Top 10 Indoor Grills — Best Overall + Best Value in 2027

1. Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 (FG551)

It ranks first because it is the only model here that hits a true 500°F sear while also working as a 4-quart air fryer, roaster, and dehydrator. At $259 the cyclonic grilling system drives high-velocity air across the grate, producing deep crosshatch marks and holding kitchen haze down on fatty cuts. The leave-in Foodi Smart Thermometer offers nine doneness levels. Grate, crisper basket, and pot are dishwasher-safe.

This is for a family that wants one appliance covering grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate in a single footprint. The trade is bulk: a tall lid needing overhead clearance, dedicated counter space, and several removable parts that stretch cleanup to a few minutes. The Ninja Sizzle below costs $130 less and sears just as hot, but drops the air-fry basket, enclosed roasting, and the thermometer entirely.

2. Ninja Sizzle Grill & Griddle (GR101)

Second place goes to the open-grill counterpart that matches the FG551's 500°F sear for $129 without the lid-and-basket bulk. The 14-inch cooking surface takes interchangeable grill and griddle plates, so the same machine handles strip steaks, fajita vegetables, pancakes, and smash burgers. A perforated mesh lid and high grease-catching walls hold down splatter passively. Both nonstick plates and the mesh lid are removable and dishwasher-safe.

Buy this if a real flat griddle matters as much as grill grates, and you feed four to six people. What you give up versus the FG551 above is air-frying, enclosed roasting, and the leave-in thermometer. The open design also throws slightly more smoke than fan-driven grills, since nothing actively pulls haze away. Against the $329 Breville below, it sears equally hot but with less temperature control.

3. Breville the Smart Grill (BGR820XL)

Third for control rather than tricks: 1800 watts with heating elements embedded directly in the plates and Element IQ sensing that recovers temperature fast when cold food lands. It opens flat to a 260 square-inch grill-and-griddle surface, offers six adjustable height settings, a plate-tilt drain, and dedicated Low, Panini, and Sear modes on an LCD. Removable plates are dishwasher-safe. At $329 it is the most controlled contact grill tested.

This suits the enthusiast cooking thick steaks who values even heat and precise settings over multi-function extras. The trade is price — it costs $70 more than the Ninja FG551 above and does not air-fry, roast, or dehydrate. There is no active smoke-reduction fan either, so ventilation still matters with fatty cuts. Against the $99 Cuisinart Griddler below, it buys far better temperature stability for triple the money.

4. Cuisinart Griddler 5-in-1 (GR-4NP1)

Fourth because it delivers five configurations for $99: contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, or half-and-half, thanks to a floating hinge and reversible plates. Dual independent temperature dials run the grill and griddle sides at different heats. The reversible nonstick plates are removable and dishwasher-safe. More than 32,000 reviews average 4.6 stars, making it one of the most proven multi-function machines at this price.

This is the small-kitchen all-rounder for paninis, melts, and weeknight chicken. It gives up peak heat — it will not sear like the 500°F Ninja and Breville picks above, so browning is gentler and char marks softer. The plastic housing also feels less substantial than the Breville's build. Compared with the fan-equipped PowerXL below, it offers more configurations but no active smoke extraction whatsoever.

5. PowerXL Smokeless Grill Pro

Fifth, and the leader on smoke control: a fan-driven turbo system actively pulls rising smoke down and away from the surface, producing the least kitchen haze of any open grill tested. It runs 1500 watts and reaches roughly 450°F, shipping with both a grill plate and a griddle plate under a tempered-glass lid so food stays visible. Nonstick plates and the drip tray are removable and dishwasher-safe. Price is $119.

Apartment cooks who cannot vent fatty cuts well should start here. The trade is sear quality: 450°F means softer browning than the 500°F Ninja and Breville picks, and the extraction fan adds an audible hum throughout cooking. Versus the Cuisinart Griddler above, it loses the panini and half-and-half configurations but gains the one feature that actually keeps a small kitchen breathable.

6. George Foreman GRP1060B Panini Press

Sixth and the value champion at $59: removable George Tough PFAS-free nonstick plates that go in the dishwasher, at a price where fixed plates are the norm. It heats about 35% faster than older Foreman models and uses a 60 square-inch angled surface that drains grease into a catch tray automatically. The panini-press hinge handles pressed sandwiches, burgers, and chicken with equal ease.

Budget buyers who want fast, lean, no-fuss cooking get the most dollar-for-dollar here. The contact-only design is the trade — both sides cook at once, but there is no real char or smoky flavor, and the 60 square inches limit batch size for larger families. The Hamilton Beach below costs $5 more and reaches 450°F with nearly double the surface area, though it cooks one side at a time.

7. Hamilton Beach Searing Grill (25361)

Seventh because it delivers genuine 450°F searing heat at $64, uncommon at this price. The lidded 118 square-inch surface serves about six, and the floating hinge accommodates thicker cuts while the lid traps heat to speed cooking. Nonstick plates and the drip tray are removable and dishwasher-safe. Reviewers repeatedly name it the best overall value under $100, citing even cooking on chicken.

Value seekers who still want real browning should take this over pure contact grilling. It has no fan, so fatty meats need a range hood, and there is a single temperature zone with no griddle plate option. Against the $59 George Foreman above, it is nearly tied on price but trades automatic fat draining and two-sided speed for hotter searing, a closed lid, and roughly double the cooking area.

8. Chefman Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill

Eighth on the strength of price: real open-grate grilling for under $50, the cheapest entry point here. Its cool-water tray sits beneath the grate and was the most effective passive smoke-reduction method tested, since fat droplets fall into water instead of scorching on hot metal. Temperature is adjustable to around 450°F, and the nonstick grate, water tray, and base all come out for dishwasher cleaning.

First-time buyers testing whether indoor grilling suits them should start here. The trade is scope: a single-zone surface too small for batch cooking, no griddle plate, no air-fry, and a light build next to pricier rivals. Compared with the $119 PowerXL above, it cuts smoke passively rather than with a fan, saving $70 but giving up the griddle plate and glass viewing lid.

9. Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe (GR-150)

Ninth for its dual-zone temperature control, which lets you sear on one side while holding griddle items lower, each adjustable from roughly 175°F to 425°F. It offers six configurations — contact grill, panini press, top melt, full grill, full griddle, and half-and-half — on a larger reversible surface than the standard Griddler. Plates and drip tray are removable and dishwasher-safe. The brushed-stainless body costs $169.

This fits cooks running two different foods at once who value refinement over raw heat. The trade is searing: 425°F peak is the lowest ceiling on this list, so char stays gentle. It also costs $70 more than the GR-4NP1 at rank four for largely the same core uses. Take it only if the second temperature zone and top-melt mode genuinely earn that premium.

10. George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Grill

Tenth on capacity alone: a 240 square-inch round surface handling up to fifteen servings, the largest here by a wide margin. The domed lid traps heat well enough to roast whole chickens or stacks of burgers, and the unit detaches from its stand to move between kitchen counter and patio. The nonstick plate and drip pan are removable for cleaning. Price is $139.

This is for entertaining and meal-prep batches, not precision cooking. It gives up sear control and has no smoke fan, so strong ventilation is mandatory indoors with fatty meat. It is also bulky to store and complete overkill for one or two people. Against the Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe above, it trades dual-zone temperature control and six configurations for roughly triple the cooking area.

How we ranked these

We scored ten currently-shipping models on the things that change how the food tastes. Searing and even heat carried 25 percent, cooking area and versatility 20, smoke reduction 15, temperature range and control 15, cleanup 15, and price-to-performance 10. Measured-temperature and hands-on notes came from Wirecutter, Serious Eats, Good Housekeeping, CNET, and The Spruce Eats, then cross-checked against Ninja, Cuisinart, Breville, PowerXL, and George Foreman spec sheets.

We ignored "smokeless" branding, because no indoor grill is genuinely smokeless with fatty cuts; smoke scores reflect real haze under normal kitchen ventilation instead. We discounted raw wattage, since heat distribution beats a big number on the box, and skipped app connectivity, bundled recipe books, and included accessories. Star averages alone never moved a rank without measured temperature or hands-on testing behind them.

What to look for

Start with peak temperature, because it decides everything downstream. True 500°F machines — Ninja Foodi XL, Ninja Sizzle, Breville Smart Grill — lay down real crosshatch char; 450°F models brown honestly but stay gentler. Then match surface area to your household: 60 square inches feeds two to four, 118 to 260 feeds a family, 240 handles a crowd. Removable dishwasher-safe plates are non-negotiable at every price.

The common mistake is buying function count rather than function use. A six-in-one costs more, eats more counter, and takes longer to wash, so if the air-fry basket never comes out, that premium bought nothing. The second mistake is trusting the smokeless label. A marbled ribeye smokes on every model here, so plan on a range hood or choose the fan-driven PowerXL.

Related questions

Do indoor grills taste the same as charcoal grilling?

No. Charcoal flavor comes from fat dripping onto burning coals and smoking back up, which no electric grill reproduces. What a 500°F open grill like the Ninja Foodi XL or Sizzle does deliver is real Maillard browning and crosshatch char, which is most of what people actually taste. Contact grills like the Foreman brown but produce no char at all.

Should I buy a contact grill or an open grill?

Contact grills — Foreman GRP1060B, Cuisinart Griddler, Breville — cook both sides at once, drain fat down a slope, and press paninis, so they are faster and leaner. Open grills like the Ninja Sizzle, PowerXL, and Chefman cook one side at a time but reach higher surface temperatures and leave visible grill marks. Speed versus char is the real trade.

How much electricity does an indoor grill use?

Most sit between 1,200 and 1,800 watts, with the Breville at 1800W and the PowerXL at 1500W. At roughly 1.5 kilowatts for a twenty-minute cook, that is about half a kilowatt-hour, or pennies per meal in most US markets. Running one is cheaper than heating a full oven for two burgers, and it adds far less heat to the kitchen.

Can you cook frozen meat directly on an indoor grill?

You can, but only on models with strong heat recovery. The Breville's Element IQ and the Ninja Foodi's cyclonic system rebound quickly when cold food hits the plate; cheaper single-dial grills stall and steam the surface instead of searing it. Expect roughly 50 percent longer cook times, and always verify doneness with a thermometer rather than by color or time.

How long do nonstick grill plates actually last?

Typically two to five years of regular use. The killers are metal utensils, abrasive scrubbers, and repeated high-heat empty preheating. Removable dishwasher-safe plates help, though hand-washing extends coating life further. George Foreman's PFAS-free George Tough coating and Cuisinart's reversible plates both hold up well. Once a coating flakes or food starts sticking badly, replace the plates rather than cooking on bare metal.

Does an indoor grill replace an air fryer?

Only the Ninja Foodi Smart XL genuinely does, with a dedicated 4-quart crisper basket alongside grill, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate modes. Every other model here is a grill first. If you already own an air fryer you like, the cheaper single-purpose options — Sizzle, PowerXL, Hamilton Beach — give you more grilling surface for less money.

Do I need a range hood to use one of these?

Strongly recommended for fatty cuts, regardless of model. Fan-extraction grills like the PowerXL and water-tray designs like the Chefman cut haze meaningfully, but grease vaporizing at 450°F still puts particulate into the air. Open a window and run the hood on high. The EPA's indoor air quality guidance treats cooking as a primary source of household particulates.

Which of these handles a family of six?

The Hamilton Beach 25361 covers six with a lidded 118 square-inch surface at $64. The Ninja Sizzle's 14-inch open plate feeds four to six comfortably, and the Breville opens flat to 260 square inches. For anything larger, the George Foreman 15-serving unit's 240 square-inch round surface is the only model here designed for genuine crowd volume.

FAQ

What is the best indoor grill in 2027?

The Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 (FG551) at $259. It hits a true 500°F for the best char marks tested, includes a 4-quart air-fry basket plus roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate modes, and its leave-in smart thermometer with nine doneness levels removes the guesswork on thick steaks. All the removable parts go in the dishwasher.

What is the best value indoor grill?

The Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill (25361) at $64 delivers a genuine 450°F sear and a lidded 118 square-inch surface serving six, which is rare at that price. The George Foreman GRP1060B at $59 is the close alternative if you want contact grilling and a panini hinge instead of a hotter open sear.

Is 450°F hot enough to sear a steak properly?

Yes, though the result differs. At 450°F you get solid browning and defined marks; at 500°F the crust forms faster and darker, which matters most on thick cuts where you want char before the center overcooks. The PowerXL, Chefman, and Hamilton Beach all top out near 450°F and still sear steaks perfectly well.

Which indoor grill produces the least smoke?

The PowerXL Smokeless Grill Pro. Its fan-driven turbo system actively pulls rising smoke down and away from the plate, which produced the least kitchen haze of the open grills tested. The Chefman's cool-water tray was the most effective passive method, since fat drips into water rather than scorching on hot metal. Neither is truly smokeless.

Are indoor grills safe to use in an apartment?

Yes. They are enclosed electric appliances with no open flame or combustion byproducts, which is why many leases ban balcony charcoal but allow these. The real concern is grease smoke, not fire. Use the range hood, avoid preheating empty at maximum, and pick a fan or water-tray model if your kitchen ventilation is weak.

How do you clean an indoor grill without ruining it?

Unplug, let the plates cool to warm, then pop them out and run them through the dishwasher — every model here has removable plates. For baked-on residue, soak first rather than scrubbing with abrasives, which destroys nonstick coating. Empty the drip tray after each use. Never submerge the heating base or run metal tools across the plate.

What size cooking surface do I actually need?

Match it to household size. Around 60 square inches, like the Foreman GRP1060B, feeds two to four. The 118 to 260 square-inch range — Hamilton Beach, Ninja Sizzle, Breville — covers a family. The George Foreman 15-serving unit's 240 square-inch round surface is for entertaining. Buying oversized costs counter space you will resent daily.

Is a built-in smart thermometer worth paying for?

On thick cuts, yes. The Ninja Foodi's leave-in Foodi Smart Thermometer tracks nine doneness levels and stops you opening the lid to check, which drops surface temperature every time. On thin burgers, chicken breasts, and vegetables it adds little. A $15 instant-read probe covers the same job on any grill for far less money.

Can any of these be used outdoors?

Only the George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor model, which detaches from its stand and is built for patio use. The rest are countertop appliances with electronics not rated for weather exposure. Do not run the Ninja, Breville, Cuisinart, or PowerXL outside in damp conditions — moisture in the housing is both a warranty and a shock risk.

Are PFAS-free nonstick plates actually better?

They perform comparably and remove the chemical question entirely, which is why George Foreman moved the GRP1060B to its PFAS-free George Tough coating. Traditional PTFE nonstick is considered safe below roughly 500°F but degrades above it. Since several grills here run right at 500°F, PFAS-free coatings offer a real margin. Care rules stay identical either way.

Sources

• https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart
• https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-indoor-air-quality
• https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-4N-Griddler-Silver-Black/dp/B002YD99Y4
• https://www.bestbuy.com/site/powerxl-smokeless-grill-pro-countertop-indoor-electric-grill-silver/6419346.p
• https://www.walmart.com/ip/Chefman-Electric-Smokeless-Indoor-Grill-w-Adjustable-Temperature-Non-Stick-Black/891210870
• https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/BGR820XL.html
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-GR101-Smokeless-Interchangeable-Dishwasher-Safe/dp/B0C8VHBBZK
• https://www.amazon.ca/Cuisinart-GR-150-Griddler-Brushed-Stainless/dp/B008EYOPPU

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