Best Pellet Smokers for Grilling – Review and Buying Guide

You should certainly consider a pellet smoker if you’re searching for a versatile, easy-to-use cooker. While you won’t win any points with old-school pit masters, the ability to prepare an outstanding barbecue with ease makes a pellet smoker a highly appealing purchase.

The fuel for a pellet grill is wood pellets consisting of sawdust that have been compressed into the shape of a pellet. Pellets are tiny, yet they pack a punch. The pellets are constructed of a variety of woods, allowing you to add the smoke flavor of the precise wood you choose, says the manufacturer.

Though pellet grills can take up to 40 minutes to heat up and are often expensive, they’re easy to use and provide a set-it-and-forget-it mentality because you don’t have to constantly monitor the temperature by adjusting the gas or coals (or water levels in some smokers); plus, it’s challenging to overcook food at such low temperatures.

Pellet grilling has grown in popularity, as have the barbecues that enable it. These are the most excellent pellet grills and smokers you can buy, ranging in price from low to high. Don’t be alarmed if you see the terms “pellet grill” and “pellet smoker” used interchangeably. They are both referring to the same item.

Best Pellet Smokers for Grilling Overview

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS
Best Overall Best Overall Z GRILLS ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
  • Power Source : Wood Pellet
  • Weight: 84 lbs.
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Heavy Duty Heavy Duty Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
  • Power Source : Corded Electric
  • Weight: 102 lbs.
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Premium Pick Premium Pick Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Smoker for Grilling
  • Power Source : Corded Electric
  • Weight: 124 lbs.
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Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Camp Chef 24-inches Wi-Fi Woodwind Smoker for Grilling
  • Power Source : AC
  • Weight: 132 lbs.
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Camp Chef Smoke Pro Slide Pellet Smoker for Grilling
  • Power Source : Corded Electric
  • Weight: 145 lbs.
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Budget Friendly Budget Friendly Pit Boss 820 Wood Pellet Grill
  • Power Source : Wood Pellet
  • Weight: 141.1 lbs.
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Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker for Grilling
  • Power Source : Corded Electric
  • Weight: 49.86 lbs.
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8 Best Pellet Smokers for Grilling Review

Best Pellet Smokers For Grilling

This post is a review of the finest pellet smokers and grills available in the market to assist you. To help you smoke turkey or grill steaks for your friends and family, we’ve compiled a list of portable, multipurpose, high-end, and all-rounder pellet smokers.

1. Z GRILLS ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker – 6 in 1 BBQ Grill with Auto Temperature Control

Specifications:

  • Power Source: Wood Pellet
  • Weight: 84 lbs.
  • Other Specs: Advanced Wood Fire Technology, Huge Grilling Area & Hopper Capacity, Porcelain Coated Cast Iron

Before we go into it, I’m just going to note that it’s pretty crazy Z Grills can construct such a decent pellet smoker for such cheap.

There’s no doubting that the Z Grills 450A is amazing value, as one of our top budget smokers and finest pellet smoker for the money.

A pellet grill is the most convenient way to achieve wood-smoked flavors. You’ll notice the difference between it and a GAS or CHARCOAL grill once you try it. Once you’ve set the temperature, pellet grills will take care of the rest. There will be no time-consuming start-up. There will be no grill babysitting.

For reliable results, the PID technology maintains the lowest temperature possible throughout your cooking. This pellet grill can grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill with great hardwood taste thanks to its temperature range of 180° to 450° F. The 450A has 452 square inches of cooking space and infuses big flavors into your meals, making it ideal for small homes.

To manage the temperature, the digital temperature control adds pellets as needed. The majority of the time, they stay within 10 degrees of the designated temperature. Food is cooked uniformly and to perfection using convection heat distribution technology.

What We Like?

  • Automated electric feed system maintains the temperature from 180ºF to 450ºF
  • 20 lbs. capacity helps grilling in bulk
  • High-build quality
  • Easy to clean
  • Comes with free waterproof cover

What We Don’t Like?

  • There’s no Wi-Fi for remote control
  • No easy way to get unused pellets out of the hopper


2. Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

Specifications

Power Source: Corded Electric

Weight: 102 lbs.

Other Specs

  • Cookbooks including heat baffle and grease drain pan,
  • Cooking grate and warming rack,
  • Two meat probes & chimney,
  • Stand with preinstalled wheels,
  • Hopper and auger system,
  • Drip bucket

The Traeger Pro Series 22 has long been a popular mid-tier pellet grill that is easy to operate and offers excellent results.

It’s a budget-friendly model that’s also dependable, which contributes to its popularity.

A computerized thermostat ensures that pellets are fed as needed to keep your desired temperature. This one barbeque can grill, smoke, roast, and bake thanks to its wide temperature range.

The computerized control and automatic auger are at the heart of the Traeger cooking system. This combination allows even the most inexperienced pitmasters to hit and maintain a consistent temperature for smoking, baking, or roasting. There will be no more baffle or vent adjustments; instead, contemporary technology will make you look like a pro by automatically adding pellets as needed to maintain your target temperature and keep it within acceptable limits.

The Traeger Pro Series 22 pellet grill removes so much of the guesswork from low and slow grilling that it makes it accessible to anyone. You can smoke on this machine if you can load the pellets and set the dial. It’s the same with grilling, roasting, and anything else. It’s all a piece of cake using the digital controller. If you love to eat delicious food of all kinds, we highly recommend this grill.

What We Like?

  • Energy-efficient electric device
  • Hot and fast
  • So many ways to cook outdoors
  • Easy to switch between different flavor woods

What We Don’t Like?

  • Maximum temperature is about 450F, lower than many other grills
  • No proper internal insulation.


3. Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Smoker for Grilling

Specifications

Power Source: Corded Electric

Weight: 124 lbs.

Other Specs

  • Pro 2D controller
  • Extra Grill Rack
  • Hopper cleanout
  • Storage hooks for extra grill rack
  • Meat Probe

The Traeger Pro 575, like all Traeger barbecues, isn’t powered by charcoal or gas. Wood pellets, which are available at most home improvement stores, are used instead.

When compared to other wood pellet grills, as well as traditional gas or charcoal grills, the grill is equipped with a variable speed fan and auger, allowing for considerably better heat distribution and control.

The Pro 575 is the ideal size for a backyard griller. With 572 square inches of grilling space, you’ll be able to handle almost any chore. In fact, the company claims that it can simultaneously cook 36 burgers, six racks of ribs, or six full chickens. There’s space, enough for five-rib racks or 25 burgers. You can simply set the temperature and enjoy your day with the simple settings.

Their Pro Series 575 Grill has a rust-resistant body and is available in black or bronze. It offers 6-in-1 versatility by allowing you to bake, smoke, braise, roast, and BBQ on the grill in addition to grilling. To maintain stable temperatures throughout cooking, the grill employs 100 percent natural wood pellets.

It’s easy-to-assembled, made of heavy-gauge steel, rarely encounters technical difficulties and operates with more precision than any pellet grill below $2,000. Plus, it’s more pellet fuel-efficient than its competitors and comes in comfortably under the $1,000 mark and is regularly on sale. Traeger’s 575 grill is the benchmark for the pellet grill category.

What We Like?

  • Powerful and regularly updated app
  • Strong warranty, sturdy materials
  • Excellent wheels
  • Four built-in temperature probes
  • LED displays temperature

What We Don’t Like?

  • Storage or prep table should be better
  • No automatic start-up from the app


4. Camp Chef 24-inches Wi-Fi Woodwind Smoker for Grilling

Specifications

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 30 x 42 x 49 inches

Weight: 132 lbs.

Other Specs

  • WIFI enabled controller
  • Built-in two temperature probes
  • 2 PID Controller
  • Folding front shelf
  • Full color screen controller
  • Camp Chef Connect App compatible
  • Four stainless steel meat probes

The 24-inch Woodwind Pellet Grill includes a stainless-steel attractive shell with wheels for portability, exactly like the previous models.

It has 40 percent more chamber space than conventional pellet grills and comes with options for 20, 24, and 36-inch pellet grills.

Aside from that, you may choose between direct and indirect flames with a simple twist of the knob, allowing you to achieve temperatures of 160 to 650°F. The grill has four built-in meat probes that correctly measure and display the temperature of your meat on its digital LED.

Most crucially, the Wi-Fi and PID controller on this grill allow you to link it to the Camp Chef app on your phone. It allows you to monitor, set alert notifications, regulate, and change the smoke settings as needed. As a result, you can select a number between one and ten to determine the amount of smoke in your chamber.

Aside from that, the grill has a removable cup immediately below the grill for easy cleaning. With a single knob pull, it catches all of the ash, allowing you to dispose of it before cooking another batch of steaks or burgers. In addition, the grill includes a bottom and side shelf for holding utensils.

What We Like?

  • Large cooking capacity
  • Bottom and side shelf for storage
  • Remote smoke control through Wi-Fi
  • Easy ash clean-up
  • Four built-in temperature probes
  • LED displays temperature

What We Don’t Like?

  • No hook attachments
  • Small hopper capacity


5. Camp Chef Smoke Pro Slide Pellet Smoker for Grilling

Specifications

Fuel Type: Wood

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 40.5 x 25 x 22 inches

Weight: 145 lbs.

Other Specs

  • Adjustable second shelf
  • Built-in two temperature probes
  • 2 PID Controller
  • Folding front shelf
  • Large Capacity 811 Inches

The stainless-steel body of the Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro Slide Smoker makes it strong, stable, and long-lasting. You can use your grill for a long period because of its rust-resistant body.

The company has attached two caster wheels to two of the legs for easier mobility, despite the fact that it weighs roughly 145 pounds.

Aside from that, the grill has a slide and grill option that lets you smoke, roast, grill, or braise your meat. It has a second higher shelf in addition to the primary cooking space, giving you a total of 811 square inches of cooking space. In the 3788 cubic inch chamber capacity, the second shelf can be modified and removed.

Aside from that, the brand has included a digital temperature control with two stainless steel probes to assist you in keeping a check on your meat. An automated auger feeds wood pellets to keep the temperature between 175 and 400 degrees.

By just pushing the lever and collecting the ash in a cup below, you can effortlessly clean the ash. Furthermore, the grill makes it simple to switch out the wood pellets. To drop the contents of the hopper, you must hook the bucket in position and pull the lever.

What We Like?

  • Easy assembly
  • Sturdy construction
  • Convenient front-facing and side shelf
  • Easy ash clean-out
  • Efficient consumption of pellets

What We Don’t Like?

  • No hooks
  • Few users got a faulty temperature sensor


6. Pit Boss 820 Wood Pellet Grill

Specifications

Power Source: Wood Pellet

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 47.91 x 25.28 x 50.24 inches

Weight: 141.1 lbs.

Other Specs

  • Lame broiler for open flame searing
  • 820 sq. In cooking surface
  • Dial-in temperature control
  • 180-500 Degree cooking temperature
  • Cast-iron main grid

Pit Boss is probably the most popular budget-conscious pellet grill manufacturer, routinely offering grills with the space and appearance of more luxury pellet barbecues for a few hundred dollars less.

If this medium-sized back porch pellet grill doesn’t meet your demands, it’s a good idea to go through the company’s many other pellets grill possibilities.

We recommend the Sportsman 820 because it performs admirably for the price and size, and it comes with a 5-year parts warranty that covers electrical components, ceramic parts, steel parts, wood parts, and even the caster rollerblade-style wheels (which we liked.

However, this Pit Boss model does not include Wi-Fi control, so if you insist on controlling your pellet grill with your phone or another controller, look into Pit Boss’s Pro range, which is only available at Lowe’s.

Finally, the quantity of additional accessories and add-ons accessible to Pit Boss customers is a tiny bonus. Accessories like as a stainless-steel wing-smoking rack, sausage hooks, and other such items help the barbecue fit the griller more effortlessly.

What We Like?

  • Excellent mobility with roller blade-style wheels
  • 849 square inches of cooking space is a lot for the price
  • Beefy build quality

What We Don’t Like?

  • In and out of stock, price has shifted significantly high in recent years


7. Smoke Hollow PS40B Wood Pellet Grill

Specifications

Power Source: Propane

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 21.26 x 29.13 x 43.5 inches

Other Specs

  • Four chrome-coated smoking racks
  • 15, 400 BTU stainless Steel burner
  • Push-button ignition lights burner quickly and easily
  • Legs add height for easy access
  • Adjustable Air damper for moisture and smoke control

Master built is the manufacturer of this smoker. It has four tracks on which you may prepare your meals. As a result, there is adequate room to cook for a larger group. The racks are chrome-plated, making them durable and easy to clean.

The burner is equipped with an ignition system. You will need to press the button for the smoker to begin. It has legs that help it to stand and quickly access food. There are also air dampers in the smoker. They aid in the management of smoke and moisture in your food. Because of its lightweight, it is easily transportable.

You can take it with you everywhere you go and cook your favorite food in it. The propane gas tank, along with the smoker, maybe moved anywhere, allowing you to cook your favorite foods on the beach, while camping, or at house parties. Because of its lightweight, it is easily transportable.

You can take it with you everywhere you go and cook your favorite food in it. The propane gas tank, along with the smoker, maybe moved anywhere, allowing you to cook your favorite foods on the beach, while camping, or at house parties. By altering the needed temperatures, you will be able to prepare a wide range of foods. Meat, fish, veggies, and BBQ can all be cooked on it.

What We Like?

  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Air damper
  • Push-up ignition
  • Portable

What We Don’t Like?

  • Tricky to adjust the temperature


8. Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker for Grilling

Specifications

Power Source: Corded Electric

Weight: 49.86 lbs.

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 20 x 21.69 x 40.15 inches

Other Specs

  • Variable temperature control – easy dial temperature settings
  • Removable water bowl to add moisture and flavor
  • Wood chip tray slides out for easy ash removal
  • Three solidly built cooking racks included
  • Built-in temperature gauge

Without the inconvenience of charcoal or gas, you can obtain competition-ready results in your own backyard with the Masterbuilt 30 inch Analog Electric Smoker. Simply plug it in, configure the analogue settings, and let it handle the rest!

The three chrome-coated racks can hold up to three chickens, two turkeys, three racks of ribs. Masterbuilt will help you master the art of smoking. The huge smoker includes a chrome-coated all-steel exterior for long-term durability and good appearance.

Three strong cooking racks provide 536.3 square inches of cooking area on the inside. The insulated walls help retain the heat generated by the powerful 1500-watt heating element in the kitchen, and the thermostat regulates the temperature over the entire heating range of 100°F to 300°F.

What We Like?

  • Large space
  • Easy to clean
  • Built-in temperature gauge
  • Temperature control is easy with analog dial
  • consistent smoking

What We Don’t Like?

  • No side doors for adding wood chips


Things to consider to get Best Pellet Smokers for Grilling

Things to consider to get Best Pellet Smoker for Grilling

1. Durability and Construction Material:

Don’t be deceived by the appearance of a pellet grill. Even though there is plenty of stainless steel on the outside, the manufacturer may have scrimped and utilized low-cost materials on the inside, which will rust. The fire pot, flame deflector, drip pan, and grates are the most important parts of a pellet grill. If all of these components are constructed of marine-grade stainless steel, you’ll have a long-lasting cooker.

If you’re buying a grill that’s made of powder coated steel, make sure it’s a high-quality finish. Your cooker will rust and these components will deteriorate as soon as the paint blisters and crumbles.

2. Size of the Hopper

Your pellet cooker hopper is the receptacle that holds the pellets until the auger transports them to the fire-pot. As a result, the amount of your hopper determines how long your cooks can last. Since a result, choosing a hopper that is too tiny will be inconvenient to say the least, as your cooks will be unable to complete the task.

3. Pellet Smoker Clean-Up

When your grill lacks the necessary characteristics, cleaning it after cooking can be a real pain. Look for a grill with a grease management system or removable grease pans to make your life easier. Aside from that, several barbecues have ash removal and dishwasher-safe changeable grates for added convenience. Additionally, search for hoppers that make it simple to clean and replenish your wood pellets.

4. Temperature Setting

You can have the most intelligent temperature controls in your palm if you can afford expensive pellet grills. A PID controller can be installed on your grill to maintain the temperature perfectly. It might have an LED readout for the temperature, as well as sensitive meat probes and a temperature gauge.

Luxury and high-end grills, such as the RT-700 and Memphis Elite Grill, also have Wi-Fi temperature controls that you can operate with your phone.

5. Size and Cooking Capacity:

Pellet smokers come in a variety of sizes and costs, ranging from small portable units perfect for tailgating to massive 1000+ square inch cooking surface monsters. It’s pointless to spend money on a model that can cook four full-sized briskets if you’ll only ever cook for two to six people.

FAQs about Pellet Smokers

How To Use a Wood Pellet Smoker?

To begin, fill the hopper with high-quality natural wood pellets to the brim. While most pellet grills are compatible with any type and brand of pellets, some require special pellets from the manufacturer. Next, align your cooking grates inside the chamber to keep them in place, use the control panel to set your desired temperature, and connect it to a power source. Maintain a higher temperature if you want to cook quickly.

After that, you must start the grill. Press down on the auto-ignition button on your grill for a few moments if it has one. Otherwise, you can manually light the pellets with a lighter.

How To Maintain a Wood Pellet Grill?

After you’ve finished cooking on your favorite pellet grill, make sure to clean it to extend its life. Food and grease become trapped on the grill grate all the time, ruining the flavor of the next meal. As a result, you must wash them either before or after cooking your meat. To clean the grates before cooking, preheat the oven to 200 to 300°F and wait 10 minutes for the grease to melt. After that, scrub the grates with a brush to eliminate any remaining food particles.

What is a pellet smoker or grill?

A pellet smoker is a grill-smoker that uses compressed wood pellets as fuel. Most pellet smokers operate at temperatures between 150 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, making them ideal for low-and-slow barbecuing and grilled dishes that don’t require a quick sear (e.g., they grill chicken effectively but are not as proficient grilling steak). Electricity is used to power pellet smokers, so they must be positioned near an outlet (or a generator, if off-grid).

Are pellet smokers worth it?

Pellet grills are worth the money if you’re interested in smoky ribs, pulled pork, burned ends, chicken, turkey, or practically any other meat (or hardier veggies), as they completely erase the learning curve involved with manual smokers and smoking on a charcoal grill. This is accentuated by the ease of Wi-Fi controls, which are found in many mid-market pellet grills.

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