Cuisinart Petite Gourmet Grill Review 2026

Our Verdict

After eight cook sessions spanning solo weeknight dinners, one backpacking-style camping trip, and a tailgate session, the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet Portable Gas Grill earns a 4.1/5 — the smallest genuine propane grill we've tested, built specifically for solo cooks and couples who want real grilling without carrying real bulk.

This is the grill we recommend for anyone prioritizing minimum size and weight above all else, whether that's a backpacking-adjacent trip, a tiny balcony, or simply not wanting to store a bigger grill.

Bottom line: At $114–$149, the Petite Gourmet delivers a genuine 5,500 BTU burner and real sear marks in the smallest true footprint we've measured on a propane grill.

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Who Tested This Grill

This review was conducted by Marcus Reilly, SmokyHQ's Head Pitmaster and a KCBS Certified Judge with 15 years of competition BBQ experience. Testing ran over three weeks across a backyard patio, one camping trip, and one tailgate session, using standard 16.4 oz propane cylinders. Eight cook sessions were logged:

• Solo weeknight burger and hot dog cooks (direct heat, full burner output)
• Camping trip cook, testing setup on uneven trailside terrain
• Tailgate session cooking for 2 people
• Cylinder swap and burn-time test to measure fuel efficiency
• Cold-morning start test at 40°F ambient temperature
• Transport durability check after repeated backpack and car trunk trips

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What Is the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet Portable Gas Grill?

The Smallest True Propane Grill We've Tested

The Petite Gourmet is an entry-level portable propane grill built around a single burner, a compact porcelain-enameled grate, and short folding legs — designed to be the smallest genuine propane grill in Cuisinart's lineup, not a scaled-down version of a full tabletop model. It's aimed at solo cooks, couples, and anyone who prioritizes minimum size and weight over cooking capacity.

The full spec sheet:

Why the 16.4 oz Cylinder Matters

Smaller Fuel, Smaller Total Carry Weight

Most portable propane grills, including Cuisinart's own larger tabletop model, connect to a standard 20 lb tank via a hose. The Petite Gourmet instead screws directly onto a smaller 16.4 oz cylinder, which keeps total carry weight genuinely low — a real advantage if you're minimizing what you pack, though it does mean more frequent cylinder swaps on longer trips.

The Tradeoff for True Portability

That smaller footprint is the entire reason to buy this grill over a larger tabletop model. If raw cooking capacity matters more than absolute minimum size, a two-burner design will serve you better.

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How We Tested

Our three-week testing protocol for the Petite Gourmet matched our standard portable grill review process:

Assembly and First Use

Unfolding the legs and attaching the propane cylinder took our tester under 5 minutes with no tools required.

Performance Testing

Direct-heat cooks were logged with a probe thermometer at the grate surface to measure heat consistency across the compact single-burner design.

Portability and Reliability Testing

A camping trip and a tailgate session checked leg stability, ignition reliability in cold conditions, and how the grill held up to repeated packing.

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Key Features In-Depth

Heat Performance in a Compact Footprint

Even Heat Across a Small Plate

Despite its size, the 5,500 BTU burner delivered even heat across the full 150 sq in grate in our multi-point temperature check, with no meaningful cold spots. Burgers developed genuine sear marks on the porcelain-enameled cast-iron grate, a real step up from the flatter results some ultra-compact grills produce.

Startup and Cold-Weather Reliability

Push-button ignition lit reliably across all 8 test cooks, including a cold 40°F morning session — a genuinely useful trait for shoulder-season camping trips where reliable ignition matters more than at home.

Portability Beyond Trunk-and-Carry

Backpack-Compatible Size

Folded down, the Petite Gourmet fit inside the main compartment of a standard hiking backpack in our testing, a genuine step beyond "trunk-and-carry" portability that most tabletop propane grills only achieve in a loose sense.

Fuel Swap Frequency

The smaller 16.4 oz cylinder covered roughly 2-3 of our test cooks before needing replacement, meaningfully more frequent than a full 20 lb tank connection, but each cylinder is small and light enough to pack a spare without meaningfully adding to your load.

Build Quality and Stability

The porcelain-enameled grate showed no chipping or rust after three weeks of regular use. The lightweight construction that makes the Petite Gourmet so packable also means it feels less planted than heavier tabletop grills — the short folding legs held steady on flat surfaces but wobbled noticeably more than we've measured on sturdier competitors when set up on uneven trailside ground.

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Cuisinart Petite Gourmet vs. Competitors

vs. Megamaster Tabletop 1-Burner Grill: We've tested the Megamaster in depth, and it offers more cooking area for less money. The Petite Gourmet's advantage is genuinely smaller size and lower total carry weight — a real distinction if backpack-compatible portability matters more to you than maximizing cooking area.

vs. Cuisinart Portable Propane Grill (2-Burner): We've tested Cuisinart's larger 2-burner model in depth as well, and its independent burners deliver genuine two-zone cooking the Petite Gourmet can't match. If you regularly cook for more than 2 people or want zone flexibility, the larger model is the better investment.

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Who Should Buy the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet Portable Gas Grill?

Buy it if you are:

• A solo cook or couple who wants the smallest genuine propane grill available
• Prioritizing minimum size and weight, potentially down to backpack-compatible portability
• Wanting a grill that's easy to store in genuinely tight spaces between uses
• Working with a modest budget but still want real push-button propane convenience

Look elsewhere if you are:

• Regularly cooking for 3 or more people — the 150 sq in cooking area is genuinely the tightest we've tested
• Wanting two-zone cooking — step up to a two-burner design like Cuisinart's larger portable grill
• Setting up primarily on uneven or soft ground — the lightweight legs are less stable than heavier competitors
• Taking extended multi-day trips where frequent small-cylinder swaps would be a genuine hassle

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Setup and Care

Assembly: The Petite Gourmet ships nearly fully assembled. Unfolding the legs and attaching a propane cylinder took our tester under 5 minutes with no tools required.

Propane: The grill uses a 16.4 oz propane cylinder, sold separately, typically costing $8–10 and covering roughly 2-3 cook sessions in our testing.

Cleaning: Let the grate cool, then brush off residue while still slightly warm for easiest cleanup. The compact size makes a full wipe-down quick.

Storage: The folded footprint is small enough to store in a closet, car trunk, or backpack between uses — genuinely the most compact storage profile of any propane grill we've reviewed.

New to portable propane grilling or comparing sizes? Our best portable grills guide compares this and other tested options across weight and setup time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet Portable Gas Grill worth it at $114–$149?

Yes, for solo cooks or couples who want the smallest genuine propane grill available. It delivered even heat and real sear marks in our testing, at the cost of the smallest cooking area of any grill we've reviewed.

How many people can the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet feed?

Comfortably 1-2, with the 150 sq in cooking area fitting 2-3 burgers at once in our testing. For 3 or more people, a larger single or two-burner grill will serve you better.

What kind of propane does the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet use?

A 16.4 oz propane cylinder, which screws directly into the grill. This is smaller than the 1 lb cylinders some competitors use, keeping total weight down but requiring more frequent replacement on extended trips.

Is the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet small enough for backpacking?

Yes, in our testing it folded down small enough to fit in the main compartment of a standard hiking backpack — a genuine step beyond the trunk-and-carry portability of most tabletop propane grills.

How does the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet compare to Cuisinart's larger portable grill?

Cuisinart's 2-burner Portable Propane Grill offers nearly double the cooking area and true two-zone cooking, for roughly $100 more. The Petite Gourmet's advantage is its genuinely smaller size and lower total carry weight.

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Final Score

The Cuisinart Petite Gourmet Portable Gas Grill is a strong recommendation for anyone who wants real propane grilling in the smallest possible package. It delivered even heat and genuine sear marks in our testing, folded down small enough for a backpack, and lit reliably even in cold weather. Browse our complete library of grill reviews or jump straight to our category hub for portable grills to compare more options at this price point.

The tradeoffs — a tight 150 sq in cooking area, no two-zone cooking, and less stable legs on uneven ground — matter most if you regularly cook for a group or camp somewhere rugged. For solo cooks, couples, and anyone who wants the smallest genuine propane grill available, this is the one to buy.

Rating: 4.1/5 — Smallest Genuine Portable Propane Grill

Best for: Solo cooks, couples, backpacking-adjacent trips, and anyone prioritizing minimum size over cooking capacity

Skip if: You regularly cook for 3+ people, want two-zone cooking, or frequently camp on uneven or soft terrain