In recent years I’ve started to notice more of the most popular pellet grill brands coming out with pellet/gas combination grills, commonly known as combo grills. Why? Well, there are a couple of reasons. As there are both pros and cons to both pellet and gas grills producing a grill with both fuel options does appeal to some people. Therefore, I thought I would produce a post to highlight some of the best pellet/gas combo grills/smokers currently on the market and also to discuss if and when you might want to consider such a combo grill/smoker.
Disclaimer: Hey! By the way… any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon or other sites are affiliate links, and I earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Update: There is now a new category of pellet/charcoal combo grills you may want to look into.
Introduction To Pellet/Gas Combo Grills/Smokers
While pellet/gas combo grills are a relatively new addition to the market, combo grills have been around for many years. However, previously they would have been charcoal/gas combo grills.
The appeal of both types of combo grills is essentially the same. You use the pellet/charcoal side when you have more time and you want to get a better flavour into your food.
If you are tight on time and you just need to cook some quick burgers, for instance, you just use the gas grill to get the job done.
However, I believe charcoal/gas combo grills and pellet/gas combo grills are very different beasts.
So you may still be wondering why you would need/want to have a combo pellet/gas grill?
After all, aren’t pellet grills/smokers operated through a control panel, making them even easier/simpler to use than even a gas grill?
While that’s true, there are two advantages that gas grills hold over pellet grills, and that’s warm-up time and maximum temperatures for searing.
As I discuss in my article on which pellet grills get the hottest, some pellet grills get much hotter than others. Now, you can use GrillGrates to improve the searing performance of a pellet grill.
However, a gas grill is still going to be able to achieve higher searing temperatures of closer to 900 degrees.
In a best case scenario on a pellet grill with direct-flame and GrillGrates, you will be looking at a cooking surface temperature of 700 degrees.
Its the time aspect which is a significant consideration for many people. A pellet grill will take longer to get up to those high grilling/searing temperatures. Now that’s likely not so much of a problem on lazy weekends.
However, if its a mid-week summer evening and you’re looking to get some burgers done, its going to be much quicker to just use a propane grill.
Those burgers aren’t obviously going to taste as nice as they would be cooked on the pellet grill, but if you don’t have the time, that’s irrelevant.
Now, the time difference between getting a pellet grill and a gas grill up to temp is not anywhere near as significant as comparing a charcoal and gas grill.
However, there is still a difference, with gas being quicker to get to temp. Hence, the appeal of the pellet/gas combo grills.
So below, I’ll discuss the various pellet/gas combo grills currently on the market today with links to my detailed articles on those products.
Camp Chef Pellet Grills With Propane Sear Box/Sick Kick
Currently, one of my favourite combo pellet/gas grills is the option of combining either a Camp Chef Woodwind, Woodwind Pro or SmokePro pellet grill/smoker with either a Sear Box or Side Kick propane attachment on the side.
I have a separate post comparing the Sear Box vs Side Kick, as the differences between the two are not immediately clear. The Sear Box, as the name implies, is purely for searing/grilling.
You can probably fit 4-5 burgers on there or 2-3 steaks. Now granted, that’s not a lot of space compared to some of the 50/50 pellet/gas combo grills below.
However, this solution is mainly focused on providing more utility to the pellet grill/smoker.
In other words, you do most of the cooking on the pellet grill to lock in the flavour and then finish off the cook with the Sear Box. Or cook up just a couple of quick burgers/steaks etc on the Sear Box.
The SideKick, on the other hand, is more flexible (and has a higher BTU output).
However, to use the SideKick you have to purchase additional accessories such as the BBQ Grill Box, Cast Iron Griddle, Artisan Ovan (for pizza), and various other cookware is also available.
The SideKick with the BBQ Grill Box does provide more grilling space than the Sear Box. However, the total cost is higher.
What I really like about this Camp Chef solution to a pellet/gas combo grill is you can just start with the pellet grill on its own, and add the Sear Box/Sidekick at a later date if you need it.
The thing is, many people actually find they get along just fine with the pellet grill on its own.
With the Camp Chef solution, these propane attachments can always be added later if you really wanted/needed them.
Camp Chef Apex Grills – Hybrid Gas/Pellet Combo
If you have a bit more coin to spend and you are looking for a premium pellet/gas grill (or hybrid, as Camp Chef calls it), there is the new Apex.
Available as either a 24″ or 36″ wide grill, the Apex is not a 50/50 split or just a side propane attachment, its a true combination grill.
In other words, the entire cooking chamber can be used as a pellet grill/smoker and/or a gas grill.
Hence, you can go from smoking the food with pellets to finishing off with a gas sear without having to move the meat. Alternatively, if you just need to quickly grill some burgers, then its a full-sized gas grill.
I have a separate article on the Camp Chef Apex if you want to do a deep dive into all its features. For instance, it features a quickly removable grease tray.
It also features a similar PID/WiFi control panel to the Camp Chef Woodwind grills mentioned above.
Do I think the Apex is a better solution to a smaller Camp Chef pellet grill with a propane Side Kick? Yes, but it also comes with a price premium, as you’ll see below.
Hence, for lower budgets, the propane Side Kick still has its place.
Camp Chef Apex Pellet/Gas Grill Key Specs
- Cooking Area: 811 Sq In (24″ Apex), 1,236 Sq In (36″ Apex)
- Temperature Range: 160°F to 500°F (pellet), 650°F (gas)
- Pellet Hopper: 30 lbs
- PID Control Panel?: Yes
- WiFi/App?: Yes
- Weight: 279 lbs (24″ Apex),
- Typical Price: $2,199 (24″ Apex), $2,499 (36″ Apex)
- Availability: CampChef.com & BBQGuys.com
Pit Boss Platinum Series Pellet/Gas Combo Grills
Pit Boss currently produce the widest range of 50/50 split pellet/gas combo grills. However, availability to actually pick up each of the models does vary.
For instance, the Navigator pellet/gas combo grill is only available from certain local retailers/speciality stores or directly from Pit-BossGrills.com, and the same goes for the Sportsman pellet/gas combo grill.
The Pro Series 1100 gas/pellet combo grill is only available through Lowes. Though the most widely available (through Walmart) Pit Boss pellet/gas combo grill is from their Platinum Series, the KC Combo.
The Pit Boss KC Combo for the price (under $850) is not a bad deal at all. Furthermore, Pit Boss grills do come with a 5-year warranty, which is one of the longest available of the most popular pellet grill brands.
However, you should note, that the paint finish and rust/corrosion are not included in the warranty.
You will not find much stainless steel, if any, on Pit Boss grills. As I discuss in my Traeger vs Pit Boss post, Pit Boss are targeting the value/budget segment of the market.
Pit Boss has now upgraded the Platinum Series with WiFi control panels to link up to the SmokeIT App. Previously, they only featured Bluetooth connectivity.
Pit Boss KC Combo Pellet/Gas Grill Key Specs
- Cooking Area: 1,001 Square Inches (pellet and gas grill)
- Temperature Range: 180°F to 500°F (pellet grill)
- Pellet Hopper: 26lbs
- PID Control Panel?: Yes
- WiFi/App?: Yes
- Weight: 262.35 lbs
- Typical Price: $747 to $850
- Availability: Walmart.com
Pit Boss Mile Hybrid Pellet Smoker/Gas Grill
Where the Pit Boss KC Combo above is a 50/50 split grill with pellet cooking and gas grilling in separate cooking chambers, their new model, the Mile Hybrid, is very different.
With this combo grill, the pellet burn pot and gas burners are within the same cooking chamber. There is the standard centrally located pellet burn pot with two gas burners located above it.
An advantage of including the pellet burn pot and gas burners within the same cooking chamber is for really high heat, you could use both heat sources at the same time.
Furthermore, you can sear over the gas burners without having to move the food over to a separate cooking chamber.
Granted, you don’t have as much cooking space as something like the KC Combo above. However, I think this Mile Hybrid model should meet the cooking needs in terms of surface area for many couples and small families.
Unfortunately, the Mile Hybrid is not fitted with one of Pit Boss’s latest PID control panels for advanced temperature control. Neither is it fitted with a SmokeIT control panel for WiFi/App support.
Then again, for under $500, I think this Mile Hybrid model is well worth considering if you’re looking for a pellet/gas combo grill on a budget.
Pit Boss Mile Hybrid Pellet Smoker/Gas Grill Key Specs
- Cooking Area: 611 Square Inches (pellet and gas grill)
- Temperature Range: 180°F to 500°F (pellet grill)
- Pellet Hopper: 15lbs
- PID Control Panel?: No
- WiFi/App?: No
- Typical Price: $497
- Availability: Walmart.com
Cuisinart Twin Oaks Pellet/Gas Combo
When Cuisinart started to first sell pellet grills/smokers, they were essentially identical to Z Grills models.
However, their two latest offerings, the Woodcreek and Twin Oaks, appear to be unique designs, and they do have a lot going for them for the price.
For instance, their 50/50 split pellet/gas combo grill (Twin Oaks) is actually cheaper than the Pit Boss KC Combo.
I think its actually better than the Pit Boss in a couple of areas (stainless steel lid with viewing window), but its not as good in other areas (thin folded sheet steel construction, no PID control panel).
However, for the price (less than $700), the Twin Oaks could be worth considering if you’re on a tight budget and you’re looking for a pellet/gas combo grill with a 50/50 split of the cooking area between both fuel options.
The pellet hopper on the Twin Oaks is a massive 30lbs. Now, that may sound like a good thing. But in reality, its way more than you need, as you don’t want to leave pellets in the hopper for too long.
If you do, its possible the pellets will absorb moisture and go bad. I also wouldn’t leave this Twin Oaks combo grill outside. The thin steel construction could rust through pretty quickly once the paint finish starts to fail.
Cuisinart Twin Oaks Pellet/Gas Combo Specs
- Cooking Area: 900 Square Inches (pellet and gas grill)
- Temperature Range: 180°F to 500°F (pellet grill)
- Pellet Hopper: 30lbs
- PID Control Panel?: No
- WiFi/App?: Bluetooth with App
- Weight: 207.34 lbs
- Typical Price: $597 to $699
- Availability: Walmart.com
Expert Grill Concord 3-In-1 Pellet Grill/Propane Griddle
You may not have heard of Expert Grill before, as I discuss in my linked article, they are a new budget brand that appears to be exclusive to Walmart.
The Expert Grill Concord has a propane griddle on the left and a pellet grill/smoker on the right.
While being the cheapest pellet/gas combo of the current options, it still provides a total cooking area of 1,001 sq.in equalling the Pit Boss KC Combo above.
While the Expert Grill Concord offers a cooking area equal to the Pit Boss KC Combo and is also fitted with a PID control panel, there are some notable differences.
For instance, on the pellet grill side, the Expert Grill will max out at 450 degrees, whereas the Pit Boss can get up to 500 degrees.
Furthermore, there is a significant difference in weight, with the Pit Boss weighing in at nearly a hundred pounds heavier than the Expert Grill.
Indicating the thicker steel construction of the more expensive Pit Boss. However, I still regard the Expert Grill Concord as one of the best pellet grills under $600.
Expert Grill Concord 3-In-1 Pellet Grill/Propane Griddle Specs
- Cooking Area: 1,001 Square Inches (pellet and gas grill)
- Temperature Range: 180° to 450° (pellet grill)
- Pellet Hopper: 24lbs
- PID Control Panel?: Yes
- WiFi/App?: Bluetooth with App
- Weight: 170 lbs
- Typical Price: $588 to $599
- Availability: Walmart.com
Traeger Timberline Gen 2 Models
The latest models in the Traeger line-up are redesigned/updated models of their top-of-the-range offerings, now referred to as the Traeger Timberline Gen 2.
Do these new Traeger grills feature gas burners? Nope, so you’re probably wondering why I’m mentioning them in an article on combo grills.
Well, the reason is, while they don’t feature any gas burners, they are actually a combo grill with the help of their induction hob.
If you’re not sure what an induction hob is or how it works, I would encourage you to read my full article on the Timberline Gen 2.
However, briefly, its a hob that uses an electromagnet to heat up metal pans, specifically metal pans/skillets etc, that have high iron content.
Therefore, cast iron cookware is ideal for an induction hob, provided its enamel-coated. Otherwise, the rough finish of raw cast iron would scratch the glass hob top to bits.
An induction hob can get up to 700 degrees for high heat searing twice as fast as a standard radiant heat electric hob or even a gas hob.
Hence, the addition of an induction hob has created a new type of combo pellet grill/smoker. Do I think more pellet grill brands will introduce induction hobs on their pellet grills?
Maybe, but the technology is still pretty expensive, hence part of the reason why these Gen Timberline models are not exactly what you would call cheap.
Traeger Timberline Gen 2 Specs
- Cooking Area: 880 Sq In to 1320 Sq In (Timberline XL)
- Temperature Range: 180° to 500° (700° on Induction Hob)
- Pellet Hopper: 22lbs
- PID Control Panel?: Yes
- WiFi/App?: Yes
- Typical Price: $3,499 to $3,989
- Availability: Traeger.com & BBQGuys.com
Conclusion On The Best Pellet/Gas Combo Grills
Personally, I think the best solution in most cases and for most people is the Camp Chef solution of either the propane Sear Box or Sidekick or the more premium option of the Camp Chef Apex.
First off, at their core, I feel the Camp Chef grills are superior pellet grills based on their control panel technology.
All Camp Chef pellet grills now come with a PID controller, as the Gen 2 Controller is standard across the SmokePro range.
Furthermore, Camp Chef pellet grills are true WiFi grills, read my Traeger WiFire vs Camp Chef Connect article to learn more.
If you are on a tighter budget than the Camp Chef options allow. I do think the Pit Boss Mile Hybrid or the Expert Grill Concord are worth considering.
I think the new Traeger Timberline Gen 2 models, with their induction cooktops, offer much-needed functionality to those grills.
I do expect to see more induction hobs appearing on pellet grills going forward. Unfortunately, its also an expensive technology currently, though the cost should hopefully come down over time.
That’s it! Thanks for reading. I hope you found this article on the best pellet/gas combo grills interesting/informative.
Please check out my Wood Pellet/Grill Smoker Guide for links to a wide range of my articles. 🙂
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