Our Picks
"There's a version of this hobby where you babysit a fire all day, and a version where you set a temperature and go watch the game. This is very much the second version."
We put this at the top of the list because it's genuinely the grill people upgrade to and never look back from. It's not cheap, and we won't pretend otherwise, but for anyone who's outgrown a smaller smoker, the extra capacity and the app control are the two things you'll actually use every single cook.
Ten thousand plus ratings at 4.7 stars is not a fluke, this is one of the most trusted pieces of outdoor cooking gear on Amazon. If you already have a grill, a griddle is genuinely the next thing worth adding, it opens up a whole category of food a grill grate just isn't built for.
This is the sweet spot for most backyards. It's big enough to actually feed people, it has the direct-flame searing option that a lot of pellet grills skip, and at 1,700 ratings it's proven itself with a real crowd of owners, not just early adopters.
If your outdoor cooking happens at a tailgate or a campsite rather than a fixed patio, this is the one to look at. It has the same digital temp control as Traeger's full-size grills, just shrunk down, so you're not sacrificing much beyond total capacity.
Not everyone needs to spend $400-plus to find out if they like pellet grilling. This one gets you into the format at a real discount, and if you end up loving it, you'll know exactly what to look for when you upgrade.
Comparison Table
| Product | Price | Rating | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Ironwood XL | $1,799.99 | 4.6 (65) | Pellet grill | Cooking for a crowd, regularly |
| Blackstone 36" Griddle | $460.41 | 4.7 (10,700) | Griddle | Breakfast, smash burgers, stir-fry |
| Pit Boss 440 Mahogany | $410.99 | 4.4 (1,700) | Pellet grill | Full-size backyard smoking |
| Traeger Ranger | $479.95 | 4.5 (989) | Pellet grill | Tailgates and campsites |
| Z Grills ZPG-550B2 | $386.10 | 4.2 (172) | Pellet grill | First-time buyers |
Buying Advice
Pellet Grill vs. Griddle vs. Traditional Smoker
A pellet grill is the closest thing to an all-rounder, it smokes, grills, and bakes with minimal fuss. A griddle is a specialist for anything you'd normally cook in a pan, breakfast, stir-fry, smash burgers, and it's not really built for low-and-slow barbecue. A lot of serious backyard cooks end up owning both, because they genuinely do different jobs rather than competing with each other.
Do You Need WiFi and App Control?
It's a convenience feature, not a necessity. If you tend to start a long smoke and then wander off to do yard work or watch a game, being able to check temps from your phone is genuinely useful. If you're the type who stands by the grill the whole time anyway, you can save some money and skip it.
How Much Cooking Space Do You Actually Need?
Think about your actual crowd size, not your dream crowd size. A grill in the 300 to 450 square inch range comfortably feeds four to six people. If you're regularly hosting bigger groups or want to smoke a whole brisket alongside ribs, that's when the larger units like the Ironwood XL start to earn their keep.
Our Verdict
The Pit Boss 440 is the one we'd point most people toward, it's got real capacity, a flame broiler most competitors skip at this price, and a track record to back it up. But if outdoor cooking is already a hobby you're serious about, the Ironwood XL is worth the jump, and the Blackstone griddle is close to a must-have addition either way.