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HomeKitchen Tips

How to Start a Charcoal Grill

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By: IsabelPosted: 8/9/19

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclaimer.

How to start a charcoal grill in 6 easy steps! There’s no need to feel intimidated – the process is super easy! Follow these step by step instructions to get cooking!

Char Griller Texas Trio Grill with a chimney starter used to start a charcoal grill.

Do you have a charcoal grill but don’t know the first thing about how to light it? I’m here to help!

If you’ve never lit a charcoal grill before, it’s easy to feel intimidated but the process is actually super easy! Here’s my favorite way to light a charcoal grill. Just follow the step by step instructions below to get that fire going.

Watch the video below to see just how easy it is before you get started!

Tools you need

  • chimney starter
  • charcoal
  • wadded up newspaper or fire starter cubes
  • matches or a stick lighter
  • insulated heat-resistant gloves

How to Start a Charcoal Grill

Step 1: Open the lid and all the vents on your grill (there’s usually one on the bottom or side, and one on top). Remove the grill grates and set aside.

Hands removing grill grates from a grill.

Step 2: Fill a chimney starter with charcoal.

Charcoal briquettes in a chimney starter.

Step 3: Place wadded-up newspaper or one or two fire starter cubes onto the charcoal grates and place the chimney starter on top.

Newspaper and fire starter cubes used to start a charcoal grill.

Step 4: Light the newspaper or fire starter underneath the chimney and let the briquettes heat up for 12-15 minutes. Keep the grill lid open during this time.

A chimney starter filled with charcoal that's smoking.

Step 5: When the charcoal is lightly covered with ash, use a pair of heat-resistant insulated gloves and carefully press the latch on the chimney starter to dump the coals into the grill.

Lit charcoal being dumped into a grill from a chimney starter.

Step 6: Spread out the hot coals in an even layer for direct heat grilling, or in one half of the grill for indirect heat grilling. Carefully place the cooking grates back on, close the lid, and let the grill heat up to your desired temperature.

Lit charcoal spread evenly in a grill.

That’s it! Super easy, right? Now all that’s left to do is get cooking!

Grilling recipes you’ll love

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  • Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Easy Herb Sauce
  • Grilled Shrimp Tacos
  • Grilled Garlic Parmesan Wings
  • Grilled Corn Salsa
  • Easy Mexican Street Corn (Elotes)
  • Grilled Romaine Salad with Jalapeno Ranch
  • Carne Asada
  • Grilled Garlic Herb Shrimp Skewers
  • Juicy Chicken Kabobs

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Isabel Orozco-Moore, Founder of Isabel Eats
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i’m isabel

A first-generation Mexican American who loves to cook! Here at Isabel Eats, you’ll find a mix of all your favorite authentic Mexican recipes with a twist!

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