You don't need a backyard (or nice weather!) to grill burgers.
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We updated this article in March 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute, plus added new picks.
An indoor grill helps you create your favorite grilling recipes with some char and prominent grill marks from the comfort of your own kitchen, whether it's the middle of February or you don't own a backyard or deck for an outdoor grill. If you love whipping up weeknight burgers, grilled chicken for meal prep or adding charred vegetables to your salads, our pros think an indoor grill deserves a spot on your countertop (most store really well too). Best of all, food will look — and taste! — like you grilled it outside.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab we've tested almost 45 grills in the last three years, including gas grills, charcoal grills, pellet grills and smokers and so much more. When it comes to indoor grills, we evaluate how quickly and evenly they heated up, their ease of use, grease drainage and how easy they are to clean. In the last decade we've tested over 30 indoor grills, by grilling pounds of hamburgers, toasting dozens of slices of bread and pressing many panini to find the best indoor grills of 2023.
You can read more about how we test indoor grills in our Lab at the end of this guide — plus we offer expert advice on what to look for when shopping for an indoor grill. Interested in other countertop cooking appliances that we recommend? Check out our guides to the best microwaves and best air fryers.
Highly rated and popular, this Cuisinart indoor grill is impressively versatile with five different cooking configurations. Our experts found the digital controls easy to use and appreciated being able to set a specific temperature for more precise cooking, unlike other models. Temperature adjusts from 175°F to 450°F in 25-degree increments and there's a sear function where you can heat the grill at 450°F for two minute increments. Even better? The plates are dishwasher-safe for quick cleanup.
It also converts to a griddle (we cooked eight pancakes at once!), you can buy waffle plates for an addition cooking capability or you can press paninis between the two plates. We recommend placing foil or parchment paper under the back legs for easy cleanup — the top plate can drip when cooking greasy foods.
George Foreman grills have historically performed well in testing in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. This very compact, lightweight and affordable model from George Foreman is no different. While this isn't an indoor grill packed with special features like other models on the market, we were impressed with how well it performed in our Lab tests, at just around $30. This indoor grill turns on automatically once plugged in and there is no way to adjust the temperature of the appliance, but the green light turns on to let you know that the plates are fully heated.
In our tests, it served up a panino that was perfectly melted all the way through with even grill marks. We were also surprised how two quarter pound burgers cooked inside with the juices going into the dishwasher-safe drip tray without spilling anywhere else on the counter. We found this model hard to clean in testing since the grill plates aren't removable and you have to clean the entire model in the sink.
Quite the multitasker, this do-it-all pick from Ninja does the work of many appliances in one: It's an air fryer and a seriously powerful indoor grill in one. The heavy-duty grill plate and 500ºF max temperature is great for grilling. Our experts noted that a medium-well flank steak cooked quickly — in about 10 minutes — but felt it was best suited to fast-cooking foods like hamburgers and hot dogs because it can get smoky. It comes equipped with a temperature probe to insert into your meat as you're cooking for perfectly done (a.k.a. never overcooked or unsafe) results.
One unique thing about the Ninja is that the lid creates an oven-like environment which helps the appliance cook quickly without squishing the food. Ninja consistently performs well in our Lab tests, nabbing the top spot for the best air fryer, and the intuitive design and control panel are equally impressive.
Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill is great for small kitchens because at just over eight pounds, it's easy to store away or move around to create space as needed. This model features an adjustable temperature dial for precise cooking and a preheat light to let you know when the grill is ready so you can get your best grill marks. Plus, the grill plate and drip tray are removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
In our tests, this indoor grill churned out burgers with distinct dark grill marks on one side of the burgers, but the Lab did get smoky while we were grilling, even with the lid closed. While this model offers a no-frills user manual, we found the cooking recommendation charts included easy-to-follow and utilize, especially if you're new to indoor grilling.
A 2022 Kitchen Gear Award Winner, this easy-to-clean and versatile indoor grill from Greenpan offers seven (!) different configurations for cooking; it can be used as a griddle, panini press, grill and waffle maker, to name a few. With dual-zone heating the digital interface allows you heat up each side at different temperatures with separate timers. You can grill breakfast sausages on one side at 450ºF and griddle pancakes on the other side at 350ºF. Like other Greenpan products, it features a proprietary no-stick coating which released ingredients easily in testing, made without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium, and was dishwasher-safe.
In our testing we made panini that were fully melted with a crispy exterior and no soggy areas and several types of waffles that were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, including homemade gluten-free ones. When we grilled burgers they got a nice char on one side and a little bit more faded char on the other side. We also didn't find the grill to be as smoky as other models tested. Our only issue while testing was that the grill automatically shuts off if it gets too hot after awhile, though this acts as a safety measure.
If you have a kitchen with a lot of countertop space we also recommend the Greenpan Premiere XL Smoke-Less Grill & Griddle which grilled up perfectly charred burgers in our Lab tests.
This smokeless indoor grill has one of the largest cooking areas on our list. Our tester noted that the grill has wide grooves for nice sear marks and that it gets really hot. The grill plates are interchangeable for griddle plates, both of which are made out of a non-stick ceramic coating. In our tests we found the grill to actually be smokeless and appreciated the dial for achieving your desired precise temperature. The tempered clear glass lid also reduces splattering and allows you to monitor your food while it grills.
We also love that this Black-helmed brand gives back: Five percent of the brand's proceeds are donated to partner nonprofits aimed at democratizing access to food.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab we've tested over 30 indoor grills in the last decade. Our experts rate how easy the grill is to set up, whether it has a drip tray and how successfully it prevents messes. We take into consideration how the temperature control works, how helpful the user manual is and how easy the grill is to clean.
Our analysts evaluate the grill in action with quarter pound burgers, noting how many patties will fit on a grill to help determine what size group each grill can feed. Following the instruction manual's recommendations they document the grill marks on both sides of a burger and the patties' internal temperature.
To determine how evenly each indoor grill cooks, our analysts completely cover the cooking grate with sliced white bread. The slices are assessed for even browning as well as even grill marks.
While not all indoor grills feature a panini function, we make a panini on each indoor grill. We take the internal temperature of the panini, evaluate grill marks and interior melting, note any sogginess and most importantly see how it tastes.
If an indoor grill has waffle plates, we test that as well, following our waffle maker testing procedure.
✔️ Size: For one to two people, a cooking area of up to 80 square inches is ideal. An area of 100 to 150 square inches can feed three to five people. For larger groups, you will likely have to cook in batches since indoor grill sizes generally cap at about 150 square inches.
✔️ Design: Open grills mimic the design of outdoor grills without a lid — you have to flip the food to cook it evenly. Contact grills have top and bottom grill plates that can quickly cook your food on both sides simultaneously (think: panini press). Some are smoke-less versions as well which usually utilize a lid and added water in the drip tray to ensure that your kitchen doesn't get smoky. Anything you can grill outdoors can be cooked on either of these types of indoor grills.
✔️ Versatility: Some models open flat and allow you to swap out the grill plate with a griddle or waffle plate. There are even indoor grills that are part of a toaster oven or air fryer like our pick from Ninja. The more cooking configurations that the indoor grill provides will give more opportunities to use it, but can also make for more pieces to store.
✔️ Heat range: Certain models do not allow you to set a specific cooking temperature, while others are adjustable within a range. If you want a good sear on your steak or burgers, make sure that it goes up to 500ºF.
✔️ Cleanability: Grills that have removable plates that are dishwasher-safe make cleanup a breeze. Choosing a model with a drip tray, especially a dishwasher-safe one, cuts down on cleaning too. Many models also offer splash guards or lids to prevent grease splatter on countertops.
As a reviews analyst in the The Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, Eva Bleyer has tested a wide variety of kitchen appliances, tools and gear, including pizza stones, kitchen scales and so much more. She conducted the most recent side-by-side testing of indoor grills. Eva earned a B.S. in Food Studies, Nutrition and Public Health from New York University and is a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute now known as the Institute of Culinary Education.
The Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab is led by Nicole Papantoniou, who has led or overseen GH's testing of indoor, outdoor and portable grills for the past four years. Nicole previously worked in product development for small kitchen appliances and tools. She has a grand diplome in classic culinary arts from the former French Culinary Institute and a certificate in culinary nutrition from the former Natural Gourmet Institute, now both known as the Institute of Culinary Education.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
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