Gas grills are great for outdoor dinners on the weekend or for experimenting with new recipes such as grilled pork. However, the process of buying a gas grill requires a lot of thought about many factors, such as the warranty or if it’s made of stainless steel. Moreover, you will have to consider other factors like fuel usage, the size of the grill, how many burners it has, and its durability.
All these things can feel overwhelming and it’s easy to find yourself skipping one or two important considerations. The search is made even more challenging if you are looking for an affordable gas grill. Luckily, we did all the hard work for you and researched some of the most fuel-efficient, cheap, and durable gas grills that cost less than five hundred bucks. Here are five of the best gas grills under $500 that made it on our list.
Comparison Chart
Monument Grills Larger 4-Burner Propane Gas Grills bbq Stainless Steel Heavy-Duty Cabinet Style with LED Controls Side Burner Mesa 400m
Char-Broil 463331422 Performance Amplifire 4-Burner Cart Style Liquid Propane Gas Grill Metallic Gray & 5+ Burner Extra Large Rip-Stop Grill Cover
Best Gas Grills Under $500 Reviews
Monument Grills 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
The Monument Grills four-burner gas grill allows you to enjoy the season outdoors with its rugged all-stainless steel construction. The construction makes it durable for years of delicious meals. With the grill, you are afforded multiple cooking options thanks to its side sear burner and one side burner that complement the four primary burners. In addition, it features a total of six stainless steel burners.
The grill’s design outputs cooking power of up to 72,000 BTUs and has a stainless steel lid with cast side caps that leave a rich flavor in your dishes. Also featured are a built-in thermometer and LED-lit control knobs for around-the-clock cooking.
Review
Are you searching for a sleek-designed, fast-heating, large cooking area that packs considerable firepower? Look no further than the four burners available with this Monument grill. Among the standout features of the grill is its rapid heat time. Using the four burners, the grill will reach the 400-degree mark in less than 10 minutes. The heat is then spread evenly to the rest of the cooking surface (513 square inches). The grill will also do the job if you prefer slow and low cooking. Also, remember that it has a side burner that comes in handy when heating sides and sauces.
The cooking of this grill matches its looks. The Monument brand opted to make all the hard edges round on the grill, resulting in a sleek, contemporary look. In addition, every exposed surface of the grill is made of stainless steel, making it rust-resistant.
Extra features with the grill include cast-iron, porcelain-coated cooking grates, a closed-cart design with a lot of storage, and stainless steel burners, among other useful and fun extras. The extras include a motorized rotisserie kit, LED control knobs, tool hooks, and a zinc-coated pan.
It is a well-designed piece of equipment that does not cook or look like a beginner’s grill. However, you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is affordable for average consumers despite its superior quality performance.
Pros
- Significant grilling space
- Excellent performance and powerful heat
- Electronic ignition mechanism for easier burner starts
- Even cooking with cast-iron, porcelain-coated grates
- Increased night visibility with LED control knobs
- Includes tool hooks
Cons
- Assembly is reasonably challenging
- The side burner ignition requires a match
Char-Broil 463331422 Performance Amplifier
If flexibility, durability, sufficient storage, sleek design, and preparation are some of the primary considerations when looking for a gas grill, then you are in luck. The Char-Broil gas grill offers all these features at a friendly price tag. This grill features infrared cooking technology to grant you the confidence to grill your whole meal without flare-ups and even heat distribution for a juicier delicacy. Therefore, you get better cookouts and tastier food.
Review
The Char-Broil four-burner grill can deliver up to 36,000 cooking power BTUs over its cooking surface (425 square inches). It has a cooking surface that is large enough to comfortably accommodate 20 burgers simultaneously. And if extra space becomes necessary, you can shift over to the 10,000 BTU side burner, which can fold downwards to provide you with an extra prepping side table.
The grill also features cast-iron, porcelain-coated cooking grates. The grates are non-stick and rust-resistant, guaranteeing service for an extended duration and a less hectic cleaning and cooking experience.
In addition, the stainless steel barbecue grill has a top-to-bottom stainless steel construction that gives it a modern look and robust feel. The grill has a closed-cart design and a cabinet to provide you with two extra perks. The propane tank will always remain out of view, and you will have additional storage room to store spices, grilling gear, and cooking utensils.
The Char-Broil grill package has a two-year guarantee on the firebox and lid, whereas the emitter system, grates, and all extra parts are guaranteed for one year. On the other hand, the burner system gets a five-year guarantee.
The stainless steel grill also has four sturdy burners that are well-designed, easy to clean, and accompanied by multiple warranties, making it among the best gas grills under $500.
Pros
- Four top-ported 36,000 BTU stainless steel burners
- Removable grease pan for easier cleaning
- Built-in temperature gauge for temperature monitoring
- Prevents flare-ups
- Even heat distribution
Cons
- Assembly instructions are unclear
Weber Spirit II E-2102 Grill
As far as backyard cuisine is concerned, the Weber Spirit has set the standard; the grill is innovative and based on culinary expertise. It considers the needs and wants of people who enjoy grilling, that is, the overall grilling community. All the components used to make it feature unique designs that are easy to use; you will find them satisfactory when you go about grilling. It has good burners and you have smoke-infused food that will cook consistently and evenly.
Review
This grill allows you to be more creative with your dishes courtesy of the reversible cooking grates. There is a thin side that is more delicate and suits foods like shrimp and fish, and there is also another wider side with a thick sear mark that will enhance your food’s flavor.
With this grill, you also enjoy additional space and accessibility concerning your grilling tools, and it has a sleek open cart design. If you want extra room or need to save on space, you could fold the left side of the table. It is also easy to do as you only need to click a button and flip the table down, making it ideal for small areas like balconies.
The integrated hooks on the table are also convenient. You could use them to keep seasonings, platters, and just about any other tool within arm’s reach. The added bonus of easy access and proper organization is that it leaves everything looking neat.
For those who worry about running out of fuel mid-cooking, there is a fuel gauge next to the tank that shows you how much fuel remains. You will never be blindsided by having it run out on you when you are grilling. Accessing the tank is simple as you can easily mount or remove it.
As the meat is grilled below, a warming rack helps keep your food hot, including the buns, burgers, and toast. If you like a bit of design in everything, there are four stylish lid colors, including sapphire, classic black, red, and blue.
However, as much as there are many good things to say about this grill, there are also downsides. The first downside is the assembly. Unless you are a professional, you might find assembling it a daunting task. The process takes a long time and can be tiring.
Pros
- Convenient hanging hooks
- Great build quality
- Folding side table
- Open-cart design provides more space
- Easy-to-read fuel gauge
Cons
- Assembly can be challenging
Cuisinart CGG-7400 Propane
Cuisinart is a well-established brand that offers a wide range of products loved by chefs and consumers. The company is committed to producing innovative, top-quality, and functional products that have won several awards over the years. Most of their products are widely available and you can find them in-store and online globally.
Review
If you take your cooking seriously, this is the grill to get. First, there is a large cooking area to cook more food. Heat is retained evenly for a long time courtesy of the generous cast iron cooking grate.
For cooking, you have about 443 square inches of space, and there is an additional 167 inches with the warming rack. This gives you a total of 610 inches, which is more than enough for a gathering of friends and family. The warming rack is convenient because it is excellent at managing timing. It warms up your food while the meat or whatever you are grilling finishes cooking.
For example, you could keep your vegetables warm there or place bread, hotdogs, and hamburgers there. They will not only be warm but also soak in that smoky flavor of the grill.
The burners are stainless steel, four of which will offer you maximum control of the heat. It allows you to keep the temperature on one side warm and the other very hot so you can precisely cook food like fish and shrimp.
Its solid stainless steel build is perfect for the outdoors, so you don’t have to worry about rust. You also don’t need matches or a lighter when you want to start it.
Each one of the burners will light independently with just a twist of a knob. The knobs provide accurate control of how intense you want the flame to be, from a low simmer to high heat.
The wheels that come with this grill are heavy-duty. You can use them on most flat surfaces. It is the ideal height, and the wheels allow you to move it to any location.
This grill also has a built-in thermometer to help you maintain a uniform temperature, which requires even heat. It also helps to prevent burning food or overcooking.
This grill comes with a built-in bottle opener. Two side prep tables are also included to put your plates of food or spices. You could also move food quickly from your kitchen to grilling and from the grill to the table.
A few drawbacks to the grill include difficulty in cleaning it and unclear instructions, resulting in you potentially struggling with assembly.
Pros
- A warming rack is convenient to have
- It gives more control over the heat
- Large cooking area
- Durable construction
- Twist start ignition
Cons
- Difficult to clean
Royal Gourmet GA6402S
This grill comes from manufacturers driven by passion; their products are affordable but still made with quality components. They adhere to diversity, innovation, taste, and care. The brand is innovative and is all about market sensitivity, and it is growing as one of the best professional outdoor grill manufacturers.
Review
The Royal Gourmet GA6402S has a high cooking output; five burners have 10,000 BTUs. There is also a 14,000 BTU and a 10,000 BTU side burner. Using all the burners, you get 74,000 BTUs, which heats up quickly.
You also get sufficient cooking capacity; it has slightly more than 800 square inches of space. This means you can cook for about 10 people comfortably. The side burner is ideal for preparing side dishes.
If you want something more professional, the sear burner is capable of intense high heat. The heat is fast and even, and you only need the one-button ignition system that is reliable enough to light up the burners.
There are flame tamers, and the iron cooking grates are porcelain-enameled and distribute heat uniformly throughout the cooking surface.
Compared to other grills, this one from Royal Gourmet won’t give you much of a hassle when cleaning up. It features a removable grease tray. In addition to that, there is also a grease cup that helps to reduce flare-up risks.
You could easily slide it out and remove the residue, making cleaning simple. Heat retention is also good. The stainless steel double layer allows for proper heat retention, keeps food warm, and maintains a delicious taste.
There is also a built-in thermometer that monitors the temperature and is excellent for optimal cooking. You could quickly move it around with the caster wheel; it rotates 360°, thus making it convenient to carry it around. The wheel locks in place properly courtesy of the brake system to firmly hold the grill, thus preventing accidents.
The prep side table gives you a place to have accessories, plates, meat, or even cookbooks that guide you while grilling. However, with uneven heating, it might be a bit challenging for you if you are unfamiliar with using a grill.
Pros
- Great heat retention
- Powerful sear burner
- Prep side table
- Collects grease
- Caster wheels are lockable
Cons
- Uneven heat may make it difficult to use for unfamiliar individuals
Conclusion
So there you have it. Those are the top five grills you’ll find today under $500. These grills come with wheels for easy movement and they have a durable construction that’s rust-resistant. Moreover, these grills are easy to maintain and they preheat quickly. So get one and enjoy your outdoor cooking sessions this weekend.