Ninja FlexFlame Review (2026): Is This 5-in-1 Grill Worth It?

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What Is the Ninja FlexFlame PG301?

The Ninja FlexFlame PG301 is a full-size, three-burner propane grill with an electrically powered digital controller, convection fan, and small wood-pellet smoke box. Ninja promotes five outdoor cooking uses: grilling, smoking, roasting, griddling, and making pizza.

That description needs one important clarification. The control panel has four main cooking settings—Grill/Pizza, 2-Zone, Roast/Bake, and Low & Slow. The Woodfire smoke feature can be added to those settings. “Five-in-one” describes the jobs the cooker can perform, not five completely separate burners or cooking chambers.

The FlexFlame is also different from Ninja’s smaller electric Woodfire grills. Propane supplies the main cooking heat here. Electricity runs the digital controls, fan, and supporting technology. You therefore need a standard 20-pound propane tank and a grounded, outdoor-rated electrical connection.

Ninja FlexFlame Specifications That Matter

Specification warning: Retailers sometimes combine the 424-square-inch main grate with the 120-square-inch upper rack and advertise 544 total square inches. That is not necessarily a contradiction; it is a different way of counting the cooking space.

How Does the Ninja FlexFlame 5-in-1 System Work?

Grill and Pizza

This high-heat setting uses the grill’s three main burners and supports temperatures from 450°F to 600°F. It is the primary choice for steaks, burgers, chops, vegetables, and pizza. Pizza requires the optional stone or another compatible setup approved for the grill.

2-Zone Cooking

The 2-Zone setting creates a direct-heat area and a cooler indirect area by leaving one burner off. Unlike many conventional gas grills, the FlexFlame burners run left to right, so the zones are arranged from the front toward the back. That layout may take a little practice if you are used to side-by-side zones.

Roast and Bake

Roast/Bake combines propane heat with circulating air. This mode is one of the FlexFlame’s strongest reasons to exist: the convection fan moves hot air around the covered cookbox, helping with browning and more oven-like cooking. It can be useful for poultry, casseroles, breads, and other foods that benefit from indirect heat.

Low and Slow

Low & Slow is intended for barbecue temperatures. The controller selects the burner arrangement while the fan circulates heat and any smoke generated by the pellet box. The advertised range starts at 200°F, but outdoor temperature, wind, and the grill’s own heat output can affect how low it actually settles.

Woodfire Smoke

The removable pellet box burns a small amount of food-grade barbecue pellets. The fan then carries smoke through the cookbox. This is a smoke-adding system, not a full-size pellet hopper with an auger and hours of unattended fuel capacity. Expect to monitor the pellet supply during a long cook.

What Did Independent Testing Find?

Because we did not personally cook on this unit, we compared Ninja’s documentation with detailed hands-on testing from AmazingRibs and Serious Eats. Their findings agree in several important areas but differ on some details.

Where the Testers Agreed

• It heats quickly. The fan-assisted design brought the grill to high temperatures faster than many traditional gas grills.
• It grills well. Both reviews reported good browning or searing on common grilled foods.
• The convection fan is useful. It circulates heat, supports more even cooking with the lid closed, and helps crisp food.
• The fan is loud. Noise is a real tradeoff, not a minor footnote.
• The griddle and pizza functions can work well. They also require accessories that may not be included with the base model.
• Smoking is the weak point compared with a dedicated smoker. Neither test found the same depth of smoke performance a serious barbecue buyer should expect from purpose-built equipment.

Where Their Experiences Differed

AmazingRibs found the packaging and assembly instructions clear, while Serious Eats reported that assembly took more than an hour. One test considered ignition dependable after learning to hold the pilot control long enough; another found the ignition dial finicky.

The smoke tests also produced different problems. AmazingRibs reported attractive ribs but only light smoke flavor, with the Low & Slow setting running hotter than desired in mild weather. Serious Eats encountered pellets flaring in the smoke box during a cold-smoking test and disliked the resulting aroma. These are individual test results, not proof that every unit will behave exactly the same way. Together, though, they are a good reason not to buy the FlexFlame primarily as a replacement for a dedicated smoker.

Is the Ninja FlexFlame a Real Smoker?

It can burn wood pellets and circulate actual smoke around food, so calling it a smoker is not merely marketing. The more useful question is whether it is the right smoker for your expectations.

For ribs, chicken, vegetables, burgers, or a roast that needs an extra layer of wood flavor, the built-in system is more convenient than balancing a foil pouch on a burner. For long brisket or pork-shoulder cooks, the small pellet box requires more attention, and the propane flame remains the primary heat source. The result may have lighter smoke flavor than food cooked for hours in a dedicated smoker.

The independent reports also show why buyers should resist guarantees such as “always produces a smoke ring” or “replaces a pellet smoker.” Smoke flavor and ring formation depend on meat temperature, moisture, wood, combustion quality, airflow, and cooking time. A smoke ring is not by itself proof of stronger flavor.

What Is Included, and What Costs Extra?

Bundles vary by seller. Compare the model number and the written “in the box” list instead of assuming that every photograph shows included accessories.

Ninja FlexFlame Pros and Cons

Who Should Buy the Ninja FlexFlame?

Buy It If…

• You want a capable propane grill but will genuinely use roasting, griddling, pizza, or smoke features.
• You prefer selecting a temperature on a digital display over adjusting three burner knobs by feel.
• You have limited patio space and would rather own one versatile system than several cookers.
• You enjoy trying different outdoor cooking styles but do not want to manage charcoal or an offset-smoker fire.
• You have a convenient, grounded outdoor electrical connection.

Skip It If…

• You mainly grill burgers, steaks, hot dogs, and chicken. A conventional gas grill can do those jobs with less complexity and often a lower cost.
• Your main goal is deep barbecue smoke flavor or long, unattended pellet-smoking sessions.
• You cook where electricity is unavailable or unreliable.
• You want natural-gas compatibility, app control, or integrated food probes.
• You dislike fan noise or want the fewest possible electronic parts outdoors.

Is the Ninja FlexFlame Worth the Money?

The base PG301 has recently been listed by Ninja around the $1,000 mark, but grill prices and bundles change. Treat that figure as a comparison point, not a guaranteed price.

Its value depends less on the number printed on the price tag than on the number of functions you will actually use. If the FlexFlame prevents you from buying a separate gas grill, griddle, and pizza cooker—and you are satisfied with moderate smoke capability—the all-in-one design can make financial and storage sense.

If you only need a gas grill, you are paying extra for a fan, digital system, pellet box, and accessory ecosystem. If smoking is the priority, put the same budget toward a dedicated smoker and a simpler grill. The FlexFlame wins on consolidation and convenience, not on being the cheapest gas grill or the strongest smoker.

What Should You Check Before Ordering?

1. Confirm the exact model. This review covers the standard PG301, not the PG305 ProConnect smart model.
2. Read the bundle list. Do not assume the griddle, pizza stone, cover, tank, or extension cord is included.
3. Measure your space. The unit is roughly five feet wide with its side tables extended.
4. Locate power. Plan for a grounded, outdoor-rated electrical connection and follow Ninja’s cord guidance.
5. Plan delivery and assembly. At about 130 pounds, the firebox should not be treated as a casual one-person lift.
6. Read the current warranty terms. Ninja promotes a 10-year limited warranty, but coverage periods and exclusions can differ among components.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Ninja FlexFlame need electricity?

Yes. Propane creates the main cooking heat, while electricity powers the control system and fan. Ninja specifies a grounded, three-prong, outdoor-rated electrical connection and a standard 20-pound LP tank.

Can the Ninja FlexFlame be used as a normal gas grill?

Yes, but it does not operate exactly like a basic dial-only grill. You ignite the pilot, choose a cooking mode, and set a target temperature. The fan operates with the lid closed, so the cooking environment is more like a fan-assisted gas grill.

Does the base PG301 include a griddle and pizza stone?

Normally, no. Ninja lists griddle plates and the pizza stone as separate accessories for the base PG301. Some retailer bundles may include one or both, so verify the written package contents.

Is the Ninja FlexFlame good for smoking brisket?

It can cook brisket at barbecue temperatures and add wood-pellet smoke, but it would not be our first choice for buyers whose main goal is deep smoke flavor or long unattended cooks. Independent testing found a small pellet capacity and lighter smoke performance than a dedicated smoker.

How much cooking space does it have?

Ninja lists 424 square inches on the main cooking grate. Some retailers advertise 544 total square inches by also counting the approximately 120-square-inch upper rack.

Can the PG301 connect to natural gas?

The PG301 is sold as a liquid-propane appliance for a standard 20-pound tank, and a natural-gas version or approved conversion kit is not listed for it. Do not modify the gas system unless Ninja’s current written instructions explicitly authorize the conversion.

Is the Ninja FlexFlame fan loud?

Independent reviewers consistently described the fan as clearly audible, especially with the lid closed. The fan stops when the lid is raised, but buyers who want a quiet patio cooker should consider the noise before purchasing.

What is the difference between the PG301 and PG305?

The PG301 reviewed here is the standard FlexFlame without Wi-Fi or an integrated meat probe. The PG305 ProConnect is the connected model for buyers who want app monitoring and smart-cooking features. Compare the exact model number before checkout.

How We Researched This Review

We checked the current manufacturer product page and support information for model, dimensions, fuel, power, cooking area, included parts, temperature range, and warranty language. We then compared those claims with independent hands-on reports. Where testers disagreed, we reported the disagreement instead of turning one experience into a universal claim.

• Ninja FlexFlame PG301 product page
• Ninja PG300 Series owner’s guide
• AmazingRibs hands-on FlexFlame review
• Serious Eats hands-on FlexFlame review