It’s the grilling season, and you are in the market for a brand-new grill to make the family reunions all the more special. You chose to buy a wood pellets charcoal grill from online reviews or because of a friend who convinced you.
Owning a grill is just the first step. You have to buy the fuel it runs on as well. In this case, you need to buy grill wood pellets. These pellets are made from natural hardwood and have an authentic smoky flavor that is sure to be a hit among your relatives.
But how can you choose a good brand of grill wood pellets? And Which flavor or blend should you go with? Let’s find out!
Fire & Flavor 100% Natural Hardwood Pellets for Smoking
Brand |
Fire & Flavor |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Apple Flavored |
Weight |
20 pounds |
If you’re looking for an Apple-flavored all-natural hardwood bbq wood pellets best for grilling chicken, pork, and veggies, then this is for you. Fire & Flavor has made the perfect grill wood pellets that can work at high and low temperatures.
Pros
- Priced very reasonably
- Works at high as well as low temperatures
Cons
- The grill wood pellets may not last very long
Pit Boss Oak Blend Hardwood Pellets
Brand |
Pit Boss |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Oak Blend |
Weight |
40 Pounds |
Pit boss is a renowned brand when it comes to making grill wood pellets. These bbq wood pellets best grill beef, chicken, pork, and veggies. It boasts natural hardwood and no added scents or sprays. You need not worry about any ash content with these pellets, as the smoke will be clean.
Pros
- For the price, it has good value
- The quality of the flavor is exceptional
Cons
- The intensity of flavor is very light
- The packaging it comes in may tear during shipping.
Traeger Grills Mesquite 100% All-Natural Wood Pellets for Smokers and Pellet Grills
Brand |
Traeger |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Mesquite |
Weight |
20 Pounds |
Traeger has always made some expert grill wood pellets that are exceptional in quality and quantity. These Mesquite flavored pellets are sure to perk up the taste of your beef, chicken, and seafood for which these are intended to be used.
Pros
- Have an excellent and strong flavor to them
- The pellets can last longer than some others on this list
Cons
- The bag contains a lot of powder
- Burning for too long with these pellets may impart an ashtray taste to the meat
Pit Boss 20 lb Fruitwood Blend Hardwood Pellets
Brand |
Pit Boss |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Fruitwood Blend |
Weight |
20 pounds |
Another quality product by Pit Boss, these pellets have a fruitwood blend. Premium manufacturing allows it to burn with clean ashless smoke. These bbq wood pellets best grill beef, chicken, pork, and veggies.
Pros
- Priced very competitively
- Comes in a lot of flavors and blends
- The pellet size is perfect
Cons
- The packaging could have been stronger
- Pellets burn really quickly
Royal Oak 100 Percent Hardwood Charcoal Pellets for Real BBQ Flavor
Brand |
Royal Oak |
Material |
Hardwood Charcoal |
Flavored |
None |
Weight |
30 pounds |
Another contender to our list is Royal Oak. This time, it is hardwood charcoal instead of standard wood pellets. These can bring an authentic smoky taste to your meat. Royal Oak boasts these to be water resistant, making it easier to be stored in even the more moist places.
Pros
- These burn much hotter than regular pellets
- Can provide a more authentic coal smoke flavor to your meat
- Pellets can last quite a while
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- Its strong flavor can overpower the lighter taste of flavored wood pellets.
Z GRILLS 100% All-Natural Flavor American Competition-Blend Hard Grill
Brand |
Z Grills |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Competition Blend |
Weight |
20 Pounds |
This competition blend by Z Grills is perfect for cooking beef, chicken, and seafood. It has a minimal ash content that produces clean smoke. They boast hardwood pellets without the use of binding agents, which should prove safer for cooking and barbecuing.
These are among the best grill wood pellets that you can find on the market. Coming from a reliable brand like Z Grills, you cannot go wrong with buying this.
Pros
- Have a strong flavor
- Can last really long
Cons
- Falls Among the pricier options.
Traeger Grills Signature Blend 100% All-Natural Wood Pellets for Smokers and Pellet Grills
Brand |
Traeger |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Signature Blend |
Weight |
20 Pounds |
Traeger is back with another quality product. These natural hardwood pellets are a blend of maple and cherry and are termed the Signature Blend.
You can expect little to no ash content with these pellets and smoke that burns cleanly and imparts a delicious flavor to your meat.
Pros
- Taste great with almost every meat and vegetable
- Have a strong and delightful flavor
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- You can find a lot of dust at the bottom of the package.
Camp Chef Bag of Premium for Smoker
Brand |
Camp Chef |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Apple |
Weight |
20 pounds |
Camp Chef is a brand that makes expert grill wood pellets that are perfect for a variety of meats and veggies. Made from Natural Hardwood, these pellets impart a signature apple flavor to your meat, making it even more delicious.
Pros
- Very low ash and moisture content in them
- Have a great value for price
- Have a great flavor that has perfect intensity
Cons
- Difficult to get it to burn
- Pellets burn fairly quickly.
Jim Beam Bourbon Barrel Barbecue Smoker Oak Cooking Pellets for Grilling
Brand |
Jim Beam |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Jim Beam Bourbon |
Weight |
20 Pounds |
These pellets are very different from the others. The main reason for that is the Jim Beam Bourbon flavor that their smoke has. If you’re looking to try something new, then this brand is perfect to go with. It can work with grilling, smoking as well as baking.
Pros
- A unique and signature flavor that you can’t find anywhere else
- Come in s sturdy and durable packaging
- Burns for long and leaves little to no ash
Cons
- More expensive than other pellets
- The intensity of the flavor may not be enough for some people.
Jack Daniel's Smoking BBQ Pellets
Brand |
BBQ Delight |
Material |
Charcoal |
Flavored |
Jack Daniel’s Whiskey |
Weight |
20 Pounds |
BBQ delight has created these charcoal pellets with a unique Jack Daniel’s whiskey flavor to their smoke. Boasting low moisture and ash content, these may be the perfect charcoal pellets for you.
Pros
- The whiskey flavor of these pellets is very good
- Priced very reasonably
Cons
- The intensity of the smoky flavor these impart can be too much.
CookinPellets 40PM Perfect Mix
Brand |
CookinPellets |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Perfect Mix |
Weight |
40 Pounds |
CookinPellets enter the fray with their expert grill wood pellets made from natural hardwood. The Perfect mix has to be the best flavor that you can get from this company, making your meat even more delicious than before.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Has a very consistent taste with perfect intensity
- Have little to no fillers in them
Cons
- Come only in the 40-pound packaging
- The quality control on these pellets needs an improvement
Lumber Jack Competition Blend Maple-Hickory-Cherry BBQ Grilling Pellets
Brand |
Lumber Jack |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Competition Blend |
Weight |
20 Pounds |
Lumber Jack makes some of the best grill wood pellets on the market. These bbq wood pellets are best for cooking a variety of different meats. Expect little to no moisture and ash content in this competition blend.
Pros
- Have a great taste
- These heat up very strongly
Cons
- Quite expensive
- The smoke flavor is quite weak
Louisiana Grills Pennsylvania Cherry Pellets
Brand |
Louisiana Grills |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Cherry Maple Blend |
Weight |
40 Pounds |
Louisiana Grills wood pellets are made with natural hardwood, without the use of fillers. With little to no moisture and ash content in them, this premium blend will impart a sweet and sour flavor to your meat. Arguably, these may be among the best grill wood pellets on the market.
Pros
- Has a good value for its price
- The taste is great and has perfect intensity
- Perfect for cooking a variety of meats
Cons
- May have some sawdust
- Come in only the 40-pound packaging
Pit Boss 40 Pound Bag BBQ Wood Pellets for Pellet Grill
Brand |
Pit Boss |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Competition Blend |
Weight |
40 Pounds |
Pit Boss makes another entry into our list, this time with their exceptional competition blend. This makes it perfect for use when baking as well as the usual variety of meat. You can expect a sweet flavor mixed with savory and tart in your meat when using these.
Pros
- Burns strongly
- The pellets last quite long
- Priced reasonably
Cons
- The packaging may be weak and tear during shipping
- Only available in 40-pound size
BEAR MOUNTAIN Premium BBQ WOODS 100% All-Natural Hardwood Pellets - Gourmet Blend
Brand |
Bear Mountain |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Gourmet Blend |
Weight |
20 Pounds |
Bear Mountain’s gourmet blend is perfect if you’re looking for a balanced sweet and smoky flavor in your meat. With perfect compatibility with any meat or vegetable, these pellets boast premium manufacturing from natural hardwood.
Pros
- The flavor is amazing
- Has good value for money
- Can produce ample heat
Cons
- The packaging is weak and may split open when shipping
- The ash content in these may be higher than others
Green Mountain Grills Premium Apple 100% Pure Hardwood Grilling Cooking Pellets
Brand |
Green Mountain Grills |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Premium Apple |
Weight |
28 Pounds |
Green Mountain Grills makes some of the best grill wood pellets on the market. These grill wood pellets smoking will impart an apple flavor to your meat, making it sweet and savory. Works best with chicken, seafood, and pork.
Pros
- The pellets have a larger diameter due to which they can last longer than others
- The smokiness of these pellets are just perfect
- Apple taste of these pellets is very delicious
Cons
- The packaging should be made stronger
- Price may be slightly higher than some other brands
Traeger Grills Hickory 100% All-Natural Wood Pellets for Smokers and Pellet Grills
Brand |
Traeger |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Hickory |
Weight |
20 Pounds |
Personally, we prefer the Hickory flavor the most out of all others. And Traeger makes Arguably the best Hickory wood pellets on the market. These grill wood pellets heating up your smoker alone will create a refreshing and delectable hickory aroma that is worth every penny.
You can expect the usual great quality pellets from Traeger, which are made with very little moisture and ash content, making them the perfect buy.
Pros
- The Hickory taste is exceptional
- The pellets can last longer than some others on this list
- Little to no ash and moisture content
Cons
- The bag contains a lot of powdered dust
- Works best with Traeger grills only
BBQr's Delight Wood Smoking Pellets - Apple, Hickory, Mesquite, Cherry, Pecan, and Jack Daniel's
Brand |
BBQ Delight |
Material |
Natural Hardwood |
Flavored |
Pack Of 6 Flavors |
Weight |
1 Pound Per Pack |
Our final entry on this list is by BBQ Delight. This product has the packaging of 6 different flavors of wood pellets, including the Jack Daniels charcoal that we have listed above. It’s perfect for someone who wants to try out different flavors, maybe even mix and match some of these to find the best one for them.
Pros
- Includes six different flavors
- Can be mixed and matched to create personalized mixtures and blends
- Can work with a variety of meats and veggies
Cons
- The pellets don’t last long enough
- The smaller 1-pound package of each flavor only worsens this problem
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Wood Pellets In A Charcoal Grill?
Absolutely. Charcoal grills are designed explicitly for charcoal pellets, but you can replace them with grill wood pellets as well. The resulting taste will obviously be different, so we suggest that you use charcoal pellets along with your preferred flavor of grill wood pellets for the best of both worlds.
Ensure that the grill wood pellets you use are made for barbecuing and not just heating. Using heating pellets in your BBQ will pose some serious health risks, and the meat will taste bland as well. Our list contains all the bbq wood pellets best for grilling or smoking, so you can pick any one from them.
The best method to add wood pellets to a charcoal grill is to first heat the grill up using coal. Once it is up and burning, add a few flavored grill wood pellets on top of the charcoal and wait for them to start smoking. After the grill wood pellets smoking starts, add your meat to the grill. This way, you’ll make sure that the imparted flavor from the grill wood pellet smoke infuses sufficiently with the meat.
Wood Pellets Vs Gas Grill?
The are two major types of grills on the market. Gas grills and wood pellets charcoal grills. Both have their own ups and down, and it is up to your own preference and ease if you pick one over the other. Personally, we prefer a wood pellet grill just because of the extra control that you have over whatever you’re grilling.
That isn’t to say that gas grills are not good. These are among the easiest ones to use and allow beginners to jump into the world of BBQing. Due to a constant supply of gas, once you set the time and temperature on the grill, it will stay at that temperature and will automatically stop once the timer is reached. This allows for a more comfortable and less stressful cooking experience.
Grill wood pellets, on the other hand, have the advantage of customizability and control. The market is packed with a variety of blends of different flavors of wood pellets, from Hickory and Apple to Whiskey and bourbons. This opens up avenues for a variety of new flavors that can only be experienced if you own a wood pellet charcoal grill.
How To Grill With Wood Pellets?
It is fairly straightforward to cook with wood pellets. Take your wood pellet grill and make sure that it is clean and ready to go. Add your preferred flavor of wood pellets to it in an ample quantity. On average, a grill can burn 1-3 pounds of pellets in an hour.
An important step is to preheat your grill before you start cooking on it. To get grill wood pellets smoking, plug your grill in and set the temperature you want, preferably around 225-250 degrees. The grill wood pellets heating up will raise the temperature of your grill. Wait for a few minutes until the required temperature is reached. This will allow thorough and even cooking of your meat.
After preheating, add your meat and follow the standard cooking procedure. You may use a meat temperature probe to monitor the heat level in the inside layers of the meat to confirm if it’s cooking properly.
If you are using your grill for the first time, it is important to season it with your brand-new grill. This will remove any residual oils that it is caked in from the factory and apply a fresh coat of cooking grease to the inside of the grill, which will prevent it from rusting. To season a grill, simply do a dry run without food inside it.
Are Wood Pellet Grills Worth It?
In our opinion, they are worth every penny. Wood pellet grills are the talk of the town and the go-to grill for most families. Depending on which model you buy, they can come with smart capabilities and automatic temperature regulation, which will further add to the convenience factor.
The best thing about these things is that they run on a biofuel derived from compressed wood fibers and sawdust, also called wood pellets. There is a difference between wood pellets that are made for heating, and the ones that are for barbecuing, so make sure to choose the latter one.
These wood pellets are infused with certain flavors like Mesquite and Oakwood. The grill wood pellets smoking will impart a certain flavor to the meat that people have come to love. There are also options of mixtures and blends of different flavors that provide an even better experience. You can also go with charcoal pellets, or a mixture of the two, for that classic smoky flavor.
Furthermore, a wood pellet grill has a certain charm of an old-school coal grill to it. The fact that you have to add and replenish pellets whenever you cook and can even ruffle the pellets is something that we can never find in a plain gas grill.
How To Use Wood Pellets On A Gas Grill?
Gas grills may have the advantage of convenience over wood pellet grills, but they can never replicate the special flavors that wood pellet smoke can result in your meat. That is because there are no gas grill wood pellets on the market. You can only find the bbq wood pellets best for grilling and BBQing. But there are certain workarounds to getting your own gas grill wood pellets.
The best method is to simply take a pan and fill it ? with your choice of wood pellets. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and poke a few holes in the middle of it. Place the pan over the heat source, and once the pellets heat up, they’ll emit the flavorful smoke that will give your meat a new taste.
You can also just wrap the pellets inside a piece of aluminum foil and poke a few holes in it as well. Just make sure that the pellets themselves aren't directly in contact with the fire of any heat source. If that happens, the grill wood pellets heating will raise the temperature inside the grill and lead to the meat getting burned.