Overview

A grill, a smoker, a griddle, and a pizza oven can swallow four corners of a patio. The Ninja FlexFlame is Ninja’s answer to that clutter — a single cart running a propane-and-electric hybrid, with propane supplying the heat while the electronics drive the digital controls and built-in pellet system. It’s pitched at anyone upgrading from a basic kettle or kamado who wants more cooking modes without buying more equipment.

The piece a standard gas grill can’t match is the integrated wood pellet hopper. Rather than adding a separate smoker for low-and-slow cooks, the FlexFlame feeds real wood smoke to whatever is already on the grates, then converts to a griddle surface or a pizza-stone setup for the rest of the meal — a real space-saver for Canadian backyards and condo patios where a separate smoker isn’t practical.

Key Specifications

Ninja FlexFlame Grill and Smoker Cooking Versatility

The headline feature is running five cooking styles through one unit: direct grilling, wood-pellet smoking, indirect roasting, flat-top griddling, and pizza baking on a stone insert. SharkNinja’s official product page lists a main grate capacity that fits up to three 7-lb chickens, four racks of ribs, 18 four-ounce burgers, or 14 ten-ounce steaks at once — enough for a full backyard party without staggering cook times.

The pellet hopper is the part that actually changes what the grill can do, not just how it’s marketed. Instead of needing a dedicated pellet or offset smoker for low-and-slow cooks, the FlexFlame layers real wood smoke into a normal grilling session, then the same unit switches to a flat griddle surface for eggs and pancakes the next morning. For someone weighing a charcoal kamado purely for smoke flavor, this covers that use case plus several more from one footprint.

Temperature Control and Speed

The digital control panel dials in an exact target between 200°F and 600°F rather than relying on vent adjustments the way charcoal grills do. In independent testing published by Girls Can Grill, the unit reached 500°F in about six minutes and twenty-two seconds with all three burners on high and the lid closed — a fast preheat for a unit this size, and notably quicker than most charcoal setups need to reach searing temperatures.

The 37,000 BTU output across three burners gives enough headroom for both a hard sear and a gentle, sub-250°F smoke session without swapping equipment. The trade-off is that hitting exact low temperatures for extended smoking sessions takes more attention to the pellet feed than a purpose-built pellet smoker, since this unit is a hybrid rather than a dedicated smoker.

Build Quality and Setup

At roughly 130 lbs with a stainless steel body, the FlexFlame feels closer to a built-in outdoor kitchen component than a portable grill. According to SharkNinja’s product specifications, the housing and grates are designed to handle sustained high-heat searing alongside long smoke sessions without warping, and the digital control panel is rated for regular outdoor use.

Setup requires connecting a standard propane tank and running the initial burn-in the manufacturer recommends before the first cook — a longer first-use process than lighting a charcoal chimney, but a one-time step. The weight and footprint mean this is a grill that lives in one spot on the patio rather than one that gets wheeled in and out of a garage each season.

How Does It Stack Up Against the Competition?

Here’s how the FlexFlame’s price and cooking modes compare against a classic charcoal kettle, a portable kamado, and a premium dedicated pellet smoker.

Is the Ninja FlexFlame Grill and Smoker Worth It?

The FlexFlame makes the most sense for someone replacing multiple outdoor cooking appliances with one — a grill, a smoker, a griddle, and an occasional pizza night — rather than someone who just wants to sear steaks on weekends. The fast preheat, wide temperature range, and genuine wood-pellet smoke flavor put it well ahead of a basic gas grill on capability.

Buyers who only need straightforward grilling, or who prefer the lower cost and simplicity of charcoal, will get more value from a Weber kettle or a compact kamado like the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. — both cost a fraction of the FlexFlame’s price. Anyone set on dedicated, high-volume pellet smoking specifically should also compare it against a purpose-built smoker like the Traeger Ironwood XL before buying.

Still comparing grilling gear options? See our Best Summer BBQ Grilling Gear guide →Still comparing grilling gear options? See our Best Summer BBQ Grilling Gear guide →

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Sarah MitchellSenior Editor 𝕏

Sarah has spent more than a few decades — she's not saying how many — in home design, with a sharp eye for products that deliver real quality without the inflated price tag. Her passion is finding the hidden gem that makes everyday life genuinely better.

Content produced with AI-assisted research — editorial policy →