The 15 Best Pellet Grills & Smokers 2023

Pellet Grills are the best option when you require a versatile, easy-to-use grill and smoker. So, we will look for the best pellet grills smokers.

While you won’t win any points with old-fashioned pitmasters, the ability to effortlessly produce excellent barbecue makes buying a pellet smoker very tempting.

In this guide, I’ll break down the best pellet smokers available at various price points. I’ll also run through everything you need to know to find the right pellet grill for your needs. Without further ado, let’s look at the best pellet grills and smokers.

The 15 Best Pellet Grills Smokers 2023

These are the best wood pellets for smoking you can buy. They all have the best features you would expect from a pellet grill. I have tested various cooking with all of them.

I’ve looked at size, features, and budget to help shortlist the best grill for people with different needs. These are all full-sized pellet grills (with one exception), so be sure to check out our guide to the best pellet grills and smokers if you need that feature.

1. Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Pellet Grill

The Camp Chef Woodwind is an excellent mid-sized smoker that strikes a perfect balance between quality and value for your dollar.

You get plenty of new tech in the Woodwind, powered by a Gen 2 digital PID controller, which gives you the option to dial in your desired level of smoke. You can control the grill via a large color touch screen or the companion App.

The Woodwind is available in two sizes. Most people will go for the mid-sized 24″ model, which gives you 811 total square inches of cooking space (429 sq in lower rack + 382 sq in the upper rack.

If you need to cook for a crowd, you can opt for the otherwise identical 36″ model, which gives you 1236 square inches of grill real estate to use.

The Woodwind ticks all the boxes you would expect from a pellet grill at this mid-price point. You’ll enjoy the set it and forget it style cooking with the four meat probes included helping you keep an eye on your temperatures.

Many pellet grills struggle to sear, but Camp Chef has come up with two solutions to this problem.

• The slide and grill feature allows you to pull a handle and switch to direct flame grilling
• You can add the optional SideKick and Grill Box attachments to give yourself a dedicated searing station.

Here’s a video showing how we use the Sidekick to sear some Picanha before finishing on the grill. You can buy the Woodwind with the SideKick as a package or pick it up in the future. Be sure to check out our full review, where we tested out these attachments to see if they were worth the cost.

Advantages

Super simple to operate: From the digital controls that allow you to dial in the exact temp you want to the ash cleanout system, the Woodwind is one of the easiest to operate pellet grills and smokers we’ve tested.

Searing capability: Crank up the heat at any time via the slider rod for searing steak or burgers.

SideKick attachment: Add a powerful propane burner that can be configured as a griddle, grill, or pizza oven to give you ultimate versatility.

Smoke adjustment controls: You can set the smoke level between 1-10 depending on if you want a subtle of heavy smokey flavor

Disadvantages

No cabinet door: You get a small storage shelf, but it would be more useful if there were a door so you could keep a bag of pellets or some tools dry.

App connectivity: The Camp Chef has WiFi and Bluetooth to connect to your phone, and the App allows you to change temps and smoke levels, monitor your four probes, and shut down the grill, but we found it would randomly lose connection which was a little aggravating.

2. Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill

The Traeger Pro is easily the top-selling wood pellet grill among the best in the world. After going through a few years of internal turmoil where construction quality seemed to suffer, the company has the right to the track. New Traeger grills are well designed and reliable and operate at precise temperatures.

You can choose the Pro with either 575 or 780 square inches of cooking space, and both sizes come in either black or bronze.

The extra space will cost you an additional $100, so think about how many people you need to cook for, and this could be an area where you can save some money. Remember that the larger grill will chew through more pellets to maintain the same temperature as 575.

The Pro comes with WiFi for remote control and monitoring of your grill. The Traeger app is one of the best pellet bbq smokers in the business, with an excellent range, control options, and various recipes to try.

The latest Pro fixed a few common issues with older Traegers. Namely, poor heating speed and difficulty maintaining temperatures.

The new D2 direct drive uses a brushless DC motor to achieve higher torque at lower RPM. Or, in plain English, the motor can turn the pellet auger faster, which lets you get more fuel into the firepot for faster and hotter cooking.

These features used to only come with the top-of-the-range Timberline series, and they make the Pro a great buy, in our opinion. You get one temperature probe that lets you monitor your food temperature from the grill interface or via the Traeger app.

While you need to splash out on a top-of-the-line Timberline to get a pellet sensor included, you can now purchase this as a hardware add-on for all Pro and Ironwood models. Running out of pellets mid-cook is incredibly annoying.

Advantages

Highly accurate D2 PID controller: The Traeger Pro controller uses a variable speed fan to speed up or slow down to reach and hold a more exact temperature. You can set the temperature within 5°F increments.

WiFi connectivity: The so-called WiFIRE technology is quite clever, allowing you to control temperatures and monitor your food from anywhere via your smartphone.

You can even choose from hundreds of pre-programmed recipes which will control the entire cooking cycle, changing the temperature and air circulation for you.

Disadvantages

Essential accessories cost extra: You’ll have to fork out extra for the grill cover & folding shelf. Not unusual, although some companies will throw these in for free.

Other than fork out extra for the shelf and cover, the Pro Series represents the sweet spot of value to performance in the Traeger lineup. The upgraded drivetrain, motor, fan, plus WiFi make the Pro series our runner-up pick for the best pellet smoker grill.

3. Z GRILLS 700D4E Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

If the Woodwind and Traeger Pro are outside your budget, the 700D4E from Z Grills is our pick for the best budget pellet grill. It’s always tough recommending a budget best pellet grills and smokers. Because there is so much technology involved, there’s a lot more that can break (or never work correctly).

When we first got our hands on a Z Grill, they were a relatively new brand on the scene. Now they’ve been around for a while, and we’ve seen their models go through several upgrades and continue to get better.

You now get a PID temperature controller, which keeps your temperature a lot more stable. There’s also a larger screen and an easy pellet clean-out feature. Unlike the grills mentioned above, you don’t get any WiFi or app connectivity.

That’s a fair tradeoff for the lower cost, in our opinion, plus you get more cooking space than the Traeger and a storage cabinet. There’s also a handy trap door for removing unused wood pellets.

With 697 square inches of cooking surface (split between 504” main rack and 193” elevated grate) and a 20lb pellet hopper capacity, you get a capable pellet grill without a load of fancy features. If you want to save a few bucks, you could consider a smaller model like the 450B (reviewed here), which also comes with the improved PID controller.

Advantages

Value for money: Getting a pellet grill with this much cooking space for the price is already a good deal. Throw in solid stainless steel construction, a newly updated PID digital temperature and pellet control system, and the Z-grill starts to look like a steal.

Stable temperatures: In our tests, the 700D4E barely swings by more than 5°F, far lower than many more expensive grills we have tested.

Pellet cleanout system: If you want to change pellet flavors or just remove unused pellets after cooking, there is a handy door at the back of the hopper that makes clean out a breeze.

Disadvantages

Lid handle placement: You have to be careful not to touch the hot surface when closing the lid. It might not be a problem for you, but at 5ft 10″, I had to be careful not to burn my hand.

Considering you also get a grill cover included, Z Grills represent excellent value if you are willing to give up on WiFI connectivity and whatever brand value you get from owning a Traeger or a more familiar brand. Without a doubt, it’s among the best pellet grills smokers.

4. Weber 23510201 SmokeFire EX6 Pellet Grill

While Weber stumbled out of the block with the release of the SmokeFire, they seem to have fixed almost all the issues we had with the release of the second generation SmokeFire.

I bought the larger EX6 model for this review, which comes with 1008 square inches of grilling space. You can also opt for the smaller EX4, which includes 672 square inches.

A best pellet smoker and grills struggle to hit high enough temperatures for perfect searing. Companies like Camp Chef get around this with the slide and sear system, which only adds a small hot zone, or the SideKick, which works well but gets pricey.

Weber came up with a unique design to get around this, using their trademark Flavorizer bars to help hit 600°F, which makes this grill perfect for grilling steaks, and with enough cooking, capacity to grill 30 burgers at once.

You also get competitive tech, with an app that gives you tracking, grill controls, and pellet sensor alarm.

Advantages

Excellent at searing: Best pellet smoker grills make good smokers, and average to bad grills. The design of the Weber SmokeFire allows you to get a pretty good sear when cooking at max temp.

Food has a great flavor: While we have been harsh on this grill in our review, all food we’ve cooked has still turned out great, and that is really the most important thing at the end of the day.

Fixed issue with the initial launch – seems Weber has been able to re-engineer the issue with pellet bridging, and the app has continued to get better.

Disadvantages

Lack of side trays or front cabinets: You’ll probably want to buy the collapsable front shelf or side table to add some prep area to your grill.

Grease drain system: Flawed design gets clogged with grease and ash, but easily resolved by adding a few cheap aluminum pans below your grill grates.

While the second generation hasn’t resolved every single issue, the SmokeFire is now a perfectly capable wood pellet grill. Weber has nailed the grilling and smoking experience, so if you want a versatile pellet grill the SmokeFire is now worth considering.

5. Traeger Tailgater 20 Portable Wood Pellet Grill

When it comes to portable best pellet grills smokers you need to decide if you want a pellet grill that has some portability but can still be used like a regular grill or a truly portable grill where you sacrifice a lot of space and performance.

The Tailgater belongs in the former category. You get 300 square inches of grill space which is still enough to cook a few racks of ribs at once.

At 62 lbs it’s not exactly a nimble grill, but the legs do fold down so you can easily stow it in the back of your track.

The Led controls are not as user-friendly as the other Traeger models I’ve tested so far. But, once you figure out how everything works, the grill was easy enough to operate.

Advantages

Consistent Temperature: In our tests, the Tailgater held fairly standard temperatures over a low and slow cook.

Portability: The unit is compact once folded and can easily be transported. When the legs are up you could easily leave this grill on your patio and it wouldn’t look out of place.

Cleaning Easiness: Interior parts are easily removable and it does not produce much ash.

Disadvantages

Folding Legs: While stable once completed, the folding legs were a bit awkward to deploy and break down with just one person.

Pellet hopper size: The 8 lbs pellet hopper is one of the smallest in its class.

If Traeger tweaked the folding legs and upgraded the controls and added WiFi to match the Pro 575 it would be almost perfect. Despite those flaws, this is still our pick for the best portable grill thanks to the great smoke flavor, ease of transportation, and cleaning.

6. REC TEC Grills RT-700 WiFi Enabled Wood Pellet Grill

We could definitely include this REC TEC grill with our top choices above. With the RT-700, REC TEC has combined the precision craftsmanship and build quality they are known for, with some modern upgrades including WiFi connectivity, dual meat probes to monitor the internal temperature of your meat, and an improved PID controller.

The controller lets you adjust the temperature in 5°F increments which is a level of control you don’t see on some of the best cheap pellet smokers out there. The product name gives away the primary grilling area of 702 square inches, with an optional warming shelf you can get over 1000.

It’s definitely not among the best pellet grills smokers, although it does compare well with the more expensive Ironwood and Timberline series by Traeger.

The majority of the grill is made of stainless steel. You also get a huge 40 lbs pellet hopper capacity for up to 40 hours of continuous cooking and rollerblade style wheels to easily move the grill around.

Advantages

Smart PID Digital controller: You can set the temperature between 200-500°F in 5°F increments which gives you a lot more precision than other best pellet grills smokers. The controller holds temperatures nice and stable.

The Looks: Obviously this one is subjective, but we’ve always been a fan of REC TEC grills design. With the bull horn handles and black and silver color stainless steel, the RT-700 is a head-turner.

WiFi control: Use your phone to start your smoker and monitor temperature during the cook.

Disadvantages

Basic app functionality: You can use the app to change the temperature and monitor the temp of your food, but it would be nice if you could program different temp settings based on time. There is also no option to save the temp graphs.

Legs could be more stable: Considering the overall quality of the grill, the legs could fit better. Not a major issue but you can notice a bit of wobble when you are cleaning the grate.

The grill is built like a tank with heavy-duty stainless steel. Everything seals well and you shouldn’t have any problem holding stale temperatures. You also get a 6-year warranty which is among the best in the industry just in case you had any concerns.

7. Yoder Smokers YS640S Pellet Grill

Once you get up to this price point you are spoiled for choice with a wealth of great options from the likes of REC-TEC, Memphis Grills, and the Traeger Timberline series. But if you talk to any competition guy the one brand that always comes up is Yoder.

You’re going to spend more than double the cost of our top pick of the Woodwind, so what does that extra money get you? For starters, this is the only pellet smoker on our list that is American-made (in Kansas).

There’s also the 10-gauge steel construction for unparalleled insulation and temperature stability across 1070 square inches of cooking space. You can also switch between indirect heat and direct, over the flame grilling to hit temperatures up to 700°F.

There is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, plus two integrated food probes for keeping an eye on your food while it smokes.

Advantages

American-made: Everyone says they want American-made, so here’s your chance to put your money where your mouth is. Built like a tank with 10-gauge steel.

Extra headroom: The door design allows 12 inches of headroom which is enough for extra tall items like a beer can chicken, or turkey.

Customization options: Just like buying a car, you can opt-out of your Yoder with a range of extras including different types of cooking grates, griddle, temperature gauge, and shelves.

Disadvantages

Price: You’re going to have to pay a lot for local construction and high-end build quality.

Folding legs: While stable once completed, the folding legs were a bit awkward to deploy and break down with just one person.

If you have the money to spare, the YS640S is an excellent investment. It’s far from the most expensive pellet grill, but anything above this you start to get diminishing returns.

8. Pit Boss Sportsman 820 Pellet Grill

What really intrigued me though was the opportunity to set a thermostat and go about my day. If this grill could be oven-like accurate, then consider me a pellet grill converter.

After completing several cooks on the best pit boss smoker, I’m ready to share my experience. But first, here are the main specs for the Sportsman 820.

With 849 square inches of cooking space and the versatility to cook from 180°F to 500°F, the Pit Boss Sportsman 820 wood pellet grill is sure to please a large customer base.

The Sportsman 820 model comes with plenty of features like a slide plate flame broiler with an easy-access handle (more on this function later), a 2-in-1 stainless steel side shelf with a removable tray, and a built-in spice rack attached to the 21lb. capacity pellet hopper.

There’s even a bottle opener on the hopper for those especially hot summer days that call for a few cold ones. The LCD readout lets you clearly see your temperatures and cooking range, while the large controls make it easy to operate and adjust on the fly.

The grill uses plenty of heavy-gauge steel and appears to offer long-term durability that should last for years.

Advantages

Cooking area: with 829 square inches of grill space, this grill can feed a crowd. Great for smoking big meats like multiple briskets or pork butts.

Porcelain-coated cast iron grill grates: Not only do these grates retain and transfer heat in the way only cast iron can, but they’re also super easy to clean thanks to the porcelain coating.

Easy pellet clean-up: The hopper includes a clean-out plate that allows you to empty from the bottom rather than dig out from the top.

Built-in accessories and shelving: The removable side shelf and attached spice rack are nice additions. You don’t realize you need them until you need them, plus it has a bottle opener built-in. That was always going to win me over.

Disadvantages

Small searing zone: The sliding plate on the heat diverter can deliver grate temperatures at or above 500°F, but the actual surface area for searing is directly above the adjustable slits.

Hard to move around: The Sportsman 820 is heavy which is good for heat retention and durability but make it a pain to move around though

Rounded diverter plate: The adjustable heat diverter plate is rounded, which doesn’t really go well if you want to place a drip pan under your food.

Temperature swings: Pellet grills, in general, are prone to temperature swings upwards of 30°F – 40°F and the Pit Boss Sportsman 820 is no different.

The Sportsman is a well-built, consumer-grade pellet grill that would be perfect for the casual backyard barbecuer who isn’t concerned about having WiFi connectivity.

9. Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett WIFI Grill

When you think of pellet grills, being portable isn’t the first feature that comes to mind. For one, you need to have a source of electricity to plug the grill in. You can’t just grab a bag of charcoal and fire it up anywhere.

Having said that, the Green Mountain Davy Crockett has been designed to take with you. The legs have been designed to fold into a convenient carry handle.

You also get a few adapters included so you can get power from an outlet in your house, you can cigarette the lighter or from your car cigarette lighter or from your car battery. You could also use a generator.

Nothing else comes close in terms of features and portability at this price point. The WiFi control via tablet or smartphone is an awesome feature that lets you control the temperature of your grill remotely (handy if you’re lying by the pool).

While you might not have heard of Green Mountain before (they only started selling in 2008), the company is producing grills that match and often exceed what Traeger is making.

Advantages

Portable features: Grill comes packaged with the accessories you’ll need to power the smoker from a range of sources & the foldable legs make moving easy.

Precise temperature control: The Davy Crockett gives you far more temperature control than many other pellet grills. Using the manual control panel you can make 5-degree adjustments.

WiFi & App: The app doesn’t just give you the ability to adjust the temperature remotely, you can also program in unique instructions. For example, you can set it to cook at 225° for 5 hours and then automatically change.

Smart alerts: It’s also nice when the app tells you that the hopper isn’t feeding in wood pellets and the temperature is dropping. This sure beats running outside to check the grill.

Disadvantages

Awkward for one person to move: Due to the weight of the smoker and the awkward way the legs come off, we would still recommend having two people maneuver the smoker.

The WiFi connection can be unreliable at times: This is really dependent on your individual setup, but we’ve found the grill can lose connectivity from time to time.

Other than that the build quality is excellent. The materials are heavy and feel like they are made to last. Unlike most smokers that you set up once and then leave forever, this unit can easily fold up and be moved. You’re not going to be able to cook as hot as some other pellet grills out there, but this unit should easily reach 420°F.

10. Traeger Timberline 850 Grill

The Traeger Timberline ticks all the boxes for us because it’s well built and packed with tech that’s actually useful. Traeger has the best app out of any pellet grill manufacturer, plus you get access to 1600+ recipes in the Traeger app.

The Timberline is a big step-up in quality and features (and price) from the Pro. Besides the larger size, you get better-insulated construction, more prep areas, a pellet sensor, the dual position sear grate, and super smoke mode.

For comparison, the larger model can fit 15 racks of ribs compared to 8 racks on the 850. If you plan on cooking for a large crowd get 1300, otherwise go for the 850. 1300 is more pellet hungry because it needs to heat up a larger space.

You also get a three-year warranty and one of the best customer service teams in the industry in case you have any problems.

Advantages

Packed with high-tech: Market-leading app makes it easy to control your grill via your phone. The Pellet sensor gives you alerts when pellets are running low so you don’t run the risk of running out mid-cook.

Clever Design: The Timberline is packed with quality of life features including ample prep areas, a hopper cleanout trap door that makes it easy to empty unused pellets after a cook, and an adjustable bottom grate that allows you to get a good sear on your food.

Disadvantages

Larger model is pellet hungry: Make sure you will actually use the space if you go for 1300 as it can chew through pellets.

Front tray could be extended: While large enough to hold a butcher block, you need to be careful with large items. Would be great if they could have extended the tray by a few inches.

The Traeger Timberline is definitely an investment, but if you are looking for a high-end pellet grill with tons of tech, clever design, and useful quality of life features you can’t go wrong.

11. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill

We’ve already included the Woodwind from the Camp Chef lineup, but we just couldn’t leave the DLX 24 off our list of best camp chef smoker.

This grill offers a generous 570 square inches of cooking surface plus a removable upper warming rack. You also get the new Gen 2 PID controller for better temperature performance and stability.

This grill shares a lot of the same DNA as the slightly more expensive Woodwind. Both are good options, personally, I would spend a little extra and get the Woodwind but especially if WiFi isn’t a big deal for you, then you can pick up the DLX 24 and save some cash.

Advantages

Ash Cleanout System: By far the easiest pellet grill to clean out of the many I’ve tested.

Smoke Level Adjustability: Nice to be able to control the level of smoke when cooking different types of food.

Accessory options: You can add some great functionality to this grill including the sidekick and front shelf.

Direct Flame Slider Rod: Gives you decent searing capability if you decide not to get the sidekick add-on.

Temp Probes: This is the only pellet grill I’ve seen that comes with 4 temp probes. Most grills only give you 1 or 2 temp probes.

Disadvantages

App Connectivity: The app interface is really nice, but the connectivity is a little glitchy. This seems to be a common problem among pellet grill manufacturers, and Camp Chef’s App is still very manageable.

No cabinet door: You get a storage shelf but there’s no door to keep things protected from the elements.

Some temperature accuracy issues: Not a deal breaker but I found a fair bit of variance between what temp I set and what was recorded.

The Camp Chef Woodwind is a feature-packed pellet grill and smoker. The design makes it easy to adjust the smoke level, easy to manage your cook with the versatile upper rack system, and easy to clean up after the cooking is done.

12. Z Grills 700D4E Wood Pellet Grill

The 700D4E is priced higher than previous 700 models like the 700D and 700E (identical except for the color), but it’s fair to say you get a noticeable upgrade from the original.

Adding convenient features like easy pellet clean-out, PID temperature controller, and a larger, more readable temp screen fix many of the issues we had with the original grill.

There are still no fancy wireless features like an App and WiFi connectivity, the Z Grills 700D4E focuses on quality, heat maintenance, and efficiency.

At the same price point as the Traeger Pro 575, the 700D4E gives you 122 more square inches of cooking space (697 sq in vs. 575 sq in) It also boasts a closed cabinet for storage underneath the main chamber as well as a larger hopper.

Advantages

Excellent temperature control: This is by far the most steady pellet grill I’ve personally experienced. Pellet grills are known for large swings in temperature as they try to regulate your target temperature. The 700D4E barely swings in 5°F increments off the target mark.

Easy mobility: The four rotating casters make this grill easy to move around even over grassy areas. This is convenient if you don’t want to keep it out in the elements year-round. You can just wheel it out of your shed or garage.

Easy pellet hopper clean-out: The pellet hopper has a small door on the back that makes emptying the hopper and switching out pellets a breeze. Simply twist open the latch to release the pellets into a bucket. Much easier than the 700E model.

Disadvantages

Need to be careful when closing the lid: The handle is a little awkward to grab when the lid is opened. You have to reach up and around the lip of the lid or risk burning yourself haphazardly on your wrist.

Only one shelf area: The hopper lid doubles as a shelf, but that’s the only place you have to set things down. You’re better served setting up a side table to lay everything out that you need.

13. Camp Chef Pursuit 20 Pellet Grill

Despite its lower price and focus on portability, the Pursuit 20 is still a full-featured grill with PID control, dual meat probes, multiple custom smoke settings, and many other functions available from higher-priced pellet grills. Plus a few that I haven’t seen anywhere.

Camp Chef has put a lot of thought into the functionality and portability of this grill, but it falls a little short in the build quality of the legs and missing pellet dump system.

The price comes in a little under the Traeger Tailgater 20, while you get more overall cooking area (501 sq/in compared to 300 sq/in on the Tailgater). You also get a larger pellet hopper (10lbs to 8lbs) and a higher overall cooking temp (500°F to 450°F).

Advantages

Direct and indirect heating system: with easy slide-rod control for quick sear versus slow cook.

Ash cleanout: although there is some residual ash in the bottom of the unit after cooking, cleaning the firebox is a snap. No more dragging out the shop vac after every use.

Disadvantages

The legs and wheels: The wheels are too small and not sturdy. The legs are lightweight and also a bit on the flimsy side. You have to lay the unit down to deploy the legs and at 80 pounds, it’s awkward especially with pellets in the hopper (see next).

No pellet dump: I guess you’ll need that shop vac after all.

If you plan on taking this grill on the road then the lightweight construction is a worthwhile tradeoff. You get more features than many other portable grills and the Pursuit 20 is generally well built, and easy to use.

If you plan to keep this grill on your porch then I would recommend looking at either the Woodwind or the SmokePro SG 24.

14. Weber 66016601 Genesis II EX-335 BLK NG Grill

The new announcement is hardly Weber’s first foray into the world of wireless grilling. The company has been offering wirelessly connected meat thermometers as an add-on for its existing grills for years.

In 2020, they also announced the launch of their Weber Connect smart grilling hub. The hub has many of the same features that are now being integrated into the Genesis and Spirit gas grill lines.

Weber 66016601 Genesis II EX-335 BLK NG also already has a line of SmokeFire pellet smokers with integrated Weber Connect wireless technology.

Testing the Weber grills Connect system on a pellet smoker seems to have been a smart step. Pellet smokers, by their nature, are a little more difficult to control.

Being able to consistently monitor their internal temperature and make remote adjustments is a great way to get better performance without needing to be hovering over your smoker all the time.

Advantages

Fill and serve readouts: You’ll now get an audible notification from the digital readout on the grill, or a push notification on your app, to tell you when it’s the perfect time to flip your food and when it’s time to serve it.

Step-By-Step Guides: An excellent resource for new pitmasters, the Weber Connect system integrates a huge range of grilling guides on the Weber app with real-time temperature monitoring to make cooking as easy as possible.

WiFi Connectivity: Being able to monitor your grill remotely means no more long cold nights sitting outside babysitting a brisket. You’ll still need to put the time in to cook the perfect brisket, but you can now do it from the comfort of your couch.

Disadvantages

App-oriented: The Weber app comes with a huge range of grilling recipes and techniques that represent an excellent source of inspiration for new pitmasters.

Fuel level monitoring: Perhaps one of the most useful features of the Weber Connect system is that it allows you to instantly check the amount of gas or propane left in your tank on both the grill and your phone.

Grills where temps change fast and you might need to pull a steak off quickly to avoid overcooking how well is this tech going to work. It’s hard to beat the speed and reliability of an instant-read meat thermometer like the Thermapen ONE for that job.

15. Pit Boss Sportsman 10537 PB0820SP Wood Pellet Grill

Being a bit of a BBQ purist, I was skeptical about using a pit boss pellet grill. To me, it was a cheating experience. The reality is pellet grills are here to stay and gaining in popularity, so it’s time to put aside my biases and see what the hype is about.

The Sportsman line of grills is designed for the outdoor enthusiast, so naturally, I expected a rugged, robust grill that would handle being outside throughout all seasons.

The Pit Boss Sportsman 820 was definitely robust. The body and heat diverter plate were made of thick steel, and it is definitely heavy.

What really intrigued me though was the opportunity to set a thermostat and go about my day. If this grill could be oven-like accurate, then consider me a pellet grill converter. After completing several cooks on this grill, I’m ready to share my experience.

With 849 square inches of cooking space and the versatility to cook from 180°F to 500°F, the Pit Boss Sportsman 820 wood pellet grill is sure to please a large customer base.

Advantages

Cooking area: with 829 square inches of grill space, this grill can feed a crowd. Great for smoking big meats like multiple briskets or pork butts.

Porcelain-coated cast iron grill grates: Not only do these grates retain and transfer heat in the way only cast iron can, but they’re also super easy to clean thanks to the porcelain coating.

Easy pellet clean-up: The hopper includes a clean-out plate that allows you to empty from the bottom rather than dig out from the top.

Built-in accessories and shelving: The removable side shelf and attached spice rack are nice additions. You don’t realize you need them until you need them, plus it has a bottle opener built-in. That was always going to win me over.

Disadvantages

Small searing zone: The sliding plate on the heat diverter can deliver grate temperatures at or above 500°F, but the actual surface area for searing is directly above the adjustable slits.

This means you can only sear right above the adjustable grate portion and not the whole cooking surface. Examples of the searing zone size are one large ribeye at a time, two New York strips, or two quarter-pound burgers.

Hard to move around: The Sportsman 820 is heavy which is good for heat retention and durability but make it a pain to move around though

Rounded diverter plate: The adjustable heat diverter plate is rounded, which doesn’t really go well if you want to place a drip pan under your food. All the food drippings fall right onto the plate, burning up and causing acrid smoke.

When Should You Buy A Pellet Grill

Even an entry-level pellet smoker will set you back more than a charcoal grill or gas grill. But for a little bit extra upfront, you’ll enjoy the simplicity and versatility that is causing pellet smokers to take over patios around the country.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that only two companies were making pellet grills. Back in 2008 if you wanted to buy a pellet smoker you could choose between Traeger and MAK. It’s a testament to the popularity of this type of smoker that there are now so many new brands available to choose from.

Prices for decent pellet grills start at around $400 and can run well over $1000. When you can get an excellent charcoal smoker like the Weber Smokey Mountain for under $300 you may be asking yourself why would you want to buy a pellet grill?

It only takes two words to sum up the benefits of cooking with a pellet smoker. “Convenience” and “versatility”. If the price isn’t a deal-breaker for you though, the convenience is really amazing. Get used to throwing a brisket on, setting the temperature, and then just get about your day (or sleep through the night) without a worry.

Because pellet smokers run off electricity they can also be a great choice if you live in a condo or are unlucky enough to have restrictions on burning charcoal or wood.

What To Consider Before Buying A Pellet Grills Smokers

Before deciding how big your cooker needs to be, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions. How many people will I be cooking for? Do I plan on cooking large cuts or even a whole pig?

Remember that bigger doesn’t always mean better. Purchasing a huge pellet cooker can really just mean wasted pellets.

A standout feature of pellet smokers is that the temperature is relatively even across the cooking area. As a result, there should be no temperature difference between the top rack and the bottom rack while cooking.

A standout feature of pellet smokers is that the temperature is relatively even across the cooking area. As a result, there should be no temperature difference between the top rack and the bottom rack while cooking. Keeping this in mind, let’s discuss the difference between the primary cooking area and the total cooking area.

Unlike your traditional charcoal or offset smokers, wood pellet grills can come with a whole bunch of bells and whistles. Some features you should think about include:

WiFi capability

Companies have started to take advantage of the fact that pellet smokers have a computer in them by design. By integrating WiFi connectivity, you can monitor and control the temperature of your grill from just about anywhere, as long as you have an Internet connection. Companies like Green Mountain Grills are now providing free apps that you can download and make use of for ultimate convenience.

Meat probes

Some pellet cookers have outputs in their controller that allow for a meat probe to be plugged in directly. Readings taken from your meat can then be displayed conveniently on the screen of your cooker.

Grilling options

In the past, a drawback of pellet cookers was their lack of grilling capability. Some manufacturers have made grilling possible, either by removing part of the diffuser plate or by providing a dedicated grilling area within the cooker.

Pellet removal

Most brands recommend removing pellets between cooks. Some models make this easy with a chute to remove unused pellets. Others you’ll need to vacuum out.

Add-ons

Manufacturers often offer a variety of add-ons. Check what features come standard, and what are add-ons at extra cost. Some add-ons are offered by companies independent of the manufacturer.

If a feature is important to you but is not a standard feature of your particular cooker, make sure it is available as an add-on before you buy the cooker.

FAQ About Best Pellet Grills & Smokers

Final Verdict

Best pellet grills smokers are fast proving to be more than just a fad. While some old-timers claim they’re little more than an ‘expensive oven’ for more amateur to enthusiast smokers, the convenience of use and quality of the food they produce is hard to beat.

The pellet grill market is incredibly competitive, so there isn’t a lot of room between. our top picks. That said, Camp Chef Woodwind has consistently impressed us with its temperature control, searing options, and level of smoke flavor. That’s all of the best pellet grills smokers.