Gas grills are convenient and easy to use but you will be giving up the smoky flavor and beautiful sear on your juicy steak that you can only get from a charcoal grill. Controlling the heat and loading coal intermittently is hard work with a charcoal grill but the results are worth it for most people.

Getting a good charcoal grill for under $200 can seem like a dream but the Blackstone 3-in-1 Kabob Charcoal Grill – Barbeque – Smoker is a solid choice at this price range.

Find out why this Blackstone is worth your money in our full review down below:

Blackstone 3-in-1 Kabob Charcoal Grill

If you are on a budget this grill that will give you a good variety of cooking options, from grilling, smoking and making kabobs.

  • Cooking Area: 60 square inches
  • Weight: 93 pounds
  • Price Range:$$

Setting up the grill

The Blackstone 3-in-1 may sound like a nightmare to set up because of the rotisserie feature but you don’t need to be a certified engineer to put this grill together. The mechanical parts come fully assembled.

You will need basic DIY knowledge to assemble the grill frame which should take roughly an hour if doing the job alone. The instructions come included with your purchase and are clear and straightforward.

It really isn’t the most difficult grill to assemble especially given that it does three jobs in one. All the same it does take quite a bit of effort and patience to get everything right.

Premium Looks & Aesthetics

The Char-Griller looks exactly like you would expect a Kamado grill to look like except that it is red instead of the iconic green color. The grill features the traditional egg shape and three short legs.

The Char-Griller looks exactly like you would expect a Kamado grill to look like except that it is red instead of the iconic green color. The grill features the traditional egg shape and three short legs.

The other difference between this Char-Griller and an authentic Kamado grill is the construction material. Traditional Kamado grills are made from ceramic while this one sports durable 22-gauge steel construction.

The Blackstone 3-in-1 Kabob in Use

This is a multipurpose grill and the good news is this Blackstone does each job reasonably well.

As a standard charcoal grill, the Blackstone 3-in-1 hits all the basic requirements. The adjustable height charcoal grate gives you control over the heat. The heat distribution and retention work decently for your barbeque needs while the cast iron grates are good quality for evenly cooked meat.

  • The grill provides up to 600 square inches of grilling space so you can cook for a medium to large-sized party.
  • This unit also impresses as a Kabob grill. It comes with 11 heavy-duty skewers. The best part is the rotisserie feature that slowly turns your skewers to allow them to cook evenly. You don’t have to remember to turn them every so often.
  • Finally, this Blackstone is a decent smoker and has all the basic features you would need for a good smoked barbeque. The only critique is this unit is a little small to be anything other than an alternative smoker. You can smoke a few racks of ribs or a pork shoulder but not much for entertaining a large party.

Key Specifications

  • Category: Charcoal Grill + Rotisserie Kabob + Smoker in one
  • Dimensions: 45.2 x 24 x 51 inches
  • Weight: 95 pounds
  • Cooking Area: 600 square inches
  • Material: Powder-coated steel
  • Coal Loading: Front access door
  • Dampers: Adjustable top and bottom
  • Built-in thermometer: Yes
  • Color: Black
  • Charcoal Tray: Adjustable

What did we like?

There are plenty of things that Blackstone got right about this 3-in-1 model including:

Good Performance

Combination grills tend to be Jack of all trades but masters of none. The 3-in-1 Blackstone actually does a decent job grilling, making skewers, and smoking meats and vegetables. Overall you will be satisfied with whichever cooking you choose to do.

Useful Grilling Features

Working with a charcoal grill can be challenging especially for beginners. The Blackstone 3-in-1 offers many helpful features including a dedicated access door for loading coal, adjustable coal plate for heat management, and built-in thermometer to monitor the cooking process.

Much as this is a cheap grill, it comes with many premium features that are a pleasure to have at this price range.

Great Cooking Variety

You can grill your steaks and make kabobs at the same time which shortens your cook time and makes your work much easier. The removable grill grates are divided into three sections so you can take apart a section for your skewers and leave the rest for your barbeque.

What did we not like?

There is no such thing as a perfect grill and there are a few things that don’t quite hit the spot with this Blackstone model:

Not a Heavy-Duty Grill

Now, this is not a grill that you will necessarily have to replace any time soon but it is not a heavy-duty grill either. The black paint may begin to flake after repeated use. It doesn’t stand high heat too well.

You may also want to keep the grill in an enclosed area or at least covered in inclement weather. The components may begin to rust when exposed to high humidity and rain.

Heavy Lid

The lid also appears to be a little too heavy for the grill especially if it is empty. The grill may feel unstable with the top lid open particularly on uneven ground. You can get around this problem by reinforcing the legs with heavy material to keep it stable.

Final Thoughts

Buying a cheap grill is a hit or miss affair because models at the lower end of the price spectrum tend to be flimsily built. The Blackstone 3-in-1 is actually very well built considering its price.

The grill also comes with a great variety of useful features that are hard to come by with inexpensive grills. The 3-in-1 feature – and the fact that you can grill, smoke, and make Kabobs of reasonably high quality is certainly worthy of praise.

The final verdict is that the Blackstone 3-in-1 is worth the money if you are looking for a cheap grill that will give you a good variety of cooking options.