Content Summary
It is said that summertime is the best time of year to gather with family and friends for some good old-fashioned fun. But more and more people find out that you can have a great outdoor grilling experience in spring, or fall. Because, what's better than grilling out in the backyard?
If you're looking for the best budget pellet grill under $500, look no further! In this blog post, we will review some of the best on the market. We'll discuss features, benefits, and why these inexpensive yet reliable pellet grills are a must-have for any summer gathering!
How We Spotlight The Best Pellet Grill Under $500
You may have someone say: "A quality pellet grill is hard to find." Yes, it may be tough to find quality pellet grills under $500 when there are so many different brands and models in the outdoor cooking appliances category.
It might be difficult to choose which is the best wood pellet grill for you without spending hours researching.
We did all the research for you and spotlighted the five best inexpensive pellet grills based on their capacity (like, sufficient cooking space; pellet hopper capacity), versatility, design, simplicity of operation (like, precise temperature control), and convenience of cleaning. And of course, you will want a portable pellet grill: the best pellet grills have portability in common.
Check out our catchy finds to pick the one that meets your outdoor cooking needs. Just choose the one that's ideal for you.
Z GRILLS Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
Why We Spotlight It
This pellet grill has a cooking temperature range of 180° to 450° F, so you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill to your heart's content. And with its 8-in-1 versatility, you'll be able to make all your favorite dishes with ease.
Try it out for yourself and taste the difference. The wood-smoked flavor is unlike anything you've ever tasted before.
What Makes It Catchy
Z GRILLS Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker is the perfect choice for small families who love the big flavor. This pellet grill is perfectly sized for small households, yet infuses big flavors into your food.
The sturdy steel construction and high-temperature powder coating finish make the pellet grill long-lasting, bringing you years of ultimate wood-fired grilling experience.
Things You Should Know
This grill is unlike any other on the market, and it will take your grilling game to the next level.
The PID technology holds minimal temperature throughout your cooking for consistent results.
The Z GRILLS Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker is perfect for those who want to enjoy longer cooking times without having to constantly refill the hopper.
With a 20-hour cook time per 20 lbs. of pellets, you'll be able to cook for hours on end without having to worry about running out of fuel. No babysitting while grilling.
Ready to upgrade to something that will make your cooking experience more enjoyable? If so, you need the Z GRILLS Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker. This one clearly belongs to the best pellet grills available on the market.
Traeger Grills Pro Electric Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
Best Choice For Its Simplicity of Use
Traeger Grills Pro Electric Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
Why We Spotlight It
With its digital Pro Controller and advanced grilling logic, this Traeger Pro 22 grill will take your grilling game to new heights.
The built-in, dual meat probes make it easy to check the temperature of your food without opening the lid, so you can keep an eye on your meats as they cook to perfection.
Whether you're grilling up pork ribs or brisket, the Traeger Pro 22 is sure to give you juicy, flavor-packed results every time. So step up your grilling game with the Traeger Pro today!
What Makes It Catchy
Whether you're grilling, smoking, baking, roasting or braising, the Traeger Grills Pro Electric Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker will help you create mouth-watering dishes that will impress your guests.
If you're looking for the ultimate in wood-fired taste, look no further than this impressive Traeger pellet grill.
The hopper cleanout makes it easy to change out your hardwood pellets, and the porcelain grill grates give your food better flavor without old grease marks.
Things You Should Know
This powerful grill features a Sawhorse chassis, steel construction, and powder coat finish for incredible durability and good looks. The all-terrain wheels make it easy to conquer any backyard terrain.
This grill is perfect for those who want precise temperature control and guaranteed precision grilling. With a max temp of 450 degrees Fahrenheit, it can accommodate 4 chickens, 5 racks of ribs or 24 burgers.
The main rack has 418 square inches of cooking space, while the extra rack provides an additional 154 square inches. Plus, with a hopper capacity of 18 pounds, you'll never run out of pellets while cooking.
So if you're looking for the best possible taste, go with the Traeger Grills Pro Electric Wood Pellet Grill. You won't be disappointed. It's simply one of the very best pellet grills available.
Green Mountain Trek Portable Wood Pellet Tailgating Grill
Best Choice For Its Mobility
Green Mountain Trek Portable Wood Pellet Tailgating Grill
Why We Spotlight It
This portable pellet grill smoker with its spacy cooking chamber and surface is ideal for small families, campers, tailgaters, RV'ers, or anybody who wants to cook two racks of ribs or four to six excellent steaks or a stack of burgers.
The Green Mountain Trek Portable Wood Pellet Smoker & Grill is a great choice because of its cooking space and easy operation, its compact size and its portability.
What Makes It Catchy
Green Mountain Grills' TREK model is the pinnacle of portability when it comes to pellet grills. It includes a digital WiFi controller: control and monitor with iOS or Android mobile app, a meat probe, a peaked lid for rib racks, warming rack and sense-mite.
Additionally, it has a thermal sensor that measures grill temperature all while remaining small enough to fit in your car's cup holder.
Things You Should Know
Grill smarter and eat healthier with GMG Smart Control! You may control and monitor your grill from anywhere with this feature.
If you are only familiar with a gas or charcoal fueled grill, you will soon discover the advantages of using an electric pellet grill with smart monitoring.
Using the GMG Smart Control app on your phone you can adjust the smoke and cooking temperature in 5° increments of 150°F to 550°F. The grill is powered by either 12V or 120AC, making it ideal for home or outdoor use.
Tailgating, hunting, house-boating, music festivals, and other events where you can bring it are all possible with this open flame, yet safe technology. Grease trays are available as an option; we recommend getting one or two, as this makes the operation more convenient.
The auger, powered by a gasoline engine, feeds pellets into the fire pot. The pellets are ignited automatically by a hot rod and kept burning by a combustion fan located below. A simple yet highly workable and safe technology.
Vents on the interior of the fire pot create an ideal wood-burning fire that circulates clean hardwood smoke causing the delightful wood smoke taste.
This is a serious contender for the title "best pellet grill"!
Pit Boss Wood Pellet Grill
Why We Spotlight It
Powered by 100% all-natural hardwood pellets, this grill offers one-of-a-kind flavor that your guests will love. Plus, the Mahogany finish and High Temp Powder Coat Finish give this grill a truly luxurious look.
Made from heavy gauge stainless steel, the Pit Boss Wood Pellet Grill is built to last. With its complete structural strength and durability, this grill can handle anything you throw at it.
Whether you're cooking for a large group or just grilling for your family, the Pit Boss is up to the task.
What Makes It Catchy
The Pit Boss Wood Pellet Grill is the perfect addition to any backyard. With a massive 465 square inches of cooking area in its spacy cooking chamber, this grill can accommodate even the largest gatherings.
This innovative grill uses fan-forced convection cooking to eliminate the need for a rotisserie, creating a versatile environment for searing, char-grilling, barbecuing, grilling, roasting, smoking, braising, and baking.
With its large cooking surface and a removable upper cooking rack, there are endless possibilities for mouthwatering meals.
The grill features include a great-looking two-tone black and mahogany finish, a combination side shelf and serving tray, a solid bottom shelf, and a bottle opener. Yes - the Pit Boss is complete.
The hopper lid side shelf makes it easy to keep your food and accessories within reach. Whether you're hosting a cookout for your friends and family or just grilling for yourself, the Pit Boss Wood Pellet Grill is sure to make your next BBQ a success.
Things You Should Know
The Pit Boss Wood Pellet Grill is the perfect grill for those who want to dial in their grilling temperature with precision.
With its digital control and LED read-out, you can easily set the temperature to anything from 180° to 500°F.
And with its simple slide-plate, you can switch between direct and indirect flame grilling with ease. Whether you're grilling steaks, chicken, or veggies, the Pit Boss Wood Pellet Grill will help you get juicy, flavorful results every time.
Delicious barbecue is now easier than ever with the Pit Boss Wood Pellet Grill. So fire up your grill and taste buds and get ready for some serious grilling deliciousness. This is one of the best pellet grills around.
Pit Boss Mahogany Table Top Grill
Why We Spotlight It
The Pit Boss Mahogany Table Top Grill is the perfect addition to your backyard oasis. Made with 100% all-natural hardwood pellet fuel, this grill is sure to give your food a delicious smoky flavor.
Using advanced technology and premium craftsmanship, this grill is perfect for smoking, baking, roasting, braising, searing, grilling, or barbecuing. The Pit Boss Mahogany Table Top Grill can handle it with ease and convenience.
Whether you're cooking for a large group or just a few people, the Pit Boss Mahogany Table Top Grill is the perfect choice for any occasion.
What Makes It Catchy
The Pit Boss Mahogany Table Top Wood Pellet Grill is the perfect way to get restaurant-quality meals on the go.
This grill is easy to carry and features a locking lid and convenient handles, making it the ideal cooking companion for your next backyard BBQ or tailgate party.
With 256 square inches of grilling space, you’ll have plenty of room to cook up your favorite dishes.
And thanks to the unbeatable hardwood flavor, you’ll be able to enjoy succulent, mouthwatering meals that will delight your guests. It is your perfect cooking companion.
Things You Should Know
This incredible grill features porcelain-coated steel cooking grates, a dial-in digital control board with LED readout, and a pellet cooking temperature range of 180° To 500°F.
Plus, it also comes with an open flame searing up to 1,000° F. So no matter what you're looking to cook, whether it's a simple burger or steak, this grill will help you get the perfect sear every time. And best of all, it comes with a 5-pound pellet hopper capacity, so you can cook for hours without having to worry about running out of pellets.
So if you're looking for a powerful and convenient pellet grill, the Pit Boss Mahogany Table Top Wood Pellet Grill is the perfect choice for you.
Pellet Grill FAQs
Pellet grills have quickly become one of the most popular kitchen appliances. However, there are now so many various brands and types on the market that it might be difficult to decide which one is best for you.
To assist you in making an informed selection among the finest pellet grills, we've compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about how pellet grills operate and what types of food you may prepare, as well as how much capacity is needed and what you must do to keep it running smoothly.
This should help you make a quick yet well-informed purchasing decision today.
What is a pellet grill?
A pellet grill is a type of outdoor cooking appliance that uses pellets made from various types of wood to smoke, flavor, and cook food. Pellet grills are growing in popularity because they provide a unique flavor profile that can't be replicated with other types of grilling methods. The charcoal in a pellet grill adds a smoky flavor to foods, while the pellets themselves provide a light, woodsy taste. The combination of these two flavors creates an unparalleled depth of flavor that you just can't get from using gas or electric grills.
Why are pellet grills so popular?
A pellet grill can maintain a low, steady temperature for hours without needing adjustments. That's what you want when it comes to slow-cooking, slow-smoking, smoke-infused-tasting steaks, ribs, brisket, or pulled pork without burning or drying out the food.
How long do pellet grills last?
With proper care, cleaning and maintenance a pellet grill will last, depending on frequency of use, at least five to fifteen years. Good maintenance includes timely replacement of damaged components. This will be easier when you own a grill of a well-known brand.
Do large pellet grills use more pellets?
Yes. The larger the grill, the more pellets it needs to heat it. If you plan to cook for 2 or 3 people on a regular basis, you might be wasting money on pellets trying to heat up a larger grill. In other words, consider buying a smaller size pellet grill.
What causes pellet grills to explode?
Short answer: Too much fuel at once is basically what leads to pellet grills exploding. So if there are too many pellets in the burner (more than about an inch of pellets burning at once or packed too tight), you use too much fuel at one time.
Longer answer: There are a few different things that can cause pellet grills to explode. One of the most common causes is using too many pellets in the fire pot. These can start to smolder and produce flames, causing the grill to malfunction and ultimately explode.
Another common cause of pellet grill explosions is grease and fat accumulating in the fire pot. This can cause a build-up of pressure inside the grill. If this pressure gets too high, it can eventually cause an explosion.
To avoid these potential problems, it's important to make sure you're using the right amount of pellets in your fire pot, always clean the grill after use, and make sure all its parts are functioning and in good shape.
What tastes better, charcoal or pellets?
Although wood pellets cause a fine smoky taste, most people prefer charcoal over pellets. The smoke-infused flavor is richer. It doesn’t matter what you're cooking, if it’s with charcoal, the taste is hard to beat.
Are pellet smokers worth it?
Pellet smoker grills are worth it if you want to bring grilling to the next level, by adding a smoky flavor to the meat. Regular grilling is fine when you want to cook a few steaks, pulled pork, brisket, ribs or burgers, but if you want to get the most out of a grill, and get even more delicious steaks and burgers, consider a pellet smoker.
Can I put wood chips in my pellet smoker?
Yes, you can use wood chips in a pellet smoker to add a nice smoky flavor to the meat. To improve the burning efficiency, make sure you pack the wood chips tightly - just not too tightly. Pellet tubes add extra smoky flavor to meat without damaging the parts of a pellet grill.
What is a pellet tube used for?
Similar to a smoker box or foil packet filled with chips, a smoke tube is designed for long-lasting smoke output so you don't have to keep refueling. You can use a smoke tube to smoke on a gas grill, cold smoke, or in this case, to help you get more smoke flavor from your pellet grill.
Do you soak wood pellets before smoking?
Wood pellets have been processed from sawdust by pressure. This generates heat, and any contaminants inside the wood are eliminated. This results in a clean smoking wood product. So, no need to soak wood pellets before smoking.
What is cheaper, pellets or charcoal?
Wood pellets are usually more expensive than charcoal. Pellets come in large bags and many flavors. If the flavor is not to your liking, then you’re basically stuck with it. Charcoal on the other hand is cheap and widely available. If you know how, you can even make it yourself.
How long does a 20-pound bag of pellets last in a pellet grill?
The smoker burns 1 to 3 pounds of pellets per hour. Each 20-pound bag provides between 6 to 20 hours of cooking time, with 6 for high heat and 20 for low heat.
Are pellets better than charcoal?
A pellet grill is designed to be more like a smoker than a traditional charcoal grill. They work wonderful when you want to cook meat slowly at constant lower temperatures. With a pellet grill, higher temperatures are usually a bit harder to reach and maintain. But compared to charcoal, pellets burn quicker.
Best Pellet Grill For You
We have spotlighted the five best-selling pellet grills under $500 on the market and provided links so that you may learn more about their pricing.
We hope that this purchasing guide has been helpful in your search for the best pellet grill for your family.
Read more for information of what is a pellet grill and tips on how to use a pellet grill from Fadfindings' article in the highlighted link.
You may also read other articles on our site about various kinds, sizes, and colors of different pellet grills and smokers, as well as other kitchen cooking equipment evaluations.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and have a wonderful day!
Happy grilling!
Catchy Finds
