Best Fire Pits With Cooking Grates Included
A fire pit that also lets you cook is genuinely one of the best investments you can make in your backyard setup. You get the ambiance of a real fire and a hot grate ready for burgers, corn, or a cast iron skillet at the same time.
These are not the same as a grill. You are cooking over wood or propane flames in an open-air setting, which means smokier flavor, more casual timing, and a completely different vibe than standing at a kettle grill. The fire is the centerpiece, and the meal is part of the evening.
The six picks here range from a $109 decorative steel pit with a swing-out grate to a $699 smokeless cooker purpose-built for serious outdoor cooking. There is something for every budget and every backyard size.
Best Smokeless Fire Pit for Serious Backyard Cooking
The Breeo Y Series is what happens when a fire pit is designed from the ground up with cooking in mind. It has a built-in stainless steel sear plate that surrounds the perimeter of the fire, so you can cook directly over the flame without any add-on grates or accessories cluttering the experience. On a 10x12 patio, this thing becomes the anchor of the whole space.
The smokeless design means you and your guests can actually sit close without getting smoked out, which changes how the whole evening works. You can sear chicken thighs and still carry a conversation at normal volume. The 30-inch diameter fits four to six people comfortably around it, and the build quality is substantial enough to outlast several seasons without rusting out.
Breeo Y Series 30-Inch Smokeless Fire Pit
$699
3,200+ reviews
A purpose-built cooking fire pit with a built-in sear plate, smokeless double-wall design, and enough cooking surface to feed a small crowd.
Shop on Amazon →Best Fire Pit Grill Combo for Practical Backyard Cooking
Camp Chef built the Woodsman as a real cooking tool first, with a fire pit that happens to look great on a patio or at a campsite. It has a large adjustable grill grate over a deep firebox, giving you real control over heat by raising and lowering the grate rather than trying to manage flame size. This is a genuinely practical design for anyone who actually wants to cook, not just toast marshmallows.
The heavy-gauge steel construction holds up to regular use, and the legs fold for transport if you ever want to move it to a different part of the yard or take it to a cabin. On a 12x14 patio or in a gravel fire pit area, it fits naturally and the functional look is part of the charm. It handles everything from hot dogs to a full rack of ribs if you keep a good coal bed going.
Camp Chef Woodsman Fire Pit Grill
$329
1,800+ reviews
An adjustable grill grate over a deep firebox makes this a legitimate outdoor cooking setup that doubles as a backyard gathering fire pit.
Shop on Amazon →Best Budget Bowl Fire Pit With a Swing-Out Cooking Grate
The Sunnydaze 36-Inch Crossfire is exactly what a lot of people are looking for: a solid steel bowl fire pit that already includes a swing-out cooking grate, a spark screen, and a log poker in the box. Nothing extra to buy, nothing to figure out. For $189, it covers the basics without cutting corners on grate quality.
The swing-out design is smart for cooking because you can load the fire and then swing the grate over once the coals are ready, rather than trying to work around an open flame. It handles cast iron well, which means you can run a 12-inch skillet right over the fire for cornbread or a quick saute. Works well on a 10x10 deck or patio with the spark screen in place.
Sunnydaze Decor 36-Inch Crossfire Bonfire Fire Pit Bowl with Cooking Grate
$189
6,400+ reviews
A complete fire pit package with a swing-out cooking grate, spark screen, and poker included at a price that leaves money for the food.
Shop on Amazon →Best Propane Fire Pit With a Built-In Cooking Grate
If you want propane convenience with actual cooking function, the Outland Living Firebowl 893 Deluxe is the pick. It comes with a cooking grate that sits right over the burner ring, so you can go from decorative fire to grilling surface in under a minute. The 58,000 BTU output is serious enough to actually cook over, not just warm things nearby.
It connects to a standard 20-lb propane tank via a 10-foot hose, which means you can position the pit away from the tank itself. The CSA-certified burner is clean-burning enough for use on a wood deck as long as you use a fire pit pad underneath. It is a great option for a covered patio or any space where wood smoke would be a problem for neighbors or HOA rules.
Outland Living Firebowl 893 Deluxe Propane Gas Fire Pit with Cooking Grate
$199
8,900+ reviews
A CSA-certified propane fire pit that ships with a cooking grate, 10-foot hose, and 58,000 BTU burner ready for real outdoor cooking.
Shop on Amazon →Best Decorative Fire Pit That Still Lets You Cook
The Blue Sky Outdoor Living Southern Country fire pit is one of those pieces that looks like backyard art and then surprises you by being actually functional. The laser-cut steel panels create a warm, glowing silhouette at night, and the included cooking grate and poker mean you are not sacrificing utility for looks. It fits well in a backyard with a traditional or rustic aesthetic.
The 34-inch diameter is right-sized for a circle of four to six chairs, and the cooking grate that comes with it is sturdy enough for a cast iron pan or a simple grill basket. It is not a high-output cooker, but for slow evenings where dinner is part of the experience rather than the main event, it works extremely well. At $169, it is one of the better-looking options at this price point.
Blue Sky Outdoor Living 34-Inch Southern Country Decorative Steel Fire Pit with Cooking Grate
$169
2,100+ reviews
A decorative laser-cut steel fire pit that includes a cooking grate and poker, combining backyard ambiance with legitimate outdoor cooking capability.
Shop on Amazon →Best Affordable Entry-Level Fire Pit With a Cooking Grate
The Landmann Big Sky fire pit is the one to recommend when someone wants to get started without spending a lot. It comes in around $109, ships with a cooking grate, spark screen, and poker, and the decorative cutout panels in the firebox help keep ash scatter manageable in wind. Assembly takes about 20 minutes and requires no tools.
The cooking grate swings out to let you tend the fire and swings back in when you are ready to cook. Do not expect heavy-duty performance here, but for casual summer nights on a 10x10 patio with four chairs around it, it delivers everything you need. The compact 28-inch size also makes it more manageable on smaller patios where a 36-inch bowl would feel crowded.
Landmann USA 28-Inch Big Sky Fire Pit with Cooking Grate
$109
4,500+ reviews
An affordable entry-level fire pit that ships with a cooking grate, spark screen, and poker ready to use straight out of the box.
Shop on Amazon →Quick Tips for Cooking Over a Fire Pit
- Build a coal bed, not a campfire. For cooking, you want glowing coals with minimal flame. Add wood 30 to 40 minutes before you plan to cook and let it burn down to coals before putting anything on the grate.
- Use cast iron whenever possible. Cast iron holds heat evenly and handles the inconsistent flame of a fire pit far better than thin stainless pans. A 12-inch Lodge skillet over the grate is hard to beat for fire pit cooking.
- Keep the cooking grate clean. Brush it with a wire grill brush before and after every use while it is still warm. Built-up carbon and grease will flake into your food if you let it accumulate over multiple sessions.
- Create a two-zone setup. Pile coals on one side for high heat and leave the other side cooler for resting food. You can do this in a 36-inch or larger bowl pit by shifting the wood to one side before the coals form.
- Use a fire pit pad on any deck surface. Even fire pits rated for deck use should sit on a non-combustible pad. It protects the decking from heat, embers, and any grease dripping from the cooking grate during use.
- Pick the right wood for cooking. Fruit woods like apple and cherry add mild smoke flavor and burn relatively clean. Avoid pine or softwoods near food because they produce more creosote and can impart an off taste to whatever is on the grate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fire pits with cooking grates get hot enough to actually grill?
Yes. A wood fire pit with a good coal bed reaches 400 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit at the grate, which is comparable to a charcoal grill. Propane fire pits with 50,000-plus BTU burners also reach cooking temperatures, though heat distribution differs from direct coals.
Can I use a fire pit with a cooking grate on my wood deck?
It depends on the fire pit. Propane models with CSA certification are generally safe on decks with a proper fire pit pad underneath. Wood-burning fire pits on decks require a thick non-combustible pad and safe clearance from structures. Always check local fire codes before setting one up.
What is the difference between a fire pit with a cooking grate and a charcoal grill?
A charcoal grill is designed for cooking with precise airflow control and a lid for heat retention. A fire pit with a cooking grate is more open and casual, better for atmosphere cooking than precision. You trade some temperature control for the experience of cooking over an actual open fire.
What foods cook best on a fire pit grate?
Sausages, corn, foil packets, kebabs, and cast iron skillet meals all work very well. Foods that need a lid for steaming or require precise temperature monitoring are harder to manage. Stick to things that benefit from direct high heat or forgive a little variance in cooking time.
How do I keep a fire pit cooking grate from rusting?
Brush it clean after every use while it is still warm and dry it completely before storing. Cast iron grates need a light wipe of cooking oil before storage to prevent rust. Stainless and coated steel grates last longer with a cover or dry storage during the off-season.