Pellet grills changed backyard barbecue forever. Load the hopper with wood pellets, dial in a temperature, and the grill feeds pellets and manages the fire for you — real wood smoke flavor with oven-level consistency. It's the closest thing to set-it-and-forget-it barbecue that actually tastes like barbecue.
Every grill below is a pellet burner I've either cooked on or watched cook through enough briskets to trust. No gas, no charcoal babysitting — just wood fire, steady temps, and results that'll make your neighbors jealous.
Traeger Woodridge
Traeger's mid-size Woodridge brings set-it-and-forget-it pellet cooking to the backyard with 860 square inches across two racks — enough for 6 chickens or 8 rib racks. WiFIRE app control lets you dial temps from 180–500°F from the couch, and the EZ-Clean keg collects grease and ash in one spot. It's the sweet spot of the lineup: full-size capacity without the flagship price.
Why it made the list: the best blend of capacity, tech, and price. This is the grill I'd buy with my own money.
Buy on Amazon →
Traeger Woodridge Pro
The Woodridge Pro steps up with 970 square inches and Traeger's Super Smoke mode for low-and-slow cooks that need extra wood flavor. The digital pellet sensor pings your phone before the hopper runs dry, and Keep Warm mode holds food at serving temp until guests arrive. The folding side shelf adds real prep space — this is the Woodridge for people who cook for a crowd.
Why it made the list: Super Smoke mode and the pellet sensor are genuinely useful upgrades if you cook low-and-slow often.
Buy on Amazon →
Traeger Tailgater 20
The Tailgater 20 is Traeger's portable pellet grill — foldable legs, 60 pounds, and real wood-fired flavor at the campsite or tailgate. The Digital Arc controller holds temps within 15 degrees from 180–450°F, and 300 square inches handles a dozen burgers or a couple of chickens. It's the grill for people who refuse to leave pellet cooking at home.
Why it made the list: the only pellet grill here you can throw in the truck. Real smoke flavor anywhere.
Buy on Amazon →
Pit Boss Navigator 850
The Navigator 850 packs 932 square inches and Pit Boss's signature Flame Broiler lever, which slides open for direct flame searing up to 1,000°F — something most pellet grills can't do. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connect to the Pit Boss app for remote temp control, and the 30 lb. hopper handles overnight briskets. It's the value play: near-flagship capacity with searing capability the Traegers don't match.
Why it made the list: the Flame Broiler sear function is a genuine differentiator at this price.
Buy on Amazon →
Pit Boss Navigator 1600
The Navigator 1600 is Pit Boss's biggest Navigator at a massive 1,593 square inches across three tiers — built for feeding a crowd. The 4.3" touchscreen runs Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through the Pit Boss app, and the Flame Broiler lever hits 1,000°F for steakhouse sears. The built-in prep station (cutting board, bottle opener, tool hooks) means you're not running back to the kitchen. This is the "buy once" grill for serious backyard cooks.
Why it made the list: when you're feeding the whole block, square inches matter more than anything.
Buy on Amazon →The Bottom Line
For most backyard cooks, the Traeger Ironwood 650 is the one to beat — enough space, great tech, fair price. Step up to the Ironwood XL if you regularly feed a crowd, grab the Pro 575 if you want in cheap, and look at the Pit Boss Austin XL if budget is the whole conversation.
Whichever you pick, buy good pellets, keep the hopper full, and give the grill a burn-off after every long cook. Take care of it and it'll take care of your brisket for a decade.