Abstract: A protective guard for an outdoor grill is provided, comprising a support strip and a plurality of protective spars. The support strip conforms to the outer perimeter of the grill's kettle, and is mounted onto the kettle, generally horizontal to the ground. The protective spars are connected to the support strip, and suspend downward from the support strip towards the ground, along the outer surface of the kettle. The apparatus provides a lightweight, removable barrier around the kettle, to prevent humans or household pets from coming into contact with the hot outer surface of the kettle. The apparatus is simple in design, with relatively few parts, and is easy to manufacture. The apparatus is also easy to assemble, and can be modified to fit any of a number of different sizes or shapes of barbecue grills, as an add-on accessory.