Best Smoker Grills For BBQ Reviewed

Most smokers can be set at an optimal smoking temperature between 200 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit. The best machines offer the option to set the temp significantly higher or lower depending on if you want to smoke your meat low and slow or hot and fast. Look for a smoker that reaches a temperature of 400 degrees or higher for searing the meat once it has been cooked thoroughly. 

A smoker machine's durability depends on how well it is constructed as well as the materials it is built with. The type of materials used plays a huge role in how long the smoker will last and how easy it will be to clean and maintain. Durability is of the utmost importance, especially for a smoker that is stored outdoors.

Stainless steel looks nice, but it is prone to rust and corrosion in outdoor environments. However, stainless steel is easy to clean, so it is the ideal material for the internal smoking chamber. If this is for outdoor use, look for a smoker grill that is coated with a rust-resistant enamel, like a porcelain coating.

Investing in a BBQ pellet smoker is the best way to get that smokey flavor we all love. The best smoker grill that utilizes wood pellets is the Camp Chef SmokePro. This wood smoker grill doesn’t just outshine the others when it comes to smoking flavor; it's also easy to use, even for first-time meat smokers. It is equipped with digital controls and an electronic auto-start ignition.

The digital temperature display and simple setting controls make it easy to control the temperature of the smoking chamber. Camp Chef uses Smart Smoke technology, which “ensures the maximum amount of smoke and, therefore, the best flavor around.” This pellet smoker BBQ grill has an impressive cooking space of 875 square inches, giving you room to cook anything.

Another great feature is the easy-to-clean design. "The SmokePro LUX Pellet Grill was given the Vesta Award, an industry-exclusive honor, for its innovative cleanout system and user-friendly design," says Camp Chef. The wide temperature range of 160 to 500°F, allowing you to slow smoke or grill the meat to your exact liking. And you won't have to worry about continually filling the smoker with pellets; the smart auger design automatically dispenses pellets for better smoking efficiency.

The smoker's hopper capacity is 18 pounds of pellets, so you'll never have to cut a smoking session short by running out of pellets. Every SmokePro purchase includes a meat probe, warming rack, bottom utility shelf, ash cleanout system, and more. This is our top pick for so many reasons, but if a pellet smoker isn't for you, there's no shame in opting for an electric or gas model instead. 

Similarly to a pellet smoker, the best charcoal grill smoker is all about enhancing meat products with smoky flavors that aren't as easy to maintain with electric or gas models. The Weber Smokey Mountain 18" smoker cooker can achieve this and so much more. Weber says that this is intended "for tender meat falling off the bone and the first savory bite that makes taking it low- and-slow in your Smokey Mountain Cooker smoker worth every moment."

The Weber grill smoker isn’t just about enhancing flavors and tenderness, though. The company has done everything possible to make the smoking process easy, even on first-timers. They have created a highly durable smoker that won’t rust or peel thanks to the porcelain-enameled lid, bowl, and center section. This material isn’t just durable, but also better able to retain heat than other commonly-used smoker materials.

Within the chamber, there are two cooking grates that are large enough to hold 2 food items at a time. While these items are cooking, keep tabs on temperature with the silicone temperature grommet. To control the temperature and make adjustments, just change the position of the conveniently-located dampers. If you have any trouble figuring it out, the Weber app is a fantastic resource that offers everything from how-to tutorials to recipes. 

Another loved feature of the Weber smoker is its compact size. This makes it highly portable, easy to store, and the perfect item to pack for a weekend camping trip. Some Weber users love this compact design, while others wish that there was a bit more cooking space to work with. It has a total cooking space of 481 square inches, which is significantly lower than most of the other models covered on this list of best BBQ smokers.

Looking for the best charcoal grill smoker combo? The Oklahoma Joe's model is the best gas charcoal smoker grill combo, which means you'll get the great taste of charcoal combined with the convenience of gas. The manufacturer says that this smoker is “equipped with both charcoal and gas grill chamber and an attached offset firebox, this multi-purpose smoker and grill allows you to barbecue your way.”

Oklahoma Joe's builds all of its products with durability in mind, and the charcoal/gas grill and smoker is no exception. It is constructed with porcelain-coated cast-iron grilling grates and heavy-gauge steel. There are two cooking areas contained within this smoker; one primary space that measures 750 square inches, and one firebox chamber that is 310 square inches. This is a combined total of 1,060 square inches of cooking space, which means you'll never run out of room.

The gas grilling chamber uses three 12,000 BTU burners. The smaller charcoal chamber comes with one 12,000 BTU burner while also accommodating a charcoal chimney starter. Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn combo grill and smoker reviews love how the cooking spaces are divided - one chamber is dedicated to smoking with gas, one is for grilling, and one is for charcoal smoking.

The professional temperature gauge allows a user to monitor and control the temperature of each chamber accurately. There's no guesswork involved with the Oklahoma Joe's smoker. One downside is that this smoker lacks portability, but this is often the case with smokers that offer as much cooking space as this one does. Its vast size makes it challenging to store discreetly, but the large wagon-style wheels for added mobility are a nice touch.

The best small smoker grill for home use is the PK Grills PKO-GCAX-X. This is a charcoal grill smoker combo that offers amazing value with its low cost, impressive portability, and durable construction. Portability is an important consideration when shopping around for the best home BBQ smoker, which is one reason the PK Grills model should be at the top of your buying list.

This model features a unique shape that is unlike any other model of its kind. As described by the product listing, "the original PK grill & smoker detaches easily from any of its available stand options for transport. As a portable smoker grill, PK's are great for tailgating, camping, fishing/hunting cabins, etc." Assembling and disassembling this smoker can be done as quickly as you can say "baby back ribs".

The smoker was built to cook with 300 inches of cooking space, capable of handling everything from sausages to a Thanksgiving turkey. This 300-inch surface area is significantly smaller than models like the Oklahoma Joe’s bbq smoker grill, but you can’t expect much more than this capacity from something as portable as the PKO-GCAX-X.

Choosing an electric smoker means that you won't have to rely on gas or charcoal every time you're in the mood for smoked meat. Simply plug in the machine, fill it with the recommended amount of wood chips, and start smoking using the most environmentally-friendly smoking method. The best electric BBQ smoker out there is the Smokin-It Model #1.

The Smokin-It electric smoker grill can smoke up to 22 pounds of meat at a time. It is constructed from 100% 18-gauge stainless steel and comes with 3 removable shelves (with the option for installing a fourth shelf). The grill smoker box is equipped with a drip pan that should be placed beneath the smoker while it is in operation. All of these materials are made from stainless steel, so they are easy to clean and extremely durable.

The best smoker grill combo is, without a doubt the Weber 61004001. This gas grill with smoker is all about versatility - how you choose to cook your meat is entirely up to you. It is equipped with three high-performance stainless steel burners, stainless steel Flavorizer bars, and a brand new Grease Management system to reduce the risk of dangerous flare-ups and make the cleaning process a breeze.

This is not only the best gas grill smoker combo for its high-quality construction but also its innovative modern technology. This isn't your grandpa's smoker machine, which becomes pretty obvious as soon as you set eyes on the sleek design and shiny knobs. The 61004001 comes in a black or stainless steel finish with the choice of either liquid propane or natural gas.

Another reason that we have ranked this as the best BBQ grill and smoker combo is that “each component of GS4 was uniquely designed for ease-of-use and to provide an unequaled satisfaction to your backyard grilling experience.” The Weber company also says that it allows you to “smoke infused food that grills evenly and consistently regardless of where it’s placed on the cooking grate…”

Weber is a name that you can trust, and this company has been setting the bar high for other grill manufacturers for decades. They were one of the forefathers of the auto-start ignition, which means that the ignition is guaranteed to ignite every time with no hassle. For this model to become more than just a grill, you will need to purchase the best smoker box for gas grill, like the Weber stainless steel smoker box. Wood chips or pellets will be placed in this box to infuse foods with smoky flavors.

A smoker barrel isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for a traditional method that creates delectable smokey infusions, no type of smoker compares to the barrel design. The best barrel model on the market is the Classic Pit Barrel Cooker Package. This is the #1 best-selling drum cooker that uses simple methods to cook some of the best food you've ever tasted.

According to the Pit Barrel Cooker website, “the Pit Barrel features top-quality construction with durable 18 gauge steel and a porcelain enamel coating. The PBC package includes all of the accessories to cook an enormous variety (and quantity!) of food.” Not only will you be receiving the barrel cooker, but also a set of stainless steel hooks, charcoal basket, steel cooking grate, wooden hook remover, and a barrel stand.

The best feature of the Classic Pit Barrel is its unique design. It makes the smoker easy to operate, but more importantly, it is designed to evenly distribute heat throughout the chamber for great-tasting meat. It's highly portable, built to last, and cooks food to perfection. And best of all, the simplicity of this barrel smoker means that the price is right. The only downside for some users is that the smoking process requires time, so you must be patient. This smoker operates in the "low and slow" fashion.

For ultimate versatility in the cooking process, the Traeger smoker grill TFB42LZBC is a great choice. This is the best smoker grill combo; it's a 6-and-1 smoker grill with the ability to smoke, grill, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue. The other perk is that you'll never have to buy another bag of charcoal again since this smoker is fueled by hardwood pellets. Pellets create the same great taste as charcoal without all the hassle.

The Traeger model allows a user to cook meats either low and slow or hot and fast, cooking to perfection each time. Maintaining temperature is easier than ever, thanks to the integrated digital temperature controller. This controller keeps temperatures within 20 degrees of the set temperature and is set using an easy-to-use knob.

The Traeger Grills mission is simple: “Our goal is to continually innovate, with an ambition to make outdoor cooking easier and better tasting. We’ll help you spend less time tending to the grill, and more time on bringing family and friends together, creating a more flavorful world.” The TFB42LZBC does exactly this; you won’t have to spend all your time monitoring meat temperatures with this 6-1 smoker grill.

This model is the perfect size for home cooking with 418 square inches of cooking space. Some people find this to be too small, though, especially for those who plan on entertaining friends and family members. For more cooking space but the same versatility, you can opt for another Traeger or go with the Camp Chef SmokePro or the Oklahoma Joe’s gas/charcoal combo.

Why choose the best BBQ smoker pit vs. another type of smoker? Top-rated smoker pits like the KBQ C-60 run entirely on real wood - no pellets, no charcoal, no gas, no electricity. It does this by using an inverted flame to draw smoke from below and pull it through a hotbed of coals. The chamber is then flooded with oxygen that is vented through a set of air vents.

The KBQ company says that “this action completes the fire triangle, creating an Inverted Flame and the thin blue smoke that great pit bosses make after years of experience managing real wood fires.” If you’ve ever managed a real wood fire before, you know full and well that it isn’t easy. That is no longer the case with the KBQ C-60.

This model has an impressive meat-smoking capacity of 60 pounds with 12 adjustable racks. Using real wood and not just charcoal or pellets enhances flavors and creates unbeatable juiciness. It is a bit more challenging to get used to the real-wood smoking process, but in time you'll become a pit boss like no other. If you're looking for an easy smoking solution, you might want to look elsewhere. But if amazing flavor and juicy tenderness are what you're after, it's hard to beat the KBQ C-60.

Pitboss Grills says that pellet smokers "are outdoor cookers that combine elements of smokers, charcoal - gas grills, and ovens. They use 100% all-natural hardwood pellets are the fuel source that allows pellet grills to provide direct or indirect heat." Pellet smoker fans love the flavors that come along with using hardwood chips or pellets. The main downside is that these are less convenient since you'll have to refill on pellets every few hours. 

Using charcoal to fuel a grill or smoker is the most traditional method of smoking meat. It may not be glamorous, but using charcoal has a certain charm. Not to mention, the flavors that come along with charcoal cooking are unbeatable. There are multiple types of charcoal smoker grills to choose from, including offset, Kamado grill, drum/barrel, cabinet, and bullet.

Out of each of the charcoal grill smoker types, our favorite is the drum/barrel design. SpruceEats says that this type of smoker grill “is a very basic smoker made of a steel drum with a firebox in the bottom and a cooking rack on the top. The base and lid have vents for adjusting the temperature, and the whole thing seals together to prevent smoke leaks.” It may be old-school and lack the convenience that comes along with an electric or gas model, but it is simple and highly effective.

Before using your new smoker for creating mouth-watering delicacies, you’ll have to “season” it. Lang BBQ Smokers says that it's necessary to "season your smoker cooker with this oil process. Spray cooking area with vegetable oil or PAM (walls, doors, grates, everything inside the smoker cooker). Fire-up your smoker cooker, pre-cook in it by letting the oil sizzle and sear and pre grill for about 35 to 45 minutes or longer."

Some people claim that leaving food residue on grill grates enhances the flavor of food over time, but this is entirely untrue. Leaving leftover grease and food residue is not just unclean, it is also harmful to your health. Plus, it can ruin the entire flavor profile of what you're cooking. Cleaning your smoker grill after each use is a must, and doing so is easy - as long as you do it right away.

Once the smoking chamber has completely cooled, remove all grates, trays, and pans. Depending on the amount of grease and grime, these can either be wiped down or washed completely in the kitchen sink. While these parts are removed, wipe down the entire smoking chamber with a wet cloth. Cleaning your smoker grill is as simple as that.