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Reviews of five of the best toy grill and BBQ sets for toddlers, based on size, features, materials, durability, and more.
Kids are naturally drawn to imitate their parents, and one of the first activities many toddlers come to emulate is cooking. If you’ve already bought your little parrot all the dishes and kitchen sets you can find, there’s still one more option they are sure to love.
Toy grill and BBQ sets allow your child to expand their imitation game and master some fun new skills in the process. Keep reading, as we have tested and reviewed five of the best toy grill and BBQ sets available today.
Top 5 Toy Grill Sets:
Top 5 Toy Grill Sets
With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to find the best toy grill and BBQ set for your child.
The below five products are some of the best-rated sets available, catering to every budget, from the highly intricate to the simple and durable.
1. Little Tikes Cook and Play Outdoor BBQ
Have you ever dreamed of building a glamorous outdoor kitchen? Even if you haven’t obtained that dream, you can still live vicariously through your child by getting them this uniquely chic Little Tikes Cook and Play Outdoor BBQ.
This intricate play kitchen and BBQ set is made to model a lavish outdoor kitchen. The plastic facade and backsplash are molded to look like stone. And the expansive counter includes a ton of fun features like a sink, range top, double-decker barbeque, and pizza oven. It even includes molded hooks for hanging the included BBQ tools and multiple grill knobs that turn and click.
The entire set is made of durable, hard plastic that can stand up to the toughest play. While the kitchen set itself is durable enough to be used inside or out, the stickers included with the set are not waterproof. Overall, it is well-sized and wide enough for two kids to play side by side. The counter sits at about 19 inches off the ground, while the set itself stands at 35 inches at the tallest point.
Assembly of this product does require a power drill to screw the different parts together, which might take a little time, but is not overly difficult. Once assembled, the piece is very stable and can be easily moved around as needed.
The set includes a hamburger, hot dog, condiments, a pan, and grillware.
2. Step2 Sizzle and Smoke Toy BBQ Grill
For the future grill masters out there, you won’t find a better BBQ grill playset than the Step2 Sizzle and Smoke Toy BBQ Grill.
This fun set has everything your child needs to cook up a pretend meal on game day. There’s a wide-surface grill, propane tank with a turnable knob, under-grill storage, and a side burner. But what really sets this set apart are the realistic sounds and “smoke”.
Three double-A batteries deliver sizzling sounds controlled by the grill knobs and create cool-touch water vapor to emulate smoke. Your kid won’t believe how realistic this grill is! And you’ll love that they can get the full effect of a real grilling experience without the safety risks.
The grill is 38 inches wide and 26 inches tall. There isn’t as much prep area with this grill set option, and space may be a little cramped for more than one kid playing at once. But with the included 15-piece accessory kit, there is more than enough fun stuff here to keep everyone entertained.
Assembly of this set is pretty straightforward but will require a drill or screwdriver. Once together, the set is easy to move around, thanks to the wheels and handle.
3. Hape Wooden Gourmet Toy Grill Set
Trying to stay away from giant hunks of plastic while shopping for your kiddos? You’ll love this classic Hape Wooden Gourmet Toy Grill Set.
With this fun grill set, everything from the grill grates to the kabobs is made of wood. The grill lid moves up and down like a real set, and the knobs turn for added fun. The grill has two levels, just like a real barbeque, and includes a removable grate with glowing coals below.
The side table extends the prep area and folds away for easy storage. And the wide shelf below the grill is perfect for storing the many extra accessories that come with the set. It’s a smaller-sized BBQ that stands at about 24 inches tall and 27 inches long. It is perfect for a cramped playroom or for setting up under a covered patio.
In addition to all the fun features of the grill itself, this set also includes 22 accessories. Your kid will love building and rearranging the kabobs and playing with the wooden condiment bottles. It also comes with two steaks and two fish to grill up.
This set is more expensive than other options and will take a little more time to put together. But for a less bulky, more classic-looking grill toy, this is more than an excellent choice.
4. Step2 Fixin Fun Outdoor Grill
Looking for something that won’t break the budget?
The Step2 Fixin Fun Outdoor Grill is a great compromise between low cost and high interaction. Not only is this fun grill set affordable, but it is pleasantly compact—perfect for smaller spaces. The grill stands at around 26 inches tall, and the unit is only 24 inches wide.
Despite the small surface area, this set comes with everything you would expect from a larger grill toy. It has a BBQ grill with a real working top, two moveable knobs, a side burner, a sink, and an oven. While prep space is limited, play space is certainly not.
The base of the grill is made to look like real brick and features a functional oven area. The footprint of this product is quite small and prone to tipping, especially with rough play. Unfortunately, the lid-opening action means you can’t prop this grill against a wall for added stability.
This set comes with limited accessories, which include a hotdog, condiment bottles, stackable toppings, and utensils. For additional accessories, we recommend the Little Tykes Grillin Goodies set.
The assembly of this set is easy, but you will need a drill for a few parts as the drill holes are not pre-punched. Once together, it is very lightweight and easy to move around.
5. Little Tikes Backyard Barbeque Grill
For a truly budget grill set, the Little Tikes Backyard Barbeque Grill is easily our top choice. This fun set will cost you less than any of the ones above while still providing a decent amount of engagement, thanks to many fun features.
Your kids will love playing with the double-decker grill, sink, double side burners, and turnable knobs. Plus, there’s a large cupboard space below for play and storage. Your kids can even hang up their grill tools next to the grill, just like mom and dad.
This set is very compact and an excellent choice for cramped spaces. It sits at 24 inches tall and 28 inches wide. Like the Step2 option above, the footprint of this BBQ is a little small, and it is prone to tipping over. Luckily, at only 10 pounds, it is easy enough to set back up.
You’ll only get eight accessories with this set, including a hot dog, a hamburger, condiments, and utensils. Considering the small surface area of the grill, buying a second set of accessories is probably not warranted.
Space is a little tight with this grill set, but for small families or solo kids, you won’t find a better budget buy.
Buying Guide
Toy grill and BBQ sets are the perfect way to get your kid involved in the fun of summer food prep. Most toy grills have the same basic setup, but they come in a wide range of sizes with many different features.
Before you choose a grill set for your kids, here are a few things worth considering:
- Size
- Features
- Materials
- Suitable age
Let’s discuss these considerations in more detail.
1. Size
All kids’ grill sets sit at about 19 to 24 inches high when measured from the floor to the playing surface. But they can differ greatly when it comes to total height and width. The size of the play surface area can also vary between options.
Larger sets, especially those with large flat surfaces, are obviously great for larger families. Typically, more than one kid can play at a time with these sets.
Smaller sets are great because they take up less space. However, these lack play surface space which often means kids can get a little bored with them sooner.
2. Features
All grill sets feature a BBQ of some type. Most have liftable grill lids and many feature two grill levels.
Other features you may see include:
- Side burners
- Sinks
- Ovens
- Utensil hangers
- Moveable grill knobs
- Shelving
- Sound effects
- Steam effects
In addition to the built-in features, most sets also include fun accessories like fake food, utensils, and cookware.
3. Materials
The vast majority of toy BBQ sets are made of plastic. These types are nice because they are durable, weather-resistant, and lightweight. Generally, they are easy to assemble and move around.
It is also possible to find grill sets made of wood, like the Hape Wooden Gourmet Toy Grill Set.
These are nice because they have a more classic look, tend to be more stable, and don’t require environmentally unfriendly materials to create.
4. Suitable Age
Because of the small parts used to assemble many BBQ sets, you’ll often see the age recommendation for these toys as 3 and up.
The truth is, once the toy is assembled, younger toddlers can safely use these toys and generally really enjoy them. Just be sure that the accessories that come with the set are size appropriate for your child.
Older kids with big imaginations are just as likely to enjoy these toys. The only limiting factor is going to be the height of the toy. Once a child reaches 7 or 8, they may find the set is too short to play comfortably with.