5 Best Traeger Alternatives
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Traeger Grills is the best-selling pellet grill brand in America for a good reason. Their grills offer various cooking options, from smoking to grilling to baking. Traeger pellet grill owners quickly brag about its versatility, and it’s easy to see why.
However, not everyone is a fan of Traeger grills. Although the brand has earned its place in the grilling world, it’s surrounded by some skepticism.
If you’re looking to save money and still enjoy that great grilled taste, there are other BBQ options.
Read on to learn which affordable wood pellet grills are good alternatives to Traeger.
Best Traeger Alternatives: Quick Summary
- PIT BOSS PB440D2 Wood Pellet Grill
- Green Mountain Davy Crockett Wood Pellet Grill
- Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill
- Z Grills ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill
- Z Grills ZPG-7002E Wood Pellet Grill
PIT BOSS PB440D2 Wood Pellet Grill
Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Pit Boss PB440D2 is an excellent starter pellet grill for a novice cook or a small family seeking a low-cost alternative.
At low and slow temperatures, you can use it as a smoker. You can also use it as a grill to sear and grill food.
Digital controls with LED display and a temperature range of 180 to 500 degrees make cooking a breeze, allowing you to cook everything from low and slow to searing meats to achieve the perfect crust.
With 518 square inches of cooking space (including a removable upper cooking rack), there’s enough room for a family supper or a small group of individuals to gather around the stove.
We found that the hopper holds 5 pounds of pellets for several hours of grilling, which worked great for short cooking, such as smoking fish or back ribs. When it comes to long-cooked meats like beef brisket, you need to add more pellets before the cooking is done.
Even though there isn’t a lot of space for searing, you can still sear two chicken thighs at once before finishing with indirect heat.
The side table can be removed when not used or stored in the barbecue to save on deck space. This grill has a mahogany-colored lid that sets it apart from the rest and a bottom shelf for storing pellets or other supplies.
Move it about the yard or deck with ease, thanks to the two huge wheels and the handy side table for holding tools or condiments.
The Pit Boss PB440D2 wood pellet grill provides user-friendly and convenient features, making it one of the best versatile Traeger alternatives.
Pros
- Versatile
- Easy ignition
- Portable
Cons
- Small hopper capacity
- The internal meat probe is not very accurate.
Green Mountain Davy Crockett Wood Pellet Grill
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When it comes to a pellet grill that’s lightweight and durable and easy to operate, and affordable to buy, the Green Mountain Davy Crockett is an excellent choice.
This grill runs on 110V or 12V with adapters for camping or tailgating, and it works as well on a small patio or backyard.
Thanks to the one-touch ignition, automated wood pellet feeder, and digital temperature control, most people will be able to have a good cook without putting in too much work.
Pellet grills like this one are becoming more and more Wi-Fi-enabled. The Wi-Fi controller allows you to monitor and operate the grill from your smartphone or tablet using the Sense-Mate heat sensor.
The rounded top and wide opening of the lid make cooking large meals a breeze. The package includes a meat probe, utensil tray, and grease tray.
The Green Mountain Davy Crockett includes a chimney with an adjustable opening. You can open and close it as needed to adjust the amount of smoke and the temperature.
It weighs 68 pounds and is designed to fit in the trunk of most vehicles.
The pricing and portability of the Davy Crockett make it an excellent choice for smokers who spend most of their time away from home.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Affordable
- Wi-Fi Control
Cons
- Temperature variance
Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill
Last update on 2024-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When it comes to pellet smokers, the Camp Chef SmokePro DLX is the best option if you’re looking for a high-quality smoker at a reasonable price.
It includes many features that other low-cost pellet smokers don’t have.
Grilling meat on the SmokePro DLX is a breeze, thanks to the grill’s ample cooking surface, precise temperature control, and easy-to-achieve tastes. No matter how little experience you have with the grate, the grill makes cooking with pellets quick, simple, and fun.
Controlled by digital temperature sensors, an automatic auger maintains a constant heat level. Because of this, you are free to concentrate on grilling in the big, dual-tiered cooking area.
A total of 570 square inches of cooking space may be found on the two grilling surfaces. The built-in ash cleanout system makes cleanup a breeze.
A traditional backyard smoker would fluctuate as much as 60 degrees above or below the required cooking temperature. If you’re making a pulled pork roast, these swings won’t matter as much, but they will cook anything like racks of ribs or salmon.
Most of the time, the SmokePro DLX kept the temperature within 10 degrees of the point that was set. In addition, the grill surface temperature was quite close to the temperature displayed on the display.
The DLX has a slightly wider temperature range than most regular pellet smokers. It goes from 160 degrees to 500 degrees, which is 50 degrees hotter than most of its competitors.
The Camp Chef SmokePro DLX has a well-thought-out design. Our only complaint is the pellet hopper, which might fail to feed pellets with a low supply. One method keeps the 18-pound hopper full, so the pellets fall by gravity.
Pros
- It’s simple to use.
- Two meat probes
- Ash cleanout system
Cons
- Narrow dimensions
Z Grills ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill
Last update on 2024-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Z Grills has improved the ZPG-450A pellet grill so that even novice grillers can use it. The temperature control and pellet feed systems were enhanced, among other things.
Grilling has never been easier thanks to a digital control system that provides temperatures ranging from 180°F to 450°F for various cooking methods. You can store food, plates, and tools on a spacious fold-down front table, which can be folded away when not in use.
It’s easy to monitor the temperature with the LED display, and the automatic feed will add pellets as needed to keep the selected temperature stable.
Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates provide a total cooking surface area of 452 square inches (including a primary grill surface area of 324 inches and a smoking/warming rack surface area of 128 inches). It can cook for up to 15 hours without needing to be refilled because it has a hopper capacity of 15 pounds.
The bronze color on the lids looks nice, and the two large wheels make it easy to move around.
Pros
- The price is reasonable.
- Easy to install
- Versatility
Cons
- Getting unused pellets out of the hopper is difficult.
Z Grills ZPG-7002E Wood Pellet Grill
Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Z Grills ZPG-7002E uses convection heat distribution technology, making it possible to grill, bake, roast, and sear in various ways. But this model also has some improvements.
The stainless steel construction means it is less vulnerable to corrosion than other models.
Two more improvements are a better way to feed pellets and a more precise way to control the temperature (within 10 degrees of the set temperature).
The electric feed system keeps the grill’s temperature between 180 and 450 degrees without you having to do anything. This saves you time and effort.
There is plenty of room to work with a grilling surface measuring 504 square inches and a warming rack measuring 190 square inches (totaling 694 square inches).
This grill has a lot of great features, like an auto-start electric ignition and an LED temperature display.
Many users say this grill is highly user-friendly and simple to keep at a consistent temperature. A three-year warranty, two wheels for easy mobility, and a grill cover are included.
If you’d like to learn more about the differences between Z Grills and Traeger, check out our Z Grills vs. Traeger comparison post.
Pros
- Easy assembly
- Improved pellet feed
- It is simple to use.
Cons
- Excessive weight
Conclusion
Traeger is an American brand that is well-known in the world of barbecue. Despite the success of their products, their prices can be unaffordable for many consumers.
Why not look for an alternative product? Decide what features are essential to you in a grill before you start shopping. Each competitor to Traeger provides a combination of price, features, and quality.
You can choose between a Traeger wood pellet grill and one of the best Traeger alternatives.