Griddles are standard equipment in professional kitchens worldwide, but they’re still uncommon in many home setups. After testing the Char-Broil 2-Burner Griddle, I’m convinced this straightforward appliance deserves a place in your outdoor cooking area.
This was my introduction to griddle cooking, and it quickly became clear what I’ve been missing. The Char-Broil handles a surprising variety of foods with consistent results and makes many tasks easier than using a stovetop or a conventional grill.
I put the griddle through extensive use and still feel like I only touched its potential. While it shines for classic griddle fare—breakfasts and burgers—it truly stands out when preparing items that are too small for a typical grill grate or would require multiple pans indoors.
Grilling and Searing
This model features two independent burners that let you create separate temperature zones across the griddle surface. With a combined 18,000 BTU output, it reaches high searing temperatures quickly and holds steady heat for even cooking.
I tested its searing power with a sous-vide steak and several smash burgers. If you own a griddle, you should definitely try smash burgers—easy and incredibly tasty. The Char-Broil provided the intense, even heat needed to form a proper crust while keeping the interior juicy.
Practically anything you cook on a flat surface at home works on this griddle: full breakfasts including toast, vegetables, seafood or steaks, sauces kept warm, and even simmering liquids in foil pans. The surface offers consistent cooking and is easy to control.
Capacity is impressive for its size. I had no trouble fitting a full pack of bacon—about 16 strips—with space between each piece. In testing I also fit 12 burgers, four pounds of pre-cut carne asada, a 9×13 foil pan alongside eight brats, and ten pancakes simultaneously. It handles volume better than expected.
One enjoyable trick was creating a “brat tub” by placing a foil tray on the griddle to simmer a liquid for the brats, then moving the sausages to the flat surface to sear before returning them to the tub for serving. That kind of flexibility makes the griddle a versatile tool for entertaining.
Cooking Options
The Char-Broil works well for a wide range of outdoor activities—camping, picnics, tailgates, or simply backyard meals. It offers nearly all the capabilities of an open-flame cooker except flame-grilled charring, so you can replace several pieces of equipment with this single appliance.
Portable
Compact dimensions and built-in handles make the griddle easy to transport. Adjustable legs let you stabilize and level the unit on uneven ground. Despite its moderate 320 square-inch cooking area, the surface accommodates far more food than you might expect for a tabletop griddle.
Cleanup is straightforward: the sloped surface and grease collection system simplify wiping down after cooking, which is a big advantage when using it outdoors where washing multiple pans is inconvenient. After using this smaller model, I’m motivated to upgrade to a larger backyard griddle for even more capacity.
Build quality is solid. The griddle feels sturdy and well-constructed, with no loosening of parts after regular use and transport. The adjustable legs and heavy-duty platform contribute to a dependable, durable impression.
Misses
The grease cup is smaller than ideal. While I recognize the unit’s compact footprint, the cup filled up quickly while cooking a single pound of bacon. Its proximity to the burner means the metal gets hot, so dumping it mid-cook is unsafe when full. The stated capacity is two cups, but a three-cup design would reduce the need for frequent emptying.
There is also no included cover or dedicated carry bag. I found aftermarket covers and bags that fit reasonably well, but none were an exact match. A simple metal lid or a manufacturer-supplied cover would be beneficial for protection during storage and could double as a lid for melting cheese or steaming foods.
4.5 Meat Hooks
Despite the small grease cup and the absence of a carry bag or cover, I give the Char-Broil 22” 2-Burner Tabletop Griddle 4.5 out of 5 meat hooks. It’s nearly perfect for anyone looking to add a versatile, portable griddle to their outdoor cooking setup.
