Top 9 Best Smoker Grill Combos in 2023 – Expert Reviews
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Grills and smokers have transformed traditional cooking styles into modern ones.
But why would you buy a separate grill and a smoker when you can enjoy the best of all worlds by having a single versatile grill and smoker combo?
This modern-day gadget will make your BBQ session more convenient because you will use the same product to grill and smoke your favorite meal. While some models also enable you to smoke and grill at the same time.
Moreover, it is a space-saving and budget-friendly option for you.
In our top-researched product list. We’ve concentrated on some great models that can accomplish grilling and smoking tasks very well. Let’s discover.
Our Top Picks
Before diving deep into review details, let us briefly summarize the 9 best grill smoker combos we have researched for you that can fulfill your grilling and smoking passion.
Best Overall
Best Premier Charcoal
Runner Up
Best Budget Friendly
Best Weber Charcoal
Best Vertical Combo
Best Budget Kamado
Best Portable Combo
Best Pellet Combo
Editor’s Note
A smoker and grill combo is an excellent choice for barbecue lovers but at the same time we highly value your time and investment, therefore we recommend you to research properly and buy the one that fits your needs and preferences.
For a better experience, make sure to read the official user manual to understand the temperature control settings and overall functionalities before you start using the product for your first BBQ session.
7 Best Smoker Grill Combo Reviews
Let’s share our expert reviews and suggestions for some of the best products in the market. Check out each product’s review before buying one suitable option.
1. Best Overall – Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Read our full in-depth Traeger Pro 575 Review
When it comes to barbecue enthusiasts, the Traeger Pro 575 is a game changer and is designed to take your outdoor cooking experience to new heights.
This grill offers 6-in-1 versatility, and you can use it to grill, smoke, bake, roast, and braise. It uses wood pellets as a fuel source, and its advanced features let you cook your food in a set-and-forget style.
It is a long-lasting product made with stainless steel material and has an attractive design, thanks to the combination of black and bronze color.
This Traeger product weighs around 149 pounds which is quite heavy, and you will need an extra person to help to assemble it, which can take around an hour.
But the good thing is that it has two large, sturdy wheels that will help you to move it around with ease.
What we like the most about this combo is the convenience it offers to the users.
From setting and regulating the temperature to receiving real-time updates about the cooking session, it is all just one click away, thanks to the Wi-Fi and app connectivity feature.
But a little issue that you may face using this grill is that the Traeger app can take 3 to 4 hours to update things and connect the grill to the smartphone app. But once it is connected, you get to monitor things flawlessly.
Besides the app, you can also monitor your bbq session using its PID controller, which lets you increase or decrease the temperature by 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the temperature control board, you can also insert a meat probe to see the meat temperature on the LED screen.
In this product, you can smoke your brisket low and slow at the lowest temperature of 165 °F or sear steaks by increasing the temperature up to 500 °F.
Compared to Camp Chef 24 in. WIFI Woodwind, this model has less cooking space, which is 575 square inches.
But we believe it is large enough to cook twenty-four burgers, five racks of ribs, or an average brisket, making it an excellent product for a family of up to 6 or even more.
But if you have a larger family, like ten people, we think the Traeger Pro 780 grill offers ample space to cook food for a dozen people conveniently.
The hopper of this gadget can accommodate 18 pounds of pellets at once, ensuring you don’t run out of fuel even when cooking thick meats like brisket or multiple hamburgers and hot dogs.
What Do We Like Most
Let’s discuss the pros and significant reasons why we have short-listed this product as the best overall in our research list.
- Quality smoke: This grill and smoker is optimized for better smoke circulation, and when you use quality pellets in it, it infuses your meat with authentic smoke flavors.
- Even Heat Distribution: The design of this grill ensures even and consistent heat distribution across the cooking surface, resulting in perfectly smoked meats every time.
- Versatility: The temperature range and its precise control let you use this grill as a multifunctional product for grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, etc.
- Wi-Fi And App Connectivity: You can now make your smoking and grilling sessions a breeze thanks to its Wi-Fi and app connectivity features. So, just connect the grill to the app and monitor the cooking session from wherever you want within the range.
What do we dislike?
- App error: The Traeger app may demand more time to connect to the grill and smoker when you use it for the first time, but it works well after that.
- Limited portability: The chances of the portability of this best grill smoker combo are restricted because it is pretty heavy and has only two wheels.
Let’s answer some of the frequently asked questions about Traeger Pro 575.
Who Should Buy This Traeger Grill?
If you are not on a budget right now and looking for a convenient pellet smoker and grill combo with advanced features that can cook you several types of food in different styles, we would encourage you to go with this one.
Can you cook on this grill without using Wi-Fi?
Yes, you can cook your food without using the Wi-Fi technology. It only helps in allowing you to monitor things through a smartphone when you can’t babysit the smoker.
At which temperature range does this Traeger model produce more smoke?
If you are cooking thick meat like brisket or turkey, we advise setting this grill to 170 to 225 °F if you want it to put out and infuse maximum smoke into your meat.
2. Best Charcoal Grill Smoker Combo – Kamado Joe KJ15040921 Classic Joe III 18-inch Charcoal Grill
Read our full in-depth Kamado Joe Classic III Review
Kamado Joe Classic III is one of the most admirable charcoal smoker grill combos, which has plenty of advanced features to take your smoking or grilling game to another level.
First of all, this device comes in 2 different sizes, one is Kamado Joe II and the second one is Kamado Big Joe III, which we are going to review as it is more suitable for the ones with a large family or those who often cook for larger gatherings.
The outer parts of the grill are constructed with thick ceramic material. In contrast, the other parts are made of aluminum, alloy steel, and stainless steel.
The inclusion of ceramic material helps the grill retain heat inside and allows it to keep the temperature consistent for a long time to cook your food evenly. Moreover, its quality construction prevents this device from rust and corrosion in the long run.
This grill offers an 18-inch vast grilling space which will be enough for you to place and smoke large cuts of meats like beef brisket, whole chicken, or turkey.
The Classic II had a 2-Tier Divide & Conquer design, but the Kamado Joe Classic III offers a 3-Tier Divide & Conquer design. This lets you cook your meal with different heat settings, making it the best premier choice on our list.
Another exciting feature of this Kamado Classic Joe III is its built-in thermometer, which allows you to ensure the required temperature inside the grill without opening the lid.
The Classic III shines again when it comes to airflow and temperature regulation. You can adjust the airflow through Kontrol Tower Top Vent and regulate the heat using the bottom dampers.
If you intend to cook anything on this device, we recommend preheating this product to 250 – 300 °F for about 30 minutes before placing your food inside.
It is undoubtedly one of the best smoker and grill combo products out there, but we prefer it more when it comes to smoking different kinds of meat, thanks to its Patent pending SlōRoller Hyperbolic Smoke Chamber.
This SlōRoller follows the Harvard science, which can create up to 20 times more smoke within the grill. And guess what? You don’t need to burn any extra fuel or add additional wood chips to gain this much smoke.
Its 304 stainless steel latch and two wire mesh fiberglass gaskets create an airtight cooking atmosphere around the grill lip preventing any heat or smoke loss.
Our research shows a significant improvement in gaskets, which you need to replace every six to eight months on average in other kamados.
In the end, you may concern with cleaning, but you should not be because it’s simple. A removable ashpan is located below the charcoal chamber, so all the ash and dust go into this pan to make cleaning hassle-free and quicker.
Before moving towards likings and disliking of this device let us share a simple video about how you can easily grill on any Kamado Joe product.
What do we like most?
Let’s share some of the pros that why we rate this product as the best charcoal smoker grill combo in our list.
- Versatile temperature range: Using its divide and conquer feature, you can cook your food items at different temperatures from 225 °F to the high searing temperature of 750 °F.
- Hyperbolic Smoke Chamber: If you prefer your food items to be penetrated with rich smoky flavors, this device is the way to go, thanks to its SlōRoller smoke system.
- Longevity: Most of its parts are made of high-quality and durable materials, which makes it a great cooking device for longer use.
- Side Tables: You get foldable side tables with hooks for hanging tools that are also excellent for working on. You don’t need a separate hanger to keep your cooking spatulas.
What Do We Dislike?
- Heavy: If you plan to travel for an outdoor cooking session, moving around with this product can be challenging because it’s pretty heavy.
- Expensive: It’s costly, and if you are tight on the budget, this might not be an option for you. But with this product’s quality and features, it’s worth spending your valuable money on.
Here comes the answers to some of the FAQs about Kamado Joe Classic III.
Who Should Buy This Kamado Product?
If budget is not an issue and you are looking for a quality built charcoal product with versatile cooking capabilities & temperature control settings, we suggest you go with this one.
Can You Fit A Brisket Inside?
Yes, why not? It is highly possible. Its 18 inches of cooking surface is sufficient enough to accommodate a brisket. But you may need to cut the brisket into two halves if it crosses the diameter of the grill, which rarely happens.
Can You Use Wood Instead Of Charcoal In It?
Yes, you can use wood logs for cooking your food, but it is more beneficial to burn them with charcoal to create a unique smoky flavor to add to your food.
3. Runner Up – Z GRILLS 7002C Wood Pellet Grill Smoker with PID Controller
Read our full in-depth Z Grills 7002c Review
If you are looking for an entry-level best grill smoker combo with wood pellets as the primary fuel source, this Z GRILLS product is perfect for your needs and this is why we have listed this product as a runner-up.
We believe this Z Grills model is better and more advanced than the Z GRILLS ZPG-450A in terms of convenience and digital controls.
First of all, the use of alloy steel material in the outer parts and stainless steel material in the inner parts make it a strong and long-lasting grill if you take extra care of it.
This grill has an automated PID control system that helps us control the temperature precisely within the range of 180 to 450 °F.
It can be a little disadvantageous that its temperature can’t go above 450 °F and uses indirect heat, making it better for smoking and grilling but not for searing.
It has a huge cooking space of 700 square inches, large enough for parties or in a family of 6 to 8 people. With that much space, you can easily cook six racks of ribs, eight steaks, or up to 29 burgers at once on this grill.
While the other items on our list have hoppers with 18 to 20 lbs pellets capacity, this one lets you place 24 lbs pellets in the hopper.
Ultimately, your cooking sessions become convenient without the fear of refilling the hopper in quick time, no matter whether you are smoking a brisket or ribs.
According to our rough estimate, 24 lbs hopper allows you to cook for around 18 hours, assuming that the temperature is low and you are using quality wood pellets.
Moreover, the viewable window on the hopper helps monitor pellet levels without opening the hopper lid.
You simply need to set the desired cooking temperature using the control knob, and its digital controller will keep the temperature consistent to ensure evenly cooked and smoked meats.
Speaking of evenly cooked food items, there are two built-in meat probes that you can use while smoking or grilling and ensure you get to cook your meat with your desired doneness level.
This model is neither too heavy nor too light. Its weight is around 113 pounds which could make it less portable, but thanks to its two rugged wheels and two casters with locks that allow for quick and easy mobility.
What do we like most?
- Huge Cooking Area: It has a huge cooking area to grill or smoke multiple food items, including thick cuts of meats, at once.
- Easy Mobility: We like its combination of rigid wheels and locking casters which is appreciable when moving this product from one place to another.
- Longer Smoking Sessions: You can confidently have longer smoking sessions on this cooking device because of its 24 lbs hopper. So, fill it once and let the food cook to perfection.
- Hassle-Free Cooking: There is no need to babysit the smoker because its PID controller keeps the heat consistent, and the meat probes tell you accurate readings.
What Do We Dislike?
- Limited Temperature Range: Unlike the other best smoker grill combos on our list, this one has a slightly limited temperature range of 180 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Although it works fine as a grill and smoker, it might not be suitable for other high-heat cooking methods like searing.
- Slower Preheating: This gadget may take a little more time to preheat to the required temperature. However, it isn’t a big deal once it has reached the temperature. It remains constant.
Who should invest in Z GRILLS ZPG-7002C?
If you are looking to buy a wood pellet smoker and grill combo that is easy to use, durable, has ample space for cooking, and does not cost you too much, you can confidently buy this product.
4. Best Budget Smoker Grill Combo – Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal grill smoker combo is appropriate for grillers of all skill levels, including beginner, expert, and seasoned smokers.
Also, it is one of the most affordable options for bbq enthusiasts to ignite their passion this is why we have enlisted this product as budget-friendly.
It’s attractive with a classic black finish and durable addition to your patio or garden, including all the handy features.
It is one of the best you’ve got if you are looking for a smoker for camping and outdoor use. The reason is that it weighs only 32 pounds, which makes its portability easier.
As compared to Weber’s 18-inch kettle, It has a 22-inch cooking surface, which is enough space to grill up some steaks or burgers and to cook a decent amount of food for a group of 4 to 6 people.
Furthermore, it is built with high-quality porcelain coated material, which retains heat well and keeps the cooking temperature consistent to make it a fuel-efficient. It also shows resistance against rust and peels.
The movable grill grates are our favorite feature because they allow adding fuel or wood without lifting the entire grate. Much simpler. Isn’t it?
The grill also has a built-in temperature gauge in the lid, allowing you to monitor the temperature inside the cooking chamber and cook your food with the desired doneness level.
If you are a beginner and will buy this device for the first time, you can download Weber’s free Bily app for its 3D assembly guidelines.
Although it is mainly a grill but you can still use this device as a smoker by placing the food on one side of the grill (away from the heat source) and the burning charcoals on the other side which will allow you to smoke any of your favorite BBQs.
Last but not least, if cleaning a charcoal gadget annoys you, try this one, as it offers an ash catcher with a capacity that lets you clean the whole mess in no time.
What Do We Like Most?
- Budget-Friendly: It’s one of the most affordable and best charcoal smoker grill combo almost every bbq lover should be able to buy this one that too with all the necessary features.
- Portable: This grill is not heavyweight and is very simple to pack up, so you can take it along while camping. Moreover, the wheels also make it easy to move around if required.
- Easy assembling: Assembling this product is neither time-taking nor confusing. All you need to do is to follow the 3d instructions provided by the brand.
What Do We Dislike?
- Lid thermometer placement: One thing we don’t prefer in this grill is the placement of the thermometer. It would have been better if it was on the vent’s side.
- Low height: This Weber grill is too low that you will mostly need to bend over when using it. We think it should’ve been a bit higher to make things easier for the users.
Who Can Buy This Weber Model?
If you are short on budget and still want to enjoy charcoal-flavored meals with the luxury of a good bbq product. This option is just for you.
How Often Should You Clean It?
We suggest you clean your Weber kettle after each use, but if that is not convenient, you should clean it once a week if you want the same authentic taste from your BBQ sessions for a long time.
Should You Cover Your Weber Kettle?
Not necessarily because Weber claims their products will not get damaged by harsh weather conditions and rust. But in our opinion, it is the best practice to cover your grill after you use it.
5. Best Weber Charcoal – Weber 22-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker
We have reviewed many Weber products before, but we believe it’s one of the best products with many notable features. There are two other similar products but with smaller dimensions and even lower price tags, like 18 inches and 14.5 inches.
Construction-wise, you will love this WSM versatile device because it uses robust and porcelain-coated materials like aluminum and stainless steel.
Because of it, the grill prevents rust and corrosion and resists the damage caused by water and sunlight.
We consider it a better option than the Big Joe Classic III if you are looking for a grill and smoker combo that is perfect for traveling, has easy mobility, and uses charcoal as the fuel source.
The justification is that it weighs only 68 pounds, which is way less than the Classic III, and you can easily use it by burning the charcoal.
Speaking of the weight, you also get three wheels with locking casters and two handles on the sides, making it super easy to change its location quickly whenever required.
We found that the 18 inches WSM smoker moves quicker than 22 inches smoker because it has slightly bigger rollers. But the difference isn’t too much.
What makes it the best Weber charcoal on our list is its two 22 inches grill grates, with a way less price tag than the other combos in our list.
So, it offers us ample space to smoke and grill bigger cuts of meat for our family, such as brisket, turkey, and ribs.
Not only the meat, of course, but you will also get satisfying grilling and smoking results regardless of what kind of food you cook.
Several people have doubts and asked if they can use Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker as a grill. Yes, it’s possible to use it as a grill and cook the food at a higher heat of 350 °F or above.
Similar to the high-end grills mentioned in our research list, the grill grates are also made of porcelain-enameled steel, which would not rust, and you can wipe the grease easily.
Just below the grilling grates, there is a big water pan which we recommend using when you are unable to maintain the temperature, especially when grilling in the rain.
Moreover, when smoking, we usually add water because it keeps our meat moist, but it isn’t necessary when grilling.
Honestly speaking, the lid of this combo is excellent and liftable, too, but it does not retain the smoke inside, as well as the Kamado Joe Classic III.
To regulate heat and airflow, you need to learn the mechanism of the vents at the top and dampers at the bottom. We suggest cooking with open vents and dampers when you need to cook at a higher temperature and closing them when low heat is required.
If you plan to smoke ribs in this smoker, make sure to smoke at 250 °F for roughly about 4-5 hours or until it reaches an internal temperature of 190 – 200 °F minimum.
This product offers a Silicone temperature grommet to monitor the temperature inside the smoker.
But we suggest using an extra thermometer because the built-in thermometer can sometimes show inaccurate results when the weather outside is inconsistent.
Cleaning does not seem time-taking or annoying because the ash from coals or wood logs goes into the coal basket, which you can empty easily at the end of the cooking session.
What Do We Like Most?
- Portable: It is lightweight and its locking rollers and handles on the sides bring maximum convenience when you try to move it.
- Quick assembly: It is easy to dismantle and assemble this WSM product because its major parts, like a lid, cooking chamber, and the below part, are removable.
- Space-saving: The product has a vertical design, allowing you to store it easily even if you have a small space.
What Do We Dislike?
- No set-and-forget: It’s not a set-and-forget device, and you will have to consistently monitor your food to ensure that the temperature remains adequate for cooking.
- Heat loss: The lid may retain heat and smoke, but the front door isn’t constructed very well and may let the heat escape. To reduce this problem, you can put the gasket on the inner side of the door.
Sharing some frequently asked questions about Weber Smokey Mountain.
Who Should Buy This 22-Inch Weber Model?
It is a good choice if you want a traditional outdoor low-and-slow charcoal smoking experience with a quality yet affordable smoker.
Do You Smoke Brisket Fat Side Up Or Down In Weber Smokey Mountain?
The best way to cook food is fat side down because heat is typically generated from the bottom of the smoker.
How much meat can it hold?
You can easily place a 10-pound turkey, two chickens of 5 pounds, or a 12-14 pound brisket inside this smoker and cook them to perfection.
6. Best Vertical Grill Smoker Combo – Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Smoker & Grill
The next product on our list is the Dyna-Glo Signature Series offset smoker which we rate as the best vertical combo. It requires charcoal to cook food and has several exciting features.
It has a heavy-gauge steel body construction which makes it a robust product and perfect for long-term use if you give extra attention to it by cleaning it on a regular basis.
This vertical-shaped offset smoker is popular because of its huge cooking space of 1382 square inches, which is divided into five chrome-plated grill grates but if you need an offset smoker with massive cooking space we suggest going with Dyna-Glo DGO1890BDC-D Vertical Offset Smoker.
With these features, you can cook different kinds of food items for a dozen people at once.
Another prominent specialty of this vertical smoker is its smoke zone which can create the ideal smoking temperature for your foods to infuse with a rich and unique smoky flavor.
To us, it is a much better smoker than a grill because of its unique vertical design, separate firebox, and multiple cooking grates in a vertical shape.
On the side of this smoker, there is a firebox that holds the charcoal pieces and wood, and this is where you need to ignite them to generate heat and smoke.
When the smoke produces, it escapes through the opening towards the cooking chamber and circulates throughout to inject the food with smoky flavors.
Now as a smoker, it is a great option, but how do you use it as a grill? The firebox also consists of a cooking grate closer and above the heat source, making it also a valuable product for grilling or searing food.
But remember that the heat source and the food remain closer to each other, which can burn your food if you overlook it. So, use it with care.
At the bottom of the firebox, there is a tray that you fill with charcoal pieces and wood logs. This tray makes the ignition process easier and lets you add more charcoal quickie if required.
To control or regulate the temperature, you will need to use air vents and dampers like any other ordinary charcoal smoker. Moreover, the temperature gauge will display the temperature inside the cooking chamber to let you cook food evenly.
There is also a place to install a water pan in the bottom part, which catches all the drippings while your food items cook, and you can also place it to add moisture to the meat or keep the temperature consistent.
What do we like most?
There are many notable features included in this offset smoker and grill combo that we have already discussed but let’s share two of the most prominent ones.
- Ample cooking space: One of the most extraordinary features of this product is its large cooking space with five grates, allowing you to cook different types of food at once.
- Budget-friendly: It is an excellent option for those currently on a budget but wants their meats to be injected with authentic smoky flavors.
What do we dislike?
There are a few disadvantages as well that might stop you from investing in this product.
- Unsuitable for large meat cuts: Although it has a huge cooking surface but is divided into grates which limits the space of each grate. As a result, it can be challenging for you to place thick meat cuts like brisket or rib rack properly.
- Less portable: It is an offset smoker in a vertical shape and has a good weight of 124.3 lb, making it less portable.
Sharing some of the FAQs.
Who should buy this DynaGlo offset smoker?
You can invest in this offset smoker if you are short on budget but looking for a quality offset smoker that is capable of cooking rich and unique smoky-flavored food items.
What is the size of the cooking racks?
Each of the cooking racks on this smoker is 17 inches in diameter size. Therefore, you must see the dimensions of thick and bigger meats like brisket before smoking them.
Can it fit a 20-pound brisket?
The cooking space of this smoker can not accommodate a whole 20-pound brisket without trimming or modifying the brisket to fit. The dimensions of the cooking racks do not provide enough room to lay an entire 20-pound brisket flat.
7. Best Budget Kamado – Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill
Char-Griller is well known for being economical and functional at the same time. It’s a perfect option if you love kamado-style products for your BBQ but can’t afford high-end kamado products.
This egg-shaped charcoal-fueled smoker is an outstanding outdoor cooking appliance for long-term use because it consists of heavy-duty materials like alloy steel and cast iron. But it may get rust and corrosion with time if you don’t maintain it properly.
It weighs 97 pounds which is more than the WSM smoker but less than some of the other products on our list, and is easy to transport from one place to another.
But if you are looking for an extremely lightweight and even more affordable Akorn grill product, we suggest you go with Char-Griller E6714 AKORN Jr. Portable.
The handles on the front and the back, along with three 8 inches rollers, make things easier when moving it.
Moreover, this Akorn Kamado has a 20 inches cooking diameter which is around 447 square inches. It allows us to smoke an average-sized brisket, multiple ribs, or cook 27 burgers at once.
A slight drawback we noticed is that it has one cooking grate only, while we think there should have been two because it would make it more suitable for grilling.
But fear not; it can offer you a versatile temperature range from 200 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect for low and slow cooking, grilling, or roasting.
The grill grates are made of high-quality cast-iron material, which helps retain the heating and distribute it evenly. As a result, the food comes out evenly cooked and infused with good smoky flavors.
If you like warming your food, you have another reason to bring this outdoor cooking appliance to your home. It provides a removable warming rack to place food items away from the heat source.
If you are fond of indirect heat set-up to smoke thick meats like brisket or ribs, we suggest buying the smoking stone with this product which helps you create a perfect smoking environment.
When smoking, you can change the heat settings using the top and bottom vents, just like any other charcoal grill or smoker.
One of the most exciting features that we like about this gear is its triple-wall insulated steel design. It is helpful in not just retaining the heat inside but also reflecting it to the smoking chamber, making it a fuel-efficient product.
This product has two lightweight side shelves with tool hooks that you can use for placing your spatula or other next-cooking items.
Our preference and suggestion for this product are to use lump charcoal for more efficient results. Also, you can add wood (cherry, hickory, or any type) if you want some next-level flavoring in your meat.
Like any other quality smoker or grill, it has a removable ash pan, making it easy to clean up after cooking.
What Do We Like Most?
- Reasonable price: If you like a Kamado-style grill but don’t have much money, this is still an excellent option to fulfill your desires.
- Simple ash cleanout: The ashes collect in a removable ash pan, making it simple to remove once cooking is over.
- Lightweight and portable: The best thing about this product is its mobility and convenience. It has sturdy wheels to take it along anywhere.
- Well-insulated design: It is an excellent product when it comes to retaining heat and smoking inside, thanks to its triple-wall insulated steel design and locking lid.
What Do We Dislike?
- One cooking grate: It should consist of two cooking grates that could make things easier for grilling.
- Low-Quality Side Shelves: The Shelves included with a product are not of high quality. You should avoid placing or hanging heavy food items on it.
Who Can Buy This Char-Griller Product?
You can choose this product when you run short on budget and still want to buy a Kamado-style smoker grill combo. It will help you cook with the same smokey flavor, and the price never overcomes the quality.
How Long Does It Take For An Akorn Grill To Heat Up?
It will take about 20 to 30 minutes to heat up. It would be best to start cooking when the grill reaches the desired temperature but keep an eye on your smoker because Akorn can quickly heat up and go past the required temperature.
Do You Need To Season It?
It’s best to season your grill before using it for the first time and once a month if you use your Akorn grill frequently. Some grillers even suggest seasoning your grill before every bbq session. Seasoning prevents food stickiness, rust, and corrosion which will help in maintaining the overall product.
8. Best Portable smoker Grill Combo – Ninja OG701 Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker
It is an electric grill with an elegant design and offers a unique cooking experience. It suits multiple types of cooking, including smoking, grilling, air frying, baking, roasting, broiling, etc.
Among its several exciting features, easy portability is one of them because it weighs only 30.6 pounds and has two solid and easy-to-carry handles. This is why we consider it as one of the best tabletop smoker grill combos.
You can also use it for outdoor grilling, tailgating, and camping without any hassle if you have access to an electric outlet. The reason is that it can cook your food even without feeding pellets into it.
Additionally, the Ninja OG701 provides your food with a 100% authentic woodfire flavor. It is not compulsory to use Ninja Woodfire Pellets as the fuel source, but if you do, it infuses your food items with a distinct smoky aroma to make them delicious.
We also found it a fuel-efficient grill that allows you to get beautiful bark or sear marks on your steaks by using only 2 cups of Ninja pellets.
Furthermore, you don’t need to buy these pellets separately for testing, as two blend packages come with the grill, each lasting up to 3 hours of cooking sessions.
The most exciting feature of this versatile cooking appliance is that you can easily switch to a different cooking method by turning the knob.
The sequence of these cooking methods is the grill, smoke, air crisp, bake, roast, broil, and dehydrate.
After selecting the cooking method, you will need to set the required cooking temperature, which is easy too.
Right to the knob, you can regulate the heat by pressing the plus or minus button, and the LED screen also shows the cooking time. Interestingly, the panel also gives you suggestions per the requirements of the cooking technique.
For example, when we are grilling on a higher heat, it reminds us to flip the meat when required. So overall, it is an easy-to-use cooking device both for beginners and pros.
Most importantly, if you live in a society that doesn’t allow you to use pellet grills in the apartment, bring this one to minimize your problem.
It is one of the best electric smokers and uses no charcoal or gas. You will burn pellets and won’t create harmful gases.
It has 141 square inches of cooking space, and the grates where you cook are non-stick, allowing you to get nice bark and sear marks on the meat even after flipping.
Ninja OG701 can accommodate a brisket of 9 lb max, six average-sized steaks, or up to 30 hot dogs, which is impressive for a portable cooking appliance.
You pay for its versatility because it can do multiple types of cooking, from low and slow cooking to high-heat roasting and grilling. Also, it has some other modules available with different price tags and extra accessories.
What do we like most?
- 7-in-1 Master Grill: BBQ enthusiasts with different intents can use this grill confidently to smoke, grill, air fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, and broil their favorite dishes.
- Quick And Easy Portability: Its lightweight design and two carrying handles make its portability hassle-free, allowing you to use it for camping and picnic.
- Easy To Use: It is an excellent grill for beginners because you can easily set the temperature, time and select the cooking method.
- Quality smoke outcome: Using the suggested Ninja pellets for cooking your food generates quality smoke without consuming too many pellets.
What do we dislike?
Some of the possible drawbacks that you might face are also mentioned below.
- Electricity-Dependant: No doubt it is an easy-to-move outdoor grill, but it requires electricity to operate, which can cause issues when you are willing to use it on a picnic.
- Limited Cooking Area: It has a too short area to grill and smoke your food compared to the others but can be a suitable option for the ones with a small family.
Who would be the ideal purchaser of a Ninja woodfire grill?
If you are living in an apartment and searching for a multifunctional, portable, and perfect tabletop electric pellet grill that does not require much space to set up, the Ninja OG701 Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker is an excellent choice.
How long does it take to preheat this Ninja grill?
The exact preheating time can depend on several factors, like the cooking temperature you’ve set but it generally requires around 5 to 10 minutes to preheat.
Can you use pellets other than Ninja brand with this grill?
Yes, you can burn pellets of different brands without any issue, but we recommend using the original Ninja pellets if you want more authentic smoky flavors infused into your meal.
9. Best Pellet Grill Smoker Combo – Camp Chef 24 Inches WIFI Woodwind With Sidekick
Read our full in-depth Camp Chef Woodwind 24 Review
This smoker grill offers convenience at its best when it comes to grilling and smoking. It’s one of Camp Chef’s most feature-packed and versatile grills with electricity and the powered source and pellets as the fuel source.
One of the coolest features of this grill is the WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which offers maximum convenience.
For example, it allows you to set and regulate the cooking temperature or adjust the smoke level from your smartphone by connecting to the Camp Chef app.
Its PID controller explicitly helps maintain the required temperature and smoke level from 1 to 10 by making minor adjustments to the pellet feed rate based on the grill’s inner temperature.
Its normal temperature range is 160 F to 500 F, which is perfect for grilling or low and slow cooking.
Furthermore, there is a long knob that you can either set inside the grill or outside. When this knob is entirely outside, it is perfect for indirect cooking, and when inside, it offers you an indirect cooking experience.
It is also known as the slide and grill technology that can reach up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, making this gear evenly good for searing and other cooking methods requiring higher heat.
It has a total cooking area of 811 square inches and a separate sidekick. It has 429 sq in the lower rack and 382 sq in the upper rack, which is more than enough to cook large amounts of food at once for a big family. While Camp Chef 36 in. model offers you even more space.
It has a separate sidekick that supports the 14 in. cooking system which means you can add a griddle, grill, oven, or stock pot to the sidekick.
Its pizza oven can hold up to a 14-inch pizza, and you can easily set 4 hamburgers when using the grill box.
Interestingly, you get four meat ports to insert four meat probes to help you monitor the internal temperature of the meat you want to grill or smoke. Most importantly, the temperature remains nearly consistent at different parts of the cooking area.
Another feature we admire about this grill is the capacity of its pellet hopper, which can hold up to 20 – 22 pounds of pellets, making it suitable for cooking for long periods without needing to refill the hopper constantly.
For example, you can easily smoke a 10 pound brisket without refilling the hopper.
Moreover, if you wish to use pellets of different flavor during the cooking session, simply turn the knob on the grill side, which throw the pellets out through a chute.
We recommend you ensure you have enough space in your backyard because it will be 56 inches wide once assembled, including the sidekick.
Compared to the other products on the list, this one weighs 162 pounds and consists of two wheels only, which can make things slightly challenging when you need to move this smoker.
The patented ash kick-in cleanout system adds more convenience for the users and allows them to clean the whole mess within no time and without making their hands dirty.
What Do We Like Most?
- Simple to use: Its advanced features, like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, makes it an outstanding and easy-to-use product for the beginners/
- Smoke Flavor Controls: If you like smoking meat and other food, this combo lets you adjust the smoke level from 1 to 10 using the control board.
- Built-in Pellet Sensor: You don’t need to check the pellet fuel manually on this grill because it has a built-in pellet sensor, which automatically detects the low pellet level and sends a notification to your app.
- Multifunctional product: Its compatible sidekick is the cherry on top because it allows you to try out different accessories like a pizza oven or sear box and use them for different cooking styles.
What Do We Dislike?
- Costly: It’s more expensive than some other options on the market but loaded with features that make it worthy enough. If you are a pellet grill lover with a limited budget, you can check out some of the best pellet grills under $500 we have listed.
- Heavyweight: It is quite a heavy product with a weight of almost 162 lbs, and it has only two wheels, making it a less portable smoker.
Who Can Buy This Camp Chef Model?
This product is perfect for a big family or even for commercial purposes because it has a lot of cooking space to grill and smoke a variety of food at the same time. Moreover, this device is for you if you like the convenience and digital controls during your BBQ session.
How Long Do Pellets Last In This 24-Inch Grill Model?
This grill will burn roughly 3 pounds of pellets per hour. If you fill the pellets hopper to its total capacity of 22 lbs, it will last about 7 to 8 hours before refilling again. But, it is an estimate that can change depending on the cooking temperature and the weather outside.
Can You Use Its Sidekick For Searing?
Yes, you can sear on Sidekick without any doubt. The sidekick has 25,000 BTU making it perfect for searing. For example, in the case of 1 to 1/2 inches thick steak, you need to sear for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
Quick Summary
Also See
What is the Difference Between Smoking and Grilling?
Don’t confuse yourself with grilling and smoking terminologies. They are both practical and excellent cooking methods but different in terms of their purposes and cooking styles.
Grilling uses direct heat coming from the flames because it requires a high temperature for a short time to cook your food. It is suitable for grilling vegetables and thin cuts of meat that cook quickly, such as steaks.
While smoking, use indirect heat and cooks your food low and slow at a very low temperature for a more extended period of time.
You can smoke meat with indirect heat, such as thick beef cuts, lambs, whole chicken, fish, etc. Smoking also adds delicious flavor to your food through the smoke coming from charcoals or burning wood.
Sometimes you need more than smoking alone to cook your food, and you may need grilling or roasting afterward. But it depends on what you are going to cook and which approach you choose.
Moreover, whether you grill or smoke your favorite meal, cook them until you reach their minimum safest internal temperature to eat. Make sure to check with a food thermometer.
For example, the minimum internal temperature required for beef or lamb steaks is 145 °F (62.8 °C), and for poultry, it is 165 °F (73.9 °C).
You can check out the safe minimum internal temperature chart for further reference.
Top Tip by FaveGrills
When you finish your grilling and smoking session, look for the bigger chunks of charcoals and save them for later use while you can throw all the ash out. But why?
Because you can reuse charcoals for yet another session, but remember, you need to mix the fresh charcoals with the used ones for better results.
How Does a Grill Smoker Combo Work?
Several companies have created different configurations of smoker grill combo. But the devices operate more or less on the same principles.
Whatever the design, they feature the components like grills, smoke stacks, racks, vents, fireboxes & cooking chambers, etc.
Some devices have separate dedicated grilling and smoking chambers, while some have the same cooking chamber for both tasks.
In the two chambers device, the main grill area is where you can cook the food directly over the heat, and once it gets evenly seared from the outside, you can move to the smoking chamber.
You can smoke your food from the indirect hot air and smoke coming from burning charcoals or wood.
On the other hand, in a single cooking chamber device, you need to make two sections inside, one for grilling right over the flames and the other for low and slow cooking. For this purpose, you will have to ignite charcoals on one side of your grill.
It’s essential to control the temperature and amount of smoke in the smoking chamber for perfect results. You can manage this by adjusting the vents on the grill.
What are the Various Fuel Types Available?
Several fuel types are available to be used in a smoker grill combo, but which one you use will depend on the type of device you have. Let’s discuss each type in detail with their pros and cons.
Charcoal
Charcoals will be familiar to you because it’s one of the most commonly used fuels for grilling and smoking.
While many enjoy cooking quickly and easily, nothing beats sticking to the tried-and-tested methods.
It is an affordable fuel type and is easily available. It also works best in adding a smoke flavor to your meat.
Two of the most famous & commonly used charcoal types are lump charcoals and briquettes.
However, charcoal can be messy to work with. Moreover, it is also challenging to control the temperature of charcoals on a grill.
Wood Pellets
Wood pellets are another famous fuel choice made from sawdust and are relatively more expensive than charcoals, but their cost still depends on where you live.
Different types of pellets are available such as hardwood, softwood, and mixed wood pellets.
They come in various flavors, such as mesquite, cherry, and hickory. While in our opinion, hickory is the best pellet flavor.
Wood pellets are not as messy as charcoals, are easy to use, and can provide consistent heat for your smoking and grilling session.
But they don’t add much smoke flavor to your food like charcoals.
If you want a better smokey flavor for your meat, try using a smoke tube in a pellet grill.
Propane or Natural Gas
Many smokers and grills have a propane or natural gas fuel option, generally known as gas smokers and gas grills.
Propane gas is easy to handle because it helps your gear quickly adjust to different temperature settings as per requirement.
It can provide consistent heat throughout your bbq session; however, it can be expensive depending on how much you will use.
Also, It doesn’t help in adding flavor to your meat.
Wood Logs
They are mainly used along with charcoals to add flavor to the meal. Apple, cherry, and hickory wood logs are some of the best options for flavoring.
It is a natural fuel source and also an environmentally friendly option. Some bbq enthusiasts also cook their food using only wood logs for the whole bbq session.
Electricity
It doesn’t qualify as a fuel source but rather a form of energy that electric grills and smokers use to cook food.
If you are planning to buy any electric combo, make sure to purchase the one that has an option for adding wood chips as well otherwise, you won’t get any real flavor in your food.
Side Note
Everyone wants to enjoy perfectly grilled and smoked food. Right? But when using charcoal for your BBQ session, the quantity you use is the key.
Less charcoal can result in unevenly cooked meat. If you use more than the required one, the temperature can go excessively high, resulting in burning your meal.
So make sure you know the right amount of charcoal you should use for your BBQ session to get better results and enhanced smoky flavor.
What to Look for When Buying the Best Grill And Smoker Combo?
Choosing a good product with all bells and whistles is a challenge. So, here we will discuss some of the most critical factors you should consider collectively before buying.
Cooking Space
The first thing you need to ask yourself about is for what reason you are going to buy a smoker-grill combo. How much cooking space will you require to fulfill your needs?
Are you buying it for a small restaurant or a family? How much will you want to cook?
Well, let’s share a few examples with you. If you intend to cook a whole chicken in the smoker section, it usually needs at least 12 or 13 inches of clearance when closed.
You can put a complete rack of ribs in the smoker without trimming them if it has a minimum width of 16 or 17 inches. And the list goes on and on.
Secondly, how much space do you have in your backyard?
A smoker grill combo can be up to 7 feet wide, with some versions having up to three independent cooking chambers and one or two side tables.
Some models, like the Kamado or drum smoker, can only be 22 inches across.
Therefore, consider the space you have available to position your device for fire safety, including the clearance from your house and any fences, trees, or shrubs.
Smokers & grills need a well-ventilated space to perform well, so you should place these devices at a suitable distance from the back wall.
Price & Features
You should consider the initial price and value over the long run. How often will you use it? What kind of value do you get for your money? What features will it have?
You need to ask the above questions to yourself to get a better idea about what kind of product you should purchase.
For example, an offset or vertical-style smoker grill combo can be a good option for individuals starting out or on a tight budget. Because there are various least-priced options available in the market. However, except few models, they lack the convenience of gas and require charcoal.
While offering the best combination of cooking, wood pellet grills and smokers can be expensive. But these are some of the most advanced and featured-packed products out there. You get digital controls, PID controllers, Bluetooth, and a smartphone app for managing your bbq session.
You can do almost anything in pellet grills, including roasting, grilling, searing, baking, and slow-smoked Southern-style barbecue.
Cleaning & Maintenance
After enjoying a delicious BBQ, you may stick with cleaning and maintenance. It can be challenging to clean and maintain your device.
For instance, charcoal products can be hectic to clean afterward because, in some models, the charcoals are placed directly in the grill’s cooking chamber, where they burn to generate heat for cooking.
If you don’t want to deal with the mess of charcoal ash, you can pick a pellet or a gas grill and smoker combo for a worry-free life.
Devices that use pellets as a fuel source have a separate firebox from the cooking chamber, so you can easily remove ashes with a vacuum.
You also need to consider the level of maintenance your device will require in the long run.
Build quality plays an important role here. It would be best to research the material’s quality the product manufacturer uses to build their smokers and grills.
Any product made using low-quality material will tend to get rust and corrosion.
Stainless steel and porcelain are two of the best materials if you are looking for easy-to-clean and maintenance convenience.
Are Smoker Grill Combos Worth It?
Yes, they are absolutely worth buying if you choose the right product and use it properly.
You don’t need to buy a separate smoker or grill to ignite your bbq passion because you will have the convenience of having both in one single device, making it a budget-friendly option.
Moreover, it can also benefit people with limited outdoor space because you will require more space for two individual units than one.
Let’s explain a bit here with an example.
In your backyard, a smoker and a grill take up two spaces.
A medium smoker measures, on average, 41 inches from front to rear. The typical grill measures about 34 inches (more or less). They take up around six feet of the area, combined or apart.
Although it might not be a significant concern, not all of us have large patios or backyards. You would love to save space and go for an all-in-one solution.
With all that said, consider all the features, price range, pros & cons of each device, and most importantly, your preferences before buying a product because not all grill smoker combos can fulfill your needs.
So, make sure you select the product wisely.
Wrapping it up
Finding the ideal fit can be tricky and time-consuming because it requires a lot of research and patience.
To get you out of this situation, we have tried our best to compile a research-based list of the top 9 best grill smoker combos out there in the market to our knowledge.
If you have read up to this point, you may have selected the right product after taking a closer look at your needs and priorities. A grill smoker combo can produce some of the best meats you have ever smoked or grilled.
If you are a beginner and just starting your bbq mastery journey, you may also like to check out our list of the best smokers for beginners.
Lastly, don’t forget to have some fun with your besties! You might make a few mistakes initially. That’s alright!
Happy Barbecue!
Your Opinion is Valuable to Us
Our BBQ passion and research led us to compile a list of the best grill and smoker combos. So now, which one would you buy and why? Also if you have used any of our mentioned products, we would love to listen to your valuable experience in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of smoker grill combos?
There are three primary categories of smoker grill combos differentiated based on fuel sources, such as pellet, charcoal, and propane or natural gas. There are also a few electric combos available in the market. Moreover, you can find some dual-fuel options as well.
Can you grill and smoke at the same time in a grill smoker combo?
Yes, why not? They are tailor-made for this purpose. Some products have specially designed two separate cooking chambers, one for smoking and the other for grilling. While some have only one, but you can still use it for both grilling and smoking.
How long can a grill smoker combo last?
A high-quality product may be sufficient to fulfill your BBQ passion for about 5 to 10 years if you take proper care of your product.
