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So you know you need to up your outdoor cooking game but you don’t know whether you should buy a grill or a smoker. After all, there’s a big difference in a grill vs smoker, and each is set up for different styles of cooking.
The good news is that lots of outdoor cookers exist that are actually a smoker and a grill all in one. That is, units that can fully function as both a grill or a smoker – depending on what kind of mood you’re in.
The waters can get a little murky when it comes to which specific units are best though. Unfortunately, there are a lot of manufacturers out there who frankly push pieces of junk that sacrifice on quality in order to achieve a little bit of versatility.
There are however, quite a few who make fantastic, high quality cookers that are elite at both grilling and smoking. In this article, we’ve compiled all of our research on what makes a great smoker grill combo. We’ll share all of that with you and also go over our top choices and product recommendations for what’s on the market today.
Bottom line, if you choose the right unit you don’t ever have to sacrifice quality for the versatility of being able to smoke and grill all in one cooker.
A Quick Look at Our Top Picks:
- Camp Chef 24 inch WiFi SmokePro SG Pellet Grill and Smoker – Top Choice
- Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill – Premium Choice
- Traeger Pro Series 575 Pellet Grill
- Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker
- Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill & Offset Smoker – Best Budget Pick
When we use the term “smoker grill combo” we aren’t necessarily referring to one specific type of grill or type of smoker. It is somewhat of a catch all term used to describe outdoor cookers that are versatile enough to grill or sear on high heat, or also smoke meats on low temperatures for longer periods of time.
As you’ll see in the rest of this articles, some grill types are specifically designed to do both – and some brands have also created one off products meant to allow you to grill and smoke at the same time.
Best Smoker Grill Combo – Our Picks & Reviews
There are a lot of different types of grills and smokers that are versatile enough to be used as either. Here’s our list of what we think are the top products on the market right now. If you stick around until the end, we’ll go over all of the different types of units out there and what the pros and cons are of each!
Camp Chef 24 inch WiFi SmokePro SG Pellet Grill
- Hopper holds 22 lbs of wood pellets
- 570 sq. in. of primary cooking surface area
- Grease management & ash cleanout systems make cleanup a breeze
Fuel Source: Wood pellets, Propane (for side sear box)
For those unfamiliar, pellet grills are smoker grill combos by design, and are fueled by wood pellets – which are capsules of scrap wood and compressed sawdust.
It’s actually a pretty cool thing, because this wood is repurposed and would have otherwise been thrown away. There are a bunch of different flavored wood pellets for smoking, so you can experiment and experience the joys of wood fired taste on a pellet grill.
Camp Chef’s most affordable pellet grill is their Camp Chef 24 Inch Wifi SmokePro SG Pellet Grill, which is one of the most versatile grills you’ll ever come across. Because of that, it’s well deserving of a place on our list.
It’s on the pricier end, but still offers an incredible value. The main source of fuel here is wood pellets, which are fed by a 22 pound capacity hopper. Built in meat probes let you easily monitor your food’s internal temperature, and you’re afforded 570 square inches of primary cooking area.
Under the hood, Camp Chef developed Pellet Purge, Patented Ash Clean-Out, and Grease Management Systems – all of which are there to make your life as easy as possible as the pit master. It makes clean up and proper maintenance quite easy – so you can plan on a Camp Chef lasting a long time.
The propane fueled side sear box is also a welcome feature. We use it mostly for side sauces and veggies, but it’s entirely possible to cook a meal on this propane burner. It’s also great for getting a quick sear or reverse sear.
Things We Like:
- Great value and lots of premium features
- Wood fired pellet taste in the main chamber with a propane fueled side sear box
- 22 pound hopper
- 570 square inches of primary cooking area
- Built in temperature probes and lots of other great features included
Things We Don’t:
- Relatively high price point, but the value is certainly there.
Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill
- Can easily grill, smoke, bake, roast, and more
- Ceramic shell can maintain temperature range of 225-750ºF
- Abundance of accessories & add-ons available to enhance cooking set up
Fuel Source: Charcoal, Lump Charcoal, Wood
(Read our full Kamado Joe Classic review here)
I’ve made it no secret that I’m a huge fan of kamado grills. When it comes to all around versatility and quality, a ceramic kamado cooker is second to none. One of our favorite kamado grills is the Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill.
The “catch” with this grill is that it’s pretty expensive and might be out of budget. But if you can find the coin for a Kamado Joe, you’re handsomely rewarded with a premium grill and smoker that will produce the most delicious results. With proper care, a ceramic kamado will literally last a lifetime too.
This grill has a temperature range of 225-750°F, making it ideal for smoking, direct heat grilling, and even baking. It’s truly an all in one outdoor cooker!
The temperature is all controlled by an advanced ventilation system that’s designed to precisely let you choose your temperature based on how much airflow you let into the grill. It might sound complicated, but the Kamado Joe makes this part intuitive and straightforward so you can focus on your food.
If you’re the ambitious type, Kamado Joe offers loads of add on’s and extensions for this premium grill. You can buy a wok, baking stones for pizza, additional grilling racks, rotisserie setups, and much more to fully kit out your unit.
Things We Like:
- In the grilling and smoking world, it doesn’t get higher quality than a premium kamado grill
- Easy to maintain temperature in the range of 225-750°F – smoke, grill, or bake on this cooker
- Very efficient when it comes to fuel – you don’t have to use a lot of charcoal or lump for any cook
- Wide variety of premium accessories and add on’s available
- Lifetime warranty on ceramic and 5 year warranty on other parts
- With proper care, this grill can literally last a lifetime and be passed down through generations
Things We Don’t:
- Price tag is expensive, there’s no way around it. The good news is, you won’t need to replace it any time soon – it’s the type of product you only have to buy once.
Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 Pellet Grill
- 572 sq. in. of cooking surface area & 18 lb hopper capacity
- 180-500ºF temperature range
- WiFi capabilities allow you to manage your cook from your phone
Fuel Source: Wood pellets
The second pellet grill to make our list is the Traeger Grills Pro Series 575.
The Traeger 575 Pro Series has an 18 pound pellet hopper and offers you the versatility of grilling, smoking, baking, and roasting all on the same unit with a 180-450°F temperature range.
All you have to do is turn a knob to set your temperature, and the pellet grill’s auger feeds pellets at the correct rate to ensure you have your desired temp.
575 square inches of cooking area is also plenty to get lots of work done. You can without a doubt feed a family or pretty big party of people with that much space.
Traeger grills are also pretty fantastic in regards to built in integrated technology. Your Traeger grill actually connects to a smartphone app, where you can turn on your grill, set your temperature, and monitor the internal temperature of the foods you’re smoking all from the convenience of your couch.
On top of that, it’s integrated with Alexa! Pretty cool stuff for a grill smoker combo.
Things We Like:
- Enjoy the deliciousness of wood fired flavor on a pellet smoker
- Integration with a phone app gives you maximum control and ease of use while you cook
- Traeger is a very reputable brand and offers a 3 year warranty
- Consistent, even temperatures are made easy – without having to manage a fire. An ideal way to smoke foods for long periods of time.
- Wood pellet fuel is cheap and widely available, so minimal ongoing costs
Things We Don’t:
- Price is on the higher end of the spectrum compared to some budget models
- 18 pound pellet hopper might need to be refilled mid smoke if your smoking recipe cooks for longer than 12 hours
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker
Fuel Source: Charcoal
Weber is another brand name that’s about as well known as it gets in the grilling community. They’re been making quality grills and smokers for decades, and the Weber Smoker Mountain Cooker is no different.
It’s offered with either a 14 inch, 18 inch, or 22 inch diameter grate, and is fueled by charcoal so that you can achieve that delicious traditional smokey flavor in your food.
There are also two cooking grates built in to the cooker, so you actually have quite a bit more room to grill or smoke than it might appear just by looking at it from the outside.
Temperature control is made easy by a simple to use damper system, so you can smoke for hours with the confidence of knowing that your food is being cooked with consistent heat.
A side mounted fuel door makes adding charcoal or flavored wood chips to your fire super easy – even during the middle of your cook.
Things We Like:
- Super reasonable price point considering the quality of this unit
- Charcoal fuel type means extra flavorful results for your food
- More cooking area than you’d expect thanks to a dual grate setup
- Easily add charcoal and flavored wood chips during your cook with a side mounted door
- Backed by a Weber 5 year warranty
Things We Don’t:
- This unit leans more towards smoker than grill. You can definitely direct heat grill on this cooker, but if you’re looking for something that’s practical for daily burgers or steaks, you might want something that’s set up a little better for grilling.
Royal Gourmet BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker
- 811 Square Inches: Includes 443 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates, 184 sq. in. chrome-plated warming rack and 184 sq. in. offset smoker.
- Tasty Smoke Flavors: The offset smoker is firmly attached to grill to ensure good circulation of heat and smoke. Easy to open side door to add charcoal and remove ashes; air vent stokes fire instantly.
- Adjustable Pan: 2-level height-adjustable charcoal pan creates better heat control and holds up to 4.4 lbs. of coal.
- Temperature Monitor: Lid-mounted thermometer gauge helps check and monitor the cooking temperature and you can cook with great confidence.
- Ample Space: Front and side tables offer workspace for seasonings and grilling tools. The bottom shelf provides extra storage space and holds up to only 20 lb. accessories when they are evenly distributed.
Fuel Source: Charcoal
When it comes down to it, the Royal Gourmet BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker is one of the best grill smoker combos you could end up with for the price.
This unit comes at an entry level price, but is well made so that you can enjoy all of the high quality BBQ at home that you want.
The offset design is set up so that you can have a charcoal direct heat grilling experience in the main cooking chamber. A really nice built in feature on the grill side is a flexible charcoal pan that can adjust how far under the food your fire is.
Smoking comes into play with the offset smoker fire box, which will house a charcoal fire and use indirect heat to smoke and cook your food in the main chamber. The offset box can also be used as a small direct heat grill if you want!
Across all of the cooking surfaces, there’s a generous 800 square inches of cooking area to work with. That’s split with 438 square inches on the main cooking grate, 183 square inches in the side box grate, and 179 square inches of swing away warming rack.
All around, this is a great entry level unit that is perfect if you’re just getting started out in grilling and smoking. Since it’s priced so low, there are naturally a few quality control issues that have come up for customers – namely that the units can have a tendency to leak heat and don’t last a particularly long time.
So with that in mind, you can certainly cook some great food on the Royal Gourmet – but if you have the means we’d recommend picking something up that’s a little bit higher quality.
Things We Like:
- Entry level price point for a unit that lets you smoke and grill
- Charcoal fuel type means extra flavorful results for your food
- Lots of cooking area across the main chamber, offset box, and warming rack
- Flexible charcoal pan and other built in features help to set you up for success
Things We Don’t:
- Quality control – some customers have complained about bad temperature gauges and leaky cooking chambers – which is especially a problem for smoking. You need consistent and even heat!
- Durability isn’t particularly great – even with proper care you’d probably be looking at replacing this grill in 3-5 years.
Dyna-Glo Signature Series Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill
Fuel Source: Charcoal and Wood
If you’re new to grilling and smoking, I can see how at first glance the Dyna-Glo Signature Series Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker looks like an imposing behemoth of a cooker.
It is in fact, pretty big. Vertically it’s about 60 inches in height and 45 inches wide – so you’ll need to keep that in mind to make sure you have enough space on your patio.
If you’ve got the room, you’re rewarded with a unit that’s set up for spectacular BBQ. In the main chamber, you have 5 chrome plated racks that are set up for smoking lots of food at once.
The offset box is where your charcoal fire is lit and managed. If you’re smoking, the indirect heat and smoke funnel over to the vertical main cooking chamber to slow cook your food. If you’re in the mood to grill, there’s a generous sized cooking grate in the offset box where you can grill with direct heat.
Things We Like:
- Great price per cooking area ratio
- Charcoal and wood fueled fire means tasty, smoky food
- Tons of cooking area with 5 racks in the vertical chamber plus an extra grate in the offset box
- Cool touch handles help to prevent accidents and make your workspace just a little bit safer
Things We Don’t:
- If you mostly want to grill and want to smoke only a little, there’s probably a better choice fo the best smoker grill combo for your needs. This unit is set up first for smoking, and grilling second (although it will make spectacular grilled food!).
- It takes up a ton of space. Make sure you have enough room on your patio to accomodate!
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker Charcoal Barbecue Grill and Smoker
Fuel Source: Charcoal and Lump Charcoal
If you like the design features of kamado grills but a Kamado Joe is a little too rich for your blood, the Char Griller Akorn Kamado is a nice budget friendly alternative.
It’s got that signature egg shaped shell and a built in ventilation system to help you maintain the perfect temperature while you smoke or grill. 22 gauge steel is the material of choice for the shell construction, which does a really nice job insulating and retaining heat.
There’s 314 square inches of primary cooking area and a 133 square inch warming rack that total up to 447 square inches of total cooking area. That’s a pretty generous amount compared to a lot of similarly sized kamado grills out there.
Features include a locking lid, folding metal shelves, an easy dump ash pan, and a built in heat gauge to help you while you cook.
Things We Like:
- Very price friendly for a kamado grill
- Charcoal fuel imparts a nice smoky flavor on your food
- Wide temperature range thanks to a sophisticated ventilation system
- A generous 447 square inches of total cooking area
Things We Don’t:
- The cart and wheels could be a little sturdier
- The entire unit could generally just be more durable. A few customers have mentioned paint chips and other issues showing up after 2-3 years of use.
Char-Griller Smokin Pro Charcoal Grill with Side Fire Box
Fuel Source: Charcoal
If you’re looking for the best smoker grill combo that walks that line of having a generous amount of cooking area while also remaining budget friendly, the Char-Griller Smokin Pro is our top recommendation.
All around, this unit is pretty solid and built to handle your basic grilling and smoking needs at home. The main barrel and side box are constructed of heavy gauge powder coated steel an are meant to provide nice heat retention while you cook.
I’m also a big fan of the removable charcoal drawers, which help to make the cleanup process quite easy. The last thing you want to do after consuming a delicious meal is to have a prolonged clean up process. The E1223 is designed to minimize the amount of time you spend cleaning!
830 square inches is a lot of cooking area to work with. It’s split across the main cooking grate (580 square inches) and a grate over the side box (250 square inches). The two separate zones also come in handy in a situation where you needed to direct grill some sides while your BBQ ribs smoke on the smoker side, for example.
Things We Like:
- Nice value for your dollar here. On the cheaper end of the spectrum
- Generous amount of cooking area with a total of 830 square inches to work with
- Built in wheel cart make it easy enough to move around if you need to
- Removable charcoal tray makes flame management and clean up a breeze
Things We Don’t:
- Some quality control issues with customers getting sent faulty units that chip paint easily or have dents. If this happens to you, return your item for a refund!
- Heat gauge isn’t always the most accurate
Z GRILLS 7002B Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
Z Grills' flagship grill is also some of the best bang for the buck in the world of pellet grills. Features 697 sq. in. of cooking surface area and a 20 lb pellet hopper.
Fuel Source: Wood pellets
(Full Z Grills 700 series review right here)
If your heart is set on a pellet grill but a Traeger or Rec Tec is out of your budget, then the Z Grills 7002B Wood Pellet Grill is a worthy alternative that’s a little easier on the wallet.
Grilling, smoking, and baking are all possible on this cooker, and choosing which temperature you want to cook at is as simple as turning a dial. An automated electric feed system maintains the heat for you and produces optimal smoke levels! The temperature range goes from 180-450°F.
With 700 square inches of cooking area, you’re also afforded a lot of space to get to work. A foldable side shelf, heavy duty wheels, and rust proof cover & racks are all nice features that are included for you as well.
Ease of use is the name of the game with the ZPG-6002B. An electronic quick ignition system, digital temperature control, and LED display all make smoking and grilling a hassle free process for beginners and experts alike.
Things We Like:
- This is the most entry level price point you’ll see for a pellet grill
- 700 square inches of cooking area is more than enough to cook for a large group of people
- Built in heavy duty wheels let you move the unit around with ease
- Enjoy the benefits of wood fired flavor on a pellet grill. Wood pellets are cheap and widely available
Things We Don’t:
- Some customers have mentioned inconsistent temperatures which might indicate imperfect seals on the cooking chamber
- Only a 10 pound hopper capacity – that’s on the very small side for a pellet grill. For longer smoking sessions, you’ll have to refill frequently.
Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill
Fuel Source: Propane
If you’re looking for the best smoker grill combo that’s the easiest to use in operate, the Char-Broil Big Easy Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill is a great choice.
This unit has a drum style shape and relies on a propane gas connection as the source of fuel. Lighting up your grill is as simple as twisting the knob on your propane tank and pressing a button to ignite your flame.
The Big Easy utilizes infrared grill technology, which is a feature that actually prevents flare ups as it’s impossible for flames to ever reach your food. Infrared also means that your food cooks evenly with no hot spots on the grill. They are a true “set it and forget it” type of grill and smoker.
The roasting basket can fit up to a 21 pound turkey, so you’re afforded a generous amount of space to work with on the smoking side.
Grilling wise, I’d personally like to see a little more cooking area. A 180 square inch grilling grate is enough to throw on a few burgers, steaks, or sides – but it won’t be a workhorse type grill to handle the needs of a big group of people.
One underrated feature of this unit is how portable it is. At less than 23 pounds, it’s quite easy to transport around and take on the go. Built in side handles also make this part super easy, so it’s a great combo grill and smoker to take with you camping or tailgating.
Things We Like:
- Infrared technology eliminates a lot of the guesswork that goes into grilling and smoking
- Add smoky flavor by inserting wood chips into a built in smoker box
- Propane is widely available and a relatively cheap source of fuel
- Super easy to use – flame ignites with the turn of a knob and the press of a button
- Lightweight and portable. A great choice for tailgating or camping
- Reasonable price point and a very good value for the money
Things We Don’t:
- Not a lot of cooking area on the grill side of things (only 180 square inches)
Best Smoker Grill Combo – What to Look For
There’s a lot going on when looking at which cooker is best for your needs. We thought it would be helpful to list out some of the top things to be on the lookout for when you’re shopping around and coming to a decision.
Will You Grill More or Smoke More?
I don’t know anybody personally who is split right down the middle and spends half of their outdoor cooking time grilling and the other half smoking.
For me, 80% of the time I’m grilling mid week meals like steak, brats, hamburgers, or chicken. The other 20% I’ll do a low and slow smoke on the weekend if I’m in the mood for some ribs or brisket.
With that in mind, the right choice for me will be something that’s maybe more suited for grilling, but with the capability to be a smoker as well.
You could be the opposite! If you prefer smoking but want to have the flexibility to occasionally grill, something like the Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Smoker could be perfect for you. It’s set up for world class smoking and has the offset grate that’s ideal for occasional direct heat grilling.
Of course, if you have the budget I’d recommend looking at either a pellet grill or a kamado grill. Both of these types of grills are the ultimate versatile outdoor cookers – you can both smoke and grill with ease and quality on a kamado or pellet grill.
Heat Retention
Heat retention is a crucial factor of any quality grill, but it becomes incredibly important for smoking, where your food is supposed to cook at a constant temperature for sometimes half a day at a time.
Pretty much all brands are going to claim that their units retain heat. It would be bad marketing if they didn’t! If you want a better indicator of how well a certain smoker grill combo retains heat, check out customer reviews. You’ll get unfiltered feedback there on how well a certain unit retains heat. If you see multiple reviews about inconsistent heat or smoke leaking from a grill – stay away.
Clean Up and Maintenance
One of the most overlooked parts of the process when buying a new appliance is the clean up. It’s good practice for a lot of reasons to regularly clean your grill after use, and every so often to do a deep clean.
With that in mind, pay attention to features that are catered towards making the clean up process easier. For charcoal grills, is there an easy to remove ash pan? Do you have to take your grill or smoker apart to deep clean certain components?
All of these factors should be taken into consideration so that you can spend minimum time cleaning, and maximum time cooking!
Price
Obviously, price is a big component of any purchase. When it comes to the best smoker grill combo choices on this list, you’ll see as cheap as $120 and as pricey as $1,200 – and everywhere in between.
Price isn’t always an indicator of value, but for the most part in the grilling world it is. Higher price simply correlates to higher quality in a lot of cases – and the higher priced units are also typically protected by more generous warranties.
All of those thoughts should be taken into consideration. In any case, we stand behind all of our pick on our best smoker grill combo list, everywhere from the cheap to expensive side of the spectrum.
Fuel Source
You should probably also narrow down which type of fuel you want to use in your cooker. There are benefits and drawbacks to each, so having an idea beforehand can help a lot while you shop around.
Propane fueled cookers rely on a gas connection. An ignite system lights the propane on fire to create a flame on your grill’s burners to heat and cook your food. Propane is relatively cheap and very easy to use – often times firing up a propane grill is as simple as turning a knob and pressing a button.
The downside of propane is that you sacrifice a little bit of flavor compared to charcoal or wood. If you love the traditional smoky flavor of BBQ, you might find propane cooked food to be lacking a tiny bit.
Charcoal fueled cookers use charcoal or wood fires to heat up and cook your food. Charcoal (whether briquettes or lump) and wood chunks all impart a delicious smoky flavor to your food when done properly. For smoking in particular, this is ideal to achieve beautifully flavored results.
The downside of charcoal is that you have to spend time starting and babysitting your fire. There’s also a little bit of a learning curve when it comes to managing a charcoal grill’s temperature – but after a few goes at it you’ll be a pro.
Wood pellet grills use automatically fed wood pellets through an auger, that get ignited to heat and flavor your food. Pellets are kind of the best of both worlds in the sense that they impart traditional wood fired flavor to your food – but they’re also super hands off thanks to the technology of pellet grills.
The downside here really just comes in your acquisition cost. Quality pellet grills aren’t cheap, but if you have the means they are incredibly easy to use and ongoing costs are minimal.
Cooking Area
How many people do you plan to cook for, and how often? That’s a big factor to consider before any purchase. Most grills are set up to easily cook for 4 or more people. If you plan on cooking for more on a regular basis, you might want to up the amount of cooking area you buy.
This is a big consideration especially on the smoking side. A full rack of ribs or a large brisket take up quite a bit of space. Not only that, but they occupy the smoker for hours and hours at a time.
So it’s not the sort of thing that you can just crank out a bunch of batches of ribs if you have a large crowd – unlike burgers which cook quickly and you can do a lot of batches to accommodate big groups.
With that in mind, make sure your cooking area has enough space to accommodate the types of meats you want to smoke and the number of people you want to cook for.
Final Thoughts
Whew, that was a lot of information! I hope this guide has helped to clear the air about what these grills are exactly and which ones are the best on the market. We covered a wide range in terms of cooker types and price points, so hopefully you saw something you like.
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with anything on this list. But with that being said, it’s super important to consider your needs, wants, and desires for the kind of cooker you want. That way, you end up with a unit that you love and make legendary BBQ on!
Which one did you end up with? Let us know about it in the comments section below!
