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Small Patio and Backyard Grilling With a Compact Grill

Not everyone has room for a big grill. If your outdoor space is a small patio, a corner of a backyard or a concrete pad, a compact charcoal grill gives you real charcoal cooking without giving up the space full-time. The Slot Grill Compact has a 17.5" × 10.25" footprint, stands 10.5" tall, and packs away about 1" flat when you're done.

Check the rules (especially for apartments)

Many apartments, condos, HOAs and local fire codes restrict or ban charcoal grills on balconies and near buildings. Check your lease, HOA rules and local fire code before you grill. If charcoal isn't allowed on your balcony, it isn't allowed; use a permitted common area instead.

Where to put it

On a stable, level, non-combustible surface: concrete, pavers, stone or gravel.
In the open, away from siding, fences, overhangs, eaves, umbrellas, furniture cushions and plants.
Never in a garage, carport, under a covered patio or near windows or vents where smoke can enter.

Protecting tables and surfaces

The Compact holds the coal bed 2⅞" above the table, and that air gap helps keep radiant heat off tables, tailgates and decks. It's still a charcoal fire, so use a non-combustible surface or a fire-safe pad underneath, and don't set it on plastic, glass, painted or wooden tables. Ash and sparks can still fall.

Managing smoke for neighbors

Use a chimney instead of lighter fluid; it's less smoky and smelly once lit.
Wait for coals to ash over before cooking; half-lit charcoal smokes most.
Trim excess fat and use a two-zone fire to control flare-ups.
Grill when the wind isn't blowing straight at a neighbor's window.

Weeknight patio menu

Smash burgers (fast, half chimney)
Pork chops
Vegetables and shrimp
Wings for game night

Storage between cooks

If you leave it assembled, once ash is completely cold, pull one side panel, empty it, and slide it back. Keep it covered or under shelter from rain, or pack it flat and store it inside a shed. Keep the cooking surfaces lightly oiled. See clean and store.

Quick-start checklist

Grill seasoned and dry; old ash emptied
Stable, level, non-combustible spot with clearance
Charcoal lit in a chimney, ashed over
Two-zone fire built, grates preheated and oiled
Thermometer, tongs, spatula and gloves within reach
Clean tray ready for cooked food

Common small-grill mistakes (and the fix)

Cooking before the coals are ready. Black-topped coals give smoky, weak heat and sticking. Wait until they glow under a light coat of gray ash.
Wall-to-wall coals. With no cool zone, every flare-up becomes a burn. Leave at least a third of the firebox thin or empty.
Crowding the grate. 146 sq in fills fast. Leave space between pieces so you can move them, and cook in waves.
Moving food too early. Let it sear and release on its own; it sticks until a crust forms.
Cold, dirty grates. Preheat for a few minutes, scrape, and wipe with an oiled paper towel held in tongs.
Wet food. Pat meat and vegetables dry before oiling and seasoning. Moisture steams instead of searing.
Judging doneness by time or color. Small fires vary. Use a thermometer.
Leaving ash in the firebox. Old ash chokes airflow. Empty it once cold before the next cook.
Putting the grill away wet. Raw carbon steel needs to be dried and lightly oiled. See rust prevention.

After the cook: burn-down and pack-down

Let the remaining coals burn down. Don't leave a fire unattended.
When ash and steel are completely cold, dump the ash into a metal container with a lid, or dispose of it where the venue or campground allows.
Scrape the grates, then wipe the cooking surfaces with a light coat of oil or Slot Grill Seasoning Balm.
Lift off the grates, slide out the V side panels, pull the end pieces and stack. The Compact packs to about 1" thick.
Store it dry. A bag or old box keeps soot off the rest of your gear.

Safety basics (every cook)

Outdoors only. Never use a charcoal grill indoors, in a garage, tent, camper, boat cabin or vehicle. Burning charcoal makes carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell.
Stable, level, non-combustible surface. Bare soil, gravel, sand, concrete, pavers or a fire-safe pad. The Compact's 2⅞" air gap between the table and the bottom of the coal bed helps minimize radiant heat to the surface below, but it is still a live fire.
Clearance. Keep it away from tents, vehicles, siding, overhangs, dry grass and anything that can burn. Keep kids and pets back.
Follow local rules. Burn bans, campground, park, venue and HOA rules come first.
Water or a fire extinguisher nearby, plus heat-safe gloves for handling grates and panels.
Ash stays hot for a long time. Put it in a metal container with a lid and never pack hot steel or ash into a vehicle.

Cooking in wind, rain, cold and heat

Conditions	What happens	What to do
Wind	Coals burn hotter and faster on the windward side; ash and sparks blow	Shelter the grill behind a vehicle, wall or rocks with safe clearance; point the hot end into the wind; skip cooking in high wind or red-flag conditions
Rain or drizzle	Slower lighting, weaker coals, wet fuel	Keep charcoal in a dry bag or lidded bin; cook in the open (never under a tent, awning or in a garage); dry and oil the grill afterward
Cold	Steel and food pull heat; longer cooks	Light more fuel; keep coals together; add lit coals sooner; use the thermometer, not the clock
Heat	Food safety window shrinks; you're sweating over a fire	Keep coolers shaded and cold; don't leave food out more than 1 hour above 90°F; stay hydrated
Dry season	Sparks can start fires	Check burn bans; clear debris around the grill; keep water ready

Taking this recipe on the road

The Compact packs about 1" thick and weighs about 14 lb, so this recipe travels to a campsite, tailgate, river bank or job site as easily as it cooks on the patio. A few habits make it safer and easier away from a kitchen:

Prep at home. Trim, season or marinate meat, chop vegetables and mix sauces in the kitchen. Pack each in a sealed bag or container labeled by cook order.
Keep raw meat cold and separate. Pack it at the bottom of the cooler, sealed, below ready-to-eat food. Keep the cooler at 40°F or below with plenty of ice, and keep it in the shade.
Two sets of tongs and platters: one for raw, one for cooked. Never put cooked food back on the tray that held raw meat.
Bring water and soap for hands and tools, plus paper towels and a trash bag.
Pack the thermometer. It matters more outdoors, where wind and cold change cook times.
Plan for ash. Bring a metal can with a lid and follow the venue's disposal rules.

For more, see the camping, tailgate and river trip guides.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a charcoal grill on an apartment balcony?

Often not. Many leases, HOAs and fire codes ban charcoal on balconies. Check the rules before grilling.

How much space does the Slot Grill Compact need?

Its footprint is 17.5 by 10.25 inches and it stands 10.5 inches tall, but leave generous clearance from anything that can burn.

Can I put the Slot Grill on a table?

The 2⅞ inch air gap helps minimize radiant heat to surfaces below, but use a stable non-combustible surface or fire-safe pad, not plastic, glass, painted or wooden tables.

How do I reduce charcoal smoke for neighbors?

Light with a chimney, let coals ash over before cooking, trim fat, and control flare-ups with a two-zone fire.

Slot Grill Compact

12-gauge carbon steel · about 14 lb · 16.25" × 9" cooking area · packs about 1" thick · made in Texas · ★★★★★ 4.92 (77 reviews)

$89.97~~$99.97~~

Shop the Compact at SlotGrill.comAdd a griddle

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All specs and prices are from SlotGrill.com. Always grill outdoors on a stable, non-combustible surface and follow local fire rules.