Grilling over real wood is a terrific way to enhance the flavor of your meal, and pellet grills are a great alternative when you’re camping and don’t have a lot of time to spend setting up a campfire.

Using a pellet grill allows you to cook over genuine wood without having to deal with the hassle of keeping a fire. However, buying one can be overwhelming given the wide array of choices available. This article will guide you on choosing the best portable pellet grill that fits your needs. We also included our top picks.

Best portable pellet grills in the market today

Each of these grills may be used in a variety of ways, depending on the user’s preferences and requirements. While some are more technologically advanced, others are more convenient to carry.

You’ll be able to discover a portable pellet grill that meets your demands, no matter what they are. Based from the features and considerations mentioned above, here are our top picks.

Traeger Tailgater Pellet Grill

The Tailgater is a good choice for grilling and even on-the-go smoking. It is a plus for those who value the strong dependability that this industry-leading brand offers. T Manufactured by Traeger, a company known for hefty, and ground-bound grills. This Traeger Pellet Grill preserves all the benefits of pellet cooking while making it smaller and more portable. Traeger’s Tailgater is significantly less expensive than the company’s other products.

There is a 10-minute shutdown period built into the Traeger to guarantee that unused pellets cause no fires. To change the LED screen’s settings, you had to press two of the five buttons on the electronic device. User-friendliness was hampered because of this.

Pros

  • Foldable legs
  • Easy to clean
  • Lid has bronze finish
  • 10-minute shutdown for added safety.
  • Includes drip bucket and 20-pound bag of pellet
  • With arc controller for temperature adjustment at 5-degree increments
  • Has a meat probe for easy checking of temperature without lid-opening

Cons

  • Does not have tool hooks or side shelves
  • Folding legs can be difficult for setting up
  • It does not have a temperature probe connection
  • Maximum temperature is inferior to other models

Grilla Grills Chimp

If you are looking for a durable yet affordable portable pellet grill, the Grilla Grills Chimp is your best option. This affordability and durability are made possible through its stainless steel with powder-coated construction. Most notably, stainless steel is used for the firepot and cooking grates, which provides improved durability where it’s needed most.

Despite its price and size, the features are not compromised. You can still have the traditional smokiness or the PID preciseness through the dual temperature controller. That makes it an allrounder—it can be used for grilling, roasting, smoking, and even baking.

This pellet grill is manufactured by Grilla Grills, a relatively young company compared to Traeger, Pit Boss, and Camp Chef.  The Chimpanzee 340 square inches are devoted to the bottom rack, while 120 square inches are devoted to the top rack. Even if you’re using it at home, the 15-pound hopper provides a respectable cook time without assistance.

Pros

  • With advanced controller
  • Includes a single meat probe
  • Safety shutdown for high and low heat
  • Foldable legs with the “snap-lock” function
  • Smaller and lighter than its Chimp counterparts
  • With a blower fan for consistent temperature
  • Ability to switch to the most accurate temperature control option for a more smokey taste

Cons

  • Weighs 90 lbs
  • No availability for pellet cleanup
  • Cooking might be compromised by the side vents
  • 500F maximum temperature is not ideal for high-heat searing

ASMOKE AS300

This portable pellet grill measures 17.5 by 24.8 by 14.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 41 pounds. Thus, it is small enough to fit on a picnic table or a tailgate. With a total cooking area of 256 square inches, the grill provides 191 square inches. WD’s 14×13-inch frying rack and a smaller 12.5×5.5-inch removable top rack are housed inside the hopper.

Despite its small size, is is very efficient in terms of pellet usage. Aside from its LED control panel, it also includes a meat probe for perfect-cooking meat. Moreover, its cooking grates are coated with porcelain. Because it has slide plate flame broiler, open flame grilling is made possible.

Pros

  • Has built-in legs
  • Has a 5-year warranty
  • It comes with waterproof cover
  • Sturdy; constructed from stainless steel
  • Lid has a chrome grip and 2 heavy-duty clamps
  • Well-controlled heat through the PID-style temperature controller.

Cons

  • Does not have timers
  • Small cooking capacity
  • No connectivity for Bluetooth or Wifi
  • Does not have a lot of temperature settings
  • Not ideal for long smokes because the firepot with filled with ash

Green Mountain Grill Davy Crockett Pellet Grill

Smaller families will appreciate the 219-square-inch cooking surface of this model. Temperatures range from 150 degrees Fahrenheit to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing for lengthy, low-and-slow smoking sessions or quick scorching at high temperatures. There are two handles on each side of the cooking chamber when the legs are folded over the cooking chamber.

For use in your automobile, battery pack, or generator, the Davy Crocket grill comes with a conventional wall outlet and an adapter plug. If that’s not an option, you may use the alligator clips and clamp that come with it to link it straight to the battery of your car. 

Pros

  • Foldable legs
  • Includes utensil hooks
  • It comes with a weather-resistant cover
  • With WiFi connectivity for monitoring via phone
  • Has a probe linked to the digital display for easy monitoring

Cons

  • Does not have wheels
  • Limited cooking surface
  • WiFi feature is only usable for home grilling

Camp Chef Pursuit 20 Portable Smoker 

This smoker is perfect for those who want to enjoy smoked foods without all the hassle. The Camp Chef Pursuit 20 features a digital control panel that makes it easy to set and monitor temperature, as well as a built-in meat probe for perfectly cooked meats every time. Plus, this smoker comes with two stainless steel racks that provide plenty of space for smoking large cuts of meat or multiple racks of ribs.

If you’re looking for something a little healthier, the Camp Chef Pursuit 20 also does an excellent job at smoking fruits and vegetables.

The quantity of cooking surface provided by the Pursuit 20 is undoubtedly its most amazing feature. You receive 501 square inches even if the grates are divided into two.

Huge wheels allow you to tow the grill like a luggage by folding the legs into a large handle. When moving or storing the grill, the lid may be locked.

Pros

  • Has automatic augering and ignition
  • With huge wheels for ease of transport
  • Double cooking surface with the two grates
  • Has ash clean-out and temperature control functions
  • Comes with two temperature probes, one for each of the two LCD inputs

Cons

  • Does not have chimney
  • Small individual grates
  • Does not have workspace
  • Difficulty cooking large items due to limited height

Traeger Junior Elite 20 Pellet Grill

The Traeger Junior offers many of the same features as the bigger Texas and Lil’ Tex models, despite its tiny size. This smaller version of Traeger’s bigger pellet grills has many of the same great features.  A fine day or evening of grilling or roasting may be had with as much as 8 pounds of pellets in this unit.

Furthermore, it’s small enough to fit in your car or trailer and light enough to transport. 300 square inches of cooking surface, an auto-auger that keeps the temperature constant, and a spout that drains the grease into a stainless steel bucket are all included in the price. The circular cover allows you to prepare entire chickens and other big meats in the cooking chamber. 

Pros

  • Easy to clean porcelain grill gates
  • Has grease drain directed to the stainless steel bucket.
  • With Digital Elite Controller controlling the auger and the temperature

Cons

  • Durable
  • Lightweight
  • Has only one rack
  • Non-foldable legs
  • Has a lot of space in the cooking chamber
  • Smokes exit through random hole due to lack of chimney

Top considerations when buying portable pellet grills

Pellet grills currently exist in a wide variety of sizes and styles, including several portable options, owing to the ever-expanding market for these barbecues. Here are some features and factors to consider prior to buying one.

Portability and Size

Prior to purchasing a barbecue, consider where you intend to use it. Are you going to place it into RV? Consider your mode of transportation and the grill’s ability to fit. Size is important because we’re talking about portable barbecues. When you’re on the go, you need a barbecue that can go with you.

Design and features

Aside from portability, also consider if it includes foldable legs, strong wheels, and a lid that can be locked. Hence, take into consideration the features that comes with it such as extra space and auto-ignition.

Cooking surface area

While a huge cooking surface isn’t realistic given the grill’s portability, it should meet your requirements. Even if you can keep the food warm, cooking in rounds or only fitting two hamburgers on the grill at a time can be a major pain in the backside. With some grills, you can cook twice as much food in the same amount of space; this is a terrific alternative for large families and groups.

Construction and durability

Your portable pellet grill’s materials and construction quality are critical. A grill must be able to resist the environment, bumpy travel, and other hazards that come with camping. The grill’s ability to fold up and fit in the back of a car, truck, or camper should be taken into consideration. Avoid a grill with pieces that protrude while it is being stored or moved. These components are brittle and readily break away. Cast-iron grates are also an asset because they can sustain heavy use.

Reputation and warranty

Make sure to check out the warranty and the company’s customer service quality before making a final decision. Damage and accidents happen, and when they do, you want to ensure you’re covered. A strong warranty is vital when it comes to purchasing a pellet grill because they aren’t inexpensive.  A one-year warranty is the norm; however, some manufacturers will even offer a limited lifetime warranty as an additional benefit.

Cost

It’s entirely up to you how much money you want to spend. You can set your own budget, but take into consideration the additional features or accessories you can gain for a few extra dollars. A wide variety of options are available at various price points. Pellet grills are more expensive than gas or charcoal barbecues.

Conclusion

A portable pellet grill makes it simple to prepare your favorite foods while camping. Using a portable pellet grill is a snap, making it a wonderful choice for tailgating or backpacking trips. Make sure you pick a model that is compatible with your mode of transportation before purchasing.

Last update on 2024-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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