Welcome back to Cooking For Profit, where today, we’re taking you on a culinary journey to the beautiful forests of Brown County. We packed up our Gilla Chimp portable pellet grill for a weekend getaway and put it through its paces to see if it deserves a spot in your barbecue arsenal. Spoiler alert: this little beast might just become your go-to for outdoor cooking.
My wife Melissa and I recently celebrated our 23rd anniversary, and what better way to mark the occasion than by retreating to a secluded cabin off the grid? We knew we’d be doing some serious cooking while we were there, so we decided to bring the Gilla Chimp along for some real-world testing. Before we dive into the delicious meals we prepared, let’s walk through the features of this impressive portable grill.
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A Closer Look at the Gilla Chimp
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Gilla Chimp is its sturdy stainless steel lid. Inside, the grill features an upper rack that’s easy to remove, providing flexibility depending on what you’re cooking. The main grate, also stainless steel, is a single piece but light enough to handle with ease. Beneath the grate, you’ll find a stainless steel grease diverter that channels drippings to a drip cup on the side—no more grease running down the front of your grill.
Speaking of the drip cup, it has plenty of capacity, so you won’t need to empty it after every cook. Just above it, the unit’s exhaust system efficiently channels smoke and heat out through two oblong holes on the right side of the grill—no bulky exhaust stack in sight.
The Gilla Chimp boasts a 15-pound pellet hopper, more than enough to fuel a weekend of cooking. We used this grill for Friday night dinner, all of Saturday’s meals, and still had pellets to spare. The primary appeal of the Gilla Chimp is its portability. With wheels on one side and sturdy legs on the other, this grill is easy to collapse and load into your truck. It features robust handles on each side, allowing two people to lift and move it effortlessly.
Easy Assembly and Setup
One of the things that impressed us most was how easy this grill was to assemble. There are only three components to attach: the side handle, the drip bar, and the lid handle. Everything else comes fully assembled, so you can be ready to grill in no time.
Putting the Gilla Chimp to the Test
Since this was an anniversary getaway, we started our weekend with a special dinner: beef ribeye steak. We seasoned the steaks with our signature barbecue rub and set the Gilla Chimp to 500°F for a perfect sear. Using the Fireboard Pulse Wireless thermometer, we monitored the internal temperature until the steaks reached 120°F, then moved them to the grill’s sear zone for those beautiful cross-hatch marks.
While the steak rested, we grilled shrimp skewers basted with butter. Cooking at 500°F, the shrimp were done in just a few minutes, making for an easy yet decadent meal in the woods.
The next morning, we flipped the grill grate to the griddle side for a classic breakfast of bacon and eggs. The Gilla Chimp’s pause feature came in handy here, allowing us to line up the bacon without the grill overheating. The bacon crisped up perfectly, and the slotted grate handled our over-medium eggs without any issues. After a sprinkle of our all-purpose seasoning, breakfast was served.
A Day of Slow Cooking and Hiking
For dinner, we brought along pork loin back ribs and set the Gilla Chimp to PR mode, which allows the pellets to smoke longer before igniting. We set the temperature to 250°F and let the ribs smoke for three hours while we explored the surrounding forest.
After three hours, the ribs were ready to be wrapped in foil with butter and a bit more barbecue rub. Two hours later, they were perfectly tender, with our Fireboard Spark reading between 203°F and 207°F. While the ribs rested, we cranked the grill up to 450°F and added some chicken wings to round out the meal. After about 45 minutes, the wings had a beautiful golden color, and dinner was ready.
Final Thoughts on the Gilla Chimp
So, what’s the verdict? The Gilla Chimp is more than just a portable pellet grill—it’s a versatile cooking machine that delivers big results in a compact package. Whether you’re searing steaks, smoking ribs, or griddling up breakfast, this grill can handle it all.
If you have a smaller family or limited space on your patio, the Gilla Chimp could easily be your primary grill. It’s perfect for camping, tailgating, or any outdoor adventure where you want the convenience of a pellet grill without sacrificing performance.
Thanks for joining us on this culinary adventure. I’m Gordon Ramsay from Cooking For Profit, and behind the camera is my lovely wife Melissa. Here’s to 23 years of great food and even better company. We can’t wait to see you on the next one!
Have you tried the Gilla Chimp, or are you considering adding it to your grill collection? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below. And if you’re ready to take the plunge, check out the links in the description to get the best deal on this fantastic portable grill. Happy grilling!
