Best Pellet Smokers Under $1000

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James

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You’ll come across many meat smokers for your backyard barbecue parties. Multiple BBQ aficionados tend to acknowledge the significance and superiority of pellet smokers. It isn’t hard to locate a well-rounded pellet smoker under $1000 today. The pellet smokers under this price point are easily workable by both beginners and experienced users. They’re simple and easy to use with terrific results all the time.

Yes, you can find high-end pellet smokers that go above the price point up to $2000 and even $5000. However, it gets hard to enjoy your smoked meals, especially with such a fat cost hovering around your shoulder. In this post, I’ll be discussing some of the high-performing pellet smokers that are under a budget of $1000.

What Is a Pellet Smoker

Pellet Smoker or grill is an outdoor cooker that mixes kitchen ovens, charcoal smokers, and gas grills. This smoker operates with the help of wood pellets. It can grill and also bake with the help of an electronic control panel for feeding fuel pellets automatically to the fire. It also regulates the grill’s airflow and does a great job in maintaining the cooking temperatures consistently.

Our Top Picks


Below is a summary of the top picks from our SummerBaron.com team. To help you understand where each pick ranked, we have included “badges” next to each pick’s key findings. “Best Overall” is a combination of price and value. “Best Budget” is great for summer lovers who want a top-quality product but are on a tighter budget. “High End” is for people who just want the best, and price is no object.

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Product

How did we pick these products?

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Our Top Pick

Camp Chef SmokePro Stainless DLX Pellet Grill

Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments

Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby

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Best Budget and Value

Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill

Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments

Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby

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Best High-End

Z GRILLS ZPG-7002E 8 In 1 Wood Pellet Grill

Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments

Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby

Reviews of Each Pick


Below are our detailed reviews of each product. Each product included in this review is reviewed by our team ⎯ with 1,000s of hours testing and working with products to help you pick the best one for your specific situation.

Our Top Pick

Camp Chef SmokePro Stainless DLX Pellet Grill

Pros

Durable handle and lid that can stand the test of time.

The auto-start ignition feature is super convenient.

You can cook just about anything on it due to its versatility.

There is no trouble with the cleaning out process.

Improved smoking efficiency.

You can expect to cook in large batches.

Cons

The temperature control isn’t the best.

Not the best customer service.

The Camp Chef SmokePro Stainless DLX Pellet Grill comes with a grilling area and smoking rack dimensions of 19.5 x 22 and 6 x 24, respectively. Its hopper capacity can easily support pellets up to 18 lbs and bears a cooking height of 32.5. Its handle and lid consist of stainless-steel material. We’re all a fan of the steady heating production that the grills produce. But there is a drawback to that: the absence of that little extra flare for giving the meat a perfect searing finish. But this model does exactly that with your meat and gives you a beautiful sear. You’ll be able to smoke your meat under the right temperature slowly.

You can then toss the meat on the super-hot grates of your searing box, enabling grill lines. This smoker sports an attractive 25,000 British Thermal Power (BTU) heating power. The cooking area spans a massive 570 square inches, which is more than enough for large families and groups. I know that this grill has many positive reviews and ratings from an enormous audience from my research. Testaments of customers speak volumes about the grilling capabilities and quality of the smokers.

Best Budget and Value

Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill

Pros

The LED display comes in quite handy.

You can easily use the pure hardwood pellets of Traeger without any filler.

It requires a simple switch flip to start functioning.

Its powder-coating finish is quite long-lasting.

Sturdy steel construction.

The non-stick surface offers an easy clean-up.

Cons

Firmware support isn’t the best.

Temperature maintenance does need a little improvement.

The Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill is a smaller unit, but that doesn’t preclude it from being effective. If you’re someone that wants a portable unit, especially for feeding lesser people, then this smoker just might be for you. It features a grill size of 53H X 41W X 27D inches and weighs about 128 Lbs. The smoker is equipped with a cooking area of 575 square inches and a hopper capacity of 18 Lbs. Its ability to achieve that intense wood flavor is one of its best assets. You also get to enjoy excellent precise control over the temperature level. The starting and heating process are equally fast and don’t delay at all.

It comes with a WiFire technology that helps in connecting the grill to your home WiFi. Also, its Traeger app will enable you to start controlling your grill from just about anywhere. It’s compatible with Alexa technology, allowing you to execute everything by just your voice. The smoker’s versatility will enable you to exercise 6-In-1 functions, i.e., grilling, baking, smoking, roasting, BBQ, and braising. The grill grates have porcelain coatings that make cleaning a breeze. This smoker can also easily support cooking 24 burgers at just one go, five-rib racks, and four chickens.

Best High-End

Z GRILLS ZPG-7002E 8 In 1 Wood Pellet Grill

Pros

It eliminates the trouble of using a rotisserie.

There is an optimal distribution of smoke.

The cooking area is super large that allows more grilling of food.

You can expect three years of solid warranty.

Easy to use, making it fit for beginners.

This pellet smoker is highly resistant to corrosion.

Cons

Sometimes the smoker inside the packaging doesn’t come in the best condition.

It can be a little difficult to lift and move around.

The Z GRILLS ZPG-7002E 8 In 1 Wood Pellet Grill is all about cooking flavourful steaks and BBQ. It injects that woody flavor that all of us love in our steaks. You’ll get a heating power of 25,000 BTU per hour. This model combines the smoker and grill set-up for bringing a seamless pellet grilling experience. Its primary cooking and warming rack area consists of 504 square inches 19.2” x 26” and 190 square inches 6.9” x 27.5”. The smoker’s hopping capacity stands at 20 Lbs, and its assembled weight is 112 Lbs. The total cooking area of this pellet smoker amounts up to 694 square inches.

The cooking grid of this smoker consists of cast iron material with a porcelain coating. You don’t have to worry about running out of pellets with this smoker, especially during long parties. This smoker also comes with an automatic pellet feeder that helps in maintaining the desired temperature. The temperature level is from 180⁰F-450⁰F. You don’t have to monitor your smoker now and then, which is a significant highlight. Its 8-In-1 function helps grill, roast, smoke, barbecue, bake, braise, sear, and char-grill.

Conclusion

Barbecuing is fun for both warm and wintry nights, especially if you’re trying to have get-togethers with your loved ones. So, for ensuring the perfect BBQ parties, it’s essential to start investing in a top-quality pellet smoker. You can trust any one of these three pellet smokers that I have mentioned. They don’t just offer some of the best barbecuing features, but you’ll be able to obtain them at an affordable price point. Apart from these models, I would suggest you give the Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood Pellet Grill a try!

About The Author


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Reviewed by

James

James is a writer who is a self-confessed kitchenware and coffee nerd and a strong advocate of Sundays, good butter, and warm sourdough.