8 Best Outdoor Griddles of 2025
Use a versatile outdoor griddle to cook hamburgers, hot dogs, eggs, pancakes and more.
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Outdoor griddles, also known as flat-top griddles, can create deliciously crisp edges on smash burgers, flavorful fried rice, golden pancakes and more. People often go to restaurants for many of these popular dishes, but you can achieve the same quality (if not better) from the comfort of your own backyard. The best outdoor griddles are durable, versatile and easy to use.
While they might look like your standard grill from the outside, outdoor griddles don’t have grates; they have a flat plate, commonly made of carbon steel. They’re large, allowing you to cook different dishes simultaneously and can reach high temperatures, giving food a nice sear and crust
To get more insight on the best outdoor griddles, we tapped Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou, who has tested more than 90 outdoor grills, from gas grills and charcoal grills to kamado-style and more — including some of the picks featured on this list. When testing the propane-fueled outdoor griddles, Papantoniou and her team assessed how evenly they heat and how well they cook foods like steak, eggs and veggies. We also collected long-term feedback from at-home testers to get more insight into how well each griddle performs.
Pit Boss 5-Burner Griddle with Folding Shelves
Pros
- Powerful
- User-friendly
Cons
- Griddle discolors quickly, like other light-colored griddle tops
Length of cooktop: 37 in. | Cooking area: 753 sq. in. | Burners: 5 | BTUs: 62,000
This outdoor griddle delivers on construction, ease of use and performance. It's sturdy, has five burners and can use up to 62,000 BTUs — among the most powerful on our list. (Don't worry; the output is still manageable since those BTUs are divided between the number of burners.) Each burner ignites with a simple turn, and the control panel is clearly labeled with temperature markings and how-to-use instructions.
How it performed in Lab tests: Dan DiClerico, director of our Home Improvement and Outdoors Lab, tested this griddle using our Kitchen Appliances Lab protocols and said it's well-designed and easy to assemble. Its folding shelves double as griddle covers once the griddle is cool and not in use. The handles make the griddle easy to move around, and the drip tray is accessible on the side of the unit where the grease drainage hole is located.
DiClerico reported that chicken cooked on this Pit Boss model turned out more crisp and juicy than on a grill. "I was a short order cook on the Jersey Shore for a couple of summers, and this brought back memories of the ease and versatility of griddle cooking," he said
Long-term use: After using the griddle for over a year and cooking about once or twice a week on average, DiClerico noted that he most often uses the griddle for cooking smash burgers and breakfast, which includes bacon, eggs, pancakes and home fries which he notes are "super easy on the griddle." He hasn't had any trouble so far with starting the griddle, noting that it is easier to start than the grills and he can get it started on the first try. To keep the griddle in good shape, he cleans it right after every use and adds a thin coat of oil to prevent rusting between uses.
Take note: The griddle discolored quickly, which is normal for light-colored ones.
Pros
- Many ease-of-use features, like a condiment caddy
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Location of drainage holes limits the size of the cooking space
Length of cooktop: 36 in. | Cooking area: 756 sq. in. | Burners: 4 | BTUs: 60,000
Nexgrill's four-burner griddle offers solid performance and many ease-of-use features, all at a great price for the category. In our tests, this model did a good job of cooking various foods, from eggs and pancakes to burgers and grilled cheese.
This pick has two grease drainage holes — one located on either side of the griddle — which make cleanup easy but limit the cooking space a bit since small foods can easily fall through. Both drip trays are accessible from the front of the unit.
The griddle has two side shelves equipped with one set of tool holders and a condiment caddy, two underrated and useful features. We also appreciate the storage and work area the shelves provide and the inclusion of a stainless steel lid.
How it performed in Lab tests: Kate Merker, our chief food director, tested this grill and said she particularly liked the griddle's size and that she could cook an assortment of food quickly and in one batch. She noted that ensuring your griddle is set up on a level surface is important because her eggs ran to one side during the test. A workaround is using egg molds to keep whites contained.
Long-term use: Kate has been using the griddle for about two years now, and her go-to dinner items to cook on the griddle are hibachi-style fried rice and fajitas, which she noted are "great for a crowd, and I definitely get my show on." She also notes that she likes making breakfast, but when making pancakes, she has to avoid uneven spots; otherwise, the pancakes can look "a bit funny."
Take note: As is common with many outdoor griddles, seasoning the griddle took time, according to our testers. This task was a pain point across the outdoor griddle category in general.
Blackstone 36-Inch Griddle with Hard Cover
Pros
- Powerful
- Large cooking surface
- Loaded with handy features like tool holders, a paper towel holder and bottle opener
Cons
- Frame material is sturdy but a little thin
Length of cooktop 36" | Cooking area: 769 sq. in. | Burners: 4 | BTUs: 60,000
For many cooks, Blackstone is synonymous with outdoor griddles. The model we tested is powerful, with a large, 769-square-inch cooktop. It has four burners, folding side shelves and a bottom shelf, a magnetic tool holder, additional tool holders on the sides of the shelves, a paper towel holder and a bottle opener.
How it performed in Lab tests: In our tests, bacon cooked up crispy, and we could gently cook eggs on the low setting with minimal sticking. While we cooked, we noted that grease automatically pooled to the center back of the griddle, where the drainage hole is located, which helped food brown more evenly, created less smoking and sped up the cleanup. The griddle was also easy to season, but note that the lighter hue of the steel means it does discolor over time.
Take note: Overall, the frame is solid, but its material feels thin, and the lid on our sample arrived dented and is a little wobbly. It's designed to hang on the back of your griddle when not in use, but it does not lie flush with the back of the unit when the drip pan is in place.
Traeger Flatrock Flat-Top Griddle
Pros
- Premium design
- Has large, oversized shelves and a contained grease collector
Cons
- Pricey
Length of cooktop 33 in. | Cooking area: 594 sq. in. | Burners: 3 | BTUs: Not provided
Though this outdoor griddle is the priciest on our list, it stands out for being the sturdiest and most decked out with features that make it easy to use. One tester who helped put the griddle together commented on how premium it felt right out of the box. It has a slick, easy-to-clean exterior, large, oversized folding shelves, a hinged lid and handles on either side. Its cooking surface is smaller than the others we tested but still offers plenty of room.
Unlike many other outdoor griddles, the cooktop is recessed, i.e., it sits inside the unit's frame right above its three U-shaped burners. The design is intended to make it better at evenly distributing heat than its competitors, which situate the griddle atop the burners — with room between the cooktop and frame — and are susceptible to wind.
This model has one of the largest rectangular drainage holes we tested; it's located on the front center of the griddle. The hole directs the grease below into a large, enclosed container with an oversized handle that helps it slide in and out easily. The container can be lined with disposable trays that the brand sells for easy cleanup. You can also buy additional accessories for the frame to hold your tools or paper towels.
How it performed in Lab tests: In our tests, we cooked all sorts of food with no trouble. Eggs cooked up great, as did veggies and steaks. The cooktop got nice and hot but never burned our food, nor was it too hot to work with.
Take note: One unique detail about this griddle is that the ignition is electric and needs to be plugged in or powered by a battery to turn on. When plugged in, the griddle features flame and fuel sensors that confirm which burners are on and how much propane you have in the tank.
Weber 36-Inch Griddle
Pros
- Offers many ease-of-use features like large side shelves and tool holders
- Approachable size and build
Cons
- Testers noted lid was a bit wobbly
Length of cooktop 36 in. | Cooking area: 756 sq. in. | Burners: 4 | BTUs: 60,000
Weber's griddle delivers on the performance you'd expect from the brand, which has a strong reputation for quality grills. It comes with oversized shelves, tool holders, a generously proportioned storage shelf and a hinged lid. One particularly neat feature: The burners ignite with the turn of each knob (i.e., you don't need to press a separate button simultaneously to ignite them).
How it performed in at-home tests: Our tester noted that the griddle provided excellent browning when used to make burgers, steak and mushrooms. He particularly liked how flavorful the mushrooms turned out, likely because they were cooked on the same surface as the meat — a great benefit of griddles in general.
The griddle's drainage hole is located in the front left corner, and the drip tray is easily accessible at the front of the unit. Our tester appreciated the size and effectiveness of the cooktop and praised how easy this model was to use
This outdoor griddle won a Kitchen Gear Award. One tester said: "For years, I was intimidated by grills and never used them. I would see people scrubbing the grills before and after using, scraping off all the hardened-on drippings. This design of a griddle is genius — so much better! I don't mind not having the grill marks on the meat and veggies. They're still delicious! Now I'm a convert."
Weber recently came out with a rust-resistant model that also won a 2024 Kitchen Gear Award. Testers loved that the preseasoned griddle was ready to cook on right after heating up.
Take note: Some testers found the griddle to be slightly wobbly.
Loco Cooker Digital Series II SmartTemp Griddle
Pros
- Clear temperature controls
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Bolts for leveling can be difficult to access
Length of cooktop: 26 in. | Cooking area: 488 sq. in. | Burners: 2 | BTUs: Not provided
What sets the Loco Cooker apart from others on the list is that this outdoor griddle allows you to cook at specific temperatures, which is why it has also recently won a Kitchen Gear Award. The griddle has two burners and offers more temperature control than other models. Most outdoor griddles only operate with low, medium and high temperatures; the Loco Cooker allows you to select your desired temperature in increments of 25ºF, ranging from 250ºF to 450ºF.
The sleek cooker has two folding side trays, which came in handy when the griddle was not in use, making it more compact and easier to move. The enclosed cabinets keep everything neat since they hide the propane tank and other grilling items you may not need or want on display. The cooktop leveling is customizable and easy to adjust once you get the hang of it, but we found it a little tricky initially
How it performed in Lab tests: The ability to customize the temperature with the folding side table and under-grill storage set this apart from others on the market. Assembly was easy, and the instructions were clear, which is ideal for a novice outdoor cooker.
Long-term use: One of our analysts has been using the Loco Cooker since 2024 and prefers it over cooking indoors during the warmer months. "I've been using the griddle for about a year, and it is just as easy to ignite now as it was the first day. Though it only has two burners, I'm still able to cook a large amount of food at once. When cooking smash burgers for about five family members, I could fit patties and a whole pack of bacon on the griddle and still had enough space to toast buns. I love getting a clear temperature reading, so I don't have to guess if the griddle is hot enough."
Take note: We found it slightly difficult to access the bolts when adjusting the level on the cooktop.
Blackstone Tabletop Griddle
Pros
- Portable
- Two burners for independent cooking zones
Cons
- Small drip pan
Length of cooktop 22 in. | Cooking area: 339 sq. in. | Burners: 2 | BTUs: 24,000
This outdoor tabletop griddle is great whether you have a small outdoor space, are looking to make a quick meal or need something powerful to cook on when you're camping or on a picnic. It's compatible with a small propane tank and is powerful at 22,000 BTUs. It has two burners, so you can cook with high heat on one side (for, say, sausage) and low heat on the other (great for pancakes).
How it performed in Lab tests: Like the large Blackstone we tested, the drain hole is in the center back of the griddle, giving you ample cooking space. The cooktop stands up to the durability and performance of similar full-sized models. It has a sturdy build that helps you feel confident while cooking, but it's just 32 pounds, so that you can move it around easily.
Take note: The drip pan is smaller than the full-sized model, so remember to empty it often.
Weber Genesis Full-Size Griddle 300 Series
Pros
- Comes in an assortment of sizes to fit on top of several Weber grills
- Large drain spout
- Can be used with the lid closed
Cons
- Cumbersome to store since most grills models aren't equipped to do so yet
Length of cooktop: 25.67 in. | Cooking area: 479 sq. in. | Burners: 3 (per grill series it fits) | BTUs: As powerful as your gas grill
Weber makes it super easy to turn your gas grill into a griddle with this full-sized insert. It comes in several sizes and is designed to fit right into the brand's Spirit II 300, Genesis II 300, and Genesis II 400 lines of gas grills when you remove the grill grates.
While the griddle insert comes preseasoned, we seasoned it before using it as recommended by the manufacturer. The bread was evenly toasted in our tests, though the results were light compared to others tested over medium heat. The griddle insert performed well cooking bacon, chicken breasts, steak, eggs and veggies like asparagus. The drainage hole is located in the back corner and is easy to push grease into. The grease falls into the grill's drip pan below, which is easy to clean.
How it performed in Lab tests: Our favorite thing about this insert is that it allows you to griddle with the benefits of a gas grill. Using the grill's warming rack was neat, as was being able to griddle with the lid closed, a task that most outdoor griddles can't handle. As a result, we could cook thicker foods, like a thick chicken breast, more easily than we would have been able to by using a cloche on an outdoor griddle.
Take note: One downfall is that the insert is bulky to store if your grill doesn't have a storage area.
How we test outdoor griddles
We tested all of the full-size outdoor griddles on this list. Our team of experienced product analysts, mechanical engineers and food editors assembled the griddles, cooked on them repeatedly and stored them outdoors the way a home user would.
We assessed how evenly each griddle cooked, how well each seared food, like steak and chicken, whether it could handle low-temperature cooking, and how easy it was to clean up
We also noted how easy the griddles were to assemble and the seasoning process. We scored ease-of-use features — such as shelves, wheels, tool holders and more — and evaluated whether the propane tank and grease collector were easy to access.
What to look for when buying an outdoor griddle
✔️ Size: For the most part, we tested 36-inch outdoor griddles. This popular size allows you to feed a crowd. Remember that these large surfaces get hot, so a smaller option might feel more manageable for new griddle cooks. Smaller sizes are also great for smaller spaces and are more affordable. So, if you're willing to work in batches (or you're not cooking for many folks at once), a smaller model will save you money while not demanding much cooking time.
✔️ Griddle material: It's common for griddles to be made of carbon steel, which is highly durable and can reach high temps. Carbon steel is quite good at retaining heat, too, so we recommend starting with different temperature zones versus cranking all the burners up too high and turning them down later on. Most griddle surfaces require seasoning to help prevent sticking and rusting. Some may be ceramic-coated for easy cleanup, but you want to be gentler with tools on this cooktop style.
✔️ Lid: Many outdoor griddles now come with lids. For the most part, the lids cannot be used during cooking — they're intended to cover the griddle for storage. Lids help create a barrier between your used griddle and the grill cover so the cover can stay clean. We prefer hinged lids versus lids that hang off the side of the griddle when not in use.
✔️ Grease drainage hole: A large, strategically positioned drainage hole makes cooking and cleanup easier. Griddles accumulate a lot of fat during cooking, and it often needs to be pushed away from the food and into the hole. You'll likely get used to whichever style you opt for, but we've found that ones that are big enough to scrape your spatula against are quite helpful.
✔️ Extra features: As with all outdoor grills, it's smart to look for outdoor griddles with features that will make your cooking experience easier. We like strong, oversized shelves with tool holders. We also value propane holders and grease traps that are easy to access.
Are griddles as good as grills?
Griddles and grills are different. Griddles can cook almost all the same foods a grill can, but you won't get grill marks. Unlike grills, they're great for cooking small foods like rice and shrimp and runny foods like pancakes and eggs.
Griddles don't typically have covers, so they're ideal for foods that are thin and cook quickly but less suited to large cuts of meat, like a pork butt or whole chicken. You can use a cloche to help thicker foods cook evenly and quickly, but cloches limit the size and quantity of food you can fit
Griddles offer a lot of versatility, but some people will miss cooking food over a direct flame, which lets you achieve the charred, smoky taste you get with a grill. It's common for people to have both a griddle and a grill since they're each good at different things.
Do I need to season my outdoor griddle?
Most outdoor griddles must be seasoned before the first use because they're often made of carbon steel. Carbon steel is a durable material, but it must be cared for properly. When you season it, a.k.a. cure it with oil at a high temperature like a cast iron pan, the coating helps prevent rust and helps make the surface nonstick.
Some outdoor griddles come preseasoned, which is helpful, but you'll want to keep up with the seasoning to extend the life of the surface. Refer to your outdoor griddle's user guide for the best way to season it.
Outdoor griddles with nonstick coatings do not need to be seasoned, but they're more prone to wear and won't last as long as your standard outdoor griddle.
How do I maintain my outdoor griddle?
At the end of every cook, I make sure to scrape the flat top clean with a griddle scraper. I like to use water from a squeeze bottle to help remove stubborn bits from the griddle (be careful when you squirt water onto a hot griddle because it will steam); I then use paper towels and long BBQ tongs to wipe up residue. Be sure to fully dry or cook off any remaining water to help prevent rusting.
I can usually skip seasoning the griddle if I've cooked something greasy like bacon or burgers. But in other instances, I use the cleanup as an opportunity to reseason my griddle. I squirt the surface with vegetable or canola oil from a squeeze bottle and carefully spread it across the entire surface with fresh paper towels and long BBQ tongs.
Once the oil starts to smoke and the smoke dissipates, I turn off my griddle and let it cool completely before covering it with my griddle's lid and then a griddle cover. The covers I've used, like this griddle cover from Blackstone, have been weatherproof, but you could always move your griddle under a shelter to help keep it looking like new even longer.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she oversees all testing and content related to kitchen appliances, tools and more. She's been the team's lead grill tester since she joined in 2019 and has tested more than 40 outdoor grills. She led the testing on these outdoor griddles and continues to use three of them to assess long-term data. They've become one of her favorite ways to cook.
Raena Loper is an analyst for Good Housekeeping and has tested dozens of categories over the years, including toaster ovens, indoor smokers and more. She worked with Nicole to update the latest version of this article.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
Raena Loper (she/her) is a fashion journalist and product analyst based in New Jersey whose work has appeared in Forbes, Good Housekeeping and O, The Oprah Magazine. Raena is a graduate from Montclair State University where she earned a degree in fashion studies as well as gender, sexuality and women's studies. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, cooking BBQ and spending time with family.
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