Best Camping Grills with Side Burners for Extra Cooking Space
When I’m camping with family or friends, cooking space becomes a real issue. I don’t want to make one dish at a time—I want to cook sides while grilling burgers or boil water while prepping meat. That’s why I started looking for the best camping grills with side burners. These grills are perfect for multitasking outdoors, giving you more space, more control, and more meal options.
If you’re tired of juggling pans or waiting for grill space to free up, these are the models you’ll want for your next camping trip.
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Top Camping Grills with Side Burners (Amazon Picks)
1. Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Propane Grill with Side Tables
This one is a classic. While it doesn’t have a traditional flame-style side burner, it does come with Swaptop™ cooktop accessories that let you swap out a burner for a griddle or stove. It’s highly customizable and gives you real side cooking capability.
Key Features:
- 285 sq. in. grilling space
- Instastart ignition system
- 3 adjustable burners for multitasking
- Foldable design with wheels and side tables
2. Camp Chef Explorer 2-Burner Stove with Optional Side Attachments
The Camp Chef Explorer is one of the most flexible outdoor cooking systems I’ve used. The two main burners give you plenty of space to add griddles, pizza ovens, or skillet plates. It doesn’t have a fixed side burner—but the cooking area is split and modular, which gives it the same effect.
Why I recommend it:
- Two 30,000 BTU burners
- Three-sided windscreen
- Removable legs for easy transport
- Compatible with tons of Camp Chef side add-ons
3. Char-Broil Classic 280 2-Burner Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner
This grill features a dedicated side burner—a true bonus if you like boiling water, heating sauces, or cooking veggies in a pot while grilling meat. It’s a little bigger than most tabletop models, but still manageable for RV or car campers.
Top Features:
- Two 10,000 BTU main burners
- 8,000 BTU side burner
- 280 sq. in. cooking area
- Porcelain-coated grates and firebox
4. Cuisinart CGG-888 Outdoor Gas Griddle with Dual Burners & Side Shelf
This circular griddle is perfect for cooking everything at once. While it doesn’t have a flame-style side burner, it features a sturdy fold-down side shelf that adds a huge amount of prep or serving space—great for multitasking while camping.
Highlights:
- 360° griddle surface
- Two independently controlled burners
- Folding side table for prep
- Built-in paper towel and tool hooks
5. Royal Gourmet GD401 Portable Propane Gas Grill and Griddle Combo
If you’re serious about outdoor cooking, this grill-griddle combo with two side shelves gives you tons of room to prep, cook, and serve. The griddle is perfect for eggs and veggies, while the grill handles meat with ease. It’s like a full outdoor kitchen in one unit.
Why it stands out:
- Grill and griddle zones in one
- Two large side shelves
- Four burners with 48,000 BTUs
- Foldable legs and locking casters
Why Side Burners Matter While Camping
Having a side burner on your camping grill gives you more cooking flexibility, especially when you’re cooking for more than just yourself. Here’s what I use mine for:
- Boiling water for pasta or coffee
- Sautéing veggies while grilling meat
- Simmering sauces or soups
- Keeping food warm without using the main grill surface
It’s basically an extra stovetop outdoors—once you try it, you won’t want to camp without it.
My Favorite Pick for Extra Cooking Space
If I had to choose just one, the Royal Gourmet GD401 is my top pick for camping with serious cooking needs. But if you’re looking for something more compact, the Coleman RoadTrip 285 or Char-Broil Classic 280 offer great side cooking functionality without taking up too much space.
Ready to expand your outdoor cooking setup?
Click here to explore the best camping grills with side burners on Amazon.
One thing I’ve learned from camping in groups is that side burners save time. I can boil corn on the cob or heat up baked beans while grilling burgers—all at once. It turns a basic campsite meal into something that feels more like home cooking.
Side burners are also perfect for heating water for coffee or tea in the morning without using a separate camp stove. When the weather is cold or I’m trying to minimize gear, a single grill with this added feature is all I need.
I’ve used side burners to cook scrambled eggs, sauté mushrooms, and warm tortillas while the main grill handles sausages or burgers. It’s this kind of multitasking that makes meals smoother and faster at camp.
If you’re cooking with cast iron skillets or saucepans, having a side burner is a huge bonus. Most side burners on these grills are 8,000 to 12,000 BTUs, which is perfect for simmering or frying without overheating the pan.
Some side burners come with removable covers or lids, which is helpful for turning them into extra counter space when they’re not in use. I especially love this on models that double the burner lid as a mini prep surface.
If you’re camping with limited table space, side burners and fold-out side shelves give you extra room to set plates, cutting boards, or even a Bluetooth speaker. That additional real estate is super valuable when you’re working in the wild.
Grills like the Camp Chef Explorer let you customize your cooking setup. I’ve used one burner for pancakes and the other for boiling water—without needing a separate griddle or campfire ring. It’s all about flexibility when you’re off-grid.
For campers who like to meal prep or cook full-course dinners outdoors, grills with side burners are essential. I’ve made pasta, rice, and even chili on the side burner while grilling kebabs or fish at the same time.
Even if you’re not a gourmet chef, having a grill with a side burner gives you more control over timing and heat zones. You can move food off the main heat and onto the side burner to keep it warm while finishing up the rest of the meal.
When camping in windier areas, it helps to choose grills with recessed or shielded side burners. These offer better flame control and prevent your burner from blowing out mid-meal, especially at higher elevations or coastal sites.
Some propane camping grills are now coming with dual side burners or griddle options, which adds even more cooking power. If you’re feeding a big group or doing lots of breakfast prep, this setup can be a game-changer.
Finally, I always bring a wind guard or portable screen to protect the side burner, especially when cooking light dishes like soups or stews. This helps keep heat consistent and makes sure I’m not wasting fuel when the weather turns.