Best tabletop BBQs for ease and adventures in 2024

This tabletop BBQ from Ninja was made for foodies and keen cooks. The easy-to-use outdoor grill uses electricity with an integrated smoke box for real burning wood pellets - no need for charcoal, gas or flames while still getting that lovely smoky flavour. A BBQ grill, smoker and air fryer in one, it has seven cooking functions: Grill, smoke, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, and reheat. Use it in the garden, on a balcony, caravanning or on a campsite - just make sure you have access to a power source.

Our review: "Not only is this appliance a game changer if you only have a balcony or tiny patio, but it offers easy, mess-free outdoor cooking no matter where you plan to cook – you just need access to power. Unlike hybrid BBQs or a small tabletop electric BBQ, this isn't just a BBQ/grill alternative; it offers multiple cooking functions. It can air fry, bake, roast, and it's a smoker, too."

Read our full Ninja Woodfire grill review

If you're more of a gas BBQ connoisseur, this stainless steel Nexgrill includes two 304-grade stainless steel 'U' shaped burners and an automatic push-and-turn ignition system. To prove that you can BBQ in any place at any time, the box has foldable legs for ease of storage.

A couple of reviews comment that they had to change the gas regulator, but this depends on the gas bottle you use.

The ceramic Big Green Egg charcoal barbecue combines age-old BBQ techniques and state-of-the-art technology to offer incredible strength, durability and heat insulation. The large Egg BBQ is perfect for friends and family barbecues. It creates powerful flavours, has excellent temperature control and moisture saturation for tender cooking. This bundle includes a large acacia wood table and table nest, with transporter wheels so you can move it around any space.

This Egg comes with a ConvEGGtor, a clever ceramic insert that turns your Egg into a convection oven for baking, slow-cooking, smoking and roasting outdoors.

Reviews across the web suggest is is as good as kamado-style cooking gets. Even celebrities have gotten onboard with the Big Green Egg.

The key benefit of buying the bundle is all the accessories, plus a beautiful and practical table are included. If you love entertaining in your garden, this works out to be great value.

The LotusGrill barbecue is ready to cook in less than five minutes and gives you authentic charcoal-cooked flavours, with no smoke.

Its fan regulates the airflow and it has a temperature control knob so you can grill with ease and precision. Its size makes it perfect for beach BBQs and camping. The LotusGrill stays cool to touch, thanks to its double-walled design, so it can be moved while the grill is still hot. Note that it requires 4 x AA batteries (included).

If you simply want to grill some hotdogs in the summer customers say this little BBQ is ideal for cooking single items. It heats up fast and it's a doddle to control the temperature. A review comments that this has replaced using disposable BBQs and there's hardly any clean up to do after grilling, other than disposing of the ash.

Weber continues to be a favourite in the BBQ arena with their Q1000 tabletop gas grill. With a cast iron lid and body, food is evenly and consistently cooked. It boasts a decent sized cooking area for burgers, sausages and more. We also love that there's the option to buy this BBQ with or without a stand. Perfect if you're a keen outdoor cook – home and away – or don't have the space for a garden table.

Customer reviews comment that although it's compact, this BBQ has a large grilling area that's enough to feed a family. This Weber is versatile and can be taken on day trips or for grilling in a small garden.

Do note that the frame can get hot during cooking, so keep youngsters away and always use protective gloves.

If you're after a tabletop BBQ that can still cook a mighty amount of food, this Home Table Top Smoker Charcoal BBQ is a great size and value. It has a built-in thermometer and vents, to keep you in charge of the cooking process.

It's durable yet lightweight enough to be taken on camping trips. Use it to smoke fish, meat and vegetables, or cook low and slow for a unique barbecued flavour.

This BBQ used to be sold by Argos and is not as widely available anymore.

Cobb BBQs not only look great, but they are also an all-rounder as they can roast, bake, fry, grill and smoke food. This setup is great for camping as the Cobb has rubber, non-slip feet and holes in the dome to ensure even ventilation. Perfect for small spaces as it needs just 8-10 briquettes, about 300g of charcoal, or a Cobb CobbleStone to cook almost anything.

Customers say it's versatile and can be used for cooking roast joints as well as bacon and sausages. Add wood chips to get an authentic smoky flavour and infuse food with a finger-licking taste. It's an all-in-one cooking solution for when you go camping, as it can even be used to cook stir fry and pizza.

Reviews comment that it's safe as the sides stay cool to touch, plus fat drains off so there's no danger of flare-ups. It's lightweight and easy to use, but do bear in mind fuel needs to be purchased separately, such as these Cobble Stone Fuel Stones.

Renowned for its kitchen grills, George Foreman has taken their knowledge outside with this portable tabletop BBQ powered by gas. With legs that keep the BBQ elevated off your garden table or grass, it'll prevent scorching and allow for better heat circulation. Compact and lightweight, this versatile grill cooks accurately with an integrated temperature gauge, and you can get going from the outset with gas, hose and regulator included. In addition, it can also be purchased with a trolley, in order to convert it into a freestanding portable BBQ.

Customers comment it's easy to use, lightweight and heats up fast. But do bear in mind that you're cooking on grill plates rather than traditional grilling, so whilst safer, it lacks the authentic flame-grilled experience.

The Weber Lumin Electric BBQ is a great choice of grill for newcomers to barbecuing and if you only have a small outdoor space. It plugs in to a mains plug socket and very quickly reaches 300°C+ temperatures. The spacious grill area caters for a family and the grill accommodates all the favourites, such as kebabs, burgers and sausages. Additionally, it has a lid to keep food warm.

We tried and tested the Weber Lumin Electric BBQ and recommend the grill for BBQ novices, our tester says it was a quality piece of kit, albeit the accompanying stand is fiddly to assemble.

Read our full review of the Weber Lumin Electric BBQ.