Looking for a pellet grill that gives a great performance yet does not blow your budget? Well with the help of this article you will be able to find the perfect one. This is because below we have listed down the 10 best pellet grills under $500 with a detailed review on each.
We have also provided you with a buying guide so that you are aware of all the different qualities to look out for when buying one.
Table of Contents
Top Pellet Grills Under $500
1. Traeger Pellet Grills TFB30KLF Tailgater 20
The first pellet grill on our list is the Traeger Pellet Grills TFB30KLF Tailgater 20. If you love grilling then you have probably heard of the company Traeger which is known for its outstanding grills. And so, we can confidently say that this grill will definitely not disappoint you. It heats up quite fast to the precise temperature that you have set. Due to this, you don’t have to wait around for a long time before you can actually start grilling.
Furthermore, it holds its temperature quite well and cooks the food in even heat. Because of this, you are able to have well-cooked and mouth-watering pieces of meat every time you grill. The grill is also quite versatile as along with grilling you can also use it for broiling, baking, braising, roasting, and so on. And so, from perfectly cooked steak to delicious cheesy pizza, this grill cooks everything extremely well.
It is also quite easy to use with its digital controls and LED display, as well as easy to set up. This, in our opinion, makes it quite beginner-friendly and therefore suitable for almost everyone to use. This grill is also portable which makes it a great option for camping, tailgating, those living in RVs, small apartments, and so on. And with its sturdy and durable build, you don’t have to worry about damaging it in any way.
- Well performing
- Easy to use
- Sturdy
- Easy setup
- Holds temperature well
- Portable
- Bad instruction manual
- Low hopper capacity
The Traeger Pellet Grills TFB30KLF Tailgater 20 makes it to our list for the best pellet grills under $500 due to its great performance and versatility. It is also quite beginner-friendly as it is easy to use and has a simple, straightforward setup. Its portable build allows you to take this grill with you when you go camping, and also makes it a great option for RVs and smaller apartments. Furthermore, it is quite durable and long-lasting.
2. ASMOKE AS660N-1 Electric Wood Fired Pellet Grill and Smoker
Another great pellet grill on our list is the ASMOKE AS660N-1 Electric Wood Fired Pellet Grill and Smoker. One of the reasons why we love this grill so much is because of its versatility. This is an 8-in-1 grill as along with grilling it lets you bake, roast, barbeque, broil, sear, smoke, and braise foods. And so, this is an amazing deal as you get all this at the price of just one grill.
When it comes to performance, we certainly were not disappointed. Along with heating up fast, this grill provides even heating throughout the whole cooking process. Also, it maintains its temperature so that your food cooks at a steady pace. And as it has a large grill space you are able to cook a large quantity of food at once, which makes this grill great for barbeque parties. We also found this grill to be quite easy to assemble as well as use. Because of this, it is a perfect option for those new to grilling.
Another thing that we loved about this grill is that it also comes with multiple accessories. These include a weatherproof grill cover, a meat probe, protective gloves, tongs, and a pair of meat claws. Because of these, once you buy the grill, you are all set and do not need to buy anything else for the cooking process. This, again makes it great for those new to grilling who don’t have the extra tools required for properly grilling food.
- Versatile
- Large grill space
- Accessories included
- Even heating
- 5-Year Limited warranty
- Easy to use
- Sometimes temperature fluctuates
And so, due to its versatility, even heating, and large grill space, we have added this grill to our list of the 10 best pellet grills under $500. Furthermore, it is quite easy to use and comes with all the extra accessories that you need for grilling your food properly. This makes it great for those who have just started out grilling. And with its 5-Year limited warranty, you can be perfectly comfortable with your purchase.
3. BIG HORN OUTDOORS Pellet Grill & Smoker
The next well-performing grill on our list is the BIG HORN OUTDOORS Pellet Grill & Smoker. Firstly, we found this grill quite easy to use as it features a simple temperature control dial with a clear LED display. And we loved the fact that it automatically feeds pellets to the fire when you select a specific temperature. Because of this, we believe that this grill is a great option for beginners. Furthermore, there is a gauge on top of the grill that lets you be aware of the temperature inside it at all times making it more convenient for you.
This grill is also quite versatile and lets you bake, grill, smoke, braise, roast, and barbecue delicious foods to your heart’s desire. And as it has a large grill space, you can use it to cook multiple items at the same time making it great for barbeque parties or large family gatherings. In terms of actually cooking food, this grill does not disappoint as it has even heating and maintains temperature well. Because of this, it is able to cook all types of foods perfectly every time.
It also has a folding rack built in front of it that you can use either during your prepping process, for cooling your food after it is done cooking, or assembly during the serving process. This grill is also quite durable as it is made up of heavy-duty steel that is sure to protect its exterior from any sort of damage. And so, this grill is sure to last you quite a long time.
- Easy to use
- Large grill space
- Versatile
- Sturdy build
- Easy to install
- Even heat
- Bad instructions
- Low-quality screw heads
The BIG HORN OUTDOORS Pellet Grill & Smoker is versatile and gives great performance while cooking. It also has a large grill space that allows you to cook a large amount of food at the same time. This grill is also quite beginner-friendly as it is easy to install and use. Furthermore, it is quite sturdy and has a durable heavy-duty build. And so all of this is why we have placed this grill on our list for the 10 best pellet grills under $500
4. Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2024 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
The Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2024 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker is another pellet grill under $500 dollars that we know you will love. This is because first of all, this grill is extremely easy to use. All you need to do is fill in the hopper with wood pellets, plug in the grill, turn it on, set it to your desired temperature, and you are done. The hopper has a wide capacity and can hold a large number of pellets. Because of this, you don’t have to worry about refilling it for a long time.
We also found that the grill cooks food exceptionally well as it holds its temperature nicely. And as it features convection heating, it provides uniform heat to the food allowing it to cook to perfection. The versatility of this grill is another thing that we love about it. This is because even though it is a pellet grill, along with grilling, you can also use it to bake, braise, smoke, barbeque, and roast foods perfectly. And as it has a large grill space we were able to cook a large amount of food on it at once.
Because of this, you don’t have to wait around for the first round of meat to be done cooking before you can cook your second round. This grill is also quite sturdy with a strong, durable build, because of which it is able to last you a long time. Also, it comes with a free waterproof and weather-resistant cover to protect it from the elements when it is not in use.
- Easy to use
- Versatile
- Large grill space
- Convection heating
- Holds temperature well
- Durable
- Difficult to remove unused pellets
- Screws sometimes come loose
And so, we have placed the Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2024 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker on our list for the 10 best pellet grills under $500 due to their great performance and versatility. This grill is also quite easy to assemble and extremely easy to use, which makes it a great option for beginners. Furthermore, it has a durable build and comes with a free cover to protect it from the elements and maintain its longevity.
5. Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Pellet Grill & Smoker
Another great pellet grill on our list that is sure to give you a great performance is the Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Pellet Grill & Smoke. One of the reasons why we love this grill is because it is quite beginner-friendly and easy to use. This is because to heat this grill up you simply need to make sure that it has enough wood pellets, plug the grill into a power source, turn it on and select your preferred temperature. It has a simple and inductive interface with a dial for temperature selection and a clear LED display.
For us, automatic heat maintenance is another factor that makes this grill so beginner-friendly, as it automatically feeds the pellets into the fire to maintain the cooking temperature. Because of this, you don’t have to constantly worry about feeding in the pellets yourself. This heat maintenance also makes sure that your food is cooked to perfection. And as it has a wide grilling area you can cook a lot of different food items at the same time.
This grill is also quite versatile as you can use it to grill, bake, barbecue, braise, smoke, and roast food. We also love that it has a durable and sturdy build, as because of it this grill is sure to last you a long time. It also comes with a free weatherproof cover so that it can be further protected from the elements if it is being stored outdoors. We also found this grill to be quite convenient to move around due to its two wheels and a side handle.
- Weatherproof cover
- Versatile
- Easy to move around
- LED display
- Automatic heat maintenance
- Easy to use
- Grill grate fitting issue
- Some temperature stability issues
The Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Pellet Grill & Smoker makes to our list for the 10 best pellet grills under $500 due to its versatility, durability, and convenience. It is also beginner-friendly as it is quite easy to use with a simple and intuitive interface, clear LED display, and an automatic heat maintenance feature. It is also extremely easy to set up, which again makes it more beginner-friendly.
6. Green Mountain Davy Crockett
A pellet grill that we guarantee will give you a great performance is the Green Mountain Davy Crockett. And one of the main reasons for this is its Wifi feature. Unlike most grills under $500, this one has Wifi which allowed us to control its settings from far away. This eliminates the need for you to constantly go to your grill to adjust its temperature and allows you to sit back and relax while your food is cooking. We also love how portable this grill is as it has foldable legs and a compact build.
Because of its portable build, this grill is a great choice for camping, tailgating, and picnics. Furthermore, it is also a great option for those living in RVs or small apartments as it does not take a lot of storage space. It also comes with different power adapters that allow you to also connect it with a battery for when a power outlet isn’t available. Despite its compact size, we found that it has a wide grilling area that allows you to cook a decent amount of food at a given time. It also has a peaked lid to accommodate a whole rack of ribs.
This grill is also quite sturdy as it has a durable, stainless steel build which makes it quite long-lasting. It is quite easy to set up and comes with all the tools you need for the installation process. And its simple and intuitive controls combined with the wifi feature make it quite easy to use. All this makes this grill quite beginner-friendly. And despite all these great qualities, this grill is quite low-cost and extremely budget-friendly.
- Easy to use
- Sturdy build
- Wifi
- Portable
- Low-cost
- Comes with tools for assembly
- Not extremely versatile
- Heavy
And so the Green Mountain Davy Crockett is one of the best pellet grills under $500 due to its ease of use, Wifi compatibility, and sturdy build. Also, this grill is quite portable thanks to its foldable legs and compact design. It also comes with all the tools required for the assembly to make the set up process much easier. And along with all of this, the grill is quite a low cost and extremely budget-friendly.
7. Camp Chef Pursuit Portable Pellet Grill
The last pellet grill below $500 on our list is the Camp Chef Pursuit Portable Pellet Grill. For us, this grill’s amazing performance shines through its consistent heat that makes sure that your food is cooked nicely. It also has a Slide and Grill feature that allows you to easily switch between the direct and indirect flame while cooking. Because of this, you are able to cook different types of foods efficiently.
The foldable legs, lockable lid, and compact design of this grill make it quite portable. And so, we believe that it would be a great choice for camping, picnics, tailgating and so on. The portable design also makes this grill quite space-efficient and easy to store. This comes in quite handy for those living in small apartments or RVs who love to grill. It also has a sturdy build because of which we guarantee it will last you a long time.
We also found this grill to be quite easy to clean as along with the grease bucket that catches all the grease and oils released during the cooking process, it also features an ash cleaning system. Because of this, you are able to collect all the ashes in the removable burn cup, remove it from its position and clean it, and then secure it back into its initial position. Because of this, you don’t have to vacuum the inside of your grill to clean up the ashes every time you use it.
- Easy to clean
- Portable
- Slide and Grill feature
- Easy to use
- Sturdy build
- Grease bucket slightly unstable
- Bad quality wheels
And so we have placed the Camp Chef Pursuit Portable Pellet Grill on our list for the 10 best pellet grills under $500 due to its great performance, a sturdy build. It is also fairly simple to use with simple controls and an LED display and easy to install. Therefore it is quite beginner-friendly. Also, it has folding legs, lockable lids, and a compact design all of which increase its portability.
Buying Guide
Versatility
When buying a pellet grill we recommend that you get one that is quite versatile. For example, there are many 6-in-1 grills in the market that, along with grilling, are able to bake, braise, smoke, roast, and barbeque food. And in our opinion, these types of grills are quite worthwhile. This is because even though you are buying a grill if you are able to use it for things other than grilling then it’s money well spent.
Also, getting a versatile, 6-in-1 pellet grill can be quite space-efficient as it is able to replace the cooking appliances that you would otherwise need for baking, roasting, smoking, and so on. Also, as wood pellets are a relatively cheap source of fuel, when compared to the gas or electricity that those appliances use, you can also save up on that.
Grill Space
If you have a large family or need a grill for hosting barbeque parties then you need to make sure that it has a lot of grill space. This is because the process of cooking through grilling and smoking is a long one and so you need to make sure that your grill has enough space to hold and cook all of your food at the same time. Otherwise, if your grill is on the smaller side then you would have to cook your food in sessions each of which can take about a few hours long.
Accessories
Usually when it comes to grilling food, just getting the grill isn’t enough, you need to get a few tools to aid you with the cooking process. These tools include a meat probe to check the temperature of your meat, tongs, meat claws if you wish to shred meat like pork for pulled pork dishes, and so on. And if you are a beginner at grilling then you probably would not have a lot of grilling accessories lying around the house. And if that is the case then we encourage you to get a grill that has these accessories included.
Wood Pellets Consumption
While pellets are not the most expensive fuel sources out there, it is still important that you get a grill with a low pellet consumption. This is because along with allowing you to save extra money and storage space on bags of pellets, it is also better for the environment. This is because the more pellets are burned the more carbon emissions there would be. And so we recommend that you get a grill that is great at conserving heat in its cooking area so that it does not use up a lot of pellets to maintain the heat.
Portability
If you are looking to take your grill with you for camping, tailgating, and so on, then you need to make sure that you get a portable one. These types of grills would have folding legs, lockable lids for both the grill, the hopper, and a compact design. These grills also need to be quite sturdy and durable so that they are able to withstand the bumps they have to face on the road.
Furthermore, we also recommend portable grills for those living in small apartments and RVs. This is because they are quite space-efficient as they can be folded up and therefore easier to store when not in use. And while most portable grills with a compact design do not have a lot of grill space, in the end, they are worth it because they are less of a hassle to have around than full-sized ones.
FAQs
What is the best pellet grill for the price?
One of the best pellet grills for the price is Green Mountain Davy Crockett. This is because even though this grill costs way less than those in the market, there is no compromise when it comes to performance. First of all this grill features wifi that most grills around its price point do not. Furthermore, through its even heating, it is able to cook food perfectly. Also as this grill comes with all the tools needed for assembly, the setting up process is made extremely easy.
Are pellet grills worth the money?
Pellet grills in general are quite an expensive cooking appliance. But if you love to grill and do it on a daily basis then the performance and the flavor of the meat that a pellet grill brings is unmatched. Furthermore, if you have a 6-in-1 grill pellet then you can easily get your money’s worth as you can use this one grill to cook various different types of food that would require different cooking appliances. And so, in our opinion, if you love to grill frequently then yes, pellet grills are worth the money.
Wrapping Up
There are a lot of pellet grills out in the market, and because of this variety, it can be quite difficult to figure out which one will actually give a good performance and which one will be a waste of money. And this is especially true if you are looking for grills on a tight budget. This is why after extensive research we have found the 10 best options for you that are all affordable and under $500. And from these 10 our top three picks are the following:-
Traeger Pellet Grills TFB30KLF Tailgater 20. Because of its great performance, ease of use, sturdy build, easy setup, and portability.
Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2024 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker. Due to its ease of use, versatility, large grill space, convection heating, and durability.
Green Mountain Davy Crockett. For its Wifi feature, ease of use, sturdy build, portability, and low-cost
And so, when it comes to well-performing pellet grills under $500 that are easy to use, versatile, portable, and sturdy, then these three are among the best options in the market.
If these weren’t enough, check out these pellet grills under $500 from Amazon: