The delicious BBQ chicken is often a top favourite food item for most of us. And if you love the aromatic flavour that they bring with it, then you should consider getting yourself a pellet smoker. Pellet smokers or the grills are great in bringing about the exact savoury flavour to the chicken with an effective low and slow cooking.
Different kinds of pellet smokers are available depending on the need of the users. Various models cater to the specifications of the varied needs of the users that include factors like the built, Wi-Fi support, free-standing etc. We have made a comprehensive list of the best pellet grills and pellet smokers based on their superior quality, durability, performance and other important features.
Introducing our top pick: Z Grills ZPG-7002 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker. This 8 in 1 pellet smoker comes with unmatched versatility. You and your family can get your favourite hot dogs or the roasted chicken with so much ease!
Best Pellet Smokers in 2020
1. Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Features
- 450 sq inch cooking space with 15 pounds hopper capacity.
- Stationery side shelf and collapsible front shelf.
- Wind and water-resistant grill cover.
- Comes with wheels and lift handle.
Get the perfect barbeque chicken with one of the best wood pellet smokers. This extremely easy pellet grill technology gives you enjoyable cooking experience. It extends a varied utility of smoking, grilling, baking, barbequing, and so much more. You can create your flavour with the huge variety of pellets that it comes with. Easy and convenient, pellet grills are the most popular methods when it comes to having a great barbeque taste.
This super versatile pellet smoker gives an added satisfaction to your taste buds by providing all kinds of grilling and roasting your food. The presence of the wind and water-resistant fabric, you can be sure your grills will be protected against harmful elements and harsh UV rays. It also comes with the convenient lift handles that allow an easy movement to the device. Enjoy a large and awesome meal with the help of this pellet smoker.
PROS —
- Temperature control allows the cooking at various levels.
- The wheels add amazing portability
CONS —
- Ineffective pre-heating.
- Light gauge metal.
2. Z Grills ZPG-7002 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Features
- Auto control of temperature.
- Digital electronic auto-ignition.
- Twenty pounds of hopper capacity.
- Digital pellet surge.
Z Grills is a trustworthy name when it comes to the best wood pellet smokers. They provide some of the best pellet smokers at very affordable prices. It renders a very easy working system with superior efficiency. The Z Grill wood pellet enhances the savoury of your much-loved food with its amazing affectivity and performance.
Also, enjoy uninterrupted cooking with the help of the digital temperature control that continuously adds the required number of pellets. This also comes with a thermal sensor that allows proper maintenance of the required temperature levels. The convenient fan force technology helps in easing down the efforts needed to get the perfect roasting of those meat ribs. Extremely convenient for travelling purpose with its foldable legs and light in weight feature. Gift yourself the highly durable stainless steel device for a lifetime of good service and great food.
PROS —
- Has advanced wood fire technology.
- Extensive area for grilling and large grilling space.
CONS —
- Not adapt at maintaining a proper temperature.
- Grilling features are not up to the mark.
3. Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett WIFI Grill
Features
- A large grill area.
- Comes with a thermal sensor.
- Is included with a meat probe, a peaked lid for ribs and convenience tray.
- Comes with a Wi-Fi controller.
The Davy Crocket is your ultimate choice for camping or any other outdoor purpose. Its portability, along with the built-in Wi-Fi technology, makes it one of the top-rated pellet smokers. It also comes with a thermal sensor that continuously monitors the temperature, which gives you a stress-free cooking experience.
Thanks to its lightweight, it can be easily carried in the back of your car. An excellent product was offering perfect adaptability with the internet connection. Useful features such as the meat probe, rib racks, large bowl and convenience tray with utensil hooks form a part of this pellet smoker. It comes with a very evenly distributed heating no matter where you put the heat shield. Very easy to assemble, this product will make you a BBQ pro in no time at all. Hence, you can continue to enjoy carefree cooking.
PROS —
- Effective temperature control.
- It comes as tailgate ready, i.e. its legs can be folded for convenient carrying.
CONS —
- Ineffective durability.
4. Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill
Features
- Heavy steel components.
- Cooking space of 700 sq. Inches.
- Digitally control the cooking system.
- Natural hardwood pellets.
The Pit Boss offers great versatility, along with covering all the practical aspects. It offers an 8-in-1 grills range, and you can pick depending on your needs. The wide range of temperature compatibility also adds to the utility of the product. The natural hardwood pellets are there to give you the beautiful smoky savoury of the grilled items like no other.
This also means that you do not have to depend on gas, propane or charcoal to do the task. One of the best pellet smokers you get for the money! A highly durable product that comes with materials that protect your grill efficiently all the time. The grill also lets you get rid of the excess grease by its direct and indirect cooking. Every time you cook with the Pitboss grill, have the most delicious meals of all your favourite items at home.
PROS —
- Comes with an effective flame broiler.
- Extreme durability.
CONS —
- Temperature maintenance problem.
- Problem in heating the heat rods.
5. Camp Chef Smoker Vault 24
Features
- Removable porcelain tray at the base.
- Steel wood chip tray.
- Adjustable damper valves.
- Two smoking racks.
When it comes to the best wood pellet smoker, the Camp Chef name automatically comes up. It comes with a fully adjustable heat-control dial and door thermometer that keeps that helps in internal temperatures. The innovative technology and the true smoky flavours will give you the most authentic taste of the roasted chicken. The heavy-gauge steel wood chip tray and water cans that are available with this pellet smoker helps in maintaining the much-needed moisture levels.
This gives you the perfect juicy chicken roasts for you to enjoy. This smoker works with a very simple method and can cook your food in a low and slow process to give the needed delicious flavours. The heavy-gauge steel wood tray and water pan help in creating the moisture needed for cooking the mouth-watering juicy, smoky chicken. This smoker also comes loaded with several innovative ideas and tips for you to get started easily.
PROS —
- Efficient temperature control helps in controlling temperature throughout cooking.
- Convenient in smoking large food items.
CONS —
- Door leaks are common.
- Doesn’t work well with low temperatures.
6. Traeger Grills TFB38TOD Renegade Pro Pellet Grill
Features
- Electronic auto-start technology.
- Digital pro temperature controller.
- Steel construction with powder coat finish.
- 380 sq. Inches cooking space.
This pellet smoker gives you the wonderful taste of food with their 100% natural hardwood pellet grill. You can cook your heart’s content, including smoking, grilling, roasting, barbequing or even baking. This pellet smoker with its 6-in-1 versatility, provided you with a wide range of cooking options. Hot and fast or low and slow, you can create any kind of cooking with this grill. With this amazing pellet smoker, you can cook some of your family’s favourite meat items.
It should be noted that it comes with an easy to clean porcelain grill grates which adds to the user-friendliness of the product. Forget about the traditional gas and charcoal barbeque and get this modern technology to get the most delicious flavours ever! Also a very powerful and a strong device which can be used for a long time with great performance.
PROS —
- The grills are easily cleaned.
- Offers great versatility and cooks a variety of items.
CONS —
- The grill cannot maintain its temperature.
- Problem arises in the controller.
7. Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill and Smoker
Features
- 6 in 1 technology (grill, roast, smoke, bake, braise and BBQ).
- Digital pro temperature controller.
- Capacity of 884 Sq Ft.
- Steel made with powder coat finish.
This multi-functional pellet smoker gives you the advantage of smoking just about anything. Ribs, pork butt, brisket, fish, you name it, and you shall get the best-flavoured grilling done. It is extremely easy to assemble, and with the more space, you shall be able to get a considerable amount of work done. It works great with Bluetooth thermometers and gets the temperature-controlled without any interference on your part.
It also comes with a meat probe which helps you to check the internal meat temperatures more accurately. The powerful and strong built-in of the pellet smoker will let you enjoy its service for a long time to come. It also has a large capacity as far space is concerned and can accommodate a huge quantity of food items. This gives you the advantage of preparing a whole bunch of food fast. So relax and take the pleasure of some lip-smacking delicacies.
PROS —
- Non-stick porcelain plates.
- Space capacity is huge to cook a large amount.
CONS —
- Low-quality igniter.
- Difficult to assemble.
8. REC TEC Grills, RT-700 Portable Wood Pellet Grill
Features
- Wi-Fi technology.
- Premium grill cover.
- Temperature range of 200°F to 500°F.
- Two non-stick grill mats.
This is one of the best pellet grills you can come across. It offers excellent cooking technology, offering some superior features. It comes with fine stainless steel built along with Wi-Fi connectivity. This means that you can control your cooking from anywhere using the app.
You do not have to monitor the consistency of your barbeque chicken, as REC TEC Grills will care for everything with their smart grill mechanism. It has a wide temperature base which will render you with the tastiest of flavours! Cooking with this device means no messy charcoal usage or unsafe fire starters. Everything will be taken care of with the automatic technology of this pellet smoker. It is also provided with an efficient stainless steel cooking unit that maintains the insides of the chamber. This ensures you worry less about the cracking or peeling on the grill surface. Enjoy a wholesome barbeque experience with the RECTEC grills.
PROS —
- Easy assembling.
- Proper functioning pellets with good flavour.
CONS —
- Circuit plugs lack functionality over time.
- Not rust-resistant.
9. Camp Chef Woodwind SG 24 Pellet Grill
Features
- Temperature ranges from 160°F to 500°F.
- Slide and grill technology.
- Two-piece nickel-plated upper chamber.
- Includes a simple temperature selection system.
With the Woodwind SG gets the most delicious smoked chicken with the least efforts. It offers you a diversified grilling experience with adding the mouth-watering wood fire taste to your food. With a wide range of temperature settings, you can indulge in all kinds of grilling, smoking, roasting, baking, barbecuing etc.
With the new slide and grill technology, you can flame broil the food directly without much hassle. Also, the size of the grill allows you to enjoy joyous dining with a large number of people as well. It comes with premium hardwood pellets that bring in the aromatic beauty of the roasted chicken and meat items. It also has a wide temperature ranging from 160°F up to 500°F that allows for a slow and even cooking of all kinds of food items. The automatic auger also dispenses pellets whenever needed for proper and efficient grilling.
PROS —
- Excellent smoke setting.
- Easy cleaning with a proper ash dumping unit.
CONS —
- Not an effective control unit.
- Not rust-resistant.
10. PIT BOSS PB440D2 Wood Pellet Grill
Features
- Convection technology with a fan-forced system.
- Digital temperature control.
- Direct and indirect heat.
- Removable serving tray.
This pellet smoker gives you a unique experience with its amazing hardwood pellet flavours. It comes with a fan-forced convection technology that helps in creating a much-needed ambience for an effective grilling, roasting, barbecuing and even baking. You will find several options with this amazing pellet smoker.
It comes with the efficient fan-forced convection cooking that helps in making a versatile ambience for all kinds of cooking techniques. The all-natural hardwood pellets add the beautiful aromatic savoury to your food. This is something that wasn’t expected of the traditional gas or the messy charcoal grills. The heavy-duty stainless steel framework gives it high durability and efficiency in performance. Also, you can get a wide number of options with this pellet smoker that will surprise your family with new and delicious meat items will become your new regularity.
PROS —
- The removable parts are very easy to clean.
- Offers great versatility in preparing several food items.
CONS —
- Ineffective pellet feeding.
- Comes more on the expensive side.
How to buy the Best Pellet Smoker: Buying Guide
What are Pellet Smokers?
Pellet smokers are used for smoking, grilling and baking turkey, fish, chicken and many other food items. They use the technology of burning woods and fans to arrive at a needed temperature and a required amount of moisture. They help in producing the delicious smoky flavour to the meat to create the delicious BBQ chicken.
Advantages of Pellet Smokers
- Versatility – Pellet smokers, can do about all sorts of grilling, roasting, smoking or baking. With temperatures ranging from 180 degrees to around 500 degrees, you can cook any kind of meat with amazing taste.
- Value for money – Though some of the pellet smokers might come across as pricey, they have an excelling efficacy capacity. It is far superior to any of the ordinary ovens and produces mouth-watering roasted and grilled items.
- Easy to use – These devices come with easy techniques that can be used by anyone. All you need to do is start with setting the temperature and timings. The rest can take care on its own!
- Taste and flavour – You get the best smoked savoury food items. Get the professional level barbeque chicken with the help of pellet smokers.
Disadvantages of Pellet Smokers
- Need for electricity – Electric pellet smokers cannot work without electricity. This might pose a big disadvantage for an outdoor party or a picnic.
- Not durable enough – Pellet smokers come with various attachable items. There remains a risk of them breaking down with gradual usage over time.
- Maintenance – They require regular cleaning. They are not rust-resistant and might need professional assistance as well for proper maintenance.
How do Pellet Smokers work?
Pellet smokers operate by burning wooden pellets. The system includes adding a hopper on the sides where the pellets should be added. These devices are built with digital controllers. So when you plug in and start the power on, the pellets are pushed through, and this eventually helps in the heat smoke formation. The technology behind the working of the pellet smokers is heating the cooking chamber, and your food is prepared through convection. The bottom is filled with burning hardwood, and the meat particles are placed on the top chamber of the grill. Mostly an auger is used to push the pellets right into the heart of the chamber. Fans are placed at the bottom to increase the temperature for faster burning of the hardwood pellets. The smoke that these pellets create extends a great aromatic appeal to your food. The entire system runs on electricity which makes it all the more convenient and effective.
Pellet Smokers are best suited for:
Using a pellet smoker can be of great significance if you prefer your chicken barbecue style. Many preserve the misconception that using this device can bring in complications. But rather it is just the opposite. Unlike the traditional ways of using charcoal, the natural hardwood pellets are more convenient along with adding the smoky wood flavour to the food. There are many pellet smokers available in the market, but it all depends on how you want to use them. They come in a range of sizes added with several features to cater to your taste buds. If you are concerned about the space, then you can go for a vertical pellet smoker. The electric pellet smoker is best suited for bringing in the quintessential aromatic effect of the BBQ chicken with the help of the wooden pellets.
Features to consider while buying a Pellet Smoker
There are many wood pellet grill reviews available for a wide number of pellet smokers. Hence, it becomes tricky to understand, which suits your specifications the best. To understand what is the best pellet grill for you, the following are some of the factors that need to be considered before buying Pellet Smoker.
1. Grilling options
The diversity of the grill creates a great impact on its usage. A multi-functional grill can be used to deliver a wide number of cooking ranges. If you are looking for a multifunctional grill with a large cooking area then you can go Louisiana Champion Pellet Grill. This comes enormously helpful when the process needs to be undertaken outdoors. The versatility of the grills makes it possible to have all kinds of meats prepared in so many ways. Moreover, with a large number of people, the choices also vary. In such cases, the versatile grilling options come to great use.
Other Grills to be considered:
2. Wi-Fi capability
Wi-Fi enabled pellet smokers can be dealt with without much stress. It gives you the advantage of quickly checking on the grill temperature and also the probe temperature with the help of your phone. It also helps you have access to the recipe database on their mobile app. Mostly the processes are easy to follow without much of your interference. Wi-Fi technology makes cooking in the pellet smokers very convenient and enjoyable chore.
3. Pellet consumption
Go for a pellet smoker that consumes minimum pellet but with maximum output. It is important to do thorough research and understand now how much amount of pellets per hour is burnt by the smoker. One pound an hour can be considered as an acceptable standard. When you go for very thick metals, a huge amount of pellet will be needed. The thick body of the smoker will not allow proper heat formation. This will automatically result in more pellet consumption. Hence, you need to be careful while selecting the proper pellet smoker.
4. Warranty offered
The pellet smokers are removable devices that need to be attached properly. Many times it is seen that this may lead to the breakage of the product in the long run. For this reason, products having a considerable amount of warranty coverage is essential. It is also important for you to understand all the aspects that come under the warranty system of the company.
5. Add ons available
Different companies offer a wide range of add ons with the product. You need to understand well the features that are included by default and the add ons they are offering. If you want a particular feature but does not come along with the product, make sure it becomes available before your buy.
6. Budget
One of the most important factors is your budget. After considering all the factors, you need to settle down for the product that best suits your budget. Try to look for the item that covers all your necessities and comes in the price you are willing to pay for it. There are several products with varied price tags. Do a complete research and get the one most compliant with your expectations.
7. Customer service
You can have more reassurance if you go for a brand that has enough goodwill in the market. With this, you can ensure an effective after-sales service of the product. But sometimes, bigger companies do have the habit of not attending to the needs on time. This can be taken care of by not so famous brands. You can have personal guidance with their help, and future help can also be satisfied.
Conclusion
Traditional gas ovens are a thing of the past. The pellet smokers have made their remarkable entry in the home kitchen with a splendid effect. However, many of these modern devices are expensive, but that depends on your requirements. There are a huge number of pellet smokers that can come up with the juiciest and tastiest of the wonderful food items! The pellet smokers offer you hassle-free BBQ style chicken with an unbelievable amount of ease. But it is also true that one tends to get confused with so many options available in the market. In this article, we have tried to compile a list of some of the best pellet smokers and their reviews. Hopefully, this will be a helpful guide for all your future purchases.