Isn't every pellet grill already a smoker-grill combo?

Functionally, yes. A pellet grill smokes low-and-slow and, on most current models, sears direct with a flame-broiler slide plate — that's the appeal of the category. When people search 'pellet grill smoker combo' they're usually looking for one of two things: confirmation that a plain pellet grill covers both jobs, or a true dual-fuel unit that adds a second heat source (propane or a griddle) so you can run both at once instead of switching modes on one cooker.

What does a true combo grill add that a regular pellet grill doesn't?

A second, independent fuel source running at the same time. Pit Boss's Competition Series pairs a 1,020 sq in pellet chamber with a propane griddle on the same cart, and Camp Chef's Woodwind SS bundles its pellet grill with a bolt-on propane SideKick sear box. Both let you hold a low-and-slow smoke on wood pellets while searing, griddling pancakes, or running a wok burner on gas at the same time — something a single-fuel pellet grill can't do without finishing one task before starting the next.

Is a combo grill worth the extra size and price over a plain pellet grill?

Only if you actually use both fuels regularly. If your cooks are mostly brisket, ribs, and pulled pork with the occasional sear, our flagship best pellet grill picks cover that at a lower price and a smaller footprint. A combo earns its keep for cooks who genuinely griddle breakfast, sear steaks hot, and smoke low-and-slow in the same week and don't want three separate outdoor cookers taking up patio space.

Do combo grills cost more to run than a single-fuel pellet grill?

Yes, in two ways. You're now buying both wood pellets and propane instead of one fuel, and the units themselves run larger and pricier than a comparable single-fuel grill — the Pit Boss Competition Series lists around $699.99 and the Camp Chef Woodwind SS 24 with SideKick bundle runs about $749.99 on sale, both above where a similarly sized single-fuel pellet grill typically lands.

Can I add gas searing to a pellet grill I already own instead of buying a combo?

Sometimes. Camp Chef sells its SideKick propane sear box separately for roughly $180-220 and it bolts onto compatible Woodwind models, which is a cheaper path than buying a combo outright if you already own a compatible Camp Chef grill. Pit Boss's griddle-and-pellet combos, by contrast, are sold as single integrated units and aren't designed as an add-on to an existing single-fuel Pit Boss grill.

Pellet Grill Smoker Combo: What It Actually Means (2026 Guide + Real Picks)

Search “pellet grill smoker combo” and you’ll get two very different kinds of results: plain pellet grills being marketed as combo units because they already smoke and grill, and true dual-fuel grills that bolt a second heat source onto the cart. Here’s the real difference, and two actual dual-fuel picks with current prices if that’s what you’re after.

Quick Answer

A standard pellet grill is already a smoker-grill combo — it holds a low 225°F smoke and sears direct off the same wood-pellet fire, which covers most backyard cooking. A true combo grill adds a second, independent fuel source that runs at the same time as the pellet side: Pit Boss’s Competition Series pairs a 1,020 sq in pellet chamber with a propane griddle (1,261 sq in total, 21 lb hopper, 5-year warranty, listed around $699.99), and Camp Chef’s Woodwind SS 24 bundled with its propane SideKick sear box runs about $749.99 on sale (regularly $999.99). Buy a plain pellet grill if brisket-to-sear covers your cooking; buy a true combo only if you actually need pellets and propane running at once.

Plain pellet grill vs. true dual-fuel combo

Type	Fuel	Can run both at once?	Best for
Standard pellet grill	Wood pellets only	No — one fire zone, switch between smoke and sear modes	Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and occasional direct sear
Pellet + gas griddle combo (e.g. Pit Boss Competition Series)	Wood pellets + propane	Yes — separate chambers, independent controls	Smoking a shoulder while griddling breakfast or smash burgers
Pellet grill + bolt-on sear box (e.g. Camp Chef Woodwind + SideKick)	Wood pellets + propane	Yes — SideKick runs off its own 28,000 BTU burner	Holding a low smoke while searing a steak hot and fast on the side

The distinction that actually matters for buying: a plain pellet grill’s “sear mode” is still the same fire, just with the flame-broiler plate open — you lose your smoke temperature while you sear. A true combo keeps both running independently, which is the entire reason to pay more and take up more patio space for one.

Pit Boss Competition Series pellet + gas griddle combo

1,261 sq in total — 1,020 sq in pellet chamber + propane griddle, 21 lb hopper, 5-year warranty

Digital LCD control adjusts pellet-side temperature in 5°F increments, 180-500°F range.
Propane griddle runs independently of the pellet chamber — smoke on one side, griddle breakfast on the other, at the same time.
Listed around $699.99 through Academy Sports; check current retailer pricing before buying, since combo pricing shifts more than single-fuel models.

Check price on Amazon →

Ordering the part now so it’s ready for the weekend cook? Amazon Fresh can have the brisket and rubs delivered the same day the grill shows up.

Camp Chef Woodwind SS 24 + SideKick sear box bundle

Pellet grill with bolt-on propane sear box, sale price about $749.99 (reg. $999.99)

SideKick sear box runs on its own 28,000 BTU propane burner — sear a steak at full heat without touching the pellet chamber's temperature.
Slide and Grill (SS) direct-flame plate on the pellet side adds a second sear option if you'd rather skip the propane burner for smaller cooks.
The SideKick sells separately for roughly $180-220 if you already own a compatible Woodwind and just want to add gas searing later.

Check price on Amazon →

When a plain pellet grill is the better call

Most backyard cooking — brisket, pork butt, ribs, wings, the occasional reverse-seared steak — doesn’t need two independent fuel sources. If that’s your cook list, our best pellet grill picks cover it at a smaller footprint and a lower price than any combo on this page. Combos earn their extra cost and cart space specifically for households that griddle, sear hot, and smoke low-and-slow in the same week and don’t want three separate cookers competing for patio room.

FAQ

Isn’t every pellet grill already a combo? Functionally yes — it smokes and sears off the same fire. A true combo adds a second, independent fuel source that runs at the same time instead of one fire switching modes.

What does a true combo add? Independent gas heat alongside the pellet chamber — a propane griddle (Pit Boss Competition Series) or a bolt-on sear box (Camp Chef SideKick) — so you can smoke and sear/griddle simultaneously.

Is it worth the extra cost? Only if you’ll actually run both fuels regularly. Otherwise a plain pellet grill covers the same cooking at a lower price.

Do combos cost more to run? Yes — you’re buying two fuels instead of one, and the units themselves list higher than comparable single-fuel grills (about $699.99 and about $749.99 for the two picks above).

Can I add gas searing to a grill I already own? If it’s a compatible Camp Chef Woodwind, yes — the SideKick sear box sells separately for about $180-220. Pit Boss’s combos are sold as integrated units, not add-ons.

Sources: Pit Boss Competition Series Combo, Camp Chef Woodwind SS 24 with SideKick.

Not sure a combo is even the right category for you? Our best pellet grill roundup covers single-fuel picks across every budget, our pellet grill vs gas grill guide breaks down the fuel tradeoff in more depth, and our best pellet grill accessories guide covers the sear plates and griddle attachments that add some combo-like flexibility to a single-fuel grill.