How can I create a small patio without a lot of digging and expense?

The easiest providing the area is level is Patio blocks.

Hi Booklady. PLEASE DON'T USE PALLETS UNDERNEATH A GRILL! This is definitely a fire hazard.

I actually made a small patio for my sister without a lot of expense or effort. Here is the link.

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/fireplace/fire-pit-upgrade-for-under-25-36859637?r=2

Brick or pavers.

I made a seating area against the front of the house when we took out the sad shrubs that were growing their when we moved in. All I used was cheap 0.99 cent pavers from menards and garden cloth. We removed the shrubs, you would probably remove grass, tamped it down real well and fairly level. Decide on how deep you want them. Lay one down, you can tell if it is level, it will be solid, you can scrape away or put some back on low and high points. We put the next one down, made sure it was level and level with the side of the one that is down, and continued until we had the area we wanted paved was level. We put them real close together so that we didn't need to bother with sand between the pavers. Once the pavers were all down, level and solid (no rocking when the edges are stood on), We lifted them by rows and put down the garden cloth to keep away weeds. We are on our third season with the seating area and it is still solid. Hubby is in his seventies and I am in my sixties. Just take your time, it doesn't have to be done all at once, do as the weather permits and take frequent breaks when it is hot and humid.

Put pea gravel down. Put up a edging to keep gravel out of grass. Put weed block down before pea gravel. Bricks are good but its back braking job to get ground level & then weed block. You are to add sand but 15 yrs ago my son & I layed over 1500 bricks without sand & it held up. We did 2 areas. That was in a funny shape. Good luck.