Last updated: 22 March 2026

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Best Hybrid BBQs: Gas and Charcoal in One Grill

You love the convenience of gas on Tuesday evenings. You crave that smoky charcoal flavour on lazy Sundays. Two separate BBQs means double the cost, double the garden space, and your partner vetoing the second purchase before you finish the sentence. A hybrid solves that standoff with one unit that does both.

We tested 4 hybrid models over a full UK summer, cooking the same recipes on gas mode and charcoal mode to measure the compromise. Gas vs charcoal is no longer an either/or question.

How Hybrid BBQs Work

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Convertible Design

Gas burners sit below a removable charcoal tray. Remove the tray for gas mode. Drop it in, add coals for charcoal mode. Switch takes 2 minutes.

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Gas Side Benefits

Push-button ignition, 10-minute heat-up, precise temperature control. Perfect for weeknight cooking when time is short.

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Charcoal Side Benefits

Real smoke flavour, higher peak temperatures for searing, the traditional BBQ ritual for weekend entertaining.

Who should buy a hybrid? If you BBQ twice a week or more and cannot choose between gas and charcoal, a hybrid saves buying two separate grills and the garden space to store them.

Three Dual-Fuel Meal Plans We Actually Cooked

Saturday family feast (gas + charcoal simultaneous): Charcoal side: spatchcock chicken on indirect heat for 45 minutes, skin-side down for the last 10 minutes over direct coals for crispy skin. Gas side: corn on the cob on the grates, garlic bread warming on low heat. Total cook time: 55 minutes. Result: smoky chicken with the convenience of gas-grilled sides. This meal would need two separate BBQs or a very patient relay to the kitchen.

Weeknight burgers (gas only, 15 minutes): Press the ignition, wait 10 minutes, smash 4 burgers on screaming hot grates for 90 seconds per side. Toast buns on the warming rack. Total time from cold grill to plated food: 15 minutes. The charcoal tray stays stored underneath, untouched. This is the Tuesday evening mode that justifies the hybrid purchase.

Sunday slow ribs (charcoal only, 5 hours): Fill the charcoal tray, add hickory chunks, set up for indirect low-and-slow at 120°C. Baby back ribs wrapped at the 3-hour mark, glazed and crisped for the final 30 minutes over direct heat. Gas burners stay off. This is the weekend mode where charcoal flavour earns its keep.

Conversion time: Switching from gas mode to charcoal mode takes 2 to 5 minutes depending on the model. Char-Broil Gas2Coal has the fastest swap (removable tray system). Budget hybrids with shared fireboxes take longer because you need to position the charcoal tray manually.

Gas vs Charcoal Guide Best Gas BBQs 2026 Best Under £500 Buying Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Q Can you use gas and charcoal at the same time on a hybrid BBQ?

Most hybrid BBQs have separate fireboxes for gas and charcoal, so you can run both simultaneously. This lets you sear over charcoal while keeping sides warm on the gas side. Some models share one firebox with a removable charcoal tray.

Q Are hybrid BBQs as good as dedicated gas or charcoal models?

Hybrid BBQs perform at 85% of a dedicated model on each fuel type. Gas performance is slightly reduced because shared fireboxes lose heat. Charcoal airflow is less precise than a dedicated kettle. For most home cooks, the compromise is worth the versatility.

Q Which brands make the best hybrid BBQs in the UK?

Char-Broil Gas2Coal is the UK market leader for hybrids under £500. Masterbuilt Gravity Series offers premium hybrid cooking from £599. Outback also sells dual-fuel models from £349.

Q How do you clean a hybrid BBQ?

Clean each fuel side separately. Burn off gas grates on high for 10 minutes, then brush. Remove charcoal ash from the tray after every session. The charcoal tray is usually removable for easy disposal. Deep clean the full unit every 4 to 6 weeks.

James Cooper

BBQ & Outdoor Cooking Expert

James has been testing gas barbecues in UK gardens for 8 years. A former chef turned outdoor cooking writer, he has tested over 50 gas BBQs across every price range, from budget 2-burner models to premium 6-burner setups. His reviews are based on real cooking sessions, temperature gun readings, and long-term durability tests through British weather.

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