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15 best gas BBQs for a summer of next-level grilling, tried and tested

Let the flames begin – we put a range of gas barbecues to the test

Jon Axworthy
Thursday 25 July 2024 11:02 BST
Fire up the ignition on a gas burner, for ultimate control of the flames
Fire up the ignition on a gas burner, for ultimate control of the flames (The Independent)
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One of the best ways to banish the blackened sausages and over-broiled burgers from your barbecue repertoire this summer is by taking control of the flames, with a gas appliance. Although they usually take a little more assembly than their charcoal equivalents, the effort is usually worth it, because gas models give you total control over the heat under your meat and veg.

That’s why the first thing we look for in the best gas barbecues is build quality and straightforward assembly – every component, from the casters to the lid hinges, needs to be well-engineered and solidly constructed, so we know we won’t have to spend more money on a replacement this time next year.

Gas barbecues come with different numbers of burners – the more there are, the more ambitious your cookout can be. No matter how many burners there are, we are always looking to see how well they distribute heat across the grill, so all food is cooked evenly and we don’t have to keep ferrying it around the grill surface to ensure it doesn’t burn.

With gas models, you’ll have hinged lids to help you control the temperature in the cook box. During testing, we kept an eye on the thermometer to see how well the heat was circulating, which helps food cook evenly as well as imparting the mouth-watering smoky flavour that’s the signature of barbecued food. Ultimately, if the barbecue was easy to use and made for effortless cooking, we were able to recommend it as potential winners for your outdoor dinners this summer.

How we tested the best gas BBQs

Initially, we had an eye on our phone’s timer when we were putting manufacturers’ samples together, to see how quickly we could go from opening the box to pushing the ignition. We used each barbecue twice, to make sure they produced consistently good results.

We cooked a range of meat and veg, to see how well the barbecues performed
We cooked a range of meat and veg, to see how well the barbecues performed (Jon Axworthy)

We loaded the grates with burgers, to see how proficient each model was at high-heat-output cooking, then we turned down the burners to cook chicken pieces. We were looking for mouth-wateringly seared or crispy-skinned exteriors to the meat while keeping the inside moist. We also tested mushrooms, halloumi, fish, lamb and vegetables – always keeping a close eye on the barbecue’s thermometer, to ensure the heat was holding steady, so we didn’t have to keep constantly fiddling with the burners.

The best gas BBQs for 2024 are:

  • Best overall – Broil King 310 BBQ: £379, Thegrillstore.co.uk
  • Best budget buy – Argos Home two-burner gas BBQ: £100, Argos.co.uk
  • Best for smaller spaces – Campingaz 3 series compact LS: £289, Bbqland.co.uk
  • Best four-burner – Campingaz 4 series onyx S gas BBQ: £649, Bbqland.co.uk

Broil-King 310 BBQ

best gas bbq
  • Best: Overall
  • Number of burners: Three
  • Side burner: No
  • Cooking area: 1,900 sq cm
  • Dimentions: 108.2cm x 122.5cm x 53.3cm
  • Additional features: Sure-lite ignition, accu-temp thermometer, drop-down side shelves
  • Why we love it
    • Responsive burners
    • Large cook box

The American manufacturer has really come up trumps with this budget gas barbecue, distilling many of the features we love about its more-elaborate models into this supremely efficient three-burner.

The sizeable cast aluminium cook box – which retained heat better than many barbecues costing three times as much – made it easy to maintain a consistent temperature and even heat distribution across the cast iron cooking grids, adding to the ease of barbecuing, because you won’t be caught out by hot spots that can burn your ingredients.

The burners were responsive and, on high heat output, the burger juices were instantly vaporised and imparted a lovely flavour back into the food. Meanwhile, on lower outputs, we were able to crisp up chicken skin while retaining moisture, so the flesh was succulent and delicious.

The steel base holds and hides the propane tank securely, and there’s everything you need to make your cookout go smoothly, from fold-down side shelves and tool holders. Get yourself a magnetic bottle opener and you have one of the most complete barbecue stations on the market, and for a very good price.

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Argos Home two-burner gas BBQ

Argos home 2 burner gas bbq with side burner.png
  • Best: Budget buy
  • Number of burners: Two
  • Side burner: Yes
  • Cooking area: 1,530 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 96.5cm x 112cm x 44cm
  • Additional features: Side table, storage shelf, hose and regulator
  • Why we love it
    • Good-sized cooking area
  • Take note
    • Not as attractive as others

This grill didn’t require a degree in engineering to set it up, with clear instructions, correctly labelled parts and screws that you can pop out from an annotated card, as needed, so they don’t go missing. Once it’s been put together, it doesn’t feel like it’s about to fall apart at the first breath of wind, either, and we were pleasantly surprised with the overall build quality.

It may not win any awards for design but Argos has really gone for function over form, and the grill was effective, distributing and retaining the heat supplied by a nicely responsive two burner that can easily satisfy a ravenous horde.

The high cooking hood left plenty of room for any smoke to circulate, and there’s a handy side burner for frying. The good-sized cooking area (made from a wired grate) enabled plenty of heat to get to the feast, and left a good sear on our burgers.

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Argos Home deluxe BBQ

best gas BBQ Argos Home deluxe BBQ
  • Best: Budget four-burner
  • Number of burners: Three
  • Side burner: Yes
  • Cooking area: 2,408 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 110cm x 122cm x 54cm
  • Why we love it
    • Excellent value
    • Reliable cooking performance

It’s rare that you will find a four-burner barbecue for less than £250. If you do, we’ve found you will usually have to compromise on build quality. Not in this case, though. We were very impressed with the idiot-proof assembly and the quality of the end product.

The controls were responsive, with good heat retention across the entire cooking area, and the lid-down performance was solid, which meant we got some great results when it came to the proteins and vegetables we had on the menu.

There’s a side burner to keep your sauces bubbling, while the warming rack is ample to keep the family feast at the right temperature until it’s time for everything to come off the grill.

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Broil King porta-chef 120

best gas bbq Broil King porta-chef 120
  • Best: One-burner
  • Number of burners: One
  • Side burner: No
  • Cooking area: 2,245 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 93cm x 52cm x 109cm
  • Why we love it
    • Portable

This really is two barbecues for the price of one, because it was just as capable in situ on a patio as it was being unpacked at a camp site, thanks to its snap-in legs, fold-away side tables and its ability to be carried, suitcase-style, from the car boot or camper van. It’s the combination of the cast iron cooking grid and the thick cast aluminium cook box that meant all the food with which we loaded the grill was evenly cooked, juicy, seared and tinged with a wonderful smoky hint.

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George Foreman 3-burner BBQ

best gas bbq George foreman 3-burner BBQ
  • Best: For build quality
  • Number of burners: Three
  • Side burner: No
  • Cooking area: 2,520 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 98cm x 122cm x 57cm
  • Why we love it
    • Well-built
    • Stress-free cooking

The former boxer’s brand might be best known for his healthy grill but we also really enjoyed cooking on this barbecue grill, because it offered up straightforward assembly and the end product was as robust as the big fella himself. The lid gave a good seal in the cook box, trapping in the heat and the smoky flavours, and making cooking very easy.

The 60cm x 12cm warming rack was well-positioned and a good size, so we didn’t have to keep fiddling with the food. Plus, there are two side shelves and some hanging utensil hooks to make sure everything stays organised, leaving you to concentrate on the cooking.

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Campingaz 3 series compact LS

best gas bbq Campingaz 3 series compact LS
  • Best: For smaller spaces
  • Number of burners: Three
  • Side burner: Yes
  • Cooking area: 2,135 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 108cm x 53cm x 108cm
  • Why we love it
    • Small but mighty
    • Hidden canister

As the name implies, this barbecue has packed a lot into a smaller body, so cooks with limited outdoor space can still enjoy the versatility of three-burner barbecuing. Those burners deliver plenty of power to the cooking surface, which is at a good height and distributes the heat well. This means cooking a family feast never gets stressful, and you can have total control while producing delicious, evenly cooked food.

Ignition and controls were efficient and responsive, and heat circulation was excellent with the lid down, so the food was juicy and smoky when it came off the grill.

In addition, the barbecue boasts an in-built lid thermometer, warming rack, drop-down side table, and a good side burner, while the gas canister is hidden away behind some doors.

Campingaz models always offer straightforward assembly and the compact LS was no different.

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Napoleon freestyle 365

best gas bbq Napoleon freestyle 365
  • Best: Patio gas barbecue
  • Number of burners: Three
  • Side burner: No
  • Cooking area: 2,392 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 116cm x 76cm x 64cm
  • Why we love it
    • Usability
    • Good temperature control
  • Take note
    • No side burner

This is a much more affordable version of the phantom freestyle 365 that we reviewed last year, and it comes brimming with many of the features we really liked about the phantom. In particular, the manufacturer’s “flame tamers” that vaporise meat juices, which not only adds to the smoky flavour of your food but also ensures the heat distribution stays efficient as long as the burners are lit.

When the roll-top hood is down, the aluminium cook box means cooking is incredibly efficient, as the heat is reflected and convected, which means this was one of the easiest barbecues when it came to maintaining temperatures, making for a stress-free experience.

The graphite grey finish and bottle screen add to the barbecue’s good looks, while the well-sized warming rack, built-in bottle opener, and folding side shelves add to the overall appeal.

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Campingaz 4 series onyx S gas BBQ

best gas bbq
  • Best: Four-burner
  • Number of burners: Four
  • Side burner: Yes
  • Cooking area: 3,312 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 135cm x 64cm x 121cm
  • Additional features: Side burner, folding side tables
  • Why we love it
    • Excellent heat distribution
    • Easy to clean

One thing for which gas grills are renowned is not being particularly beautiful to look at, but Campingaz seems to work hard on the aesthetics of its grills. We particularly like the all-black look of the onyx S, offset with its four blue, backlit dials that control the four main burners, which we found really responsive – they got the grill up to temperature rapidly.

Heat distribution across the generous enamelled cooking surface was faultless, and the well-calibrated controls mean you can create different heat zones across the grates, so you can cook to order, according to how well-done the meat-eaters like their burgers and steaks.

Whether it was red meat or chicken on the grill, flare-ups were practically non-existent, and the whole cooking process was made even easier with the addition of a sizeable warming rack and a very efficient side burner.

Once the cooking is done, the onyx S offers up a very easy clean, thanks to the Aqua Pro system. This relies on a grease drawer that contains a level of water, so the fats that drop down into it float in the liquid, rather than being burned and hardened onto the trays, and can then be drained away, once you’re finished cooking.

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Broil-King baron 490 shadow BBQ

best gas bbq
  • Best: For versatility
  • Number of burners: Four
  • Side burner: Yes
  • Cooking area: 2,968 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 116cm x 145cm x 61cm
  • Additional features: Accu-temp thermometer, therma-cast aluminum cook box, side shelves, clip-on regulator and hose
  • Why we love it
    • Searing stations add finishing touch to dishes
    • Excellent quality and design
    • Can cook in a number of different ways
  • Take note
    • Expensive

For its size, this four-burner barbecue came together very easily, and you can tell from the componentry that build-quality was extremely high, which is something we’ve come to expect from the US brand.

Heat distribution was excellent across the expansive cook box, which is made up of reversible grates, one side of which is pointed, for steakhouse-style searing, while the other is grooved, so you can capture the juices from the meat you’re cooking, to stop it drying out.

One of the other things we really like about Broil-King barbecues is the searing stations (not a hob), which essentially add the finishing touch to steaks and fish dishes, by using an infrared heat source to create appetising sear marks, while keeping the food deliciously succulent.

Even more cooking versatility comes in the form of a full rotisserie set with its own rear-mounted burner, so legs of lamb or whole chickens can be cooked without you needing to be ever-present.

The cabinet will easily swallow your gas cylinder and keep it out of sight, while there’s plenty of room on the side table, and all the control knobs are backlit by LEDs, which adds to the shadow’s overall appeal as a great grill, offering the chance to cook in a number of different ways.

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Char Broil all star 120 B-gas BBQ

best gas bbq
  • Best: Space-saving design
  • Number of burners: Three
  • Side burner: No
  • Cooking area: 1,662 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 111cm x 102cm x 65cm
  • Additional features: Foldable side shelves
  • Why we love it
    • Compact shape
    • Produced some of the best burgers we tasted

This grill has remained in our round-ups ever since we began reviewing gas barbecues, and with good reason. It’s ideal for barbecuers with limited space, thanks to its compact dome lid and drop-down shelving, which means it can be stored in the corner of a balcony or patio.

You can also detach the grill from the stand, so it sits on a table. The cast iron grill grates were ready for cooking quickly and produced some of the best burgers we tasted, mainly because it cleverly cooked them using an indirect heat system, which sits above the burner and redistributes the heat evenly over the whole surface.

There’s minimal assembly, and a small canister will fit in the body of the barbecue. It comes with some nice practical touches, too, such as somewhere to store your kitchen towel and even a mini bin.

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Everdure force BBQ

best gas bbq
  • Best: For looks
  • Number of burners: Two
  • Side burner: No
  • Cooking area: 2,358 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 106.7cm x 117.5cm x 74.3cm
  • Additional features: Drip tray, flame tamers
  • Why we love it
    • Easy assembly
    • Cooks food quickly

The Everdure range can’t be faulted for its looks, and the two-burner force is no exception, with its side-mounted and raised taps that control the two burners under the retro coloured aluminium hood. With its simple 12-step construction, the force scored well for ease of assembly, too.

The grill plates have the flame tamers built in to them, which allows the burners to be closer to the grill and for the heat-up time to be one of the best we tested. We were ready to begin searing in around five minutes, so, you can expect to get cooking quickly and spend less time at the grill when you’ve got friends and family around.

With a hot spot in the middle of the grate and a cooler zone around the edge, we found we were able to place different foods accordingly, and there was never any danger of burning.

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Char-Broil professional pro S 3 BBQ

best gas bbq
  • Best: Three-burner
  • Number of burners: Three
  • Side burner: Yes
  • Cooking area: 2,737 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 119cm x 115cm x 57.3cm
  • Additional features: Side shelf
  • Why we love it
    • Easy to assemble

Lots of ready-mounted components made putting this three-burner, stainless steel barbecue together very easy. The finished product was solid and compact, with a left-sided shelf that can be folded down – ideal if you aren’t blessed with lots of outside space.

Foolproof ignition meant the porcelain enamelled cast iron grill was ready to cook in minutes, and distributed the heat evenly across a generous cooking area.

Char-Broil’s TRU-infrared system sits above the burners and redistributes the heat over the whole surface, so we could time the cooking of different meats to perfection, so they were succulent to eat.

As well as a raised warming shelf, there’s another burner contained within the right shelf, which reaches super-high temperatures quickly, for adding a final sear and enhancing flavour – we found it was well suited for cooking vegetables, too.

The gas bottle stores away out of sight in a compartment under the grill, and there were plenty of details to make for an enjoyable cooking experience, from the chrome-plated knobs, illuminated with red LEDs, to the integrated bottle opener, so you never have to worry about getting thirsty.

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Morso forno medio BBQ

best gas bbq
  • Best: For roasting
  • Number of burners: Two
  • Side burner: No
  • Cooking area: 2,016 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 55cm x 58.6cm x 42.8cm
  • Additional features: Thermometer, chimney, ergonomic handle
  • Why we love it
    • Compact design
    • Can roast large joints of meat

This Danish company consistently produces great-looking outdoor products, and its gas forno barbecue is no exception. The two burners supply the enamel-coated cast iron grate with heat across the surface, so, we managed to get good caramelisation on our burgers, without overcooking them.

What we really liked about this one was that the domed design enabled us to roast large joints of meat with the lid closed, with the end product being out of this world – not surprising, for a barbecue that looks like it’s just landed from another planet.

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Outback Jupiter 4 burner hybrid BBQ

best gas bbq
  • Best: For easy assembly
  • Number of burners: Four
  • Side burner: Yes
  • Cooking area: 2,688 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 125cm x 140cm x 58cm
  • Additional features: Charcoal basket, vapour bars, tool rack
  • Why we love it
    • Speedy assembly
    • Charcoal basket imparts smoky flavour
  • Take note
    • Fairly pricey

Outback’s assembly video walk-throughs, which you can view on the brand’s website, remove a lot of the frustration from the assembly. That was certainly the case for the Jupiter 4, which came together in less than an hour – pretty good for a big four-burner.

This model proved easy to light, and it hit cooking temperature quickly, giving a good sear to burgers, while the porcelain-coated grill meant we never had to worry about leaving the flavour of the food stuck to the grill.

The Jupiter gets its “hybrid” tag from a charcoal basket that fits under the grate to the right of the cooking area, which can be lit with the gas flame, but still imparts smoky flavour to the ingredients being cooked. The grates can also be switched out for a multitude of additional cooking surfaces, from pizza stones to griddles.

There’s a sizeable warming tray, an efficient side burner (which saved repeated trips to the kitchen to cook onions), as well as plenty of other nice details, including hangers for tools, a magnetic bottle opener and an integrated chopping board on the side table, which you can remove to take your meat and veg to the grill.

You also have a decision to make when it comes to colour, as the Jupiter 4 comes in either a red, green, blue or stainless steel frontage.

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Napoleon phantom freestyle 365 SIB

best gas bbq
  • Best: For ambitious pit masters
  • Number of burners: Four
  • Side burner: Yes
  • Cooking area: 3,810 sq cm
  • Dimensions: 114cm x 140cm x 63.5cm
  • Additional features: Folding prep table, integrated tool hooks, built-in propane tank ring, accu-probe temperature gauge, cast iron charcoal tray
  • Why we love it
    • Reliable ignition
    • Good heat distribution
    • Large cooking area
  • Take note
    • Expensive

This is an excellent patio barbecue offering plenty of versatility for the serious chef. By experimenting with the burners, shutting off some or turning down others, we were able to create different heat zones easily, so meat could be cooked to order. We also found it particularly adept at colouring the meat over the heat source, before we moved it to an area without any direct heat and closed the lid, so it finished without burning.

Added to this, there is a high-heat side burner, for finishing off and searing your steaks. With reliable ignition, the freestyle hit the required temperature quickly and we got good heat distribution across the big grilling area. There’s a well-proportioned warming rack, sizeable foldaway side shelving, and a matte finish offers an eye-catching alternative to stainless steel.

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Why you can trust us

Jon Axworthy is a freelance writer and contributing editor who has been feature writing since 1996. He has been writing consumer reviews for IndyBest since 2017 and is an expert in everything to do with the outdoors, from sporting equipment to tech and appliances such as barbecues, giving gas, charcoal and portable options a good grilling, to bring you the best on the market.

Gas BBQ FAQs

How to choose the best gas BBQ for you

Barbecues come in all shapes and sizes, which can make choosing the right one a tricky endeavour. To make sure you pick the best appliance for your garden, there are several things to consider, including how often you are going to use it.

If you plan to use your barbecue regularly, it might be worth investing a bit more in a model that will last you longer and comes with a lengthier warranty. However, if you plan to use your barbecue occasionally, a cheaper, more portable option might be best, because such models are typically lightweight and easier to store and clean.

It’s also worth considering how many people you are going to be cooking for. Every barbecue has a cooking area that is measured in square centimetres. As a rough guide, up to four people will require a smaller cooking area of up to 1,800 sq cm, while up to six people will require a larger area of 2,000-2,500 sq cm. Finally, if you are catering for up to eight people, you will need the largest gas barbecue, with more than 2,500 sq cm.

There are many other features to look out for, depending on what it is you’re after, including wheels, so you can easily manoeuvre the barbecue around your garden space; shelves for storage, and a warming rack to keep your food warm while you cook.

How to clean a gas BBQ

According to grill manufacturer Weber, there are five simple steps that need to be taken when it comes to cleaning the inside of your gas barbecue:

  1. Start cleaning your gas barbecue by disconnecting your gas tank; consult your owner’s manual for directions on your specific model.
  2. Next, brush the grates to remove any food debris, then spray your grate cleaner and let it settle for 30 seconds. Then scrub the grates with the abrasive side of your sponge, rinse with water and set aside for drying.
  3. Spray the grate cleaner inside the cook box and on the bars and let settle for 30 seconds. Scrape off the grease and debris with a plastic scraper and set the bars aside, and clean with a sponge.
  4. Wipe down the cook box, drip tray and bottom tray – use a brush, when needed. Be careful not to splash water onto the burner tubes.
  5. Make sure your barbecue dries thoroughly before reassembling it and finishing your grates with a non-stick spray.

Gas vs charcoal BBQ: Which is better?

Perhaps an obvious advantage of gas barbecues is their ease of use. With no waiting around for coals to heat up, you can cook with far more precision than charcoal rivals allow. Plus, once you're finished, gas models are much easier to clean. You can also enjoy longer grilling sessions by connecting the barbecue to a gas line, though, this does make them less portable, and you will need to be extra careful about avoiding flare-ups.

Charcoal barbecues, on the other hand, are generally the cheaper option, and can reach higher temperatures while creating that distinct smoky flavour people love.

The verdict: Best gas BBQs

Whether you’re looking to do justice to some prime steak cuts, or just keep friends and family topped up on hot dogs for the afternoon, the Broil-King 310 is a fantastically versatile three-burner barbecue that makes serving up flavourful, succulent food an absolute doddle, while keeping things very economical when it comes to its footprint and price tag.

Also, the last time we featured the Campingaz 4 series onyx S, it came with the disclaimer that it was currently out of stock, which is why it couldn’t make our best buy. This time around, stock has been replenished and we’re more than happy to give it our blessing as one of the best bigger barbecues for your buck.

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