Whatever your needs are, whether you need something mobile…
…or limited in space, you will be glad to know…
…that a small pellet grill does not have to be limited in performance.
Now let’s take a look at 5 of the best small pellet grills for the money.
There are quite a few excellent smaller pellet grills on the market at the moment.
Best small pellet grills for the money adjust their dampers to raise…
…or lower the temperature, thus adding a natural sour taste…
…by burning wood pellets at a controlled speed.
Among the top products listed below are several high-quality small pellet grills…
…a few of which have additional features…
…like smart house integration, electronic controllers, and toaster handles.
Before we get started, let’s hear Hannah’s story…
Smoking meat has been a part of my life for about 15 years now,
and I compete annually in the KCBS KCBS event in my area.
Because I am a “BBQ purist”, I am opposed to pellet smokers,
electric smokers, gas smokers, etc.
Burn coal or wood or burn nothing at all I thought.
It was my duty to oppose these contraptions
because they were for backyard wannabes without any skill, or so I believed.
I gradually evolved my thinking as I began using temperature controllers
and other assisting devices for my smokers, until finally, I thought, whatever,
why not try out a pellet smoker?
Having researched different brands,
I finally decided to go with the Camp Chef
because of its easy clean out and high temperature grilling capabilities.
Let’s get started…
Buying Guide for the Best Small Pellet Grill
People who are searching for a smaller pellet grill are doing so…
…because they have limited outdoor space…
…such as a small backyard terrace or a condominium balcony.
Many people prefer small motorhomes because they intend…
…to take them on vacations with them…
…and the distance from a vehicle or RV might be limited.
Nevertheless, others only want little…
…since they’re cooking for themselves and their partner.
Size of Cooking Area
In contrast to gas grills in which the number of burners indicates the size…
…of the primary cooking area (a 4-burner skillet is quite large, for example)…
…toaster grills use a fan to circulate smoke…
…and heat around the cooking area.
Cooking grates can be as large or small as desired…
…and the grill will probably operate in exactly the same way…
…but may take a bit longer to heat up.
The size of a grill does not necessarily indicate its quality.
The larger the cooking area, the more meals you can prepare simultaneously.
As you will soon discover, small pellet grills are very versatile…
…and you will want to cook all of your side dishes on it in addition…
…to your main course – so I suggest going…
…as large as you can within your “small” restrictions.
Keep reading…
Hopper Capacity
You fill the hopper on the grill with wood pellets (the gas)…
…by pouring them in from the side.
At the bottom of the hopper is an auger and an opening.
When you set your desired temperature on the pellet grill and turn it “on”…
…a motor drives an auger that feeds as much wood pellets…
…to a firebox as necessary to maintain the chosen temperature.
For larger grills, the hopper can accommodate up to 40 pounds…
…(less or more, depending on the grill) of pellets at a time…
…meaning the grill can burn for 18-24 hours before it needs to be emptied.
You might need to refill a pellet grill with a small hopper capacity…
…if you intend to cook something for an extended period of time.
For some people, this might not be an issue.
Unless you want to eat several set-and-forget hamburgers all day long…
…afterward, pay close attention to the hopper size.
Portability
Consider a grill with fold-up legs that will indicate the “hardness” of the pellets…
…if you’d like a small pellet grill that you can easily transport.
Some (if not all) of the grills featured below have two all-terrain wheels…
…as well as a lifting handle that allows it to be moved through your garden…
…or into and from storage.
However, keep in mind that these pellets are still quite heavy.
Here are the main points…
Best Small Pellet Grills for the Money
| Image | Title | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Green Mountain Davy Crockett Sense Mate Electric Wi-Fi Control Foldable Portable Wood Pellet Tailgating Grill with Meat Probe, Black | Prime | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Traeger Grills Ranger Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, Black | PrimeEligible | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill w/New PID Gen 2 Digital Controller - Stainless Steel | Prime | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Traeger Grills Tailgater 20 Portable Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, Black | PrimeEligible | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro Slide Smoker with Fold Down Front Shelf Wood Pellet Grill, Pack of 1, Black | PrimeEligible | Check Price on Amazon |
Let’s go through them one by one…
Green Mountain Davy Crockett Sense Wood Pellet Tailgating Grill
- Features Sense-Mate, a thermal sensor which constantly monitors grill temperature
A very affordable pellet smoker from Green Mountain Grills…
…has an electronic Wi-Fi control that can be used…
…to monitor the temperature of the smoker via the Green Mountain Grills app.
The smoker has a temperature range of 150 to 550 degrees Fahrenheit…
…and a cooking area of 219 square inches.
Despite the small size, the trade-off…
…with this smaller cooktop is the durability of your smoker.
The two stainless steel legs of this smoker support its weight when it is in use…
…and the legs fold for easy transport to a tailgate party or camping excursion.
As the Davy Crockett includes both a 110-volt and 12-volt link…
…the smoker can be powered at home, using a generator…
…or by using a 12-volt socket in an automobile.T
he stainless steel cable side table, five hooks for hanging grill tools…
…and useful meat probe are helpful extras for keeping everything close at hand.
This pellet smoker weighs about 58 pounds…
…and has a streamlined design that can fit in the back of most vehicles.
“If you like to mingle while you grill, you’ll appreciate the freedom the Sense-Mater add-on gives you. This system includes a thermal sensor and meat probe; these enable you to monitor your cooking progress through your phone.”
Chris Johns – Writer at BBQ Report
Traeger Grills Ranger Grill TBT18KLD Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
- Your purchase includes 1 Traeger Ranger Grill with cast iron griddle to get that perfect sear on your steak, or cook an egg breakfast
The brisket smoker is small enough to fold up and throw at the backseat…
…but strong enough to smoke a brisket for 12 hours.
The Traeger Ranger impressed us when we analyzed it at launch in 2018…
…and it remains the best portable small pellet grill on the market.
Also, the drip tray and porcelain-coated grates are easy to clean.
One thing to notice: it is small and portable…
…but perhaps not so small and mobile…
…that you can take it much farther than an automobile camping trip.
It still weighs 60 pounds.
Go on…
Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill
- PID controller for consistent temperatures (+/- 5ºF ), Adjustable smoke settings from 1-10, 160º F - 500ºF temperature range, Easy to use menu dial, High-visibility, low-glare digital display, Includes 2 meat probes
The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill makes another appearance…
…on our list of the best small pellet smokers.
It has a cooking surface area of 429 square inches…
…making it a more streamlined choice than some…
…of the other cookers we have listed so far.
If you have a limited amount of space on your terrace…
…that might be convenient for you.
A warming rack of 144 square inches provides an extra bit of space for working.
As you would expect from a Camp Chef…
…it has their patented ash cleanout system…
…so that you won’t have to spend a lot of time cleaning.
The hopper can hold 18 pounds, which is a fairly standard but generous capacity.
Having the ability to feed pellets to your auger…
…for extended smoking sessions without having to refill is sufficient.
Additionally, Camp Chef offers a fantastic lineup of add-ons…
…and superior attachments that are compatible with this grill and offer flexibility.
I think two good ones would be the Sidekick Griddle and the Gearbox…
…both of which may reach around 900°F for scorching sear jobs.
Traeger Pellet Grills TFB30KLF Tailgater 20 Grill
- NEVER USE GAS OR CHARCOAL AGAIN: Traeger created the original wood-pellet grill as the ultimate way to achieve wood-fired taste. The Ironwood 885 takes it to the next level with precise temperature control
Traeger Tailgater pellet grills can be folded…
…and then thrown on your car or truck, together with your own YETI coolers.
You can cook your brats and hamburgers for a few hours…
…using the grill’s eight-pound pellet hopper.
Furthermore, it offers a “Keep Warm” feature…
…that keeps all warm and toasty until everyone arrives.
Do you want to convert a propane grill to natural gas?
Last, but not least…
Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro Slide Smoker
- SLIDE AND GRILL- grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue with Premium wood-fired flavor on a single grill. Digital control, best of both Worlds, use the meat probe to check the internal temperature or toggle the grill temp with the push of a button
Cooks who prefer to cook outside will enjoy the convenience…
…of the SmokePro from Camp Chef:
The small pellet grill and smoker allows chefs…
…to switch between smoking and grilling using easy slide controls…
…which eliminates any barriers…
…between the fire and the 811-square-inch cooking surface.
In addition to a temperature range between 160…
…and 500 degrees Fahrenheit…
…the smoker can also reach temperatures of up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit…
…when used for immediate fire grilling, which is excellent for searing steaks.
Home chefs won’t need to keep a close eye on their food…
…thanks to the SmokePro’s 18-pound hopper capacity…
…and highly accurate PID control…
…which can keep the set temperature within 5 degrees.
There is a negative shelf and a cushioned front shelf on the machine…
…both of which can be used to store gear and other items while cooking.
Sum Up!
In these cooking devices, wood pellets are funneled down a hopper…
…where an auger pushes them together into the firepot.
After the pellets have been burned in the firepot…
…the convection heat that is created warms up…
…the main cooking area for smoking or grilling.
Small pellet grills should be cleaned before and after each use.
Additionally, they should be thoroughly cleaned…
…with a grill cleaner at least once every 50 hours of ingestion.
When the weather is bad, such as rain, snow, or sleet…
…a watertight grill cover should be applied to the toaster.
During the winter, move the smoker to a sheltered area…
…to prevent snow from piling up and rusting its wheels and feet.
Have we shed some light on the best small pellet grill for the money…
…and rendered it an excellent match for you?
Please don’t hesitate to consider the advice then reevaluate again…
…before making your final decision, as we know this is a very long guide.
Conclusion
Where can I find the best portable pellet smoker?
As long as you’re looking for functionality, sleek design, consistency…
…and an affordable price tag,…
…I recommend the Green Mountain Davy Crockett Sense Wood Pellet Tailgating Grill.
You’ll love the sleek, polished silver steel hood…
…but this pellet grill doesn’t rely solely on its good looks to do its job.
At 57 pounds, this grill is lightweight and durable.
As soon as you lift the hood, you can feel the quality.
A nice feature of this grill is that it is ready to use out of the box.
Green Mountain provides three power options: a standard 110v AC plug…
…an auto plug that plugs into cigarette lighters…
…and a 12v battery with micro alligator jumper clips.
Also included is a WiFi-ready Sense-Mater…
…that allows you to link your smartphone with the grill.
As soon as you’re connected…
…you’ll be able to watch your cooking progress on your phone.
Despite being built for the road, this grill looks…
…and cooks like many far more expensive patio grills.
Check out the Green Mountain Davy Crockett Sense Wood Pellet Tailgating Grill…
…if you want a grill that can work at home and on the road.
Thank you for checking out my list of the best portable pellet grills for the money.
Happy grilling!
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Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
