Pellet grills are the perfect type of barbecue when you’re away from home setting up a tent, playing with the kids, or enjoying a cold beer. Set it up and forget it is the real answer to how easy it is to create wood-smoked perfection.
And with the ever-growing range of pellet grills on the market, there’s now a wide range of portable models to choose from. And these aren’t just low-end options.
Instead of trying to figure out what’s the best portable pellet grill, use our experience to help you buy with confidence.
Contents
- 1 Best Portable Pellet Grills
- 2 1. Traeger Tailgater
- 3 2. Recteq Road Warrior
- 4 3. Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill
- 5 4. Pit Boss 440 Series PB440D2 Wood Pellet Grill
- 6 5. Green Mountain Trek
- 7 6. Cuisinart Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
- 8 7. Z Grills Cruiser 200A Pellet Grill
- 9 8. Traeger Ranger
- 10 9. Camp Chef Pursuit Portable Pellet Grill
- 11 How to Choose the Portable Pellet Grill?
- 12 FAQs
- 12.1 What is a Portable Pellet Smoker
- 12.2 Which is better, a standard or tabletop portable pellet smoker?
- 12.3 Are pellet grills expensive to run?
- 12.4 Can I barbecue on a pellet grill?
- 12.5 Does it matter which brand of pellets I use?
- 12.6 Which pellets last the longest?
- 12.7 What is the best portable smoker?
- 13 Conclusion
Best Portable Pellet Grills
All of the pellet smokers we recommend here are compact, durable, and fairly lightweight. There are larger models that sit almost full height, and tabletop options that don’t require the hassle of folding the legs.
But most importantly, they don’t sacrifice quality or performance just because they’re portable.
1. Traeger Tailgater
As you might have guessed from the name, the Traeger Tailgater is designed for portability, with a fold-down leg that can be hung on the side of your grill.
The Traeger Tailgater has a built-in 15-amp power outlet and comes with an integrated meat probe, making it perfect for tailgating.
The beauty of the Tailgater is its grilling capabilities. With 429 square inches of cooking surface, it’s more than enough to cook for everyone, and it can maintain consistently high temperatures for great grilling and baking.
The Tailgater can also be used as a full-fledged smoker, which greatly enhances its utility.
However, there are a few drawbacks. The folding legs are tricky, the 8-pound pellet hopper is one of the smallest of the portable pellet grills, and the controls take some getting used to.
However, if you want a sturdy, portable pellet grill for tailgating that’s great for grilling burgers, ribs, and chicken, the Traeger Tailgater is the best choice.
It doesn’t have Bluetooth or WiFi like some other models on the market, but it makes up for it with a good temperature range and great performance when grilling and smoking at high temperatures.
It’s still one of the most portable pellet smokers on the market, even though it’s much better for two people to carry.
The Traeger Tailgater really lives up to its name. It’s easy to use, portable, and comes with a variety of cooking settings. It’s big enough to be used as a home grill, especially if you have a small yard or deck to work on.
Overall, Traeger’s portable Tailgater is compact, consistent, and well-made, and features one of their previous Arc Controllers. It can be set in 5-degree increments, but it’s not a PID-based system, so expect greater temperature fluctuations.
The upside is that greater fluctuations produce more smoke, and the Tailgater adds great flavor to your food.
The price includes one plug-in meat probe so you can check the internal temperature without opening the lid. There’s a warming setting that’s more useful on portable grills when you’re busy doing something and need to wait for your food.
2. Recteq Road Warrior
Aside from WiFi, this portable pellet grill has everything you need for life on the road. And it’s incredibly affordable.
First off, the Recteq Road Warrior has a lot of stainless steel. The cooking chamber, fire pit, and grate are all stainless steel, which makes them durable and corrosion-resistant. Recteq has put a lot of emphasis on quality, and it really shows.
There’s a decent 340 square inches of cooking space, which can be expanded to 510 square inches with an additional grate. The hopper holds up to 14 pounds of pellets, which should give you about that amount of time to smoke low and slow.
The PID-based temperature controller keeps the temperature very tight, so it can do a lot more than just watch your grill. And the Road Warrior has the widest temperature range of any portable pellet smoker, reaching up to a blazing hot 700°F.
For grilling, there is no open flame option, and it only smokes indirectly over a stainless steel heat shield. However, at higher than normal maximum temperatures, we found that the steaks grilled here tasted just as good as those grilled over an open fire.
And since the heat isn’t concentrated in one small oven, there is more practical space to grill anyway.
Once you’re done, the Collapse & Go folding leg system from Recteq is the best. It’s super easy to set up and pack away. The wheels are durable enough to handle a few rocks, bumps, and holes.
If I had to pick just one portable pellet grill to take the title of best overall, this would definitely be it. The quality is top-notch, it’s easy to use, it’s easy to move, and it’s a really nice grill.
3. Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill
You can monitor temperatures and food without hovering over the Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett. With Wi-Fi connectivity, cooks can use the Green Mountain Grills app to set the grill’s thermostat and monitor internal temperatures.
You can also monitor the meat probe that comes with the grill and set alerts when food reaches a preset temperature.
With 219 square inches of cooking surface, the Davy Crockett offers plenty of room for food. It also has a tent-style lid that can hold chickens inside. Equipped with a large 9-pound hopper, you’ll need to refill it after a few hours of grilling.
This pellet grill also comes with several adapters that allow you to plug it into your vehicle’s accessory port or a standard electrical outlet. Its foldable legs and manageable weight of 57 pounds make it compact enough to fit in the trunk of your car.
4. Pit Boss 440 Series PB440D2 Wood Pellet Grill
My favorite portable option is this solid performer, with a sturdy construction and solid steel body. Plus, the grill has an easy-to-clean porcelain coating and is designed to withstand frequent use. The 5-pound hopper is large enough to handle even a medium-sized cook.
At under $300, it definitely fits in the budget category. The 256-square-inch cooking area can accommodate meals for a small to medium-sized family.
Like many portable pellet smokers, this option offers the ability to grill at temperatures up to 1000°F. Digital Features a digital control panel that allows you to easily adjust the temperature from 180° to 500°F.
The smoker features a compact, portable design that weighs 42.5 pounds. All in all, the Pit Boss Table Top Wood Pellet Grill is a worthy choice for both beginners and seasoned grillers. It’s easy to assemble, and the digital temperature control system is appealing.
This grill is designed to withstand heavy use, and the high-temperature powder-coated finish suggests that the grill can stand up to the elements when used in outdoor spaces.
Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable model or are cooking for a large group, this is the one to go for.
5. Green Mountain Trek
Green Mountain Grills has updated and renamed the Davy Crockett. It’s now called the Trek and features thicker legs and an adjustable heat shield to eliminate hot spots. We’ll update this post once we get a chance to cook with the new model.
The Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett is a fantastic feature-packed grill at an affordable price, which is why it’s included in our guide to the best portable pellet grills.
The Davy Crockett, advertised by Green Mountain Grills as “the essential grill for small families, campers, tailgaters, RVers, or anyone looking to cook a couple of ribs, four to six delicious steaks, or a few burgers,” is a stainless steel pellet grill with a built-in 120V power source.
You can also power the Davy Crockett using a 12V car power socket, which comes with all the necessary battery terminal clamps and cables.
Additional features include a side-mount rack, cover, WiFi connectivity, spring-loaded legs, and a meat probe. The Davy Crockett was our least expensive option because of its build quality, solid temperature range, and surprisingly high-tech features all packed into a portable package for the price.
Overall, despite the slight temperature fluctuations, the Davy Crockett is well-made, has a variety of solid features, and while still heavy, it’s portable enough for tailgating, RV travel, or camping.
6. Cuisinart Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
There are plenty of portable pellet smokers available, but many weigh well over 50 pounds, making them difficult for many people to lift and transport even short distances.
This Cuisinart model is an exception. At 44 pounds, it’s lighter than most models, making it much easier for one person to lift the grill and get it out of the vehicle. Despite its small size, it still has 256 square inches of cooking surface, which is about the same as most other pellet grills.
The Cuisinart also comes with a digital control unit, a meat probe port, and a digital meat thermometer. The pellet hopper capacity is on the smaller side at 4 pounds, so users should be prepared to refill the pellets more often.
7. Z Grills Cruiser 200A Pellet Grill
This well-made portable pellet grill features a simple design, some nice extras, and a reasonable price tag. Despite its compact size, it has about 202 sq. in cooking surface, which is enough for grilling a whole chicken, six burgers, or a plate of ribs.
The 8-pound capacity hopper gives you plenty of time to smoke or grill before refilling.
With its compact size and manageable weight of approximately 52 pounds, it’s small and light enough for one person to lift, fit in a car trunk, and carry short distances from the vehicle to the cooking area. It also has a meat port with digital controls and a meat probe for monitoring food temperatures.
In our testing, this grill performed well at a consistent temperature. The 8-pound hopper is large enough to cook consistently low and slow for up to 10 hours, depending on the weather.
With a maximum temperature of 450°F, you can grill burgers and hot dogs, but the grill marks won’t be as good as on a charcoal grill.
The build quality is similar to the Traeger Ranger, and the Z Grills are a lot cheaper. If you want a truly portable wood pellet grill, the Z Grills Cruiser 200A is a great choice.
8. Traeger Ranger
If you’re looking for a more compact option for portable pellet smoking, the Traeger Ranger is hard to beat in terms of quality and performance.
Designed to look like a hard-sided suitcase, the Ranger is nearly 21 inches square. With a locking lid and weighing just 60 pounds, you’ll have no trouble finding enough cargo space to fit this grill wherever you go.
In terms of cooking space, the Ranger is 184 square inches. That’s enough for 2-4 people, and it can hold 4 steaks, 6 burgers, or 2 small chickens. The pellet hopper is a reasonable 8 pounds, and with a maximum temperature of 450°F, it provides plenty of heat for grilling, smoking, and roasting.
This one features the same old-style digital arc thermostat as the larger Traeger Tailgater, allowing you to set the temperature in 5°F increments. And it holds its temperature well, even in a compact space. If you’re not ready to eat yet, there’s even a keep-warm mode.
The Traeger Ranger includes a cast-iron grill plate and a standard cooking surface. And it has a meat probe so you can see exactly when your food is ready without having to open the lid.
The Traeger Ranger is well-made and has a great price, making it a great choice for RVs and car camping. But you can really use it just about anywhere. I personally like using it as a small grill or smoker when I just need a batch of ribs.
9. Camp Chef Pursuit Portable Pellet Grill
Most portable pellet smokers are limited in size. But Camp Chef has really maximized the real estate of this Pursuit portable pellet grill by providing two racks that run the entire width and length of the grill. Together, they provide a very respectable 501 square inches of cooking space.
With a PID temperature controller that keeps it within 5°F of its target, adjustable smoke settings for greater flavor control, a wide temperature range, and the Camp Chef’s very nice Slide and Grill feature, you can do your own flame grilling.
When you need to move, the Pursuit’s legs fold into a rolling bag. There’s a locking lid so you don’t have to worry about pellet accidents. And the entire unit feels really sturdy and secure, which is nice because it always seems to do that when you’re rolling it over rough ground.
And don’t underestimate how great Camp Chef’s Re-Cleaning Pot is! No need to take out the grates and heat blockers to empty the pot. Just slide them out.
How to Choose the Portable Pellet Grill?
The type, size, and weight of a pellet grill are important factors to consider when purchasing a pellet grill. Learn more about these and other characteristics of portable pellet grills below.
Types
Portable pellet grills come in two types: tabletop and freestanding. Freestanding models are similar to full-size pellet grills with a cooking box that sits on four folding legs.
This type of pellet grill has a larger cooking surface than tabletop models, making it ideal for large tailgating events. The folding legs mean you don’t have to find a table or other flat surface to sit on.
Tabletop pellet grills are smaller and lighter than freestanding models, making them easier to lift and transport than much larger and heavier freestanding models.
Tabletop models do not have legs, so they require a flat surface, such as a table or the tailgate of a pickup truck. They also have limited cooking space compared to freestanding models.
Build Quality
Build quality is always a top priority when choosing any type of outdoor cooking equipment. You want something that is sturdy and durable enough not to break or fall off during use.
High-quality wheels ensure that the grill rolls properly. Looking at the materials used in its construction will give you an idea of how much impact your new portable pellet grill can withstand.
You’ll generally want to see more stainless steel components than plastic, but keep in mind that stainless steel comes in different quality levels.
It’s a good idea to remember that portable equipment tends to take a lot more beating than fixed-in-place equipment.
Size and Weight
Portable pellet grills can vary considerably in size and weight depending on the type of grill. Tabletop pellet grills are typically the size of an average suitcase and weigh between 40 and 60 pounds, making them lightweight and compact enough for one person to lift and carry over short distances.
Freestanding portable pellet grills are much larger, usually over 3 feet tall and weighing between 60 and 100 pounds. As such, these grills often require two people to lift and move, and require a pickup truck or other vehicle with a large trunk for transportation.
In addition to size and weight, hopper capacity is also important, as it determines how long you can smoke with a single load of pellets. Most pellet grills get about an hour at 225 degrees Fahrenheit per pound of pellets. Hopper capacities for portable pellet grills range from 3.5 pounds to 19 pounds.
Power
Unlike gas and charcoal grills, pellet grills use electricity to power a hopper that automatically feeds pellets to the burner.
Portable pellet grills are used in places like campgrounds or stadium parking lots where there are no electrical outlets, so most portable pellet grills come with an adapter that allows them to run on a 12-volt source, such as a vehicle’s auxiliary outlet or a 12-volt battery.
Temperature Range
Pellet grills offer a level of versatility not found in standard gas or charcoal grills, as they can maintain a lower temperature for smoking and a higher temperature for grilling. Many portable pellet grills have a temperature range of 160 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most pellet grills use indirect heat, which can make grilling difficult. Some pellet grills have a grilling feature that allows the user to change the setting to direct heat and increase the grill temperature to 500 degrees Fahrenheit or more, which is important for grilling steaks and burgers.
Feature Set
Pellet grills come with a variety of easy-to-use features. Most have a digital controller with a temperature control. Once the user dials in a specific temperature on the thermostat, the grill automatically feeds the appropriate amount of pellets into the cooking box to maintain that temperature.
Many portable pellet grills also have a built-in port where you can connect a meat probe to monitor food temperature via a digital display. Some portable pellet grills have Wi-Fi capabilities and connectivity, allowing you to change the temperature and monitor a digital meat thermometer via an app on your smartphone.
Warranty
Most portable pellet grills have a shorter warranty than regular grills made by the same manufacturer.
Don’t assume it’s a standard length, but check the warranty carefully to find out how long it’s covered for before you buy.
FAQs
What is a Portable Pellet Smoker
A portable pellet smoker is a smaller, mobile version of a traditional pellet grill that is designed to be easily transported and used in a variety of outdoor settings, such as camping, tailgating, or picnicking.
The trick here, however, is to look for something that is not only portable but also produces the same output as a larger model that you would use at home. So honestly, the features you are looking for are usually the same.
Which is better, a standard or tabletop portable pellet smoker?
Which one you prefer, a standard or tabletop pellet grill, depends on your preference. A standard model means you can place it at the proper cooking height without having to sit on a table or table.
It can be moved around on wheels without having to carry it anywhere. However, it is difficult to fold and set up, and it is bulky to transport.
A tabletop model is easy to pick up and carry. However, it usually has less cooking space, and it can be bulky to move around.
Are pellet grills expensive to run?
The average pellet grill uses about 1 pound of pellets per hour when operating at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. When factoring in the cost of the pellets, it costs about 75 cents per hour to run a pellet grill.
A pellet grill does use a small amount of electricity to power the PID system that feeds the pellets into the cooking box, but the amount it uses is so small that it has a negligible impact on your electric bill.
Can I barbecue on a pellet grill?
Yes, you can barbecue on a pellet grill. Barbecuing is the process of slowly cooking meat over low heat, usually between 180 and 225 degrees Fahrenheit, to smoke it.
Pellet grills use indirect heat, making them ideal for barbecue. Pellet grills can also be used for grilling, which involves cooking food at high temperatures, typically over 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does it matter which brand of pellets I use?
The brand is often important because it determines the quality of the pellets. High-quality brand pellets are made from 100% hardwood with no filler.
These premium materials add more smoky flavor to your food, make it easier for the pellet grill to maintain a consistent temperature, and burn longer than lower-quality pellets.
Which pellets last the longest?
If you want long-lasting pellets, use hickory wood pellets. Hickory is a very dense, hardwood that takes longer to burn than other common pellets, such as apple.
What is the best portable smoker?
Pellet grills, also known as pellet smokers, offer the convenience of set-and-forget smoking when you’re distracted by the view, kids, or other things. They’re also very versatile with a wide temperature range. However, they do require power.
Conclusion
Portable pellet grills are a great way to get the convenience and utility of a pellet grill on the road. Our top picks for the best portable pellet grill are mentioned above. All these options are fantastic to buy for those looking for all the benefits of a pellet grill in an easily transportable package.