Yes. A portable generator, a power inlet, and a listed interlock kit on the panel are a standard manual backup arrangement. You plug the generator into the inlet, start it outdoors, turn the main breaker off, slide the interlock, and close the generator breaker. Then you turn on only the circuits the generator can carry. It is cheaper and more flexible than a small essential-circuit transfer switch, and it is less foolproof.
r/Generator owners who already have a portable unit are often told to get an interlock, not a six- or ten-circuit transfer switch, so they can choose loads as the outage changes. The tradeoff is overload risk: there is no automatic load shed. If you close the electric dryer or the range, the generator breaker trips or the voltage sags.
The kit must be listed for your specific panel. The inlet and interlock need a permit in most places. See the 30- vs 50-amp inlet page, the carbon-monoxide placement page, and the generator calculator.
This is not a permit calculation, a utility approval, or a substitute for a licensed electrician, HVAC contractor, or the authority having jurisdiction. Panel Headroom is an independent educational site. It is not a utility, a certification body, or a contractor. Electrical and generator work that is done incorrectly can cause fire, shock, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Use the adopted electrical code and manufacturer instructions; pull permits where required.