Eight best pellet grills for the money featuring advanced controls to cook various meals with perfect taste and flavor.
Everyone loves wowing their friends and family with traditionally smoked meat but hates the hassle that comes along with such parties. However, advanced pellet grills offer fast and effortless cooking while also preserving the traditional smokey flavor.
Pellet grills come with digital temperature controls and automatic pellet feed systems to maintain the temperature consistency inside the cooking chamber. Additionally, the wood pellets fuel infuses the original barbecue flavor into the meals. Due to the advanced technology and increased popularity, pellet grills have become considerably expensive.
Therefore it is challenging to find the best pellet grill within a limited budget. Taking your concerns seriously, we have picked up and reviewed the eight best pellet grills offering top-notch features at a competitive price. Here is a review of the eight best pellet grills for the money you can buy in 2024.
Table of Contents
Top Pellet Grills For The Money
1. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill – Top Rated Pellet Grills
Camp Chef SmokePro DLX with digital temperature control and an intuitive interface is our first choice for our list of best pellet grills for the money. This pellet grill by Camp Chef combines features like the taste, ease-of-use, and large grilling space, making your family meals more enjoyable. The grill’s cooking area is around 573 sq. inches, which is further divided into the main cooking area and a warming tray.
Plus, a spot for setting trays and other accessories is a cool addition that helps you keep everything organized. The feature that I found most impressive is the digital temperature control coupled with an automatic auger. What you need to do is to get the desired temperature and forget. The digital temperature control lets you cook the meal as you want it to be.
The automatic auger feeds the pellets when needed to maintain the temperature consistency. However, we noticed some issues with the auger’s pellet feed, and it is better to keep an eye on the pellet feed. Additionally, we really appreciate the quick and easy cleaning mechanism.
Thankfully it features a non-stick porcelain construction and a built-in hopper. This feature makes the collection of leftovers and ashes quick and easy. The pellet comes partially assembled with a complete set of tools and accessories. We used a basic set of socket wrenches to attach all the grill parts, and it was all done within an hour.
- Large cooking area
- Clean-out ash feature
- Digital temperature control
- Pellet feed issues
Camp Chef SmokerPro DLX is a competitively priced grill that can cook meals for a family of 7 to 8 people. With a spacious cooking area, digital temperature control, ash-cleanout feature, and quick assembly, this is undoubtedly the best pellet grill for the money.
2. Traeger TFT18PLDO Scout Wood Smoker Grill
Traeger TFT 18PLDO Scout is a portable pellet grill and smoker that is specially designed for traveling and outdoor adventures. With a compact design and lightweight construction, this wood pellet grill lets you cook your favorite meals anywhere, anytime. What we loved most about the pellet grill smoker is its versatility. Its 6-in-1 grilling machine lets you cook, smoke, braise, grill, roast, and BBQ with a traditional smoky flavor.
It is a portable machine that weighs around 45 lbs and is pretty easy to carry on tailgates, vacation spots, and outdoor parties. The grill offers a cooking space of around 176 sq inches. We found this space enough to cook 5 burgers and 8 dogs or 6 burgers and a rack of ribs. The feature that sets this grill apart from its counterparts is the digital temperature Pro controller with a meat probe.
What you need to do is to set the required temperature. The Digital Temperature Pro would take care of the rest. The hopper cavity is around 5 lbs, which is enough for such a compactly sized portable pellet grill. However, you need to refill the hopper after one hour to maintain the grill temperature.
Finally, the grill is made with heavy-duty steel material that offers durability while keeping the unit lightweight. Also, its porcelain grill grates and the non-stick cooking surface are pretty easy to clean.
- Lightweight and portable
- 6-in-1 grilling machine
- Durable construction
- Limited cooking space
Traeger Scout wood pellet grill and smoker is the best choice for traveling, outdoor parties, and tailgating. This grill with a built-in smoker and 6-in-1 cooking capabilities infuses the traditional smokey taste and brings versatility to your meals.
3. Z GRILLS ZPG-10002E 2024 New Model Wood Pellet Grill
Z Grills ZPG-1002E is one of the most spacious pellet grills offering a cooking rack of around 1000 sq. inches. This pellet grill under a competitive price tag offers the best deal for large families and groups. The grill boasts of a heavy-duty stainless steel construction coupled with a convenient design, making it the best pellet grill for the money.
The heavy-gauge steel body is powder-coated to protect against rust and corrosion. Plus, the steel cooking grates offer ease of cleaning and maintain the temperature consistency. What we loved most about this grill is the Advanced Wood Fire Technology that maintains the temperature at your desired target.
Also, a convection fan ensures even heat distribution inside the cooking chamber, giving you a perfect cooking experience. Finally, the grill comes with a free cover for easy storage and a 3-year warranty giving you the confidence to invest in these products.
- Ideal for large families
- Wood Fire Technology
- Durable construction
- Not ideal for searing
Z GRILL ZPG-1002E with large cooking space and Woodfire technology is a great choice for large families. Plus, heavy-duty steel construction with powder coating provides durability, making it the best pellet grill for the money.
4. Green Mountain Davy Wood Pellet Grill with Meat Probe
Green Mountain Davy Crockett is a portable pellet grill with a cooking area of around 219 sq. inches. It is a portable wood pellet grill that makes a great deal for a group or family of 3 to 4 persons. Since the grill features sturdy built and portable design, it is the best choice for camping and tailgating.
The sturdy steel construction helps it withstand the impact and rough use, increasing the unit’s life. Plus, it comes with foldable legs, and that makes storage and transportation a real breeze. A foldable side tray with built-in hooks for hanging other accessories is a cool feature that lets you keep everything organized. A peaked-lid style grill lets you cook the whole chicken and large rib racks without running out of space.
What we loved most about this grill is the WiFi control. With the companies’ android app, you can control the grill from your android device. Temperature control is the most critical feature of any grill. It comes with a matte sensor technology that is responsible for monitoring the temperature consistency.
However, we also noticed some abnormal temperature changes. This is because the auger that feeds the pellet to the grill slows down or even stops feeding pellets if left unsupervised for a long time. Another handy feature of this Green Mountain Davy Crockett is the grease tray. You can quickly collect and dispose of the grease without creating any mess.
- Affordable price
- Lightweight and sturdy construction
- Portable design
- Matte sensor technology
- Limited cooking space
- Pellet feed issues
Green Mountain Davy Wood pellet grill is a deal-breaker for small families and groups. It is the best choice for outdoor parties, vacations, camping, and tailgating with a portable design and lightweight construction.
5. Z GRILLS ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
Z GRill ZPG 450-A is the upgraded model of the 2024 version, with many improvements in temperature and pellet feed system. It is a competitively priced pellet grill that offers a temperature range between 150F-450F, making it ideal for cooking various foods. What we found most impressive is the construction quality. The unit features a heavy gauge steel construction, and a heavy-duty cart supports its body at the base.
Plus, it comes with all-terrain caster wheels that make the maneuverability a real breeze, even on rough and uneven surfaces. Also, a foldable table on the side lets you keep the plates and other cooking tools organized. The cooking area of this grill is around 450 square inches, which makes it the best fit for a family of 4-5 persons.
The 450 sq. inch cooking area is further divided into 324 sq. inch main cooking rack and 124 sq. inch warming rack. We found this grill pretty easy to use since it comes with a digital control board. The digital control board gives you a handy start by igniting the grill and lets you set the desired temperature between 150F-450F.
Additionally, the automatic pellet feed supplies the pellets when needed to maintain the temperature. Plus, a huge hopper capacity of 5 lbs eliminates the need for refilling from time to time. Finally, we found the polished steel surface and porcelain-coated grilling grates fairly easy to clean and maintain.
- Competitively priced
- User-friendly design
- Durable construction
- Digital temperature control
- Heavy unit
- A bit compact for a large family
If you are on the lookout for a competitively priced pellet grill with advanced controls, Z Grills ZPG-450 is a real deal-breaker. With top-notch construction quality, digital temperature controls, and user-friendly design, this is the best grill for the money you can get in 2024.
6. Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill Smoker
Z grill wood pellet grill with built-in smoker imparts the real smokey taste to the meals, making it a perfect match for traditional barbecue lovers. It uses 100% original wood pellets that infuse a traditional smoky flavor to the meal. The grill comes with the main cooking area of around 513 sq inches plus a warming rack of around 187 sq inches.
These figures reveal that this grill is a perfect match for serious barbecue enthusiasts and large families. We really loved the variety this 8-in-1 pellet grill brings to your food. You can bake, braise, smoke, barbecue, chargrill, and many more on the grill.
The grill features a digital temperature control that lets you set and control the temperature and ensures temperature consistency. You can cook the perfect meal, no matter which skill level you are at. The hopper with a 20 lb capacity and coupled with an electric feed system maintains the temperature for long hours with one refill. Additionally, it has an electric ignition that is best for a quick and handy start to the party.
The pellet grills use high-quality materials and are built to last. With a sturdy build and 4 lockable caster wheels, this pellet grill offers durability and maneuverability for outdoor use. Plus, a 3-year warranty makes this grill even more worth buying.
- Large cooking space
- Durable construction
- Easy to use
- Digital temperature control
- A bit overpriced
If you are looking for a pellet grill offering advanced controls and traditional flavors, Z Grill 700D is the real deal-breaker. With sturdy construction, digital temperature control, and large cooking space, it is surely the best pellet grill for the money.
7. Camp Chef SmokePro SE 24″ Pellet Grill
Camp Chef SmokerPro SE is a competitively priced pellet grill that offers a cooking area of around 429 sq. inches making it a perfect choice for large families and groups of BBQ lovers. What makes this pellet grill most standout is the temperature consistency it provides. It comes with digital temperature control, where you can set the desired temperature level between 160 to 500 degrees.
The inner chamber of the grill works like an oven. It maintains the temperature between 160 to 500 degrees set by the users. Also, a meat probe gives you the almost correct temperature and lets you monitor what is going inside the chamber. The grill also comes with smart smoke technology. It has an adjustable smokestack at the top, allowing you to adjust the smoke level and maintain the chambers’ temperature for a perfectly smoked and grilled meal.
Additionally, this grill boasts heavy-duty steel construction and a user-friendly design. The grill comes with durable wheel carters for ease of transportation and a storage rack at the back to store the cooking and cleaning tools. The huge hopper capacity of around 18 lbs eliminates the need for refilling over and over.
The auger automatically dispenses the pellets when needed, but we also noticed its abnormal behavior. Therefore you should not leave the pellet feed unsupervised for a long time. Also, this grill is equipped with Camp Chef’s patented Ash Cleanout technology. It lets you collect the ash and leftover by just a pull of leaver, without creating any mess.
- Digital temperature control
- Competitive price
- User-friendly design
- Adjustable smoke stack
- Unreliable pellet feed
- Low levels of smoke
Camp Chef SE is a competitively priced pellet grill that combines consistency, flavor, durability, and ease-of-use at one spot. With digital temperature control, Ash Cleanout technology, large cooking space, and user-friendly design, it is undoubtedly the best pellet grill for the money.
Buyer’s Guide
Pellet grills help you make the sizzling and appetizing barbecue with advanced pellet feed and temperature controls. Pellet grills come in various designs and styles, making them ideal for different people in different situations. Therefore it is critical to figure out the grill that goes perfectly with your needs. This guide enlists a few considerations you should make before investing in a new pellet grill.
Cooking Capacity
The cooking area of the grill is the first feature you should consider. Cooking areas of pellet grills could be as small as 150 sq. inches and could be as large as 1000 sq. inches. A pellet grill with a cooking space of around 400-500 sq. inches is large enough for a normal household.
Grills between 150-300 sq. inches are ideal for individual use, small families, and trios. The people who throw big parties often should consider the large grill offering cooking space between 650-700 sq. inches. Pellet grills larger than 700 sq. inches are generally used for commercial purposes.
Portability
Portability is another feature that largely affects your choice for pellet grills. People love barbecuing outdoors, be it vacations, tailgating, or any other outdoor vents. Grill Featuring lightweight construction is easy to maneuver and transport. Some grills also come with a foldable design and caster wheels for ease of transportation. The major drawback of portable grills is that they offer smaller cooking areas.
Advanced Controls
Advanced controls included the digital temperature control, meat probe, WiFi, and automatic pellet feed. Digital temperature control lets you get the desired temperature and maintains the grill’s internal temperature at that level. Automatic pellet feed auger dispenses the pellets when needed and promises temperature consistency inside the cooking chamber.
Also, the meat probe gives you the temperature readout of your meal so that you can have an idea of what is going inside. Some premium grills come with WiFi capabilities and Apps that let you control the grill from your android or Apple devices.
Durability
Advanced pellet grills come considerably expensive, and therefore durability of the grills is a major concern. Pellet grills are subjected to high temperatures and impact. Grills made with heavy-duty metals like steel are highly resistant to impact and temperature. Also, the grill grates coated with porcelain last longer than the uncoated metallic grates. Porcelain Coating protects against rust and offers ease of cleaning.
Temperature Range
The temperature range of the grill is another important factor to consider. Your choice of the temperature range will depend on which type of cooking you want to do. In general, the temperature of pellet grills ranges between 150 F to 450F.
You can cook, bake, braise, and barbecue, and roast at different temperature levels in this range. However, some grills can reach a maximum temperature of up to 550F. These grills are ideal for quick grilling and searing the meat.
Pricing
The pricing factor significantly affects your choice of pellet grills. The pellet grills usually come between $300-$80o. Affordable pellet grills cut down some important features: cooking space and advanced controls. However, you should not invest in low-quality products, as they will cost you even more in the future. Going with a competitively priced pellet grill from a renowned brand is recommended for a long-lasting experience.
Ease-Of-Cleaning
Ease of cleaning is one of the crucial features you should take into consideration. Pellet grills produce a huge amount of ash and grease leftover. Best pellet grills come with a grease and ash collection chamber for a less messy post-grilling cleanup. Grills with non-stick cooking surfaces and porcelain-coated grill grates are easier to clean than their regular counterparts.
FAQs
Are pellet grills worth the money?
Pellet grills are worth the money since they offer ease of cooking and hassle-free post-greasing cleanup, making them ideal for big barbecue parties. Pellet grills come with advanced controls, like digital temperature, WiFi, automatic pellet feed, and meat probes, giving you the perfect taste and flavor every time.
What should I look for when buying a pellet grill?
You should look for the features like temperature range, cooking area, ease-of-cleaning, pellet feed system, hopper capacity, and temperature controls when buying a pellet grill. You may also consider advanced features like WiFi, smokestack, and meat probes.
Can you leave pellets in the hopper?
It is not recommended to leave the unused pellets in the hopper. These pellets tend to rot inside the hopper and go to waste. To avoids the hassle of cleaning and wastage of pellets, you should store the unused pellets in an airtight bag or jar.
Wrapping Up
If you love wowing your friends and family with sizzling BBQ and appetizing seared meat, getting the best pellet grill is imperative. All the products on our list feature advanced controls and top-notch construction, giving the best value for money.
Our top-three picks from the list are:
Green Mountain Davy Wood Pellet Grill with Meat Probe for an affordable price, matte sensor technology, lightweight construction, and portable design.
Z GRILLS ZPG-10002E 2024 New Model Wood Pellet Grill for large cooking space, heavy-duty construction, wood fire technology, and convection fan.
Camp Chef SmokePro SE 24″ Pellet Grill for a competitive price, digital temperature control, adjustable smokestack, ash cleanout, and automatic auger.
Ease of cleaning is a crucial factor to consider. It would be best to look for a hassle-free cleaning mechanism like Camp Chef’s Patented Ash Cleanout technology to avoid messy situations at the end of the party.
If these weren’t enough, check out these pellet grills from Amazon also:
No products found.