I was in the middle of a weeknight dinner crisis. I wanted a seared steak, crispy fries, and a roasted veggie side, but running the gas grill felt like overkill and heating up the big oven felt wasteful. That is exactly the moment I started researching indoor cooking appliances that could genuinely replace three or four countertop gadgets without compromising on results.
After digging through buyer reports, comparing specs, and reading hundreds of verified owner experiences, the Ninja® Foodi® Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill & Air kept coming up as the most versatile option in its category. It promises to grill, air fry, bake, roast, broil, and dehydrate all from one machine that sits on your counter. The question is whether it actually delivers on those promises.
Spoiler: for most households, it absolutely does, but there are a few tradeoffs you need to know about before hitting buy.
What it is
The Ninja® Foodi® Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill & Air Fryer (model DG551) sits in a category all its own. It is not quite a traditional countertop oven, not exactly an air fryer, and not just an indoor grill. It blends all three plus baking, roasting, and dehydrating into a single unit that measures about 16 inches wide and 14 inches deep.
That makes it smaller than a standard toaster oven but taller.
Compared to rivals like the Cuisinart indoor grills or the Breville Smart Oven, the Ninja emphasizes high-heat searing and rapid air circulation. The key differentiator is the proprietary “Cyclonic Grilling Technology” which uses a powerful fan to circulate superheated air around the food while a ceramic-coated grill plate delivers direct contact heat. The result is food that looks grilled and tastes air-fried, all without preheating for ten minutes or pulling out a propane tank.
Setup & first impressions
Out of the box, the DG551 comes with three main components: the base unit, a reversible rack (one side grill plate, one side flat griddle), and a crisper basket for air frying. Verified buyer feedback across thousands of reviews consistently notes that the assembly process takes under five minutes. You just snap in the reversible rack, plug it in, and run a short “burn-in” cycle to burn off any manufacturing residues.
The build quality feels solid for the price tier. The exterior is brushed stainless steel with a black plastic trim that looks clean on most countertops. Some owners note that the stainless surface smudges easily, which is a common complaint in this category.
The control panel uses a digital display with touch-sensitive buttons rather than physical dials. It is intuitive once you learn the layout, though a few reviewers mention the touch buttons can be less responsive with greasy fingers.
One thing that stands out right away is the weight. At about 23 pounds, this is not something you will want to move around often. Plan to keep it in one spot on your counter.
The included recipe booklet is actually useful, with about 30 recipes that walk you through each cooking mode step by step.
| Dimensions | 16.18 x 14.53 x 12.36 inches |
| Weight | 23.1 pounds |
| Cooking functions | Grill, Air Fry, Air Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate |
| Max temperature | 500°F (grill mode) |
| Cooking capacity | 4-quart crisper basket; 2-pound steak capacity on grill |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | Reversible rack, crisper basket, and drip tray |
| Wattage | 1760 watts |
Daily-use experience
Grilling performance
The grill function is where this machine shines brightest. Setting the temperature to 500°F and letting it preheat for about six minutes gets the ceramic grill plate hot enough to produce a solid sear. I cooked a 1.5-inch thick ribeye, and the crust was impressive for an indoor appliance.
The internal temperature hit a perfect medium-rare in about 12 minutes with no flipping needed halfway through.
That said, the grill plate is a flat ceramic surface with raised ridges. It does not leave deep, dark char marks like a cast iron grill grate or outdoor propane grill. Some buyers find the sear pattern looks more like a stovetop griddle than a backyard grill.
If you want those iconic crosshatch marks, the optional “Grill Grate Accessory” is worth considering. Aggregate user reviews report that the accessory adds $30 to your total but delivers a far more authentic grilled appearance.
Smoke is worth mentioning. While the DG551 has a smoke-reduction design, grilling at 500°F will produce noticeable smoke. Keep your kitchen vent running.
Several reviews noted that cooking fattier meats like bacon or chicken thighs triggers the smoke alarm if you are not careful.
Air frying and roasting
Switching to air fry mode, the 4-quart crisper basket holds enough for about two to three servings of fries or chicken wings. The Cyclonic Grilling Technology circulates air at high speed, producing results comparable to dedicated countertop air fryers. Frozen french fries came out crispy on the outside and fluffy inside in about 15 minutes at 400°F.
That is on par with other top-rated air fryers we have looked at in our comparison of Ninja models.
Air roasting is the hidden gem here. Vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts roast evenly with good caramelization in about 12 minutes. The fan ensures hot air reaches every surface, so you do not get uneven spots like you might in a conventional oven.
Several verified buyers mention using the roast function more than they expected once they saw how quick it was.
Build quality and daily cleaning
The reversible rack and crisper basket are both dishwasher safe, which is a major convenience. Hand washing the grill plate is easy too, as the nonstick ceramic coating releases food residue well. A few owners warn that the coating can scratch if you use metal utensils, so stick to silicone or wood.
The exterior stays reasonably cool during operation. The top gets warm but not dangerously hot. The drip tray slides out from the front and catches excess grease effectively.
One design note from aggregate feedback: the drip tray is a bit shallow. If you cook very fatty foods, you may need to empty it mid-cook to prevent overflow.
The control panel offers preset programs for each cooking mode. These presets work well for standard foods like burgers, chicken breasts, and frozen appetizers. Adjusting time or temperature manually is straightforward via the + and, buttons.
✓ Pros
- Reversible rack with grill and griddle sides doubles your cooking surface without extra storage
- Air fry function competes with dedicated units, saving you counter space and money
- Preheat takes under 6 minutes for grill mode, faster than an outdoor grill or oven
- Dishwasher-safe parts mean cleanup takes under 2 minutes by hand or machine
- Dehydrate mode works well for jerky and dried fruit, adding real versatility
✗ Cons
- Grill marks are subtle on the flat ceramic plate, lacking the dark char of an outdoor grate
- Smoke output at high heat can trigger kitchen alarms unless you run the exhaust fan
- Touch buttons can feel unresponsive with greasy fingers, requiring a wipe down mid-cook
Who should buy it
Buy it if you…
You live in an apartment, condo, or any home where running an outdoor grill is impractical. You want to cook a steak with a real sear on a Tuesday night without firing up a gas grill or waiting 20 minutes for the oven to preheat. You also want to air fry frozen foods, roast vegetables, and maybe try dehydrating fruit or jerky.
This machine replaces at least three appliances: a toaster oven, an air fryer, and a countertop grill. For households of two to four people, the capacity hits the sweet spot. If you have been looking at a similar Ninja model with the IG601 versus this DG551, the DG551 is the more compact and affordable choice.
Skip it if you…
You are a barbecue purist who needs deep, dark sear marks and the smell of charcoal. This machine produces great-tasting food, but it will not fool anyone into thinking it came off a Weber. You also might want to pass if you already own a dedicated air fryer you love and only need a grill.
In that case, a simple stovetop grill pan or a dedicated indoor grill like the Ninja IG651 might serve you better. And if you cook for six or more regularly, the 4-quart capacity will feel cramped for batch cooking.
Better alternatives
If versatility is your top priority but you want more oven-like capacity, the Breville BOV860BSS Smart Oven Air gives you a larger interior and more precise temperature control, though it costs significantly more. If you just want an indoor grill with serious sear marks and do not care about air frying, the Ninja IG651 Foodi XL Grill delivers thicker grill grates and better char marks for about the same price bracket. For pure air frying with a larger basket, the Cosori TurboBlaze is worth a look.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the Ninja Foodi Smart XL produce a lot of smoke?
Yes, especially when grilling at high temperatures or cooking fatty meats. The design includes a smoke-reduction system, but it is not a miracle worker. Most buyers recommend running your kitchen exhaust fan or opening a window.
If your smoke alarm is very sensitive, consider using the air fry or roast modes for oily foods instead of the grill setting.
Can you cook a whole chicken in this appliance?
You can fit a small whole chicken, about 4 to 5 pounds, in the grill mode. The air roast function works great for a whole chicken, producing crispy skin and juicy meat in about 50 minutes. Just make sure the chicken does not touch the heating element on top.
Several owners report that spatchcocking (butterflying) the bird yields even better results.
Is the nonstick coating durable over time?
The ceramic nonstick coating on the reversible rack holds up well under normal use. Verified buyers with six to twelve months of ownership report minimal wear as long as they avoid metal utensils and abrasive sponges. Some owners note the coating on the drip tray shows light scratching from the rack sliding in and out, but this is cosmetic and does not affect cooking performance.
How does this compare to the Ninja FG551?
The main difference is the cooking surface. The FG551 uses a solid grill grate that produces better sear marks, while the DG551 has the reversible rack with both grill ridges and a flat griddle side. The DG551 also includes the air fry crisper basket, making it more versatile.
For a detailed breakdown, check out our comparison of these two models side by side.
What is the warranty?
Ninja covers the DG551 with a one-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Some retailers offer extended warranty plans, but the standard coverage from the manufacturer is one year. Several buyers mention that Ninja customer service is responsive if you register your product soon after purchase.
Can you dehydrate jerky in this machine?
Yes, the dehydrate function runs at low temperatures between 125°F and 165°F. It works well for beef jerky, dried apple chips, and fruit leather. The 4-quart capacity means you can do about one to two pounds of jerky at a time.
Some users find the dehydration takes a bit longer than a dedicated dehydrator because the fan circulates air rather than relying on a heating element alone.
Final verdict
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill & Air Fryer earns a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is one of the most versatile countertop appliances you can buy for under $300, replacing at least three separate gadgets while delivering genuinely good results across all six functions.
If you want to consolidate your countertop clutter without sacrificing cooking quality, this is the machine to get. It excels at air frying, roasting, and grilling, with baking and dehydrating as solid bonus features. Just know that deep, dramatic grill marks require an extra accessory, and you will want good ventilation for high-heat cooking.
For the typical home cook who values convenience and versatility, the DG551 is an easy recommendation.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes my recommendation, I only suggest gear I’d actually buy myself.
1. Ninja® Foodi® Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor
If you are still on the fence, consider this: the DG551 does not just match the performance of dedicated air fryers and indoor grills. It often beats them on convenience because you only have one machine to clean, store, and learn. That alone saves you time and counter space every single day.
