Outdoor Griddles, Including Blackstone Alternatives Worth a Look

Our picks for the best outdoor flat-top griddles, from the $224 Blackstone 28-inch to the Weber Slate and Traeger Flatrock, and what you get for more money.

By Tyler RamirezUpdated October 29, 2026How we pick products

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An outdoor griddle is a big flat steel cooktop over gas burners. It’s great at the things a grill does poorly: smash burgers, pancakes, eggs, fried rice, cheesesteaks and anything else that would fall through the grates. And it keeps the grease and smell outside.

Blackstone made these popular, and its griddles are still hard to beat on price. But Weber, Traeger and others now make griddles with better warranties, lids and heat control. Here’s where each one fits.

Side by side

Specs and test notes are from Food Network's side-by-side griddle testing and Smoked BBQ Source's reviews. Prices are typical October 2026 prices and change often, especially around holidays.

1. Weber Slate 30-Inch Griddle: Best overall

Best for: People who want a griddle that cooks evenly and lasts, and are willing to pay more than Blackstone prices.

Food Network named the Slate its best overall griddle. It arrived pre-seasoned, made excellent smash burgers and cooked pancakes and eggs evenly. Weber says its carbon steel top is treated to resist rust, which is the most common complaint about griddles. It has a hood, big side shelves, storage underneath and a 5-year warranty.

What bugs us: The grease drain is at a front corner, which testers found awkward. It costs about three times as much as the Blackstone 28-inch. Testers couldn’t judge the rust resistance long term.

Skip it if: you want the most griddle for the money.

2. Blackstone Original 28-Inch with Hard Cover: Best value

Best for: First-time griddle owners and anyone on a budget.

There’s a reason Blackstone is the name everyone knows. The 28-inch got very hot, stayed hot and made great smash burgers in Food Network’s testing. Its two burners let you cook bacon on one side and eggs on the other. The hard cover protects the cooktop between uses, and the compact size suits smaller patios.

What bugs us: Two burners give you only two heat zones. The rear grease cup is hard to reach when the griddle is near a wall, and the warranty is only a year.

Skip it if: you regularly cook for more than four or five people.

3. Blackstone Original 36-Inch with Hood: Best for big families

Best for: Big households and people who host.

With 768 square inches and four burners, this griddle can cook an entire breakfast for a crowd at once. Food Network liked its side shelves, tool hooks and rear grease system, and its heat retention.

What bugs us: It weighs about 135 pounds and is more than 5 feet wide with the shelves out. Even the lowest setting ran too hot for eggs, so testers turned one burner off. The warranty is 1 year.

Skip it if: your patio is small.

4. Traeger Flatrock 3-Zone Griddle: Best splurge

Best for: People who cook on a griddle a lot and want precise control.

The Flatrock has three U-shaped burners separated by heat barriers, so one zone can sear while another stays gentle. Both Food Network and Smoked BBQ Source found its heat very even. The cooktop is recessed to block wind, a common griddle problem, and it has a built-in propane gauge, a big grease cup and a 5-year warranty.

What bugs us: It costs about $1,000, and it has no lower storage shelf. Smoked BBQ Source noted that heat vents out the front near the grease drain, so keep your hands clear.

Skip it if: you’d use it only a few times a summer.

5. Halo Getaway 2-Zone Griddle: Best portable

Best for: Campers, tailgaters and small balconies where allowed.

At about 33 pounds, the Getaway is easy to carry, yet it reached nearly 600°F after a 10-minute preheat in Food Network’s testing. Its silicone lid collapses for storage and helps trap heat and block wind. It has a 5-year warranty.

What bugs us: The cooking surface is small for breakfast for a group, and it’s pricey for a tabletop model.

Skip it if: it’ll never leave your backyard.

Where these picks come from

We compared griddles using Food Network’s side-by-side cooking tests (smash burgers, pancakes and eggs), Smoked BBQ Source’s long-term reviews and manufacturer specs. We focused on:

• Heat evenness and control
• Cooking area and number of zones
• Grease management
• Build quality, rust resistance and warranty
• Price

We haven’t tested these ourselves. Read more about how we pick products.

What to look for in an outdoor griddle

Size

A 28-inch griddle feeds about four people. Go 36 inches if you cook for a crowd, or 17 to 22 inches for camping.

Number of burners

More burners mean more heat zones. Two is enough for most families. Three or four lets you cook very different foods at once.

Lid or hood

A hood traps heat for melting cheese and steaming, and protects the cooktop from rain. A soft or hard cover protects it but doesn’t help when cooking.

Rust and seasoning

Most griddle tops are carbon or cold-rolled steel. Like a cast iron skillet, they need seasoning and a thin coat of oil after each use, and they rust if left wet. A cover and a dry spot help a lot.

Grease management

Look for a grease cup you can reach easily. Rear cups are hard to empty if the griddle sits against a wall.

Quick answers

Is a griddle better than a grill? They do different jobs. A griddle is better for breakfast, burgers and small foods. A grill is better for steaks, chicken and smoky flavor. Here are the best gas grills under $500.

Can I leave my griddle outside? Yes, under a cover, but oil the cooktop after each use to keep it from rusting.

What fuel do griddles use? Most run on a standard 20-pound propane tank. Small portable models use 1-pound bottles.