If you’ve ever wished for the convenience of gas but the flavor of charcoal, definitely check out pellet grills. They’re easy to use, efficient, and offer a new layer of creativity to your cookout with various flavor profiles imparted by the type of pellets you choose. Today, we’re taking a look at 10 of the best pellet grills on the market.
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The question is not “whether we will barbecue”, but “how we will barbecue”. And how better to do it than nice and slow? Smoky flavor, anyone? If this is music to your ears, you need a pellet grill.
Pellet grills are not a recent invention, but are all the rage lately. And with modern technology, we are certain that pellet grills offer an unmatched level of convenience.
Think about leaving your meat on the grill as you go to work, monitoring the progress of your cooking on your phone, and coming home to a smoky treat of meat falling off the bone. Yeah, we know, crazy times we live in, right?
But their real strength lies in the fact that very little skill is required to produce great BBQ. Unlike with gas or charcoal grills, where you have to regulate temperatures, a pellet grill does that on its own. This means that anyone can become a pit master without any experience. Ready to get started? Check out our recommendations below.
— Further Reading: The Best Grills Brands for Barbecue Perfection
The Best Pellet Grill to Buy Today
The following are reviews of the 10 best pellet grills you can buy today. Stay tuned for the buyer’s guide below to help you choose the perfect model for your needs.
1. Memphis Grills Beale Street Pellet Grill
Memphis Grills is a cut above the rest when it comes to wood pellet grills. Often called the “‘Tesla of pellets grills,” Memphis gives a touch of modern sophistication to all their products. Take the Memphis Grills Beale Street, for example.
With a stainless steel dual wall construction, this unit is definitely built to last. Couple that with heavy insulation for heat retention, and you will have a maximized grill performance, come rain or shine. There is never a dull moment with this one.
And you will be amazed at what the only 12 pounds pellets hopper can do. Although it is smaller than what you find in other full-sized pellet grills, it delivers up to 350 degrees of heat for 18 hours on a typical summer day. It can also hit an impressive 24 hours of cooking during low and slow cooking. If you want faster results, set it at its maximum of 550 degrees to sear your steak, but ensure enough fuel is available.
If you are excited about getting a technology-laden grill, Beale Street is the real deal. Download the Memphis app, connect it to your Wi-Fi network and control the grill from any location. And let’s not even get started on the intelligent temperature control that allows you to monitor the cooking process.
With the 427 sq. of cooking space, this grill will set you up for an unforgettable barbeque ride. But be ready to splash a little cash on this one.
2. Camp Chef Woodwind Pellet Grill
After more than 30 years, Camp Chef has finally made an entry into the pellet grill market, and with a bang. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the 3 in 1 woodwind serves as a smoker, grill, and oven.
Get the grill quickly up and running with the automatic ignition system and enjoy up to 811 sq. inches of grilling space. This is plenty to feed a hungry family.
Love a good sear on your meat? Crank up the temperature to 900°F and grill directly on the propane flame within the sear box.
The inbuilt Wi-Fi capabilities allow you to control the entire cooking process from your couch, work, or the grocery store. Set timers, change temperature, right from the palm of your hand, with the Camp Chef connect app.
If you are looking to purchase the very best at a fantastic bargain, you owe it to yourself to check out the Woodwind.
3. Traeger Ironwood 650 Wi-Fi Pellet Wood
Initially, you had to buy in the Traeger’s Timberline series to enjoy Wi-Fi connectivity. But thanks to the Ironwood 650 Wi-Fi-controlled pellet grill, you now have access to this and more features at a much lower price.
If you have a thing for slow-smoked pork chops, chicken or fish, the Iron Wood will impress you time and again. The constant temperature and absence of flame flare-ups results in evenly and perfectly cooked food. This is unlike gas or charcoal grills, where contention with open flames is the norm.
The Ironwood 650 utilizes hardwood pellets as fuel, allowing you to barbecue, roast, and smoke with a top pit-master’s proficiency. And don’t worry about having to keep feeding the wood into the smoker as the auger drive mechanism will take charge.
500ºF of cooking temperature is enough to grill anything that comes to mind, and you have 650 sq. inches worth of cooking area to do it your way.
The built-in Wi-Fi receiver allows you to control the Ironwood 650 remotely, so you can set timers, monitor temperatures, and receive alerts while you relax on the couch. Talk about “set and forget”!
4. Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill
The Traeger Pro 575 is among the best-selling pellet grills globally, and for good reason.
Featuring the D2 drive system with a brushless DC motor, this unit starts and heats faster than anything else in its price range. It also imparts a savory smoke quality, giving food an authentic char-grilled flavor.
With 575 sq. inches of cooking area inside the primary cooking space, you can comfortably grill whole chicken and pork ribs. Whether it is braising, smoking, roasting, or baking, the temperature range of 165ºF to 500ºF will help you ace it like a pro.
It gets better with the Wi-Fi-enabled temperature control system and a grilling app for hands-free control of the cooking process. Overall, the Traeger Pro 575 offers all the most modern accoutrements of cutting-edge pellet grills, but at a fraction of the cost due.
5. Memphis Grills Pro
Memphis Grills believes in bringing out the best of every cooking ingredient. And what better way to do it than to offer the best of a kitchen oven, smoker, real wood fire, and a BBQ grill all wrapped in one?
The Memphis Grills Pro comes with Intelligent Temperature Control that combines with four convection fans to cut cooking time and produce evenly done dishes.
Think about searing your burger over an immaculate direct flame that carries all the flavor that hardwood has to offer. But if you’d rather have a great pastry or well-done roast meat and veggies, true convection cooking will deliver just that.
And as you would expect, it also comes with a mobile application that connects to your Wi-Fi network enabling you to adjust the grill and monitor the food temperatures right from your smartphone or tablet, no matter where you are.
The Memphis Grills Pro is not a cheap buy, but it is made in the USA from the highest quality stainless steel guaranteeing many years of excellent service.
6. Pit Boss Copperhead 3 Series Vertical Pellet Smoker
The Pit Boss Copperhead 3 Series vertical pellet smoker comes with double-walled insulation and allows you to cook at temperatures of anywhere between 150 ºF and 450ºF. Fire up the pellet fueled smoker using the 300-watt igniter and enjoy up to 18 hours of cooking.
With 900 sq. inches of porcelain-coated cooking area, you can smoke anything that tickles your fancy. Monitoring the cooking process is easy because there’s a large view window fitted with an external heat indicator.
This means that you don’t have to keep opening the lid to check your food, keeping precious smoke and heat in. But the best part is that you can program and monitor the cabin temperatures on the LED display.
With the 35-pound capacity pellet hopper, you are assured of long hours of cooking. And thanks to the removable water pan beneath the cabinet, you can flavor your meat with your desired marinades.
7. Louisiana Grills Lg900c2 Wood Pellet Grill
After 20 years of being in the industry, Louisiana Grills definitely knows a thing or two about pellet grills, and the LG900C2 wood pellet grill is a testament to that.
For starters, this is a versatile masterpiece with a large heating capacity ideal for smoking, baking, searing, and roasting.
Designed to last, the LG900C2’s body construction is heavy-duty stainless steel with a powder coating for weather protection. Not to mention, the primary cooking grid comes with a porcelain coating for even greater longevity. You also get stainless steel for the upper grid that doubles as a warmer.
With the 900 sq. inches of cooking area, you can cook enough food for everyone without messing things up because Louisiana Grills throws in a digital temperature controller to keep you on top of your pitmaster duties. Of course, you can also keep tabs on the heat through the digital display or insert a meat probe into the grilling chamber.
With an electric ignition system, a flame broiler for direct flame searing of the meat, and excellent workmanship, this is one modern wood pellet grill that will undoubtedly impress you.
8. Z GRILLS 700D Wood Pellet Grill
Z Grills may be the new kid on the block, but the design team has over 30 years under its sleeves of designing pellet grills. If you doubt, you need to check out the Z Grills 700D wood pellet grill.
This BBQ wood pellet grill provides 700 sq. inches of cooking space so you can smoke, sear, grill, roast, braise, bake, and barbecue to your satisfaction. The cooking temperature here ranges between 180 °F to 450 °F, which you can control using the temperature knob on the digital electric controller. This is quite handy for novice cooks or busy mothers, as it eliminates hands-on monitoring of the cooking process.
The Z 700D comes with quality construction and a boatload of conveniences that are sure to impress you. If you love a smoky and tasty wood-infused flavor in your food, this is a good pick.
9. Traeger Timberline 1300 Pellet Grill
Traeger has manufactured pellet grills for over 30 years. To date, it continues to dominate the market, thanks to its extensive range of products that fit any smoking and grilling needs. And if you would like to get a hold of a pellet grill that is big enough to cater to a crowd, Timberline 1300 is your pick.
And why not! With a 1300 sq. inches of cooking area, you have the culinary world at your fingertips. Talk about convenience, with the D2 auger system which eliminates pellet jams and facilitates seamless feeding of the pellets into the fire pot.
You will love the versatility of this unit. A low-temperature range of 160-165 degrees will allow you to smoke your seafood, cheese, and sausages to perfection. Crank up the temperature to 500 degrees if you want to do a wood-fired pizza or sear your steaks.
Moreover, the Traeger WiFIRE technology allows you to grill, monitor, and set food temperatures from any location using the Traeger app.
The Timberline 1300 comes in heavy-duty stainless steel construction, so you never have to worry about corrosion or shoddy build.
10. Camp Chef SmokePro
If you find thrill in grilling and smoking, then you will love the Camp Chef Smoke Pro. Built with the home griller in mind, this pellet-fueled smoker comes with features that make outside cooking an incredible experience.
You’ll find a digital temperature readout here to eliminate guessing while cooking. There’s also an advanced temperature chip that maintains consistent cooking temperatures and more steady smoke. And yes, it can heat up to 500 degrees.
Like all the best pellet grills, the Camp Chef Smoke Pro comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can take charge of the cooking process from the palm of your hand.
Think about how much cooking you can achieve with the 811 sq. inches of cooking surface. If that is not enough to fulfill your wildest cooking dreams, there’s a side shelf for extra cooking space.
With a sturdy build, automatic pellet dispenser, and direct flame grilling option for searing your steaks, Camp Chef Smoke Pro brings the heat to any cookout.
Tips for Buying the Best Pellet Grill
Pellet grills are a hit, but that’s a double-edged sword as it has fueled the production of poor-quality grills. And don’t think that it’s easy to tell apart the good from the bad.
However, choosing the right pellet grill is easier when you know what to look for. Think about the following things:
Price
For the record, cheap is not affordable. While a cheap pellet grill might spare you a few bucks, it will cost you more in the long run, due to components breakdown and tear and wear. It is better to spend more and get it right from the start to avoid disappointments later on.
Whatever your budget is, choose a well-built pellet grill that guarantee’s excellent performance.
Construction
The construction of the pellet grill determines its durability. While most pellet grills are made from painted steel, the steel and paint quality may vary. A high temp powder coating is good enough to hold against heat without flaking and prevents rust when the steel is exposed.
A better option would be stainless steel pellet grills; these are rust-proof, durable, and are easy maintenance.
Grills with a commercial grade 304 stainless steel construction are the best option, but you will have to spend more. If you are on a budget, 430 stainless steel will still serve you well.
You must understand that better build quality translates to better performance. With quality construction, more heat is retained within the cooking chamber, enhancing efficiency and less pellet consumption even during cold weather.
Temperature Range
What kind of cooking do you want? A temperature range between 180°F to 425°F will smoke, roast, grill, and bake. If you, however, love your meat seared, you will have to invest in a pellet that hits a range of 500-550°F.
High-end pellet grills offer a temperature range of up to700°F and accommodate all types of cooking, including direct and indirect heat grilling.
Size and Cooking Area
Pellet grills vary in size. From the small and portable units to the hefty ones, you are bound to find something that fits your needs. The most important thing to consider here is the cooking area.
A cooking area of 450-500 square inches will suffice for a mid-sized family. Larger families and those who frequently entertain friends to barbeque sessions should consider a pellet grill with more cooking acreage.
Features
Unlike the traditional offset smokers, pellet grills now come loaded with sophistication for more convenient cooking.
Some pellet grills now have Wi-Fi capabilities that allow you to follow the entire cooking process from your smartphone or tablet. An integrated meat probe allows you to monitor the actual meat temperature.
In the past, pellet grills lacked grilling capabilities. But the narrative has changed, with manufacturers creating a dedicated grilling space within the cooker. These are some of the features you should think about when purchasing one.
Hopper Size
Hopper size determines how long the pellet grill can be left unattended or how frequently you need to refill it. With a larger hopper, you will smoke for longer without constant monitoring of the pellets’ level.
The higher the temperatures, the more the pellets used. Low and slow cooking cooks for longer and also consumes more pellets.
Pellet Grills: Final Thoughts
You will enjoy the convenience that a pellet smoker brings. Grilling is as easy as feeding the hopper with sufficient pellets, setting the appropriate cooking temperatures, and going about your business. Even better is the Wi-Fi capability that allows remote control of the cooking process.
It is Traeger that made the first pellet grill back in the day. We have come a long way since, and they are still great at what they do.
But make no mistakes, there are new kids on the block that give giants like Traeger some real competition. At the end of the day, it is your preference that will reign supreme.
Do you agree with our recommendations for the best pellet grills?
What are the essential features you look for in a good smoker?
Sound off in the comments below!