At Dude Where’s My Char, we believe grills are like tattoos—you swear you’ll only get one, but before you know it, you’re hooked and running out of backyard space. Right now, I’ve got three Char-Griller heavy-hitters holding down the fort: the Char-Griller Pro Deluxe (actually, I have two—because apparently one wasn’t enough), the Char-Griller Duo 5050, and the Char-Griller Flat Iron griddle.
If you’re wondering whether these are worth buying, cooking on, or even hoarding like I do, this guide is for you. Think of it as part review, part therapy session, and part love letter to steel and smoke.
Char-Griller Pro Deluxe Review (Offset Firebox vs. Standalone)
Let’s kick things off with my personal favorite: the Char-Griller Pro Deluxe. This is the one people usually Google first when they’re trying to upgrade from a kettle grill to something that looks like it could survive a tornado.
Here’s the kicker: I own three of them. One stock version and two with the optional offset smoker box.
With the Offset Firebox: The Pro Deluxe becomes a full-blown stick burner. Load it with splits, manage your airflow, and you’re running a true offset smoker. Brisket, pork shoulder, ribs—it eats big cooks for breakfast. If you’re after deep smoke flavor, a thick smoke ring, and bark that makes angels sing, this setup is your new best friend.
Without the Firebox: The other Pro Deluxe sits proudly in my yard without the attachment, and it still earns its keep. It’s great for direct charcoal grilling, fast smokes, and reverse-seared steaks. It’s the “grab-and-go” sibling, perfect when I don’t feel like burning through a wood pile just to make burgers.
Bottom line: The Pro Deluxe is versatile, durable, and just plain fun. It’s the grill that makes you feel like you know what you’re doing, even when you’re winging it.
PRO DELUXE CHARCOAL GRILL
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DOUBLE PLAY® GAS & CHARCOAL GRILL
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Char-Griller Double Play Gas & Charcoal Grill
The Char-Griller Double Play is basically for people like me who can’t make decisions. Some days I want the smoky, ritualistic beauty of charcoal. Other days I just want to throw on a couple burgers without waiting 30 minutes for coals. The Duo 5050 lets you live both lives without having to own two separate grills.
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Charcoal Side: Use lump charcoal and a few wood chunks, and you’ve got classic BBQ vibes. Great for wings, ribs, or anything you want kissed by smoke.
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Gas Side: Flip the burners on, and boom—weeknight dinner is handled. Steaks, kabobs, or even just grilled veggies when you’re in a rush.
The best part? You can cook both at once. Brisket smoking on the left, burgers searing on the right. It’s like having a two-car garage—you don’t have to pick between the sports car and the daily driver.
Bottom line: The Duo 5050 is the ultimate backyard multitasker. If you want one grill that can truly do it all, this is it.
Char-Griller Flat Iron Griddle Review (Outdoor Diner Vibes)
Finally, let’s talk about the Char-Griller Flat Iron griddle—the wildcard of the lineup. This isn’t about low-and-slow BBQ; this is about high heat, crispy edges, and feeding people fast. Think of it as bringing a diner into your backyard, minus the questionable coffee.
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Smash Burgers: Crispy edges, juicy middles, and that unbeatable sizzle. Once you smash a burger on this, you’ll never go back to a frying pan.
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Breakfast Outdoors: Pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hash browns—everything tastes better when cooked outside with smoke drifting through the air.
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Stir-Fry & Tacos: Toss down noodles, veggies, or carne asada, and you’ll feel like you’re running a hibachi stand in your own backyard.
Bottom line: The Flat Iron doesn’t smoke meat, but it makes you the smash burger king of your neighborhood.
Final Thoughts: Do You Need All Three?
Do you need a Pro Deluxe, a Duo 5050, and a Flat Iron griddle? No. But do I recommend it? Absolutely.
Here’s why:
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The Char-Griller Pro Deluxe is the workhorse offset smoker that turns you into a pitmaster.
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The Char-Griller Duo 5050 is the Swiss Army knife that keeps both charcoal and gas lovers happy.
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The Char-Griller Flat Iron griddle is pure fun, cranking out smash burgers and pancakes like a champ.
Together, they cover every scenario from long weekend smokes to last-minute weekday meals to Saturday brunch on the patio.
At the end of the day, BBQ isn’t just about the food—it’s about the stories, the laughs, and the occasional pit-side disaster. And trust me, with this lineup, you’ll have plenty of all three.
So if you’re asking, “Dude, where’s my char?”—the answer is probably one of these grills. Or all of them. Because hey, life’s too short for just one.
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