Best Blackstone Griddle with Air Fryer: Every Combo Compared

Cooking breakfast potatoes in a drawer while pancakes and bacon cook on top works well; we also made fries, corn, and smashburgers on this one cooker. The 36" Original gives you 768 square inches, four independently controlled heat zones, and 60,000 BTU across four burners. Two 4-quart drawers sit under the plate, with a third 4-quart drawer that keeps food warm.

Be realistic about the air fryer half: results are strong-convection-oven quality, roughly a 6 out of 10 next to a good countertop unit. Fries, wings, and potatoes crisp fine, but this is not a Ninja replacement.

The build feels solid and heavy-duty, in powder-coated steel, and it weighs 192 lb. The 75-watt fan is noticeable while using the griddle, though not loud enough to put us off. The warranty is one year.

The Bronco (model 2463) is the value play among the 36" combos, carrying a 36" Omnivore plate, dual 4-quart air fryers, a warming drawer, dual side shelves, a magnetic toolbar, and a built-in hood. The maker lists it at $684, though it was backordered when we checked.

The first test is the build. Assembly runs well past the 30 minutes on the box, and the ignition batteries are not in the carton, so the job stalls at the last step unless you have them on hand. Once it is together, the big plate holds several foods at once, heats quickly, and the burners are easy to control after a short learning period. Drawer food comes out noticeably better than from a regular oven.

The maker's page gives no square inches, BTU, or power figures for this model, so we would not assume it matches the Original 36" on paper.

Where the Bronco leans on shelves, the 28" (2483) leans on footprint: 517 square inches, two independently controlled burners at 34,000 BTU, one 4-quart air fryer drawer, and one 4-quart warming drawer. Fries and air-fried chicken cook through in the drawer, and pancakes come out with crisp edges and fluffy centers.

The catch shows up the moment you crack eggs onto the plate. On a two-burner plate the front runs cold and the back two-thirds runs hot, so one egg barely sets while the next scorches. Lowering the flame helped the eggs. Keep paper towels and seasoning bottles off the side shelves, because a vent stays hot even with the lid closed.

Blackstone's pages do not state how the newer drawer is powered, so confirm that on the listing.

The Iron-Forged (model 2402) matches the Original 36" where it counts for a cookout: 768 square inches, four independently controlled zones, two 4-quart drawers, and a 4-quart warming drawer. It shares the X-brace hood, rear grease management, and extendable side shelf. The maker lists it at $999, though it showed as backordered when we checked.

The two are the same size and layout (66.5 x 43 x 30.5 in), so the choice comes down to price and styling rather than a different cooking experience.

For campsite cooking, the propane burner heats the basket, and the sturdy unit handles a full meal. You wait on it, though: preheat is slow, and the basket lid can be stiff to open once the food is ready. The digital display and fan need batteries or a plug (110V, 60Hz, 1.5A). It adds a digital touchscreen and a removable crumb tray.