The Best Smoker Grill Combo: Two Worlds in One

Smoker grill combo grills are ideal for people searching for a BBQ grill that can combine two worlds into one, grilling and smoking meat, plus being able to cook using more than just one type of fuel.

If you enjoy smoking meats and grilling frequently and do not want to purchase a smoker and a grill separately, a grill and a smoker combo is a great concept. These grills are the hybrids of the BBQ industry and combine a grill and a smoker into one single product.

Not every grill can function as a smoker, and some grill-smoker combinations fall short of delivering. I’ve compiled a list of 11 smoker grill combos for grilling and smoking with everyone’s needs in mind, taking into account the various grill types and fuel configurations.

The Best smoker grill Combos

1. The Kamado Joe Classic II – Best Overall

Why our top choice?

Talk about a charcoal smoker grill that can do it all. Kamados are widely recognized for being flexible grills, and unlike other “combo grills,” kamados can grill and smoke food well.

The Kamado Joe Classic II is a popular kamado that has a solid track record and a large fanbase. However, what makes the Joe Classic so versatile is its divide and conquer cooking system. The divide and conquer cooking system allows you to arrange the cooking space in multiple configurations for any type of cooking style. You can set one side for indirect heat while leaving the other side open with a grate for direct searing.

If money is no object and you want a grill that can serve as a smoker, pizza oven, and grill all in one, the Kamado Joe is a great combo grill pick.

Pros

• Even heat distribution
• Most versatile
• Long-lasting, built out of ceramic
• It retains heat well – excellent smoker

Cons

• Kamados are great grills that can last a very long time if cared for well enough. These grills are heavy and hard to move around.

2. The Z Grills FLAGSHIP 700D4E – Runner Up

The Flagship 700D4E is a wood pellet grill, and there isn’t anything closer to cooking with real wood and charcoal than a pellet grill. 

As seen by the pictures above, I own the 700D4E and like grilling and smoking foods with it. I have logged several cooking hours, and our tests and cooks are always excellent.

What’s great about this wood pellet grill is that it is shaped like an offset smoker, providing the same airflow and convection heat cooking characteristics as large horizontal ( stick ) smokers. This pellet grill also offers impressive quality and features for the money. For example, it has a digital temperature controller ( PID ) to maintain steady and constant temperatures, which is a must for smoking meats. You also get two meat probes to monitor the meat’s internal temperature and a large storage compartment.

Simply put, the Z Grills 700D4E is a well-made grill at an affordable price. Setting this grill to smoke is as easy as selecting the temperature control dial to the desired meat temperature range. There isn’t a need to add a smoke box because the flavor of the pellets will yield enough flavor.

For more read our Z Grills 700D4E Full Review

What we like:

• This grill can, smoke, roast, bake, and more and is very easy to use.
• It includes great features like a removable grease drain pan with a grease bucket, a large lid handle, and caster wheels.
• Nice storage area with doors.
• It is easy to set up as a smoker by setting the temperature to “smoke” and walk away.
• Good quality at a great price.
• It includes two meat probes, a warming rack, and a grill cover.
• Large hopper capacity for long cooks.
• If you want to mix different pellets during the cook, this grill offers an easy-to-access pellet cleanout door on the back of the hopper.

What we don’t like:

• Pellet grills do require some maintenance, but all grills do. However, you have to be careful not to damage the electric components and maintain parts like the pellet auger and internal temperature probe with pellet grills.

3. The Blossom Z Gas and Charcol Grill

This combination grill is the genuine definition of a smoker and grill combo. This grill includes a three burner propane chamber and a charcoal chamber, plus a side burner for using cooking pots.

The three burners provide 24,000 BTUs of heat for the 295 square inches of cooking area. The total cooking space is 557 square inches, and the cooking area is split into 262 square inches for the charcoal side and 295 square inches for the propane side.

Even though it is a basic grill, it has everything you need to grill and smoke foods at the same time! You get a gas grill with a smoker in one unit.

What we like:

• This is a straightforward grill to use.
• Love grills with side burners, you can cook a full meal without using your kitchen’s stove.
• A side table, wheels, a storage rack, a temperature gauge,  are all nice features to have in any grill.
• Great value
• Added convenience – removable ashtray, warming rack, and an adjustable charcoal pan.

What we don’t like:

• This is a value pick, think about value per dollar. So quality won’t be that of a Blazer grill, but neither is the price. 
• There are a lot of pieces to put together, and smoke users have reported long assembly times.
• Sadly, there is no propane level indicator.

4. The Weber Original Kettle

The Webber Original can be misjudged and undervalued, but this Webber is an all-time best seller for a reason. This grill has been on the market for years, and it has proven to be one of the most versatile grills on the market. Just like a kamado grill, this kettle grill can do it all with a little tinkering and tweaking. These kettle grills may be used as a basic meat smoker, even if they are not as effective as a kamado grill.

With multiple dampers, this grill is simple to use and control. Temperature management is straightforward.

What we like:

• It is simple to use.
• It is well designed with many unique features like the one-touch cleaning system, ash catcher, and a built-in hook on the lid that acts as a lid holder.
• The chrome-plated cooking grill grates allow access to the charcoal-hinged. 

What we don’t like:

• There isn’t much negative we can say about the Weber Kettle grill; it is the least expensive way to own a good grill that can also be used as a smoker.
• Not as efficient as a kamado grill. Kamados are built out of ceramic, which makes them highly efficient.

5. The Z Grills ZPG 450B

The Z Grill 450B is another wood pellet grill, but smaller than the 700 models we talked about above. If you are looking for a smaller, less expensive pellet grill and smoker, the Z Grills 450B can be a good fit.

This grill shares many of the same great qualities as the Z Grills 700 model, but the main difference is its price, less space, and fewer features. 

See our full review of the Z Grills 450B

What we like:

• It’s a smaller grill but still offers great features.
• We love how easy it is to set the temperature on the controller and walk away.

What we don’t like:

• We like grills with storage; one of the cost-saving features missing in this grill is storage.

6. The Pit Barrel Cooker 

This is one of our favorite charcoal smoker grill combo, and it may not appear to be much at first glance, but believe me when I tell you that you get a lot of value for your money and a lot of cooking space with these drum smokers.

You can read everything about the Pit Barrel Cooker in our review article, but the reason these smoker grills made the list is because they are incredibly straightforward to operate and can easily be used as charcoal grills with the included grill grate.

Read the Pit Barrel Cooker Full Review.

What we like:

• Ample cooking space and plenty of square inches of cooking with a small footprint.
• Easy to use and easy to use as a grill
• Great value and good quality product.

What we don’t like:

• I wish these smokers had a built-in thermometer, but that’s an easy fix.

7. The Royal Gourmet

This Royal Gourmet is another propane and charcoal grill for those wanting the best of both worlds, an easy-to-use propane grill, and a smoky flavoring grill. This grill is a great option for those willing to spend a little bit more to get extra features and more cooking surface.

Compared to similar combos in this list, this royal gourmet offers a nice storage area with stainless steel doors and a removable ash pan. This grill offers convenience features like an auto-ignition system to start the burners, hooks to hang your grilling tools, and four wheels to move this big boy around.

What we like:

• This grill offers good amenities like a beer bottle opener and cool-touch handles.
• Adjustable ash pan, lower it to smoke meats, and raise it to sear steaks.
• Removable charcoal drawers are your friend when it’s time to clean up the mess.

What we don’t like:

• This is not a kamado-style grill, but it doesn’t cost much either. You will need to play with the height-adjustable charcoal pan to find the proper cooking temperature.

8. The Masterbuilt Digital Charcoal Grill 

This Masterbuilt grill is pretty unique because it is digitally controlled, similar to pellet grills, but instead, it uses charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal. This grill is excellent for those who love the taste of charcoal but hate dealing with charcoal or don’t know how to handle temperature control in charcoal barbecues. 

If you are starting or are new to BBQ grilling, this could be a good grill for you.

The digital controller takes all the guest work from temperature control and it is easy to adjust the temperature range to anything from 700 degrees for steak searing to 200 degrees for smoking ribs low and slow.

What we like:

• This is by far the easiest grill to use. 
• This grill design and features are great for smoking meats. For example, the grill includes smoking racks, a built in temperature gauge, and a meat probe to monitor the meat doneness. 
• Masterbuil says this grill can heat smoking temperatures in seven minutes.
• WIF and Bluetooth capable.

What we don’t like:

• The ignition system can be challenging for some but can be quickly learned.

9. The Expert Grill 3 in One

OK, this is another proper dual-fuel gas grill smoker combo and is priced very affordably. This grill packs three burners, each capable of producing 30,000 BTUs. You get a lot of features for this price, including a lid-mounted temperature gauge, a side table with hooks, and a storage tray.

What we like:

• Inexpensive options but a lot of space.

What we don’t like:

• These are inexpensive grills so don’t expect a Benz.

10. Budget Pick – Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical 18″ Charcoal Smoker

The Cuisinart is a smoker, but it can double as a grate grill with a lower grill grate. This smoker is well priced.

What we like:

• Great value per dollar.

What we don’t like:

• Think Metal.

11. The Pit Boss Austin XL

The Pit Boss Austin is a large pellet cooker and a good option for those looking for an excellent, reliable, simple-to-use grill.

What we like:

• Set the temperature and enjoy
• Simple, easy to use

What we don’t like:

• This is a popular grill; it is often out of stock 🙁

What Exactly Is a Smoker and Grill Combo?

The term “smoker grill combo” is frequently misinterpreted by consumers and reviews. The term can be used to describe grills that can grill foods and have the capability and efficiency to smoke food low and slow.

For example, a Kamado Grill is frequently included in the smoker and grill combo category because, although it is a charcoal barbecue by design, a kamado can also smoke meats very efficiently, making it a superb charcoal grill and smoker combo.

Then there are the actual barbecues that have two different different grill types installed on the same frame. Instead of a large horizontal cooking chamber on a long platform, there will be a smoker on one side and a grill on the opposite side.

For example, with a gas grill smoker combo, you will have a gas grill with burners on one side and a whole other cooking chamber configured as a charcoal grill. This hybrid smoker and grill combination is the preferred setup since you get two separate cooking appliances that can be used concurrently for the price of one, or a little more.

However, versatility is the greatest benefit of outdoor grills with a smoker. Because the cooking zones are fully independent and self-contained, you can simultaneously grill and smoke.

Different Types of Smoker Grill Combos

Several types of grills and smokers are considered a smoker and grill combos. Some grill and smoker combinations are just a typical charcoal grill that can also function as a charcoal smoker, while others are true grill and a smoker sets with dual cooking units and even dual fuels in one unit.

Charcoal Grill

A charcoal grill, such as a Kamado Joe, qualifies as a combo grill option due to its ability to grill and smoke foods effectively. Kamados are the Swiss Army Knife of the BBQ world, capable of doing it all. In my kamado I can grill, smoke meats, even bake pizzas.

Charcoal Smoker – That can also grill

There are some charcoal smokers, such as offset smokers, that incorporate a grilling area within their fireboxes, or in other types of smokers, the grates can be adjusted to convert the smoker into a grill.

BBQ smokers that can operate as a BBQ grill are ideal for individuals who smoke food more regularly but want to grill a few burgers every now and then.

The Weber Smokey Mountain, for example, can smoke meats and has a bottom grate that can be used for grilling. The Pit Barrel Cooker is another fantastic grill and smoker, and by inserting a grate, it converts into an outstanding charcoal grill.

Propane Grill and Smoker Combos – A Gas Grill and Charcoal Smoker Combo-Dual Fuel

The grills in this category give true meaning to the term “smoker grill combo.” These are grills featuring a typical charcoal grill/smoker on one side and a gas grill on the other. One frame supports two different kinds of grills. One side has a regular propane grill and the other a charcoal grill that can be used as a smoker.

This kind of BBQ grill smoker combination offers the greatest versatility since it combines two cooking appliances into a single unit. You can smoke ribs while grilling some burgers.

Pellet Smokers and Grill Combo

Pellet grills are becoming more and more popular each year, and understandably so. Much like charcoal grills, pellet grills yield great flavor with the convenience of a propane grill. Since pellet smokers and grills burn burn wood pellets, the smoky flavor is authentic.

A wood pellet smoker grill can be configured as a smoker by setting the temperature low and using your favorite pellets. Because these grills burn wood pellets, there isn’t a need to add wood chips or utilize a smoker box for a smoky taste.

Pellet cookers are a popular combo grill because of their versatility, ease of use, and amazing wood flavor. Using your favorite flavored pellets, you can easily use your pellet cooker to sear a steak or smoke meats at low temperatures.

Most pellet cookers can reach temperatures of 500 degrees for grilling and also keep low temperatures between 225 and 275 for smoking meats.

What to think about when purchasing a smoker grill combo

Your Budget

Depending on the type of grill and smoker, the prices of grill combos can skyrocket pretty quickly. So set a budget to make sure you stick to the options that will fit your budget and narrow down your choices. 

Charcoal barbecues and smokers tend to be on the lower side of the price range, whereas a pellet smoker grill with all the bells and whistles can be pricey but makes a great grill and smoker combo.

Kamados are by far the most versatile grills. They are great for any type of charcoal grilling and the best grill smoker combo option for many, but they are also pricey. However, keep in mind that kamados can grill, bake, smoke, and are built to last for years.

What type of fuel do you enjoy using and handling

Some people enjoy cooking with charcoal, while others hate the idea of touching a piece of coal. So keep in mind what fuel type you want your grill-smoker combo to be. Choosing the type of fuel first will help you narrow down the grill and smoker options. Fuel types like pellets and propane are easy to manage. Pellets can be purchased and add unique flavors to food.

Common fuel options are gas, pellets, and charcoal.

Quality

Quality and durability are important and should be considered. There are combo models built well using heavy-gauge steel, while less expensive models will use thin metals that can warp, deteriorate quickly, and not retain heat well. 

Find a good balance between price and quality. An inexpensive grill and smoker combo will not be built as sturdy as a top-of-the-line kamado, but the model can still offer you everything you need if you are ok with that.

Features 

Features like cooking surface space, temperature control aids, and the design of the primary cooking area are all an integral part of any grill and should be considered. Also, look for grills with features like warming racks, and a good temperature gauge.

Do keep in mind that the more features and gadgets, the higher the grill price will be.

Versatility and Performance

If you are going to spend money on a grill and smoker combo, it needs to offer good versatility to be a good grill combo.

Investing in a combo grill is a good idea for some because you can do more with less. A versatile grill and smoker combo will offer plenty of cooking space, heat output, and features to grill or smoke any meal.

Conclusion

If money is not an object and you want the best, the Kamado Joe is a fantastic grill that can also be used as a smoker. The Royal Gourmet is a wonderful alternative if you want propane and a charcoal barbecue in one package.
Finally, the Z Grills 700 or 450 are excellent choices if you want an easy-to-use grill that produces excellent taste and can both grill and smoke.