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Craving delicious food that's perfectly cooked, bursting with flavor and a joy to prepare? Look no further than a top-notch pellet grill. These versatile wonders combine precise temperature control with the rich smokiness of wood, and cleaning is a breeze. But to truly unlock their grilling and smoking potential, choosing the right model is key. Lucky for you, the BestReviews’ Testing Lab has done all the in-depth research needed to ensure you get the best pellet grill for your needs and budget.
For this article, we not only considered a wide variety of grills, compared features and considered home-user input, but we also consulted with experts. Gabrielle Marie Yap, senior editor at Carnivore Style, Mads Martigan, founder of MadBackyard.com, and Joonas Jokiniemi, barbecue expert and founder of Grill Smoke Love, provided insight on which models they loved as well as offered tips on how to get the most out of your pellet grill after you get it home and set up.
Our favorite of them all is the versatile Weber Searwood XL 600 Pellet Grill, which provides consistently flavorful results and two levels of cooking space.
Weight: 190.6 lb | Dimensions: 23" D x 50.5" W x 45.75" H | Cooking Area: Two-level capacity, deep top rack 9.5" (removable for 11.5" space) | Outer Material: Stainless steel with porcelain-enameled lid
This Weber Searwood XL 600 Pellet Grill's Rapid React PID brings the chamber up to searing temps in about 15 minutes. On top of that, the DirectFlame full-grate sear zone really does give you the deep marks and bark you want from high heat.
You get a wide temperature range, from 180 to 600 degrees. That lets you run low for long smokes or push it up for a restaurant-style sear. The Weber Connect controller, plus the probe and app, helps you stay on track without hovering over the grill the whole time. And the side hopper's 20-pound bag is nice for longer cooking sessions.
The main downside is its size and power needs. It’s about 190 pounds, takes up a decent amount of space and requires 120 volts of power, so it definitely isn't designed for portability. Still, if you're looking for an efficient pellet grill that can cook quick or slow, this is your best bet.
Weight: 48.5 lb | Dimensions: 24.5" W x 17.6" D x 13.7" H | Cooking Area: 256 sq in | Outer Material: Heavy-duty steel
The Country Smokers Traveler Frontier Series Portable Compact Wood Pellet Grill is small, but it covers a lot for its size. The Traveler gives you 256 square inches of cooking space, so you can cook without feeling boxed in. The 180-to-500-degree range lets you move from low-and-slow smoke to a quick sear.
The porcelain-coated cast iron grates help prevent sticking and leave clear grill marks. The digital dial control is straightforward, so it’s easy to set your temp and keep moving. You also get an included thermometer, a warming rack and a removable drip tray, which makes setup and cleanup simpler.
The main downside is the 3.5-pound hopper. It works fine for short cooks, but long smoking sessions mean frequent pellet refills, which is sometimes annoying. It’s also about 48.5 pounds and needs 110 volts/300 watts to run the auger and fan. Still, if you're looking for something affordable and compact, this is a solid pick.
Weight: 60 lb | Dimensions: 18" D x 37" W x 36" H | Cooking Area: 300 sq in | Outer Material: Alloy Steel
Bigger isn't always better — especially when it comes to tailgating! This Traeger Grills Tailgater 20 Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker only has an 8-pound hopper and 300 square inches of cooking space, but it also only weighs 60 pounds, making it the most portable option on our list.
Even though this pellet grill is smaller, it doesn't mean Traeger sacrificed any features or functionality. It can heat up to 450 degrees, and it holds the temperature to within 15 degrees. This grill features a hopper that, while compact, holds enough fuel for several hours of cooking. Plenty of time to whip up delicious food and still catch the kickoff.
This portable pellet grill lets you bring your culinary skills and signature smoky flavor on the go. Whether it's camping adventures, backyard parties, picnics or tailgates, this grill offers the convenience of a rare go-anywhere design without sacrificing performance.
Weight: 166.7 pounds | Dimensions: 27" D x 49" W x 55" H | Cooking Area: 780 sq in | Outer Material: Alloy steel
Traeger Grills Pro 780 Wood Pellet Smoker Grill has it all. It offers precision temperature control up to 500 degrees so you can smoke, barbecue, bake, roast, braise and grill while infusing your food with that irresistible wood-fired taste. And the 780 square inches of cooking space give you plenty of room to cook plenty of food — up to 34 burgers at one time.
This model has a TurboTemp feature to help the grill heat up more quickly for decreased preheat times, and it promotes faster recovery times after you open the lid. And if you want to keep from running out of pellets unexpectedly, you can purchase a pellet sensor that remotely monitors the fuel level and alerts you when the pellets in the hopper are getting low.
With power, size, remote temperature control and more, Traeger's 780 Pellet Grill is a solid choice for the serious grilling enthusiast.
Weight: 230 Pounds | Cooking Area: 800–810 sq in | Outer Material: Stainless Steel
The recteq Deck Boss 800 features an 810-square-inch cooking surface that gives you plenty of space. On top of that, the 180-to-700-degree range lets you go from low-and-slow brisket to high-heat searing without changing setups.
Temperature control is a big part of the experience here. The PID controller holds temps within about 5 degrees, so changes feel predictable. The HotFlash ignition is rated for 100,000-plus cycles, which is a nice touch, and the dual-band Wi-Fi plus the recteq app makes monitoring and adjustments easy when you step away. The advertised run time of up to 30 hours is handy for longer cooks.
The main downside is its size and weight. At roughly 230 pounds, moving it or squeezing it onto a small patio can be awkward. It’s one of those grills you’ll want to place once and leave there. Past that, this is definitely worth looking into if you want a durable pellet grill that offers predictable cooking.
To compile this article, we consulted three experts in the outdoor grilling world: Gabrielle Marie Yap, senior editor at CarnivoreStyle, Mads Martigan, founder of MadBackyard.com, and Joonas Jokiniemi, barbecue expert and founder of Grill Smoke Love. We combined their insights and knowledge with our expertise, then tempered all the data with consumer reviews to make sure we were offering real-world advice. After many hours of research, comparisons and interviews we hand-picked a list of top pellet grill options for both general and specific types of users.
A pellet grill is an outdoor electric grill fueled by wood pellets. But the pellets don't just fuel the grill — they also provide a delicious smoky flavor to the meat and other foods you cook on the grill.
The pellet grill is designed to be used in a variety of ways. You can grill, smoke, roast, bake or braise your favorite foods all in the same appliance. And since the pellets burn almost completely away, these items are easy to clean.
The other great thing about a pellet grill is how easy it is to use. Most have digital controls, which means you can set up the grill and relax, knowing your food will be perfectly cooked every time. For example, Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker not only has a quick set-and-forget start that allows you to get up and running in about three seconds; it also features "WiFire" technology so you can monitor and control your cooking through your preferred smart device.
For the best performance, it's important to choose a pellet grill that's well-constructed and made of sturdy materials. Stainless steel resists rust, is easy to clean and is highly durable. Choose a grill that's made from either commercial-grade 304 stainless steel or 430 stainless steel.
You'll get more use out of a pellet grill if it's the right size for your needs. Size varies greatly, from small models good for camping trips to large, commercial-style grills good for a hungry crowd, so there's bound to be an option that suits you.
Most grills feature a primary cooking area (the main grate) and a secondary cooking area (additional racks). In a pellet grill, often, there's less difference between the two grilling areas because it mainly cooks by indirect heat (the heat source is not directly beneath the food), so the temperature is the same throughout the grill. It's best to pay attention to a pellet grill's total cooking area because that gives you a better idea of how much food you can cook at one time.
For four people, a pellet grill with at least 400 square inches of total cooking area is usually sufficient. For one or two people, you can opt for a smaller model. If you routinely cook for five or more, you'll want a larger grill.
Because the wood pellets are the grill's fuel, you should pay careful attention to the pellet hopper, the chamber that holds the pellets. You want a large enough hopper to hold all the pellets you need for a single cooking session. In general, it takes about an hour to burn a pound of pellets at 250 degrees. The higher the temperature, the faster the pellets burn. We prefer to look for a hopper with at least an 18-pound capacity if you want to slow cook for longer periods without having to refill the hopper.
In order for a pellet grill to be as versatile as possible, it should offer a fairly wide temperature range. For low-and-slow cooking, the grill only needs to reach temperatures of about 280 degrees. But if that's all you want, you can save a lot of money by purchasing a smoker instead. If you would like to do more, you need a model that can also grill at 450 degrees or higher. And for people who enjoy the crispy texture and caramelized flavor of high-temperature cooking, look for a pellet grill with a searing or flame-broiling feature.
A pellet grill's controls help maintain its temperature for consistent cooking. There are several types of controllers to choose from, and some perform better under certain conditions than others. With technological advancements, however, a proportional-integrative-derivative controller is the clear winner when it comes to maintaining precision temperatures throughout the cooking time.
Some high-end pellet grills have controllers with an outlet for a meat thermometer. You can check the temperature of the meat on the grill's display without having to open the lid. This feature is extremely handy because the less you open the lid, the better your food will cook.
Like so many appliances these days, there are some pellet grills that include Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can monitor the temperature of the grill, as well as keep track of the temperature of your food, via an app on your smartphone, tablet or computer. With this feature, you can monitor and adjust temperatures, even when you are not standing next to the grill.
To get the most out of a pellet grill, we turned to the people who use these grills the most. The tips we received from these experts were insightful and rewarding. For instance, while everyone focuses on the size of the grilling surface, Mads Martigan, founder of MadBackyard.com, reminded us that height is important too. "Having extra vertical space gives you more flexibility to cook larger cuts, like briskets and pork butts on the top racks." Martigan also advised using a water pan below the meat to provide both moisture and additional heat diffusion during long low-and-slow cooks.
Gabrielle Marie Yap, senior editor at CarnivoreStyle, championed experimenting with different wood pellets to impart unique flavors to your dishes. Yap also said, "Keep an eye on pellet levels, especially for longer cooks, to avoid interruptions. And don't forget to clean the grill regularly to maintain optimal performance."
Joonas Jokiniemi, barbecue expert and founder of Grill Smoke Love, offered practical advice that could be applied to nearly any type of outdoor cooking. "Always preheat the grill to the desired cooking temperature before putting food in," he began. "Use a meat probe to monitor internal temperature for perfect doneness. And let your meat rest to redistribute the juices for optimal flavor and tenderness." Jokiniemi also recommended keeping a fire extinguisher nearby and ensuring the grill was on a stable, non-flammable surface before use.
Pellet grills cost a little more than other outdoor grills. For a backyard model, you can expect to spend anywhere from $300 to $1,000 (or more).
A small or portable pellet grill that offers about 300 square inches of cooking area, can heat up to about 450 degrees and has little-to-no special features costs around $300.
A mid-size pellet grill that offers about 500 square inches of cooking area, can heat up to 500 degrees and has some special features will cost roughly between $400 to $600.
Large pellet grills with generous cooking space (500 square inches or more), high heat capabilities (at least 550 degrees) and special features come at a premium. Starting prices are around $700, but can quickly climb to $1,000 or more. Consider if the added features fit your grilling needs before investing.
A. While wood pellets are the fuel you use to cook the food, the grill still requires electricity to operate the pellet feeding system and to monitor the temperature. Consequently, most pellet grills must be plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet.
A. A pellet grill is an extremely versatile cooking method, so you can cook a wide range of foods. The standard grill fare like burgers, hot dogs, chicken, vegetables and fish are all fair game, but you can also smoke brisket and ribs, roast whole birds and large cuts of meat, prepare braised short ribs, and even bake foods like pizza and pies.
A. The proper pellets for a pellet grill are usually sold as barbecue or smoker pellets. They should be made from food-grade hardwood and not contain any filler materials. And, of course, if there is a particular flavor you enjoy (hickory, mesquite, apple, etc.), purchase that type.
Allen Foster started researching, testing and evaluating products for BestReviews in 2018. Before that, he sold outdoor equipment at one of the largest home improvement chains in the country. Consequently, Allen has in-depth knowledge of products ranging from lawnmowers to outdoor grills. As part of his training, Allen attended seminars and workshops on many types of grills, grilling techniques, maintenance and more, so he could help customers find what they needed.
Gabrielle Marie Yap:
Mads Martigan:
Joonas Jokiniemi:
