GREEN PARTY 3 Burner Propane Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo with Side Burner & Porcelain-Enameled Cast Iron Grates, 37,000 BTUs 685 SQIN Dual Fuel Outdoor BBQ Grill for Patio Garden Picnic Backyard Barbecue Cooking

Why a dual-fuel combo made sense for my patio

I wanted the convenience of gas for fast weeknights and the flavor of charcoal for longer weekend cooks without surrendering half the patio to two separate rigs. After several sessions on the Green Party combo grill, I’m convinced this format solves that problem well—so long as you understand its strengths and a few quirks.

Assembly and first impressions

Build took me just under three hours solo with a cordless driver, plus another 20–30 minutes to fine‑tune the burner alignment and the igniter gaps. The instructions are clear enough, but there are a lot of fasteners and panels, so setting out the hardware by step made a difference. My advice: don’t fully tighten panels until the cart is square; it helps the doors and lid line up correctly.

Once assembled, the grill looks cohesive and tidy for a combo unit. The body panels aren’t as heavy as premium, boutique cookers, but the frame feels stable and the lids close evenly. The porcelain‑enameled cast iron grates are the highlight—substantial, nicely finished, and they hold heat well. I seasoned them with a light coat of high‑smoke oil during the first burn-in.

Layout and features

• Gas side: three independently controlled main burners plus a side burner. Total output is rated at 37,000 BTU, which feels accurate in use. There’s enough headroom for searing with the lid open and for roasting with it closed.
• Charcoal side: a height‑adjustable charcoal pan on a crank and lid-mounted dampers, plus an additional front air vent. The ability to move the coal bed up and down is essential for controlling distance and energy, and it works well.
• Total cooking area: 685 square inches including warming racks. In practical terms, that’s enough to host a family cookout without shuffling batches constantly.
• Cleanup: a grease management tray on the gas side and an ash collection drawer on the charcoal side. Both remove easily, and both actually catch what they’re supposed to.

Gas performance: fast heat and clear zones

From cold, the gas side hit 500°F at grate level in about 9 minutes with all burners on high and the lid down. More importantly, I could create distinct temperature zones by running one burner on high, one on medium, and one off. That made reverse-searing steaks straightforward: start indirect on the off side, finish over the hot burner for color.

The burners trend toward the hotter side of the spectrum, even at lower settings. For delicate items—fish fillets, thin asparagus, or buns—I found better results using one burner on low and parking food over the unlit section, then using the warming rack as a buffer. If you want a true “low and slow” gas cook, run just the outer burner on low and keep the lid dampers cracked to avoid heat buildup.

Searing is where this side shines. Cast iron grates plus the BTU output gave me fast, even browning on burgers and chops. Flare-ups happened only when I overloaded one area with fatty meat; keeping at least one burner off to use as a “safe zone” made management easy.

The side burner is handy for simmering a pan sauce or heating beans, but it’s susceptible to gusty wind. A simple wind block on breezy days makes it far more consistent.

Charcoal performance: flavor and control with a crank

The charcoal box is thoughtfully laid out. The height‑adjustable pan is the star; bringing coals closer for a quick sear on chicken thighs and then dropping them for gently finishing without scorching worked exactly as I hoped. The lid dampers and the front air vent give you enough control to stabilize at typical grilling temps, and closing the front vent halfway helped reduce runaway heat when using a full chimney.

I used lump charcoal for hotter cooks and briquettes for a steadier burger session. Both burned cleanly, and the ash drawer caught the mess without me needing to drag a shovel through nooks and crannies. If you plan a longer indirect session—say, a rack of ribs—bank coals to one side and keep the grate clean over the cool zone. The built-in warming rack on this side is actually useful for staging or resting.

One note: the charcoal pan crank is easier to adjust before the metal gets extremely hot. It still works mid‑cook, but gloves are your friend.

Temperature management and airflow

On a combo grill, airflow can make or break your experience. Here, the lid dampers and front vent give you a responsive system. The grill leaks a bit more air than a welded, heavy‑steel smoker, which is expected, but it still holds a steady range once you find your sweet spot. I rarely needed the dampers wide open unless I was lighting fresh fuel or trying to push max heat.

On the gas side, venting the lid slightly during greasy cooks helped prevent flare-ups. On the charcoal side, think of the front vent as your oxygen gate and the lid dampers as your exhaust; balance them like that and your temps behave.

Capacity and workflow

The split layout means you can run two cooking styles at once without crowding. I liked using the gas side for direct grilling while the charcoal side ran indirect as a resting or finishing zone. With 685 square inches total (warming racks included), you can stage a surprising amount of food. It’s an efficient use of space for a combo.

Cleanup and maintenance

The grease tray channels drippings well and drains to a cup that removes without contortions. On the charcoal side, the ash drawer slides out smoothly and prevents the usual dust cloud. The porcelain enamel grates release residue with a nylon or brass brush once cooled slightly—avoid steel bristles. After each session, I wipe the grates with a thin coat of oil; cast iron rewards that habit with rust resistance and a smoother surface.

Durability and build notes

Fit and finish are good for the category, but some body panels are on the thinner side. It doesn’t impact cooking performance, yet you’ll want to be gentle wheeling it over rough patio seams and keep a cover on it between cooks. After a handful of sessions and a couple of storms under a cover, I’ve seen no chipping on the porcelain grates and no peeling on the exterior paint.

Ignition has been reliable after a small adjustment: I nudged one burner’s electrode a millimeter closer to the burner port to improve spark consistency. It’s a simple tweak but worth checking if one burner hesitates to light.

What I’d improve

• A lower low on the gas knobs would expand its repertoire for delicate foods without fiddling with zones.
• Slightly thicker side panels would inspire more long-term confidence.
• A wind guard for the side burner would help on breezy days.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re on my wish list for the next revision.

Tips for best results

• Do a full burn-in to clear manufacturing oils, then season the grates.
• For gentle gas cooking, light only one burner on low and use the opposite side as your cook zone.
• On the charcoal side, set your pan height before the hottest part of the cook; then fine‑tune with the dampers.
• Use a drip pan under fatty meats to keep flare-ups in check and make cleanup easier.
• Keep a cover on it; lighter panels benefit from protection.

Who it’s for

This is a strong fit for someone who wants both fuel types in one footprint and values versatility over specialization. If you love weekday convenience but crave charcoal flavor on weekends, the Green Party combo grill bridges that gap. Pure charcoal purists or ultra‑low‑temperature gas cooks might want a single‑fuel specialist, and heavy‑duty grill hunters will find thicker steel elsewhere.

Recommendation

I recommend the Green Party combo grill for mixed-fuel households and space‑conscious patios. It heats fast on gas, delivers genuine charcoal flavor with useful height adjustment, and offers enough cooking area for family gatherings—all with manageable cleanup. You’ll need to learn its heat tendencies (especially the gas side’s enthusiasm at low settings), keep it covered, and accept lighter panels than premium competitors. If those tradeoffs make sense, this dual‑fuel design is a practical, flexible centerpiece for everyday grilling and weekend barbecue alike.