The Best Indoor Grills to Buy When It's Just Too Hot to Grill Outdoors

These indoor grills will help you get beautiful charred meats and veggies from the comfort of your (air-conditioned!) kitchen.

Once the warmer weather hits, it's natural to throw a juicy steak or chicken on the grill (as well as dessert!) under the summer sun. But, with as hot as it is right now in so many parts of the country, standing in the sweltering heat over a hot grill to make dinner isn't very appealing. So when I recently longed for a homemade burger with those irresistible grill marks, I decided to look for a way to accomplish it all from my air-conditioned kitchen. Enter indoor grills and grill pans to save the day. There are plenty of options out there, but how do you choose? Here are some of the top-rated indoor grill options available on the market to get your barbecue cravings satisfied without breaking (too much) of a sweat.

The Best Indoor Grills

Keep scrolling to shop these incredible countertop tools and work on earning your indoor grill master status—rain or shine.

01 of 06

Best Rated: Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler

cusinart 5-in-1 indoor grill
Courtesy of Amazon

For a user-friendly countertop grill, this one by Cuisinart (with more than 23,000 reviews) seems to check all the boxes. The 5-in-1 appliance works as a grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle. There are knobs that let you choose the cook function as well as adjust the temperature. Oh, and the grill plates are removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. Score!

Buy It: Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler ($79, Amazon)

02 of 06

Best Multitasker: Ninja Foodi

ninja foodi 5-in-one
Courtesy of Amazon

Not only does the Ninja Foodi make a perfectly grilled steak, but it can also air-fry, bake, roast, and dehydrate. And the 16,000+ reviewers are raving, saying things like, "it's an incredibly valuable addition to my kitchen...even only having it for a short time, it's become a nearly-indispensable [piece of] kitchen equipment." Sure, the price tag on this one is a little hefty, but I'd rather get all the benefits of multiple appliances in one without taking up precious cabinet space.

Buy It: Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 4-Quart Indoor Electric Grill ($229, Amazon)

03 of 06

Best Smokeless: GOTHAM STEEL Smokeless Indoor Grill

gotham steel grill

When looking for the best indoor grill for ribs, this one is a winner. The open countertop electric grill has a 12x10-inch cooking surface to fit ribs, steaks, and even your veggies. A built-in fan extracts smoke to give you the ultimate indoor grilling experience sans smoke.

Buy It: GOTHAM STEEL Smokeless Grill Indoor Grill ($49, Amazon)

04 of 06

Best Budget: George Foreman Electric Indoor Grill

george foreman indoor grill
Courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond

Would this even be a complete list without a mention of the classic George Foreman countertop grill? It's had a few upgrades since the original small appliance of the '90s, and they seem to have paid off with 81% of customers recommending this one. The grill's copper-infused plates allow even heating and its sloped design helps remove up to 42% of fat for healthier grilled meats. The indoor grill's compact size also makes it a good fit for small kitchens. With a $30 price tag, it's pretty hard to beat.

Buy It: George Foreman 4-Serving Removable Plate Grill ($29, Amazon)

05 of 06

Best Viewing Window: Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill

hamilton beach indoor grill
Courtesy of Amazon

This top-rated indoor grill has all the features you'd want, plus more. The high-heat searing hood has a convenient window to watch as your steak's juicy goodness is locked in. It's also easy to clean: the hood, plate, and extra-large drip tray are removable and can go right in the dishwasher.

Buy It: Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill ($79, Amazon)

06 of 06

Best for Small Spaces: Chefman 3-in-1 Indoor Grill Pot

chefman indoor grill pot

You can still grill indoors if you don't have a lot of cabinet space. Rather than a flat surface, this indoor grill is a 10-inch, 3-quart pot. The raised grill surface allows fat to drip away as your food cooks. Stir-fry dinners seem like a brilliant use for this one.

Buy It: Chefman 3-in-1 Indoor Grill Pot ($39, Amazon)

Since you're already in the comfort of your kitchen, go ahead and whip up some homemade barbecue sauce for your meats and a few quick side dishes for the ultimate indoor feast.

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