Best Pellet Grill For The Money

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Pellet grills take the experience of smoky flavor to a new level by their wood fuel. Due to their easy usage, many people are replacing gas or charcoal grills with pellet grills. With automatic functions, it is as simple to operate as an oven in your kitchen. So, you just have to put the pellets in the hopper and the rest is done by the grill itself. Here, I have gone the extra mile for you guys to provide you with some options so you can choose the best pellet grill for the money:

Our Best Pellet Grills For The Money In 2020

Product Cooking area Best For Highlighted Features
Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2020 UpgradeZ Grills ZPG-7002B 2020 Upgrade452 sq.-inchBest Overall
  • Stainless steel built
  • Auto temperature control
  • Pellet purge system
  • Electronic auto ignition
  • Shutdown recycle mode
  • LED temperature display
Check Price
Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade ModelZ Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model452 sq.-inchBest Budget Pick
  • Pellet feed control system
  • Precise temperature control
  • Digital control board
  • Fan-forced convection cooking
  • Locking caster wheels
  • 6-in-1 grill range
Check Price
PIT BOSS 700FBPIT BOSS 700FB341 sq.-inchBest for Outdoor
  • Heavy gauge steel components
  • Cast iron grids
  • Digital control board
  • 8-in-1 grills range
Check Price
Traeger Grills TFB38TOD ProTraeger Grills TFB38TOD Pro380 sq.-inchBest For Quality
  • Steel construction
  • Powder-coat finish
  • Porcelain grill grates
  • Digital Pro Controller
  • Electronic auto-start ignition
Check Price

1. Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2020 Upgrade

Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2020 Upgrade
Highlighted Features
  • Stainless steel built
  • Auto temperature control
  • Pellet purge system
  • Electronic auto ignition
  • Shutdown recycle mode
  • LED temperature display
KitchenFaction Rating
5

Z Grills brings supreme versatility with the ease of grilling and smoking meat with exceptionally convenient features.

Construction: The grill has a durable & long-lasting construction as it is made of stainless steel and has a polished finish. Besides, it has advanced wood fire technology, electronic auto-start ignition, digital auto temperature control, LED temperature display, pellet purge system and shutdown recycle mode.

Function: Stainless steel construction of cover and racks makes it rustproof. The wheels are sturdy and can be used for transportation on all kinds of surfaces. There is quite a spacious grilling area to cook your meat. With Z-Grills you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, barbecue with a lot of ease. So if you want to grill a steak or slow-smoke it, you can do it pretty conveniently and efficiently. Plus, you get a perfect smoky flavor.

The startup is automatic with just a push button. The pellets of 20-pounds let you cook for about 20 hours. The automatic temperature control helps in adding pellets when required to make the temperature stable. The temperature doesn’t exceed the 10-degree range from the temperature you have set. The distribution of heat is done using convection so the food is cooked perfectly inside and out. Plus, there is an LED temperature display that lets you monitor the temperature you are cooking at.

Cleaning and maintenance: Cleaning is carried out by dispensing the grease that is collected in the drip tray. The wood burned can be vacuumed out to clean the firepot. The construction is of stainless steel so it is rust-resistant and long-lasting.

Pros
  • Elegant sleek design
  • Sturdy construction
  • Rust-resistant
  • Long-lasting
  • Advanced features
  • Heat distribution by convection
  • Perfect smoky flavor
  • Versatility of cooking
Cons
  • No cleanout for ash

2. Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model

Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model
Highlighted Features
  • Pellet feed control system
  • Precise temperature control
  • Digital control board
  • Fan-forced convection cooking
  • Locking caster wheels
  • 6-in-1 grill range
KitchenFaction Rating
5

The upgraded version of the Z Grills makes you a versatile professional with the advanced features it offers for you to cook meat in a variety of ways to impress your friends and family.

Construction: The Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker has a stainless steel build with a foldable working shelf and locking caster wheels. Besides, it has upgraded features of much improved & accurate temperature control, pellet feed control system, and a digital control board with an auto-ignition start system. Moreover, there is a digital auto temperature control and LED temperature readout.

Function: With an exceptionally large cooking area, this grill & smoker lets you explore unique ways to barbecue, braise, roast, bake, smoke or grill the meat as per your desire. Hence, you get a versatility to enjoy the delicious meat cooked in different ways with fan-forced convection cooking. You get an automatic electric pellet feed system that can continue to feed pellets until the desired temperature is attained and stops when not required. Therefore, you get the best amount of smoke without having to put in any effort at all.

Electronic push-button start along with digital temperature control and LED temperature readout makes your work even easier as you can maintain the temperature pretty easily. The working shelf is foldable so you can fold it if not required. The sturdy wheels are made for all kinds of surfaces so you can pretty much roll this pellet grill anywhere you find suitable for grilling. The cover and racks are rust-resistant and durable.

Cleaning and maintenance: Since the construction is of stainless steel with a shiny polished exterior, there is rust-resistance for long-lasting performance. Besides, there is a specifically designed waste management system that collects the waste oil and helps you to dispose of it easily. Therefore, cleaning becomes a five-finger exercise.

Pros
  • Sturdy and long-lasting
  • Large cooking surface
  • Versatile
  • Advanced features
  • Rust-resistant
  • Efficient waste collection system
  • Easy cleanup
Cons
  • Doesn’t seer meat that well

3. PIT BOSS 700FB

PIT BOSS 700FB
Highlighted Features
  • Heavy gauge steel components
  • Cast iron grids
  • Digital control board
  • 8-in-1 grills range
KitchenFaction Rating
5

Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill is an indispensable gadget for the traditional outdoor cooking extravaganza. It is simply a treat for the meat lovers who want to take their culinary skills to a whole new level.

Construction: The grill has a heavy-duty steel construction with the cooking surface made of porcelain-coated cast iron. Besides, it has a digital control board, standard flame broiler, and an electronic ignition start.

Function: With 100% natural wood pellet fueling, you don’t need propane or natural gas as fuels. The 8-in-1 grill provides you the versatility of grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, searing, braising, barbecuing or char-grilling very conveniently and efficiently. Searing can be done on an open flame as well. You just slide the plate over the open flame and sear the meat to perfection. The exceedingly immense cooking area along with heavy-duty construction ensures the cuisine to turn out to be perfectly done for a group of 4 to 6 people.

You just need to plug it in and wait for the pellets to be fed into the auger. Set it on the smoke mode. Once they start burning and the temperature of 180F is attained, set the temperature you desire and leave the grill to work on its own. The temperature will be maintained automatically.

Cleaning and maintenance: Cleaning is a piece of cake as there is a pellet cleanout at the back of the hopper and grease is taken care of by the grease bucket. You simply have to place the bucket under the chute, unlock the black knob and take the plate out.

Pros
  • Sturdy and durable construction
  • Large cooking surface
  • Versatile grilling ranges
  • Autoignition start
  • Temperature control
  • Efficient grease disposal system
  • Effective pellet cleanout
Cons
  • Smoke flavor is not very intense

4. Traeger Grills TFB38TOD Pro

Traeger Grills TFB38TOD Pro
Highlighted Features
  • Steel construction
  • Powder-coat finish
  • Porcelain grill grates
  • Digital Pro Controller
  • Electronic auto-start ignition
KitchenFaction Rating
4.5

Traeger Grills Renegade Pro Pellet Grill and Smoke is a blend of classic design and advanced modernistic features that transform the way you prepare your appetizing meals and take them up a notch.

Construction: The Traeger grill with the shiny black surface has a powder-coat finish, heavy-duty steel construction, and porcelain grill grates. Besides, it has wonderful features like a digital pro controller with advanced grilling logic, electronic auto-start ignition, hopper cleanout, sawhorse chassis, side lift bar, and all-surface wheels.

Function: Traeger renegade 6-in-1 pellet grill with a sleek black design and powerful construction uses 100% wood pellets as fuel instead of gas or charcoal. Therefore, you get an exotic pure hardwood smoke flavor with the versatility of grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, braising, and barbecuing. Besides, it functions automatically with a push-button start and digital controller with AGL to maintain the precise temperature of +/- 15-degree Fahrenheit for grilling. The surface area is quite spacious that allows you to cook 12 burgers simultaneously or 2 chicken and 3 racks of ribs together.

Plus, there is a sawhorse chassis for the stability of the grill and all-surface wheels for dragging them anywhere or hauling the grill conveniently with the side lift bar.

Cleaning and maintenance: You need to clean it regularly for better maintenance. Porcelain grill grates are pretty easy to clean. The hopper cleanout may not work very effectively but you can clean out the ash by using the vacuum cleaner. Plus, you should get rid of the extra grease when you are cooking otherwise it could flame out.

Pros
  • Robust and tough construction
  • 6-in-1 grilling range
  • Large cooking surface
  • Exotic wood smoke flavor
  • Advanced features
  • Easy transportation
Cons
  • Hopper may not work effectively
  • Not easy to set up for some

5. Z Grills with Newest Digital Controls

Z Grills with Newest Digital Controls
Highlighted Features
  • Digital control board
  • Automated electric feed system
  • Fan-forced convection cooking
  • 8-in-1 grill range
  • Large storage room
KitchenFaction Rating
4.5

Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill Smoker not only provides exceptional wood smoke flavor but also relieves you of the burden of storing your grilling or barbecuing tools as it has a spacious storage room for your ultimate convenience.

Construction: This latest pellet grill has a heavy-duty construction with a protective paint that makes it rust-resistant and prevents wear & tear. It also has a digital control board, automatic electric feed system, fan-forced convection cooking, caster wheels, waste oil basket, spacious storage room, and the main cooking rack along with a warming rack.

Function: The Z Grill works wonderfully with an 8-in-1 grill range and an immensely large cooking area that can hold 20 burgers, 5 whole chickens, or 6 racks of ribs at a time for 3 to 12 people. You get the best wood smoke flavor due to 100% hardwood pellet fueling that produces heat & smoke to refine the taste of your meals. It is as simple to operate as an oven with a push-button start and an automatic pellet feeding system that maintains the temperature you set. The digital board helps in maintaining the temperature up to +/- 20-degree Fahrenheit.

Besides the cooking surface, you also get a warming rack to keep the food warm until it reaches the plate. Moreover, you get the convenience of smoking where you can cook at low heat & slow speed or you can do searing at high heat and fast speed. The caster wheels help in holding the grill perfectly at its place. Plus, you don’t have to worry about making space for your grilling tools as there is a lot of room under the grill for holding your tools.

Cleaning and maintenance: Cleaning is simple as there is a spigot that drains grease in the waste oil basket so you can easily clean it up. The ash can also be cleaned out easily with a vacuum. You need to clean it every 8 times of using the grill or after every 4 bags of pellets.

Pros
  • Protective paint coating
  • Rust-resistant
  • Versatile grilling options
  • Immensely large cooking surface
  • Perfect wood smoke flavor
  • Convenient storage space
  • East to clean
Cons
  • Temperature controller may give problems

6. Traeger Grills TFB57PZBO Pro Series 22

Traeger Grills TFB57PZBO Pro Series 22
Highlighted Features
  • Durable steel construction
  • Porcelain grill grates
  • Digital pro controller
  • 6-in-1 grill range
  • All-surface wheels
KitchenFaction Rating
4

Traeger Grills series22 pellet grill & smoker with digital features helps you make your signature dishes so amazingly delectable that every one of your family members or friends would be spellbound.

Construction: This Traeger grill has a durable steel construction and powder coating for a black colored, fine finish. Plus, it consists of porcelain grill grates, caster wheels, sawhorse chassis, and a grease bucket. Besides, there is an interesting feature of a digital pro controller with advanced grilling logic.

Function: The grill uses 100% all-natural hardwood pellets as fuel in order to give your meals a special wood smoke flavor that would elevate the level of your barbecuing skills to that of a professional. With an immensely large cooking surface that can easily adjust 4 chickens, 5 racks of ribs, or 24 burgers, you can serve a large number of people pretty conveniently. Plus, there is a versatility of 6-in-1 grilling range where you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue your food, may it be smoking ribs or baking an apple pie.

Wood-fired cooking has never been this easy with digital controls that provide extreme comfort of operating the grill. After filling the hopper with the pellets, start the grill, adjust the temperature and let the grill perform on its own. The temperature is monitored and maintained by the controller. The pellets from the hopper are pulled by the auger, an induction fan stokes the fire and a hot rod burns the pellets in the firepot. Smoke and heat flow around the barrel and the grease slides down the drip tray. Therefore, you get a perfect barbecue experience without having to work too hard.

Cleaning and maintenance: The porcelain grates are not sticky and pretty easy to clean. The grease collects in the grease bucket and the ash can be removed with the help of the vacuum cleaner. If you do the cleaning regularly, especially the fire pot, you won’t have to worry about its maintenance.

Pros
  • Sturdy construction
  • Large cooking surface
  • Easy temperature control
  • Perfect wood smoke flavor
  • Efficient grease collection
  • Easy cleanup
Cons
  • Feeds extra pellets in colder temperature

7. Country Smokers CSPEL015010497

Country Smokers CSPEL015010497
Highlighted Features
  • Black sand exterior
  • Dial-in digital control
  • Removable upper rack
  • 8-in-1 grill range
KitchenFaction Rating
4

Country Smokers Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker become a reliable companion on your outdoor excursions as it would provide exactly the same quality of meals as your very favorite steakhouse.

Construction: This wood pellet grill and smoker is made of acrylic and has a black sand exterior. The cooking surface consists of a main rack and a small warming rack. Besides, it has flame broil technology and a dial-in digital control system.

Function: The compact sleek black Country Smoker is a grill-on-the-go for you. You can explore a variety of outdoor cooking techniques with the 8-in-1 grilling range that includes baking, searing, chargrilling, roasting, braising, grilling, smoking, and barbecuing. You will have a delicious wood-smoked flavor due to the wood pellets that are used as a fuel. The cooking surface is suitable for 1 to 4 people along with the warming rack that can be removed easily if not needed.

The startup is pretty easy and then you just have to dial-in the temperature according to the requirement. You can monitor the temperature with the lid-mounted temperature gauge. Besides, there is convenience in bringing variation to your grilling options. You can grill slowly at low temperatures or sear quickly at high temperatures.

Cleaning and maintenance: The interior drip trays are made of solid heavy gauge stainless steel so they are rust-resistant and long-lasting. You simply have to remove these trays and clean the ash with a vacuum. You can make your task even easier if you wrap the drip tray with aluminum foil and simply throw it away when you are done.

Pros
  • Sleek black design
  • Compact size
  • Sufficient cooking area
  • Traditional wood smoke flavor
  • Auto temperature maintenance
  • Easy to carry and clean
Cons
  • Keeping temperature steady may be a problem

8. Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro

Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro
Highlighted Features
  • Digital temperature control
  • 2 meat probes
  • Convection style cooking
  • Dual top shelf
  • Heavy-duty front shelf
  • Optional sear box
KitchenFaction Rating
3.5

Camp Chef SmokePro Wood Pellet Grill with its impressive features and slide & grill technology would cater to your needs in the most efficient manner imaginable.

Construction: The grill consists of a dual top shelf and a heavy-duty foldable front shelf. Besides, there is an additional sear box that can be used if needed. Plus, it also has a digital temperature control, an automatic auger that feeds pellets, 2 stainless steel meat probes, stainless steel firebox, and a hopper & ash cleanout system.

Function: The Camp Chef works with convection style cooking, uses wood pellets to produce savory smoky flavor, and provides the versatility of grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, braising & barbecuing with this single SmokePro Wood Pellet Grill. It can also go from indirect to direct flame mode to give your burgers the taste that you have never experienced before. With a push-button start, the automatic auger feeds the pellet when required to maintain the heat and digital temperature control maintains the temperature within the required range set by you. Plus, the temperature meat probe lets you check the internal temperature of the meat as well.

The grill has 2 upper shelves that can be removed or adjusted as needed. The cooking surface can be expanded with an extra sear box that can be attached if you are in need of cooking for more people. Moreover, there is a sturdy front shelf for keeping your tools or any stuff you want.

Cleaning and maintenance: There is a proper hopper and ash cleanout system. You can even clean it while you are cooking by simply pulling the lever that will empty the hopper of its contents and you can add more pellets for a change of flavor. For grease management, there is a large grease pan collector that easily lets you dispose of the grease.

Pros
  • Sleek design
  • Direct and indirect flame mode
  • Versatile grilling range
  • Incredible advanced features
  • Delicious smoked flavor
  • Efficient cleaning system
Cons
  • Wheels are a bit weak
  • Temperature control fluctuates at times

9. Camp Chef SmokePro SG

Camp Chef SmokePro SG
Highlighted Features
  • Convection cooking system
  • Electric auto-igniter
  • Simple temperature select system
  • Dual meat probes
  • Dual LED temperature readout
KitchenFaction Rating
3

Camp Chef SmokePro SG Grill Smoker with wood pellet as fuel and smart smoke technology is a perfect replacement for the gas grills. An outdoor experience you’ll relish for ages.

Construction: Camp Chef SG Wood Pellet Grill Smoker has a sleek black design that comes with a dual shelf. Besides, it also has an electric auto-igniter, automatic auger, simple temperature select system, dual meat probes, dual-LED temperature readout for internal cooking & internal food temperatures, a small cup for ash clean-out and pellet hopper clean-out system.

Function: The grill features the convection cooking system and you can also switch from indirect to direct flame mode with a simple twist of the knob. Plus, the sliding grill can increase your grilling options. The startup is pretty easy with the electric auto igniter, automatic auger feeds the pellets automatically when required and you are ready to go by adjusting the temperature according to your needs. Meat probes let you know the inside temperature of the meat and LED temperature readout also enables you to know the inside temperature of the food.

You will get a perfect wood-smoked flavor for whatever you cook whether it is burgers, steaks or briskets, etc. Plus, you get the convenience of cooking multiple meals that require different speeds for cooking simultaneously. Hence, you can enjoy family time or friends bonding together without spending too much time babysitting your grill.

Cleaning and maintenance: Cleaning is a breeze with an ash cup that allows the disposal of ashes even while you are cooking. There is a removable cup placed under the burn cup of your pellet grill. With a simple twist of a knob, the ashes would drop from the burn cup to the removable cup for simple cleanup. The drip tray is slanting so the grease easily slides off to the grease bucket.

Pros
  • Sleek black design
  • Slide and grill technology
  • Indirect to direct flame mode
  • Advanced digital features
  • Easy cleanup
Cons
  • For some, doesn’t produce enough smoke

Things to look for before buying!

There are certain features that you need to know in order to understand how your pellet grill would function in a better way. Hence, if the following things are there in your pellet grills, it would make your grilling and smoking experience simply remarkable.

So, let’s take a look at the essential features:

  • Durable construction
  • Cooking surface area
  • Digital temperature control
  • Portability

Buying Guide

What are wood pellet grills?

The wood pellet grills are more or less the same as charcoal grills, but instead of coal, pellet grill needs wood pellets. They are best for the smoky flavor that they provide. Pellet grills can be used as a grill and a smoker to cook a variety of different things that other grills fail to provide. The digital temperature allows you to control the temperature as per your desire so that you can grill like a pro.

How do wood pellet grills work?

This is how the wood pellet grills work. The pellet grills have a hopper from which the pellets move to an auger that feeds them to the burn pot where they are ignited. Sometimes, the induction fan also stokes the pellets before they go into the burn pot. The digital temperature control maintains the heat and temperature so the auger feeds the pellets only when needed. In a smoke mode, the temperature is kept low and more smoke is generated. Some smokers have versatile grilling ranges as well that enables you to grill, barbecue, sear, bake, braise, and roast.

Why the pellet grills? Are they better than gas grills?

Pellet grills are very economical in terms of fuel usage as they use much less fuel as compared to the gas grills. Gas grills keep the natural flavors but generate very little amount of smoke. However, the wood pellets come in different flavor combinations so you can have different flavored foods with intense smoke. Plus, they are wonderful for slowly roasting and smoking foods.

Are wood pellet grills harmful for health?

People consider wood pellet grills much healthier in comparison to other grills as there are no carcinogens in the food cooked on them. Carcinogens are produced when the food is cooked at a very high temperature which produces the charred or burnt marks on the food. It is considered that the ash sticking to the food plus the burnt marks on the food are pretty dangerous for health. Although there is no research supporting this claim, still wood pellet grills are safe in terms of the production of carcinogenic chemicals.

What are the reasons for preferring pellet grills over other grills?

The pellet grills have many positive aspects that outweigh other grills. The following factors highlight the importance of preferring pellet grills.

Versatility:
The first and foremost is its versatile usage as you can bake, grill, smoke, braise, and do much more with these wood pellet grills. It can work perfectly well with low & slow cooking and high & fast cooking simultaneously. So, if you want to grill burgers or steaks, bake cakes, broil corn, or barbecue, the pellet grills are pretty suitable for providing perfection.

Energy Efficiency:
It is energy efficient as well as it uses much less fuel as compared to other grills. A full bag of wood pellet grills would cost about the same as one propane tank. However, this bag will be lasting much longer than the tank. They are economical even compared to charcoal as they last longer than a bag of briquettes.

Temperature Control:
Since the temperature is maintained automatically, there is a better temperature regulation system in these grills.

Time Management:
Wood pellet grills’ automatic functions give you the freedom of getting several tasks done while you are cooking.

Different Smoky flavors:
These wood pellets come in different wood flavors so you get to experiment with these flavors and enjoy exotic wood-smoked food.

Cleaning – A five-finger exercise:
Cleaning these grills is super easy as several grills have an efficient hopper cleanout system. Plus, there is a grease disposal over a slanting drip tray that leads to the grease bucket for easy riddance. Several grills have an ash cleanout system where a removable cup is right beneath the burn pot and with just a lever pull, the ash drops into the cup for cleaning even while cooking.

Which tools would you need for your grilling time?

Finally, just to give you a little tip, let’s consider the equipment that you would not want to be without while you are going on your grilling expedition. You would definitely need an apron to ensure your clothes remain clean while you are working. For handling the heat, you would require heat-resistant gloves. You need basting brushes as well for oiling or glazing your food. The most important: barbecue tongs that you cannot do without. You would also cook better if you use meat tenderizers and marinade injectors.

Plus, there need to be the spatulas for flipping your food with, skewers for placing the meat chunks for barbecuing on the grill and a tool holder, in case there is no storage room. Last but not the least, you would need a grill brush for cleaning the grates.

Conclusion

Here you go, folks. I have mentioned every bit of information that I thought would be important for you to know. Now go ahead and choose the best grill that serves you just as you want. Enjoy your time with your family and eat juicy and delicious meat!

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