Let’s be honest here, some days we want to fire up the smoker and put a rack of ribs or a brisket in for a slow and low cook. Other days we want to light the coals and cook up a quick steak for dinner. What we don’t want is to have a backyard full of grilling equipment.
Luckily, we don’t have to. This article will show you the best smoker grill combo units available. We will explain the benefits (and drawbacks) to owning a smoker grill combo, tell you what to look for in your ideal grill and we review the 7 best smoker grill combo units on the market.
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Benefits of Using Smoker Grill Combos
There are several immediate benefits to using a smoker grill combo. Let’s cover the basic and obvious ones here. You, personally, may find other benefits that aren’t listed. This is great! Be sure to share it with the class.
Smoker Grill Combos Compared
Image | Product | Grill Size | Temperature Range | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Classic Pit Barrel Cooker | 21 x 21 x 31 inches | 180 – 325 degrees (F) | ||
Camp Chef SmokePro | 41 x 34 x 21.2 inches | 160 – 500 degrees (F) | ||
Traeger Lil Tex Elite | 49 x 42 x 22 inches | 180 – 425 degrees (F) | ||
Weber Smokey Mountain | 21 x 19 x 41 inches | 225 to 425 (approx) | ||
Weber 61004001 | 29 x 59 x 48 inches | 12,000 BTU – 3 burners | ||
Oklahoma Joe's | 31.5 x 74 x 50.6 inches | 12,000 BTUs (4 burners, total 48,000 BTU) | ||
Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D | 58 x 45.5 x 25 inches | 180 – 500 degrees (F) |
How to Find a High-Quality Smoker Grill Combo
When you are ready to commit to a purchase, there are a few things you need to consider before pulling out your wallet and entering your credit card numbers. Let’s go over those aspects for your consideration now.
Smoking/Grilling Needs
Smokers and grills can get expensive, the combo units do save money, but the initial purchase can be an expensive one as well. One of the first things to think about is how often you will be using the smoker, grill, or combination of the two. It isn’t very economical or budget-friendly to pay a few hundred (or thousand) dollars for an item you will only use once or twice a year.
Fuel Type
You also need to think about the type of fuel you plan to use. Electricity is the easiest to cook with, next to propane, which is one of the cheapest. However, neither of those methods can produce the same flavor and smoke infusion as pellets and charcoal can. When you decide which type of fuel you will be using, the number of smoker grill combo choices will drop, making your final decision easier.
Smoking/Grilling Consistency
One of the most significant drawbacks to any combination, be it smokers and grills, or robotic vacuums and mops, is that there is generally higher focus on one aspect over the other. You will want a smoker to be consistent, and a grill to maintain even heat. Some combination units will focus more on grilling or more on smoking.
In a few instances, there is a higher consistency between smoking and grilling quality. If you plan to use one side more than the other, the focus on that aspect may be more appealing. However, if you want high-quality on both sides, you need to plan for that, as well.
Temperature Adjustment
Maintaining a constant cooking temperature is vital to the success of your barbecue. Having a smoker and grill with adequate temperature controls, then, becomes an essential aspect of consideration. With push-button ignition, adjustable dampers and baffles and turn-dial temperature adjustments, you can set and maintain the perfect temperature for your smoker or grill at any time.
Cooking Space
Another thing to consider is what you are cooking. If you plan to roast a whole turkey, for example, you will want to ensure you have the rack space to do that. Likewise, if you only need to do small briskets or steak here and there, you may not need to pay for a lot of space that the larger units offer.
Space is measured in square inches for smokers and grills. Anything over 700 square inches is ideal for a few chickens, steaks, and larger cuts of meat. However, you will want to pay attention to how the space is calculated. Vertical smokers, for instance, have a lot of square inch cooking space, but you may find that you have to put a rack of ribs in at an angle.
Storage & Mobility
Since it is unlikely that you will assemble your smoker, put it on the deck and use it every day in the exact same spot, you will want to think about the storage and mobility of the smoker grill combo. Covers are available to help protect against the elements. But lighter, more mobile units can be moved to a garage or shed for better protection.
If you don’t have storage space, you will need to think about how you will cover and protect the smoker when it isn’t in use.
Durability
High-quality construction and durable materials are essential to a long-lasting smoker grill combo. There are many types of materials to consider, including aluminum, steel, and ceramic. How the materials are put together is important, too. Solid-weld construction is more durable than bolts, for example.
None of that will matter, though, if your build materials are weak. Double-walled construction offers better heat resistance, while thicker metals are more durable and will stand up longer against burns and rust.
Easy Cleaning & Ease of Use
Part of the durability and long-lasting life of the smoker combo will depend on your cleaning and maintenance routines. You should get in the habit of cleaning your grill combo after every use. Some brands will offer unique features to assist in cleanup and maintenance. Others make it more difficult by leaving out certain parts like drip collection cups.
If the unit is easy to use and easy to clean, you will find that keeping it around longer is a simple process. If your smoker grill combo has areas that are hard to get to or challenging to clean out, then it may not last as long or cause you more frustration than joy.
Warranty & Support
Finally, you will want to examine the warranty and check on customer support reviews. Most smoker grill combos will have some form of guarantee, lasting from 90 days to several years. You may need to register your purchase, or maintain proof of purchase date for the duration of the warranty period, though, so be sure to read the warranty details before you buy.
Customer support varies from company to company. Some larger brands will have a dedicated team that will help you with any issues that arise, others like REC-TEC will give you the mobile phone number of the owners themselves to call with any issues.
7 Best Smoker Grill Combos Reviewed
Now we present to you our 7 best smoker grill combos reviewed. Even if you don’t go with our top pick, your next smoker grill combo is most likely waiting for you on the list below.
1. Classic Pit Barrel Cooker
Top Rated
Weight | 57 pounds |
Grill Size (Dimensions) | 21 x 21 x 31 inches |
Temperature Range | 180 – 325 degrees (F) |
Cooking Space | 240 Sq. In. |
Warranty | 1-year warranty on all parts. |
The Classic Pit Barrel Cooker is the best-rated smoker grill combo on the market right now. With a price tag under $500, you can afford to have the best smoked meats, grilled steaks, and easy cleanup.
The PBC is ready to cook right out of the box. With an enamel-coated 30-gallon barrel, you do not need to season it. In fact, you never wash the inside of it, making maintenance a breeze. The PBC comes with everything you need to get started, including the 30-gallon barrel, 8 hanging hooks, 2 hanging bars, grill grate, charcoal box, and the hook removal tool.
When you want to smoke meats, you just hook them and hang them. Adding your charcoal and wood chunks for smoke can be a little difficult if you have a large chunk of meat inside, and the unit itself gets quite hot during the cooking process. If you are going to use it in the yard, it is recommended you use bricks or stone slabs to set it on.
The PBC doesn’t come with a cover or an ash catching tray; however, both can be purchased separately. When you buy all three items, you are still coming in under $500, so the extra purchases are highly recommended.
When you are ready to grill, you only need to remove the hanging bars and add the grill grate and start cooking. The grill grate is standard, so you cannot grill and smoke at the same time. However, PBC does make a split grate that allows you to hang meat on one side (through a hole in the grate) and grill on the other.
Pros
Cons
2. Camp Chef SmokePro
Best Pellet Grill & Smoker Combo
Weight | 180 pounds |
Grill Size (Dimensions) | 41 x 34 x 21.2 inches |
Temperature Range | 160 – 500 degrees (F) |
Cooking Space | 874 Sq. In. |
Warranty | 3-year warranty on all parts |
The best pellet grill and smoker combo is the Camp Chef SmokePro. This unit can hold up to 874 square inches of total rack space to accommodate even the hungriest of crowds. With enough space for a full turkey, a few chickens, or a couple of racks of ribs, you won’t ever worry about having enough food.
The pellets will burn for a slow and low cook below 170 degrees and can flare up for direct heat grilling at 500 degrees. The electric auger and the 18-pound hopper will feed pellets for up to 16 hours.The SmokePro even comes with a meat probe thermometer with a digital display. You will always know the temperature of the smoker and of the food inside. You won’t even have to lift the lid to check.
During assembly, you will need to use a food-grade, high-temp sealant for all contact surfaces. It is also a good idea to run a high-temp gasket around the door to the food chamber. The Camp Chef SmokePro doesn’t lose a lot of heat but is susceptible to smoke loss.
Once set up, initial burn-in and clean up are done, you can begin smoking your meats and grilling right alongside them If you only want to grill, you can use the smoking rack as a warmer shelf while you are preparing the rest of the food.
Pros
Cons
3. Traeger Lil Tex Elite
Best Electric Smoker Grill Combo
Weight | 98 pounds |
Grill Size (Dimensions) | 49 x 42 x 22 inches |
Temperature Range | 180 – 425 degrees (F) |
Cooking Space | 418 Sq. In. |
Warranty | 3-year warranty on all parts (not including labor) |
Traeger is a name you will often come across when researching grills and smokers. That is because the company consistently produces high-quality grills designed for everyday use. The Lil Tex Elite is the best electric smoker grill combo you can buy.
It comes with an all-digital control panel with a quick-fire push-button ignition and an electric auger for the pellets to feed quickly into the firebox. With a temperature range between 180 and 425, you can smoke that brisket for 16 hours, or sear your steak in a few minutes.
What you won’t find in the box are a lot of extras. The smoker itself does have a shelf, a cover, an insulation blanket, and even pellets. However, you must buy all of them separately. Combination kits with the folding shelf, cover, and blanket are available for a higher price, of course, but it will save you from buying each piece individually.
Assembly for the smoker is fairly straight forward. However, you will need to ensure you seal the door with a gasket before use. The high-quality build is made from steel with porcelain grates for easy clean-up.
With a 3-year warranty and the Traeger name on the lid, the Lil Tex Elite will provide you with years of smoking and grilling enjoyment.
Pros
Cons
4. Weber Smokey Mountain
Best Charcoal Grill Smoker Combo
Weight | 39 pounds |
Grill Size (Dimensions) | 21 x 19 x 41 inches |
Temperature Range | 225 to 425 (approx) |
Cooking Space | 185 Sq. In. |
Warranty | 10-year cooking box, 5-year plastic parts, 2-year remaining pieces. |
The Weber Smokey Mountain is arguably the best charcoal grill smoker combo on the market. Taking design inspiration from our top pick, the Smokey Mountain is a barrel-shaped smoker with two racks for smoking multiple portions of meat at the same time.
You don’t have to worry about running out of fuel, either. With a removable fuel door, you can add more coal or wood blocks at any time during the cooking process. The downside is that because there is only one chamber, you can either smoke or grill, but you cannot do both at the same time.
To help protect against the elements, each Smokey Mountain purchase comes with a cover so that you won’t have any additional purchases. Assembly is quick and easy, and with a fast burn-in cycle, you can be cooking the day after you put it together.
When you are smoking meats, you can add a thermometer or meat probe. The Weber Smokey Mountain has a silicone sealed port for your thermometer wires. You will always know the temperatures in your grill and of your meats.
Pros
Cons
5. Weber 61004001
Best Gas Grill Smoker Combo
Weight | 103 pounds |
Grill Size (Dimensions) | 29 x 59 x 48 inches |
Temperature Range | 12,000 BTU – 3 burners |
Cooking Space | 669 Sq. In. |
Warranty | 10-year warranty on cook box, 5-years all other parts. |
Weber makes a second appearance on our list with the best gas grill smoker combo. Weber has been building back yard cooking devices for decades, and it is no wonder they have two of the best on our list.
The stainless steel gas grill doesn’t come as a smoker combo, however. You can convert it to a combo unit with the purchase of the Weber stainless steel smoker box. This little box will hold you presoaked wood chips, and as it sits on the grilling grates, you will infuse your meats with the smokey flavors of the wood.
While the capacity isn’t that large, you can easily add more wood chips as needed without having to deal with a side firebox. Just make sure you adjust the baffles for the smoke retention and adjust the flames to help maintain the heat during the change.
The grill uses the Weber GS4 cooking system that has grease traps over the burners to prevent flareups and add smokey flavoring from the drippings. It also provides a simple clean up and maintenance session. However, the initial assembly may be a little challenging for some.
Pros
Cons
6. Oklahoma Joe’s
Best Gas Charcoal Smoker Grill Combo
Weight | 204 pounds |
Grill Size (Dimensions) | 31.5 x 74 x 50.6 inches |
Temperature Range | 12,000 BTUs (4 burners, total 48,000 BTU) |
Cooking Space | 1060 Sq. In. |
Warranty | 5-year warranty on fire box, burners, and lid, 1-year warranty all other parts. |
Oklahoma Joe’s is a name synonymous with “best.” Year after year, they produce some of the highest quality grills on the market. Rivaled only by Traeger, Yoder, and a few select others, The best gas charcoal smoker grill combo is here.
With an impressive 1,060 total square inches of cooking space, six grilling racks, and a side firebox for smoking while grilling, you can’t go wrong. There are a total of 4 burners, each pushing 12,000 BTUs of liquid propane fuel. Three burners are for cooking while the fourth side burner accents the firebox and chimney starter.
The warranty is quite robust, with a 5-year limited warranty on the burners, firebox, and lid. It is important to note, though, that you must maintain the sales receipt to make a claim on the warranty. Digital copies are accepted but may slow the process of making a claim.
You shouldn’t worry much about the warranty, though. With 12-gauge steel made fro Oklahoma pipe, the durable construction and sold-weld build make this one of the most robust and capable smoker grill combos on the market.
The main issue with this unit is that even though it is charcoal and propane, it isn’t designed to be easily transported. The 200-pound weight of the grill makes it difficult to load up and take with you when you go tailgating or camping. You can, of course. It just isn’t recommended.
Pros
Cons
7. Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D
Best Vertical Charcoal Combo
Weight | 124 pounds |
Grill Size (Dimensions) | 58 x 45.5 x 25 inches |
Temperature Range | 180 – 500 degrees (F) |
Cooking Space | 1382 Sq. In. |
Warranty | 1-year warranty on all parts, except for the paint, which has a 90-day warranty. |
Do you want space? You get space. With the Dyna-Glo Signature Series, you have found the best vertical charcoal smoker grill combo available. Five steel grates offer you a total of 1,382 square inches of cooking space. You can grill right over the coals in the expansive firebox. Adding charcoal and wood chunks are no problem either. The firebox comes with a pull-out shelf to access the coal bed without messing with the rest of the grill.
The indirect heat (and smoke) will transfer to the main cooking chamber, a tall, vertical shaft that can hold just about anything you can shove inside. Temperature controls through dampers and baffles allow you to maintain the perfect amount of smoke and heat for whatever you are cooking.
The grills size and shape make it difficult to transport, but at only 124 pounds, you can take it with you on those long camping trips. Maintenance is relatively simple with the removable firebox tray for coals and ashes. A quick wipe-down after the grill has cooled and cleaning the racks in the sink will have you ready for the next barbecue in just a few minutes.
Pros
Cons
How Smoker & Grills Work Together
In stand-alone units, you will either grill your food, using various fuel sources for heat. Generally, a grill is a high-heat, fast cook device designed to sear a steak or cook a hamburger. A smoker, on the other hand, is more of a long-term cook. Using your fuel source for heat and creating smoke, the smoker slow cooks the meat for hours instead of minutes.
When you have a combination unit, you will most likely use one or the other, though a few brands offer the chance to do both at the same time. With combo smokers and grills, you can use multiple fuel sources, as well. Some will use electricity and charcoal, or propane and charcoal, for example.
On smokers with a firebox grill, you can access the firebox with a cooking grate to grill over the fire, while the smoked meats in the main chamber get the heat and smoke from the firebox. Vertical units allow you to pick one or the other and will use high-heat when you want to grill or lower heat when you want to smoke.
Types of Smoker Grills by Fuel
Earlier in the article, we talked a little bit about the difference between 3-way and 2-way speakers, and the main difference is the presence of a midrange driver. Drivers are what covert the electrical audio signal to audible sound waves and are designed for particular frequency ranges.
A 2-way speaker will use a woofer for the lower frequencies and a tweeter for higher frequencies, with the midrange being covered by the overlap of the two drivers. A 3-way speaker contains the midrange driver mentioned before to allow for a dedicated output of those midrange frequencies. 3-way speakers produce richer sounds that are truer to life as they can distinguish the frequencies better.
Pellet Smoker Grills
Pellet smokers are one of the best smokers available. They are simple to control as far as timing and temperature are concerned, and they offer the best opportunity to infuse smoke flavoring into your meats. With pellet smokers, your primary fuel source will be wood pellets. However, you should keep in mind that you will also need an electrical outlet to power the auger.
Gas Smoker Grills
Gas smoker grills use either propane or natural gas. They are the cheapest models to use, and aside from electric smoker grills, they are the easiest to operate. The downside to a gas smoker grill combo is that they don’t tend to offer the best flavor. While you can overcome some of the flavoring shortfalls, it is more work and requires further purchases on your part.
Electric Smoker Grills
Electric smokers are almost cheating. They are the easiest to use, easiest to clean, and are usually lightweight and portable. They cook faster than the other types, but you lose any flavoring from the cooking process that you get from pellets or charcoal. Electric smoker grills, like their gas-fueled counterparts, are best for beginners or those that don’t plan to use the unit very often.
Charcoal Smoker Grills
Charcoal smokers are the chosen smokers and grills for competitors and master grillers. Aside from pellet smokers, charcoal is unrivaled in flavor and smoke induction. Charcoal is more expensive than propane and electricity, though unlike propane, you don’t generally have to worry about running out of fuel during a cooking session.
Offset smoker grill combos are the most common, with horizontal units selling more than vertical ones. Kamado Grill uses ceramic instead of steel, which is a better insulator for heat, but more fragile. You can also find charcoal combos in drum and barrel styles, for both vertical and horizontal grilling.
Smoker/Grill Accessories
When it comes to your smoker grill combo, there are accessories that you should consider. Depending on the type, style, and build of your smoker, some accessories are more essential than others.
Tips When Using Smoker Grill Combos
To get the most out of your smoker grill combo, there are good practices and guidelines you should follow. We outline those below.
Setup
When you bring your smoker grill combination unit home, you will need to set it up. Don’t expect to cook on the smoker the first day. The first step is assembly, and some combos will come more assembled than others. If piecing together a smoker isn’t your idea of a good time, you can look for a model that comes assembled, or pay for professional assembly.
One thing you don’t want to overlook is sealant and gaskets. Heat and smoke will escape from even the most expensive smoker. It is your responsibility to seal these gaps during assembly. The best method is to purchase a food-grade, high-temp sealant and put it around every contact surface before bolting them together.
The sealant will need time to dry and can then be painted to match the grill if you are going for aesthetics. You will also want to invest in high-temp gaskets to put around the doors and access panels. This will help retain the heat and smoke when the smoker is being used.
Seasoning New Grills
Once the assembly and setup are complete, you will need to season your grill. We aren’t talking about sprinkling paprika on top of it. Seasoning, also known as initial burn-in or preseasoning, is when you run the smoker grill combo without food in it for the first burn.
You will want to start by setting everything up as if you are smoking a brisket. Set the temperature low and get the fire going. After a couple of hours, you will want to increase the heat to at least 275 degrees (F) and let it run for a minimum of a half-hour. This process will burn off any excess oils and burs from the manufacturing process.
Once the process is complete, you can clean the grill, and it is ready to go for your first official use. Note that different styles and fuels will require a different seasoning cycle. Your owner’s manual will outline the exact times and temperatures recommended for seasoning your particular model.
Heat Control
Heat control is crucial to a good smoke or grill. Each smoker grill combo will come with baffles, dampers, or airflow louvers. You will need to learn how to operate these airflow devices to maintain a consistent temperature, keep the fuel burning, and to produce the right amount of smoke.
When you first start the fire, especially when using pellets and charcoal, you need to provide enough air to get the fuel to burn. Once it is lit, the airflow should be adjusted to minimize the flames (for smoking) or maximize the heat (for grilling) to produce the environment inside the cooking chamber that you desire.
After the initial temperature is reached, you can add your food. From there, you will want to make small adjustments to the temperature, level of fuel being burned, and the airflow baffles to produce the rich smoke or high-heat for cooking.
Cooking Tips
When cooking your meats on a smoker grill combo, you will need to figure out the proper temperatures for the meat. If you are smoking, you will want to start with more smoke and less heat. Between 80 and 90 percent of the total smoke, flavoring is infused within the first hour to two hours of the smoking process.
From there, you can adjust the temperature and airflow to continue the “slow and low” cooking method or raise the temperature for a slightly faster cook time. Depending on the meat and the recipe, this can be for a couple of hours or several hours.
When grilling, you will want a higher temperature and less smoke to cook the food faster. Regardless of what you cook and for how long, you need to ensure that the internal temperature of the meat is raised to the proper temp.
If you are interested in learning how to smoke a turkey with moist white meat and flavorful dark meat, Oklahoma Joe’s Smokers has a recipe for you.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The care and cleaning of your smoker grill combo are just as critical as the temperature settings while using it. Safety should always come first, and you should never use harsh chemicals or scouring pads when cleaning. Warm water and a spray mixture of apple cider vinegar and water will work just fine to keep the grill clean.
You can remove the shelves, racks, and hangers and clean them by hand in the sink. The rest of the smoker should be sprayed and wiped down after every use. Be sure the smoker has gone through a proper shutdown cycle and has completely cooled off before you attempt to clean it.
When it comes to maintenance, there isn’t a whole lot you have to do. After the smoker and grill have been thoroughly cleaned, you should check all parts of the unit for damage. This will include chipping paint, rust spots, burns, and warping. Make sure you move your smoker grill combo out of the elements when not in use and cover with a weatherproof cover.
For more cleaning and maintenance tips, check out this video from Traeger.
People also Ask (FAQs)
What’s the difference between a smoker and a grill?
How long do these smoker grills last?
How to ensure the meat doesn’t burn in a smoker grill?
What are some good resources for learning about smoking foods?
Where is the best place to buy these smoker grills?
Conclusion
Smoking foods is an art form, and to perform your best, you will need a great canvas. However, most grill masters will also want a grill to cook faster foods on like hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks. A smoker grill combo is ideal for those on a smaller budget, have less room for multiple cooking devices in their yard, or those looking to get into the barbecue hobby for the first time.
You definitely have a lot of options to choose from. With top brands like Traeger, Oklahoma Joe’s, and The Big Green Egg, you may not know where to begin. If you want to keep your wallet happy and get the best of both worlds, we recommend the Classic Pit Barrel Cooker. For under $500, the smoker will hold plenty of meat and comes with racks, hooks, and hanging bars.
You also won’t regret the grilling ability of this highly durable, easy to use and maintain smoker grill combo. It may not be the prettiest girl at the ball, but it will turn out some of the most delicious barbecues you ever created.