8 of the Best Swivel Grills for Fire Pits: Campfire Cooking

Checking out eight of the best swivel grills for fire pit on the market today. Campfire cooking made easy.

Campfire cooking is easier with a swivel grill

A camping trip just isn’t a camping trip without a cooked meal over an open flame. The satisfaction and allure of campfire cooking just can’t be matched by any other cooking device. However, resting your grill on a lopsided bundle of burning firewood doesn’t bring much confidence that your steaks won’t end up in the ashes. 

Thankfully, you can take the risk out of cooking by using a swivel grill for fire pits. They’re easy to set up over any campfire and are fully adjustable so you can get your food in the perfect position for cooking.
With so many campfire grill models and options to choose from, we’ve taken some time to detail what sets each one apart. We’re breaking down the important features for you and ranking them on performance, durability and the all important question…..how many burgers can you fit on each grill? By the end of this read, you’ll know exactly which fire pit swivel grill is right for you!

Related: How to Smoke Meat in the Wild

Texsport Heavy-Duty Swivel Grill

This rectangular campfire grill grate is as basic as they come with only a couple of parts for installation. You’ve got the stake which is installed into the ground and the grill which gets connected to the stake and provides your cooking surface.

The grilling surface measures 24” x 16” which provides enough room to cook for a small family on a camping trip.

The 28” support stake allows for around 17” of height adjustment which gives a good amount of flexibility. 

With all parts being made of heavy gauge steel you can ensure that the Texsport Heavy-Duty Swivel Grill will live up to its name for durability. You can also rest assured that it won’t warp under high heat.

Campfire Grill Grate Size: 24” x 16”

Stake Length: 28” 

Burger Capacity: 12 🍔’s

Price: $$

Consumer Rating: 4.2 ⭐’s

Camp Chef Mountain Man Grill

This campfire grill is perfect for the camping family or if you’re having the neighbors over for dinner. It’s got loads of cooking space with a 16” x 18” swivel grill plus a 16” x 20” griddle. The unique Camp Chef Mountain Man Grill comes with a 16” x 20” charcoal box so you can cook on both the griddle and grill at the same time. Or use one to keep food warm. 

If you’re cooking a feast for a huge group you can even use the charcoal box as additional cooking space or to keep food warm while serving. The versatility of the Chef Mountain Man Grill is probably it’s greatest asset.

Equipped with a heavy duty steel stake that measures 41 inches in length, this monster is as durable as they come.  The swivel grill, griddle and charcoal box are likewise made from heavy duty steel that won’t warp from the high heat of the campfire.

With all that steel it’s easy to see why this piece comes in at 36 lbs which is a little heavy. But it does come with a nice carrying bag to help ease the transport.

Campfire Grill Grate Size: 16” x 18” grill, 16” x 20” griddle, 16” x 20” charcoal box

Stake Length: 41”

Burger Capacity: 18+ 🍔’s

Price: $$$$

Consumer Rating: 4.7 ⭐’s

Adjust-A-Grill

The Adjust-A-Grill is a nice small and lightweight fire pit swivel grill. It’s perfect for cooking for a small family on a weekend camping trip or warming some delicious breakfast burritos. At 16” x 16” for the grilling surface you can easily fit enough burgers and hotdogs to feed a family of four to six people. 

The heavy gauge steel stake measures in at 23 inches which is a little on the short side as it limits the amount of room you’ll have to adjust the height of the grill. However, you can replace the stake with a longer one if the height just isn’t meeting your expectations. 

This model has a turn handle locking mechanism to lock the swivel grill over the fire pit at the height you need. That’s a great feature to ensure your grill won’t turn or move unexpectedly, even if the stake hasn’t been installed perfectly straight into the ground. 

The handy carrying bag is an added bonus to this adjustable fire pit grill.

Campfire Grill Grate Size: 16” x 16”

Stake Length: 23” 

Burger Capacity: 8-9 🍔’s

Price: $$

Consumer Rating: 4.4 ⭐’s

Sunnydaze Fire Pit Cooking Grill – Dual Grill Swivel 

An absolute one of a kind swivel grill for fire pits! The Sunnydaze Fire Pit Cooking Grill has all the added features you didn’t know you needed, but will be ecstatic to have. 

There’s no worry about your cooking utensils ending up in the dirt of the campsite as this piece has convenient hooks across the top so you can hang your spatula, your knife and any other tools that need to stay close by your camp cooking station. There are a total of four grilling utensil hooks available. 

Aside from that little, but convenient touch, you’ll have two grilling stations with plenty of room to cook for the whole family. The lower grill is a 22 inch diameter round surface that’s great for the foods that need to cook a little closer to the heat source.

The upper grill is an 8” x 16” rectangle that can hold up to 20 pounds of food and is perfect for slow cooking foods that don’t need to be quite as close to the campfire. Both the upper and lower grills on the Sunnydaze Fire Pit Cooking grill are height adjustable as well as swivel so you can move food away from the heat as needed. 
The heavy duty steel construction is only one component to the durability of this grilling system. It’s mounting stake design includes a pointed arrow which adds stability in the ground.

Campfire Grill Grate Size: 22” diameter lower grill, 8” x 16” upper grill

Stake Length: 36”

Burger Capacity: 18-20 🍔’s

Price: $$$

Consumer Rating: 4.0 ⭐’s

Stromberg Carlson GR-1522 Stake and Grill

The thing that sets the Stromberg Carlson Swivel Grill apart from the others has got to be its versatility. The grill is fully removable from the support stake with an easy to grab chrome handle. Just pull it up off the support stake and you can carry your food over to the picnic table with ease. 

Another neat feature of this campfire grill is that, unlike other models, the grill itself is a chrome finish. In addition, the edges of the cooking surface are turned up so you don’t have to worry about your hotdogs rolling into the fire. 

With dimensions of 15” x 22” you’ve got enough grilling space to cook a good sized dinner. Bonus points since the whole system fits into a nice compact carrying bag. This  lightweight model is great for portaging as it reduces weight and eliminates the need for an extra plate.

Campfire Grill Grate Size: 15” x 22”

Stake Length: 36”

Burger Capacity:10-12 🍔’s

Price: $$$

Consumer Rating: 4.3 ⭐’s

Wimpy’s Swing-Away Campfire Grill

Design is in the details for the Wimpy’s swing-away campfire grill. Its unique system uses a hollow pipe for support. A cable is inserted through the pipe which then supports the swivel grill. 

The cable system allows the adjustable fire pit grill grate to be moved in one inch increments and is super easy to raise and lower. 

However, the coolest feature to this grill has to be its ability to rotate so you can get even heat distribution for your food. Give it a quick spin and it will continue rotating back and forth for around five whole minutes. That’s a solid feature that lets you kick back with a beer and watch your steaks cook to perfection.. 

It also comes with an extra long support stake so the handle never gets hot.
Each product is handcrafted in Wisconsin and is available on both Amazon and on the Wimpy’s store website. Check the link and watch the video to this fire pit swivel grill in action.

Campfire Grill Grate Size: 22” diameter

Stake Length: 61”

Burger Capacity: 10-12 🍔’s

Price: $$

Consumer Rating: 4.3 ⭐’s

Billy Bob Fire Pit Cooking Grate 

Durability, versatility and ease of use! Those are the words I think of when it comes to the Billy Bob swivel campfire grill.

It’s ground stake is made of ¾” rugged steel and measures 40 inches long for maximum support. 

This cook system doesn’t just come with a grill. It’s also got a dutch oven hook and a coffee pot hook so you can cook everything at one time. 

Another cool feature to this fire pit swivel grill is the way the grill and hooks attach to the support stake. They use a bent rod that quickly attaches to the stake but also won’t slip or move.

Each one is handmade in Montana with quality workmanship and the company backs their products. Find it on their website. I just love the rustic look to these grills and the craftsmanship is bar none.

Campfire Grill Grate Size: 12” x 12”

Stake Length: 40”

Burger Capacity: 6 🍔’s

Price: $$$$

Consumer Rating: 4.6 ⭐’s

The Adventure King Swing Fire Pit Cooking Grate

Another highly versatile model that offers loads of cooking space. The adventure king swing campfire swivel grill is a hybrid of sorts. It’s got an upper deck as well as a lower deck. The lower is half grill, half griddle so you can cook burgers or steaks on one half while veggies fry on the other. At 16” x 24” you’ll have ample room to cook for everyone in the family. 

The upper grill provides an additional 12” x 16” space for grilling hotdogs so you can get it all going at once. Both adjustable fire pit grill grates rotate 360 degrees.

If all that isn’t enough to impress, it also comes with two hooks for hanging a coffee pot or Dutch oven and of course all heights and rotations are fully adjustable.

You can find this campfire swivel grill on the Adventure Kings website.

Campfire Grill Grate Size: 12” x 16” upper grill, 16” x 24” lower grill/griddle

Stake Length: 46”

Burger Capacity: 18 🍔’s

Price: $$$$

Consumer Rating: 4.5 ⭐’s

Swivel Grill for Fire Pit Comparison Table

Related Post: have you ever tried cooking on a Swedish Fire Log? 

Things to look for in a swivel grill for fire pit

Material: A strong, durable material like heavy gauge steel will reduce the risk of bending or breaking and will last longer than other lighter swivel grills. They’ll also be able to hold more food. But if you prefer something more lightweight for packing and carrying a light metal with chrome finish works well.

Adjustment height: a swivel grill needs to be adjustable to be of any real use. If you can’t lower the height to get close enough to the heat nothing will cook. Alternately if food is too close to the fire it will burn. Being able to adjust the height on your swivel fire pit grill is a must. The more the better.

Support stake length: The support stake is the lifeline to ensuring you don’t have to eat your food out of the ashes. A longer stake doesn’t always mean more height adjustability. The number of grilling surfaces, their dimensions and materials will determine how deep the stake needs to be anchored into the ground. For every inch deeper into the ground, you’ve lost an inch of adjustment.

Cooking surface area: If you’re cooking for eight, you’ll need a lot more space on the grill than if you’re cooking for two. Make sure you can fit all your burgers on in one cook. Another sign of a good grill, especially if you like hot dogs and sausages, is a raised edge to prevent food from rolling off.

A tough and durable support stake: The stake is the support system for your swivel grill and will keep it from falling over into the fire pit. A strong material is important but don’t overlook the thickness or diameter of it either. A stake diameter of around  ¾” will be really solid. If it’s a little less it will work just fine as well. Just keep in mind that as the stake gets bigger it will be heavier and more difficult to pound into the ground.

Carrying Bag: A quality canvas carrying bag is ideal for holding and transporting your campfire swivel grill. Nylon bags are sometimes used as well, but don’t expect them to last as long as carrying around heavy steel with edges can easily cause tears.

Seasoning your grill

Most grills come with some form of paint or other finish that is coated on the steel. The first time you use your grill, the paint and oils will peel and burn off. Not a great spice to use on your first burger on your new grill. 

So do a test run at home over a backyard fire and let all of that stuff burn off. Then season the grill with your favorite oils so you’re ready to take it out on your first camping trip.

Installing a swivel grill in a fire pit

The depth that the support stake needs to be installed out will depend on your grilling model. If the grills are small and light, you may only need to put the stake a few inches into the ground. However, if you’ve got large grills and a dutch oven hook that will be holding heavy pots, you might need to get the stake down a foot or more. 

Soft ground will require a deeper stake compared to hard ground also. 

In any event you can pound the stake in using a rubber mallet or a hammer. If using a hammer it’s a good idea to place a block of wood over the stake so it won’t bend under the force.

Lastly, give the stake the old push test. If it feels solid, it probably is. If it moves around, go deeper.

Removing a swivel grill fire pit

This seems like a simple task and in most cases hopefully it will be. However, in hard ground it just might not want to pull out very easily. If that’s the case, try rotating the stake to loosen up the ground. If it still won’t budge you may have to dig around the stake to get it out.

Cleaning your fire pit swivel grill for transport

At the end of your camping trip you’ll want to pack the grill away to take it home. Cooking on it all weekend will likely have it a mess. To clean it up a little, scrape off any excess food while it’s still warm. Next, give it a light wash with warm eco friendly soapy water if possible and dry it with a towel. It should now be clean enough to store in the carrying bag.

Bring gloves or oven mitts

As with any metal product that’s been  applied to heat, the grill is going to get hot. REALLY HOT!! You might be tempted to touch the grill to grab some food or to adjust the height mid cook. Without some good oven mitts or a pair of work gloves, you’ll burn your hands.

So, which swivel grill is right for your fire pit?

Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the best fire pit cooking grates and swivel grills for your campfire it’s time to decide which is best for you. I think each one of these has its place depending on how much room you have to store it, how many people you’re cooking for and if it’ll be used at the campsite or permanently in the backyard.

Happy Campfire Cooking!

Swivel grills are a part of the cowboy campfire cooking equipment family which has a bunch of totally unique tools for cooking over a live fire. Check out this article to find more great equipment for cooking outside over an open campfire: Cowboy Campfire Cooking Equipment

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