The Best Pellet Grill Under $1199 | Best Pellet Smokers for 2023

In today's video, we put the best pellet grills we could get our hands on to the test under the $1,199 price point. It's a pellet grill throwdown you won't want to miss!

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2:07 Introduction of grills
2:40 Assembly
3:03 Build Quality
3:48 What is it made of?
4:27 Exhaust
4:55 Grates
6:19 Measurements
6:57 Storage/shelf space
7:34 wheels
8:25 Hopper capacity
9:02 Pellet changing
10:13 Probes
10:44 Controllers
12:16 App connectivity
14:40 Temperature Range
15:38 GrillGrate Ad
17:00 Temperature accuracy
20:03 Cooking Capacity
21:43 Biscuit test
23:58 Smoking test
26:06 Hot and fast test
27:13 Grilling test
30:12 Cleaning
31:39 Warranty
31:58 Current Prices
34:49 Closing thoughts
37:22 My top pick

[TheBarbecueLab]

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[chrisshawnthomas]

Just because I would have appreciated some time stamps and still might use them myself:

2:07 Introduction of grills
Luisiana Grills Black Label 1000
Camp Chef Woodwind 36
Pitboss Sportsman 1100
ZGrills Multitasker 11002b
Oaklahoma Joes Rider Delux 1200
Traeger Pro 780
Reqteq RT590
Grilla Grills Silver Bac AT

2:40 Assembly

3:03 Paper Test for Seal

4:02 Table of materials each is made of

4:27 Exhaust ports

4:55 Grates

6:19 Footprint of grills chart

7:20 Storage options chart

7:34 wheels

8:25 Hopper capacity

9:00 Table for smoke time on one hopper and hopper cleanout

10:15 Temp probe options and temp controllers

12:18 App connectivity

15:00 Min-Max temp chart

17:00 Temp accuracy table @ 19:37

20:19 Capacity w/ charts

21:43 Biscuit hot spot test

24:00 Rib and chicken cook tests

27:32 Burger grill test

30:13 cleaning process

31:55 warranty offerings chart

32:44 costs chart (at time of video)

34:10 Results w/ top three standouts at 36:42

[waydeferguson]

I enjoyed this video, but just to let you know, I bought a Traeger 575 had nothing but problems. Temperature problems. took it back to Home Depot and they gave me another one. Same issue horrible temperature swings after six months of nothing but hell. Traeger sent me a Ironwood and picked up my 575. Had nothing but temperature swing issues with that. Also asked for my money back which took about four phone calls. They finally gave me my money back and picked up the Ironwood. the gentleman at customer service said they know about the temperature issues and still haven’t found a fix. After four years they still haven’t found the fix. I bought a Recteq. Love it. Temperature stays where I put it. Absolutely love the recteq.

[VinnyDubs]

Videos like this is why I love YouTube, very informative, this must have taken alot of work and I thank you and your team!

[songofyesterday]

That biscuit test is genius. I’ll definitely be doing that when buying a new model. Z grill I like due to small range of temperature variance. It stayed in the green.

[curtisrogers]

This is just the second video I have found reviewing the Grilla Grills against other grills. I ran the chimp for 3 years before stepping up to the Silaverbac. Amazing how many people have never heard of the company, but like you when they see it in action they are pleasantly surprised. I'm in Wisconsin and use mine in cold temperature like 0 on up to whatever winter gives me and it never fails and is a pellet miser at low and slow.

[joshuathomas]

I bought my Pit boss 1150 Pro in the spring and could not be happier. I will have to admit I did the following modifications. I bought an aftermarket flame diffuser, a plate that closed the one ich gap between the plate under the grates the end closest to the hopper, put a gasket under the door, lastly bought a blanket to cover the top of the grill during winter. I have had zero mechanical issues with it and have used it three or four times a month including during the winter. I smoked a pork but for Christmas and it turned out wonderful.

[bearvonsteuben]

Thank you for your exhaustive research! For about 5 months now, I’ve been cooking on my Camp Chef 36” Woodwind Pro, my first pellet. Full door gasket, superb temp retention (I use their thermal blanket during the winter), all the good features of the regular Woodwind that you point out, no smokestack, and I’m having outstanding results with this smoker. The best feature of all is the pullout tray/box for adding wood chunks for added smoke. It works, and no tube is needed!👍 Thanks again for your hard work.

[bisonriverartifacts]

I have a Grilla silverback and love it. The heavy duty construction was the top selling point for me and I haven’t been disappointed. I’ve had it for 3 years and use it regularly.

[tankbulldogge]

Great video. Myself I Have one of the original Grilla Grills Silverback. I added the front shelve & a couple other accessories along with the Grill Grates for steaks & burgers & more. My Silverback is before they went to wi-fi app. What Grilla did was offer all original Silverback owners a special price on purchasing the new wi-fi controller. Grilla has awesome customer service as well. My brother has a Pit Boss, some friends have Traeger's & another has a Camp Chef. We enjoy great cooks & meals on all of them. The reality is, If you have good recipe's take pride in your cook you will produce great BBQ with any of them. But I still tell them guys I am the Pitmaster due to my BBQ skills & GRILLA GRILLS SIVERBACK.

[beentheredonethat]

On the under $400 portable category I would recommend the Green Mountain Davey Crockett, I bought one after my friend had one for a year & we both love this grill. it's a little small but I can still cook a pizza in it!

[barbru]

The "Biscuit Test" can be done with slices of white bread, also. And this is a great way to learn how your pellet grill cooks.
This a good example of getting to Know your Grill.
You done good

[clsanders]

I bought the Pit Boss 1600 grill for $999 three days ago. It has all the bells and whistles plus a 32 lb hopper. A beast of a grill, its first cook was a Thanksgiving turkey. The results were outstanding and it was finished in one hour less than expected. It’s my second Pit Boss and a massive step up from the basic version It also has an app and two probes. Definitely worth a look.

[gkmandymoo]

Grilla is sooo under rated. I’ve had mine 7 years and it is a tank! I love it and would buy it again over anything out there.

[TheGmkiller]

I would like to mention that I have one of the original Grilla Grills Silver-backs and have had it now for 8 years. I live in Chicago and the grill has been outside year-round with a cover since day 1. I have traveled to events with this grill, cooked in competitions, and hosted and cooked for parties of 150 and more and this grill has never let me down. I have cook pizza, fish, pork, brisket, hamburger, sausage, and much more. I have replaced my control board but I will give that to user error. Mark at Grilla has been outstanding with his customer support and even called me on a major holiday to walk me through an issue that ended up being my fault, not the grill. I have used this grill in extreme temperatures both ways of being cold and hot and it always cooked extremely well. I have a Pit-Boss also and the difference in cooks is night and day and the Grilla is so much more superior. I do like the Grilla pellets but I actually use Traeger pellets since they are very easy for me to obtain and are just as good as the Grilla brand. I highly recommend this pit to anyone who is looking for an outstanding all-around pit for every need.

[rushrocks]

I’ve had my Z grill over 5 years and never no issues and it’s the most reliable pellet smoker that always works perfectly every time throughout all weather in the Pacific Northwest and the price I paid was the selling point that got my attention

[Ambro]

Very thorough, detailed, and unbiased review. I am glad to see you gave Grilla a chance to compete with the rest. I bought mine 4 years ago, and it is still a powerhouse. Living in upstate NY, the winters can be brutal. The silverbac AT smokes along without issue. Temps remain constant in pid mode, or swing slightly (around 10-20degrees) in pro mode for extra smoke. The stainless steel components make up a majority of the smoker and has held up nicely. My silverbac at remains on the deck year round with the grilla cover - no rust at all. Their brand cover is heavy duty. I am lazy to dump pellets when not cooking for long periods of time - their hopper is flawless. No moisture and the pellets have never jammed. Have done low and slow cooks, made jerky, and done some hot and fast bbq. All come out delicious. When I first got it, any time I opened the lid the temp would overshoot desired setting. I emailed them about this, and they replied within one hour. Very pleased with their quick response and customer service. For the record, press the pause button if you intend on opening the lid - the smoker will stop feeding pellets and the overshooting temps won’t occur.

Hope that may have helped anyone considering the grilla!

[bongowit]

This is one of the greatest reviews I've ever seen (not just smokers btw) and a TON of information for a 40 minute video. I love the way you went through build quality, temperature variation, square inches, hot spots, smoke ability and grilling. I am disappointed that the Weber smokefire wasn't included in this test and eager to know where you think it would stand. I am ultimately looking for a grill replacement smoker. Thank you!!

[BryanColliver]

I have 4 Pellet smokers all deferent brands. I just got a Weber smoke fire from a friend that is moving and man I love that thing, it has such a different flavor something with home the grease hits the flavor bars and with it getting over 600 its sear is amazing. it is a bit different to cook on then any other pellet grill i have with the all ways open fire pot but i love it now

[hotrod]

I'm a 'stck-burner' guy and I've been looking at the purchase of a pellet smoker (3 of 8 mentioned in your grill comparison) and your video sealed it!

For your viewers who like the Griila Grills Silverbac, the Grilla Co. had a "package 'sale' on the Silverbac that also included...
1. Grill cover
2. Top Shelf ext.,
3. Tools for removing/cleaning the grate.
The package price was $899 and the same cost as the price of the grill. That was over Black Friday weekend 'Sale'. I hope it comes back for post Christmas week!

Appreciate your work, Super Job...