Blackstone vs Cabelas Griddle: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

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Disclosure: I bought both the Blackstone 36″ and the Cabela’s 36″ griddle with my own money. Nobody paid me to write this comparison.

If you’re comparing the Blackstone vs Cabelas griddle, you’re looking at two 36-inch, 4-burner flat tops that share a lot of the same specs on paper. I’ve cooked on both of these for over a year — breakfasts for the family, smash burgers on weekends, stir-fry on weeknights. The differences show up in the details: grease management, accessory options, and what happens after six months of regular use.

Here’s what I found running them side by side.

Blackstone vs Cabelas Griddle: Quick Verdict

Blackstone 36″ is the better griddle if you plan to cook on it regularly. The rear grease trap works better than Cabela’s front-cup design, there are dozens of accessories available, and the online community makes troubleshooting easy. It costs more, but you get more.

Cabela’s 36″ is a solid pick if you want a reliable flat top at a lower price and don’t care about accessories. The build is straightforward — no-frills stainless steel body, cold-rolled steel cooktop, four independently controlled burners. It cooks the same food. But the grease management is basic, and you won’t find the same depth of aftermarket parts.

Blackstone vs Cabelas Griddle: Side-by-Side Specs

What I Noticed After Cooking on Both

Grease Management — Biggest Practical Difference

The Cabela’s griddle has a front-mounted grease cup. It works, but grease tends to pool on the cooktop before draining, especially if the griddle isn’t perfectly level. On a slightly uneven patio, I had grease running toward the front edge and dripping off the side instead of into the cup.

Blackstone’s rear grease channel routes everything to the back. Gravity does the work. After cooking a pound of bacon, the surface drains itself within a minute. I haven’t had a single overflow since switching to the rear-channel design. This is the one feature I’d pay extra for on any griddle.

Heat Distribution and Recovery

Both griddles hit 500°F across the center burners within about 10 minutes. The edges run cooler on both — that’s normal for any four-burner flat top. When I loaded up the Cabela’s with 20 smash patties at once, the temp dropped noticeably in the center and took about 90 seconds to recover. The Blackstone handled the same load in about 60 seconds. Not a huge gap, but I noticed it when cooking for a crowd.

Build Quality Over Time

After a year of use, the Cabela’s cooktop developed a couple of rust spots near the edges where seasoning had worn thin. Nothing structural — just surface rust that came off with a grill stone and re-seasoning. The Blackstone surface held up better, though I keep it covered and oiled regularly. The welds and joints on the Blackstone feel tighter. The Cabela’s side shelf has a slight wobble that developed after about eight months.

Accessories

This is where the gap is widest. Blackstone offers pizza oven attachments, air fryer add-ons, custom covers, griddle carts, and a full line of utensil kits — all designed to fit their models. Cabela’s sells a generic cover and basic spatulas. If you want to do more than basic flat-top cooking, Blackstone’s accessory ecosystem is the reason to go that direction.

Cabela’s Griddle Lineup

Cabela’s keeps their griddle selection tight. Their main offering is the 36″ Propane Griddle — a straightforward, no-frills flat top built for outdoor cooking without the premium price tag. It’s sold through Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s stores and online. If you’re near a physical location, you can see it in person before buying, which I always recommend for griddles.

Blackstone Griddle Lineup

Blackstone’s lineup runs deeper. The standard 36″ Griddle with Hard Cover is the most popular model and the one I’d recommend for most people. If you want more, the Select 36″ adds built-in cabinets for storage. The Iron Forged 36″ comes with a hood and thicker cooktop for heavier use. Each step up costs more, but the base model does everything most backyard cooks need.

Blackstone 36″ High-End Options

Select Series — 36″ with Cabinets

The Select model adds weather-resistant built-in cabinets underneath the cooktop. You get storage for propane, tools, and covers without needing a separate cart. Same 60,000 BTUs, same 768 sq in cooktop, same cold-rolled steel surface. The upgrade is mostly about convenience and aesthetics — it looks like a permanent outdoor kitchen piece.

Iron Forged Series — 36″ with Hood

The Iron Forged line uses a thicker cold-rolled steel cooktop and heavier-duty frame. The hood lets you trap heat for baking, roasting, or melting cheese on burgers without a dome. It’s the closest thing to a commercial griddle in Blackstone’s consumer lineup. If you’re cooking for large groups regularly, the extra weight and sturdier build are worth considering.

Blackstone Accessories Worth Knowing About

A few accessories changed how I use my griddle day-to-day:

• Pizza oven attachment: Converts the griddle into a pizza oven. I use mine about twice a month for homemade dough pizzas. Crust comes out crispy, toppings melt properly. Worth it if you make pizza at home.
• Air fryer add-on: Sits on top of the griddle surface. Lets you air fry without a separate appliance. Handy for fries and wings alongside whatever’s cooking on the flat top.
• Griddle toolkits: A good set of long spatulas, a scraper, and a squeeze bottle for oil. You don’t need the branded set — any heavy-duty restaurant spatulas work — but the Blackstone kits are convenient.
• Custom-fit cover: Essential if the griddle lives outside. The Blackstone cover fits their models perfectly. For Cabela’s, you’ll need a universal cover or a third-party option.

Who Should Buy Which?

Get the Blackstone 36″ if: You cook on your griddle multiple times a week, want accessories like a pizza oven or air fryer, and value having an active community to learn from. The rear grease system alone is worth the price difference if you cook bacon or anything fatty regularly.

Get the Cabela’s 36″ if: You want a solid flat top at a lower price, you’re cooking for smaller groups, and you don’t plan to add accessories beyond a cover. It makes the same food. You just won’t have the ecosystem behind it.

Bottom line from experience: For most backyard cooks, the Blackstone is the safer choice due to parts availability and community support. The Cabela’s is solid but harder to find accessories for.

Blackstone vs Cabelas Griddle: FAQ

Is the Cabela’s griddle the same as Blackstone?

No. While both are 36-inch, 4-burner propane griddles with similar specs (60,000 BTUs, cold-rolled steel cooktop), they’re made by different companies. The Blackstone uses a rear grease management system and has a much larger accessory lineup. The Cabela’s is a simpler design sold through Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s.

Can you use Blackstone accessories on a Cabela’s griddle?

Some generic accessories like spatulas, scrapers, and squeeze bottles work on any griddle. But Blackstone-specific attachments — the pizza oven, air fryer, and hood — are designed for Blackstone’s dimensions and mounting points. They won’t fit the Cabela’s griddle without modification.

Which griddle has better heat distribution — Blackstone or Cabela’s?

Both distribute heat similarly across the center of the cooktop. The edges run cooler on both — that’s standard for four-burner flat tops. In my testing, the Blackstone recovers temperature slightly faster after loading the surface with food. The difference is small but noticeable when cooking for a crowd.

Is the Blackstone 36″ worth the extra money over Cabela’s?

If you plan to cook on it regularly and want accessories, yes. The rear grease trap, broader accessory ecosystem, and stronger community support justify the higher price for most people. If you just want a basic flat top for occasional weekend cooking, the Cabela’s does the job at a lower cost.

How long does each griddle last?

Both should last years with proper care — keeping them covered, seasoned, and out of heavy rain. My Blackstone has held up better on the cooktop surface over a year of regular use. The Cabela’s developed minor surface rust at the edges after about eight months, which came off with a grill stone and re-seasoning. Neither had structural failures.

Conclusion

The Cabelas vs Blackstone griddle comparison comes down to what you need beyond basic flat-top cooking. Both make the same food on the same size surface with the same BTU output. Where they differ is grease management, build refinement, and the ecosystem behind the product. Blackstone wins on all three. Cabela’s wins on price. Pick the one that matches how often you cook and whether accessories matter to you.

Related Guides

• Best Outdoor Griddles 2026
• Griddle Cleaning Guide
• Seasoning Guide
• Griddle vs Grill Comparison
• Best Griddle Oils

I bought both griddles with my own money and have no affiliation with either brand. All specs are from manufacturer product pages and my own measurements.

Mike is an outdoor cooking enthusiast and founder of GriddleKing with over 15 years of grilling experience. He tests grills and griddles in real backyard conditions and writes from hands-on use.