chambers. Some come with just one chamber that uses both gas and charcoal. Other gas and charcoal grills come with two chambers, one for charcoal and one for gas.
Some even have the neat little addition of a smoker box, giving you a third chamber to play with.
The single chamber is the more affordable option. But the double chamber combos and 3 in 1 grills will give you a greater degree of flexibility.
You might want to keep the gas and charcoal grilling separate, like the idea of a smoker on the side, or prefer to keep things simple. In any case, you’ll want to take cooking chambers into consideration.
Ease of Maintenance
Buying a super-duper fancy piece of kit is all well and good. But if you can’t keep it clean and in tip-top condition, it’s not going to last.
Getting a combination gas and charcoal grill that you can easily clean is as important. Keep it trim and tidy and you’ll be grilling up masterpieces for many summers to come!
Temperature Control
A big part of outdoor cooking is controlling and monitoring the temperature of your meat. While charcoal grills can be very difficult to heat and keep hot, combo grills make things much easier.
Temperature controls for each chamber bring extra precision to your cooking. And the extra features to the charcoal chamber, like damper systems, give you greater control.
Cooking with charcoal can be difficult. So dampers – which act like adjustable air vents that control the amount of oxygen flowing into the chamber – are the kind of feature you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
Accessories
Bells and whistles are important too! Don’t discount the cherry on top and check out the accessories of some of the best charcoal and gas combo grills – it could just make the difference.
Everything from storage space and fold-out side tables to added utensils and ignition systems is really important when looking for your ideal combo grill.
Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo Review
Let’s take a look at five of the best gas and charcoal grills on the market. That way, you’ll get a better idea of which one is the most suitable for your barbecue lifestyle.
Char-Griller 5050 Duo Gas-and-Charcoal Grill
A solid low-cost combo grill, the Char-Griller 5050 comes from a company that knows how to make reliable grills.
Two chambers – one for charcoal, one for gas, each with their own separate warming rack – give you plenty of space for a quality cook. In fact, there’s a total cooking space of 1,260 square inches – a massive amount for a grill at this price point.
The charcoal chamber comes with 580 square inches of primary cooking space (plus a warming rack), as well as double-bottom construction, giving an extra layer for insulation and efficiency.
The gas side comes with three stainless steel burners at 40,800 BTUs, with 438 square inches of primary cooking space (plus warming rack). Electronic ignition makes firing it up a breeze. As for the adjustable grate height and stainless-steel heat gauges on both sides, they help you keep tabs on the temperature of your food.
The condiment basket is a nifty little addition, giving you an easy-to-reach place to store your sauces and seasoning.
Finally, the easy-dump ash pan helps keep things clean and the porcelain-coated cast-iron grates keep things nice and hot.
Pros:
- Inexpensive: for those on a budget, this is a very affordable charcoal gas combo grill and one of the best at this price point.
- Huge cooking space: 1,260 square inches is a massive amount of cooking space for this price range. Believe me, it will give you a lot of control over your grilling!
- Easy to assemble: concise instructions make putting this combo grill together pretty straight forward.
- Upgradable: this gas charcoal grill comes with optional add-ons, including a side smoker box.
Cons:
- Some parts are lightweight: There are a few components that feel a little flimsy and may not stand the test of time.
- Not very portable: this gas charcoal grill is a little on the heavy side, making it hard to transport.
Durable Outdoor Barbeque & Burger Gas/Charcoal Grill Combo
Manufactured by Backyard Grill, this combo grill features 557 square inches of total cooking surface – 262 for the charcoal chamber and 295 for the gas. This gives you a decent amount of cooking space, particularly for the cost.
Three stainless steel gas burners bring a total of 24,000 BTUs of heat, along with a 12,000 BTU side burner for sides and sauces. It’s more than enough for a combination charcoal and gas grill at this end of the price spectrum. Porcelain-coated grates offer great heat retention and two sturdy rubber wheels make for an easily transportable grill combo.
The straight forward design makes this combo grill a breeze to maintain. Yet, it can be tricky to assemble and the less than concise instructions don’t help matters. Once it’s up and running though, you’ll be enjoying plenty of awesome barbecues with this dual-fuel grill.
Pros:
- Inexpensive: Good option for those on a tight budget.
- Easy to clean and maintain: with its simple design, this combo grill should be easy to clean and maintain giving it extra longevity.
- Good power output: the three main burners and side burner bring a good amount of power for this kind of price.
Cons:
- Tricky to put together: not the easiest combination grill to assemble. In particular, the instructions are quite vague.
- Small cooking area: while it’s decent for the price, the cooking area is poor in comparison to other models.
Char-Broil Gas2Coal 3-Burner Liquid Propane and Charcoal Hybrid Grill
A single-chamber gas and charcoal hybrid grill, the Char-Broil Gas2Coal Hybrid Grill is another solid combo grill that comes in at a very affordable price.
Three burners make up a combined 40,000 BTU output, with 420 square inches of primary grilling space to play with. As a gas grill, it does the job nicely, giving enough heat to do some serious cooking. Where the Char-Broil Gas2Coal falls short, though, is with the charcoal side of things.
For those leaning more toward charcoal grilling, this hybrid grill may disappoint. It’s essentially a gas grill with a drop-in charcoal pan, giving you the option to add charcoal into the mix. It feels a bit of a ‘stuck on’ feature though and fails to capture the fun of grilling with charcoal.
Despite this, it’s definitely a great option for those looking for a good budget gas and charcoal combo grill – particularly if you’re leaning towards grilling with gas, with charcoal grilling as an extra bonus.
Pros:
- Very affordable: this combo grill is a great choice for those on a budget.
- Thoughtful design: the addition of a shelf for the charcoal pan is a nifty little design feature.
- Good burn output: 40,000 BTUs is a lot of power for the price.
- Looks the part: with its eye-catching design, this combo grill will look great in your backyard.
Cons:
- Average build quality: the cooking grates aren’t sturdy and can be easily chipped if you’re not careful.
- Average charcoal grill: it may not be the best choice if you love charcoal grilling, as the charcoal side of things is fairly lackluster.
- Not very portable: for those looking for an easy-to-move combo grill, this might prove a little too clunky.
Smoke Hollow 3500 4-in-1 Combination 3-Burner Gas Grill
This 4 in 1 combo grill comes with two main chambers (one gas, one charcoal), a side burner, and a smoke box. You’d be hard-pressed to find another grill with such a flexible cooking setup at this price point and the impressive 860 square inch cooking area reflects this.
Still, it’s a fairly compact grill. This means it’s easy to transport whenever you need to change the setup of your backyard barbecue party. The 30,000 BTU main heat capacity is not to be sniffed at either, with three high-quality stainless steel tube burners complemented by a 9,300 side burner.
The side smoker is well designed, with front and side access doors and air dampers to give you precise control over smoking. And, although the materials are relatively lightweight (to be expected at this price point), this combo grill comes with an optional extra grill cover, to help keep it well maintained.
Pros:
- Big cooking surface: it’s a compact grill yet delivers a large cooking area.
- Good portability: this combo grill is easy to reposition in your backyard.
- Inexpensive: great value for money considering it’s a 4 in 1 combo grill.
- Great smoke box: the little side smoke box is especially well designed, with easy access and dampers for great temperature control.
Cons:
- Relatively cheap construction: it’s a little lightweight. So it might not last a very long time, although you can buy a tailor-made cover to protect it from the elements.
Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D Dual Fuel Grill
A two-chamber dual-fuel grill that packs a punch, the Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D is a sturdily constructed grill. Both chambers have stainless steel heat tents for evenly distributed heat, as well as stainless steel easy-lift handles and high quality temperature gauges. The chambers are also lined with aluminized steel on the inner-walls, for maximum heat retention.
This grill is big – with a total cooking area of 952 square inches giving you a massive amount of space to work with. It’s also got good power output on the gas side, with two stainless steel tube burners bringing 12,000 BTUs each (24,000 total), as well as electronic pulse ignition.
Not to be left out, the charcoal side features a clever little adjustment crank for precise temperature control and an easily accessible front door to the charcoal chamber, to load up on charcoal or wood chips.
The cook grates are made from porcelain-enameled cast iron, for a faster heating process and extra heat retention. As the icing on the cake, this grill has got some great extra design features, such as:
- collapsible side tables
- integrated towel bars
- utensil hooks
- a double-door cabinet with a ‘tank seat’ propane storage area (very impressive!)
- and the standard warming rack and removable ash pan.
Pros:
- Lots of space: 952 square inches is a very impressive total cooking space for the price.
- Good construction and design: this combo grill is well put together and looks the part.
- Excellent design and extra features: some great extra features including collapsible side table and well-placed utensil hooks. They make the grilling experience a little bit easier.
Cons:
- Fairly long-winded assembly process: it can take a while as it has a lot of different components.
- Charcoal holes too large: big holes at the bottom of the coal box mean some charcoal could slip through, whether or not you use briquettes or lump coal.
Conclusion
While all these combo grills have their merits, one stands out as my clear winner.
With its impressive cooking space, excellent build quality, clever extra features, and good power output, the Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D is my pick of the bunch. It does everything you want a good gas charcoal combo grill to do – bringing that real authentic cooking experience that comes with charcoal, yet with the efficiency and ease of cooking with gas.
As dual fuel grills go, this one’s hard to beat and, while it’s not the cheapest combination grill on the list, it’s still great value for money.
All in all, it’s a beautifully constructed, spacious, well-designed combo grill, perfect for serving up amazing backyard barbecues for many summers to come!
