Not everyone has money to burn. But everyone deserves a decent outdoor cooker that can make their BBQ dreams come true. Here are a range of charcoal grills, gas grills, portable grills for tailgating and camping, smokers, and combo cookers that start at only $50. All of them cost less than $300, and they are all winners of our highest honor, the AmazingRibs.com Platinum Medal for Best Value. All of these cookers have been tested, rated, and reviewed by Max Good, our full-time tester of outdoor cooking equipment, so you can be sure that you are getting a quality piece of machinery at a good price. To read the full reviews of these cookers, click the links below.
10 Best Grills & Smokers Under $300
Low cost gas grills are the instrument of choice for most residential outdoor cooks. We're always on the lookout for models that deliver a lot of bang for the buck. Grillin' Pro earns our Platinum Medal for exceptional performance under $200. Not built to last, but it will out sear any comparably priced gasser. read more
Weber Kettles enjoy evergreen popularity from one generation to the next. They are durable and you can cook just about anything you want on them. Pile up coal on one side to sear steaks or set up 2-zone roasting, We tested these iconic grills. You can't go wrong with our Platinum Medal winning Weber kettles. read more
The Blackstone 36" Griddle Cooking Station is an interesting, low cost, large capacity, portable cook top. Griddles are different from grills and we love our open flames, but boy oh boy….people who own these are nuts about them! And so are we. Check out why this fun cooker earns our AmazingRibs.com Platinum Medal. read more
You'll be flabbergasted as you create one perfectly smoked delicacy after another with little more effort than preparation. This AmazingRibs.com Platinum Medal winner is $350 delivered to your door. Pop it out of the box and start SMOKIN! Pit Barrel Cooker is one of the more impressive products we've tested. read more
Oklahoma Joe's Bronco is a low cost barrel smoker with hinged lid, gasket, side shelf, wheels, grilling capabilities, adjustable dampers, and ability to smoke low and slow up to 12 hours on one load of charcoal. What’s not to love? We award this relatively low cost phenom our AmazingRibs.com Platinum Medal! read more
This solid portable gas grill that employs Char-Broil's TRU-Infrared design to produce searing temps while preventing flare-ups and retaining foods moisture earns our AmazingRibs.com Best Value Platinum Medal. Heavy cast aluminum lid and firebox will not rust and will retain heat much better than thin steel. read more
Nothing fancy, just a compact version of one of the greatest inventions in history: the iconic charcoal kettle grill that made Weber famous. We give this popular little tailgater our AmazingRibs.com Best Value Platinum Medal. It weighs 18 pounds and has a "Tuck and Carry Lid Holder" for easy transport. read more
This upgraded riff on the old practice of slow cooking meat and veggies in a cream can receives our AmazingRibs.com Platinum Medal.The CanCooker Original has a four gallon capacity and is said to feed up to 20. Great for hunters, campers and tailgaters. Just throw it right on an open wood fire and start cooking! read more
It is what it is. If you're looking for a cheap gas smoker Char-Broil is as good as it gets in this price range and you can easily find deals on this guy. Even Wal-Mart sells them for way under the manufacturer's suggested retail price. We tested this model and gave it our Best Value AmazingRibs.com Platinum Medal. read more
This Broil-Mate model is a throwback to the very first gas grills. This AmazingRibs.com Platinum Medal Award winner has a cast aluminum cookbox which will last longer and retain and distribute heat way better than all those cheap, flimsy stainless steel gassers that are so popular in the big box stores. read more
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