Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill Review: The Definitive Guide to This On-the-Go Classic

There’s a specific kind of disappointment that sets in on the second day of a camping trip or during the pre-game buzz of a tailgate. It’s the moment you realize you’re facing another meal of cold sandwiches or lukewarm snacks because starting a charcoal fire is too much hassle, or worse, completely forbidden. I’ve been there. I remember one trip to a state park in the dry season where a park ranger politely pointed to a sign: “Gas Cooking Devices Only.” My trusty charcoal kettle sat in the trunk, a useless monument to my lack of foresight. That experience sent me on a quest for a truly portable, reliable, and powerful gas grill—a compact companion that could deliver the sizzle and flavor of a backyard BBQ, no matter where my adventures took me. The challenge is finding a grill that isn’t just small, but also genuinely effective, durable enough for the road, and simple enough to not add stress to what should be a relaxing time.

What to Consider Before Buying a Portable Propane Grill

A portable propane grill is more than just a compact cooking appliance; it’s a key solution for unlocking culinary freedom outdoors. Whether you’re an avid camper, a dedicated tailgater, or an apartment dweller with a small balcony, these grills solve the fundamental problems of space, convenience, and cooking restrictions. They offer the immediate heat and precise (in theory) temperature control of gas grilling in a package you can carry with one hand. The main benefits are speed—no waiting for charcoal to ash over—and cleanliness, with far less mess to manage after your meal. This convenience allows you to enjoy freshly grilled food in places where a full-sized grill is an impossibility, transforming any outdoor space into your personal kitchen.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who prioritizes mobility and simplicity. This includes RV enthusiasts, frequent campers, beachgoers, and anyone living in a condo or apartment with limited outdoor space. It’s for the person who needs to cook for a small group of two to four people and values the ability to pack up and go. On the other hand, this type of grill might not be suitable for those who regularly host large backyard parties or demand the nuanced, smoky flavor that only charcoal can provide. If you need to cook for more than six people at once or require multiple temperature zones for complex meals, you would be better served by a larger, multi-burner stationary grill or even a dedicated smoker.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Pay close attention to two sets of dimensions. First, the cooking surface area, measured in square inches. 190 square inches, like on the Char-Broil, is typically enough for about 8 standard burgers. Second, look at the transport dimensions and weight. A truly portable grill should fit easily in a car trunk and be light enough to carry from the car to the campsite without strain.
• Capacity/Performance: The power of a gas grill is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). For a single-burner portable grill, a rating around 11,000 BTUs is quite robust and indicates it can heat up quickly and sear effectively. However, raw power isn’t everything; consider how well that heat is distributed across the cooking grate and how much control the regulator knob gives you over the flame.
• Materials & Durability: Look for sturdy construction. While stainless steel is a premium option, powder-coated or high-temperature finished alloy steel, like that used in the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill, offers good rust resistance for its price point. Porcelain-coated cooking grates are a major plus, as they are rust-resistant and much easier to clean than plain cast iron or steel.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features that enhance portability are key. Look for foldable legs that lock the lid in place for transport, and handles that remain cool enough to touch. For maintenance, consider how grease is managed. A simple, accessible drip tray or a design that channels grease away from the burner will make cleanup significantly easier and safer in the long run.

Understanding these factors will ensure you choose a portable grill that not only fits your lifestyle but also delivers delicious results for years to come.

While the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas 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:

First Impressions: Unboxing a Grilling Icon

Opening the box of the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill feels a bit like unearthing a classic. The design is timeless and functional, a familiar sight at campsites and picnic areas for decades. Assembly was straightforward, taking me just under 30 minutes with a single Phillips head screwdriver. The instructions in the user manual were clear, and all the parts fit together as expected. Some users have noted confusion about small holes in the burner tube near the regulator; rest assured, this is a standard design feature for proper air-gas mixture and not a defect. The initial feel is one of utilitarian sturdiness. It’s not heavy-gauge steel, and some users have reported receiving units with minor dings from shipping, suggesting the metal has some flex. However, once assembled, the unit feels stable on its legs. The porcelain-coated grate has a satisfying heft, and the legs fold up and over the lid, locking it securely in place for transport—a simple yet brilliant design choice. Compared to more modern, flashy stainless-steel competitors, this grill has a no-nonsense, workhorse aesthetic that I find appealing. It’s built for a purpose, not just for show. You can immediately see its full feature set and user reviews and tell it’s designed to be used, not just admired.

Performance Deep Dive: Putting the Char-Broil to the Test

A portable grill lives or dies by its real-world performance. It needs to be easy to carry, simple to set up, and most importantly, it has to cook well. We spent several weeks using the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill in various settings—from a quick weeknight dinner on the patio to a weekend camping trip—to see if this classic design still holds up against the demands of the modern outdoor chef.

Portability and Design: A Masterclass in Simplicity

The single greatest strength of this grill is its portability. This isn’t just a small grill; it’s a grill truly engineered for travel. The alloy steel legs are its genius feature. When you’re ready to cook, they swing down to provide a stable, elevated base. When you’re done, they pivot up and over the lid, with notches that catch the rim of the firebox, securely locking the entire unit into a self-contained, briefcase-like package. This means the grate and any interior components won’t rattle around or fall out in your car trunk. At just over 10 pounds, carrying it from the car to the picnic table is effortless. The heat-resistant handles on the side aid in this, though as we’ll discuss, the lid handle is another story.

Setting it up is a matter of seconds: place it on a stable surface, fold the legs down, attach the regulator and a 1lb propane cylinder, and you’re ready to light. This simplicity is a godsend when you’re eager to get cooking. However, we did notice a couple of design quirks. As one user pointed out, the regulator and propane tank assembly sits quite low. If you’re using a standard picnic table with a lip or rail, you may need to place the grill right at the edge for the tank to hang freely. This is a minor inconvenience but something to be aware of. Furthermore, there’s no dedicated storage spot for the regulator during transport. Most users, including us, simply place it on the grate inside before locking the lid, which works but feels like a slight oversight in an otherwise well-thought-out design. These are small trade-offs for what is otherwise an exceptionally portable and convenient package that you can check the latest price and availability on.

Cooking Performance: Taming the Flame

With an 11,000 BTU burner heating a 190-square-inch cooking area, the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill has an excellent power-to-size ratio. It heats up remarkably fast; we were ready to grill within 5 minutes of lighting. This is perfect for impromptu meals. We tested it with a variety of foods: burgers, chicken thighs, hot dogs, and sliced vegetables. The grill is certainly capable of putting a great sear on a steak and cooking chicken through to the bone.

However, the biggest learning curve with this grill is mastering the temperature control. The regulator knob is incredibly sensitive. Many users noted that “high is really high,” and we can confirm this. The difference between the highest setting and a medium setting is a very small turn of the knob. One user aptly described the lowest setting as still producing a 1.5-inch flame, making true low-and-slow cooking a challenge. Our experience echoed this; we found the sweet spot for most cooking was with the knob turned to less than halfway. It’s more of an art than a science, requiring you to listen to the sizzle and watch the food closely. It’s like cooking over an open flame where you can’t walk too far away. Heat distribution is decent, but not perfectly even. Corroborating user feedback, we found a noticeable hot spot towards the left side, closer to where the gas enters the burner tube. This isn’t a deal-breaker; you simply learn to rotate your food and use the “cooler” right side as a warming area.

The grill’s biggest performance weakness is its susceptibility to wind. On a breezy day, we experienced the flame blowing out a couple of times. The open design that makes it so easy to light from below also makes it vulnerable. You must be prepared to create a windbreak or position the grill in a sheltered spot if you’re cooking in windy conditions. Despite these quirks, once you learn its personality, this grill consistently delivers well-cooked food.

Durability and Maintenance: A Story of Value and Compromise

This is a budget-friendly grill, and its construction reflects that. The body is made from powder-coated alloy steel, which provides adequate protection against the elements, but it’s not invincible. We saw a review mentioning a large paint chip in the firebox after just two uses, which suggests the high-temperature finish can be fragile. Similarly, reports of units arriving bent indicate the steel is relatively thin. This is a compromise for its light weight and low cost. That said, many users, some of whom claim to have been buying this same model for 40 years, attest to its longevity when cared for. One owner mentioned they “absolutely wore out” their previous one after eight years of heavy camping use, which is an impressive lifespan for such an inexpensive product.

A recurring complaint about newer models, which we also observed, concerns the handles. The lid handle, in particular, is now a smaller, flatter piece of plastic that gets uncomfortably hot during cooking. We had to use an oven mitt or glove to lift the lid after the grill was fully preheated, a step that long-time users say wasn’t necessary on older versions with larger, more insulated handles. Maintenance, however, is a strong point. The porcelain-coated cooking grate is a breeze to clean with a good grill brush. The inside of the firebox can get messy, as grease simply drips to the bottom. We adopted a popular user tip and lined the bottom of the firebox with strips of aluminum foil, being careful not to block any air vents. This trick makes cleanup as simple as rolling up the foil and throwing it away. For the price, the durability-to-value ratio is excellent, as long as you go in with realistic expectations.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across thousands of reviews, a clear picture emerges of the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill. The overwhelming sentiment is positive, especially from those who value its core mission: portability and convenience. One user, a dirt bike racer, praised it for being the perfect solution at events where fire hazards restrict charcoal use, stating it passed the “chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on” test with flying colors. Many, like the person who bought it for a single annual camping trip, find it works so well it becomes their go-to grill at home for small, quick meals.

The negative feedback is just as consistent and provides important context. The most common complaint centers on quality control and the “cheapening” of newer models. One long-time owner noted, “the new version has been cheapened mostly due to the construction of the handles…the one to lift the lid can no longer be touched with bare hands when fully hot.” Other users report issues with defective regulators that cause the grill to not stay lit or, more dangerously, shoot flames. The finicky temperature control is another frequent pain point, with one user stating, “There is almost zero difference between low and high,” making it difficult to do anything other than grill on high heat. This feedback is crucial, painting a portrait of a beloved, budget-friendly classic that sometimes shows its price point in its execution.

How Does It Compare? The Char-Broil vs. The Competition

No product exists in a vacuum. While the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill is an excellent budget option, your specific needs might be better met by a different model. Here’s how it stacks up against three notable alternatives.

1. Char-Broil Stainless Steel Portable Gas Grill

For those who are loyal to the brand but desire a more premium build, this stainless steel version of a portable Char-Broil is the logical step up. Its primary advantage is durability and aesthetics; the stainless steel construction offers superior rust resistance and a sleeker look compared to the powder-coated steel of our reviewed model. It often includes features like a built-in temperature gauge, offering more control and precision during cooking. This alternative is ideal for the user who plans to use their portable grill frequently, perhaps on a boat or in a coastal environment where corrosion is a concern, and is willing to pay a bit more for enhanced longevity and features.

2. PIT BOSS 75275 Two-Burner Portable Grill

If your version of “portable grilling” involves cooking for more than two or three people, the PIT BOSS 75275 is a compelling option. Its key differentiator is the two-burner system, which provides a significant advantage: zone cooking. You can have one burner on high for searing steaks while the other is on low to gently cook vegetables or keep food warm. With a larger cooking surface and higher total BTU output, this grill is for the tailgater or camper who acts as the designated chef for a larger group. While heavier and less compact than the single-burner Char-Broil, its added versatility is a worthwhile trade-off for those who need the extra capacity.

3. Monument Grills 4+2 Burner Propane Gas Grill

This Monument Grills unit represents a completely different class of grill and serves as an important comparison for those questioning if a portable model is truly what they need. This is a full-size, cabinet-style backyard grill. It’s not portable in any sense. We include it here for the buyer who might start by looking for a small grill but realizes their primary need is for home use. With four main burners, an infrared side sear burner, and an additional side burner, this grill is a complete outdoor kitchen. It’s the perfect choice for the homeowner who loves to entertain and wants the power, space, and features to cook elaborate meals for large gatherings.

The Final Verdict: Is the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill Right for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Char-Broil Portable 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill is overwhelmingly positive, with important caveats. This is not a high-end, precision cooking instrument. It is, however, perhaps one of the best value propositions in the world of outdoor cooking. Its design is a masterclass in portable simplicity, making it an ideal companion for camping, tailgating, fishing trips, or for anyone with a tiny patio. It’s powerful for its size, heats up in minutes, and is incredibly easy to use and clean.

Its weaknesses—the finicky temperature knob, the hot handle, and its vulnerability to wind—are real, but they are manageable trade-offs for its rock-bottom price and fantastic portability. This grill is for the person who values freedom and convenience above all else. If you need a simple, no-frills workhorse to deliver delicious grilled food on the go without breaking the bank, this is your grill. It has served generations of outdoor enthusiasts for a reason: it just works. If you’re ready to elevate your outdoor adventures with hot, fresh-off-the-grill meals, we can confidently recommend you add this classic portable grill to your gear today.