Pancakes on one side, bacon in the middle, and a pile of smash burgers on the other. That's a Saturday morning on a good outdoor griddle, and it's the reason so many backyards have swapped the old grill for a flat top. The trouble is that the choices range from a $90 cast plate you set on a camp stove to a $540 four-burner cart with a lid. We read through the reviews and specs, so here are the 5 best outdoor griddles in 2026 for a small patio, a campsite, or a family of six that wants eggs and hash browns at the same time.

What to Look For in an Outdoor Griddle

Cooking surface. This is the number that matters most. About 300 square inches feeds two to four people. Around 500 handles a family breakfast in one go. A 36-inch cart is for people who cook for a crowd every weekend. Bigger isn't better if you only ever cook for two, because it takes longer to heat and costs more in propane.

Heat zones. Two or more burners let you keep one side hot for searing and the other cooler for eggs or keeping food warm. A single burner is fine for camping but you'll cook in batches.

Cart or tabletop. A cart with wheels and side shelves gives you prep space and stores the propane tank underneath. A tabletop model is lighter, fits in a trunk, and needs a sturdy table. Measure your space before you order, because these are wider than they look.

Grease management. Look for a rear or side grease trap with a removable cup. Without one, cleanup gets messy fast.

A lid. A hood keeps rain and dust off, and it lets you melt cheese or steam vegetables. It also makes storage easier. Some of the best-selling models don't have one, so budget for a cover.

The 5 Best Outdoor Griddles in 2026

1. Blackstone 1517 Original 28" Omnivore Griddle

Best for: most families who want one griddle for the backyard.

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This is the griddle most people picture when they say "Blackstone." It's a 28-inch flat top with two burners and two heat zones, and the listing gives the cooking area as 524 square inches. There's a fold-down side shelf, a bottom shelf, wheels, and a rear grease system that drains into a cup.

What makes it stand out: It has more than 12,000 ratings at 4.7 stars, the most of anything here. The size hits a sweet spot. It cooks a family breakfast or a dozen burgers, but it still fits on a normal patio. Push-button ignition means no lighter.

Good to know: There's no lid in the box, and the steel top needs seasoning and a light coat of oil after each cook or it will rust. Plan on buying a cover and a scraper.

2. Royal Gourmet PD1301S Portable 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Griddle

Best for: tailgating, camping and small patios on a budget.

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A 24-inch tabletop griddle with three burners rated at 25,500 BTU total and about 304 square inches of cooking space. It weighs around 24 pounds, so one person can carry it to the car. It has a piezo igniter and a removable grease cup.

What makes it stand out: Three burners on a griddle this size give you real heat control, which is unusual at this price. It has over 6,700 ratings at 4.5 stars, and the low weight is a big part of why people buy it for camping and tailgates.

Good to know: It's a tabletop unit, so you need a solid surface at a comfortable height. Some reviewers mention the thinner steel takes longer to build a nonstick seasoning than heavier plates do.

3. Blackstone 1813 Original 22" Tabletop Griddle with Hood

Best for: couples, RV trips and anyone who wants a lid on a portable griddle.

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This is a 22-inch tabletop with two heat zones and about 361 square inches of cooking area. The hood has a carry handle and covers the cooking surface, which makes it easier to pack and keeps the top clean between uses. Ignition is piezo, and there's a rear grease channel.

What makes it stand out: The hood is the selling point. You can steam vegetables or melt cheese under it, and you can close it up without hunting for a cover. It sits at 4.7 stars from more than 2,800 ratings.

Good to know: It costs more than the Royal Gourmet and has one fewer burner. For the money, you're paying for the lid and the Blackstone build.

4. Camp Chef Professional Fry Griddle, 14" x 16"

Best for: campers who already own a Camp Chef style stove.

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This one is a plate, not a stove. It's a 14 by 16 inch steel griddle with high sides, a built-in grease drain, a removable grease cup and heat diffuser plates that help even out hot spots. It sits on top of a compatible single-burner camp stove.

What makes it stand out: It's the cheapest way to get a flat top if you already own the right stove, and it packs down small. The 4.7 stars come from about 2,500 ratings.

Good to know: It's not a standalone griddle. Check that it fits your stove before you buy, and expect to season it. It's also small, so you'll cook in batches.

5. Blackstone 36" Griddle with Hood and Four Stainless Burners (1899)

Best for: big families and weekend hosts who want a griddle with a lid and room to spare.

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The full-size option: a 36-inch griddle cart with four stainless burners, a hood, wheels, two side shelves and magnetic hooks for tools. It's the model you buy when the 28-inch feels crowded.

What makes it stand out: Four burners give you four heat zones, so you can sear on one end and keep food warm on the other. The hood and the two side shelves make it feel more like an outdoor kitchen than a camp cooker.

Good to know: It's the priciest pick here, and it has far fewer reviews (about 100 at 4.2 stars) than the smaller Blackstones. It's also big and heavy, so check your patio space and expect to assemble it yourself.

How to Get Your First Griddle Ready

  1. Season it. Wash the top with warm soapy water, dry it, then rub on a thin coat of cooking oil. Heat until it smokes, let it cool, and repeat two or three times. The top will turn dark and slick.
  2. Preheat for about 10 minutes. Cold steel sticks. A hot top gives you the crust on burgers and the clean release on eggs.
  3. Scrape while it's hot. Push leftover bits into the grease trap with a flat metal scraper, then wipe with a paper towel. A good spatula set makes this a lot easier.
  4. Oil it before storing. A thin layer of oil keeps rust off. Cover it if it lives outdoors.

Cooking with charcoal or pellets too? See our picks for portable pellet grills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you leave a griddle outside?

Yes, if it's covered and the top is clean, dry and lightly oiled. Rain and humidity are what cause rust on a steel top. In winter, many people move it into a garage or shed, or at least use a hard cover.

Is a griddle better than a grill?

They do different jobs. A grill gives you smoke and char marks on steaks and chicken. A griddle handles breakfast, smash burgers, fried rice and anything small that would fall through grates. It's also easier to clean. If you can only have one, pick based on what you cook most.

Why are Blackstone griddles so popular?

Mostly price for the size. You get a big steel cooking surface, a grease system and wheels for far less than a built-in outdoor kitchen. They're also easy to find, and accessories and cover sizes are everywhere.

How often should you clean a griddle?

Scrape it after every cook while it's still warm, then wipe it and add a thin coat of oil. Do a deeper scrub when you see buildup or rust spots, then re-season. Skip harsh soap on a well-seasoned top, since it strips the seasoning.

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Final Thoughts

If you want one griddle and don't want to overthink it, the Blackstone 1517 is the one we'd buy. It has the most reviews, a size that fits most patios and enough room for a family breakfast. If you have a big family or cook for guests, the 36-inch Blackstone 1899 is the upgrade, as long as you have the space.

For camping and tailgating, the Royal Gourmet is the budget pick and the Blackstone 1813 is the one with a lid. The Camp Chef plate only makes sense if you already own the stove for it.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Here's how we pick products.