Not everyone has the time or the energy to man a grill. Some of us have other things that require our time. Others have a Netflix series to binge. Fortunately, grill manufacturers heard our prayers and came up with the best thing since charcoal grills were first invented – the pellet grill. It’s a combination of all the things we love about charcoal grills and gas grills – flavor, ease of use, and convenience all rolled into one delightful package. Of course, like all other grills out there, you can’t just randomly choose one pellet grill among all the ones being sold in your local stores. Some models will definitely be better than others. If you’re wondering which ones are worth their weight in gold, we’ve got just the list for you – the best pellet grills in the market today.
Weber Smokefire EX4
Review: Weber is the leading manufacturer of charcoal grills. But that doesn’t mean they can’t make anything else worth your while. Because there are grill masters who seek the convenience of pellet grills, Weber decided to try their hand in this new category. And they didn’t disappoint. Meet the SmokeFire EX4 Wood Fired Pellet Grill. A pellet grill that lets you sear and smoke. One that has found the secret to recreating the smokey flavor that only the best charcoal grills seem to be able to produce. Unlike most pellet grills in the market, the SmokeFire EX4 does not feature a flat heat deflector that distributes the heat generated by the firepot. Instead, it makes use of its patented Flavorizer bars to direct heat while any drippings are vaporized to add flavor. So, what’s the difference? Well, there are gaps between the bars that allow your meats to become more exposed to heat as well as the direct flame of the fire pot. That’s not all. This pellet grill comes with a SmokeBoost mode which causes the pellets to smoke and smolder while maintaining a temperature between 165 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, adding that delicious smoky flavor that you usually only get using a charcoal smoker. Other highlights are the LCD display, the wide temperature range (from 200 to 600 degrees), the front access ash and grease drawer, and the large capacity hopper. And then there’s the Weber Connect that lets you connect your grill to an app on your phone, so you can control it wherever you are. Of course, all of this greatness is backed up by the Weber guarantee.
Z-Grills Pellet Smoker
Review: If 575 square inches of cooking space is not enough to meet your needs, then here’s something bigger – the Z Grills 700D. This huge pellet grill offers 513 square inches of primary cooking space and 187 square inches of secondary cooking space. That’s equal to 9 racks of ribs all cooked at the same time. While we primarily chose this grill for its huge amount of space, the rest of its features aren’t anything to scoff at either. The lid is made of stainless steel for optimal heat retention and durability. It comes with a variety of convenient features such as electronic auto-start ignition, an LCD temperature display, and digital auto-temperature control. It has a hopper capacity of 20 lbs and a temperature range of 180 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The grill also features a cart design which provides you with a bottom cabinet for storing pellets and other grill accessories you’ll need on your next cookout. And unlike other pellet grills you’ll come across, this unit has a waste basket holder which allows you to use a paper cup as a grease catcher for easier disposal. Who wants to clean a bucket full of grease anyway, right? The entire grill is coated with high quality paint for increased longevity and durability. Caster wheels at the bottom of the wheel allow you to move the grill when needed. All in all, this is one huge ass grill that you’ll get at a bargain price without sacrificing quality or performance. You even get a 3-year warranty from the manufacturer to ensure you are 100% satisfied with the Z-Grills 700D
Traeger TFB57GZEO Pro
Review: The ultimate in pellet grills. the Traeger Pro 575 has everything you ever wanted in a grill. And we mean everything. It is incredibly versatile; you can use it for grilling as well as baking, smoking, braising, and roasting. It offers a total of 575 square inches of cooking space which means you can cook up to 5 racks of ribs at a time. It comes with an 18-lb hopper capacity, a sawhorse chassis, all-terrain wheels with locking casters, and dual meat probes. The grates are porcelain-coated steel rods. The grill also comes with the hopper clean-out system that enables you to empty the hopper of pellets to store them away or switch from one wood flavor to another. All of these are great but not what makes this pellet grill the best of the best in the market. What makes this baby stand out is the built-in WiFire technology that enables you to grill smarter, not harder. The grill’s controller is able to connect to your home’s WiFi and, using the Traeger app, allows you to control the grill from anywhere. You can use the app to set the temperature and cooking time, monitor the temp, look at the amount of pellets left in your hopper, etc. Moreover, this is Alexa-enabled. You can use voice control to get your cooking done just the way you like it.
Camp Chef SmokePro
Review: The Camp Chef SmokePro Stainless DLX is the best choice if you want a stainless steel pellet grill for your backyard. This unit features stainless steel construction, from the lid and handle to the cooking grates and meat probe. Stainless steel is the best material for any grill because it has excellent heat retention capability and it’s resistant to rust which makes it last longer than other materials used to make grills. Of course, that’s not the only reason why we love the Camp Chef SmokePro Stainless DLX. This baby comes with an electronic auto-start ignition and an Ortech style dial controller that features heat settings as well as temperature settings ranging from 175 degrees to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The controller also features a dual LED readout that enables you to check the cooking temperature inside the cooking chamber and the internal meat temperature of your food. Moreover, this pellet grill is quite easy to clean. It comes with a pellet hopper drain chute that empties out the fire pot of ash through the trap door underneath it. There’s a removable cup that catches the ash for easy cleanup. The hopper capacity is 18 lbs which allows you to enjoy long cooking sessions. There’s a side shelf for extra prep space that you can even replace with an optional LP gas sear burner that has a range of 480 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. With the SmokePro Stainless DLX, you get both durability and performance.
Ozark Grills – The Razorback Wood Pellet Grill
Review: Pellet grills can be quite expensive. But not everyone has a lot of extra funds to shell out for a new outdoor grill. Fortunately, there are several models that perform really well without breaking your bank account. The best of all of them is the Ozark Grills Razorback Wood Pellet Grill. Why is that? First of all, this pellet grill offers you 305 square inches of cooking space. That’s enough to cook as many as 10 burgers at a time! The gates are made of iron wire with a porcelain enamel coating. Like all other pellet grills, you can use this model to smoke, bake, roast, grill, and barbecue foods for friends and family. The possibilities for your next backyard barbecue are endless! There’s an easy-to-read Digital Control Panel that allows you to monitor the interior temperature. You can use the meat probe included with the grill to check your meat as it cooks. The temperature easily displays on the panel with just a push of a button. There are plenty of other extra features that make this grill a standout option for those with limited funds. For example, this pellet grill comes with all-terrain wheels, locking casters, a bottom shelf for extra storage, and an auto-start & auto shut-down ignition system. If you want lots of bang for your buck, you definitely won’t go wrong with this pellet grill.
Country Smokers Wood Pellet Grill
Review: While the Davy Crockett Pellet Grill from Green Mountain Grills is incredibly portable, it isn’t the smallest pellet grill available. If that model is still a bit too much for you have in mind, then you should definitely consider the Country Smokers CSPEL015010497 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker. This is a tabletop pellet grill that you can take with you on trips to the beach, lazy Sundays at the park, etc. It comes with 191.4 square inches of primary cooking space with a removable upper rack that measures 64.6 square inches. It has a temperature range of 180 degrees to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The dial-in digital controller allows you to set your desired temperature with 25 degree increments. The hopper capacity is small – only 5 pounds – but you probably won’t be going low and slow on this baby while you’re out. Who would have the time? The clean, black sand finish gives this pellet grill a rugged look. The lid features a carry handle to make transporting this grill from the car to your table easy. Plus, there’s a latch that holds the lid in place. The Country Smokers CSPEL015010497 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker may be small but for a family of two to 4, it’s everything you’ll need to enjoy delicious barbecue anywhere, anytime.
Camp Chef Woodwind SG24 Pellet Smoker
Review: Pellet grills, even the most basic ones, are incredibly versatile. You can use them to bake, roast, grill, smoke, and barbecue your favorite meats and veggies. You can even use it to create your favorite treats. But if you feel like that’s just not enough for you, then you should consider getting a combo grill. The best option out there is the Camp Chef Woodwind SG 24 which is a pellet grill that features a sidekick stove and griddle. Aside from these two additional cooking styles, Camp Chef also included their new Slide & Grill Technology which lets you expose your meats directly over the flame which means you can now add broiling to the already lengthy list of cooking styles of this grill. Of course, versatility isn’t the only thing we love about the Woodwind SG 24. It comes with Smart Smoke Technology as well as dual temperature display, 2 meat probes, an automatic auger, and even a clear hopper window. In addition, there’s the pellet hopper cleanout/purge feature that allows you to change flavors without requiring you to use up all the pellets in your hopper. There’s also the grease management system and ash cleanout system that makes this grill so easy to maintain. Everything you’ll ever need in an outdoor kitchen, all wrapped up in one pretty package.
Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Smoker
Review: The Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill is your best option if you want a pellet grill for your next tailgate party or anywhere really. If it’s portability you want, then this has exactly what you’re looking for. The Davy Crockett features foldable legs that also function as handles to make it easier to transport. Moreover, when folded, the grill becomes very compact – small enough to fit in the trunk of your car. That’s not even the best part. We all know that pellet grills run on electricity. So, how will you be able to use this unit when you’re out and about with no outlet in sight? You can plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter or use your car battery to power your grill for a cooking session wherever you may be. Aside from portability, the Davy Crockett also comes with several other great features such as a thermal sensor called Sense-Mate that keeps an eye on the cooking temperature inside your grill as well as a meat probe. There’s a digital WiFi controller that enables you to control your grill from afar. It has a 7-inch peaked lid which means you have a lot of space to cook big items like beer can chicken. If you want a pellet grill for on-the-go cooking, then you really can’t go wrong with Green Mountain Grill’s Davy Crocket mode.