Versatile outdoor cooking

If you want to cook more than burgers, hot dogs, and steaks outdoors, the best setup is one that gives you multiple cooking methods—direct heat for searing, indirect heat for roasting, a flat surface for breakfast and stir-frying, and perhaps a smoker or oven for slow-cooked meals.

There are several great ways to build an outdoor kitchen, from a compact all-in-one station to a full backyard cooking space. The right choice depends on how much room you have, how often you cook outside, and whether you enjoy pizza, barbecue, seafood, stir-fries, or even baking.

6 versatile outdoor cooking setups

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1. The everyday outdoor kitchen

(Best overall)

Gas grill + flat-top griddle + side burner

This is the closest thing to a full kitchen outdoors. Grill chicken and steaks, make pancakes and fried rice on the griddle, and boil pasta or simmer sauces on the side burner.

• Meals: Breakfast, tacos, seafood, burgers, stir-fries, vegetables and full dinners.
• Best for: Frequent cooking and family meals.
• Trade-off: Takes more room and adds more equipment to clean.

Why it works: grills and griddles cover different cooking surfaces, while the side burner handles pots and pans.blog.yaleappliance.com+1

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2. The all-in-one kamado setup

Ceramic charcoal cooker + prep cart

A kamado is a thick-walled, lidded charcoal cooker that can grill, sear, roast, smoke and bake. Add a heat deflector and pizza stone, and it becomes a surprisingly versatile outdoor oven.

• Meals: Steaks, whole chicken, ribs, brisket, roasted vegetables and pizza.
• Best for: People who want one main cooker with excellent heat retention.
• Trade-off: Takes longer to get going than gas, and temperature changes require practice.

A particularly strong choice when space is limited.www.designbuildersmd.com+2

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3. The smoking and roasting station

Pellet grill + prep table

Pellet grills use wood pellets and automated temperature controls to make long cooks easier. Many models can also grill, roast and bake, although very high-heat searing varies by model.

• Meals: Pulled pork, brisket, ribs, smoked salmon, roast chicken and baked sides.
• Best for: Low-and-slow barbecue with less hands-on temperature management.
• Trade-off: Needs electricity, a supply of pellets and more time for long cooks.

Choose this if smoked flavor is a priority.blog.yaleappliance.com+1

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4. The flat-top cooking station

Large griddle + optional portable induction burner

A flat-top is excellent for foods that fall through grill grates or need a broad, even cooking surface. Multiple burners create separate temperature zones for cooking a complete meal at once.

• Meals: Eggs, bacon, hash browns, smash burgers, fajitas, fried rice, cheesesteaks and seafood.
• Best for: Quick meals, outdoor breakfasts and feeding a crowd.
• Trade-off: Not ideal for traditional smoke flavor or foods that benefit from open grates.

One of the easiest ways to expand beyond traditional grilling.www.allrecipes.com+1

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5. The pizza and high-heat cooking station

Outdoor pizza oven + grill or prep counter

A dedicated pizza oven reaches temperatures suited to fast, crisp pizzas. Depending on its design, it can also cook flatbreads, roast vegetables and bake bread.

• Meals: Pizza, naan, focaccia, flatbreads and roasted dishes.
• Best for: Pizza nights, entertaining and cooking with family.
• Trade-off: More specialized than a grill or griddle, so it works best as a second appliance.

Portable countertop models can be an affordable way to add a new cooking method.www.designbuildersmd.com+2

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6. The full outdoor chef's kitchen

Gas grill + griddle + smoker or kamado + sink and counters

This is the premium setup for people who want to prepare nearly an entire meal without going indoors. Add a refrigerator, storage and a sink if your space and budget allow.

• Meals: Anything from a quick weekday dinner to a smoked holiday roast with grilled sides.
• Best for: Serious home cooks and frequent entertainers.
• Trade-off: Highest cost, space requirements and installation complexity.

Plan counter space, utilities, ventilation and weather-resistant materials before buying built-in appliances.blog.yaleappliance.com+3

Which setup gives you the most cooking flexibility?

These are practical starting points rather than fixed rules; your menu, space and willingness to manage fuel and cleanup matter more than the number of appliances.blog.yaleappliance.com+3

A few real-world equipment examples

If you want to explore actual equipment, here are three starting points at different price levels.

Blackstone Original Outdoor Griddle, 28 inch 2-Burner Flat T…

$197.00

Walmart

A compact, two-burner flat-top option for breakfasts, burgers, fajitas and stir-fries.

View product

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Traeger Westwood XL BBQ Wi-Fi Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker i…

$799.99

The Home Depot

A wood-pellet grill and smoker for hands-off roasting, smoking and everyday outdoor cooking.

View product

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HALO Versa 16 Dual-Burner Propane Outdoor Pizza Oven

$449.00

The Home Depot

A dedicated propane pizza oven to complement an existing grill and expand your menu.

View product

Prices are the listed prices returned in the shopping results and may change. These are examples of individual appliances, not complete setup costs.

My recommendation

For most backyards, I'd start with a gas grill and a flat-top griddle, then add a pizza oven or smoker only if you expect to use it regularly. That gives you a broad range of meals without turning your patio into a collection of specialized appliances.

One question that would help me narrow this down: Are you starting from scratch, or do you already own a grill? I can suggest a practical setup around your available space and budget.

When you want to step beyond standard backyard burgers and hot dogs, several innovative multi-functional outdoor cooking systems merge diverse culinary techniques—from high-heat baking and flat-top searing to precision smoking and open-flame roasting —into a single footprint.

Here are some of the most versatile outdoor systems available:

1. Kamado-Style Ceramic Cookers (e.g., Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe)
   • How it works: Thick-walled ceramic chambers offer incredible thermal insulation, allowing precise airflow control.
   • Cooking styles: Exceptional low-and-slow smoking, high-temperature searing (>750°F), convection baking (for artisan bread or roasting a turkey), and stone-baked pizza.
   • Explore options and community tips on the Kamado Joe Official Site.
2. Plancha / Flat-Top Griddle Hybrids (e.g., Blackstone, Halo, Camp Chef)
   • How it works: A massive, thick cold-rolled steel or cast-iron flat top heated by multi-zone burners.
   • Cooking styles: Smash burgers, teppanyaki-style stir-fries, breakfast griddling (pancakes, eggs, bacon simultaneously), fajitas, and smash-searing delicate items like fish or scallops that would fall through traditional grill grates.
   • Check out configurations on the Blackstone Products Site.
3. Modular Outdoor Kitchen & Island Systems (e.g., TYTUS Modular Collection, NewAge Products)
   • How it works: Interlocking, tool-free or semi-permanent stations that combine independent heavy-duty appliances into a cohesive workstation.
   • Cooking styles: Typically pairs a traditional gas grill with specialized modules like dedicated infrared rotisseries, high-output side burners for wok-cooking or boiling, dedicated pizza ovens, and pellet smokers.
   • View modular options via BBQGuys.[1][2]
4. Multi-Fuel / Multi-Mode Portable Ovens (e.g., Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Ovens, Ooni Pizza Ovens)
   • How it works: Compact footprint units utilizing electric or gas heat sources combined with integrated woodfire pellet smoke boxes.
   • Cooking styles: High-heat rapid pizza baking, full-fledged dehydrating, convection baking (sheet pan meals), broiling, and low-and-slow electric smoking.
   • Discover multi-fuel portable setups on the Ninja Outdoor Cooking Page.[1][2]
5. Open-Fire Fire-Pit Grills with Swivel Arms (e.g., Breeo, Cowboy Cauldron)
   • How it works: Heavy-duty steel live-fire pits equipped with adjustable-height hanging grates, searing disks, and swinging arm accessories.
   • Cooking styles: Traditional campfire roasting, hanging Dutch ovens for stews and chilis, direct-wood-ember searing, and plancha-style perimeter cooking.
   • Look over live-fire modular setups on the Breeo Website.

If you're looking to narrow down your choice, tell me:

• What is your budget range?
• Do you prefer gas, wood/pellets, charcoal, or electric fuel?
• How many people do you typically cook for?

I can help you select the ideal system for your backyard space.

Absolutely. If you want to go beyond a conventional grill, the most interesting outdoor cooking systems now combine grilling, smoking, griddling, roasting, and/or pizza baking in one setup.

Best multifunctional approaches

Ninja FlexFlame Plus 5-in-1 Outdoor Cooking System

$1,199.99

Kamado Joe Konnected Joe

$1,999.00

Cuisinart 3-in-1 Pizza Oven, Griddle & Grill

$310.39

Blackstone 36" Griddle with Pizza Oven & Air Fryer

$797.00

TYTUS Modular Gas Grill, Pellet Smoker & Pizza Oven

$2,479.99

1. All-in-one gas/electric systems — maximum variety
The Ninja FlexFlame is particularly interesting: it combines grill, smoker, roaster, griddle, and pizza oven functions, so you can go from steaks to smoked ribs to pancakes to pizza without buying separate appliances. www.wired.com
Best for: someone who wants one centerpiece cooker that can do almost everything.

2. Kamado cookers — grilling + smoking + baking
A ceramic kamado such as the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe can handle high-heat searing as well as low-and-slow smoking and oven-style cooking. The digital version adds automated temperature control.
Best for: barbecue enthusiasts who value charcoal flavor and want a very broad temperature range.

3. Grill + griddle + pizza combinations — excellent everyday versatility
The Cuisinart 3-in-1 swaps between a cast-iron grill, griddle and pizza stone. Independent testing found it particularly good for the money, although its 13-inch pizza capacity and ~700°F maximum limit its pizza performance compared with a dedicated oven. www.bobvila.com
Best for: burgers, breakfast, fajitas, vegetables, steaks and occasional pizza.

4. Pellet systems — smoking + roasting + grilling
Large pellet cookers such as the Traeger Ironwood/Timberline line give you automated temperature control plus wood-fired flavor. They're especially attractive for brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken and roasting. Current testing continues to favor pellet systems for convenience and consistent temperature control. www.popularmechanics.com
Best for: people who prioritize smoking but don't want to babysit a charcoal fire.

5. Modular outdoor kitchens — the “do everything” solution
If space and budget aren't major constraints, modular systems let you combine a gas grill with a pellet smoker, pizza oven, side burner and prep/storage areas. For example, TYTUS currently sells configurations combining gas grilling, pellet smoking and pizza baking.
Best for: serious outdoor cooks and people entertaining large groups.

6. Fire-pit cooking systems — cooking + social space
A smokeless fire pit with interchangeable cooking accessories is another clever option. Rather than being a dedicated grill, it can become a grill, plancha or elevated cooking surface while remaining a fire pit when you're done cooking. Current comparisons favor systems with adjustable cooking heights and interchangeable accessories for versatility.www.popularmechanics.com

What I'd choose

The key distinction is that “multifunctional” can mean two very different things: a single appliance with interchangeable modes, or a modular outdoor kitchen where each component excels at one job. For genuinely diverse cooking—say Neapolitan pizza + brisket + smash burgers + breakfast + stir-fry—I'd lean toward the latter, or a very capable 5-in-1 system rather than a traditional grill with a token side burner.doughkiln.com