A Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Smoker and Grill Combo

Do you love grilling in the backyard? How about some smoking for a slow-cooking dinner? Getting an appliance that can do both will add a special flavor to your life. If you don’t know what the best smoker and grill combo can do, then you’ve come to the right place.

A smoker and grill combo is a versatile appliance that you can use for multiple purposes. It saves space and money because you’ll use one practical unit to cook different delicious recipes. The same appliance can also be used to roast, sear, braise or bake so that there will be nothing standing between you and your cooking ambition.

Our guide will provide valuable information about 5 of the best combos on the market and how to choose the right one based on your needs.

What is a Smoker and Grill Combo?

This is a single appliance designed to do the work of two units. It will be used to grill your food or for slow smoking and roasting

This combo will have two cooking chambers; one for grilling and one for smoking. It can be powered by gas, charcoal, pellet wood or electricity. You can either cook using direct heat from the fire or let the heat slowly cook your meat, poultry or pork, retaining all the juices.

What are the Benefits of a Smoker Grill Combo?

Cooking enthusiasts usually wonder if they should consider upgrading to the best gas charcoal smoker grill combo appliance instead of buying a grill or a smoker. Here are some reasons why you should get one.

Versatility is the main benefit of buying this practical unit. Most of these combos aren’t limited to grilling and smoking. They can be used for multiple purposes including baking, roasting, braising, searing, and broiling so you can prepare any meal you want.

There are two cooking chambers that can be used to cook two different items at the same time. This means that you can save time by preparing two different dishes without switching appliances.

This is a cost-efficient option because you’re paying for one appliance instead of two.

If you don’t have much space, then buying a compact combo is the smart thing to do. A compact combo will save much space in your patio or backyard and can be easily packed for a camping trip.

Factors to Consider before Buying a Smoker and Grill Combo

To guarantee that you’re buying the best gas grill smoker combo that would cater to your needs, there are a few factors to take into consideration.

Weight

If you don’t plan on packing your grill smoker combo for a camping trip, then weight shouldn’t be an issue. A lightweight and compact model would perfectly fit in a small backyard or patio. Smaller models are also suitable for tailgating and other outdoor events.

Cooking Surface

How many people do you usually cook for? A bigger cooking surface won’t limit your options because you’ll be able to prepare several dishes at the same time.

Some models feature a versatile cooking surface that can be divided to cook several items on top of each other. A side tray is practical because it will hold your sauces and cooking utensils.

Type

Charcoal-operated units are affordable and straightforward to use. However, cleaning a char griller smoker isn’t that easy. Propane or gas models are user-friendly and provide great temperature control.

Pellet combos are cleaner to use and allow you to enjoy the hardwood flavor. These models are usually more expensive because they heat up fast and require little maintenance.

Cleaning

Cleaning your unit a breeze if there’s an ash cleanout system. Some models feature a drip tray to collect grease so you don’t have to spend hours scraping the surface. Porcelain-coated interiors are easy to clean and food won’t get stuck on them to keep your unit healthy and ready for use.

How We Selected the Best Smoker and Grill Combo

We focused on some features to help us determine which unit will be suitable for various customers’ needs. These features are: weight, cooking area, operation, price and a rating out of 5.

5 Best Smoker and Grill Combos, Reviews and Comparison

Here are our top picks.

Royal Gourmet BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker

Features:

• Porcelain wire cooking grates for even heat distribution.
• Pan to collect ashes.
• Temperature gauge.

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You’ll be amazed by the versatility this affordable unit will offer, which is probably the reason why lots of cooking enthusiasts think it’s the best charcoal grill smoker combo. It features a porcelain wire cooking grates that retain the heat and keep your meat juicy.

There’s also a pan that collects the charcoal ashes, keeping your grill smoker unit ready for use. It comes with two wheels and there’s a lid-mounted temperature gauge that allows you to monitor the grilling temperature.

Using two adjustable chambers, you’ll be able to grill your meat and smoke a side dish at the same time. You can easily adjust the distance between the fire and your food for the best grilling experience.  A total cooking surface of 800 square inches is divided into two chambers for barbecuing and smoking. There’s also a swing-away rack that measures 179 square inches.

This stainless steel unit sits low. The temperature sometimes leaks so you must find a way to keep the chamber closed for smoking. Nevertheless, it’s a good choice for beginners who want to prepare a cozy family dinner without breaking the bank.

Pros

• Affordable and portable smoker grill combo.
• Porcelain-coated grates that can be adjusted for better grilling.
• Gauge to show the temperature.
• Collects the ashes for easy cleaning.

Cons

• Unit sits low.
• The smoking heat sometimes leaks.

PK Original Outdoor Charcoal Portable Grill & Smoker Combo

Features:

• Durable cast aluminum combo.
• Adjustable vents.
• Can be detached for better portability.

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This vintage-style charcoal combo is made of cast aluminum. It’s durable yet lightweight so you can move it around. The body is rust-proof and conducts heat 4 times better than a steel unit. It can be installed to several stand options and easily detached when needed. This makes it an excellent option for tailgating and camping.

Experts chose this model as the best smoker grill combo for 2017, but it’s a bit expensive given the cooking surface of 300 square inches. This surface is either used as a grill or smoker under the hinged lid. It features 4 vents to control the temperature and create a convection airflow for smoking.

In order to make your life easier, there are bottom and side aluminum trays to hold your condiments and utensils. This is not a big model, so it’s a good choice for a smaller backyard or patio. Cleaning this unit is a bit problematic because you’ll have to use a towel to scrape the ashes out or hold the unit upside down.

Pros

• Cast aluminum body that retains heat.
• Easily detached for better portability.
• 4 vents to control the temperature for smoking.
• Aluminum trays to hold your cooking utensils.

Cons

• Small cooking surface.
• Cleaning is a bit problematic.

Z GRILLS Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

Features:

• Temperature and pellet feed control system.
• Fan-forced convection cooking.
• Electronic ignition.

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This bbq grill and smoker combo is more expensive than other models, but it’s a good choice for beginners because it’s easy to operate. It uses electricity to ignite wood pellets for the best grilling and smoking flavors. It’s made of stainless steel and features an electronic auto-start ignition, digital temperature control, and LED temperature display.

Thanks to the feed control system, pellets are added as needed to maintain the temperature. The convection system will ensure that food is cooked evenly. It features a total cooking surface of 700 square inches with a 20 lb. of pellets capacity that can provide 20 hours of continuous cooking for the best smoking experience.

It comes with two wheels, but it’s a heavy model so you might want to look for another one if you want to move it around. The temperature tends to fluctuate when you use a higher setting. You must be careful as it might burn your food.

Pros

• Nice flavors thanks to the wood pellets.
• Convenient cooking surface.
• Electronic start and digital temperature control.
• Pellet feed control system.

Cons

• Expensive and heavyweight unit.
• Using high-temperature settings isn’t always accurate.

Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill

Features:

• Infrared technology.
• Lightweight unit.
• Compact design for multiple cooking purposes.

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Looking for a lightweight smoker and grill combo? This is definitely a good option. It’s made of stainless steel and doesn’t come with wheels, but it features 2 handles that you can use to take it anywhere you like.

Just connect it to a propane tank, and you’ll immediately gain access to a 1200-square inch roasting and smoking basket, in addition to the 180-square inch infrared grilling surface. Turn a knob and it’s ready for use. It’s a good choice for beginners and people on a tight budget.

Accessing the side smoker box without opening the lid allows you to add various wood chips for an intense flavor without messing up with the temperature. It features a drip tray and metal thermometer.

Extra care is needed while assembling this unit. You’ll also have to keep an eye on the unit while smoking because the temperature tends to rise.

Pros

• Affordable and lightweight model.
• Adjustable cooking space.
• Side access to the smoker chamber.
• Easy to use.

Cons

• Takes time to assemble.
• Temperature tends to rise while smoking.

Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill

Features:

• Automatic pellet auger.
• Ashcan cleanout system.
• Digital temperature chip.

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Taking your cooking to a new level is easy using this steel appliance. It combines the features of a grill and a smoker in an electric unit with digital temperature readout to make life easier. The digital temperature chip prevents the high fluctuations in heat that can mess up with your smoked dishes. It’s a good choice for beginners.

Cleaning this unit is easy thanks to the ashcan cleanout system. The automatic auger system will add pellets as needed and completely shut down when you’re done. The large capacity hopper guarantees less filling and better smoking with nice wood flavors.

It features a total cooking surface of 573 square inches divided into a standard cooking area of a 429-square inch and a second cooking rack that measures 144 square inches. There’s also a side rack to keep your utensils. However, this is a rather expensive model. Also taking the extra pellets out for storage isn’t easy.

Pros

• Easy to use electronic appliance.
• Digital temperature control and readout.
• Ashcan cleanout system.
• Versatile cooking flavors by adding different pellets.

Cons

• Expensive model.
• Removing the extra pellets is difficult.

Conclusion- Which is the Best Combo?

These 5 combos are different so they can suit various users. However, if you’re looking for the best smoker and grill combo, then we recommend you take a look at the Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill. This electric model comes with digital temperature control and a convenient cleanout system. It’s easy to use so it’s suitable for beginners as well as experts.

For the best value smoker and grill combo, you should try the Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill. It uses infrared technology to cook your food evenly. It features a versatile cooking space that can be used for roasting, grilling, and smoking.

Owning a unit that can do the quick grilling and slow smoking is double the fun. This versatile unit is a good choice for compact spaces and will allow you to save money, time, and effort.