As BBQ lovers we are always hoping for the good weather to come so we can cook alfresco – but what if you could BBQ in any weather?
If you aren’t a BBQ purist then think about getting the best electric BBQ (also called raclette or teppanyaki grill!). Weber & Char Broil both make their own high-end electric BBQs so the market for these is growing. For caravaning holidays where you have electric on the pitch these are the perfect caravanning BBQs.
Electric BBQs come with a host of benefits over the traditional charcoal bbq or the more convenient gas bbq. Benefits of the electric bbq include:
- Small & compact
- Zero charcoal or gas fumes
- Can be used inside if weather turns (as often happens in the UK)
- Often allowed in apartment blocks etc where traditional BBQs are banned
- Safe – no gas leaks or fire risks
- Cooks food more evenly with instant & controllable heat
In short cooking on an electric BBQ means well cooked food, in a fraction of the time and you can even BBQ indoors if needed! We have reviewed the best electric BBQs in detail below, however if you are in a rush you can see the top performers here:
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Click and go straight to our best electric bbq reviews for 2023 here.
To get the best electric bbq you want to consider a few points when buying so you can narrow down from the huge selection!
When buying an electric grill the features I think you need to consider are:
- Size – how many are you cooking for
- Grates – Look for long lasting
- Electricity Consumption
- Added Extras – Timer, Grill tools, Lid for indirect cooking…
Size of Electric BBQ
One of the biggest benefits of moving to an electric BBQ is the size compared to the Gas BBQ or Charcoal BBQs. These bbq grills are perfect for cooking for a small family or if you live in an appartmnet block where traditional BBQs are banned.
When looking at size to choose the best electric BBQ consider:
- What are you cooking?
- How many people you’re cooking/feeding?
- What storgage or cooking space do you have?
You can buy two types of electric BBQ – table top bbqs (often called racelettes) or the free standing models like those from Weber and Char Broil.
Table top electric bbq grills will cook a single dinner for a couple of family of up to five we have found! (we love raclette dinners in the winter)
The freestanding electric bbq can cook for up to 10 people max
Grilling surfaces range from in size but look its easy to work out bigger the bbq hot plate the more you can cook for!
Grate of Electric BBQ
Buy cheap buy twice has always been my mothers motto! And its the same for buying any type of BBQ or picnic ware. You want the bbq grills to last so look for a solid cast iron grill or a stainless steel one.
The best type of electric bbq grill grates I think are stainless steel ones as they don’t rust or corrode.
Electric consumption of Electric BBQ
The power wattage/rating of an electric bbq directly impacts the temperature range (how high it can go) and the length of time it takes to cook.
If you want to cook quickly (maybe for masses of people in a sitting) look for a high wattage electric BBQ so you have one capable of the higher temperature.
To get the sear marks every bbq expert LOVES you need a grill that can get to over 200 ℃
Added Extras For Electric BBQs
Lets be honest the bext electric bbqs all have those added little extras. For ease of cooking looking for a BBQ Grill that has a timer and Lid so you can contact grill with it (contact grilling speeds up the cook time).
A free cover is always a sweetener when choosing the perfect bbq, alongside free forks or tongs and grill tools.
If you are getting the long teppanyaki style indoor electric BBQs then look for ones that have the covered pan/dish as well.
Review of the 10 Best Electric BBQs
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Pros
- Versatile - can be detached from stand to place on table-top
- Light & compact for ease of moving
- Gets up to top temps in 10 mins
- Cast aluminum lid for indirect cooking
- 5 year Weber Warranty
Cons
- No in lid temp guage
- No warming shelf
- Trolley/stand costs extra (about €50)
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Pros
- True indoor/outdoor electric BBQ
- Versatile - can be detached from stand to place on table-top
- Light & compact for ease of moving
- Cooks upto 15 portions of food at a time
- Thermostat operates to regulate the temperature variable thermostatic temperature gauge
- Lid with in temp guage can be added or removed for direct/indirect cooking options
Cons
- Some customers felt stand was flimsy/rocky
- Several reviewers felt the thermostat isn't accurate
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Pros
- Budget price indoor/outdoor electric BBQ
- Versatile - can used as Table top BBQ or on stand
- Slide thermostat for easy temperature control
- Cooks upto 25 portions of food at a time
- Healthy grill - use little oil in cooking & smoke free
- Easy clean with removable grill plate (dishwasher proof too)
- Up to 3 year warranty!
Cons
- No lid so direct cooking only
- Doesnt give that BBQ taste ....but thats the trade off of using an electric grill bbq
- Some customers gave a 1 star review as didnt last over the year...but its a budget model!
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Pros
- Fits well on counter tops or small dining spaces
- Reversible grill top with flat side and grill side
- Granite stone grill top for slow, even searing of fish, meat, vegetables & eggs
- Eight cheese pans/paddles for personalized servings
- Grill top and cheese pans are non-stick coated for convenient plating
- Power status light is a visible safety measure
- ETL certified
Cons
- No lid so direct cooking only
- Some customers felt it took a long time to heat up - so melt cheese etc in advance
- Food can poour over sides of the granite plate making a mess
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Pros
- Fits well on counter tops or small dining spaces
- Comes with flat and grildel plates flat side and grill side
- Granite stone grill top for slow, even searing of fish, meat, vegetables & eggs
- Eight cheese pans/paddles for personalised servings
- Grill top & cheese pans are non-stick, Lid inc for Indirect cooking
- Power status light is a visible safety measure
- ETL certified
Cons
- No lid so direct cooking only
- Some customers felt it took a long time to heat up - so melt cheese etc in advance
- Food can pour over sides of the granite plate making a mess
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Pros
- Perfect for dinner parties, catering for 8-10 people
- Very large cooking area
- Teflon coating for non stick, easy plating
- 5 heat settings with thermostatic control
Cons
- No lid so direct cooking only
- Wooden spoons too small some customers felt
- Thermostat can turn off to quickly so needs watching to make sure food cooks
- Grill plate doesnt come off so need to juggle to clean it
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Pros
- This hard core griddle & grill BBQ combo cooks for 6 adults no worries
- Grill means you can enjoy indirect, hands free cooking!
- Good sized cooking area from combined griddle/grill
- Teflon coating for non stick, easy plating
- Light weight & easy to carry
- 3 heat settings with thermostatic control
Cons
- Grill plate doesnt come off so need to juggle to clean it
- No drip tray
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Pros
- Hotpot/Hotplate BBQ serves 3/5 people
- Hotpot allows you to make sauces, stews etc in
- Circular BBQ hotplate makes it fun for family meals
- Teflon coating for non stick, easy plating
- Light weight & easy to carry
- Individual heat controls for hotpot & hotplate
Cons
- Grill plate doesnt come off so need to juggle to clean it
- No drip tray
- Doesnt come with UK plug
- Hot pot doesnt detach so tricky to clean
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Pros
- Versatile - can be detached from stand to place on table-top
- Cast iron grill for durability
- Stand comes with locking wheels, collapsible shelves, roll holder & utensil hooks
- Cast aluminum lid with temp gauge for indirect cooking
- Illuminated temperature dial for easy control
- Warming grill
Cons
- Comes with EU plug so you need adaptor
- Complicated to put together some customers tell us
Frequently Asked Questions About Electric BBQs
Most frequent questions and answers
CHow do I clean an Electric BBQ ?
Clean your electric barbecue grill after every use to prevent corrosion or rusting from food fat.
- To clean your electric grill make sure its switched off first
- Let the grill cool totally & remove drip plates etc
- Remove any leftover food with a paper tool (if you use a grill cleaner be careful not to damage grill)
- Make warmer warmer and a little washing up liquid in a bowl
- Pour on the grill and work in with a cloth or small pan scrubber (those green dish scrubbers are awesome and delicate)
- Wipe off filth with paper towels and repeat part 5 until all the grease if off the electric grill
- Clean the drip trays etc and dry and put back with Electric BBQ and pack away.
What is an Electric BBQ Grill ?
Electric BBQs range from those by Weber and Char Broil that look like a gas or charcoal BBQ to the George Foreman style Electric grills and everything in between.
So when shopping for an electric BBQ you can also consider buying:
- A Teppanyaki Grill
- A Raclette
- An Indoor BBQ
Are BBQ electric grills easy to use?
Yes, it’s the ease of these BBQs that is making them more popular (that and their size).
These electric bbqs do all the cooking on an electric hotplate. The benefits of this electric bbq grill are:
- Easy to light (just switch on at the plug)
- Regulated temperature across the whole hotplate – so no burnt or undercooked food
- Safe – no risk of fires, flare ups or gas leaks!
Any adult who can use a regular grill pan or electric oven can use these electric grill BBQs.
Which one is better – Electric Grill BBQ or Gas BBQ Grill
Honestly it’s all down to personal choice on this one (ok and depends amybe on how much storage size you have).
Electric grill BBQs are smaller, compact, safe and often allowed in apartment blocks etc. Easy and fast to heat up & some can be used indoor or outdoor! Also very easy to clean.
Gas BBQs are for outdoor use only, often take up more storage space for for safety reasons aren’t allowed in apartments and communal living areas.
They take longer than an electric BBQ to heat up and can be hard to clean. That said they burn hotter and can give that smokey taste that a hotplate BBQ cant.
Last update on 2026-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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