The 7 Best Natural Gas Grills of 2023
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Our top picks to make your backyard barbecue the envy of the neighborhood
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A new grill setup will make the barbecue dreams of many home cooks—both experienced grillmasters and first-timers—come true. Grill shoppers have plenty of options, ranging from classic charcoal grills to backyard grills with propane tanks to grills powered by natural gas.
Natural gas grills are a popular choice for all, especially for their overall ease of use. Because natural gas grills can be hooked up to an existing natural gas line at your home (rather than requiring tanks that need to be changed), “convenience will always be a huge advantage to owning a natural gas grill," says Paul Sidoriak, cookbook author and grilling expert of Grilling Montana. "Not having to mess around with changing or filling propane bottles is a luxury, and the reliability of natural gas is hard to beat."
To help you make the best choice and meet all your barbecuing needs, we've consulted experts and researched natural gas grills in terms of their features, maintenance, and BTUs. Here are the best natural gas grills on the market.
Best Overall: Weber Genesis II E-335 3-Burner Gas Grill
While the Genesis II E-335 isn’t a cheap grill, it does offer remarkable bang for the buck, considering its incredibly high quality.
What We Love: Consistent heat, includes a side burner, easy to clean, durable construction
What We Don't Love: Might be too large for small backyards and patios, requires some assembly
Weber is one of the best brands for gas grills, and its Genesis II E-335 model has much to recommend for any aspiring home grill master. It features a 513-square-inch main cooking area with 274 additional square inches on the expandable top rack. While the Genesis II E-335 isn’t a cheap grill, it does offer remarkable bang for the buck, considering its incredibly high quality.
"This 3-burner unit is built sturdy, comes with a 10-year warranty, and offers a seamless cooking experience from start to beginning," says Joonas Jokiniemi, the grill expert behind Grill Smoke Love. "The Genesis II E-335 has three powerful main burners that provide consistent heat across the grilling surface. It also comes with an extra sear burner to put out even more heat and a side burner that is great for preparing sauces and side dishes. And when it's time to clean up, the excellent grease management system makes it a breeze."
This also has a grill locker to hold large grilling tools in between sessions, and it's compatible with the Weber Crafted Outdoor Grilling collection. That means you can change the right burner into a pizza stone, a roasting basket, or even a rotisserie. Make sure you have the space for this grill, as it has a decent-sized footprint, and be prepared to assemble a bit if you aren't having it delivered completely put together.
Price at time of publish: $1,399
Dimensions (DxWxH): 35.5 x 30.75 x 31 inches | Cooking Area: 787 square inches | BTUs/hour: 39,000 | Number of Burners: 3 | Weight: 210 pounds | Warranty: 10 years
Runner-Up, Best Overall: Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill
It includes porcelain-reinforced “Flavorizer” bars, which are designed to catch drippings and transform them into smoke.
What We Love: Compact, substantial cooking space for a smaller-model grill, affordable
What We Don't Love: No smart-tech capabilities, requires some assembly
This inexpensive, compact, and powerful grill is a favorite of Adam Ng, consumer product reviewer and CEO of Trusted, who says that “this 3-burner grill is offering you a reasonably spacious total cooking area of 529 square inches, which is ideal for small families or a cookout with a couple of guests.”
The Spirit II E-310 also includes porcelain-reinforced “Flavorizer” bars that are designed to catch drippings and transform them into smoke, which will then infuse the food with flavor. Plus, Ng mentions that the Spirit II E-310 has “a thermometer baked into the lid so you can monitor the temperature at a glance without needing any third-party kit." The grill’s setup includes six hooks for tool storage, an open design for easy accessibility, and the left side table folds down when you need a bit more extra space—all this for an affordable price.
We do miss the fact that it doesn't have any smart-tech capabilities; also take note the grill requires a bit of assembly.
Price at time of publish: $683
Dimensions (DxWxH): 27 x 52 x 44.5 inches | Cooking Area: 529 square inches | BTUs/hour: 30,000 | Number of Burners: 3 | Weight: 114 pounds | Warranty: 10 years
Best Budget: Dyna-Glo Premier 2-Burner Natural Gas Gril
One of the most affordable barbecues, this well-designed and highly rated natural gas grill is ideal for smaller yards and patios.
What We Love: Sleek stainless steel design, easy-to-clean cooking grates, affordable
What We Don't Love: Doesn’t get as hot as some other models
One of the most affordable barbecues available, this well-designed and highly-rated natural gas grill is ideal for smaller yards and patios. The Dyna-Glo Premier 2-Burner has a stainless steel design and offers enough surface space and BTUs to grill enough food for a decent-sized gathering (you can fit up to 15 burgers on the grill at a time), and the porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates enable even heat distribution and are easy to clean.
Despite its small size and lightness, the Dyna-Glo Premier includes two fold-down side panels that provide enough space for basic prep and storage for grilling tools and plates. For city-dwellers, novice grillers, and others who want a powerful grill without a major financial (or spatial) commitment, the Dyna-Glo Premier 2-Burner is an excellent choice, although some users claim the grill doesn't get as hot as other models.
Price at time of publish: $514
Dimensions (DxWxH): 23.23 x 50.2 x 45.28 inches | Cooking Area: 445 square inches | BTUs/hour: 24,000 | Number of Burners: 2 | Weight: 90 pounds | Warranty: 1 year (grill), 5 years (burner)
Best Smart Grill: Weber Summit S-470 4-Burner Natural Gas Grill
For a built-in natural gas grill with all of the options, it is at the low end of the price range for its category.
What We Love: Has smart capabilities; can be used for searing, rotisserie cooking, and smoking; stainless steel design
What We Don't Love: Expensive, very heavy
Anyone who wants a grill that they can monitor from their mobile devices will love the Weber Summit S-470. This easily integrates with Weber’s Connect Smart Grilling Hub to provide remote notifications about food readiness and cooking time. The 468-square-inch main cooking area features stainless-steel main grates that sit above four 8,800-BTU burners, each with its own ignition.
In addition to these techie perks, the Summit S-470 includes “infrared, an electric rotisserie, a smoker box, and high-intensity searing burners," says Rick Mace, executive chef of Tropical Smokehouse in West Palm Beach, Florida. "For a built-in natural gas grill with all of the options, it is at the low end of the price range for its category."
If that's not enough, there are two stainless steel side tables and a stainless steel grease tray, plus everything is lit by LEDs when you find yourself wanting a second helping after dark. Keep in mind all of this makes for a heavy grill with a high price tag.
Price at time of publish: $2,749
Dimensions (DxWxH): 30 x 66 x 57 inches | Cooking Area: 580 square inches | BTUs/hour: 48,800 | Number of Burners: 4 | Weight: 235 pounds | Warranty: 10 years
Related: The Best Weber Grills
Best with Rotisserie: Alfresco LXE 30-Inch Natural Gas Grill with Rotisserie
The Alfresco LXE features a sleek stainless steel exterior, side tables for prep, and spacious storage cabinets beneath the grill top.
What We Love: Well-integrated rotisserie system and smoker drawer, spring-assisted hood, LED lights for nighttime grilling
What We Don't Love: Very large, very expensive
If your BBQ passions extend beyond burgers, grilled veggies, and hot dogs, you may be interested in a home grill that can handle more ambitious grilling projects, like rotisserie cooking and smoking. The Alfresco LXE can handle both of these tasks, with its clever design keeping all of the necessary elements well-contained and usable at the same time.
Though this may seem small with only two main burners, they each pump out 27,500 BTUs. When you want to use the ceramic infrared rotisserie, you'll be impressed by its quiet motor and the accompanying cold-smoke herbal infusion system (we won't tell your guests your secret!). If it's still cocktail hour when the cooking's done, this features a warming rack to keep everything hot. If, on the other hand, it's starting to get dark out, there's halogen lighting inside and LED lighting on the front panel.
To keep everyone safe, there's a "cooling curtain," making the front panel cool to the touch, and a hood-assist system. The Alfresco LXE also features a sleek stainless steel exterior, side tables for prep, and spacious storage cabinets beneath the grill top. This very large grill does come at a very large price.
Price at time of publish: $5,635
Dimensions (DxWxH): 54 x 26 x 51 inches | Cooking Area: 542 square inches | BTUs/hour: 55,000 | Number of Burners: 2 main burners, 1 rotisserie burner, 1 smoker burner | Weight: 330 pounds | Warranty: Lifetime
Related: The Best Grill Tongs
Best Splurge: DCS Evolution Built-In Gas Grill With Rotisserie
For home grillers who are determined to take their culinary ambitions to the next level, the DCS makes a worthy investment.
What We Love: Easy to clean, large cook space, integrated lighting, remarkable grilling power
What We Don't Love: Ceramic rods beneath the grates are prone to breaking if something heavy falls on them
This professional-grade natural gas grill offers the best of every category, save smart technology. For home grillers who are determined to take their culinary ambitions to the next level, the DCS Evolution makes a worthy investment.
Most importantly, it has a large cooking surface. Its 1,164 square inches is broken up over the 630-square-inch main cooking area and 534-square-inch secondary area. The main stainless-steel grates sit above four burners, each capable of 25,000 BTUs for powerful, even heating. When it comes to extra cooking adventures, this packs a 14,000-BTU infrared rotisserie that can turn up to 50 pounds, and there's a charcoal smoking tray.
If the party goes late into the night, there's integrated intuitive lighting that changes color when there's a flame. Add to all of this the easy-to-close hood and a clean stainless steel aesthetic, as well as the fact that the grill is simple to clean, and you'll have the grill everyone wants. Just keep in mind the ceramic radiant rods can break if a cooking grid falls on top of them.
Price at time of publish: $6,899
Dimensions (DxWxH): 26.88 x 36 x 27.25 inches | Cooking Area: 1,164 square inches | BTUs/hour: 89,000 | Number of Burners: 3 | Weight: 265 pounds | Warranty: Lifetime
Related: The Best Grill Brushes
Best Small Size: Weber Q-3200 Natural Gas Grill
What We Love: Ample cooking space, two burners, cast-iron grates, securely attached to cart, 10-foot gas hose
What We Don't Love: Difficult to find a cover that fits snugly when side tables are collapsed
If you have a natural gas hook-up but a small footprint for grilling, the Weber Q-3200 is a great choice. With two burners that reach 21,700 BTUs and porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates that measure 468 square inches (that's space for at least a dozen burgers), you can grill for the family or friends with ease.
Many small grills need to be placed on a tabletop, but this Weber model is securely attached to a stand fit with wheels, making it convenient to move around when needed. The two fold-out side tables offer ample space for serving dishes and utensils, while the lid's built-in thermometer means you can monitor the heat level. The 10-foot hose allows you flexibility when it comes to picking a location. If you plan to cover the grill, note that the side tables need to be open to allow for the best fit.
Price at time of publish: $539
Dimensions (DxWxH): 43.5 x 50.2 x 21 inches | Cooking Area: 468 square inches | BTUs/hour: 21,700 | Number of Burners: 2 | Weight: 86 pounds | Warranty: 5 years
Related: The Best Grills
Final Verdict
If you want your natural gas grill to last for years, the Weber Genesis II E-335 3-Burner Gas Grill is a worthy investment. Those looking to save a little money but still get a high-quality grill should turn to the Weber Spirit II E 310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill.
How We Selected
We put our list of recommendations together based on several priority and comparison points for home grills. First, we looked at the British Thermal Units (BTUs) to compare the power of each grill and to determine which are most capable of producing properly grilled meats, proteins, and vegetables. We then evaluated the prices of each grill and how they stacked up to the grill’s features and cooking quality. That was done in tandem with comparing the extra abilities each grill has in addition to standard grilling, like rotisserie attachments and smart programming. Lastly, we considered the skill level required for each grill, asking whether a complete beginner would feel comfortable using the appliance or whether only more seasoned grillers could make use of it.
What to Look for in a Natural Gas Grill
BTUs
BTUs, or "British Thermal Units," are the traditional units used to measure the thermal output of a gas grill. Specifically, 1 BTU should be enough to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. Most shoppers assume that the higher the BTU rating, the more powerful the grill. However, the numbers can be deceiving; some brands only measure the BTUs per hour for the grill’s main burners, excluding side burners and attachments. Therefore, there isn’t an industry-wide standard for using these units to figure out the actual power potential of the device. Essentially, BTUs can be a helpful general tool for evaluating natural gas grills, but they shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor for a discerning buyer.
Maintenance
Natural gas grills are, as a whole, much easier to keep clean than charcoal grills. To clean your grill grates, you’ll want to keep a stiff-bristled brush and dishrags on hand, along with vegetable oil and gentle dish soap. Use the brush to remove residue from the grill grates, then rub the grates with vegetable oil, using the rag, to keep them lubricated. Use water, dish soap, and a steel brush or scrubber to clean the inside of the grill lid, then dry the grill with another dishrag.
As far as the outside of the grill goes, make sure to buy specific stainless steel cleaners and products if you want to maintain the shininess of your stainless steel grill. For ceramic, porcelain, or painted steel grill, you can use regular soap and water.
Special Features
Natural gas grills often come with an array of bonus features that make the grilling experience easier and more enjoyable. These can include storage hooks for grilling tools, under-grill cabinets, side tables for prep, side burners, rotisserie systems, smoker drawers, and more. These extras can drive up the prices of the grills, so be sure to carefully review your options and stick with the features that make the most sense for your personal grilling needs.
FAQs
Can you convert a propane gas grill into a natural gas grill?
It is possible to convert a propane grill into a natural gas grill, but it requires some know-how. First of all, you’ll need to determine whether your particular propane grill model is eligible for conversion. To do that, consult your owner’s manual (or contact the manufacturer if you’ve misplaced said manual) and see if the grill is a “dual fuel” model. If so, you’ll be able to convert it into a natural gas grill with the help of a conversion kit, which can be purchased at hardware stores. Be sure to buy a conversion kit specifically compatible with your grill brand. If you’re unsure, contact the manufacturer, as conversion mishaps related to incorrect kits can damage your grill and could cause a dangerous fire.
Do you need a professional to install a natural gas grill?
If you already have a natural gas line at your home, then you likely won’t need a professional’s help to install your grill. However, if you don’t have a line, then you’ll need to get one installed, which absolutely requires a professional to survey your property and ensure that you can connect to the main gas supply to install the line itself. This process can be very expensive and will depend on your home’s proximity to a natural gas supply, so it’s important to figure out whether your budget and home location can sustain the installation.
Is natural gas cheaper than propane?
When it comes to volume, propane is more expensive than natural gas. However, natural gas burns faster than propane, and propane also burns twice as hot, which means you will use more natural gas over time.
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
Taylor Tobin is an Austin, TX-based freelance journalist who specializes in recipe testing and deep dives into popular dishes, drinks, ingredients, and pieces of kitchen equipment.
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