Best Gas Grills Under $200 – Propane And Natural Gas Grills for Bbq and Other Meals

There’s something about grilled foods that make our taste buds jittery. When summer kicks in, you want to dust your grill and enjoy some pork chops, steak, and summer sausages right from your backyard (or indoors when the weather is unfavorable).

The problem is, some of the best gas grills out there can be expensive. But we are here with some great news – there are gas grills that cost below $200 that are as good! You just need to how to search for a good deal.

These grills come in all shapes and sizes. Some use line-connected natural gas, while others use gas-in-a-can propane. They are preferred to charcoal grills because of the ease of temperature control, environmental friendliness, and the fact that people generally don’t like to be shrouded in smoke. They do the same work as old-fashioned charcoal grills in only a fraction of the time.

Both propane grill and natural gas grills have their cons and pros, it all depends on your personal preference and which type will match your lifestyle.  The best gas grills will include a minimum of two burners, but potentially up to as many as six.

There are hundreds of products in the market. Choosing your desired one from that mass can be reduced to the needle-in-a-haystack analogy. However, we have done the legwork and come through with a list that contains the best gas grills under $200, you will find anywhere.

Best Gas Grills Under $200 Reviews in 2022

Image	Product	Price
Editor’s Pick	Char-Broil Classic 405 4-Burner Gas Grill	Check On Amazon
Best Value	George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill	Check On Amazon
3	Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill	Check On Amazon
4	Masterbuilt Smoke Hollow	Check On Amazon
5	Megamaster 820-0033M Propane Gas Grill	Check On Amazon

1. Char-Broil Classic 405 4-Burner Gas Grill

View Price and Deals

When getting a gas grill, one of the core considerations is its price point. In this regard, the Char-Broil Gas Grill comes at an affordability that is only rivaled by how effective it actually is, and it comes at a comfortable price point of $200. This 4-burner quality home grill delivers a whopping 32,000 BTUs of heat energy across all the 405 square inches of cooking surface.

The surface’s grates have been coated with porcelain-lining to ensure a more leisurely time cleaning as it reduces sticking. This can be used to cook minor side dishes or accommodate your cooked meat for warming.

There is an additional swing-away warming rack that measures 27” by 7”. This provision means there is a secondary area for warming up toasting buns and sides. Getting the Char-Broil Grill roaring is as easy as the press of a button.

Its piezo ignition system is what is responsible for this practical and reliable startup. Its pair of 6” wheels increase the grill’s mobility while the durable metal side shelves provide for plenty of preparation cooking space.

2. George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill

View Price and Deals

The George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill is another machine that does wonders on your food, snacks, and comfort foods in only a matter of moments. It can take care of both you and your family and friends as it accommodates up to 15 servings.

You can make anything from veggies to meats, steaks, and even deserts. You don’t even have to break the bank as this costs a couple of bucks shy of $200.

You can use this device anywhere from the freedom of the outdoors to the confines of the home via the removable stand; go wild on the patio but mild on the countertop.

You will be glad to hear that this product will be loved by your neighbors and landlord, too, as its electric system assures no flare-ups, propane, nor charcoal. You can also remove the grill for easier cleaning of the grill’s insides and exteriors.

Why You Should Get This

3. Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill

View Price and Deals

A big-name company comes to you with a product that is just as big; we present to you the Cuisinart CGG-180 Portable Gas Grill. This is the product for you if ample cooking space is a must-have as it offers up to 160 square inches of cooking space.

It offers an even distribution of heat across its entire surface. Before we get into even more features, it would be amiss if we don’t mention how affordable this is; it’s not even $200.

Using the twist-to-start ignition, you can fire up your burner with up to 5,500 BTUs of energy. The accurate temperature gauge helps you make highly precise adjustments to the heat controls. It has been designed especially for capable change from tabletop grill to freestanding.

It can serve anywhere from 40 to 6 people and is thus suitable for a small feast with your neighbors, friends, and family.

4. Masterbuilt Smoke Hollow

View Price and Deals

The compact and robust design of this grill is what the Masterbuilt Smoke Hollow prides itself on. It is made from a strong but light stainless steel that makes it perfect for boating, camping, picnics, or tailgating.

They use disposable propane cylinders (not included) of a 1lb capacity. The firebox has legs that fold, a steadfast front handle, and a locking lid that further increases its portability.

It offers a generous 288 square inches of cooking area. Its cooking grates are also made of stainless steel but with a chrome lining.

The burner, which you can correctly guess, is made of stainless steel, has a unique U-shape design. This is to maximize the 10,000 BTUs f cooking power across your food material. Have we mentioned the ignition is piezo-powered push-to-start?

5. Megamaster 820-0033M Propane Gas Grill

View Price and Deals

The Megamaster Propane Gas Grill is another pocket-friendly beast of a grill. Coming in at less than $200 is this stainless-steel Voltron of a grill. Its cooking area is impressive at 199 square inches of real estate. It has a two-burner system. They both offer up an equal output of 8,000 BTUs at maximum capacity, so a total of 16,000 BTUs altogether. That’s a lot of BTUs. Getting them up and running is an easy push and twist motion.

It has legs that fold. This is an exceptional convenience as all you need to look for is a stable horizontal surface and then its flames on. The mechanical engineers who made this ensured that heat was distributed equally for quality control. They did this using stainless-steel tamers to provide heat at a uniform scale across the entire cooking surface.

Choosing the Best Gas Grills Under $200: Portable For   Outdoor & Indoor Use For Bbq and Other Meals  – The Ultimate Buying Guide

Before you buy the gas grill, you need to know a couple of things about your product to give your decision a broader perspective. Don’t go in blind. We have done this research for you and highlighted the most important things about your gas grill.

Furthermore, we have added a couple of other considerations that you’ll need to think about before making that final decision.

Getting the Type Right

There are two types of gas grills based on the sheer size and movability of their structures. They are the:

• Built-in Gas Grills

They are also commonly known as grill inserts, grill heads, or drop-ins. These are what are placed in those BBQ islands in large outdoor kitchens. They are expensive are they are big as even the setup involves a small construction project. They, however, give a beautiful aesthetic to the landscape and can create some sort of communal outdoor life around it on the weekends.

•  Freestanding Gas Grills 

These kinds of grills are movable in nature and are thus preferable when your grilling needs to shift from environment to environment.

A connector joins a propane grill to its reusable tank. When a source of natural gas isn’t accessible —if you’re intending to grill in a remote chalet, or if you want to shift your grill around—propane gas grills come in very handy.

If you’re a camper griller or just tailgating with the squad, a freestanding grill is what you need on your adventures. It is worth looking for one with a side burner for increased functionality. A side burner is often undervalued and underused but can be exceedingly useful.

What Size of Grill do You Need?

What takes the most area in any grill is the cooking area. So the bigger the cooking area, the bigger the grill will tend to be. Its units of quantification are square inches. If you have a huge family or looking to take your kids camping and need a grill, you might need to consider the biggest grills, which are in the 550-650 square inches range. These kinds of grills have around 5 to 6 burners. 

The average household has a three-burner unit that is good for 450-500 square inches of cooking area. For the best results with your cooking, you might consider leaving a cooking space of half an inch between food items to allow even heating.

How Many BTUs are the Right BTUs, for You?

There are actually two ways to measure heat in a gas grill. These are British Thermal Units (BTUs) and the heat flux. The BTU indicates the quantity of heat produced, which correlates to the amount of gas used up. It doesn’t necessarily mean that a grill with a higher BTU count will cook your food faster.

Therefore, making a decision solely on the BTU count is short-sighted. Its thermal output is also by far a result of the mechanical design. The size, shape of the grill, and other factors need to be considered.

The other measurement, heat flux, represents the quantity of heat created. This figure is usually around 85 units. This figure is achieved by dividing the BTU count by the cooking surface in inches squared.

Caution is also to be maintained when using the heat flux as other factors like wind, and cooler temperatures might affect cooking rates.

Easy to Start Ignition

Getting your gas grill to light up is an easy enough process, strike a spark, and light the burner. However, getting there needs a mechanical system to do so. The three components in these systems are – the spark source, wire energized with the spark, and the grounding electrode.

The very elite grills have different igniters for different burners. As good as that seems, they can be expensive to repair.

There are three kinds of ignition

• Piezoelectric Ignition

This is the oldest ignition system. They use piezoelectric material, via friction, to create a spark that lights the burner.  All you need to do to get it started is to twist the knob and press a button.

• Battery Generated Ignition

As you might have already guessed from the name, these ignition systems use batteries like the AA, AAA, and even the 9 Volt batteries to get things started. One good thing about these ignition systems is that fixing them is quick and easy. All you need to do is change the batteries with new ones.

• Hot Surface Ignition

This is the future of ignition systems and is currently found in only high-end models. The hot surface ignition system only needs to be connected to a power outlet. Turn the dial, and we are good to go.

Choosing the Number of Burners

This is one of the most crucial choices you’ll make when it comes to getting your own gas grill. As a grill lover, we are sure you want to get to your food while the meat is still tender and moist, but the exterior is hot and crispy. Selling yourself on the number of burners you will need to use will have you preparing all your meals separately, and this will take quite a bit of your time.

The number of burners ranges from 2 all the way to 6. Some kinds of food also prefer being cooked from the sides, and thus, more burners are needed to provide this, but none coming from the one underneath.

You should, however, note that due to their frequency of direct use, burners are what break down the most in these grills. The more the number might mean, the higher the cost for maintenance.

It is worth noting that the side burner is another key thing to be looked for. The benefits of this feature are usually overlooked most of the time, but when it comes to preparing appetizer soups, veggies, and sauces, they are indispensable.

What You Need to Know About the Gas

Without a doubt, propane grills account for the highest share of some of the best gas grills in the market. This is as compared to the alternative, which is natural gas, whose market share, however, is slowly on the rise. Propane grills are still so common because they produce more energy than natural gas—2500 BTUs per cubic feet vs. 1000 BTUs for natural gas—therefore, propane grills produce more heat.

Many propane grills will include a gauge, which allows you to know ahead of time when you should replace the gas tank.

Natural gas doesn’t smell like anything, and it is also non-toxic. You, however, need to get the gas via a line, which makes its portability almost non-existent. It is, however, the most convenient since it is unlimited once connected, and it is also the cleanest fossil fuel.

Propane is the most convenient to use in remote areas or when traveling as connectivity is only limited to your ability to get a propane tank. They also contain more potential for heat energy than natural gas and thus produce more heat for less fuel used.

If you are living in very dry areas, however, you might need to reconsider this option. Propane is heavier than air and thus can settle close to the ground where it can be triggered to life by sparks.

How Open Should Your Backyard be?

How much cooking space is occupied by the grill in terms of its footprint should also be looked at in addition to its cooking area? It is recommended to have a safety distance of 3 feet away from the house, and it goes without saying any combustible material.

When thinking about how you will use and later store your grill, also consider the side shelves and what space they occupy. To counter all this need for cooking space, look for accessories that make up for certain grills’ small sizes. A grill with a warming rack, for instance, is ideal for slow cooking.

Learn How to Use Your Grill on Steak

You can’t beat the authenticity of a good grilled steak. Once you make the gas grill a part of your home, test it out, and preferably on steak. All you will need to do is remove the steaks from the refrigerator at the very least 30 minutes before getting round to cooking. Season your steaks; however your heart desires; however, for this case, a simple pepper and salt will do. Do this uniformly over the whole steak.

Next, preheat the grill to a toasty medium-high temperature range and preferably make a two-zone fire. Place your steaks on the rack and cook the meat directly for 4-5 minutes on both sides. A two-zone fire helps you move the meat onto the colder side of the grill when it is close to being done; thus, no overcooking. 

Remember, cook at 120 degrees Fahrenheit for rare, 130 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare, 140 degrees Fahrenheit for medium, and 160 degrees Fahrenheit for well done. Once done, remove them from the grill and let them sit, and cool off for like four minutes. This gives time for juices to settle evenly throughout the tender fibers of the meat. Go ahead and enjoy other outdoor activities as you wait for your dish to get served.

Getting Your Grill Spotless

You will need supplies to get this done right. Make sure you have your cleaning solution, cleaning brushes, gloves, cleaning rags, soap, and a lot of water. Turn off the gas supply first to prevent any accidents.

Next up, remove the grill grates and thoroughly clean them using a coarse brush. Remove any equipment that covers the burners and also give them a scrub. After this, gently wipe down the gas ports and burner tubes. Clear out and then wipe down any debris beneath the grill. Scrape the bottom of the grill to get rid of any carbon flakes.  

Using a soap solution and preferably hot water, clean out the grease collection tray. If there are disposable bans to be changed, then do that. Put away the grease responsibly in a non-recyclable can or container, let it harden, and throw it away as it will clog your pipes if you pour it down a drain.

Using soap and a cleaning rag, wipe the outside of the grill to have it looking its best. Let everything dry out and then reassemble the thing.

Conclusion

We know you probably have the amount of money you think you will need in hand or almost in hand. However, as eager as you might be, before running off to buy a product that you might end up regretting, have a look at the factors above again.

They will give you insight into getting a grilling device that you are proud of. Make the juiciest ribs and the meanest piece of steak today. You deserve it.