Three fuel types. Three very different cooking experiences. And one big question every backyard cook eventually faces: which grill is actually right for you? Here's the honest breakdown — no fluff, no brand bias, just what each one's best at and who it's for.
The Quick Answer
If you cook for your family on weeknights and want hot food fast without thinking too hard about it, get a gas grill. If you obsess over flavor and want to slow-smoke ribs all Sunday afternoon, get a kamado. If you want real wood smoke flavor without babysitting a fire, get a pellet grill.
Still here? Good — because the right answer for you depends on how you actually cook, not just what's on sale. Let's dig in.
Gas Grills: The Reliable Workhorse
Gas grills run on propane or natural gas. Push a button, hear a click, watch the burners light up. In 10 minutes you're at 500°F and ready to throw on steaks. There's a reason gas dominates American backyards — it just works.
Pros
- Lights instantly, heats in 10 minutes
- Precise temperature control on every burner
- Easy cleanup — no ash, no charcoal mess
- Great for weeknight cooking and big crowds
Cons
- Less smoke flavor than charcoal or wood
- Higher upfront cost for premium models
- Propane tanks need refilling (or hook to NG)
For most backyards, a 36" gas grill is the sweet spot — enough room for burgers and chicken thighs at the same time, without taking over the patio. The Summerset Sizzler line punches above its price tag, and the American Made Grills Estate 36" is what you buy when you want a forever grill.
Kamado Grills: The Flavor Obsessive's Choice
A kamado is a thick-walled ceramic egg, descended from Japanese clay cookers used for thousands of years. You fire it with lump charcoal, and the ceramic retains heat so well it can run for 18+ hours on a single load. It sears like a steakhouse and smokes like a barbecue pit — same grill, same day.
Pros
- True charcoal and wood smoke flavor
- Insanely fuel efficient — one bag of lump can last a weekend
- Wide temperature range (225°F to 750°F+)
- Built like a tank — the ceramic outlasts most marriages
Cons
- Longer warmup (20–30 minutes to stabilize)
- Steeper learning curve — temperature control is a skill
- Heavy. Don't plan on moving it.
The classic recommendation is the Primo Oval XL 400 — the oval shape gives you a hot side and a cool side simultaneously, which most round kamados can't do. Browse all our kamado grills if you want to compare sizes.
Pellet Grills: Smoke Without the Babysitting
Pellet grills are the modern compromise. You fill a hopper with hardwood pellets (oak, hickory, mesquite, apple — pick your flavor), set a digital temperature, and the grill feeds pellets into a firebox automatically. It's wood smoke, controlled like a gas grill.
Pros
- Real wood smoke flavor — pick your wood
- Set the temp and walk away. Truly hands-off.
- Excellent for low-and-slow smoking (brisket, ribs, pork shoulder)
- Easier to learn than a kamado
Cons
- Requires electricity (an outlet or extension cord)
- Pellets cost more per cook than gas
- Most pellet grills don't sear as well as gas or kamado
The Broil King Regal Pellet 500 is where most people should start — solid build, accurate temp control, and Broil King's warranty is best-in-class. Browse all pellet grills here.
The Decision Matrix
Pick gas if: You grill 2+ times a week, you cook for a family or crowd, and you want fast/easy more than smoky/complex.
Pick kamado if: You love the craft of cooking, you want one grill that sears AND smokes, and you're not afraid of a learning curve.
Pick pellet if: You want smoked food without sitting next to a smoker all day, and you don't mind plugging in.
Pro tip: Plenty of serious backyard cooks own two — a gas grill for weeknights and a kamado or pellet for weekends. Not the worst idea.
One Last Thing: Size
Whichever fuel you choose, 36" is the sweet spot for most backyards. It feeds 8–10 people comfortably, fits in standard outdoor kitchen islands, and isn't so massive you'll regret it next time you move. Go bigger only if you regularly cook for 12+ or want a status piece.
Ready to Pick Your Grill?
Browse our full lineup of gas, kamado, and pellet grills — hand-picked from the brands we trust.
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