Camp Chef Gridiron Pro 36 Review: Flat-Top Griddle with Side Burner

Covering the jobs a flat top cannot do. A griddle is excellent for burgers, eggs, pancakes and stir-fry, but you cannot boil corn, fry fish in a pot or sear on open flame on a steel plate. The included Sidekick is an open-flame burner that sits beside the griddle, so you can run a pot of boiling water or a cast-iron skillet at the same time as the flat top. On most competing griddles that means buying a separate camp stove.

The pre-seasoned top is the second convenience. Camp Chef says the surface is factory-seasoned and ready to cook out of the box, which removes the multi-round seasoning session most bare steel griddles need before first use. You still need to maintain it with oil after cooking.

The hinged lid and flamethrower ignition round it out. A hinged lid stays attached, doubles as a wind block while cooking and protects the top between uses, and the flamethrower ignition is designed to light reliably without matches.

The listing omits the numbers you need to compare griddles: cooking area, burner count, BTU rating, grease system design and warranty length are not in the feature bullets. The Blackstone 36 with Hood lists 768 sq in and four zones for $539.99, and the Nexgrill Daytona lists 756 sq in and 60,000 BTU for $399.77. Get Camp Chef's full spec sheet for the Gridiron Pro 36 before ordering.

Pre-seasoned does not mean maintenance-free. A seasoned steel top still rusts if left wet or uncovered, and the factory coating builds up best with regular oiling after cooks. Read how to season a griddle for upkeep.

The listing has also shown limited stock, and replacement or accessory parts for the Sidekick system are sold through Camp Chef, so check availability before depending on one for a big event.

Praise themes in verified owner reviews of Camp Chef Gridiron griddles:

• The Sidekick burner as a genuinely useful addition for pots and pans.
• Cooking straight away on the pre-seasoned top.
• Reliable lighting with the flamethrower ignition.
• The hinged lid as a wind block and top protector.

Complaint themes:

• Seasoning wearing in spots until owners build it up with use.
• Uneven heat near edges, typical of large griddles.
• Assembly time and instruction clarity.
• Grease management that needs frequent emptying on big cooks.

Buy it if

• You want a griddle and a side burner in one purchase.
• You boil corn, fry in pots or sear in cast iron outdoors.
• You want to skip the initial seasoning session.
• You want a hinged lid rather than a separate cover.

Skip it if

• You want the largest stated cooking area for the price; see the Blackstone 36 with Hood.
• You want no seasoning at all; the Pit Boss Ultimate has a ceramic non-stick top.
• You need portability; the Camp Chef Gridiron Gameday 24 travels better.
• You want a propane level gauge; the Traeger Flatrock has an LED sensor.

Camp Chef describes the Sidekick as a versatile open-flame burner for searing, sautéing and more. In practice an open-flame side burner handles the pot-and-pan jobs a flat top cannot:

• Boiling: corn on the cob, pasta, crawfish or seafood boils in a pot sized to the burner.
• Cast-iron searing: a skillet over direct flame for steaks while the griddle handles sides.
• Sauces and gravies: a saucepan for pancake syrup, gravy or queso at the griddle.
• Deep frying in a pot: only with a stable, correctly sized pot, a thermometer and never over wood decks or near the house.

Keep pots centered and within the size the manual allows, and never leave hot oil unattended. Camp Chef sells additional Sidekick accessories separately; check fit with your model. For a bigger outdoor cooking plan see the intermediate outdoor cooking setup.

The listing does not state warranty terms; read Camp Chef's published warranty for the Gridiron Pro 36 and keep your receipt. Outdoor propane cooking appliances sold in the US and Canada are generally certified to the ANSI Z21.58/CSA 1.6 standard; look for the CSA or ETL mark on the rating plate.

Check the CPSC recall database at cpsc.gov/Recalls for this model before buying, and before buying used. Oil the top after cooking, keep the lid closed once cool and use a tool kit such as the Blackstone Pro 22-piece set, whose stainless spatulas and scrapers suit any seasoned steel top.