Cast Iron Griddle For BBQ: 7 Best Picks For UK Grills (2026)

A cast iron griddle for BBQ is a heavy, solid plate that sits on your barbecue’s cooking grate. It can be flat, ribbed or reversible. Food cooks on hot, continuous metal instead of over open flame. The plate stores heat, builds an edge-to-edge crust and stops small items falling through the bars.

A standard BBQ grate does one job brilliantly and everything else badly. Sausages are fine. Chicken thighs are fine. A scallop, a lacy-edged smash burger or a Bank Holiday fry-up? Those sail straight through the gaps towards the burners.

A reversible griddle plate fixes that in one move. One side is flat for eggs and pancakes, the other ribbed for char marks. Cast iron then does what it has always done, which is hold heat. A thin steel plate sags when a cold steak lands on it, but a thick iron slab shrugs. That is why flat top grilling has jumped from American diners into British back gardens.

This guide covers seven real, currently sold options. They range from a budget Boss Grill plate to a premium Le Creuset. I’ve also added the how-to material product pages skip: seasoning cast iron, fit checks for a cast iron griddle for gas BBQ, and a steak searing technique you can follow. Raw iron rusts quickly without a protective oil layer, which is why cookware seasoning is treated as essential for uncoated iron.

One note on method. Everything here comes from manufacturer specs, retailer listings and aggregated customer reviews, not personal testing. Where review data is thin, I’ll say so.

Quick Comparison: 7 Best Cast Iron Griddles for BBQ at a Glance

Read the table as a fit chart before a quality chart. Four of the seven are tied to specific barbecue models. For those, the best cast iron griddle for BBQ use is simply the one that physically drops into your grate. If you own none of those grills, the two Lodge plates are the most universal choices. The Le Creuset Cast Iron Rectangular BBQ Griddle 40cm is the only one where you’re paying largely for finish and guarantee rather than function.

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Top 7 Cast Iron Griddles for BBQ: Expert Analysis

Prices below are ranges at the time of research, and they vary by retailer. Check the current price before you buy.

1. Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 — drop-in fit for Weber grates

If you own a Weber with Gourmet BBQ System grates, this is the rare accessory that clicks into place rather than wobbling on top.

The Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 is porcelain-enamelled cast iron. In practice that means no seasoning ritual and an easier clean than raw iron. Weber lists it for GBS grates on its charcoal barbecues, SmokeFire pellet grills and Genesis, Spirit and Summit gas models. It replaces the circular centre insert, so the plate sits flush and won’t skate about when you flip a pancake. It measures roughly 30cm by 39cm out of the carton. That’s enough for four burgers or a full fry-up, with grate space left over.

The spec sheet won’t say this outright: it is a griddle for Weber people. Anyone with a different grill is paying for a fit they can’t use. Inside the Weber ecosystem the integration is the whole point. That makes it the least fussy cast iron griddle for gas BBQ on this list.

Weber’s own UK page shows about 4.8 out of 5 from roughly 150 ratings. Reviewers mention Sunday breakfasts and suitability for both gas and charcoal. Manufacturer-site reviews skew positive, so treat that as directional.

Pros:

• ✅ Locks into Weber GBS grates securely
• ✅ Enamel means no seasoning routine
• ✅ Generous flat area for breakfasts

Cons:

• ❌ Useless unless you own a compatible Weber
• ❌ Hand-wash only, and enamel can chip if knocked

Typically in the £55-£70 range, which is fair for a branded, enamelled insert.

2. Lodge LDP3 Double Play Reversible Grill/Griddle — best all-round reversible griddle plate

This is the plate most cast iron fans end up owning at some point. It has a smooth side for eggs and a ribbed side for steak.

At 16.75 x 9.5 inches (about 42.5 x 24cm), the Lodge LDP3 Double Play is sized for two burners. On a four-burner gas barbecue it covers a pair and leaves the rest of the grate for direct grilling. Raised edges keep splatter in, and it arrives pre-seasoned, so you can cook straight away. UK listings put the weight around 3.6kg, while other sources quote closer to 4.3kg, so allow for a heavy lift.

Weighing the specs, it’s a sensible first cast iron griddle for BBQ: big enough for two steaks and a heap of onions, small enough to store without a fight. Wear heat-proof gloves when moving it. A hot slab of this size is no joke.

Reviewers consistently praise even heat, the reversible design and the pre-seasoned finish. Common gripes are weight and the upkeep that cast iron demands. One US retailer reviewer says it fits their barbecue perfectly, and another wishes the grease lip were deeper.

Pros:

• ✅ Reversible: flat side plus ribbed side
• ✅ Arrives pre-seasoned and ready to cook
• ✅ Sized for two burners, not the whole grate

Cons:

• ❌ Shallow grease lip for very fatty cooking
• ❌ Heavy, and needs hand-washing and oiling

Indicatively £35-£55, which is strong value for a long-lived piece.

3. Lodge Pro-Grid LPGI3 — extra length for feeding a crowd

When the Lodge LDP3 feels cramped, this is its bigger sibling.

The Lodge Pro-Grid LPGI3 measures 20 x 10.44 inches (roughly 51 x 26.5cm) and is about 2.2cm deep. Listings put the weight at around 6kg. It has two loop handles and a slight slope that sends fat into a gutter. That slope is a small design touch with a real payoff: less fat pooling under your food and fewer flare-ups.

The usable cooking area is a little smaller than the outside dimensions. One listing gives about 19.25 x 8.5 inches. That’s still room for four or five steaks side by side, or a breakfast for the whole family. The trade-off is heft. At that weight, the Pro-Grid is a plate you put in position before you light up, not one you casually reposition.

Reviewers describe cooking rib-eye, pork chops and pancakes on it, and some pair it with a grill press. “Heavy” is the one theme that comes up again and again. UK availability varies by seller, so check stock before planning a barbecue around it.

Pros:

• ✅ Longer surface for larger groups
• ✅ Slope and gutter manage fat
• ✅ Two handles make positioning safer

Cons:

• ❌ Very heavy for lifting while hot
• ❌ UK stock and delivery can vary

Indicatively £45-£70, which is excellent value per square centimetre.

4. Char-Broil Cast Iron Grill Plate 43.5 x 21cm — model-matched for Char-Broil gas BBQs

Generic plates are a gamble on grate spacing. A model-matched one removes the guesswork.

The Char-Broil Cast Iron Grill Plate 43.5 x 21cm has a smooth side and a grooved side. The listing names the Professional PRO S 3 and Gas2Coal 2.0 as compatible, and it’s designed for 3-burner barbecues. Char-Broil’s UK site also describes a cast-iron griddle with smooth and ridged sides as an extra with the Gas2Coal Special Edition 3 hybrid grill. So the format clearly suits these grills.

My reading is simple. If you own one of the named models, paying for a purpose-made plate buys certainty about rail spacing and clearance. If you don’t, you’d get more for your money elsewhere.

I could not verify customer reviews for this plate. The listing I consulted had none, so I won’t summarise sentiment that doesn’t exist. Cross-check the compatibility list against your model number before ordering.

Pros:

• ✅ Made for named Char-Broil gas models
• ✅ Smooth and grooved sides in one plate
• ✅ Wide format suits three-burner grills

Cons:

• ❌ Pricey for the size
• ❌ No verifiable review data yet

Around £80-£95. It’s good value only if your grill is on the compatibility list.

5. Kamado Joe Half Moon Cast Iron Reversible Griddle — half-moon design for Divide & Conquer cooking

This one is for round charcoal cookers, not gas barbecues.

The Kamado Joe Half Moon Cast Iron Reversible Griddle comes in sizes for the Classic Joe (18-inch) and Big Joe (24-inch) cookers. Listings also say it suits large Big Green Egg models and other round grills of matching diameter. One side is smooth, the other ribbed. The half-moon shape slots into the Divide & Conquer system, so you can run a griddle half and a grate half at once.

That’s a genuinely smart layout. Sear steaks on the ribbed side while the other half gives you a different heat zone for veg. On paper it’s one of the most flexible set-ups here, but it only works if your grill is round and charcoal-fuelled.

US retailer pages show about 4.8 out of 5 across roughly 60 reviews for the Classic version and about 49 for the Big Joe. Reviewers say they use it on most cooks and mention steaks and smashed burgers. Retailer-sourced reviews skew positive, so read them as a guide, not a guarantee.

Pros:

• ✅ Half-moon layout enables two-zone cooking
• ✅ Reversible: smooth and ribbed sides
• ✅ Strong heat retention from thick cast iron

Cons:

• ❌ Only suits round kamado-style grills
• ❌ Pricey for half a griddle

The Big Joe version sits around £85-£95. It’s good value for kamado owners and no use for anyone else.

6. Le Creuset Cast Iron Rectangular BBQ Griddle 40cm — premium heirloom with a lifetime guarantee

This is the plate you buy once and pass down.

The Le Creuset Cast Iron Rectangular BBQ Griddle 40cm has a 40cm cooking surface. The listing gives approximate dimensions of 49cm wide and 6.5cm high. It states the griddle suits the oven, the grill and wood-fired ovens, and carries a lifetime guarantee. The retailer listing also says it is freezer and dishwasher safe. I’d still check Le Creuset’s own care guidance and hand-wash and dry any cast iron to be safe.

The 40cm width is the headline. It’s wide enough for a proper family cook on a standard grate. Measure your grate first, though, because that width and the extra depth won’t suit every barbecue.

I could not verify reviews for this specific griddle, so there’s no sentiment to report. What you’re really buying is brand heritage and the guarantee. A cheaper Lodge Pro-Grid LPGI3 cooks very similarly, so the premium buys durability and finish rather than a better sear.

Pros:

• ✅ Wide 40cm surface for bigger cooks
• ✅ Oven, grill and wood-fire versatility
• ✅ Lifetime guarantee stated on the listing

Cons:

• ❌ Several times the price of rivals
• ❌ No verifiable reviews found

Around £200-£250. It’s worth it only if guarantee and finish matter more than performance per pound.

7. Boss Grill Cast Iron Griddle — the budget way into cast iron

For under £25, you can find out whether cast iron suits your barbecue habits.

The Boss Grill Cast Iron Griddle is a double-sided tray for selected Boss Grill 4 and 6 burner barbecues. Its ridged cooking area drains juices and leaves griddle lines on your food. Once barbecue season ends, you can use it on the hob indoors. The retailer advises rubbing both sides with oil and heating the plate on high, either on the BBQ or in the oven for about an hour. The plate becomes more non-stick the more you use it, just like a cast iron pan. It is not dishwasher safe.

That advice is a tidy bit of real-world guidance. It means the plate arrives needing a bit of seasoning cast iron love before first use. Treat the first hour as part of the purchase.

The catch is fit. This is a model-specific griddle for BBQs, so a Boss Grill owner gets a bargain and everyone else gets nothing. I couldn’t verify customer reviews here either.

Pros:

• ✅ Very low cost of entry
• ✅ Works on the BBQ and the hob
• ✅ Ridged side drains juices

Cons:

• ❌ Only fits selected Boss Grill models
• ❌ Needs seasoning and has no verified reviews

Typically under £25, which makes it hard to beat on price if your grill is compatible.

Top 7 at a Glance: Specs, Fit and Value

The pattern is clear. Compatibility sorts this list before quality does. The Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 wins for convenience, and the two Lodge plates win for flexibility. If you can’t match a model-specific plate to your grill, fall back on the Lodge LDP3 Double Play and measure carefully.

How to Choose a Cast Iron Griddle for BBQ

1. Measure your grate and burner layout. Plates that fit snugly stay put when you flip food. Plates that don’t can tip.
2. Match the fuel. A cast iron griddle for gas BBQ needs to clear the burner area and sit securely on the grate. Kamado plates assume a round charcoal fire.
3. Pick the surface. Flat gives maximum contact for crust. Ribbed gives marks and fat drainage. A reversible griddle plate offers both.
4. Decide on finish. Pre-seasoned iron improves with use but needs oiling. Enamel is easier to maintain but can chip if knocked.
5. Respect the weight. Anything over about 4kg gets awkward once hot. Handles and gloves matter.
6. Check grease control. A slight slope, gutter or raised edge keeps fat from becoming a flare-up.
7. Weigh price against lifespan. A cheap plate that fits beats an expensive one that doesn’t.

Cast Iron Griddle for Gas BBQ: Fit, Heat and Grate Compatibility

Gas barbecues heat unevenly. Burner positions create hot stripes, and thin plates amplify them. Cast iron’s mass smooths that out, which is a real advantage of a cast iron griddle for gas BBQ use over bare grates.

Start with fit. Weber’s compatibility list names Genesis, Spirit and Summit gas models with GBS grates. Char-Broil’s listing names the Professional PRO S 3 and Gas2Coal 2.0. If your grill isn’t named, measure the grate opening and check the manufacturer’s manual for the largest accessory it allows. I’d avoid anything that covers every burner, because trapped heat and blocked airflow aren’t worth risking.

Preheat patiently. Cast iron’s strength is also its slowness. Give the plate time to come up to temperature before food touches it, then adjust burners gently rather than swinging between extremes. Close the lid for the first few minutes to build heat.

Finally, lift, don’t drag. Sliding a heavy plate across a grate can scrape enamel or dislodge seasoning. Let it cool completely before handling or washing.

Reversible Griddle Plate: Flat Side or Ribbed Side?

The case for a reversible griddle plate is simple: it’s two tools in one. The case for knowing which side to use is subtler.

The flat side makes maximum contact with food. That matters because a crust forms where metal meets meat. Eggs, pancakes, smash burgers, fish and onions all prefer it. The ribbed side raises food above a channel, so fat drains away and you get those grill marks. Sausages, chops and chicken thighs suit it well.

For a steak, the choice depends on what you value. Ribs give the classic stripe pattern but touch less surface. Flat gives the deepest all-over browning. On paper, a steak on the flat side develops more crust, while a steak on the ribbed side looks more barbecue-like. Neither is wrong.

A reasoned way to decide: use ribbed for fatty cuts that benefit from drainage, flat for lean cuts and delicate foods. The Lodge LDP3 Double Play and Lodge Pro-Grid LPGI3 both give you the option. The Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 is flat only, which suits breakfasts but limits steak styling.

Flat Top Grilling: What to Cook (and What to Skip)

Flat top grilling is the quiet reason many people buy a cast iron griddle for BBQ use. It opens a menu that bare grates can’t touch.

Cook these:

• Breakfast: bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes. The Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 is pitched at exactly this.
• Smash burgers: the flat surface and weight of cast iron do the work.
• Delicate proteins: scallops, prawns and thin fish fillets stay put.
• Halloumi, sliced veg and onions: caramelisation without falling through.
• Fajita-style stir-fries: a hot plate and a spatula beat a pan on a stove.

Skip or adapt these:

• Very wet marinades. Surface liquid steams the food instead of browning it, so pat dry first.
• Sugary glazes at full heat, because they scorch quickly.
• Large joints and long low-and-slow cooks, which belong on indirect heat.

One word of caution: minced meat such as burgers and sausages must be cooked all the way through. I cover the UK guidance in the safety section below.

Cast Iron vs Alternatives for BBQ Griddling

Cast iron wins on heat retention and searing, and it loses on convenience. A coated plate is lighter and easier to wash. A carbon steel plancha heats faster and weighs less but holds less heat once cold food lands on it. If your priority is a great crust and a plate that outlives the grill, cast iron is hard to beat. If you want zero upkeep, an enamelled option like the Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 is the closest cast iron gets to that.

Seasoning Cast Iron: A Practical Guide for Your BBQ Griddle

Seasoning cast iron means building a thin, hard layer of polymerised oil on the metal. It protects against rust and gives you natural non-stick. As America’s Test Kitchen explains, the degree of polymerisation is tied to how hot the oil gets.

Before you start: check what you’ve bought. A pre-seasoned Lodge LDP3 Double Play can cook straight away. An enamelled Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 needs no seasoning. The Boss Grill Cast Iron Griddle comes with retailer advice to oil both sides and heat it first.

A simple routine:

1. Wash with warm water and a brush, then dry completely. Warming it briefly helps drive off moisture.
2. Wipe on a very thin layer of cooking oil, then buff almost all of it off. Thin is the goal, because thick coats go sticky.
3. Heat the plate, either on your barbecue on high or in the oven. The Boss Grill retailer suggests about an hour.
4. Let it cool, and repeat a couple of times for a new or stripped plate.

Keep it going: wipe on a light coat of oil after each wash. Cooking fatty foods also builds seasoning, so the Lodge Pro-Grid LPGI3 gets better the more bacon it sees. Store it dry, because trapped moisture is how rust starts.

Griddle for Searing Steak: A Step-by-Step Steak Searing Technique

A good griddle for searing steak is really a heat battery. The sear is the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars that creates browned flavour. It needs high heat and a dry surface.

1. Dry the steak. Pat it thoroughly with kitchen paper. Surface moisture has to evaporate before browning begins.
2. Preheat properly. Give the plate a good ten minutes or more on high heat. It’s ready when a drop of water skitters and vanishes.
3. Oil the steak, not the plate. Use a high smoke-point oil, so you smoke less and brown more.
4. Lay it down away from you and leave it. Resist the urge to nudge. It will release when the crust forms.
5. Flip once the crust is deep brown. A 2.5cm steak often needs only a few minutes per side, but use a probe thermometer rather than a stopwatch.
6. Rest it. A few minutes under loose foil lets juices settle.

The flat side of a Lodge LDP3 Double Play gives the most contact. The ribbed side gives the stripes. Either works, but this steak searing technique depends on heat and dryness more than on plate shape.

Real-World Scenarios: Which Griddle Suits Your Garden?

“I have a Weber with Gourmet BBQ System grates and want weekend breakfasts.” The Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 is the obvious match. It drops in, needs no seasoning and handles bacon, eggs and pancakes in one go. The compromise is a flat-only surface.

“I’m feeding six hungry people on a standard gas barbecue.” Choose the Lodge Pro-Grid LPGI3. The extra length and grease gutter suit big cooks, but check your grate width first and budget for the weight. Wear proper gloves and set the plate in place before you light up.

“I own a Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 and want a plate that just fits.” The Char-Broil Cast Iron Grill Plate 43.5 x 21cm is built for that range. Confirm your model against the compatibility list before ordering.

“I have a Kamado Joe and love two-zone cooking.” The Kamado Joe Half Moon Cast Iron Reversible Griddle lets you run griddle and grate side by side. It won’t help a gas barbecue owner at all.

“I’m curious about cast iron but not ready to spend much.” The Boss Grill Cast Iron Griddle is the cheap experiment, provided your barbecue is on the compatible list. If you’re not a Boss Grill owner, the Lodge LDP3 Double Play is the sensible low-risk starter.

Long-Term Cost & Maintenance

Cast iron’s real argument is cost per cook. As an illustration, a plate in the £50 range used 30 times a year for ten years works out at well under 20p per cook. Even the Le Creuset Cast Iron Rectangular BBQ Griddle 40cm looks more reasonable over decades, though you pay a premium for the finish and the lifetime guarantee stated on its listing.

Maintenance is modest but non-negotiable:

• Wash promptly with warm water and a brush, and dry immediately. Don’t leave it soaking.
• Re-oil lightly after each wash for raw or pre-seasoned plates.
• Store dry, ideally indoors or under a cover. A damp garden shed is a rust factory.
• Inspect enamel on a Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 for chips, and avoid banging hard metal tools against it.
• Re-season if patches look dry or grey.

Don’t count on the dishwasher either. Even though one retailer listing for the Le Creuset Cast Iron Rectangular BBQ Griddle 40cm says it’s dishwasher safe, the Boss Grill Cast Iron Griddle retailer says clearly it isn’t. Hand-washing is the safer default for the lot.

Safety & Food Hygiene Guide for UK Barbecues

Cast iron stays hot long after the flames die. Treat it as a hazard for a good half hour after cooking. Use heat-proof gloves, keep children and pets clear and never hose a hot plate, as the thermal shock can damage it.

On the gas side, check connections and hoses before the season and follow your manufacturer’s manual for the maximum size of accessory your grill accepts.

On food hygiene, the Food Standards Agency’s barbecue advice is worth a read. Its key distinction applies directly to griddle cooking. A steak can be served pink because bacteria sit on the surface and searing destroys them. Burgers and sausages are different, because mincing spreads surface bacteria all the way through. They must be cooked until steaming hot throughout, so smash burgers on a Lodge LDP3 Double Play still need to be cooked through. Use separate utensils and plates for raw and cooked food, and a thermometer if you’re unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A cast iron griddle for BBQ turns an ordinary grill into a proper outdoor kitchen. The best choice is the one that fits your barbecue, so start there.

Weber owners should look at the Weber Gourmet BBQ System Griddle 7421 first. Anyone without a model-specific option will be well served by the Lodge LDP3 Double Play, with the Lodge Pro-Grid LPGI3 as the upgrade for crowds. Char-Broil owners can check the Char-Broil Cast Iron Grill Plate 43.5 x 21cm, and Kamado Joe cooks have the Kamado Joe Half Moon Cast Iron Reversible Griddle. Anyone prizing heritage and a lifetime guarantee can consider the Le Creuset Cast Iron Rectangular BBQ Griddle 40cm. The Boss Grill Cast Iron Griddle remains the cheapest route in for compatible Boss Grill barbecues.

Whichever you choose, the habits matter as much as the metal. Preheat patiently, keep food dry, practise your steak searing technique, and look after the seasoning. Do that and a cast iron griddle for BBQ will outlast several barbecues.

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