Char-Broil Versa-Tile review: is this 3-in-1 BBQ, griddle and pizza oven worth £550?

RRP at time of testing: £550 | Check price at Argos, Amazon, Appliances Direct or Char-Broil directly

Our verdict

The Char-Broil Versa-Tile combines a griddle, gas grill and pizza oven in one substantial outdoor cooker. It’s a tempting idea for families who enjoy cooking outside but don’t want the garden cluttered with separate appliances.

James found it far better at burgers, steak and chicken than pizza. He described it as “an equivalent to a BBQ” and thought it could replace a traditional gas BBQ for cooking for friends and family.

Its strongest feature is the generous cooking space. James cooked for seven people during testing and prepared chicken, steak, kebabs and smash burgers at the same time. He said: “It cooked the food really well and really quickly. I was impressed by that.”

The pizza mode was less convincing. James struggled to brown the top of each pizza before the base started to burn. He also found a pizza paddle essential, as getting cooked pizzas off the surface without one was difficult.

At £550, James didn’t think it offered good enough value for him, sharing: “It’s a good quality product. I wouldn’t buy it with my own money for £550 though.”

If you want a roomy, quick gas grill for family meals, the Versa-Tile does that job well. If pizza is your priority, a dedicated pizza oven is likely to give you better results.

How we tested the Char-Broil Versa-Tile

Dad-of-two James tested the Char-Broil Versa-Tile at home as part of his usual outdoor cooking setup. He used it to cook for friends and family, including a meal for seven people.

He tested burgers, smash burgers, steak, chicken, kebabs and pizzas. He considered cooking performance, capacity, temperature control, ease of use, cleaning, build quality, durability and value for money.

As Mumsnet’s Home and Lifestyle editor, I was particularly interested in whether one appliance could work as a practical alternative to buying a separate BBQ, griddle and pizza oven.

What is the Char-Broil Versa-Tile?

The Char-Broil Versa-Tile is a gas outdoor cooker with a 3-in-1 Tile Cooking System. It can be used as a griddle, grill or pizza oven, depending on which cooking surface and attachment you fit.

The cooking area measures 70 x 50cm and has two independently adjustable heat zones. Char-Broil says it’s suitable for four to six people, although James thought it could handle more when used as a grill.

He said: “On full tile you could comfortably cook for 10+. That was by far its best feature if you were doing a family BBQ.”

It comes with a flat griddle for foods such as smash burgers, breakfast dishes, vegetables and halloumi, plus a grill grate for steaks and other BBQ food. There’s also a pizza attachment with a domed lid.

It’s a useful idea, particularly if garden space is tight. The catch is that the three modes don’t perform equally well.

How easy is the Char-Broil Versa-Tile to assemble?

James found assembly manageable, although the Versa-Tile was very heavy in its packaging.

He said: “Very good, very sturdy, although when packaged it weighs a ton. I definitely would have struggled to carry it solo.”

It took him about an hour to put together. He enjoys assembling things and already had plenty of tools, so someone less keen on DIY might find it harder.

“There are some faffy bolts under the side trays which were tricky,” he said.

The gas connector wasn’t included, which James thought was poor for a product costing £550.

Once built, the Versa-Tile felt sturdy. James moved it in and out of the garage during testing without a problem, but described it as “a big beast”. The side trays don’t fold down, so it takes up plenty of storage space.

“Assembled, it’s as wide as my garage door,” he said.

How well does it cook burgers, steak and chicken?

This is what the Versa-Tile does best. James found it quick and effective for burgers, steak, chicken and kebabs. Though, for quick family meals without the smoke or outdoor setup, one of the best air fryers may be a more practical year-round option.

“The burgers and steak were great and my children love grilled chicken cooked on it,” he said.

The flat cooking surface was particularly good for smash burgers. James cooked 10 in under five minutes while using less than 40% of the available space. He also had chicken breasts, steak and kebabs cooking at the same time.

That capacity makes a real difference when you’re feeding a family or a group of friends. You can cook several foods at once without squeezing everything into one crowded corner. If capacity matters but you don’t need an outdoor cooker, the best air fryer ovens offer another way to cook larger family meals.

James also liked that there was no lengthy warm-up, unlike with a charcoal BBQ. He said his favourite part was: “Cooking burgers and chicken, and the cleaning and preparation time. Not going out 30 minutes early to start the BBQ.”

It was also less smoky than a traditional BBQ.

“I actually liked it as an alternative, especially as it’s easy to clean and I didn’t stink of smoke after cooking. It also cooks much faster and more evenly too,” he said.

Is the Char-Broil Versa-Tile good for pizza?

Not especially. James was looking forward to trying the pizza mode because his family eats pizza regularly, but the results were disappointing.

“The pizza oven is a nice touch, but it’s a below-average pizza oven,” he said. “I wouldn’t buy this product based on that function.”

The base cooked properly, but the top didn’t brown before the underside began to burn. James rated the pizza results 3 out of 10.

“Average. The base cooked well underneath, but the top didn’t brown very well,” he said.

Cooking several pizzas was also slow. Four small pizzas took at least 35 minutes, which meant everyone ate at different times.

James thought his kitchen oven did a better job.

“The pizzas were OK. I was expecting to be wowed and none of us who tried them were. As I say, my oven cooks them better.”

The pizza mode is usable as an occasional extra, but it didn’t come close to the results James expected from a dedicated outdoor pizza oven.

“I was expecting it to be on par with an Ooni or something like that, and it’s not,” he said.

Is it easy to switch between cooking modes?

The Versa-Tile’s interchangeable surfaces sound flexible, but swapping them once cooking has started isn’t very practical.

James rated the temperature control as excellent, but said the tiles would need to cool before he could change them safely.

“I don’t think you could interchange cooking. You would need to turn off the tile and let it cool before swapping, otherwise you’d burn your hand changing the tiles,” he said.

The tiles were also difficult to lift when hot because there wasn’t much room to get a finger underneath.

You can use the Versa-Tile in three different ways, but it’s best to choose your cooking mode before you start rather than expecting to switch between them during a meal. Anyone drawn to the idea of one appliance doing several jobs may also want to compare it with the best multi-cookers.

How easy is the Char-Broil Versa-Tile to clean?

Cleaning was mostly straightforward. James found the top tile easy to clean and used a flat spatula to push fat towards the grease tray.

“Cleaning the top tile was excellent,” he said.

The removable grease tray was easy to take out and wash. However, meat stuck immediately when James tried using one of the tiles as a griddle.

“As soon as I tried to griddle anything on that tile, the meat just stuck to it instantly and it’s a pain to clean off,” he said.

He also had concerns about the grease channel, which sits near the burner and directs fat into the tray. The tray and cooking surface are accessible, but the channel itself could be harder to clean after regular use.

“After a summer’s use, then a winter in the garage, it might begin to whiff a bit,” he said.

How big is the Char-Broil Versa-Tile?

The Versa-Tile is wide, heavy and fairly awkward to store. James didn’t think it was much bigger than similar outdoor cookers, but he wouldn’t recommend moving it anywhere with steps.

The side trays are useful while cooking, although fold-down versions would have made storage easier. Measure your space carefully before buying, particularly if you plan to keep it in a garage or shed.

James also liked the cover. He thought it felt good quality and described it as “a must”.

Is the Char-Broil Versa-Tile good value for money?

That depends on how much use you’ll get from its different cooking modes.

As a gas grill and griddle, it’s sturdy, spacious and quick. James liked its appearance, large cooking area and low-smoke performance.

He was less convinced by the £550 price.

“I think you could buy a separate gas BBQ and pizza oven for less and get better results. However, if you are adamant on one solution, I think it’s about as good as it could be,” he said.

He also felt that its grilling performance wasn’t noticeably better than that of a much cheaper gas BBQ.

“The quality is good, but for me it’s no better than a £250 BBQ you could get from B&Q,” he said.

The extra cost pays for the build and the option to use one appliance in several ways. That may be worthwhile if you’ll use the griddle regularly. If you mainly cook burgers and sausages, a cheaper gas BBQ would probably do the job.

Who is the Char-Broil Versa-Tile best for?

James thought it would suit families with children who cook outside regularly and want a quick, low-smoke alternative to a traditional BBQ.

He said it would work well for “families with children” and added: “You could use it for most of summer to cook most of your meats and grilled items.”

He also thought halloumi would cook well on it and liked that it was easy to clean, looked good in the garden and felt relatively low-risk around children.

It’s best suited to anyone who wants plenty of cooking space and the option to prepare several types of BBQ food at once.

It’s less likely to please keen BBQ cooks who want the smoky flavour and char of an open flame. It’s also not the best choice for anyone mainly interested in making pizza.

“I could imagine keen barbecue people would miss the smoky char you get with an open flame,” James said.

Final verdict: is this the BBQ for you?

The Char-Broil Versa-Tile is at its best as a griddle and gas BBQ. It cooked burgers, steak, chicken and kebabs quickly and evenly, and its large cooking surface made it easy to feed a crowd.

The pizza mode is the weak point. James couldn’t brown the tops of the pizzas before the bases burned, and cooking several in a row was slow.

At £550, it’s expensive for anyone who mainly wants a gas BBQ. But families who’ll make regular use of the griddle, value the generous cooking space and prefer low-smoke outdoor cooking may find it earns its place.

For pizza nights, we’d buy a dedicated pizza oven instead.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is our resident lifestyle expert with a practical focus on sleep, wellness and everyday comfort. She’s equally at home tackling frank, NSFW‑adjacent topics (from the best lube to sex during pregnancy) as she is road‑testing fashion, beauty and skincare that work for real parents. A former editor of LJMU’s Looprevil Press, she cut her teeth in journalism in 2010, earned a post‑grad diploma in Journalism, and later led editorial at ExpatWoman in Dubai before joining Mumsnet. As a mum of two, she writes with the time‑poor, sleep‑deprived in mind - honest product reviews, realistic routines and style that survives school runs.

When she’s not at her desk, she’s probably product‑testing with her two helpers, corralling a PTA, or walking her two dogs.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices are correct at time of publication.

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