You love grilling, but you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a grill. You need something that is going to last and perform really well for your needs – even if it isn’t the most expensive model out there. We’re here with some suggestions from our experts who have spent years reviewing these types of models!
Kamado grills are the modern and advanced version of ancient Chinese and Indian earthenware cooking ovens and pots that were used approximately 3000 years ago. Even some people still prefer to cook in clay pots (Termed as HANDI in the Indian Subcontinent) instead of stainless steel pots for the fine flavorful taste they have to offer. They look more like a giant egg and made out of ceramic or refractory material which is the same material used to make kilns and pizza ovens.
They are matchless as backyard pizza and bread ovens because the side and dome of a kamado grill absorb heat and radiate it back to cook pizza and bread properly from above. Best budget Kamado grills are preferred because of the uniqueness of taste and uniform heat distribution for finely cooked food and above all their affordable price.
These best budget kamado grills can handle whatever is thrown at them and are great for cooking a wide range of food products. You can virtually cook anything such as pizza, veggies, and meat with a fine taste that you will never experience with modern stainless steel shiny grills available on the market. You can roast, bake, smoke and grill with kamado grills and you will get the best results every time.
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Table of Contents
Best Budget Kamado Grills Review and Buying Guide
Made of ceramics, kamado grills retain heat with amazing efficiency. A little fuel goes a long way and you can run a kamado all day long. Imagine anything that you can think of grilling and a kamado will handle it gracefully resulting in appetizing meals. In this article, we’ll review some of the best budget kamado grills, so if you are on a tight budget, worry not as these best budget kamado grills got you covered.
Top Pick: If you are in a rush, you may check our top recommended Char-Griller E06614 Charcoal Grill.
“Kamado grills are expensive than regular ones”, you might be thinking but we have jotted down a list of best budget kamado grills for our valued readers. There is nothing that these best budget kamado grills will not do from burger to chicken, steaks to pizza, corns to sweet potatoes, or even dessert. If you are out looking for a top-quality kamado grill and smoker, you already know that they look pretty similar from the outside.
The best budget kamado grills are the ones that provide the most bang for your buck. That is why we have compiled a list of 6 of our favorite budget kamados, with reviews on each one. Our goal in this post is to give you all the information you need before making your purchase decision. You will find everything from brands and prices to ratings and dimensions at a glance, so be sure to bookmark this page!
1. Char-Griller E06614 Charcoal Grill
If you have ever used a Kamado Grill, you would know the high temperature that these grills can offer can hardly be replicated by any other regular grill in the market. The Char Griller E06614 is one of the best kamado grills that you can pick if you are on a budget. It is well-designed and well built for a budget unit and works splendidly for smoking, grilling, and baking.
Setting up the Char Griller E06614 is straightforward and the only thing you need for the task is a large screwdriver. The user manual is easy to read and follow and the assembly will hardly take a little more than 30 minutes. To assemble the grill we’d recommend you use hand tools because using excessive torque to tighten the screws may compromise the grill’s structure and cause any damage.
The grill looks exactly as you would expect a kamado grill to be. It features the traditional egg shape and 3 short legs to sit stable. Usually, Kamado grills are made out of ceramic but this one sports super durable 22 gauge stainless steel construction.
Kamado Grills work like ovens rather than conventional charcoal grills. The egg shape design cooks food through convection which means the Char-Griller is not just great for grilling meat but also for smoking meat, making pizza, and even baking bread. the unit comes with an instructional manual that even tells you how to build a fire for high/low heat cooking and anything else that you need to know to operate the grill perfectly.
Due to its great insulation, the grill can take a long time to cool down. We suggest you monitor the temperature carefully. It also can maintain stable interior temperature for many hours which offers precise cooking. The best feature of the Char Grills is that you can get the features and functionality of a traditional Japanese Kamado at a fraction of the cost.
- Versatile Kamado Style Grill
- Durable construction
- High temperature
- Well priced
- Grill high and hot
- Smoke slow and low
- Precise heat control
- Easy to clean
- Small cooking space
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2. Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill
Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Grill is for people who love the art of grilling. With the triple-layer insulation and immersive incredible heat retention, Char-Griller E16620 is not a traditional grill unit.
The Char-Griller comes with a total grilling area of 447 sq inches which is the maximum that any Kamado grill has to offer. The total area consists of the main cooking surface i.e. 314 sq inches and a warming rack measuring 133 sq inches. The cooking surface can hold enough amount of food for 8 to 10 people easily.
The grill is equipped with triple-walled insulated steel which possesses incredible heat retention capabilities. It is mostly made out of stainless steel material which means years of durability. The design of the kamado grill outsmarts the other grills when it comes to heat distribution besides. The cooking grates are made of cast iron and seem very sturdy. The assembly of the grill is a breeze and even a kid can fix it in no time. By properly following the user manual, it will take roughly an hour to get it up and running.
One thing that you might already know that these grills are different for their great insulation and air-tightness. They can hold the heat nicely and do not let the air get into the cooking surface. The triple wall insulation manages to keep the heat inside for a perfect grilling experience. The Kamado lacks portability and the cooking space is limited when compared to other types of grills in the market but for kamado enthusiasts, this is not a downside.
- Triple wall insulation
- 447 sq inches of total cooking surface
- Adjustable top and bottom dampers
- Side shelves for prep work
- Removable warming rack
- Easy to use dump ash
- Easy assembly and convenient cleaning
- Smoking accessories not included
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3. Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic II Charcoal Grill
If you are looking for a “set it and forget” type of grill, Kamado Joe KJ23RHC is the idle pick. It is the versatile and well-designed Kamado grill that is built on ancient principles of Kamado cooking but uses modern materials and design to make the heavy ceramic grill a pleasure to use.
Like other modern Kamado style grills, the Kamado Joe Classic II is pretty expensive but its ability to manage low-temperature smoking and high heat grilling combined with its user-friendly features makes it one of the most versatile kamado grills on the market. The grill is made of heavy-duty ceramic from thick walls to the interior firebox. By adjusting the bottom and top vents you can control the amount of air that goes in the firebox which means you can control how hot the grill can get. The lower vent adjusts the heat on a macro level while the top vent helps you adjust and regulate the heat on a micro-level. Since the grill retain an incredible amount of heat so you don’t need to burn as much charcoal to keep the grill working. As mentioned earlier, a little amount of fuel goes long way.
Kamado Joe Classic II is egg-shaped with a thermometer incorporated in the domed lid, and it boasts a shiny red color which is eye-catching for the most. It comes with a welded metal stand that has a locking mechanism on the wheels, and the plastic shelves are easy to lock up when needed for prep work. The shelves have hooks for hanging barbecue tools that you may require for your grilling work.
With the provided user manual, the grill is easy to set up but requires a muscle. With a few basic tools such as screwdrivers, you will be able to assemble it within an hour with no effort. In the package, you will get everything that is required to start grilling or smoking which includes the cart, shelves, stainless steel cooking grates, and ceramic heat deflectors. There is an added accessory rack that you can customize the placement of the grates as you prefer, and a grabber tool to move them around.
The 18-inch diameter cooking space of the Kamado Joe Classic II is big enough for all that you’d want to grill for your family. Cleaning the Classic II is easy and convenient. Let the ceramic heat deflectors and stainless steel grill grates cool down and any burnt food will turn to ashes making it easy to brush off. Clean the ash-basket and that’s all for cleaning.
The Kamado Joe Classic II offers a big enough cooking area to grill anything an average family size would want. The impressive heat retention means you can cook slow and low for hours without having to replenish the coals. The grill can attain a high temperature of over 600 degrees making it ideal for grilling delicious and juicy meat and making mouthwatering pizza.
- Eye-catching design and color
- Incredible heat retention
- Simple to assemble and operate
- Easy to clean
- Ash catcher drawer
- Precise temperature control
- Heavy
Expensive
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4. Kamado Joe KJ23RH Classic I Charcoal Grill
Kamado Joe is a reliable name that you often see when searching for the best kamado grills. Kamado Joe Classic I is another member of the Kamado family. The unit offers a beautiful design, great-tasting food, excellent quality, and versatility. The grill and smoker combo looks great and offers ideal qualities in a single package.
The grill weighs about 188 pounds, which means you will face many difficulties when assembling the grill for the first time and moving it around. The top vent helps regulate the settings of the air and pressure while closing and opening the top lid.
Unlike other kamado grills, you don’t have to sweep out the ash collected below the firebox. With Kamado Classic I, all you have to do is to pull out the patented ash collector, dump the ash and keep on grilling.
The weight of the dome is minimized and the airlift hinge makes it easy to lift. Once the lid is closed, the self-locking mechanism activates itself and locks the lid for perfect heat retention and pressure buildup for perfect cooking. The two-tier cooking surface lets you cook different ingredients on different temperature ranges. Experience the ancient Kamado cooking with Kamado Classic I and cook deliciously grilled juicy meat for your loved one.
- Multi-piece firebox for perfect heat retention
- Two-tier cooking space
- Pull out ash-tray
- Cast iron air vent for precise temperature control
- Preferred smoke-infused flavor
- Heavy
- Expensive
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5. Kamado Joe KJ23RHCI-A, Classic Joe III Charcoal Grill
The classic III is the 3rd generation of Kamado joe’s ever-popular traditional kamado grill. The grill is built from a thick-walled, high-quality ceramic shell the classic III locks in heat, smoke, and moisture to give your meal a 360-degree treatment that you can never get from other types of grills.
Kamado Classic III is a versatile grill that lets you grill, smoke, and bake almost anything that you can think of. From ribs, brisket to roasted chicken to pizza and desserts, you can prepare whatever you crave.
The newly introduced hyperbolic smoke chamber changes the air pressure to circulate the air back in a ring focused on the cooking grates. This results in an ultimate and awesome wood-fired flavor taste without the hot spots. The divided cooking racks give you more flexibility and space for cooking, and in classic III they have added 3 tiered ‘divide and conquer’ which gives you more cooking space. The kamado joe classic III gives you two half-moon heat deflectors and 4 half-moon grates. This enables you to create different heat zones to sear the steak over the open flame while using the indirect heat for vegetables.
There are tons of options!
The two side tables come in handy for the prep work. The added hooks are helpful to keep grilling accessories in a range where they are easily accessible while grilling. The best feature of Kamado Joe Classic III is that it comes with more than enough accessories to get you grilling and smoking straight out of the box. If you think there is something that you should buy, grab it otherwise we’d suggest you start with whatever is included in the package.
- 3 tiered cooking spaces
- Air lift hinge
- 2 side racks for prep work
- SloRoller Hyperbolic Smoke chamber
- All required accessories included
- Expensive
6. Kamado Joe Jr. KJ13RH Charcoal Grill
If you are looking for a portable grill for beach parties, camping weekends, and other outdoor adventures, the Kamado Joe Jr will perfectly fit in your trunk. With all the benefits of kamado grilling packed into a 68-pound unit that can be easily transported wherever you do.
The Kamado Joe Jr provides 148.5 sq inches of cooking space to cook on which is pretty good to keep the family fed and happy. You can grill, smoke, bake and braise the only issue with the Joe Jr is the limited cooking surface.
Like Classic I, II or Classic III you do not get divide and conquer, airlift hinge, AMP 6 piece firebox, and Kontrol Tower vent but for portable cooking and smaller meals for the family, the Joe Jr does not need these features.
Without sacrificing quality for portability, the Kamado Joe Jr is an excellent choice. This grill and smoker combo is compact, durable, and versatile and will see you through the years of outdoor camping and beachside barbecues.
- Lifetime guarantee
- High fired ceramic walls
- Rust-resistant stainless steel material
- Efficient fuel usage
- Great for outdoor beach parties and weekends
- Heavy for a portable grill
- Pricey
Best Budget Kamado Grill Buyers’ Guide
Here are some key points to consider when choosing the right smoker grills for you.
Cooking Surface
First of all, you’d want to be sure you have ample cooking space to be able to cook enough food for you and your loved ones. If you are only cooking for yourself and your partner, a standard 9.5-inch kamado grill is all that you need. However, if you are doing a lot of parties, and gathering then we’d suggest you go for a grill with a cooking surface of at least 24 inches. Understand that there are grills of all sizes in the market and you need to choose according to your need and preferences.
Material
The Kamado grills are made out of all sorts of material. Some are made of ceramic while others are made of metal such as stainless steel. Some of them might be a mixture of aluminum, steel, and ceramic. Ceramic grills are preferred for their amazing heat retention capabilities. In the end, it all comes down to your personal choice.
Grill Accessories
While choosing the best kamado grill, you might want to see what accessories you are going to get with the package. Some grills come with side shelves, extra racks to increase the area that you can find helpful to keep your tools while you prep for grilling. Some grills have removable ashtray that you may find helpful for cleaning.
Budget
Price is the prime concern for many and you surely want to make sure you get the best for what you invest. Depending upon what kamado grills offer in terms of design, cooking space, accessories, and portability, you can find these ranging from $100 to $1000. It’s a matter of what you can afford to pay. What we reviewed here are the best budget kamado grills that you can check if you are on a budget.
Oval Shape Kamado Grill VS Round Shaped
Oval shape Kamado grills are gaining more and more popularity and there are two reasons for that. First, oval shape makes heating more efficient and it keeps the heat circulating better offering an ultimate tasty and delicious food. Secondly, these grills make it easier to access the food. Also, you can smoke a turkey breast on a pellet grill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best budget kamado grill?
Kamado grills are undoubtedly expensive and heavy on budget as compared to traditional grills available in the market. However, there are budget options available such as Char-Griller E06614 Charcoal Grill. For under $200 you can have the amazing kamado experience.
Who makes the best kamado grills?
Although there are a number of manufacturers jumping on the bandwagon and offering well-designed and well-built kamado grills Kamado Joe outperforms all others when it comes to the quality and features to offer.
Is Ceramic Grill better?
The ceramic material used in the kamado grill retains more heat much better than the traditional grills. Ceramic grills cook from all sides, unlike conventional grills which cook from the bottom.
How long a kamado grill may last?
A quality gas grill may last approximately 10 years but a kamado grill is well maintained can last a lifetime. They are expensive as compared to traditional grills but it is a one-time investment.
Conclusion
So, what’s the best budget kamado grill? Well, you’ll have to do some research and find out for yourself. The reason is that there are so many different types of models with all sorts of features on the market today. But one thing is certain – if you want a cheap Kamado Grill, we’ve got plenty in stock at affordable prices! You can’t go wrong with our top pick Char-Griller E06614 Charcoal Grill which comes equipped with an ash pan and heavy duty cooking grates (among other things). It also has 4 caster wheels which make it easy to move around your yard or patio when not in use. Happy Grilling FOLKS!