Best Flat Top Griddles for Outdoor Cooking (2026)
Updated How we research
Blackstone Original Portable Griddle with Built-in Hood, Black, 36 Inch | Flat Top BBQ Grill for Outdoor and Backyard Cooking Setup, Includes Extendable Side Shelves and Caster Wheels
Blackstone Original 36-inch Omnivore griddle with four heat zones, a built-in hood and folding side shelves for outdoor breakfasts and burger nights.
Blackstone 36 Inch Gas Griddle with Hood Cooking Station, 4 Burner
The Blackstone 36 inch gas griddle cooking station with hood and 4 burners, built for feeding crowds on a flat top.
Flat top griddles turn a wide steel surface into a canvas for foods that fall through grill grates. Focus on cooking area and burner zones first, since independent zones let you toast buns on one side while searing on the other. Look at the griddle plate material and thickness, because heavier cold-rolled steel holds heat evenly and seasons into a naturally slick surface. A built-in grease management channel keeps cleanup simple, and sturdy legs or a cart add day-to-day convenience. Wind guards help maintain steady heat outdoors. Griddles suit cooks who love breakfast spreads, smash burgers, fried rice, and fajitas. If you gravitate toward diner-style cooking and want to feed a crowd fast, the expansive flat surface is a joy. It appeals to families, batch cooks, and anyone who wants to move beyond grill marks into a whole new range of outdoor meals.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.8 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Blackstone Original Portable Griddle with Built-in Hood, Black, 36 Inch | Flat Top BBQ Grill for Outdoor and Backyard Cooking Setup, Includes Extendable Side Shelves and Caster Wheels. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Blackstone 28 Inch Original Omnivore Griddle 2206, Blackstone 2 Burner Griddle Outdoor Flat Top Grill, Propane Portable Gas Grill. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.2/10.
- Solid build:Blackstone 36 Inch Gas Griddle with Hood Cooking Station, 4 Burner. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:Blackstone® 2439 Original 36" Omnivore Griddle with Airfryer Combo | Blackstone® 2439 BAR System, Integrated Hood, 4 Quart Airfryer. Features score of 10/10, overall 8.1/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Blackstone Original Portable Griddle with Built-in Hood, Black, 36 Inch | Flat Top BBQ Grill for Outdoor and Backyard Cooking Setup, Includes Extendable Side Shelves and Caster Wheels8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Blackstone 36 Inch Gas Griddle with Hood Cooking Station, 4 Burner8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner 60,000 BTU Portable Steel Griddle Station8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Blackstone 28 Inch Original Omnivore Griddle 2206, Blackstone 2 Burner Griddle Outdoor Flat Top Grill, Propane Portable Gas Grill8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Blackstone® 2439 Original 36" Omnivore Griddle with Airfryer Combo | Blackstone® 2439 BAR System, Integrated Hood, 4 Quart Airfryer8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Blackstone Griddle Cooking Station, 36"8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Cuisinart CGG-0036, 36" Four Burner Gas Griddle7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Blackstone Original 36-inch Omnivore griddle with four heat zones, a built-in hood and folding side shelves for outdoor breakfasts and burger nights.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Four independently controlled burners give four heat zones on a 36-inch Omnivore plate with built-in wind guards.
- + Electric push-button ignition, rear grease management and caster wheels are listed for simple use and movement.
- + Built-in hood protects the surface between cooks, and folding plus extendable side shelves add prep space.
- - A 36-inch griddle takes a lot of patio space and needs its own propane supply.
- - A flat-top does not give grill marks or smoke flavor, so it complements rather than replaces a grill.
#2The Blackstone 36 inch gas griddle cooking station with hood and 4 burners, built for feeding crowds on a flat top.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 4 burner layout supports hot searing on one side and warming on the other
- + Hood keeps heat in for steaming veggies and melting toppings
- + Cooking station format adds shelf space for sauces, spatulas and plates
- - Seasoning upkeep is required after each cook to protect the steel
- - Flat top cannot give the char marks and smoky flavor of a grill grate
#3The Blackstone 36 inch 4 burner portable steel griddle station rated at 60,000 BTU, for high-output flat top cooking.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 60,000 BTU total output heats the steel top quickly for searing
- + 4 independent burners let you run multiple heat zones at once
- + Station can be moved around the patio or taken to events
- - High output burns through propane faster on long cooks
- - Portable claim is relative, since the full station is still large
#4Blackstone 28-inch Original Omnivore griddle with two independently controlled zones, a side shelf and wheels, a smaller and cheaper step down from the 36-inch size.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Omnivore plate technology is listed for even heating and lower fuel use, with two independent cooking zones.
- + Rear grease opening feeds a grease cup, and the side shelf has integrated tool hooks.
- + Wheels and a handle make the 2-burner griddle portable for camping or tailgates.
- - At 28 inches it has noticeably less cooking area than the 36-inch griddles in this guide.
- - Only two burners, so it feeds a smaller group than a 4-burner model.
#5Blackstone 2439 36-inch Omnivore griddle with two 4-quart airfryer drawers and a warming drawer built into the cabinet, for cooks who want a griddle-plus-sides station.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 10/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10
- + 768 sq in with four independent heat zones, plus two 4-quart airfryer drawers and a 4-quart warming drawer.
- + Omnivore plate technology, an integrated hood and an extending side shelf are all listed.
- + BAR System side shelves accept compatible accessories, so the station can be customized.
- - The most expensive griddle in this guide, in a much higher price band than a basic 36-inch model.
- - A large cabinet unit takes up a lot of space and is not meant to be moved often.
#6Blackstone's 36" griddle cooking station, the classic open flat top for backyard breakfasts, fajitas and smash burgers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Big open cooktop fits many pancakes, eggs and bacon strips at once
- + Simple no-hood design keeps the price down for first griddle buyers
- + Blackstone accessories and parts are widely available
- - No hood or cover is included, so buy a cover for outdoor storage
- - Title omits burner details, so compare versions before ordering
#7Cuisinart CGG-0036 36-inch four-burner gas griddle with 760 sq in of cold-rolled steel cooking surface and a folding design.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Four burners at 15,000 BTU each (60,000 total) with independent controls for zoned cooking.
- + Two front grease cups and a cold-rolled steel surface of 760 sq in are listed.
- + The folding design is listed for compact storage and transport.
- - The propane tank is not included, per the listing.
- - The bare cold-rolled steel surface needs upkeep, and the listing shows no hood or cover.
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- A 36-inch griddle takes a lot of patio space and needs its own propane supply. (Blackstone Original Portable Griddle with...)
- Seasoning upkeep is required after each cook to protect the steel (Blackstone 36 Inch Gas Griddle with Hood...)
- High output burns through propane faster on long cooks (Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner 60,000 BTU...)
- At 28 inches it has noticeably less cooking area than the 36-inch griddles in this guide. (Blackstone 28 Inch Original Omnivore Griddle...)
- The most expensive griddle in this guide, in a much higher price band than a basic 36-inch model. (Blackstone® 2439 Original 36" Omnivore...)
- No hood or cover is included, so buy a cover for outdoor storage (Blackstone Griddle Cooking Station, 36")
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among flat top griddles for outdoor cooking (2026)?
Blackstone Original Portable Griddle with Built-in Hood, Black, 36 Inch | Flat Top BBQ Grill for Outdoor and Backyard Cooking Setup, Includes Extendable Side Shelves and Caster Wheels is our top overall pick. Blackstone Original 36-inch Omnivore griddle with four heat zones, a built-in hood and folding side shelves for outdoor breakfasts and burger nights. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Blackstone 36 Inch Gas Griddle with Hood Cooking Station, 4 Burner is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. The Blackstone 36 inch gas griddle cooking station with hood and 4 burners, built for feeding crowds on a flat top.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Grill Smoke Craft independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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