Best Smoker Grill Combo: Traeger, Realcook & Royal Gourmet
I don’t know if there’s a better way to flavor food than with smoking. It gives you a delicious, distinct flavor infused from the wood that really can’t be replicated or beat. However, some people never get to experience this flavor from home because they think they don’t have enough room or they believe that smokers aren’t versatile enough. Today we’re going to cover the best smoker grill combo models.
Not only are these combos versatile, but they are also more affordable than you’d expect, and you can do all your outdoor cooking in one spot. Read on to see which is best for you. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide so that you know what to look for.
Smoker Grill Combo Buyer’s Guide
Heating Method: There are many different ways to heat a smoker grill combo. Most of the top models use wood pellets or charcoal, but some also use propane or electricity. Many people have their preference based on flavor, but we would say that most people agree that wood and charcoal likely deliver the best, most iconic smoker flavor you can get.
Cooking Space: Size is important whether you’re smoking, grilling, or both. You don’t want to cook in shifts if you can avoid it. Be sure to choose a grill smoker combo that has enough cooking space for your needs. This ensures that everyone gets food without having to wait extra long for it.
Cleaning: We love smoked meats, but having a smoker grill means that there’s a lot of clean up when you’re finished. You’ll have to remove the wood and charcoal, clean the grill grates, and much more. Be sure to choose a model that makes cleaning easier. For example, many models have removable grill grates that you can soak.
Portability: If you’re like most people, then you’ll probably need to move this every now and then, such as when the seasons change. While these cookers are usually quite big, many include wheels so that you can easily move them around.
Extra Features: Be sure to consider the extra features to see if you’re getting the best model possible. For example, some have WiFi compatibility while others come with side tables and other useful features. Keep these in mind when comparing models.
Traeger Pro Series 575 Grill and Smoker
This might be one of the most unique grill and smoker combos that we could find. The Traeger brand doesn’t just combine grilling and smoking. They also give you WiFi capabilities and even voice commands to make this a highly versatile grill. It’s not just a novelty. Even without the dedicated Traeger app, this is still a highly useful grill with many distinct features.
This grill works with wood pellets. You feed them into the hopper, set the cooking option you need (grill, smoke, roast, etc), and it will use an automated auger to ensure that the perfect amount of wood is delivered to the fire pot. The grill is doing a lot of work, but you’ll find that this is incredibly simple on your part. Just make sure that the hopper is properly stocked with wood pellets.
You can set the temperature easily with digital controls on the hopper. Be sure to connect this to the Traeger app and you can set the temperature from your phone. You can also set cooking schedules, monitor the internal temperature of food, or create alerts so that you know when to check on the grill. Plus, you can connect this to Alexa and use voice commands.
The grill offers 575sq inches of cooking space. This is enough room for 24 burgers, 4 chickens, or 5 ribs racks, so you can easily cook for a whole party with ease.
Whether you love the technology or versatility, Traeger has you completely covered for all your needs. Give this combo a try and see just how great it is.
Z Grills 8-in-1 Grill and Smoker
The Z Grills combo comes with eight cooking features. It can grill, smoke, roast, bake, barbeque, braise, and more. Much like the Traeger model, this offers a digital hopper and uses wood pellets that are automatically brought to the fire pot for even smoking. While it does lack an app, it offers more cooking space and a lower price tag.
You’ll find the digital pellet hopper is incredibly easy to use. Simply load the pellets and choose the temperature. This grill goes from 180-450F and you can select the temperature in 10-degree increments. You’ll have no problem getting the exact temperature you want for your food whether you’re smoking or grilling. Once it’s set, just push a button and the grill will heat up and go to work.
This uses a convection cooking style that forces the hot air throughout the whole unit. Not only does this ensure even cooking, but it also cooks faster and more effectively than other grills or smokers.
You get 700sq inches of cooking space, which is more than enough for larger parties and gatherings. This is split between two areas. The main cooking area is 513sq inches and there is a second, raised rack that is 187sq inches. Since it’s not in direct contact with the smoke, the raised rack cooks a little slower, but that’s to be expected.
If you were looking for a large, wood pellet grill smoker that has lots of features, a simple hopper, and convection cooking, then the Z Grills model is right for you. Not only that, but it’s surprisingly affordable when compared to similar models. While it lacks the app from the Traeger model, it makes up for it with a larger cooking area.
Check Price: Z Grills 8-in-1 ->
Realcook Vertical 17 Inch Charcoal Smoker Grill Combo
Moving away from wood, this is a charcoal smoker grill combo with a unique design. It looks like a stackable charcoal grill, and that’s exactly what it is. This grill has three layers that you can stack for grilling or smoking as needed. It’s easy to use and infuses that wonderful charcoal flavor into your favorite proteins.
Unlike the other models where you set the temperature and walk away, this one requires a little more work. If you want it as a grill, then simply load food onto either the first or second layer and let it cook. If you’d prefer to smoke meats, then use all the layers and be sure to add the lid so that the smoke doesn’t escape. It’s simple, but you must make sure that you use the layers properly.
You get a fair amount of cooking space with this combo. There’s a total of 453sq inches of cooking space split between the two cooking grids (226.5sq inches each). This allows you to cook a lot of food simultaneously for your family or a whole party. There are also two access doors, one for each grill, that makes it easy to access food. For safety, the layers lock together so that one won’t fall off and cause a fire.
If you want a simple charcoal grill with extra layers and the ability to become a smoker, then the Realcook grill is right for you. It’s a simple and unique system that’s surprisingly versatile.
Check Price: Realcook Smoker ->
Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker
Last up we have another charcoal smoker grill combo, but there’s one big difference. All the other models used the same cooking area for both grilling and smoking. This one is primarily a grill, but there’s a small smoker on the side that allows you to smoke independently of your grilling. If you want to keep your cooking separate, then this could be an advantage.
This grill has a combined 800sq inches of cooking split between the main steel wire grate, a warming rack, and the smoker. The main area is 438sq inches, the rack is 179sq inches, and the smoker offers 183sq inches. The smoker isn’t the largest, but it’s able to fit a fair amount of food and the taste will be fantastic.
The smoker can be used as a small grill as well with the proper amount of ventilation. You can also add some wood chips for extra flavor, but it does need charcoal to cook properly.
Cleaning is simple as there is an ashes pan that can be easily accessed. You’ll have no problem cleaning spent charcoal and replacing it with new fuel for the grill.
If you want a model that clearly separates the grill and smoker, then this is ideal for you. Not only that, but it gives you a good amount of combined space and it’s very easy to use.
Final Thoughts
If you prefer wood smoking and grilling, then you’ll love either Traeger or Z Grills. Traeger has the most features with its app, but it’s also quite expensive. If charcoal is more your thing, then you’ll love either Realcook or Royal Gourmet. All four of these smoker grill combos have a lot of features and will cook your food beautifully. You just have to choose which one has the right features for you.
