The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill and Air Fryer is the best air fryer grill combo because its high-heat grill grate puts real sear marks on steak and burgers while the cyclonic fan doubles as a genuine air fryer, and the built-in Smart Cook thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness. A combo unit earns its counter space only if both functions work well, and this is the rare machine where neither the grill nor the fryer feels like an afterthought.
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill and Air Fryer is the best air fryer grill combo, pairing true searing heat with capable air frying and a leave-in thermometer. The original Ninja Foodi Grill is the best value if you can live without the probe and the larger cooking surface.
- Best overall: Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill and Air Fryer
- Best value: Ninja Foodi Grill AG301
- Best budget: PowerXL Grill Air Fryer Combo
- Avoid: Combos with flat griddle plates marketed as grills, they steam meat instead of searing it
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Quick Picks
- Best overall: Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill and Air Fryer, Real sear marks, strong air frying, and a built-in probe for perfect doneness. Check price on Amazon
- Best value: Ninja Foodi Grill AG301, The original indoor grill and air fryer formula at a friendlier tier.
- Best budget: PowerXL Grill Air Fryer Combo, Capable grilling and crisping for smaller households and tighter budgets.
Comparison Table
| Combo | Grill surface | Best for | Extra functions | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill and Air Fryer | High-heat grate with probe | Steaks, burgers, and family meals | Air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate | Check Price |
| Ninja Foodi Grill AG301 | High-heat grate | Everyday indoor grilling | Air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate | Check Price |
| PowerXL Grill Air Fryer Combo | Grill plate | Small households | Air fry, bake, griddle modes | Check Price |
| Emeril Lagasse Power Grill 360 | Grill plate in oven form | Countertop oven versatility | Air fry, toast, bake, rotisserie-style cooking | Check Price |
How We Chose These Air Fryers Picks
We compared searing temperature, air frying performance, capacity, smoke management, and accessory quality across the leading grill and air fryer combos, then weighed owner feedback on sear quality, cleanup, and durability. Units that reach genuine searing heat ranked ahead of warm-griddle machines that only stripe food.
Key Takeaway: A grill combo is worth it only if the grill mode truly sears. Look for a dedicated high-heat grate and preheat cycle, then treat the air fry, roast, and bake modes as bonuses that replace a second appliance.
Best Overall: Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill and Air Fryer
Best for: Apartment dwellers and year-round grillers who want steakhouse sear marks indoors plus a full-size air fryer in a single machine. Why it made the list: The grate preheats to genuine searing temperatures so meat browns instead of steaming, the integrated thermometer cooks proteins to a selected doneness automatically, and the same chamber air fries wings and fries as well as many dedicated baskets.
- Key specs: 500 degree class Cyclonic Grilling technology, Smart Cook leave-in thermometer, XL grate that fits about six steaks or two pounds of fries, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate modes, dishwasher-safe grate and crisper basket
- What we like: Real sear marks and edge-to-edge browning, probe-driven doneness that removes guesswork, large family capacity, and honest air fryer performance from the same unit
- What we do not like: It is big and heavy for a countertop, the fan roars during preheat, and high-heat grilling can smoke if you use heavy marinades or high-sugar sauces
- Who should buy it: Households that grill weekly regardless of weather and also want to consolidate an air fryer into the same footprint
- Who should avoid it: Anyone with shallow cabinets or a small kitchen, this occupies serious counter space and needs overhead clearance
- Common complaints: Owners cite the bulky footprint, loud fan, and a learning curve for smoke control with fatty cuts like marbled steak and chicken thighs
- Size note: Plan for a microwave-sized footprint and do not store it in a cabinet you cannot lift heavy items out of
- Cleaning note: The grate and basket are dishwasher safe, but wipe the splatter shield and interior after fatty cooks, built-up grease is the main cause of smoke
- Alternative: The Emeril Lagasse Power Grill 360 if you want the grill function inside a toaster-oven form factor that also handles toast and sheet-style cooking
Air Fryer Buying Guide
Make sure the grill actually sears
The difference between a real indoor grill and a striped griddle is peak grate temperature. Machines that preheat their grate to the 500 degree range brown meat properly, while lower-wattage plates leave pale, steamed protein with cosmetic lines. Check that the grill mode has its own preheat cycle, it is the clearest sign the maker took searing seriously.
Capacity and footprint trade off directly
XL combos fit family batches, six burgers or a couple of pounds of wings, but they occupy microwave-level counter space and weigh enough that moving them daily gets old. Smaller combos store easily but cook in batches for a family of four. Measure your counter depth and overhead clearance before choosing a size class.
Smoke management matters indoors
Grilling fatty foods indoors produces smoke, and the good combos manage it with splatter shields, cool-air zones, and grease-routing under the grate. You can help by trimming excess fat, avoiding sugary marinades at max heat, and cleaning grease after every fatty cook. If your kitchen has no vent hood, favor models owners specifically praise for low smoke.
Safety Notes
- Run the unit with clearance on all sides and never under low cabinets, high-heat exhaust needs somewhere to go
- Use the included probe or long tongs, reaching into a 500 degree chamber with short utensils invites burns
- Clean grease from the shield and drip areas regularly, accumulated fat is the top cause of indoor smoke and flare risk
- Never line the grate or basket fully with foil, blocked airflow overheats the chamber
What to Avoid
- Combos without a dedicated grill preheat, they stripe food without searing it
- Any unit whose grate is not dishwasher safe or at least fully removable
- Compact combos for families of four or more, batch cooking negates the convenience
- Models with a single shared temperature range for grill and air fry, good searing needs a hotter grill-specific mode
FAQ
Does an indoor grill combo really sear like an outdoor grill?
The best ones get close on contact searing, you get real browning and grill marks on steaks, burgers, and chicken. What you do not get is charcoal flavor or open-flame char. For weeknight cooking the trade-off favors the indoor combo, for weekend barbecue flavor it does not replace fire.
Is the air fryer mode as good as a dedicated air fryer?
On the top combos, yes for everyday loads, fries, wings, and frozen snacks crisp evenly in the basket. Dedicated dual-basket fryers still win for cooking two different foods at once. If air frying is 90 percent of your use, buy an air fryer first and a combo only if grilling matters.
How do I keep an indoor grill from smoking?
Trim heavy fat, pat marinades dry, and keep sugary sauces for the last two minutes. Most smoke comes from old grease, so clean the splatter shield and the area under the grate after every fatty cook. Running slightly below max heat for fatty cuts also helps.
Final Verdict
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill and Air Fryer is the best air fryer grill combo, with the Ninja Foodi Grill AG301 as the best value version of the same formula and the PowerXL Grill Air Fryer Combo as the budget pick for smaller households.
