Charcoal and Gas Combo Grills

A charcoal and gas combo grill gives you the best of both worlds — the instant, controllable heat of gas and the smoky flavor of real charcoal in a single unit. This guide explains how combo grills work, what separates an entry-level unit from a premium one, and walks through the American Made Grills hybrid lineup: built-in and freestanding combo grills that burn gas, charcoal, wood, and pellets on the same grates, so a single grill replaces a gas grill, a charcoal grill, and a smoker.

What Is a Charcoal and Gas Combo Grill?

A charcoal and gas combo grill combines two fuel systems so you can cook with gas, charcoal, or both at once. Gas gives you push-button ignition and precise temperature control for weeknight dinners, while charcoal delivers the high heat and smoky char that serious grillers want for steaks and low-and-slow weekend cooks.

Combo grills fall into two broad types. Entry-level units keep the two systems in separate fireboxes side by side — effectively two small grills sharing one cart. Premium hybrid grills take a different approach: a single multi-fuel firebox lets you burn gas, charcoal, and wood across the full cooking surface, so the same grill doubles as a smoker. The hybrid approach is what most people picture when they search for a combo grill that can also smoke.

Why Choose a Combo Grill?

The appeal comes down to flexibility — one grill that adapts to how you actually cook:

Two Fuels, One Footprint

Instead of buying and storing separate gas and charcoal grills, a combo unit does both jobs in one footprint — a real advantage on patios and in built-in outdoor kitchens where space is at a premium.

Weeknight Convenience, Weekend Flavor

Fire up the gas burners for a quick weeknight dinner, then switch to charcoal or wood on the weekend when you want smoke and char. You're never locked into a single cooking style for the sake of the equipment.

Grill and Smoke in One Unit

A combo grill that also smokes is the most-searched feature in this category, and for good reason: a hybrid that burns wood lets you run low-and-slow smoking sessions without buying and storing a dedicated smoker. One grill covers searing, grilling, and smoking.

What Separates a Premium Combo Grill from a Budget One

Combo grills range from a few hundred dollars to over ten thousand, and the price gap reflects real differences. Before you buy, it's worth knowing what you're actually paying for:

Steel gauge and grade: Budget grills use thin-gauge steel that warps and rusts within a few seasons. Premium units use heavier 304 stainless steel — AMG's hybrids are built from 14-gauge 304 stainless, a noticeably heavier gauge that holds heat better and resists warping for the life of the grill.

Grate quality: Thin wire grates are a hallmark of cheap grills. Look for heavy, reversible grates — AMG uses 9-gauge reversible V-shaped grates that flip flat-side up for searing or V-side up to channel drippings away for indirect cooking and smoking.

What's included: Budget combo grills are usually just the grill. Premium units bundle accessories that would otherwise cost hundreds extra. Every AMG hybrid ships with a rotisserie kit, an infrared sear burner, a stainless griddle, a grate-lifting tool, a fuel starter kit, and a weather-proof cover.

Warranty: A budget grill's one-year warranty tells you how long the maker expects it to last. AMG backs its hybrids with a Gold Standard Lifetime Warranty on structural components (3 years on electronics) — a meaningful signal for a grill you intend to keep.

American Made Grills Hybrid — A True Multi-Fuel Combo Grill

American Made Grills (AMG) builds the premium end of this category, in Huntington Beach, California. Their hybrid grills go beyond the usual gas-plus-charcoal pairing: a patented multi-fuel tray lets you burn gas (natural gas or propane), charcoal, lump charcoal, wood chunks, and pellets — simultaneously, with no conversion kits. A Flame Thrower ignition system lights solid fuels directly from the gas burners, so charcoal or wood is typically burning within three to five minutes — no chimney or lighter fluid required.

Encore Series

The Encore is AMG's flagship hybrid line with clean, classic styling, available as a built-in 36-inch (110,000 BTU) or 54-inch (176,000 BTU) model, plus matching freestanding versions on a rolling cart. The 36-inch offers 1,106 sq. in. of cooking surface across five independent 22,000-BTU burner zones.

Muscle Series

The Muscle shares the Encore's multi-fuel system and burner layout with bolder, GT350-inspired styling, in built-in 36-inch and 54-inch sizes (also available freestanding). The choice between Encore and Muscle is purely aesthetic — the cooking capability is identical.

Built-In or Freestanding

Choose built-in if you're designing an outdoor kitchen island, or freestanding if you want a grill on a mobile cart. One installation note: built-in installations into a combustible (wood-framed) island require an AMG insulated grill liner by building code — it's sold separately as an accessory. Browse the full lineup on the charcoal and gas combo grill collection.

How to Choose the Right Combo Grill

Cooking style: If you mostly grill on weeknights and only occasionally want charcoal flavor, a basic combo grill works. If you're serious about both searing and smoking, prioritize a true multi-fuel hybrid that burns wood and pellets as well as charcoal and gas.

Size: A 36-inch grill (around 1,100 sq. in.) suits most families; step up to 54 inches if you regularly cook for crowds or want more room for multi-zone cooking.

Installation: Decide between built-in (for outdoor kitchen islands) and freestanding (mobile, on a cart) before you buy — the grill is configured differently for each, and built-in units may need an insulating liner depending on your island material.

Fuel line: Choose natural gas if you have a home gas line, or liquid propane for tank-based flexibility. AMG hybrids are configured for one or the other at the time of order and aren't field-convertible without the proper hardware, so confirm your fuel type before purchasing.

Charcoal and Gas Combo Grills — Frequently Asked Questions

What is a charcoal and gas combo grill?
It's a single grill that runs on both gas and charcoal, letting you choose convenience or smoky flavor for any cook. The most versatile "hybrid" models also burn wood and pellets, so the grill doubles as a smoker.

Can a combo grill be used as a smoker?
Yes. A combo grill that burns wood and charcoal can run low-and-slow smoking sessions, which is why a "combo grill with smoker" is one of the most popular searches in the category. Multi-fuel hybrids that accept wood chunks and pellets give you the most smoking flexibility.

Can you use charcoal and gas at the same time?
On a true hybrid grill with a single multi-fuel firebox, yes — you can run gas and solid fuels together for multi-zone cooking. On budget combo grills with two separate fireboxes, each side runs independently rather than together.

Are there built-in charcoal and gas combo grills?
Yes. Built-in hybrid models are designed to drop into an outdoor kitchen island, with freestanding cart versions available for patios without a built-in setup. Built-in installs into a combustible island require an insulated grill liner.

How much does a good charcoal and gas combo grill cost?
Budget combo grills start a few hundred dollars but use thin steel and minimal accessories. Premium built-in hybrids made from heavy 304 stainless steel, with included accessories and lifetime structural warranties, generally run from around $10,000 up depending on size and configuration.

What's the difference between the AMG Encore and Muscle series?
Both burn gas, charcoal, wood, and pellets and come in 36-inch and 54-inch sizes with identical cooking capability. The only difference is styling — the Encore is classic, the Muscle has a bolder, GT350-inspired look.