5 Best Pellet Smokers [2022] – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

One of the best ways to smoke meat is on a pellet smoker. This type of grill makes it super simple to set the temperature and cooking time and then just get on with your life. They are truly set and forget machines.

In this post, we will review the best pellet smokers that money can buy. We will highlight the key features of each so that you can decide which pellet grill is best for you.

Why Use Pellet Smokers?

It is a question that a lot of people ask about pellet smokers. They are a fairly recent invention in the world of smoked and grilled food. Compared to charcoal and wood smokers, they are much easier to use but they also produce food that tastes amazing (something some people complain about with electric smokers).

Due to the ease of use and great taste, pellet smokers have become incredibly popular over recent years. They used to be considered expensive but the costs are coming down and it is now possible to get one for a great price.

If you are looking for a really affordable model, check out our guide to the best pellet grills under $500.

Best Pellet Smokers – Our Picks

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Image	Product	Feature	Price
Best Overall	Traeger Lil Tex Elite 22	1. 418 Sq. inches cooking area. 2. 98 lbs. product weight. 3. 18 lbs. hopper capacity.	Check On Amazon
	Camp Chef PG24S	1. 430 Sq. inches cooking area. 2. 127 lbs. product weight. 3. 18 lbs. hopper capacity	Check On Amazon
Best Pellet Smoker Grill	Smoke Hollow PS2415	1. 440 Sq. inches cooking area. 2. 120 lbs. product weight. 3. 18 lbs. hopper capacity	Check On Amazon
	Memphis Grills Elite Wood Fire	1. 800 Sq. inches cooking area. 2. 285 lbs. product weight. 3. 24 lbs. hopper capacity.	Check On Amazon
Best Large Capacity	Camp Chef SmokePro LUX	1. 875 Sq. inches cooking area. 2. 180 lbs. product weight. 3. 18 lbs. hopper capacity	Check On Amazon

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Best Pellet Smokers – Product Reviews

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1. Traeger Lil Tex Elite 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker – Best Overall

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If you are concerned that a smoker will take up too much space then Traeger Lil Tex Elite smoker could be the one for you. It is considered to be amongst the best pellet smokers and it will look great in your outdoor entertaining thanks to its bronze finish.

The smoker has a 418 square inches of cooking space giving you enough room to smoke almost everything. You can smoke rib racks and whole turkey. Or you can smoke 4 chickens at the same time in this pellet smoker, so whipping up meals for a crowd will be no problem at all.

The Traeger Lil Tex Elite has a non-stick coating means you won’t have to spend hours scraping food off the grate. This works even with marinated foods. It also serves as the best pellet grill for all kinds of food. You just have to oil the grates before grilling dry food.

Lil Tex Elite 22 also features an elegant controller with LED display for quick monitoring. You can enjoy different temperature settings and also view the internal smoker temperature.

There is an 18-lb capacity hopper so you don’t have to refill the pellets regularly. This pellet smoker is also highly maneuverable owing to the glide-on wheels. One of the main reasons for its popularity is the quick startup by auto-ignition.

The overall look and feel of this Lil Tex Elite is also stunning. The design has a beautiful bronze finish with powder-coated stainless steel. All in all, it is one of our favorite pellet smokers.

Key Features

• Weight: 98 lbs.
• Cooking Space: 418 square inches.
• Controller: Digital
• Hopper Capacity: 18 lb.
• Range: 175°F- 450°
• Racks: Porcelain

Final Verdict

Traeger Lil Tex Elite 22 is a great smoker considering the features and services it offer. It is perfect for those who have less outdoor space. Moreover, it has been made highly portable so outdoor adventures are not a bad option.

There is a waste disposal pail for collecting ash and a valve for releasing inside smoke. We wholeheartedly recommend the Lil Tex Elite 22 and have rated it as th ebest overall in this comparative review.

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2. Camp Chef PG24S Pellet Smoker and Grill Deluxe

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The Camp Chef PG24S is certainly one of the best pellet smokers available in the market today. It is basically a 2-in-1 pellet smoker. You can have the luxury to avoid flare-ups because it doesn’t provide the direct flame for your food. The Camp Chef PG24S is a great choice if you are looking for an excellent smoky meal with a simple cooking process. This pellet grill will never disappoint you.

Like all pellet smokers, the Camp Chef PG24S Grill and Smoker Deluxe uses wood pellets as the source of heat. These are basically compressed sawdust. So, instead of gas or charcoal, you use these pellets to grill or smoke.

The Camp Chef PG24S is one of the most loved models by Camp Chef. It is definitely a high quality pellet smoker. This best pellet grill has an excellent electronic temperature control with a digital readout. The cleaning system is also very effective and easy.

When you consider sturdiness, it is amongst the very best pellet smokers. There have been no compromises made on its robustness and build quality.

The even temperature and steady smoke is taken care by a digital temperature chip. It eliminates the big temperature swings making steadier temperatures possible.

Camp Chef PG24S offers a good space of 430 square inches so it’s not a small pellet smoker by any means. It means you can cook anything you want from a full brisket to several chickens.

You don’t have to refill the wood pellets every time you cook as it offers an 18 lb. hopper on its side. It has a state of the art cleaning system. It means you can change one flavor of pellet for another with a touch of button. This means that you can finish cooking with one flavor of pellet, then change for another flavor without cleaning everything out.

Key Features

• Smoking Racks: 6’’ x 24’’
• Hopper Capacity: 18 lb.
• Cooking Space: 430 Square Inches.
• Cooking Height: 32.5’’
• Cooking Area Dimensions: 19.5’’ x 22’’.
• Automatic Ash Cleanout System: Yes

Final Verdict

I am sure we have introduced you to an amazing pellet grill and smoker. It is undoubtedly the best pellet smoker by Camp Chef. Not only that, it has won many awards as well for its functionality and quality.

If you are confused by all the pellet smoker grills options available on the market, just go for this one.

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3. Smoke Hollow PS2415 24-Inch Pellet Smoker Grill

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 [CHECK on Amazon.com]

Smoke Hollow has become a name that you can trust. Its products promise you the best authentic smoked flavor.

Smoke Hollow won’t disappoint when it comes to the best pellet smokers. The Smoke Hollow PS2415 Pellet Smoker is definitely amongst the best available to us today. It promises you the taste and texture that you are yearning for. This unit has been made extremely easy to use so you wnt even need to look at the user manual before you get started (ok, it might be a good idea to glace at it quickly, but you get the idea)

Smoke Hollow PS2415 has a digital LED thermostat along with internal temperature gauge for easy temperature control. The easy-drain grease system makes the cleaning of smoker hollow a very easy job. This pellet smoker has a 440 square inches cooking space and comes with a porcelain-coated wire cooking grill.

The value of this pellet smoker lies in taste of the meal prepared in it. It provides you the true BBQ taste. Yes the overall cooking process is a bit slow but it’s definitely worth it. All you have to do is to plug in this electric smoker, and then you’ll see its magic. The auger-fed pellet delivery is managed by the digital LED thermostat and controls.

The 440 square inches space is large enough to cook most type of meals in it. You can have brisket roasts, full-size racks of ribs, and even whole chickens and turkeys. Considering it size, capabilities and versatility, it is definitely a great buy when it comes to best pellet smokers.

Key Features

• Cooking Space: 440 Square Inches.
• Cooking Dimensions: 50.3’’ x 25.6’’ x 51.5’’
• Thermostat: Digital LED thermostat
• Temperature Range: 175°F – 500°F
• Heavy Duty: Yes
• Steel Barrel Construction: Yes

Final Verdict

Smoke Hollow ps2415 24-inch Pellet Smoker grill the perfect pellet smoker that you need. It is one of the few cookers that provide true barbecue taste. The unit comes with plenty of qualities that are not easy to find. It is easily assembled, cleaned and comfortable to use. Enjoy your meal….

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4. Memphis Grills Elite Wood Fire Pellet Smoker – Best Luxury Buy

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If you ever wanted an epitome of luxury grilling and smoking, Memphis VG0002S is the right grill for you. It is one of a kind elite pellet smoker. This pellet smoker has true convection capabilities.

Memphis Elite Pellet Smoker has a beautiful and solid design offering a lot of convenient features for your best smoking and grilling experience.

You’ll enjoy a unique 8-in-1 feature i.e. you can smoke, bake, roast, grill, sear, char, braise, and BBQ foods you want. This state of the art pellet smoker is made with high quality 304 stainless steel. So, this smoker has long life, rust-resistant, and weather proof. Not only that, it has been extremely easy to clean.

You can smoke a grill lots of food like pie, steak, pizza or smoked ribs. You’ll definitely enjoy your holidays and small social gatherings having this pellet smoker. Memphis claims to have full convection capability unlike any other pellet smokers available on the market.

Memphis Elite Pellet Smoker has cooking grates consisting of 6-mm nickel plated steel. This smoker comes with an oven-quality gasket, and dual-wall firebox. It offers you a massive cooking space of 844 square inches so you can cook multiple rib racks, chickens, hog, brisket, and turkeys for a large crowd with ease.

It has a huge 24-pound hopper so there is no need for any interruptions while smoking. The Memphis Elite Pellet grill can last for a mammoth 62 hours of continuous cooking without pellet refill!

To add icing to the cake, this pellet smoker has a Wi-Fi controller for remote grilling and a precise temperature probe to check the internal food temperatures. This smoker can easily be moved around thanks to the lock-on caster wheels. This is a pellet grill that has all the bells and whistles!

Key Features

• Temperature Range: 175°F – 700°F
• Cooking Space: 800 square inches
• Controller: Digital
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Hopper: 24 pounds
• Weight: 285 lbs.
• Dimensions: 69’’ x 29’’ x 47’’

Final Verdict

Memphis Elite Pellet Smoker Grill has certainly got the whole package. It is brilliant in every aspect but it is a bit costly to have. If you can afford it, you should not go anywhere else then to buy this pellet smoker. With a whopping 800 sq. inches of cooking surface, a large 24 lb. pellet hopper, dual metal convection fans, and precise temperature control capable of anything from 180° to 700°, the Memphis Elite is truly a revolutionary cooking appliance.

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5. Camp Chef SmokePro LUX – Best Large Capacity

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Camp Chef SmokePro LUX offers the ultimate cooking experience. It is one of the newest models from Camp Chefand has been loaded with features. The entire cooking process is as smooth as you could ever imagine. The consistency in cooking is also unmatched, so it is no wonder that it is included in the list of best pellet smokers.

The Camp Chef SmokePro LUX Pellet Smoker is a superior version of Camp Chef SmokePro DLX. This pellet smoker is famous for the cooking space it has. It offers an ample 663 square inches grilling surface on its lower rack and an additional 221 square inches on the warming rack. If you don’t like cleaning your pellet smoker (let’s be honest this is nobody’s favorite part of the process), you will be pleased to hear that this unit has a patented Ash Can Cleanout System that makes the whole process much easier.

Camp Chef SmokePro LUX has Smart Smoke Technology and an automatic auger dispenser to produce a brilliant smoky barbecue.  Besides that, the grill has various features included that would cost quite a bit on their own, including a meat probe, warming rack, auto ignition, and a utility shelf. You won’t be disappointed by the hopper capacity which is 18 pounds so you can cook continuously for long periods.

This pellet grill has two LED temperature displays for the internal cooking temperature and the internal food temperature. It is a digital pellet smoker that has been designed extremely well. It is capable of low and slow cooking giving you the best taste and the design has won a Vesta Award for innovation. Gather your friends and family for a party and this pellet smoker will go down a storm.

Key Features

• Temperature Range: 160°F – 500°F
• Auto-start Ignition: Yes
• Smart Smoker Technology: Yes
• Ash Cup Cleanout System: Yes
• Controller: Digital
• Cooking Space: 875 Square Inches
• Hopper: 18 lbs.
• Weight: 180 lbs.
• Smoker Dimensions: 47.5’’ x 62’’ x 24’’

Final Verdict

Camp Chef SmokePro LUX Pellet Grill and Smoker is the ultimate choice if you are looking to cook delicious recipes. The main feature to me of this product is the ease of cooking and convenience. You won’t experience any kind of swings in temperature while operating this pellet smoker.

The patented clean-out system avoids issues related to the cleaning of smokers. The utility shelf, roller coaster wheels, and the side shelf all add to a great cooking experience. You definitely wot regret buying this, it is definitely one of the top pellet smokers available.

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Best Pellet Smokers – Buying Guide

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These are the things to look for when buying a pellet smoker to have a profitable deal….

1. Cooking Space

Well, it depends on the individual needs but normally the best pellet smokers have 300 – 1300 square inches of cooking space. The grills with large cooking space will cost a bit more. It really depends on the size of the gathering you are having and also on the food quantity you want to smoke and grill in one cycle.

2. Pellet Smoker Durability

Durability is perhaps one of the most important attributes of a pellet smoker. You should choose a model that has a powder-coated stainless steel body with sturdy construction. It will ensure that your pellet smoker has a long life and rust resistance.

Some other important features are also associated with the best pellet smokers like porcelain-enameled grates, a firebox, and a drip pan. Marine-grade 304-stainless steel is considered best for pellet smokers.

3. Pellet Delivery

Pellet smokers deliver wood pellets into the auger tube and then to the combustion chamber. The heat depends on the number of pellets entering the chamber. When you start using the pellet smoker, make sure that the tip of the auger tube is at a distance from the combustion chamber for safety. We advise going for pellet smokers with a minimum hopper capacity of 18 lbs so you don’t have to worry about refilling whilst cooking.

4. Temperature Controls

We recommend going for pellet smokers with digital controls. It will make your life a whole lot easier. In this way, the temperature controls are more straightforward and you don’t have to monitor the whole cooking process. These digital controls are:

• Non-PID Controllers: They have meat probes, LED displays, and one-touch button operations. You can increase the temperature in 5°F – 10°F intervals.
• PID Controllers: These are best for auto-pilot smoking. They have an algorithm working to keep the smoking temperature range.
• 3-Position Controllers: They have 3 heat settings i.e. low (225°F), medium (325°F), and high (425°F). They are more common with cheaper pellet smoker models.

Out of these, PID controllers are the best. They relay the temperature variations and maintain the temperature range to within +/- 10°F. You can also read and control the inside temperatures easily by digital controls.

5. Price

Price is always an important consideration. You can get a decent pellet grill for around $400 whilst the top-spec models can be in the thousands. It is a personal choice but you do generally get what you pay for and the high-end machines look superb and will last many years.

6. Extra Features

There are some extra features that can certainly enhance your cooking experience. These are:

• Wi-Fi: There are pellet grilles that you can control from distance by smart devices using Wi-Fi.
• Portability: Not all pellet smokers are portable. But a portable one can be an amazing thing to take camping or to the beach.
• Built-in Lightning: This feature helps you grill all through the night.
• Sear Box: The sear box is there for extra char-grilling and hot smoking capability.

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Best Pellet Smokers – FAQs

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1. What is a Pellet Smoker?

A pellet smoker is a smoker that cooks your food using wood pellets. These smokers usually have digital controls for controlling and monitoring everything. They automatically feed pellets to the firebox to keep it up and running. Pellet smokers are now hugely popular as they offer the classic wood-smoked flavor but are extremely easy to use and ideal for beginners.

2. How does a Pellet Smoker Work?

Pellet smoker works in rather an ingenious way to carry out continuous cooking. They have a pellet delivery system that makes them easy to operate.

• A motor turns the auger that feeds the pellets into the firebox.
• A digital controller is there to maintain the internal temperature in the firebox.
• A hot rod ignites the pellets with the help of a combustion fan.
• The firebox is responsible for wood-burning fire and the circulation of smoke throughout the grill.

3. How do you use a Pellet Smoker?

It is easy to get to grips with a pellet smoker, that is one of the best things about them. Here are some tips on using a pellet smoker to enhance your cooking experience.

• Make sure you keep the pellet grill clean all the time. It will ensure food hygiene. It also helps in removing pollutants so there is no compromise on food quality. Always go for the best pellet grills available.
• It is important to ensure safety when using a pellet smoker. You should always keep yourself updated on the weather forecast. Don’t expose your smoker to rainwater. Always keep the power cords away from water and make sure they aren’t wet.
• Some components of pellet smokers should be replaced from time to time. This will have a direct impact on the performance of your pellet smoker.
• Don’t open the lid while smoking otherwise your food will lose its flavor and temperature fluctuations will happen.
• Keep the pellet smoker as dry as possible. Always use the cover when your smoker is not in use. Exposing the pellet grill to water will hinder its performance. The grill can also buckle and swell with water damage.

4. Are Wood Pellet Smokers any good?

If you are talking about the flavor of the meal, they are very good. Pellet smokers produce both heat and smoke to ensure slow cooking which develops more flavor. You can use different woods to enhance the flavor even more. You can use oak, cherry, and maple among many others as well.

You just have to set the temperature, close the lid, and walk away while the pellet smoker will take care of you. There is usually a meat probe to give a clear idea of how the meat is cooking.

5. What are the benefits of a pellet smoker?

• They are easier to use and the food tastes great.
• They are quick to pre-heat and cook food.
• Pellet smokers have great temperature controls.
• They are an excellent investment and value for money.
• Pellet grills offer versatility. You can roast, bake, BBQ, grill and smoke as well.
• There is also an option of cold smoking.

6. What are the drawbacks of a pellet smoker?

• They don’t generate high temperatures like charcoal smokers.
• They need electricity to operate.
• Pellet smokers cannot work without pellets. You have to keep an extra stash of pellets.

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Read Also: Best Electric Smokers – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Final thoughts on the best pellet smokers

Pellet smokers have gained in popularity in recent years and this trend looks likely to continue. These smokers offer you maximum convenience, impart a delicious, smoky flavor to barbecued foods, and are easier to use than charcoal grills.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading our guide to the most trusted and best pellet smokers. Pellet smokers are a great investment and will provide years of enjoyment and some of the best food you have ever tasted.