Best Pellet Grill Under $500 – Find Your Dream Product Here
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Wood pellet grills are famous among BBQ enthusiasts because of their ability to provide versatility in cooking styles, wide temperature ranges, easy heat regulation, and durability.
They also use advanced features like a PID controller to make most of your cooking sessions hassle-free. That’s one of the primary reasons why finding an inexpensive pellet grill is a bit challenging.
But after deep, extensive, and careful research, I have compiled a list that includes the best pellet grills under 500 with several notable features to enhance your outdoor cooking experience.
So, allow me to begin this informative article that I firmly believe will help you find an ideal pellet grill to fulfill your outdoor cooking needs.
Our Top Picks
Would you like a quick overview of each product before we delve into their comprehensive reviews? It will save you time by letting you read the reviews of only those grills that interest you the most.
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value-Added Grill
Best Affordable
Best Combo
7 Best Pellet Grills Under $500
Buying is not easy, and shopping with limited money is a challenge. So, we researched and found some models of pellet grills under $500. You can see and choose one according to your requirements.
1. Best Overall – Z GRILLS ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill
The first grill that I have picked is from the popular ZPG series of Z Grills brand. You will see many other quality grills in this series, but this one is undoubtedly the best one under 500.
Firstly, assembling this grill is pretty straightforward and quick if you follow the instructions in the user manual.
Its dimensions are 42 x 27 x 49 inches, which I believe are comparatively narrower than the other pellet grills, making it easy for you to accommodate it in your backyard without taking too much space.
Moreover, it weighs only 84 pounds and is equipped with two large, sturdy wheels on its legs, making its portability easy on both even and uneven surfaces.
If I talk about its cooking performance, it is an ultimate 6-in-1 outdoor cooking appliance that allows me to smoke, grill, BBQ, roast, bake, and braise on the same device, thanks to its wide temperature range of 180 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Similar to many other pellet grills, this one lets you set and control the cooking temperature using a smart PID controller.
However, one minor drawback I encountered with this grill is that it allows you to set the heat in increments of 25 degrees, which I believe is large for precise temperature control.
Rather than the temperature control, its controller is also responsible for auto ignition and temperature readout via an LED screen. In other words, it is an excellent smoker grill combo for beginner BBQ lovers.
Though this grill has several notable features, I particularly admire its cooking space, which measures 450 square inches.
This generous space is more than enough for various grilling needs and allows me to cook a variety of food items at once, including thick meat cuts like brisket and ribs.
It is essential to mention here that, unlike other wood pellet grills in the market, this one has only one cooking rack, so you’ll have to manage the cooking session accordingly.
Last but not least, its hopper can hold 15 pounds of pellets at once, which is a pretty good amount for holding extended grilling sessions without refilling the pellets frequently.
What Do I Like The Most About This Grill?
- Versatile Cooking Device: It is a multifunctional grill that allows you to cook a variety of foods in six different cooking ways, including smoking, grilling, baking, braising, roasting, and barbecuing.
- Useful Accessories: It includes a foldable working shelf in front, which helps provide extra space for food preparation and can be folded down when not in use. Also, it comes up with a cover for additional grill protection in different scenarios.
- Warranty: The manufacturer offers a generous three-year-long warranty, providing peace of assurance of the grill’s durability and quality.
- Budget-Friendly: It is an excellent option to go with if you’re currently on a budget but want to invest in a pellet grill.
What Do I Dislike About This Grill?
- No App Connectivity: In a pellet grill like this, you’ll miss the modern convenience of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to control and monitor your grill remotely from your smartphone or tablet.
- Longer Preheating Duration: Compared to other Z Grills pellet grills, I noticed that it can take more time to preheat to your desired grilling temperature, and if the temperature is higher, it may require more time.
- Temperature Increment: Another minor disadvantage you may face is that this grill adjusts the temperature in relatively large increments of 25 degrees, making it a bit challenging to achieve precise temperature control.
Who Should Consider Buying This Z Grills Pellet Grill?
Anyone who is currently on a budget, prioritizes convenience, and likes investing in an outdoor cooking appliance that lets you smoke, grill, bake, braise, and roast on the same unit should consider buying this Z Grills pellet grill.
Does This Grill Work Well When The Temperature Outside Is Lower?
It may not perform up to the mark in cold weather or low-temperature conditions. Mostly, you will see it struggling to maintain consistent heat levels, which can result in longer cooking times and unevenly cooked food items.
Is This Grill Capable Of Smoking Cheese?
No, it is not an ideal pick for smoking cheese because even the lowest temperature setting on this device is high for smoking cheese. However, you can achieve this task by using a smoke tube in your pellet grill.
2. Recommended Grill – Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill
We all admire the Camp Chef brand because it manufactures high-quality outdoor cooking appliances. The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill is one of those quality products that cost less and offers several great features.
One of the most-liked features of this grill is its vast temperature range, which starts from 160 and goes up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ultimately, you can use this feature for smoking brisket, grilling chicken thighs and wings, baking pizzas to perfection, roasting vegetables, or searing steaks.
This Camp Chef model also comes up with a PID controller to make a couple of your grilling tasks quicker and easier.
For example, you can set and regulate the cooking temperature through it with a small increment of 5 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing for precise control over the temperature.
Within this controller, you can adjust the smoke settings from 1 to 10 so that you can infuse as much smoke into your food items as you want.
Furthermore, the controller has two meat probes and a low-glare digital display. Using these features, you can constantly monitor the internal temperature of your meat as well as the cooking chamber.
In short, its PID controller does a wonderful job of simplifying the whole cooking session without even babysitting the grill.
Compared to the previous Z Grills model, this one has a larger cooking area of 573 square inches and two cooking racks, making it more suitable for those with a larger family or who often cook for a bunch of people.
Not only the cooking area but its hopper capacity is also larger, which allows me to load up to 18 pounds of pellets at once. It means that the need for pellet refilling will be less, even during a long cooking session.
A small but useful feature that I’d like to mention here is the hopper’s small glass window. It allows you to continuously monitor the pellet level, ensuring you’re aware of when it’s time to add more pellets without interrupting the grilling process.
One of my favorite things about this wood pellet grill is its compatible side attachment that expands its versatility. For example, I can easily attach a sear box or sidekick if I want exceptional searing results.
Similarly, there are a couple of other attachments available that you can attach to this grill, such as a griddle or a pizza oven.
Lastly, cleaning this pellet grill is pretty straightforward and quick because of the features like ash cleanout and grease management system.
What Do I Like The Most About This Grill?
- Wide Temperature Range: It lets you cook between 160 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which means you have the opportunity to prepare your food using different cooking methods apart from grilling.
- Smoke Settings: You can choose any smoke settings from 1 to 10, depending on how much smoke you prefer in your grilled or smoked food items.
- Attachments Compatibility: You can attach different other attachments to this grill, such as a sear box, pizza oven, and griddle, to enhance your outdoor cooking experience.
- Precise Temp Control: Using the Gen 2 controller of this product, you can have precise control over the cooking temperature as it lets you regulate it with a small increment of 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Do I Dislike About This Grill?
- No Wi-Fi And Bluetooth Connectivity: Grills like this must have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity features so that the users can monitor their cooking sessions confidently without even coming closer to the grill.
- Heavyweight: It weighs 140 pounds, which is too much for a grill. Also, it only has two wheels, which means moving this thing in an emergency can be challenging.
- Not Ideal For Searing: It might be able to reach 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but still, you would need a higher temperature to achieve ideal searing results.
Who Should Consider Buying This Camp Chef Pellet Grill?
It is an excellent choice for those looking for an outdoor cooking device with a vast temperature range, the ability to cook in different styles, offers precise temperature control, and allows quick and easy cleaning.
How Long Does This Grill Take To Reach The Set Temperature?
It will require 15 to 25 to reach the set temperature because feeding pellets take around 5 minutes, and then the grill requires an additional 15 to 20 minutes to reach the set grilling temperature.
Can You Control The Monitor And Adjust The Smoke Setting Through Your Phone?
No, this grill does not have Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity features, which means you can’t monitor your cooking sessions from your smartphone while staying away from the grill.
3. Best Value-Added Grill – Z GRILLS ZPG-550B 2022 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill
Next, I have brought another Z Grills product for you from its popular ZPG series. I picked it for many reasons, but the significant one was its lower price tag, and that’s what you are looking for here, right?
First of all, it has a sleek design and consists of the usual pellet grill components, including a cooking chamber, hopper box, PID controller, and a chimney.
The manufacturer has constructed this grill with strong alloy steel and stainless steel materials, making it a great outdoor cooking appliance for those who like spending money on a long-lasting and rust-resistant product.
Compared to the previous Camp Chef smoker grill combo, it weighs only 84 pounds and has two wheels in its structure, which makes it easier to move it around your outdoor cooking space.
If I talk about its cooking performance, it is an 8-in-1 cooking device on which you can achieve satisfactory results from baking, smoking, grilling, braising, BBQ, and roasting.
The brand claims it is also suitable for searing, which I did not find to be its primary strength, primarily because of the relatively lower maximum temperature.
For example, this grill’s maximum temperature is 450 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas for ideal searing results, you’ll need temperatures exceeding 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the other hand, it is excellent for low and slow smoking because its lowest setting is 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sorry to say, but this grill is more suitable for those who have a small family of 5 to 7 people because its cooking space is 538 square inches, divided into two rust-proof racks.
The good thing is that the upper rack is removable, so if you’re cooking larger cuts of meat, you can take it out quickly to accommodate those larger items.
In the end, I found this device as easy to use as any other pellet grill because it has an advanced PID controller. With this controller, you can quickly regulate the cooking temperature, turn on or turn off the grill, etc.
What Do I Like The Most About This Grill?
- Bottom Storage Shelf: Using the storage shelf between the legs of this grill, you can conveniently store your grilling tools, wood pellets, or other accessories, keeping everything within reach during the cooking process.
- Set And Forget Style Cooking: Cooking on this grill is as easy as plugging it in, pressing the turn-on button on the controller, placing your food in the cooking chamber, setting your desired cooking temperature, and letting the grill do its job.
- Unique Firebox: Its firebox follows a unique convection heating process, ensuring even heat distribution throughout the cooking session and eliminating flare-ups.
- Budget-Friendly: You get to cook with all of these unique features at a very affordable price, making it an excellent option for those who are on a budget.
What Do I Dislike About This Grill?
- Small Hopper: The hopper of this pellet grill can hold only 10 pounds of pellets at once, which can cause refilling challenges during longer grilling or smoking sessions.
- Not Ideal For Searing: The brand may claim it, but it is not your optimal choice for high-heat searing because this grill’s highest temperature is 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Limited Cooking Capacity: Not a major one, but it is a small disadvantage of this device that it is not an ideal pick for those who cook for a dozen or more people at once.
Who’s The Ideal Buyer Of This Z Grills Pellet Grill?
If you are a family of 5 to 7, like to smoke, grill, bake, and roast on the same cooking device, prefer convenience, and like to cook in set-and-forget style, I believe this pellet grill is an excellent option for you to invest in.
Can This Grill Accommodate A Whole Turkey Or Brisket?
It depends on the turkey and brisket size, but if they are pretty big, you will need to remove the upper racks to fit the meat easily and smoke them with perfection.
How Long Does A Full Hopper Last?
The lifespan of the pellets in this pellet grill mainly depends on at what temperature you cook your food. On average, you can expect a full hopper to last for at least 6 hours, but again it depends.
4. Best Portable – Pit Boss PB440D2 Wood Pellet Grill
Pit Boss is a brand that is popular among outdoor cooking lovers for manufacturing top-notch pellet grills with several unique features.
It is an excellent alternative to the previous Z Grills product if you skipped it due to a shorter budget. It weighs 96 pounds, but the two wheels on its legs can help you move it around comfortably.
Most of the parts of this grill are made of stainless steel material, which is great for prolonging the lifespan of this product and keeping it safe from rust and corrosion.
It is another pellet grill on my list that is an ideal pick for people with a small family of 4 to 6 people. The reason is that its cooking chamber offers only 465 square inches of area to cook different kinds of food.
Still, the good thing is that it has two porcelain-coated cooking grates, and you can remove the upper one if struggling to fit in large meat cuts like brisket.
Similar to the cooking chamber, its hopper is comparatively smaller and can hold only 5 pounds of wood pellets, which is useful for me in a quick grilling session.
But if I am willing to grill or smoke my food for a longer duration, I will have to refill the hopper twice or thrice during the cooking session.
One of the most prominent reasons why I added this product to this list of best pellet grills under 500 is its wide temperature range.
It allows you to cook a variety of food items within the temperature range of 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Ultimately, you can put your trust in this grill for smoking, baking, roasting, braising, and other cooking styles.
Another notable feature of this grill is its ability to cook through direct and indirect heat within no time, and it all looks easy due to the presence of a slide plate.
The digital control board of this Pit Boss grill with LED readout is an admirable feature that makes the whole cooking process a breeze.
Its control board is responsible for turning on the grill and setting the desired grilling or smoking temperature by simply rotating a knob. Also, you will see the cooking chamber’s temperature on the LED screen provided with the board.
Overall, this product is worth the price you pay for it because of its ease of use, durable construction, and variety of cooking options it offers.
What Do I Like The Most About This Grill?
- Inexpensive: It is one of the best pellet grills under 500, with almost all the necessary features to help you achieve desired grilling and smoking results.
- Wide Temperature Range: Interestingly, it has a vast temp range of 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it is an excellent product to smoke, grill, bake, braise, and roast on.
- Easy-To-Use: Its digital control board and LED readout outside the hopper have made the monitoring of cooking sessions on this grill a breeze.
- Side Shelf: A side shelf on the opposite side of the pellet hopper becomes handy when you need additional space for food preparation or keeping the cooking tools within reach.
What Do I Dislike About This Grill?
- Small Cooking Space: Compared to other pellet grills, it has a shorter cooking area, making it suitable for smaller families and unsuitable for those who often cook in larger gatherings.
- Limited Hopper Capacity: If your grilling or smoking session on this grill is going to be a bit longer, you will need to refill the hopper with pellets again, which can irritate and disturb the cooking process.
Who Should Consider Purchasing This Pit Boss Pellet Grill?
It is an excellent option for those who usually cook for 4 to 6 people and like to prepare a variety of dishes using different cooking methods. Also, it is a great option if you prioritize convenience and are short on a budget.
At What Temperature Does It Offer Great Smoking Results?
When you are cooking your food between 180 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit, this grill produces quality smoke to enhance the flavor of your meat and make it incredibly delicious.
Can You Control The Amount Of Smoke On This Pellet Grill?
Unfortunately, you can’t control the amount of smoke on this grill. For this task, I recommend going with the Camp Chef grill that I have reviewed in this article.
5. Best Combo – Z GRILLS PIONEER 450B Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Lastly, I have added another Z Grills product to the list not only because it comes up with many great features but also because it costs you relatively less.
Like the previous two pellet grills, this one is also specifically designed for small families with 4 to 5 people.
The reason is that it has a small 459 square inches cooking area, which has been divided into two porcelain-coated steel cooking racks.
On average, you can cook 18 burgers, four rib racks, and three chickens at once.
Its main cooking area (the lower rack) has around 321 square inches of cooking space that I would use when cooking thick and big meat cuts like a brisket or whole turkey.
Conversely, the upper rack offers around 127 square inches of cooking area, which is more suitable for small meat cuts and food items. In other words, use these racks accordingly.
What I like the most about this grill is its hopper, with the ability to hold 15 lbs of wood pellets at once. Ultimately, the grill will need less refilling, and your cooking sessions will not be interrupted midway.
Another exciting feature of this PIONEER 450B pellet grill is its ability to cook within the temperature range of 180 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using this feature, you can ensure that you get the desired results when smoking brisket, grilling chicken wings and thighs, or braising your favorite foods.
To stay in touch with the condition of the food you are cooking, you get two meat probes that allow you to accurately monitor the internal temperatures of your food items.
The real-time temp stats are displayed on the LED screen of the PID controller. This controller is relatively advanced and comes up with 2.0 technology to ensure constant temperature regardless of variations in external temperature.
During the cooking session, whenever you need to regulate the heat per your cooking requirements, simply rotate the heat control knob to make quick and precise adjustments.
So, I would highly suggest this outdoor cooking appliance to anyone who’s a beginner and looking for a suitable product.
What Do I Like The Most About This Grill?
- Durability: It is an ideal product to invest in if you prefer durability because its major parts, like the lid, cooking chamber, and legs, are made of sturdy steel and 2.0 mm thick stainless steel materials. It also resists well against rust and corrosion.
- Easy To Move: Though it weighs around 94 pounds, its two rugged wheels and two casters with locks secure your grill in place and promise easy mobility when required.
- Consistency in Cooking Temperatures: It is capable of keeping the cooking temperature constant for a long time due to its advanced temperature control system and thick stainless steel lid that retains the heat well.
- Extra Accessories: Without paying any extra money, you get two meat probes, gloves for assembling the product, a rain cover, and a grease bucket for free with the package.
What Do I Dislike About This Grill?
- Limited Cooking Area: With a cooking area of 452 square inches, it may not be suitable for cooking for a crowd or a larger gathering.
- Assembly: Some users, especially the beginner ones, might find the initial assembly process a bit time-consuming and complicated.
Who Should Invest In This Z Grills Pellet Grill?
It is more suitable for individuals or those with smaller families. You can also consider bringing this grill to your backyard if you prefer versatility, cooking a variety of dishes without babysitting the grill, and don’t want to cross the price tag of 500.
How Long Does It Take To Preheat?
Depending on your desired cooking temperature, it can take 5 minutes for a lower temperature (200 to 275 degrees Fahrenheit) and around 15 minutes for the highest settings.
Do You Have To Empty The Pellets After Use?
No, it is not necessary to free the hopper from the pellet after each use. However, if you are going to cook with a new pellet flavor in the upcoming cooking session, then you will have to empty the hopper after cooking.
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Choosing The Best Pellet Grill Under $500 – Important Factors To Consider
When searching for the best pellet grill under $500, it’s crucial to remember several key factors to ensure you make a valuable decision. So, here are some of the most important considerations.
Cooking Area
First of all, I advise determining the grill’s cooking area when buying a pellet grill under 500 or any other outdoor cooking appliance because it directly impacts the quantity of food you can prepare at once.
For smaller gatherings, individuals, and small families of 4 to 6, a compact with 450 to 500 square inches of cooking area would be enough.
Conversely, if you have to cook for larger events, consider a model with a spacious cooking surface, probably 600 square inches or even more.
Build Quality
Many people neglect this aspect when purchasing a new pellet grill, thinking that it does not directly impact the cooking performance.
To some extent, indeed, cooking performance does not rely on the build quality, but it is crucial because it determines the grill’s durability, longevity, and resistance to outdoor elements, such as rust and corrosion.
Therefore, look after the pellet grills that are manufactured with strong and rust-resistant materials like stainless steel, aluminum, alloy steel, etc.
Hopper Capacity
The hopper capacity of the grill is another essential factor to consider as it determines how long you can grill or smoke without refilling pellets into the hopper.
So, let’s suppose you often have to cook for an extended period; in that case, I would recommend you look for a pellet grill with a hopper capacity of 15 to 20 lbs or more.
On the other hand, if you like to cook meats and other food items quickly using high heat, a hopper with less than 15 lbs of pellet capacity would be enough.
Versatility
I believe many of us would like to invest in a versatile outdoor cooking appliance that allows us to cook a variety of food items in different cooking styles.
In this case, I suggest carefully inspecting the temperature range of the pellet grill. For example, if it has the ability to cook within 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, you can ultimately use it for low and slow smoking, grilling, baking, roasting, etc.
So, before you decide which product to choose, make sure it offers the temperature range and cooking versatility that fits your cooking requirements.
Convenience
Not only beginners but even experienced BBQ lovers don’t want to keep roaming around the grill during cooking to adjust the temperature and check the food’s condition.
Therefore, convenience should be your top priority when selecting a pellet grill.
It must have an advanced PID controller with an LED screen so that you can easily set and regulate the heat, turn on and off the grill quickly when required, and monitor the food’s and grill’s temp on the screen.
How Do You Use A Wood Pellet Grill? Beginners Special
Using a wood pellet grill is relatively straightforward, and the experienced ones already know how to use it. However, for beginners, it is a special guide to help them get started and enjoy a successful outdoor cooking experience.
So, here are the steps that you need to follow;
- Startup: First of all, plug in the grill and turn it on from the PID controller provided outside the pellet hopper.
- Fill the hopper with pellets: Secondly, load the grill’s hopper on the side with wood pellets of your choice. There are different types of wood pellets available, and the ones you use impact the smoke flavors of your food.
- Set the desired cooking temperature: Using the control panel, set your desired cooking temperature. Depending on the model, within 150 to 20 minutes, the grill will reach the set temperature.
- Begin cooking: Once the grill has reached the desired cooking temperature, place your food on the grill grates, close the lid, and let the grill cook your food.
- Monitor the cooking session: Keep monitoring the grill’s and your food’s internal temperature and regulate the heat per your cooking requirements.
- Finish cooking: Once your food reaches the desired level of doneness, remove it from the grill, let it rest, and serve it to your family members or friends.
- End with cleaning: In the end, turn off the grill, unplug it, let it cool down completely, and do essential cleaning to keep it in good working condition and provide consistent cooking performance.
Top Tip by FaveGrills
Regardless of what pellet flavor you opt to burn for your cooking sessions, ensure you place them in a dry area, such as the basement or garage, as they absorb moisture pretty quickly which can impact the quality and flavor of your pellets.
Final Thoughts
In this guide, I have comprehensively reviewed the best pellet grills that cost you less than $500.
These grills shine in different essential aspects, such as cooking area, temperature range, temperature control, build quality, hopper capacity, convenience, etc.
So, go through the review of each product, and I believe you will be able to find your dream product without overspending.
Happy Grilling!
Your Opinion is Valuable to Us
So, after so many different options, which pellet grill would you like to bring to your home and why? Share your pick and its performance with us in the comments box below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pellet grill be used for baking pizza?
Most pellet grills can bake pizzas and other similar food items for you and it mainly depends on the temperature range of the cooking appliance.
Do pellet grills cook healthier food?
Pellet grills are far more beneficial than gas or charcoal grills. It’s because it operates at slow and low-temperature settings and removes unwanted fats from the food.
Can we use wood chips in a pellet grill?
You can’t use wood chips in a pellet grill because it runs on pellets and has a specialized pellets burning system. However, you can accomplish this task by using a smoker box or any other similar accessory.
