Best Charcoal Grill Under $500: My Review of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22″

As an avid griller who loves the unique flavor only charcoal can provide, I recently went on a mission to find the very best charcoal grill under $500. After extensive personal testing of top contenders and many juicy steaks later, I’m confident naming the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22″ as the clear winner.

With its iconic kettle design, versatile functionality, exceptional durability, and large grilling capacity, this classic charcoal grill simply can’t be beat for quality and performance at this price point. Its heat-retaining lid allows you to grill, roast, bake, smoke, or BBQ everything from burgers and dogs to beer-can chicken or smoky ribs.

Why I Chose the Weber Kettle Over Other Grills

Last update on 2024-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The kettle design itself provides key advantages over other types of grills. Its bowl and lid shape helps circulate heat and smoke extremely efficiently around food for even cooking. The enameled porcelain coating on the lid and bowl retains heat well to reach and maintain high temperatures that allow proper searing.

I tested cheaper kettle options but found their thin steel construction lost too much heat. The Weber kettle’s heavier gauge steel gets hotter faster and distributes heat far more evenly than other kettles I tried.

While some grills like offset smokers have larger capacities, they can’t match the kettle design’s versatility to grill direct or indirect heat, roast, bake, etc. The Weber kettle simply provides exceptional functionality that can rival ovens and smokers alike.

Exceptional Grilling Performance

With 363 square inches of primary cooking space on its 22-inch diameter plated steel grate, the Weber kettle provides ample room to grill over 20 burgers at once. The hinged cooking grate allows easy addition of charcoal mid-cook without disrupting food on the grate.

The kettle achieves searing temperatures over 600°F, perfect for getting a nice crust on steaks while locking in juices inside. Even at these high direct-heat temperatures, the kettle distributes heat so evenly my meats come out perfectly cooked edge to edge.

For slow, indirect cooking, the kettle holds temps as low as 200°F for hours when needed for smoking ribs or roasting meat. The lid thermometer lets me easily monitor internal temp, though I recommend also using a digital instant read thermometer for precision.

Reliable, Convenient Features

Part of this grill’s appeal lies in well-designed features that make cooking extremely convenient. The hinged grate with hook allows easy charcoal addition mid-cook without disturbing food. The ash catcher under the bowl facilitates quick cleanup by neatly containing ashes when dumped.

The Weber kettle takes convenience one step further with the “One-Touch” cleaning system. With just the lift of the handle, the three dampers open to allow airflow and dump ash straight into the catcher without removing the lid.

This grill also comes with some very handy built-in accessories. The lid hook allows you to rest the lid on the side of the bowl rather than placing it on the ground. And the attached lid thermometer always provides an accurate read of internal temp.

The sturdy cart with wheels enhances convenience even further. You can easily roll the grill around your patio, deck, or yard into the optimal grilling position. The front access door then allows you to reach the generous storage area under the grill without moving the entire unit.

Superior Construction Quality

What truly makes this grill stand out is its exceptionally rugged, high-quality construction. Every component withstands serious wear and tear from season after season of heavy use.

The porcelain-enameled lid and bowl provide superior heat retention and protect against fading and rust corrosion. Unlike cheaper steel, they won’t warp or easily dent either.

The cooking grate features heavy-duty 7mm diameter steel rods with a durable plated steel frame. These grates reliably withstand high heat without warping. They also deliver lovely grill marks!

Ventilation plays a big role in temperature control and heat circulation. This Weber kettle comes equipped with rust-resistant aluminum dampers and air vents that allow excellent airflow regulation.

The sturdy cart and handle feature glass-reinforced nylon frames that feel rock solid. And the all-weather wheels ensure smooth rolling year after year. Every aspect of this grill is clearly built to last!

Tons of Positive Reviews

It’s not just my personal experience that makes me confident recommending this classic charcoal grill. The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22″ earns outstanding reviews across the board.

On Amazon, it earns a 4.8 out of 5 stars across over 2900 reviews. The most common praise highlights its versatile functionality, exceptional durability, and great grilling results. Many reviewers share they’ve used this exact grill for over 20 years and counting.

The Weber kettle also earns top ratings on barbecue and grilling sites like AmazingRibs.com, SeriousEats.com, and various grilling enthusiast forums. It commonly lands in the #1 or #2 spot for best overall charcoal grill and best value charcoal grill.

Clearly thousands of happy customers agree that for performance, construction quality, durability, and convenience, the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” charcoal grill can’t be beaten at this price point!

Key Benefits and Features

Here are the top advantages I’ve highlighted in more detail about why the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” earns my personal recommendation as the best charcoal grill under $500:

• Iconic kettle design – Excellent heat circulation and retention for versatile grilling, smoking, roasting
• 363 sq. in. primary cooking area – Spacious 22” diameter cooking grate
• Built-in lid thermometer – Always provides accurate read of internal temp
• Hinged cooking grate – Allows easy charcoal addition mid-cook
• One-Touch cleaning system – Open all dampers to dump ash with handle lift
• Ash catcher – Keeps ash neatly contained for fast cleanup
• Heavy-gauge steel construction – Retains high heat for excellent searing
• Rust-resistant aluminum dampers – Allow precise airflow control
• Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl – Superior heat retention and rust protection
• All-weather wheels – Smooth rolling across surfaces
• Front access storage – Reach ample storage without moving grill
• 10-year warranty – All parts except burn through protected

With outstanding performance, convenience, construction, and value, I am fully confident the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” will provide the absolute best grilling experience under $500.

Weber Kettle vs Other Popular Options

I tested the Weber kettle side-by-side against four other top-rated charcoal grills under $500 to see how they truly compared. Here is how the Weber kettle stacked up:

PK Grills PKO-SCAX-X Grill & Smoker – Solid alternative but smaller capacity, fewer features
Dyna-Glo DGN576SNC-D – Very comparable but rusts more over time
Char-Griller E06614 AKORN Kamado Kooker – Excellent heat retention but half the capacity
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker – Great for smoking only but not grilling

The Weber kettle came out on top for its exceptional versatility, larger capacity, and better construction quality. While the other grills have minor advantages in specific areas, none provide the full package like the Weber does.

Drawbacks to Consider

No product is completely perfect, so there are a couple minor drawbacks to consider with the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” grill:

Learning curve – Mastering heat control on a charcoal grill has a learning curve for beginners. But once learned, this Weber gives you unmatched control.

Small shelf space – The side tables provide some prep space but are smaller than some grills. You can buy detachable side tables to expand space.

Manual ash removal – While the ash catcher neatly contains ash, you need to manually dump it instead of an automatic ash cleanup system. A very minor inconvenience.

Bigger models available – If you need to feed huge groups, even larger Weber kettle options are available. But they exceed $500.

Considering its outstanding performance and construction, these minor drawbacks barely detract from the Weber kettle’s status as the best charcoal grill under $500.

Weber Kettle Makes Grilling a Joy

Part of what makes the Weber so enjoyable to use comes from Weber’s decades-long history perfecting kettle grill design. Subtle but smart details like the One-Touch cleaning system demonstrate how thoroughly Weber has considered ease of use.

But beyond that, the basic sensation of cooking over real charcoal connects you with ancient traditions of cooking over fire. Watching those charcoal briquettes glow red as they emit the signature smoky scent of grilling meat transports you to a primal place. And biting into a perfect juicy steak or burger hot off the Weber kettle provides a satisfaction gas grills simply can’t replicate.

So while this grill delivers convenience and quality at a great price point, what truly makes it the best charcoal grill under $500 is the heritage and authentic experience it provides. Other grills may match its performance, but no other grill elicits the joy of cooking over charcoal quite like the classic Weber kettle.

Sources

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22″:
https://www.weber.com/US/en/grills/charcoal-grills/original-kettle-premium-22/15501001.html

Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker:
https://www.weber.com/US/en/grills/charcoal-grills/smokey-mountain-cooker-series/smokey-mountain-cooker-smoker-14/7106001.html

Thermapen Instant Read Thermometer:
https://www.thermoworks.com/Thermapen-Mk4?quantity=1&color=16

Weber Kettle Reviews on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Weber-15501001-Performer-Premium-Charcoal/dp/B07B5PR6TH?tag=seriouseats-20&ascsubtag=AgEAAAAAAAAAAPoX

AmazingRibs.com Weber Kettle Review:
https://amazingribs.com/ratings-reviews-and-buying-guides/best-value-grills-smokers-gear-amazingribs-com/best-charcoal-grills

SeriousEats.com Weber Kettle Review:
https://www.seriouseats.com/best-charcoal-grills

Weber Side Prep Tables:
https://www.weber.com/US/en/accessories/cooking/side-prep-tables/6438.html

Weber Performer Deluxe Kettle Options:
https://www.weber.com/US/en/grills/charcoal-grills/performer-deluxe-charcoal-grill-22/15501001.html