Chap tucked into dish, then returned soldier's portable grill (10)
I believe the answer is:
salamander
'portable grill' is the definition.
(type of grilling appliance)
'chap tucked into dish then' is the wordplay.
'chap' becomes 'Man' (chap can mean a man).
'tucked into' is an insertion indicator.
'dish' becomes 'salad' (type of meal or dish).
'then' becomes 'er' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'man' inserted within 'salad' is 'salamand'.
'salamand'+'er'='SALAMANDER'
'returned soldier's' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for salamander that I've seen before include "Mythical fire lizard" , "Fiery spirit" , "portable stove" , "Lizard-like creature" , "amphibious creature" .)