Flat Top Griddle vs. BBQ Grill: Which One Fits Your Backyard Better?
A flat top griddle and a traditional BBQ grill are not the same tool. A griddle uses a smooth, solid cooking surface, which works well for smash burgers, eggs, pancakes, fried rice, vegetables, seafood, and foods that would fall through grill grates. A BBQ grill cooks over open grates, which is better for steaks, chicken, ribs, sausages, kebabs, and foods that benefit from direct flame, grill marks, smoke, or fat dripping away from the food. Many Canadian backyard cooks can use either one, but people who cook outdoors often may eventually want both.
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Key Take-aways
- A griddle gives a wide, flat cooking surface; a grill uses open grates over direct heat.
- A griddle is better for breakfast foods, chopped vegetables, delicate seafood, fried rice, quesadillas, and smash burgers.
- A BBQ grill is better for thick steaks, bone-in chicken, roasts, ribs, sausages, and foods that need lid-down roasting or smoky flavour.
- A griddle needs scraping, wiping, and light oiling after cooking; a grill needs grate cleaning, grease management, and burner or charcoal care.
- A griddle can expand what you cook outdoors, but it does not fully replace a gas grill, charcoal grill, or smoker.
- A flat top grill usually needs more open surface space, especially if you cook for a crowd.
- The best choice depends on what you cook most often, how much patio space you have, and whether you want one outdoor cooker or a full outdoor cooking setup.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Difference Between a Griddle and a BBQ Grill?
- What Foods Work Better on a Griddle vs. a Grill?
- What Are the Pros and Cons of a Flat Top Griddle?
- What Are the Pros and Cons of a Traditional BBQ Grill?
- Which Option Is Easier to Clean and Maintain?
- Which Option Gives More Cooking Flexibility?
- Do You Need Both a Griddle and a BBQ Grill?
- What Should You Consider Before Buying?
- Decision Table / Quick Decision Guide
- FAQ
What Is the Difference Between a Griddle and a BBQ Grill?
A griddle is a flat top cooking surface. Instead of placing food on grates, you cook directly on a smooth steel or cast-iron-style plate. Heat spreads across the surface, so you can cook small, soft, chopped, sauced, or delicate foods without losing them through the gaps.
A BBQ grill uses grates over a heat source. That heat source may be propane, natural gas, charcoal, or pellets. The food sits above the flame, coals, burners, or heat diffuser. Fat and juices can drip down, the surface can mark the food, and the lid helps trap heat for thicker cuts.
The difference feels small until you cook on both. A flat top grill behaves more like a large outdoor pan. A gas grill behaves more like an outdoor oven with direct heat underneath the food.
That is why griddle cooking has become popular with people who want to cook more than steaks and hot dogs outside. Barbecues Galore describes outdoor griddles as suitable for pancakes, burgers, eggs, stir-fries, delicate seafood, vegetables, and larger crowd cooking because the full cooking surface can be used at once.
A grill still has the advantage when you want flame contact, smoky flavour, thicker meats, or food that benefits from airflow around it. Barbecues Galore’s own griddle guidance makes the same basic distinction: an outdoor griddle uses a smooth, flat cooking surface, while a traditional grill cooks on metal grates over open heat.
Canadian buyers can choose from dedicated freestanding griddles, compact tabletop models, lift-off griddles, and griddle inserts designed for use on existing BBQ grills; like the NEW Brander; Griddle Me This. Barbecues Galore’s range of Griddles include the Weber Slate, Traeger Flatrock, Napoleon, Halo Elite, Ambiance, Brander, and Charbroil options, covering everything from portable cooking to larger backyard setups.
What Foods Work Better on a Griddle vs. a Grill?
A griddle is better for foods that need full surface contact. Smash burgers are the obvious example. The meat presses against the hot surface, forms a crust, and cooks in its own rendered fat. That is much harder to do on open grates.
Breakfast is another strong griddle category. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, breakfast sandwiches, and French toast all make sense on a flat top grill. You can cook the full breakfast outside without balancing pans on a side burner or running back into the kitchen.
A griddle also handles chopped food well. Fajita vegetables, onions, mushrooms, fried rice, diced potatoes, shrimp, scallops, quesadillas, grilled cheese, and small pieces of fish are easier on a flat surface. Nothing falls through the grates.
A traditional BBQ grill is better for foods that need high heat around the food, flame exposure, smoke, or lid-down cooking. Steak, chicken thighs, drumsticks, ribs, pork chops, sausages, whole fish, corn on the cob, kebabs, and roasts all work well on a grill.
A grill also makes more sense when fat needs somewhere to go. Burgers, sausages, and marinated meats can create a lot of grease. On a griddle, that grease stays on the cooking surface until it is pushed into the grease trap. On a grill, much of it drops below the grates.
Food Fit Comparison
| Food type | Better on a griddle | Better on a grill | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smash burgers | Yes | Sometimes | Griddle gives full surface contact and crust |
| Thick steaks | Sometimes | Yes | Grill gives stronger direct heat and grate marks |
| Pancakes and eggs | Yes | No | They need a flat surface |
| Bone-in chicken | Sometimes | Yes | Grill lid helps cook thicker pieces evenly |
| Fried rice | Yes | No | Small pieces need a contained surface |
| Sausages | Sometimes | Yes | Grill handles fat and browning well |
| Delicate seafood | Yes | Sometimes | Griddle prevents sticking and falling apart |
| Ribs | No | Yes | Ribs need indirect heat, smoke, or slow cooking |
The simplest way to decide is to look at your real menu. If your outdoor cooking is mostly breakfast, burgers, vegetables, seafood, stir-fry, and fast weekday meals, a griddle earns its space quickly. If your cooking is mostly steaks, chicken, ribs, smoked food, and classic barbecue, a grill still does the heavier work.
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Flat Top Griddle?
A flat top griddle is useful because it turns outdoor cooking into a large, open prep-and-cook surface. You are not limited by grate gaps. You can cook multiple foods beside each other and move them around the surface as they finish.
The biggest advantage is everyday versatility. A griddle is not only for weekend barbecue. It can handle breakfast, lunch, dinner, and quick family meals. That makes it attractive for people who want to cook outside more often, not just when guests come over.
A griddle also gives strong browning. When the surface is properly heated, food has broad contact with the metal. This helps burgers, onions, potatoes, and rice develop colour and texture. Barbecues Galore notes that flat top grills offer even cooking, strong surface contact, and no flare-ups from dripping fat.
The Weber Slate range is one example of how broad the category has become. It includes compact tabletop griddles for smaller spaces and cottages, along with larger freestanding models for family cooking and entertaining. Buyers looking beyond Weber can also compare premium Halo Elite griddles, Traeger Flatrock models with separately controlled heat zones, Napoleon griddles, Ambiance lift-off units – which are great for camping and tailgating, Brander models, and portable or folding-cart Charbroil options.
The downside is that a griddle is not a true grill. It does not create the same grill marks, flame flavour, or smoky profile. Barbecues Galore’s griddle FAQ also points out that flat top grills do not create the same smoky flavour or grill marks as traditional grill grates.
Grease management is another practical point. Fat has to be scraped or pushed into a grease tray. If the surface is overloaded with fatty food, the cook needs to manage the flow. This is not difficult, but it is different from grilling.
A griddle also needs seasoning and surface care. The cooking surface should be scraped after use, wiped down, and lightly oiled when required to protect the metal. Barbecues Galore gives similar maintenance guidance for outdoor griddles: scrape off food residue, wipe the surface, and lightly oil it after cooking.
Flat Top Griddle Pros and Cons
| Factor | What it means |
|---|---|
| Cooking surface | Large flat surface for full-contact cooking |
| Best foods | Smash burgers, eggs, pancakes, rice, vegetables, seafood |
| Flavour style | Browning and crust rather than smoke and grill marks |
| Cleaning | Scrape, wipe, oil when required, and empty grease tray |
| Learning curve | Easy to start, but heat zones and grease control take practice |
| Best buyer | Someone who wants more outdoor meal variety |
A flat top griddle is worth considering if you want your backyard cooker to behave more like a restaurant flat top than a classic barbecue. A Weber Slate is a strong mainstream option because the range covers both tabletop and freestanding sizes, while Halo Elite and Traeger Flatrock models suit buyers looking for more premium construction or more detailed heat-zone control.
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Traditional BBQ Grill?
A traditional barbecue is still the most complete single outdoor cooker for many Canadian homes. It handles fast grilling, lid-down roasting, indirect cooking, and larger cuts of meat better than a flat top.
The main advantage is heat style. Open grates let food sit above flame, coals, or burners. This creates searing, charring, grill marks, and a different flavour profile. On charcoal and pellet grills, smoke can become part of the cooking process that builds a selection of flavours.
A gas grill is also more familiar for most homeowners. You can cook steaks on high heat, move chicken to a cooler zone, toast buns on the upper rack, and close the lid when food needs more even heat. That lid matters. It turns the grill into a controlled outdoor cooking chamber.
The drawback is that some foods are awkward on grates. Small vegetables fall through. Eggs are impossible without an accessory. Fish can stick. Breakfast needs pans or a griddle insert. Fried rice is out unless you add a flat accessory.
Flare-ups can also happen when fat drips onto burners, heat plates, charcoal, or flame. A good grill design helps manage this, but the cook still needs to pay attention.
Maintenance is different from griddle care. Grates need brushing, grease trays need emptying, burners need inspection, and covers or replacement parts may be needed over time. Barbecues Galore’s BBQ parts section notes that burners, grates, and ignitors are common replacement parts used to maintain and extend the life of a barbecue.
Traditional BBQ Grill Pros and Cons
| Factor | What it means |
|---|---|
| Cooking style | Open-grate cooking with direct and indirect heat |
| Best foods | Steaks, chicken, ribs, sausages, roasts, kebabs |
| Flavour style | Grill marks, char, smoke potential |
| Cleaning | Brush grates, manage grease, inspect burners or charcoal area |
| Learning curve | Heat zones and lid control matter |
| Best buyer | Someone who cooks classic barbecue foods often |
A traditional grill is harder to replace because it covers more cooking methods. A griddle adds range, but a grill remains the backbone for many outdoor kitchens.
Which Option Is Easier to Clean and Maintain?
A griddle is easier to clean immediately after cooking, but it needs more surface discipline. You scrape the top, wipe it, push grease into the trap, and apply a thin layer of oil when needed. The surface should not be left dirty or wet.
A grill is less sensitive on the cooking surface but has more hidden maintenance. Grease collects below the grates. Burners, heat tents, charcoal trays, or pellet systems need attention. Grates can rust if neglected. Ignitors can fail. Covers help, but they do not remove the need for seasonal checks and cleanings.
For Canadian weather, maintenance is not only about food residue. Moisture, freeze-thaw cycles, windblown debris, and long winter storage all matter. A griddle top that is left exposed can rust. A grill with a clogged grease system can become unpleasant or unsafe to use.
The easier option depends on your habits. If you are happy to clean the cooking surface every time, a griddle is straightforward. If you prefer brushing grates and doing deeper maintenance less often, a grill may feel easier.
Cleaning and Maintenance Comparison
| Maintenance task | Griddle | Grill |
|---|---|---|
| After each cook | Scrape, wipe, oil if needed | Brush grates and burn off residue |
| Grease control | Grease trap needs regular emptying | Grease tray and lower firebox need cleaning |
| Surface care | Seasoning and rust prevention may matter | Grate condition matters |
| Winter care | Cover and protect the flat top | Cover and inspect burners, grates, and grease areas |
| Common mistake | Leaving moisture on the cooking surface | Ignoring grease buildup below the grates |
For both options, the right BBQ accessories make ownership easier. Barbecues Galore’s tools and gadgets category includes common grilling add-ons such as spatulas, brushes, ceramic pizza stones, ventilated grill covers, and other accessories for outdoor cooking.
Which Option Gives More Cooking Flexibility?
A griddle gives more flexibility for small, loose, soft, or mixed foods. It expands the menu into meals that people usually cook indoors. Breakfast is the clearest example, but the same logic applies to fried rice, stir-fry vegetables, chopped sandwiches, quesadillas, and seafood.
A grill gives more flexibility for heat methods. You can cook directly over heat, move food to indirect heat, use the lid, add smoke, roast larger cuts, and work with different fuel styles. A gas grill, charcoal grill, pellet grill, or kamado all brings different possibilities.
This is why the answer is not simple. For meal variety, a griddle can feel more flexible. For barbecue technique, a grill is more flexible.
There is also a middle ground. Some grill owners add griddle inserts, planchas, or skillets rather than buying a separate flat top grill. Barbecues Galore carries accessories designed for selected Napoleon, Weber, Broil King, Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg, and Traeger grills.
An insert must fit the specific grill properly. A model-specific griddle can replace part of the cooking grate and give the food broad metal contact, while a plancha or skillet sits above the existing grates. Either route lets the owner add smash burgers, breakfast sandwiches, seafood, onions, or other flat-surface foods without finding room for another full appliance.
That accessory route can work well if patio space is limited. You keep the main grill and add a flat cooking surface when needed. It will not offer the same working area as a full-size freestanding griddle, but it may be enough for occasional griddle cooking.
A full griddle is better if the flat top will be used often. A griddle insert is better if you only want occasional flat-surface cooking.
Do You Need Both a Griddle and a BBQ Grill?
You need both only if you cook outdoors often enough to use both properly. For some households, the combination makes perfect sense. For others, one cooker plus a few grill accessories is enough.
A griddle and a grill work well together because they solve different problems. The grill handles steaks, chicken, ribs, sausages, charcoal flavour, smoking, and lid-down cooking. The griddle handles breakfast, smash burgers, vegetables, chopped meals, and foods that need a flat surface.
For a family that cooks outside once or twice a month, both may be unnecessary. A good gas grill with a griddle accessory may cover enough ground. For a family that cooks outdoors several times a week from May to October, both can be practical.
Canadian buyers should also think about storage. A griddle and a grill both need covers, clearance, propane or gas access, and winter protection. In a large suburban yard, that may not matter. On a narrow deck or townhome patio, it matters quickly.
The most practical order is usually this:
| Cooking habit | Best starting point |
|---|---|
| Classic barbecue meals | Start with a grill |
| Breakfast and smash burgers | Start with a griddle |
| Small patio and limited budget | Start with one cooker plus accessories |
| Frequent outdoor cooking | Consider both |
| Existing grill in good condition | Add a compatible griddle insert first |
| Building a full outdoor cooking area | Plan zones for grill, griddle, prep, and storage |
Combination models are another possibility. Some outdoor cookers let the owner switch between a traditional grate surface and a flat griddle surface, giving one unit more than one cooking role. This can be useful for buyers who want steaks and flame-grilled burgers on one night, then breakfast, fajitas, or smash burgers on another.
That is the real point: the more varied your outdoor cooking is, the more valuable the second surface becomes.
What Should You Consider Before Buying?
Start with your menu. Do not buy for the fantasy version of your backyard. Buy for the food you actually cook. Consider the number of guests and family members that you are cooking for, along with the number of BBQ events you have planned. Having more grill & griddle space, allows you to serve a more extensive menu, and do it faster.
If your usual outdoor meals are steaks, chicken, sausages, burgers, ribs, and corn, a grill is still the stronger first purchase. If your usual meals are breakfast, smash burgers, fried rice, vegetables, seafood, and quick weeknight cooking, a griddle may get used more.
Look at your space. A full-size griddle needs enough room for the unit, propane tank access, side shelves, grease management, and safe clearance. A grill needs clearance too, but many homeowners are already used to planning around one.
Think about the size carefully. Weber Slate models range from compact tabletop formats to larger freestanding units. Halo Elite offers countertop and multi-burner freestanding griddles, while Traeger Flatrock models give buyers a choice between smaller and larger independently controlled cooking areas. Ambiance, Brander, Napoleon, and Charbroil add further choices at different sizes and price points.
Think about fuel. Most standalone backyard griddles use propane, which is flexible but requires tank refills. Some models or conversion-compatible units may support natural gas, while grills may use propane, natural gas, charcoal, or pellets. If you already have a natural gas line, that may influence the grill or griddle decision.
Check winter storage. A griddle top should be protected from moisture. A grill should also be covered, but griddle surfaces are especially sensitive to rust if neglected. In places with wet springs, heavy snow, or freeze-thaw cycles, covers and dry storage habits are not optional.
Consider accessories. A griddle works best with long spatulas, a scraper, squeeze bottles, melting domes, and a good cover. A grill works best with tongs, brushes, thermometers, baskets, covers, and sometimes rotisserie or smoker accessories. Barbecues Galore’s grill accessories section is relevant here because the right tools often decide whether an outdoor cooker feels easy or frustrating.
Finally, avoid buying only by size. A 36-inch flat top grill sounds impressive, but it may be too much for two people and too large for a compact patio. A 17-inch or 22-inch tabletop model may be perfect for camping, cottages, or balconies where permitted, but too limiting for regular family hosting. The same applies to grills.
Good buying is not about the biggest surface. It is about the surface you will clean, store, protect, and use.
Decision Table / Quick Decision Guide
| If you want… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Smash burgers with a strong crust | Griddle |
| Steak with grill marks and flame flavour | BBQ grill |
| Breakfast outdoors | Griddle |
| Ribs, roasts, or lid-down cooking | BBQ grill |
| Fried rice, vegetables, and chopped meals | Griddle |
| Charcoal or smoky flavour | BBQ grill |
| One cooker for classic Canadian backyard meals | BBQ grill |
| A second cooker to expand your menu | Griddle |
| A small upgrade without buying another appliance | Griddle insert or plancha |
| A full backyard cooking setup | Both, if space allows |
| Simple propane-powered weeknight meals | Griddle |
| More fuel choices: gas, charcoal, pellet, natural gas | BBQ grill |
| Broad choice of tabletop and freestanding sizes | Weber Slate |
| Premium multi-burner griddle setup | Halo Elite |
| Independently controlled cooking zones | Traeger Flatrock |
| Lift-off griddle flexibility | Ambiance |
| Portable or lower-cost setup | Brander or Charbroil |
| A griddle from an established Canadian grill brand | Napoleon |
FAQ
Is a flat top griddle worth buying?
Yes, a flat top griddle is worth buying if you regularly cook foods that benefit from a smooth, solid surface, such as smash burgers, eggs, pancakes, vegetables, fried rice, and seafood. It is less useful if you mainly cook steaks, ribs, bone-in chicken, or smoked foods.
Can a griddle replace a BBQ grill?
A griddle can replace a BBQ grill for some quick meals, but it does not fully replace open-grate grilling. It cannot give the same grill marks, flame contact, smoke profile, or lid-down roasting ability as a traditional BBQ grill.
What cannot be cooked on a griddle?
Large foods that need indirect heat, smoke, or airflow around them are usually not ideal for a griddle. Ribs, whole chickens, large roasts, and low-and-slow barbecue are better suited to a grill or smoker.
Do griddles use more propane?
Griddles can use a noticeable amount of propane because they heat a large metal surface, but actual fuel use depends on size, burner output, temperature, wind, and cooking time. A small griddle used for quick meals may use less fuel than a large grill running for a long cook.
Can you cook steaks on a flat top griddle?
Yes, you can cook steaks on a flat top griddle, especially thinner cuts or steaks where you want a hard surface sear. A traditional grill is usually better if you want grill marks, flame flavour, or more control with thick cuts.
Which is better for burgers?
A griddle is better for smash burgers, while a grill is better for thicker, flame-grilled burgers. The griddle gives a crisp crust from full surface contact, while the grill gives char, grill marks, and fat dripping through the grates.
Final Expert Take
A flat top griddle and a BBQ grill are different tools, not direct replacements.
Choose a griddle if you want faster everyday outdoor meals, breakfast outside, smash burgers, vegetables, seafood, and a larger flat cooking surface. Choose a BBQ grill if you want classic backyard cooking, steaks, chicken, ribs, sausages, smoke, char, and better lid-down heat control.
Weber Slate is a practical starting point for buyers who want a broad choice of tabletop and freestanding griddles. Halo Elite and Traeger Flatrock offer more premium alternatives, while Napoleon, Ambiance, Brander, and Charbroil give buyers additional choices across portable, lift-off, freestanding, and combination-style formats.
For many Canadian homes, the grill comes first because it covers the widest range of traditional barbecue jobs. The griddle comes next when you want to cook outside more often and with more variety. If space and budget allow, having both creates the most useful outdoor cooking setup.