Any cookout seems incomplete without serving smoked BBQ and other smoked recipes. Many grillers agree it’s a staple, and that’s why a gas grill with a smoker is something to consider if you’re a fan of smoked dishes.
Below, we’ve compiled the best grill smoker combo products on the market.
The Echelon Diamond lineup from Fire Magic is one of the most sought-after grills series on the market. Each grill in the Echelon Diamond series comes with a smoker basket, creating a convenient grill and smoker combo.
The E790I grill with a smoker is made of 304 stainless steel, including the housing, burners, flavor grids, and the Diamond Sear cooking grids.
These high-quality materials are something to be desired because they enhance the flavor, promote even heat distribution, and improve the overall performance of the grill.
You won’t have trouble whipping up a feast for your guests because this grill offers a total of 1080 square inches of cooking area and 90,000 BTU of cooking power. It even has a quantum backburner for rotisserie cooking.
This smoker grill is also outfitted with all the features you would ever need, including blue LED lights, digital thermometer with meat probe, a spring-assisted lid, rotisserie kit, and heat zone separators.
Overall, this is the best smoker grill we’ve tested.
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If you want a smoker grill combo that does it all, this American Muscle grill and smoker allows you to use charcoal, lump charcoal, wood chunks, pellet fuels, natural gas, and liquid propane. Now that’s some of the best flexibility we’ve seen!
The creative Multi-Fuel Tray system of this grill and smoker combo allows you to use any combination of solid fuels. So whether you’re using wood, charcoal, pellet, or gas, you won’t have any problems with this grill. The smoker box is also included with your purchase (here's how you can use a smoker box).
With 110,000 BTUs of cooking power, the performance of this grill is always at its best. The reversible Hemi-shaped V-Tech cooking grates also provide another layer of versatility in this grill and smoker combo, allowing you to easily cook different food items.
The American Muscle smoker grill provides you with a spacious cooking surface of 1105 square inches. If you’re going to be serving a lot of customers or if you’re hosting a large party, then this cooking area gives you all the space you need.
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You might need a smaller grill if you have limited space. The ALT30T model from the Summerset Alturi line has excellent features in a compact package.
This grill has two 26,000 BTU cast red brass burners, an 18,000 BTU infrared back burner, and a 7,000 BTU smoker burner for all your grilling needs. We tried smoking a few recipes on this grill like smoked pork belly and smoked brisket, and all turned out great.
Even if this grill is smaller in size compared to the others on this list, it has 780 square inches of cooking space. That’s more than enough to serve your family and friends, so hosting a BBQ party won’t be a problem at all.
One of the things we also love about this smoker grill combo is the heavy-duty double-lined and spring-assisted hood. It’s a convenient feature that lets you lift the lid easily, and the double-lined construction effectively traps in heat while preventing discoloration.
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When it comes to grills with smoker capabilities, Primo is a brand that delivers. One of their smokers grill is the Primo Oval G420, which is a bit different from other grill products in the market.
Instead of using stainless steel, the shell construction of this smoker grill combo is made of premium-grade ceramic. That’s because metals can get extremely hot, therefore sapping the moisture and flavor in the meat.
Since ceramic is an insulator, it better retains the moisture and juices inside the meat. Nevertheless, this grill smoker has 304 stainless steel cooking grates, burners, side shelves, and other components.
A smoker basket is included with your purchase, making this a great smoker grill combo. A smoker provides a way for you to experiment with different flavors, producing meat that suits your taste.
It also comes pre-assembled, so you don’t have to tinker with grill and smoker parts. All things considered, this smoker with grill combo is one of the best out there.
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The Summerset Alturi line really boasts some of the best gas grill products around, and the ALT24T is among the best grill smoker combo models they have.
This grill has cast red brass burners, which is the most durable material in the market. Each main burner produces 26,000 BTU, while the back burner generates 18,000 BTU. The cooking grates of this smoker grill combo are also heavy-duty and thick at 9mm.
Plus, there is a smoker tube burner at 7,000 BTU. It has produced some of the best smoker results we’ve ever tasted, and that is saying something.
We love the variety of features that this grill and smoker combo comes with, including the LED front panel lighting, exterior lighting, ceramic briquette trays, and the double-lined, spring-assisted hood.
If you’re someone who likes rotisserie meat as well, this smoker grill also features a heavy-duty rotisserie kit and a rotisserie spit storage bracket. With all the cooking techniques you can do with this grill and smoker combo, you’ll surely have a fabulous cookout.
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Let’s look at something a little bit different, the Fire Magic Echelon Black Diamond H790i. If you want to deviate from the usual stainless steel look that most grills have, this grill smoker combo from Fire Magic is one of the best you can get.
Its black porcelain-coated finish gives of that premium feel, making it a popular choice among many backyard chefs. A charcoal smoker basket is included with your purchase, so you’re free to smoke your favorite recipes and enjoy that real, smoky flavor that many of us love.
Diamond Sear Cooking Grids are one of the best features this grill has. Because of the flat top, there’s an increased surface contact with the food, therefore transferring heat more effectively as you’re cooking.
Another thing you might notice with this product is it has a Magic View Window. This allows you to see the food as it grills on the cooking surface so you don’t have to let the heat escape.
Overall, this is one of the best smoker grill products we’ve tried.
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While a side burner isn’t strictly a necessity, it’s pretty useful to have one if you want to cook delicate dishes such as fish and vegetables. The main cooking surface of a gas grill can be very hot and can burn these items quickly if you’re not careful.
The E1060S grill and smoker combo have a 15,000 BTU double side burner, which provides the perfect temperature for sauces, fish, and veggie recipes. But aside from that, this model has a ton of features that make it one of the best smoker grill products around.
It has durable E burners plus a recessed infrared quantum backburner, which you can use for rotisserie cooking. A charcoal smoker basket is included as well. If you’re interested in smoking recipes, this accessory allows you to do just that.
Other great features include the Diamond Sear cooking grids, Flavour grids, internal lights, fold-down shelves, cabinets, two storage drawers, and towel and tool holders.
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There are a couple of things you need to know when buying a grill and smoker combo. While it still boils down to what you really need, it’s good to have knowledge of the things you should look for so you don’t end up buying something that’s lacking or excessing in features.
In this section, we discuss in depth all the factors you should consider before purchasing a smoker grill combo, such as heat, temperature, and some extra features. We also look into some of the most common questions we get asked about a product like this.
Once you’ve finished our buying guide, no question of yours would be left unanswered.
You can also read our comparison of Weber and AOG grills to expand your knowledge on grills.
When we talk about heat in grills, the specification we’re looking at is the BTU. The acronym stands for British Thermal Unit, and it’s a unit of measurement that determines how much the grill is able to generate per hour.
BTU is an indication of cooking power, but it doesn’t mean that higher BTUs equate to a hotter grill. It merely determines the efficiency of the grill, so higher BTUs also means more fuel is used.
When looking at a smoker grill combo, the general rule is that you should pick a product that generates at least 100 BTU per square inch.
It’s also important to get a good return policy, whether you’re getting a gas grill or a charcoal grill, so you can test the product out yourself and see if it really does heat up fast and maintain its temperature well.
Grill and smoker combo models can be quite expensive, so you want to make sure you’re investing in a product that will last long. So, one of the first things you should consider is the make of the grill you’re buying.
Steel is definitely the ideal choice because it retains heat really well and is extremely durable. Most grills use this material too, so it’s not hard to find.
Some grill and smoker products also use other types of material such as ceramic. The reason behind that is although it’s not as heavy-duty as steel, it’s better at keeping the juices in the meat because steel can get very hot and thus dry out the food.
But despite using a ceramic shell, the components such as the burners and cooking grids should be made of steel - like the Primo product we’ve listed above.
In the end, it doesn’t matter what type of grill you’re buying - a gas grill, charcoal grill, a kamado grill - you want it to be durable regardless.
Having a temperature control functions is one of the most important features a grill should have. Brands like Rec Tec and Camp Chef highlight the importance of temp control in their products, as well. Your grill and smoker combo should definitely have a thermometer and temperature options. This would make it easy to cook and smoke dishes at their ideal temperature.
Gas grills have knobs that are easy to turn so you have temperature control over each burner. If you have two burners, each of them can be set at a different temperature so you can grill different types of food in a separate heat zone.
For grills that automatically feed pellets, they typically have fuel gauges to let you know that it’s time to refill the fuel source. Of course, this is important because fuel is crucial to using the grill.
Fuel capacity is also a major factor in a product. How much liquid gas, wood, charcoal, or pellets can your grill and smoker combo accommodate? If you’re looking forward to long hours of cooking, then having more capacity would be good.
Lastly, adjustable dampers are something to consider so it would be easy to smoke and grill food at the right level of heat.
With these functions together with temperature control, it would be easy for you to grill and smoke dishes at every cookout.
Whether you’re buying a gas or a charcoal grill, the material used for the cooking grates is something you should consider as well. These grids come into contact with flame and food when you grill and smoke, so they need to be tough.
There are different materials used for cooking grates, including:
Do you need a big grill or a small grill? The square inches of the cooking surface matters. You don’t want to keep guests waiting for their food because your cooking area doesn’t fit enough burgers.
At the same time, you wouldn’t want a product that has too much space because the food will get colder when you cook or smoke too many dishes before your guests could consume them.
That said, consider the number of people you plan on serving on a regular basis. If you’re a big party host who’s expecting a lot of guests coming over, then 700 square inches of cooking surface or more would be ideal.
On the other hand, if you will grill or smoke recipes for just a bunch of friends and family, then a smaller grill that could be either a 3 or a 4-burner would give you the right amount of space.
When you think about it, performance covers almost everything that a grill does best. Airflow is important when you smoke recipes, so that’s one factor you should look at. Multiple airflow settings make it easy to try different kinds of smoking.
Aside from that, you should also consider the product material, the heat output, construction of the components, fuel type, the number of burners, temperature control, and how easy it is to use the grill.
The girls we’ve mentioned above all perform great. From construction, function, to actual use, they’re all great options that we’ve tried in our backyard.
There’s absolutely no problem if you just want the essentials in your grill. That depends on your needs and your budget. But if you can stretch your budget, there are a lot of features you might want to have in your grill and smoker combo.
While not really necessary, they are nice to have to make things easy and convenient for you. Some of them include:
Cleaning can turn out to be the most stressful part of owning a grill, or any product that involves dirt and debris for that matter. Nevertheless, it’s something that must be done.
You can definitely find a lot of products that are easy to clean, with pellets that are easy to replace, or ash and grease collection trays that are easy to dump.
With features like this, it will be easy for you to clean and maintain your grill. Note that you should always clean it after every use so it doesn’t accumulate ash, food particles, and debris.
You might also want to consider the weather in your area when you’re buying a grill. You’ll probably be placing it outdoor in your backyard, which will expose it to the elements and the weather.
If you think your grill would need some extra protection, you can go ahead and purchase a weather cover.
Taking these steps, whether you have a gas or charcoal grill, will ensure that the product will last long. Grills are pretty tough, and who knows, you may even get to pass it on as a treasured family heirloom.
Lastly, you should also check the warranty before you make a final buying decision on a grill and smoker combo. A lifetime warranty on the construction, manufacturer defects, burners, and cooking grates is great.
Different brands have different warranties on other grill components, so you might want to check that out also. A warranty is one of the best ways for you to get an insight into the durability of the product, and will also protect you just in case something goes wrong.
The best way to start is by knowing what makes a smoker and a grill different. When you cook with a grill, the temperature is typically high, so food cooks faster. The average is about 275 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can cook with direct or indirect heat.
On the other hand, a smoker cooks dishes at a lower temperature. We’re talking about 175 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature, so the meat is really in there for hours.
As such, tougher meat cuts are fit to be cooked in a smoker. The temperature and the indirect heat better tenderizes the meat and gives it that distinct smoky flavor.
One of the best things about buying a grill and smoker combo is the convenience. You have both a grill and a smoker in one package, so you don’t have to buy a separate product to grill and another product to smoke.
While you typically smoke with charcoal, you can also use pellets or wood chips depending on the model you choose. This kind of versatility is good because you can apply different cooking techniques with just one product.
Hybrid products like this also help you save some space. They are typically two cookers in one, so you don’t have to deal with a bulky grill and a separate smoker because you have a combo product.
You can smoke a variety of meats including pork belly, sausages, tri-tip, brisket, chicken, and salmon. Other than that, there is also a wide variety of other foods you can throw in there like potatoes, oysters, peaches, sea scallops, and nuts [1].
The average smoking time is about 6-8 hours. For some dishes like brisket, it can take as long as 22 hours.
Many cooks also follow the “3-2-1” rule, where the first 3 hours is for smoking the meat, and then it’s wrapped in aluminum foil so the next 2 hours are spent cooking the interior properly. Finally, you unwrap the meat and let it smoke for another 1 hour.
Pellets are usually used for a pellet smoker or a pellet grill. Other smokers and grills can work with wood chips, which usually have different varieties such as apple, hickory, and mesquite. This allows you to experiment with different flavors so you can find the one you like best.
A flare-up is a sudden burst of flame that can happen when you’re cooking. Not only is it dangerous, but it also causes your food to unevenly cook. It could char the meat which would result in a bitter taste, and that’s not good for our health either.
Fortunately, combo cookers help prevent that so you can grill with no worries.
Choosing between charcoal, wood, and gas can be tricky for first-time grillers. These fuel types all provide their own unique results.
Charcoal gives off a deep and warm smoky flavor. Cooking with wood results in a smokier and deep taste. Gas, on the other hand, won’t be able to give the smoky flavor, but it provides consistent results nonetheless.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to your preference. After all, a smoker grill combo allows you to cook both ways.
You should clean your grill after every use and deep clean it at least twice a year. Proper maintenance is still the best step when it comes to prolonging the life of the grill, and if you want it to last, cleaning it regularly is the best thing you can do.
Evidently, the Fire Magic Echelon Diamond E790I is the best gas grill smoker combo on our list. The construction, functions, and the overall performance of this grill and smoker combo will impress any backyard chef.
The shell and the components including the burners and cooking grids are all made of 304-grade stainless steel, an extremely durable material that’s sure to last lifetimes.
With an included smoker basket, you are free to smoke different recipes such as smoked salmon, smoked whole chicken, or even smoked veggie recipes.
Plus, the Fire Magic-exclusive Diamond Sear Grids have a flat top instead of the conventional round ones, increasing the surface contact with the dishes you’re going to cook or smoke and transferring the heat more effectively.
It also has a generous cooking space of 1080 square inches, interior and exterior lighting, a rotisserie kit, heat zone separators, and a spring-assisted lid.
All in all, it’s one of the best products we’ve tested.
Want to know if Memphis grills are really worth the hype? We reviewed the best pellet grills from the brand and more, which you can read about next.
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