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Quick Summary: Don’t be concerned if your search for the best pellet smokers has depleted your energy and enthusiasm for outdoor activities. To find the best pellet smoker for each client, our team tested the most popular pellet smoker brands. Our favorite is the Camp Chef PG24 Pellet Smoker. Its main selling point is its convection system, and its flame broiler allows it to be used for both direct and indirect cooking. We’ve also included in-depth and concise reviews of other brands that you should read before making your next purchase.
Outdoor adventures were traditionally considered the specialty of only the strong-hearted as all such adventures had to be spent in the company of either tasteless food or in worst case scenarios-even raw food.
Thankfully, Pellet grills have made it possible to have hunger-free, fun-filled outdoor activities.
This new and unique cooking device has played a huge role in allowing families and friends to connect and build relationships over delicious barbecue or grilled meals.
The most outstanding quality of it is that they work specifically with wood pellets and are free from the dangers of additives. Unlike outdoor grills, these are small in size so they are easy to move around.
Also, you will find that multiple features like digital temperature controllers, auto electronic start ignition have been integrated into modern pellet smokers.
These sophisticated features enhance the quality of pellet smokers without making it overly expensive and pricey.
While you might be tempted to continue cooking using the regular barbeque grills-we would recommend you to give the best pellet smoker a chance.
So, stock up your backyard today with the best pellet smoker and let it change your adventures for the better.
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Top 10 Pellet Smokers Comparison
1. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill (Best Overall)Smoke and grill your food in the finest Pellet smoker by Camp chef. With its large capacity and maximum temperature setting-this pellet is perfect to prepare ribs, chicken and much more. | Read Our Review | |
2. PIT BOSS 72440-PB440D Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill (Best Budget)Made from stainless steel with copper and black finish-this pellet grill can be easily operated with a dial-in digital controller. Grill 20 burgers to perfection by using its flame broiler. | Read Our Review | |
3. PIT BOSS 700FB Pellet GrillConsisting of a wide700 sq. inch cooking surface with porcelain-coated cast iron grids-this pellet grill is easy to operate with a digital controller and only works with organic wood pellets | Read Our Review | |
4. Traeger Grills TFB65LZBC Texas Elite 34 Wood Pellet Grill & SmokerThis organic wood pellet grill will uplift the taste of your dish with a wood-fired flavor and save you from the hassle of using gas or charcoal. Additionally, this device is weatherproof and water-resistant. | Read Our Review | |
5. Green Mountain Davy Crockett Pellet GrillIf you are looking for a small and compact grill, then this smoker can be your best choice. The most amazing part of this grill is that you can use an app to monitor the temperature and control the grill. Moreover, it also provides you some super extra functionalities. | Read Our Review | |
6. PIT BOSS Grills 72820 Deluxe Wood Pellet GrillWhether it’s baking, smoking, grilling or roasting-you can do it all with the Pit boss wood pellet grill. You also get a thick, heavy-duty polyester grill cover with this grilling system. | Read Our Review | |
7. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet GrillConsisting of a large-capacity pellet hopper, temperature selection system, and LED temperature readout-this grilling station is exactly will bring a new taste to your barbeque party. | Read Our Review | |
8. Camp Chef Woodwind Classic Pellet GrillWith a temperature range starting from 160f up to 500f and a 570square inch cooking surface-Camp chef’s pellet grill is the perfect cooking system to have in every outdoor setting. | Read Our Review | |
9. Z GRILLS Wood Pellet BBQ Grill and SmokerThis 7 in 1 grill is versatile in its utility and famous for its award-winning construction. The electric feed system controls temperate itself from 180f to 450f making it easy to use and operate. | Read Our Review | |
10. Traeger Grills Pro SmokerTreat yourself and your family with juicy burgers and hotdogs made in this super-powered electric grill. You will enjoy every outdoor adventure with the versatile cooking options of this grill. | Read Our Review |
Reviews of 10 Best Pellet Grills & Smokers
Best Overall
1. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill
If you are a lover of slow cooking and Smokey flavors, then this is your ideal pellet smoker. According to most Camp Chef Pg24 pellet smoker reviews, the product has a more advanced and flawless digital temperature, and auger feeds pellets.
The automatic pellet smoker maintains your required heat and regulating the optimal amount of smoke produced.
If the cooking space influences your cooking, then this is the best pellet smoker for you. It has a huge cooking area of about 570 square feet.
The smoker’s upper warming rack is removable thus creating more room for your cooking. Also, the smoker’s backside is squared to create more space within the grill.
To make your cleaning easy and enjoyable, the Camp Chef PG24 Pellet smoker has a patented ash cleanout system not found on any other type of grill.
The assembly and starting up of the Camp Chef smoker is easy and time-saving. On buying it, it takes you a short time to load your briskets, ribs, chickens on the grills. The smoker comes with a walk-through assembly video to guide you through.
The above features among others give your smoker an endless versatility. It can roast, braise, grill, barbecue or roast your favorite food while at the same time giving it an exceptional wood-fired flavor.
Pros:
- Warms up from 160f to 500f
- Comes with a stainless meat probe
- Creates more smoke because of the extra-large pellet hopper
- Has an automatic shutdown feature
Cons:
- The auger breaks down and stops functioning
- Company’s customer service is not helpful
Best Budget
2. PIT BOSS 72440 Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill
In most of the Pit Deluxe reviews, the brand has been rated highly owing to its outstanding features and working principles. The Pit deluxe pellet grill is one of the best pellet smoker designs ever made.
It is simply amazing. The pellet design has every part engineered to perfection. The pellet smoker’s lid is made of copper and has additional features of a deluxe which give it a deluxe look hence the name Pit deluxe pellet grill.
The brand is easy to assemble and operate. Its spare parts are easy to fix and requires minimum skills as it comes with well-detailed instructions.
According to most of the Pit boss grill 440 reviews, several customers choose this brand for its sturdier and strong construction. It requires no charcoal, propane, or gas fuel to operate; all the products need is natural cooking grade wood pellets.
Other reviews have expressed this brand as a high-quality and good system, easier to light, and gives your amazing food flavors. The brand has a dynamic and wide range of temperatures from 180 degrees F all the way to 500 degrees F with an automatic control system.
Using the Pit boss pellet grills makes your grilling perfect as it disregards the need for a rotisserie through its fan-forced convection cooking seals. In my Pellets smoker review, I highly recommend you to try this product for your versatile cooking.
Pros:
- Functions with 100 percent natural hardwood pellets
- Strong and sturdy because of its heavy-duty stainless steel body
- Consists of an automatic turn on and shut off feature
- Comes with a side shelf, serving tray
- Heats up from 170f to 600f
Cons:
- Difficult to assemble
- Small in size and not suitable for big families
3. Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill with Flame Broiler
In matters of space, the Pit boss grill makes maximum utilization of 700 square feet. Its cooking surface allows flexibility to grill, sear, braise, grill, barbecue among others.
Pit Boss has a relatively large size hence it can be efficiently used to cook for a party.
It’s provided instructions makes its process of assembly much easier and faster as compared to the process of unpacking.
The pit boss grill with boilers is durable and reliable. It has a thick gauge of steel components and a complete structural strength. The grids on the pit boss are made of porcelain-coated cast iron.
The burner system is automatically controlled by a digital board. Through the digital board control, you can easily adjust your desired cooking style.
You just have to set your conditions and leave your foods to cook. Alternatively, you can slide your cooking plate as you burn it over an open flame.
When it comes to fueling the pit boss wood pellet grill is less expensive as compared to other pellets on that natural wood pellets fully fuel it. You don’t have to spend a ton on wood chips or lump charcoals to get an intense smoky flavor.
While using the Pit boss wood pellet smoker, you do not require propane or natural gas to add flavor to give your food flavor. The burning fuel from the natural hardwood pellets produces an exceptional taste.
Pros:
- Comes with well-built porcelain-coated cast iron grids
- Only functions with all-natural cooking grade wood pellets
- Allows control of direct flame through the added flame broiler
- Includes a good quality polyester grill cover
- The cooking settings can be operated through digital control system
Cons:
- We could not find any
4. Traeger Texas Elite Wood Pellet Smoker
Traeger Texas elite wood pellet grill is a number one bestselling wood-fired grill. Hardwood pellets adequately fuel it. A digital controller automatically controls the temperatures and speed of grilling.
An electronic auto-start system ignites the grilling. It has a fairly large size with a 646 square inches grilling area. To achieve maximum stability, the pellet grill has wider legs.
Outdoor cooking with the Traeger Texas wood pellet is made easier as it involves simple operations combined with wood-fired convection performance that is very powerful.
The pellet grill is perfect to give deliciously consistent results every time.
If you are that person who finds it irritating to do the cleaning after every cooking, then this is the best choice for you, it hardly messes your cooking area as it leaves little ash on burning.
With this pellet grill, you don’t have to buy a smoker and a grill as it has both in one thus saving your money out. Also in my Traeger pellet smoker review, it is important to note that this grill pellet is the most recommended for outdoor cooking and large families.
Pros:
- Can be used to smoke, grill, bake, roast, braise and barbeque
- Made from strong weatherproof material
- Can be easily folded down and stored
- Water-resistant and keeps the grill dry
- Prepares huge meals with 646 sq. Inch grilling area
Cons:
- The temperature settings are difficult to adjust and change
5. Green Mountain Davy Crockett Pellet Grill
Green Mountain Davy Crockett pellet grill is another exclusive pellet grill you will find interesting to use for your cooking. It has a more advanced open flame technology.
The grill comes with digital Wi-Fi controls. It can easily be controlled and monitored by an android mobile application or iOS.
The automatic pellet smoker allows you to control exact grilling temperatures using the Android or the iOS app.
Also, the brand has a peaked lid for rib cracks, a meat probe as well as a convenience tray to hold the needed utensils for your cooking. As if that is not enough the Green Mountain Grills have a thermal sensor and a sense-meter to monitor the temperatures within your grills.
The Davy Crockett is ideal for outdoor cooking like camping, music festivals, tailgating, and hunting due to its ultimate portability and its 120AC source of power.
The green mountain grills have a fairly large grill area that can easily fit two racks of spare ribs or three baby back ribs rack. It is cheap to buy and easy to operate.
In one of the Green Mountain pellet grill reviews, the customer compared this grill with others only to discover that it is the best of all when it comes to workability. On buying the green mountain smokers, you are sure to enjoy the value for your money.
Pros:
- Compatible with different types of adaptors
- Has different power sources
- Easy to carry
- Has a small bucket for collecting ash.
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Doesn’t have much cooking space
6. PIT BOSS 72820 Deluxe Wood Pellet Smoker
Most of the pit boss 820 pellet grill reviews from customers have expressed high confidence in the brand for grilling. The brand needs less manpower as it is automatically operated through its dial-in digital controls.
The ignition and cooling down of the grills is automatic. The temperature and grilling ratings can easily be read from its led readout on the digital board.
In one of the customer’s reviews, the customer expressed his love for the brand and its high-quality barbeques, exceptional designs, and amazing prices.
They also recommended the product to many style smokers who have in return rated the brand a five star.
Just like the Pit boss deluxe pellet grill, the Pit boss wood pellet grill use 100 percent natural wood as its cooking fuel.
It has a reasonable grilling where can bake pizza, smoke jerky, grill briskets with the naturally flavored wood pellets. Its temperatures have a wide range and are automatically controlled from the digital board and can read on the led.
Also, it features that comprise of the bottle opener, flame boiler as well as copper-finished lids.
Pros:
- Works without gas, propane and charcoal
- Digital setting board gives full control over cooking features
- Burns up to the maximum limit, starting from 180f up till 500f
- Consists of fan-forced convection system
- Allows direct and indirect cooking with its flame broiler
- Includes copper finished lids and bottle opener
Cons:
- We could not find any
7. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Smoker
If you have used other pellet smokers, then you will note that this one is exceptional in its design. It has several great features not possessed by any other grill/smokers.
These exceptional features comprise of the hopper cleanout as well as the ash cleanout that gives you an easy time to change various wood pellets flavors. It has digital pellet auger start-ups and shutdowns.
The Camp chef smoke pro DLX grill has a wide range of temperatures powered by propane as its fuel and gets up to 900 degrees F for an excellent high-temperature sear.
The grilling area for this design is 429 square inches and a warming rack dimension of 144 square inches. Your cleaning and maintenance are made easy by the clean-out ash system on the product.
In one of the customer’s Camp Chef smoke pro-DLX pellet grill reviews, he says that having used the pro-DLX pellet smoker to make eight racks of ribs for three days. He has noted that product temperature remains constant despite weather changes.
They found the assembly easy by following a directing video in such a way that he spent less than 30 minutes to perform the task.
Pros:
- Enhances smoking features through the automatic auger
- Equipped with electronic auto-start ignition
- The temperature setting system is easy to adjust
- Internal cooking temperature can be known through the dual-LED system
Cons:
- Uncooperative customer service
- Not budget-friendly
8. Camp Chef Woodwind Classic Pellet Grill
In most of the camp chef woodwind pellet grill reviews, customers who had previously used bad barbeques have expressed their excitement upon using the camp chef woodwind pellet.
According to their Camp chef pellet grill reviews, the woodwind pellet grill has made mediocre grilling history. The grill does not only make grilling easier but also enjoyable.
Due to the large grilling area on the woodwind pellet griller, you can load a full chicken, jerky, and much more to feed a whole family and the neighbors as well.
The premium hardwood pellets fuel the woodwind pellet grills to give heat and smoke that penetrates your food in style to give it a savory wood fire taste.
By setting up your grilling temperatures to 500 degrees F, and adding the sear box in your grilling so that the device can reach up to 900 degrees F, you easily attain perfect results for all your cooking.
On mastering the basic requirements for your grilling, barbecuing, roasting, baking as well as wearing on the woodwind, you automatically become a pro in grilling from your excellent results. The pellets grill’s camp chef smoker gives your food a heavenly taste from the wood fire grill pellets.
When done with your cooking, cleaning is made easier and more entertaining like pulling a lever by the exclusively patented ash cleanout.
Pros:
- The cooking setting goes up to 500f
- Can be used for grilling, baking, roasting, smoking, braising and barbeque
- Prepare bigger meals with its 570 inch cooking surface
- Its sear box goes up to 900f to add more flavor to food
- Easy to clean because of the patent ash cleanout system
Cons:
- We could not find any
9. Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
The z grills Wood Pellet BBQ and smoke is one of the most modern pellets that has effectively integrated the modern barbecuing technology in its design.
The design has won several awards in various competitions for its eye-catching look. In some homes, the design is used as a delicate backyard decoration.
The wood pellet bbq grill is designed to bake, braise, sear, bbq, grill, smoke as well as roasting. When cooking the smoker requires minimum or no babysitting.
It has automatic electric feeds to regulate the temperatures between 180 degrees F and 450 degrees F. The operating energy needed by the Smoker Z grill is cheap as it fully depends on natural BBQ wood pellets.
The z wooden grill pellets is another Automatic pellet smoker. It has a digital control board that allows the ignition, setting of the temperatures between 180 degrees F and 475 degrees F hence saving on labor.
In one of the products customer’s review, the customer rated it highest for its efficiency, affordability, and reliability. The beautiful design of the z grill pellets also reflects its high quality.
Pros:
- Includes an automated electric feed system
- Comes with 2 bags of 20lb American oak pellets
- Designed with rustproof cover
- Can perform 7 different cooking functions
Cons:
- Burns food easily at high temperature
- Breaks down within 6 months of use
10. Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 Grill and Smoker with Alexa and WiFIRE Smart Home Technology
According to most of Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 reviews, the Traeger pellet grill is one of the most outstanding choices for smoking and baking.
The grill is mobile and hence very ideal for outdoor cooking, in camps as well as picnics. The brand is modern. It has a digital control board that centers the whole grills automation.
The grill has an induction fan fixed to circulate the hardwood smoke throughout the induction chamber through the process of convection grilling.
This significantly helps in the distribution of the epic flavor and heat evenly. Although the grill is small in size, it has fairly large enough space to hold and efficiently allow the cooking of a chicken, a pork butt, or six burgers.
Every time one cooking using the Traeger Grills Pro Series 780, the whole area is crowned with a wood-fired cooking smell.
In matters of the energy economy, it is powered by a household outlet using 300 watts within the first four minutes and 50 watts for the next cooking.
After the cooking, the grills go through a shutdown cycle for about 10 minutes that helps to lift the ash left on the fire pot for cleaning purposes.
Pros:
- Its temperature settings are easy to change with a digital controller
- Makes 40 burgers and 7 racks of ribs with 780 sq. feet grilling area
- Versatile and can be used for 6 different cooking functions
Cons:
- Does not work well as a smoker
- Prone to catching fire on temperature above 300f
- Difficult to assemble
Read next: Best Offset Smokers
How to Choose the Best Pellet Smokers
Choosing the best pellet smoker may make a huge difference in your cooking experience, whether you’re a novice or an expert.
There are several factors to consider while selecting a pellet smoker, so we’ve compiled a comprehensive list to help you pick the best one.
Build Material
When deciding on a material for your pellet smoker, think about how long you want the grill to last. Stainless steel is the most durable material because it does not corrode over time.
Other materials, such as painted aluminum or enameled steel, have a tendency to shatter and snip over time and should be avoided.
The better option is to go with a high-temperature powder coating, which will keep its luster and also be easier to clean.
Size and Capacity
It is critical to consider the amount of food that will need to be cooked when selecting the size of a pellet smoker. A small grill may suffice for cooking for one or two people, but a larger grill is required for cooking for a family or large group.
The size of the hopper should also be considered, as a larger hopper allows for longer cooking times and requires less refilling.
Finally, the number of racks should be considered, as having more racks allows for more food to be cooked at the same time.
Hopper Size
When selecting a pellet smoker, one of the most important factors to consider is the hopper size. The hopper is the section of the smoker where the wood pellets are stored, and the size of the hopper determines how much wood can be stored at one time.
A larger hopper is required if you intend to smoke for extended periods of time or if you intend to smoke a large amount of meat.
However, if you only intend to smoke for short periods of time or if you do not intend to smoke a large amount of meat, a smaller hopper will suffice.
The ideal hopper size for your needs will be determined by how frequently you intend to use your pellet smoker and how much meat you intend to smoke at one time.
Temperature Controller
The type of temperature controller used by a pellet smoker is an important factor to consider when purchasing one. Temperature controllers are classified into two types: PID controllers and time-based controllers.
PID controllers are newer and more expensive, but they offer better temperature control. They constantly monitor the smoker’s temperature and adjust the pellet auger speed to maintain the desired temperature.
Time-based controllers are cheaper and more common, but they are not as accurate. When set to a temperature setting, this controller turns on the auger at a certain speed as well as the fan on a regular basis to try to achieve that temperature.
They do not monitor the temperature inside the smoker and do not adjust the auger speed as needed.
For the best temperature control, choose a pellet smoker with a PID controller. For the best value, choose a pellet smoker with a time-based controller.
Shelves
When choosing the best pellet smoker for your needs, it is important to consider the Shelf unit. Many smokers do not have a lot of shelf space for cutting boards and grilling accessories.
If you are limited on space, check to see if the smoker you choose has a side shelf and a front shelf.
This will give you more room to work with when prepping your food. Additionally, many manufacturers will sell shelves separately from the smoker.
Consider this when deciding whether a grill is in your budget. By taking these factors into consideration, you can be sure to choose the best pellet smoker for your needs.
Conclusion
From the juniors to seniors, every researcher from our team has voted Camp Chef PG24 Pellet Smoker as their favorite item.
With unique features like a digital control panel, highly powered convection system, automatic turn on and off feature, and flame broiler-this grill have a lot to offer you and all of that in an affordable price range.
Another product that we would recommend because of its unique features is the Camp Chef Woodwind Classic Pellet Grill. This grill comes with a sear box that adds crisp and depth of flavors to your dishes.
Also, this grill set can be used for roasting, baking, grilling, smoking, and many other cooking functions.
We understand that finding the perfect smoker is not an easy task; however, we are hopeful that the variety of products suggested by our team with their detailed pellet grills and smokers review, comparison table, and simplified list of pros and cons will definitely assist you in finding the best product.