AllOutdoor Review: Camp Chef VersaTop 2x 16″ Flat Top Griddle
Sam.S 02.28.24
The thrill of grilling knows no bounds for the outdoor enthusiast. Whether camping under the stars or tailgating before the big game, I’m always seeking the next best booking system to fuel my culinary adventures. The Camp Chef VersaTop 2X is a potential candidate that caught my eye. It is a modular flat-top unit designed for compatibility across Camp Chef’s full line of swappable 16-inch cooking accessories. After extensive hands-on testing, I’ll serve a thorough review of how the VersaTop 2X stacks up. From construction quality to heating consistency and portability, read on for the full no-holds-barred breakdown. Let’s dive right into the review!
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Specifications: Camp Chef VersaTop 2X
The VersaTop 2X is a tabletop grill with two 16,000 BTU burners and a 16” x 24” pre-seasoned steel griddle cooking surface. While I only tested the included grill top, Camp Chef offers pizza ovens, barbecue boxes, and other accessories that could make this an all-in-one outdoor cooking system.
- Cooking Surface: 16” x 24”
- Total Grilling Area: 384 square inches
- Burners: 2 stainless steel burners
- BTUs: 16,000 BTUs per burner (32,000 total)
- Cooking Grate: Pre-seasoned cast iron griddle
- Exterior: Stainless steel
- Weight: 39 lbs
- Width: 25.25″
- Depth: 21″
- Height: 8.25″
- Matchless Ignition
- Adjustable Burner Knobs
- Adjustable Legs
- Built-in grease management system
- Removable 24 oz grease cup
The MSRP of the Camp Chef VersaTop 2X is $239.99. Given the amount and quality of materials matched by the amount of versatility, the price is not too bad. For a portable grill, I would not bat an eye at this sort of price tag. The added benefit of the interchangeable tops (pizza oven, grill, etc) makes this feel more worthwhile.
“Discover the endless menu possibilities of VersaGrillity on your VersaTop 2X Grill system. We;ve created a portable flat top grill compatible with your 16-inch accessories. The included steel flat top griddle is equipped with Camp Chef’s True Seasoned, non-stick surface—it’s ready to cook when you are. Take the 2X camping, hunting, fishing, to the cabin, keep it on the back patio, or bring it scouting—it’ll be one of your most versatile cooking units. In the mood for flawless grill marks? Swap out the included griddle for a grill box. Want artisan style pizza and breads? We’ve got a pizza oven that’s the perfect fit. If you’ve got a 16-inch cooking system or want more portability, add the VersaTop 2X to your shopping cart today!
The VersaTop Tabletop Cooking Systems line is part of our inclusive accessory line. Set a compatible BBQ Box and Pizza Oven on your unit and experience menu possibility as vast as your adventures. The VersaTop and VersaTop 2X house differently sized set-top accessories.
Included griddle is non-stick and ready to cook with a True Seasoned coating. The VersaTop grill is ready to cook out of the box. It comes standard with a removable griddle top. The slim, compact design makes it easy to bring on your next adventure. It stores and transports easily. With the backcountry comes uneven ground. Uneven ground means a slanted cooking surface. Even out your unit’s surface by adjusting the leg levelers beneath the unit. This unit features a Low, Medium, and High heat output knob. Adjust the heat based on what you’re cooking—this isn’t a one size fits all situation! Clean-up is a breeze with the included griddle grease drain. You’ll go multiple meals without heavy duty cleaning as grease drains into a 24 oz. grease cup housed within the VersaTop body.”
First Impressions: Camp Chef VersaTop 2X
Fresh out of the box, the VersaTop 2X makes an excellent first impression. Packaging is neat and thoughtful with thick foam inserts protecting each component. Assembly takes less than 10 minutes even for someone unfamiliar with this style of grill. Immediately noticeable is the reassuring heft and stability of materials – powder-coated steel and cold-rolled steel construction that seems built to last. Little design touches like the thick plastic leg adjusters and sturdy disposition give me confidence this unit can withstand frequent packing up and travel.
I should mention that Camp Chef did send along a VersaTop Carry Bag which retails for around $30. I have yet to use it since I unfortunately have not been able to take this system on any trips. It may be a spoiler but I intend to purchase the VersaTop 2X and this coming year I plan on using this system a lot so you can expect a deep review down the road.
Cooking Time: Camp Chef VersaTop 2X
Jumping into actually cooking and using the VersaTop in action I should say that this baby gets HOT. The griddle heats super evenly and even at the low setting it feels like it holds heat very well. I regrettably do not have a fancy pants laser thermometer (again this will have to be something I play with down the road) but it felt like it did not matter how cold or room temp something was that got slapped on this thing. It never seemed to waiver. This is all not to say it was too hot, just that it was consistent even on the windy day I cooked smash burgers outside.
Attaching the propane and regulator is super simple. The leg adjusters feel a little cheap and are challenging to get at if a change in leveling is required on the fly but they work well and nothing has warped or been damaged. The heat knobs/starter are super user-friendly and reactive. Lighting this has yet to be a challenge.
No one needs a recipe spiel from me so I will skip that park but the christening of this fine cooking implement was with smash burgers. I applied avocado oil to the griddle before slapping down several patties at a time, smashing them all. Again there did not seem to be any cold spots whether something was in the left, right, or center. Nothing stuck when it was not supposed to and clean up afterwards was as simple as a soapy wipe down and a splash of some oil.
On a separate occasion, I cooked Reuben sandwiches for lunch inside since it was pretty cold out. This is a necessary mention since it was perfectly useable inside. I would recommend normal care while working with cooking items and fire in a building. There was no propane smell or leakage. The base did not get super hot or burn the surface it floated above. Everything worked great. Again easy to manage, large evenly hot surface, and is a breeze to clean and pack up in minutes.
Final Thoughts: Camp Chef VersaTop 2X
It’s hard to say how long a bottle of propane would last but a set of three for a camping trip would be my pick. This is great for just about everything you need. You can cook up some flapjacks, burgers, eggs, and a pile of hash browns, heck I bet you could cook a half-decent steak on it. I could say the possibilities are endless but that would only be true if you also had the other interchangeable heads for the VersaTop 2X. That would really make this a do-all. After extensive at-home testing, I can confidently recommend the Camp Chef VersaTop 2X as a high-quality portable propane grill option. It provides versatile functionality with an interchangeable griddle surface and a wide range of compatible accessories. I found it easy to use and clean, with great cooking performance for the price. If you’re looking for an affordable, durable portable cooking solution, the Camp Chef VersaTop 2X is hard to beat.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Camp Chef for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their VersaTop 2x. That is always greatly appreciated. The last question that remains is what do you think? Is the VersaTop 2x something you would be willing to invest your money in? Would you use it for a camp grill? What would be the first thing you’d cook on it? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
