What is a pellet gas combo grill? A pellet gas combo grill is a type of grill that uses both wood pellets and natural gas or propane as fuel. These grills feature heating and cooking components from both pellet and gas grills, integrated into a single frame. So you get a pellet grill and a gas grill in one grill.
This type of grill is becoming more and more popular because it offers the best of both worlds: the convenience of a gas grill and the flavor of a pellet grill. In this article, we will list the 3 best pellet gas combo grills on the market right now. We will also include a buyer’s guide to help you choose the right one for your needs.
What is a Pellet Gas Combo Grill?
A pellet gas combo grill is a type of grill that uses both pellet fuel and natural gas or propane. These grills are not to be confused with other combo grills like charcoal and propane combo.
This type of grill is becoming more and more popular because it offers the best of both worlds: the convenience of a gas grill and the flavor of a charcoal grill. In this blog post, we will list the 3 best pellet gas combo grills on the market right now. We will also include a buyer’s guide to help you choose the right one for your needs.
When it comes to grills, there are a lot of different options to choose from. But if you’re looking for a good pellet and gas combo grill, then you’ve come to the right place.
We did our research and looked for brands offering this level of versatility, and combining that with customer feedback, we came up with the list below.
Benefits of a Pellet Gas Combo Grill
There are many benefits to buying a pellet gas combo grill. First, pellet grills are very easy to use. You simply set the temperature and let the grill do the work for you.
However, some of us like to grill and sear steaks or cook side dishes using our grills. This is why many consumers are looking for this type of combo grill smokers.
There are some really cool benefits of pellet grill smoker combos. One is that you technically get two grills in one, allowing you to cook a wider variety of foods and recipes.
Second, you have two fuel sources, which means if you run out of one fuel source, your grill is not totally out of commission. In fact, sometimes you will find yourself only using one side of the grill.
Lastly, versatility. Having two different fuel sources is ideal for individuals who desire endless cooking possibilities with their barbecues and also have a whole outdoor kitchen.
Our Three Best pellet and gas grill combo Picks
Now that we’ve gone over the benefits of pellet gas combo grills, let’s look at three popular and top-selling modes.
1. The Camp Chef WOODWIND 24 – Best Overall
Available at:
The Camp Chef WOODWIND 24-Inch pellet grill is our top pick for the best pellet combo grill. This grill has a large grilling area, and it comes with a variety of features that make it perfect for both home and on the go.
The Camp Chef does not offer a second or separate gas cooking space, but the reason is our top pick is because, first and simply, it is a good pellet grill.
Woodwind offers the latest innovation in pellet grills. It has a Digital PID and WIFI-enabled controller that lets you change the temperature, set timers, and receive notifications when your meat reaches your set temperature—all from the palm of your hand!
The Camp Chef WOODWIND offers a variety of features to make your grilling experience more enjoyable. It offers 811 sq in total rack surface area, plenty of space to cook all your food, plus the lower and upper racks are also adjustable.
What makes this grill a good pellet smoker grill combo is its SideKick grilling system. Simply put, the Sidekick grilling system is a removable side burner that attaches to the side of the grill. The side burner can operate different accessories, including a grill, a pizza box, a searing box, and even a griddle. This level of versatility is what makes this grill our top pick.
This grill is more of a pellet grill smoker with a “side” gas burner. If you are not using the “gas” side table, you can remove it and not have an empty and wasted cooking chamber space.
True, you don’t get a “full-on” gas grill like in the Pit Boss below, but the CampChef is a good grill and smoker.
What we like:
- With Camp Chef’s unique Sidekick system, you can add on multiple propane-powered cooking accessories.
- Camp chef makes good pellet grills with good technology and app.
- Reasonably priced.
What to Consider
- The gas/propane add-ons have to be purchased separately.
2. PIT BOSS SPORTSMAN PELLET/GAS COMBO GRILL – Runner Up
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If you are looking for a more “complete” combo, then the Pit Boss smoker grill combo is a good choice.
The Pit Boss Sportsman Pellet Combo Grill is our second pick for a pellet gas combo grill. This grill is perfect for those who want to have both a pellet grill and a gas grill completely independent from each other in a single frame.
The Pit Boss is more of a “full-on” pellet/gas grill smoker combo. You get a small pellet grill and a small gas grill with three burners. What this all means is that you get two separate cooking chambers, one powered by pellets and the other by propane, all in one frame. So, unlike in the Woodwind, the gas grill in this unit is a full and actual grill.
When it comes to pellet gas combo grills, the Pit Boss Sportsman Series is definitely a top contender. This grill offers 8-in-1 cooking versatility, so you can smoke, bake, braise, roast, grill, barbecue, char-grill, and even sear—all in one machine using wood pellets and gas.
The Pit Boss Flame Broiler system also allows you to achieve instant direct or indirect cooking and temperatures ranging from 180° to 500°F. This feature is simple to use, pull a lever, and the heat shield above the firepot opens up to allow direct flame grilling.
With the digital control board and meat probes, you can easily monitor your food and keep an eye on the cooking progress.
Other notable features of this grill include three stainless-steel gas burners, two meat probes, a large hopper capacity, a hopper viewing window, a built-in spice rack, and a bottle opener, plus a high-temperature powder coat finish.
It also includes a removable side shelf and a foldable front shelf—great for meal prep and placing all your cooking tools.
What we like:
- Great cooking versatility
- Pit Boss Flame Broiler system
- built-in spice rack
- bottle opener
- This pellet grill/gas grill combo comes with a five-year warranty.
- Five Year warranty
What to consider
- You will spend a little more time cleaning and maintaining two grills.
3. Cuisinart Twin Oaks Pellet/Gas Combo – Large
Available at:
This grill does not offer the technology and quality found in the Camp Chef, but you do get a large grill at a good price point. This grill is also a full combo grill, which means you get two separate cooking chambers in one.
The Cuisinart Twin Oaks Pellet/Gas Combo is a great option for those looking for a pellet grill and gas grill smoker combo but want it at an affordable price. It has a cooking surface area of 900 square inches, making it perfect for larger gatherings, and a wide temperature range of 180° to 500°, ensuring that you’ll be able to cook a good range of foods.
The pellet hopper holds 30lbs of pellets, so you won’t have to worry about running out during a long cookout.
The PID control panel ensures precise temperature control. Plus, it comes with Bluetooth capabilities so that you can monitor your cookout from your phone or tablet.
At 207.34 lbs, it’s on the heavier side but still manageable. All in all, the Cuisinart Twin Oaks Pellet/Gas Combo is a great pellet gas combo grill for those who want the best of both worlds.
What we like:
- Large Cooking Area of 900 Square Inches
- Great temperature range: 180° to 500°
- Large Pellet Hopper Capacity: 30 lbs.
- Bluetooth Enabled
What we don’t like:
- Is a heavy fella at 207 pounds
What to Consider When Buying a Pellet Gas Combo Grill
Grilling Space
When buying a pellet propane combo grill, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, consider the size of the cooking area. If you’re planning on cooking for large groups, then you’ll want a pellet grill with a larger cooking surface area.
If you are mostly doing pellet grilling, then something like the Camp Chef with just the one-side burner will be good enough.
Temperature Range
Next, take into account the temperature range. You’ll want to make sure that the pellet grill can reach a broad temperature range to cook your food properly. Don’t get too caught up on temperature range. Most modern wood pellet and gas grills offer appropriate cooking temperature ranges.
Unless you are looking at small and portable smokers or grills, the temperature range is not that much of an issue in larger grills.
Hopper Capacity
Finally, consider the pellet hopper capacity. If you’re going to be cooking for long periods of time, you’ll want a pellet grill with a large hopper, so you don’t have to worry about running out of pellets. A pellet grill will burn about 1 and a half pounds of pellets per hour, so you don’t need a 50-pound pellet hopper, 10 and up is good enough.
Construction, Build, and quality
Having a large cooking space is great, but if the grill won’t last past a season, then what’s the point. Build quality and sturdy construction are important, and things like thick steel construction and stainless steel construction components will contribute to the longevity and lifespan of the grill.
However, nothing beats getting a good cover for your grill.
Warranty
Oh, warranty. Here is our case. These grills have many moving parts and components. The more parts, the more things that can go wrong. Especially with grills with two separate cooking chambers. This means you have augers, electronic fans, and a digital board, but also gas burners. The chances of something breaking, going bad, or malfunctioning well are doubled when you combine two grills into one.
We are not saying the combo grills are less reliable. We are saying that there is more in the pot to go wrong.
Pors and Cons of Combo Grills
Like everything in life, there are Pros and Cons to combining a wood pellet grill with a gas grill.
Pros
- Versatility
- Two different types of fuel to cook food available at your fingertips.
- Pellet grills are easy to use and pack a lot of technology to help you cook and monitor the food.
Cons
- More components need to make these grills work.
- You will spend more on fuel since you need both pellets and propane.
- More maintenance, you will need to clean a pellet grill and a gas grill.
The conclusion
Pellet gas combo grills offer the best of both worlds: the convenience of a gas grill and the flavor of a charcoal grill. When shopping for one, be sure to consider your budget, cooking space, pellet hopper size, features, convenience, and warranty.
However, what’s most important is to decide whether you need a full-on pellet and gas grill combo or a pellet grill with a side burner.
If only having a side gas or propane burner, then our top choice is the Camp Chef. This is because this grill is, first, a great pellet grill, and its propane SideKick system gives you more than just a side burner. You can use it to bake pizzas, as a griddle, and more.
If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, the Pit Boss Sportsman is another great option. If on a budget but still want a full combo, the Cuisinart can fit the bill.
Happy grilling!