Barbecues can take up a lot of space. Even just having one barbecue in your backyard can take up space that might otherwise be used to relax and enjoy the outside air.
If you have a passion for barbecues and want the benefits of both wood pellet smoking and a good grill, you’re probably dreading the prospect of having two barbecues taking up space.
If you’re in such a situation, then you are definitely in luck. Presenting, the combination smoker grill! These ingenious devices combine the benefits of wood pellet smoking with the efficiency and simplicity of a grill, all within one conveniently sized package.
“Okay, but which smoker grill combo is the best?” I hear you say. I’m sure the prospect of an all-in-one barbecue has caught your attention, but now your mind is spinning from all of the various options available out there. You’re going to need some help to choose the perfect one for you.
If you want one of these incredible devices for yourself, but need to know where to start, why not join us, as we show you seven of the best smoker grill combo barbecues available for you to purchase today?
OUR TOP PICK
Simple Shape
Simplicity is the name of the game for Weber’s smoker grill combo. The pill shape is not only pleasant to the eye but also makes it incredibly easy to transport and store, thanks to its unassuming shape.
The genius of its shape does not end there, however. The tall pill-like shape makes it perfect for cooking meats of various types and sizes.
We all know that heat travels upwards, so it makes sense that space in a combo barbecue would be optimized accordingly. In order to use this grill, you simply fill the bottom section with your wood pellets and light them.
Slowly, your pellets will begin to produce a lot of heat and smoke, which will travel upwards. Your meats will then be placed above the burning pellets, on two separate grill racks, and will cook thanks to the hot smokes that climb up to them.
The pill shape ensures that the smoke is sent rotating around the system, so that no smoke is wasted, and that the temperature remains consistent throughout.
Ease Of Control
You can even control the intensity and flow of the smoke by using the damper system, placed towards the bottom half of the device. By twisting the damper, the three vent holes will slowly close up, which cuts off the oxygen supply to the system.
The more oxygen there is being fed into the system, then the hotter the smoke will be, and vice versa. This allows you to easily stay on top of the temperature of your barbecue without ever having to lift up the lid and let the smoke out!
Keeping track of the cooking process is further facilitated by the built-in thermometer upon the lid. This accurate thermometer will give you a to-the-minute indication of the exact temperature inside so that you can adjust it slightly using the damper system.
The location of the thermometer also means that you don’t even have to lift off the lid to get a sense of the temperature, which risks letting smoke escape, which would affect the cooking process, and the quality of the final result.
Plenty Of Options
The Weber combo smoker grill is available in three distinct size options: 14”, 18”, and “22 inches. This makes it a perfect option for those who are conscious of the space that their barbecues take up.
If you want a more portable system that can easily be stored in your garage, then go for the 14” model. If you want more grilling capacity, then the 22” is perfect for you. No matter which size you choose, this grill is perfect for its portability and its simple storage.
Built To Last
You can also depend on this particular barbecue lasting you many years of frequent use.
Every component is made from top-grade materials, including porcelain-enameled steel, which can stand up to intense temperatures, which helps to cook your meats to perfection.
And you don’t have to worry about burning your hands, as the nylon handle upon the lid is heat-proof, to allow for safe access to your food.
The legs upon which the grill stands are sturdy and built low to the ground so that there is no risk of the system toppling during use, and they are completely rust-resistant, so you don’t have to worry if it starts raining suddenly!
Specs For The Weber 18-Inch Smokey Mountain Cooker
- Fuel Type: Wood Pellets
- Weight: 39.1 Pounds
- Dimensions: 21 x 19 x 41
- Diameter: 18 Inches
- Warranty: 10 years for metal components, 5 years for plastic components
- Cooking Space: Two 18 Inch cooking grates, for a 36 inch total cooking space
Pros
- Easy to transport and store, which makes it perfect for both frequent and occasional usage
- The Damper system makes it easy to choose and control the temperature, in tandem
- with the built-in thermometer
- Pill shape maximizes heat efficiency to create optimal cooking conditions
- Can be used to smoke and grill at the same time
Cons
- Adding more wood pellets to the system during use can be quite difficult
Can be difficult to move about during use, due to the separate components
EDITORS CHOICE
Master Of Control
You’ll never have trouble controlling this grill. Ease of use was always the priority throughout the design of this amazing combo barbecue from Traeger.
Not only can you have accurate moment-to-moment control over the number of wood pellets fed into the system, and the exact temperature, but you can also control this through various methods.
You can choose to control it via the interface on the pellet hopper, which allows you to make on-the-fly decisions about your temperature directly.
You can also control the barbecue through the use of the Traeger app. The Traeger app uses WiFIRE technology to send accurate temperature readings to your phone. This allows you to control the temperature without even needing to be anywhere near it!
This makes it far easier to spend time with your family and friends, rather than spending all of your time hovering over the grill to keep your ingredients from burning!
Traeger takes it even further by also allowing the use of Alexa with this barbecue. This allows you to change temperatures, or keep track of your cooking by just using your voice.
This makes it great for those who like to do some serious grilling or those who are cooking massive amounts of food at the same time. Hands-free access to cooking information makes the cooking process less stressful, and more manageable.
Consistency Is King
One of the most exciting aspects of barbecuing is the potential for happy accidents. Occasionally, the inconsistent temperature of an average barbecue can create interesting flavors and textures, as certain cuts of meat receive more heat, their tastes change.
However, for many barbecue aficionados, a little bit more consistency is desired. Sometimes you just want to cook up some simple food and get those good old tastes you remember.
The Traeger Pro Series Barbecue is built to keep the temperatures consistent throughout, no matter when you use it.
In order to keep such strong consistency, the Traeger Pro Series Barbecue is built to keep the heat sealed in, thanks to its fantastic construction, which has few gaps, which keeps the heat from leaking out.
How the Traeger grill operates is by slowly feeding wood pellets into the fire pot, where they are then burned, to create intense cooking temperatures.
Unlike many other smoker grills, which just simply burn away at however many pellets you insert, the Traeger grill lets you choose your temperature, and then accesses the required number of pellets.
This makes it far easier to keep the temperature consistent and means you won’t have to constantly refill it with fuel. If you do need to add more pellets, it can be done simply, by lifting the lid of the hopper to insert more.
Once the pellets have been burned, the smoke is then pumped into the cooking chamber itself, by a variable speed fan.
The round shape of the cooking chamber was designed so that the heat and smoke would cycle round fully, to reach all ingredients, before it then leaves the system via the small chimney.
This ensures that no amount of heat is wasted and that everything inside of the chamber gets cooked evenly.
Specs For The Traeger Pro Series 575
- Fuel Type: Wood Pellets
- Weight: 124 Pounds
- Dimensions: 27 x 41 x 53
- Warranty: 3 Years
- Cooking Space: 575 Square Inches
- Maximum Temperature: 500 degrees Fahrenheit
Pros
- Serious power allows you to cook lots of meat at the same time with complete consistency
- The wood pellet feeding system ensures no single pellet is wasted
- Can be controlled in a multitude of optional ways, to make the process stress-free and enjoyable
Cons
- Incredibly hefty, and difficult to transport. Will need to create space for it within your backyard
- Has a significant price tag
BEST VALUE
Small But Powerful
‘The Big Easy’ really is an appropriate name for this next product. From the masters of cooking at Char-Broil comes this wonderfully compact beauty.
With its squat shape and easy portability, this is a great option for those who want to enjoy barbecuing on the go, or during a good old camping trip.
Similar to the Weber product we explored earlier, this product makes use of a pill-like shape, which allows it to utilize the basic laws of physics. Having food stacked within the system allows heat to easily climb upwards to reach all of it.
Within the barbecue itself is a large and deep smoking and roasting basket, which can be used to softly and slowly cook and tenderize large cuts of meat. This leads to some seriously amazing tasting meats that simply fall off of the bone and melt in your mouth.
To access the grilling portion of this device, simply place the grilling surface atop the smoking basket to make use of the heat from the smoke. This allows for dual cooking to make some seriously incredible meals all at the same time.
Keeping The Heat Consistent
As we explored earlier, consistency is great for creating perfect meals every time you use your grill. Char-Broil understands this and has made it easy to keep your barbecuing consistent every time.
The detachable grilling surface of the barbecue makes use of Char Broil’s patented TRU Infrared technology, which seeks to spread the temperature evenly across the grilling surface, to reach every ingredient atop it.
This ensures that there are never any intensely hot, or freezing cold portions of the surface so that everything gets the same cooking temperature.
This is not only far safer but also leads to much more satisfying food that you can depend on every time you get the craving!
Fuelling The System
The main fuel used to power this barbecue is propane, which is accessed by the machine via the attached cord. This propane is then used to slowly burn away at the wood pellets inserted into the device, to create smoke.
You can insert any amount of wood pellets into the barbecue at any time, thanks to the stainless steel smoker box, which opens from the side. This means that you can insert more wood pellets without ever interrupting the cooking process.
The use of propane is great for its portability. Carrying around one or two cans of extra propane is easy, and can be easily inserted into the trunk of your car.
This also means that the size and weight of the barbecue itself can be kept down, to make it easier to take it wherever you want it.
However, one of the major drawbacks of propane gas is that it can be expensive to get your hands on, and the cost of it can vary from location to location. Constantly refueling your propane for frequent use of the barbecue can really add up in terms of costs.
This makes the device best for those who want to only occasionally barbecue, as they won’t find themselves spending as much. Occasional users are also benefited by the small size of the barbecue, which makes it easy to store in between uses.
Specs For The Char-Broil Big Easy
- Fuel Type: Propane
- Weight: 22 Pounds
- Dimensions: 23.1 x 23.4 x 36.2
- Materials: Porcelain Coated Cast Iron, and Stainless Steel
- Cooking Space: 180 Square Inches
- Maximum Temperature: 18,000 BTUs
Pros
- Easy to move about and store, thanks to its small size
- Allows for both smoking and grilling at the same time, thanks to its generous cooking surfaces
- TRU Infrared system ensures that grilling is consistent for all ingredients
Cons
- Refueling propane can cost a hefty sum, making this better for infrequent use
The smoker box is very small and has occasionally jammed for users
RUNNER UP
Tall And Glorious
Dyna-Glo is another manufacturer that has understood the importance of height in smoker devices. This is, without a doubt, the largest barbecue we have talked about yet. Its incredible size makes it perfect for cooking lots of tasty foods at the same time.
With six movable cooking shelves, you can choose exactly what you want to place within, and how much space you want to give it.
This is great if you want to cook lots of burgers, by using all of the shelves, or if you want to cook a large cut of meat, by adjusting the placement of the shelves.
The swinging door on the front of the barbecue makes it easy to access all of your ingredients whenever you need to. Unlike many other smoker grill combos, you don’t have to remove all ingredients just to get to one.
This makes it far easier to cook lots of items at the same time without risking undercooking or overcooking something.
The door itself is also incredibly safe to use. The materials across the grill are made to prevent heat from leaking out, which means that it is not incredibly hot to the touch.
Even when the door does become hot, the spring design of the handle ensures that the heat does not reach you, and also makes the door comfortable to open with a firm grip.
Creating Smoke
The wood pellet hopper, which creates the intense smoke to cook your ingredients, is attached to the left side of the device, and also boasts its own incredibly spacious size.
You can fill the hopper with a massive number of pellets, to achieve truly intense temperatures, or add just a few to create a controllable temperature. The grill sits directly atop the hopper and acts as a perfect spot to cook your meat in intense temperatures.
Thankfully, unlike some lesser smoker grill combos, you can easily adjust the number of pellets inside of the hopper at will.
Simply pull out the removable grate pan to access the ash deposits, so that you can dispose of the remnants of old pellets, and fill it up with fresh ones. This can all be done without interrupting the flow of cooking!
Maintaining Control
Having a good sense of control over your barbecue is crucial to getting the perfect results every time. Having uncertain temperatures can lead to unsatisfactory, or even, dangerously undercooked food!
To help add a sense of control, not only have Dyna-Glo added the features listed above, but they’ve also added a few extra bells and whistles!
Within the doors of both the grilling section and main smoking chamber, are comprehensive thermometers, which tell you the exact temperature within the device, and can warn you when it has exceeded an optimal temperature, to avoid burning your food.
This means that you can keep an eye on your cooking without needing to open the door, and allowing the smoke to escape.
Dyna-Glo has also included a damper system within the pellet hopper. This allows you to adjust the airflow to the pellets so that you can achieve desired temperatures and control the amount of smoke created.
Also worth mentioning is the ability to store away the barbecue between uses. Despite its great size and weight, the oversized wheels towards the bottom allow you to easily move the device around and store it when not in use.
This makes it a truly competitive model, even when compared to some of the high-tech wifi-enabled models!
Specs For The Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS
- Fuel Type: Charcoal
- Weight: 124.3 Pounds
- Dimensions: 45.5 x 24.9 x 58.8
- Cooking Space: 1382 Square Inches
- Materials: Heavy-Gauge Steel
Pros
- Incredible height makes it easy to cook lots at the same time
- Adjustable cooking shelves allow you to adjust the space for different types of ingredients
- Accessing and changing wood pellets is easy, thanks to the removable grate
Cons
- Ash builds up quickly, meaning you will have to clean the ashtray a lot in order to cook a large cut of meat
- Requires assembly upon first receiving the product
RUNNER UP
Electric Power
Making use of electricity allows you to significantly cut down on fuel consumption and bills when using your barbecue.
Unlike the Char-Broil barbecue we explored earlier, this product instead makes use of electricity to burn the pellets and create that amazing smoke we know and love.
Electric power is also great for the amount of control that it can afford to the user. Electric heat can reach extremely precise temperatures as and when you need it, unlike fuel-based methods, which tend to fluctuate slightly, even under the best circumstances.
However, for as much control as they offer, electric heat sources cannot quite reach the same intense temperatures that fuel-based heat sources can. This particular grill can only reach around 450 degrees Fahrenheit at the absolute maximum.
Making The Most Of Space
Despite being considerably smaller than the other Trager model that we explored earlier, this barbecue still boasts some absolutely incredible cooking capacity.
At around 884 square inches of cooking surface, you can cook upwards of 40 burgers at the same time or 8 whole chickens! This makes this device perfect for those who want to host a party and have plenty of hungry mouths to feed!
The sizable hopper towards the side of the device also makes it easy to keep the barbecue fueled efficiently.
The hopper system is largely the same as it is in the larger pro models and operates by only taking the number of pellets necessary to achieve a certain temperature.
This means that the barbecue makes perfect use of every single pellet, and doesn’t waste even a tiny fraction of the smoke, which cycles around the cooking chamber, which contains the grill and smoking shelf.
The pellet hopper is controlled via the use of a small dial on the front face of the hopper, which can be used to choose a precise temperature.
Limited Connectivity
Unfortunately, in an effort to make this model more affordable than the comparatively larger wifi model, wifi connectivity has been removed outright. However, this doesn’t mean that you will be fully left without a clear indication of temperature.
Inside of the cooking chamber itself are two meat probes, which pierce into larger cuts of meat to give you a strong indication of just how much heat is being pumped into the meat, and at what speed.
This allows you to create the conditions for slow smoking so that you can get truly tender meat.
Specs For The Traeger Electric Wood Pellet Grill
- Fuel Type: Electricity
- Dimensions: 27 x 53 x 49
- Materials: Porcelain grill grates, and steel construction
- Cooking Space: 884 Square Inches
- Maximum Temperature: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
Pros
- Despite its smaller size, it has great cooking capacity
- Smaller and easier to store than the wifi model
- Wheels make the system easy to move about
Cons
- Lack of WiFi connectivity could be a considerable drawback for some
- Electric heating cannot reach extreme temperatures
RUNNER UP
Compact And Cute
It’s appropriate that this grill can create such incredible food, considering its amazing lunchbox shape. Easily the smallest device we’ve seen yet, this adorable little barbecue may appear unassuming, but it packs a truly serious punch.
Now, there’s something important to mention right off the bat. The smoking shelf and the grilling shelf are entirely separate, and cannot be used simultaneously.
This could be a considerable drawback for some of your grill-heads, but considering its size, and its intended use case, it is perfectly acceptable.
Even with the limited space, you can still get some serious grilling and smoking done with this device.
Upon the grill, you could easily fit more than 8 burgers at a time, in order to feed a pack of hungry campers, and on the smoking shelf, you can even fit numerous rib racks, to create gourmet food anywhere.
Perfect Control
This barbecue features a handy little digital display that can be used to keep track of the internal temperature. This makes it easy to just insert your burgers inside, close the device up and then simply leave the cooking to take place.
This is further helped by the inclusion of a timer within the same digital display. This timer will ring out at a set period so that you can ensure that your food does not cook for too long while you aren’t paying attention to it.
When cooking large cuts of meat, getting and maintaining the perfect temperature is absolutely crucial. Such cuts require more heat to really cook deep down, to ensure that every inch is at its tastiest.
To help with this, the small lunchbox-shaped grill comes with a built-in meat probe that sticks into larger cuts to give you an indication of the internal temperature of certain cuts of meat, to ensure that you reach just the right texture and taste and don’t risk wasting the meat.
Electric Power
This grill is also easy to fuel, thanks to its use of electricity. Simply plug the device into your nearest outlet, then insert your wood chips, and you are more than ready to cook some incredible food.
As we mentioned before, electric barbecues cannot reach temperatures as extreme as fuel-based options. However, in this case, with a device as simple and portable as this, this is definitely only a minor sacrifice to make.
Specs For The Ranger Portable Wood Pellet Grill And Smoker
- Fuel Type: Electricity
- Weight: 60 Pounds
- Dimensions: 20 x 21 x 13
- Warranty: 3 Years
- Cooking Space: 184 Square Inches
- Maximum Temperature: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
Pros
- The Small and compact shape makes for easy transportation
- Despite its small size, there is still more than enough room for lots of cooking
- Digital control display makes it easy to choose the right temperature and even set up timers
Cons
- Smoke and grill shelves cannot be used simultaneously
- Despite its small size, it is still considerably heavy
RUNNER UP
Extra Portability
Portable but not tiny is the best descriptor for our final entry today. PK Grills have put together a truly incredible combo barbecue here that is more than easy to move about by hand but can also even be moved about via the included dolly system.
The grill can be easily detached from the dolly, so that it can be used in multiple ways, no matter where you need it, and you never have to worry about the trouble of moving it around.
The frame and the grill are both made from incredibly durable steels, including stainless steels, which are incredibly easy to clean, so you don’t have to worry about making a mess in the process!
Deeply Satisfying
This combo barbecue has an immense sense of depth so that you can pack it full of all of your favorite ingredients and foodstuffs, to host the barbecue of your dreams.
If you’re planning to cook a lot within a short space of time, perhaps at a party, then you can make use of the generous shelves both towards the side of the grill and just below it.
These provide adequate space for all sorts of ingredients in waiting and even allow you to store your cooking implements so that they don’t risk falling on the floor, and so you can free up your hands when you need them!
The 4-Point Venting System
The best innovation that PK Grills have made with this grill is their implementation of the 4 point venting system. This system is made up of four distinct ventilation points, each found at each corner of the cooking chamber.
Having four vents makes it easy for the hot air to flow around the system in whatever way it feels is best. It doesn’t matter where you put your ingredients, the venting system will know the best way to let the air flow through!
You can even adjust the ventilation system to your needs, by slightly closing or opening each vent individually, so that you can reach certain temperatures, to create new flavors and textures from your meat.
Specs For The PK Grills Combo Barbecue
- Fuel Type: Charcoal
- Weight: 45 Pounds
- Dimensions: 16 x 35 x 35.5
- Warranty: 3 Years
- Cooking Space: 300 Square Inches
Pros
- Easy to transport, and can be converted into any mode to suit the situation
- The Deep cooking chamber allows for plenty of ingredients
- 4 Point Ventilation System ensures that the heat flows in an efficient manner
Cons
- It is easy for the main cooking chamber to detach from the frame unintentionally
- The wheels attached to the frame feel slightly wobbly and unstable
Combo Grill Buyer’s Guide
Getting the right combination barbecue is an important decision for many barbecue fanatics, as they need just the right conditions and controls to achieve exactly the results that they want.
In order to further help you to make the right decision on your combo barbecue, we’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide, to make it clear exactly what you need to know!
The Price
No one likes to spend too much money. That’s why it is important to make sure that you set an appropriate budget before you get yourself a new barbecue.
Do you plan to use your barbecue a lot? What kinds of fuel do you plan to use? What are you planning on cooking? Are you cooking for lots of people? These are all questions that will affect your decision on the appropriate price.
If you are always firing up your grill, or you enjoy hosting barbecues, then you will likely want to spring for a larger and more expensive model with extra connectivity features, to help make your grilling perfect every single time.
If you only plan to use the grill occasionally, then you should aim to lower your budget accordingly, so that you don’t overspend on features you just don’t need.
Ease Of Use
If you don’t have much experience with barbecues or grilling, then you will definitely need to purchase a model that has fewer advanced features. Such grills are intended for those with lots of experience, who want specific results every time.
You should aim to pick a model that operates easily and without a fuss, so that you can learn the ropes comfortably, and still make really delicious food for all.
Your choice of model might also be dictated by your fuel choice. Certain fuels are easier to use than others. For example, using electricity is more simple than hooking up your barbecue to a propane tank.
Transportability
Combo barbecues are heavy. Even the lightest models, as we have seen, still have some serious weight to them.
If you plan to take your combo barbecue on a camping trip or stick it in the back of your RV, then you will need to grab a smaller and lighter model so that it will fit comfortably, and so your arms won’t be aching!
If you want a larger grill, you should make sure to set aside a suitable space for it in your backyard, so that you don’t have to keep moving it about from use to use.
You may even want to store it away when not in use, in which case you will want to grab a model that comes with a set of wheels for transportation.
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