Best indoor grill

Amp up your kitchen cooking with an indoor grill. By opting for an indoor grill instead of a pan, your burgers, chicken, and veggies will get the same sear they would on an outdoor barbecue. You’ll also craft healthier meals because unwanted fat will draining away. Many of the models we like have temperature control, lids to catch splatter, and removable grill plates. Choosing the right one for you depends on your preferred surface area and available counter space. Let’s check out our top options so you can get grilling right now.

Panini lovers will absolutely adore this Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler. It has a hinged cooking surface that cooks all of your food without squeezing it as clamshell models would. You can make delicious Cuban sandwiches that are crispy on both sides or evenly grill chicken and veggies. There are big temperature knobs so you can adjust the heat level on the fly. We also think the stainless steel exterior will compliment any kitchen.

Choose this option and you'll get one appliance that can handle grilling, air frying, baking, roasting, and dehydrating. When using the grill setting, the unit employs both the grill plates and the forced air method of air frying at the same time. The result is food that is juicy, evenly cooked, and ready faster than you'd expect. To remove grease and debris from the grill plate, Ninja includes a cleaning brush. And if you want to try air frying, there is a crisper basket to handle the task.

If the satisfaction of opening and closing the grill is something you miss indoors, try this Hamilton Beach model. The top has a viewing window so you can keep an eye on food as it cooks—but you will want to clean it often. There is a temperature knob (200 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit) on the front so everything is cooked to perfection. It also has two lights that indicate when the grill is ready for use or the power is left on by mistake. We love how you can contain splatters from juicy burgers and chicken and still attain the sear marks you crave.

Take the guesswork out of grilling food with the customized settings on this T-fal indoor grill. It has buttons for burgers, chicken, sandwiches, hotdogs, and fish, so you can get them right every time. The indicator light changes colors as the machine cycles through powering on, heating up, and achieving cooking temperature. Listen for the beeps when the food is finished to prevent overcooking. And while you can press sandwiches with this indoor grill, we recommend taking care of the handle at the top, since it's a bit fragile due to the embedded electronics.

If you're not ready to give up your metal utensils, then you'll be thrilled to know you can use them with this indoor grill. It has a tough, ultra-nonstick coating across the entire grill plate so residue won't be left behind post-cooking. The generous grilling surface has open grates, letting fat and grease fall away from your food into a collection pan. When you're finished cooking, you can empty the drippings and toss the tray into the dishwasher, along with the grill plate. While we do wish this model had some barriers for grease splatter, we appreciate how the open-air design doesn't steam foods like many other models.

Bring backyard cooking indoors

Now that you've seen the indoor grill options, which one speaks to you? For us, the Cuisinart GR-4NP1 5-in-1 Griddler grill, griddle, and panini press is easily our favorite. It's the grill plate that won't smash your food that makes it rise to the top. And we also like the way it cooks from both sides simultaneously, ensuring even browning. Add these features to swappable grill plates and the stainless steel design and you have an appliance worthy of some counter space.

However, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention checking out the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 indoor grill. It goes beyond grilling, offering air frying, baking, roasting, and dehydrating settings. You'll also be pleased with how fast it can cook your food without ruining it. To cap it off, the lid prevents grease from spreading onto your kitchen surfaces.

Why trust us?

At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.