Pellet grills are a great addition to any outdoor kitchen and can make your BBQs more enjoyable. They provide even heat and can be used for smoking, grilling, and even baking. But how to find the right one?
Pellet grills under $1000 have many great features that can’t be found in cheaper grills, such as Wi-Fi control, digital panels, higher quality grates, sealed hoppers, convection fans, and more. They might not have all the features of big commercial pellet grills, but they’re still great grills for anyone who wants to get that outdoor BBQ flavor without having to deal with the hassle of charcoal or propane. With so many options available, it can be hard to decide which one will work best for you so we’ve made this decision easier!
More features: dial-in digital control board with LED readout, porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates
Our editor’s choice is the Pit Boss Navigator 1150 and that’s why. This versatile cooker lets you smoke, bake, braise, roast, grill, barbecue, char-grill, and sear to your heart’s content. And with 1,158 square inches of cooking area, you’ll be able to feed a crowd. But it’s not just about quantity with the Navigator 1150 – it’s also about quality. The Dial-in digital control board with LED readout ensures precision temperature control, while the porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates give you even heat distribution and outstanding durability. And of course, there’s that wonderful smoky flavor that can only come from a pellet grill. So, if you’re looking for a great pellet grill that won’t break the bank, the Pit Boss Navigator 1150 is definitely worth checking out.
The Pit Boss Navigator 1150 belongs to the Navigator Series, and, just like other intriguing products manufactured by the reputable Pit Boss® grill, it is an excellent craft. What makes it stand out from its other peers is that it’s made to be uniquely “heavier”, “hotter”, and “bigger”, just as described by the company, and it features premium-grade steel builds and advanced grilling technology exclusive to Pit Boss® grill.
More features: WiFIRE technology, Turbotemp, D2 controller
When it comes to grilling, the Traeger Pro 780 is in a league of its own. This top-of-the-line grill features WiFIRE technology, which allows you to control the temperature of your grill from your smartphone. Whether you’re cooking for a large group or just a few people, the Pro 780 has plenty of space to handle big cooks. And with the included D2 controller, stable temperature control is a breeze. Plus, the Turbotemp feature ensures fast temperature recovery, so your food is always cooked to perfection. If that’s not enough, the Pro 780 also comes with a 3-year warranty for peace of mind. So whether you’re a grilling novice or a BBQ pro, the Traeger Pro 780 is worth a look.
The Traeger Pro 780 is the best-selling pellet grill of the Traeger Pro Series. It’s an enhanced version with a D2 drivetrain which helps to promote quality smoke and swift heating. The Traeger Pro 780 is slightly more expensive than the Pit Boss Navigator 1150 and unsurprisingly, it features Wi-Fi technology, which isn’t readily available with the Pit Boss Navigator 1150.
More features: side shelf, PID controller, Wi-Fi
This awesome grill has 811 square inches of cooking surface, so you can make enough food to feed an army! The hopper capacity is 22 pounds, and the temperature range is 160 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can cook whatever you want, however you want it. The dimensions are 30 x 42 x 49 inches, and the weight is 132 pounds. The warranty is 3 years. Some of the other great features include a side shelf, a PID controller, Wi-Fi capabilities, and 4 meat probes. You also have complete control over the smoke level with 10 different adjustments. Plus, there’s open flame grilling for when you want that authentic grilled flavor.
The Camp Chef Woodwind 24 has a rich investment in aesthetics and just like the Traeger Pro 780, it comes with 3 years warranty and a WIFI-enabled controller that enables you to enjoy easy control. But it beats the Traeger Pro 780 in terms of cooking area. And speaking of price, it’s slightly costlier than the Traeger Pro 780 and the Pit Boss Navigator 1150.
More features: porcelain-coated grates, digital control center
The Louisiana Grills 7-Series Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker is perfect for large gatherings or those who love to smoke meats often. This smoker features a large cooking surface of over 2,000 square inches, making it ideal for smoking multiple cuts of meat at once. The porcelain-coated grates are easy to clean, and the digital control center makes it simple to set and maintain the perfect temperature for your food. Additionally, the large hopper capacity means you can smoke for hours without having to refill, and the clear window allows you to monitor your food as it cooks.
When it comes to the cooking surface, this pellet smoker is boss; none other on this list comes close, not even the Pit Boss Navigator 1150 with 1,158 sq. in. And as it seems, it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s the most expensive on this list. In addition to its massive cooking area of 2,059 sq. in., it has the largest hopper capacity too.
More features: powder-coated steel, digital temperature control
The Z Grills Cruiser 200A Pellet Grill is the perfect choice for the griller on the go. This compact and portable pellet grill is constructed of powder-coated steel for durability and features side handles and a locking chamber for easy portability. The digital temperature control panel makes it easy to achieve the perfect cooking temperature, while the large hopper capacity and efficient heat management system make it possible to cook for hours without having to reload. The non-stick grids make cleanup a breeze, and the included 3-year warranty gives you peace of mind. Whether you’re tailgating, camping, or just hanging out in the backyard, the Z Grills Cruiser 200A Pellet Grill is ready to make your next meal a success.
Weighing just 40 lbs; compared to others on this list that weigh over 100 lbs, the Z Grills Cruiser 200A will be a very suitable option for individuals and families who prefer a portable pellet grill. It’s also the most affordable on this list and with this, you may have to compromise a bit by settling for its unavailability of Wi-Fi connection and small cooking capacity.
More features: 3 inches of prep space with bottle opener, tool hooks, and paper towel holder, digital control, LED display
The Cuisinart Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker is the perfect 2-in-1 grill and smoker combo for the backyard chef who loves to entertain. This versatile grill features electronic auto-start ignition, digital auto temperature control, 8 cooking capabilities, and a real-time LED temperature display. With 700 sq. in. of cooking area and a hopper capacity of 27 lbs., this grill is perfect for feeding a crowd. The all-terrain wheels make it easy to move from your backyard to the park or beach. And the 3-year warranty gives you peace of mind. So, whether you’re smoking, grilling, roasting, or baking, the Cuisinart Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker has you covered.
The Cuisinart Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill joins the league of the likes of Traeger Pro 780, Camp Chef Woodwind 24, and Z Grills Cruiser 200A which come with a 3-year warranty. However, just like the affordable Z Grills Cruiser 200A, massively-spaced Louisiana Grills, and the remarkable Pit Boss Navigator 1150, it doesn’t feature a WiFi connection. But its hopper capacity is larger than that of the WiFi-enabled Traeger Pro 780.
There are many things you need to consider when purchasing a grill. The following three factors are important to keep in mind when choosing a pellet grill for your needs and budget.
The first thing you need to do is to decide on your budget. How much are you willing to spend on a pellet grill? This will help you narrow down your choices as there are many options available in the market.
The budget of 1000 dollars is more than enough to get a great pellet grill that will make your outdoor cooking experience sizzle. These grills will have some premium features that the cheaper models will not have, like Wi-Fi connectivity, and they will also be built to last with higher quality materials. One of the most famous grill manufacturers on the market is Camp Chef. It is known for its excellent build quality and innovative features, and most of the models are in the price range of under $1000. Read our review on the best Camp Chef pellet grills to get to know what this brand offers.
One of the most important aspects of any grill is the size of the cooking area. When it comes to pellet grills, bigger is definitely better. Most pellet grills on the market have between 400 and 600 square inches of cooking space, which is more than enough for most people. If you have a large family or entertain often, however, you’ll want to look for a grill with a larger cooking area. Some pellet grills can accommodate up to 700 or even 800 square inches of space or even more.
All pellet grills have a heating element that uses either electricity or gas to heat the pellets. The size and power of the heating element will determine how well the grill can cook. So, if you want a powerful grill, make sure that it has a large heating element.
The hopper is the part of the grill where you store the pellets. A larger hopper capacity means that you can cook for a longer period without having to refill the pellets. And, since the pellets are the fuel for the grill, this is an important feature to consider. Some pellet grills have a hopper capacity of 18 pounds while others can hold up to 40 or even 60 pounds. Read our post about the best smoker pellet packages to find the best for you.
One of the features that you’ll love about pellet grills is the temperature control. You can set the temperature to whatever you want it to be, and the grill will do the work for you. This is perfect for those who like to entertain or those who like to cook multiple things at once.
Temperature control is vital to have if a grill has features like open fire grilling or smoking. Some grills offer searing capabilities, that help to lock in the juices of the meat. If you want a grill that can also sear, check out our review of the best pellet grills for searing. But the searing is done at high temperatures, so it’s important to have a grill that can maintain consistent temperatures.
All pellet grills use an energy source to heat the pellets. The most common energy source is electricity, but there are also pellet grills that use propane or natural gas. So you should decide which energy source you want to use before you buy a pellet grill.
All pellet grills have a built-in temperature gauge, but some also feature an external one that allows you to check the temp without opening the grill. This is a useful feature, especially if you like to cook your food at a specific temperature.
Pellet grills are usually quite heavy, so portability is an important consideration if you plan on taking your grill with you on camping trips or to tailgating parties. Some pellet grills have wheels for easy transport, while others are designed to be compact and lightweight enough to be carried by hand.
Who wants to cook when they can just fire up the grill? The Pit Boss Navigator 1150 has 1,158 square inches of cooking area and will smoke or braise all day long with precision temperature control thanks to its digital dial-in board, and casts iron grates which give you even heat distribution while giving off that wonderful smoky flavor only found in pellet smokers!
Whether you’re cooking for a large group or just one, the Traeger Pro 780 has plenty of space to handle big cooks. It also includes WiFIRE technology that allows users control over their temperature from anywhere in range through an app on your phone.
The Camp Chef Woodwind 24 is one of the best pellet grills under $1000 for those who want to cook anything, any way they please. Plus there’s open flame grilling for when we want that authentic grilled flavor instead.
