I’ve always loved grilling but cooking on smokers is next-level and is like comparing mini-golf to real golf. Picture the magic of grilling and multiply it by 100. Given that I often post pictures of BBQ goodness on my social media, I’m often asked what the best BBQ smokers for beginners are. My answer differs based on one simple question: “What are looking to get out of it?” Are you looking to learn the craft or simply want to add some variety into your meals? Maybe a bit of both. Point being, you’ll want to make sure you spend your money on a cooker that makes the most sense.
This is why I’ve put together this post on the three best smokers to start with (in my own, humble opinion)!
How I Made My Choice
When we’re talking smokers, there are many options. Thankfully, I have some good friends over at New England Pitmasters that I confided in so when you are done reading this, feel free to swing over to their Facebook group. They are an excellent resource for folks just getting started and are super-friendly.
Anyway, when I decided to get into BBQ and smoking, I really wanted to understand it and learn the craft. While some folks suggested I start with something on the easy side (such as a pellet or electric smoker), I felt I’d be more engaged starting with something more challenging. I not only wanted the final product, but also wanted to learn the process and science behind getting to the final product.
Weber Smokey Mountain 22″
So, after much deliberation, I purchased a Weber Smokey Mountain 22″ cooker (known as simply the “WSM” in BBQ social circles). While the 18″ is cheaper, trust me, get the 22″. You will need and want the space. This is a charcoal fired, bullet-style cooker made by one of the biggest names in the industry. Lots of variables go into cooking with charcoal; ambient temperature and wind are the primary players. These “variables” can be challenging to manage and even frustrating at times.
Generally, this is not a good choice for folks wishing to “set it and forget it.” However, they do have temperature controllers which make smoking on the WSM less maintenance-intensive.
From vent settings and charcoal configurations to wood flavors and attachments, there is so much to learn and love! The Weber Smoker Mountain has attachments to cook pizzas, rotisserie chicken, and even hooks to hang meat directly over the coals! You can also remove the upper portion of the body and use the lower portion for searing and traditional grilling.
Charcoal is great to cook with because well, what doesn’t taste great when cooked over charcoal? Don’t be put-off just because charcoal requires more tending to and has a steeper learning curve. I have no regrets because it taught me a lot about smoking and certainly isn’t rocket science. If you do go with the WSM (or any charcoal cooker), you will need the items below. I’ve included links to the gear that I use, but feel free to make your own choices.
- Charcoal chimney starter (Weber Rapidfire Compact)
- Tumbleweed charcoal lighters (Fire Starter Charcoal Lighters)
- Charcoal (Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes)
- Flavored wood chunks (Weber Apple Wood Chunks)
- Meat thermometer (ThermoPro TP20 Wireless)
Traeger Pro Series 575
Pellet smokers certainly make the list of the best BBQ smokers for beginners because regulating the temperature is a snap. They are especially appealing for those who want to get into smoking and BBQ but do not necessarily have the time or interest to tend to the pit. One of the most appealing aspects of a pellet smoker is their ability to regulate their temperature.
You set the temperature via digital temperature controller and the pellet smoker will maintain it by adjusting airflow/fan speed and automatically dispensing flavored wood pellets as needed. All you need to do is keep the wood pellet hopper stocked with pellets and monitor the internal temperature of your meat (using a separate meat thermometer like the ThermoPro or Meater). Set-and-forget; simple as that.
My recommendation for a starter pellet smoker is the Traeger Grills Pro Series 575. Traeger is a recognized brand by professional pitmasters and the company is well-known for its stellar customer service. There are other great brands, such as Recteq, which tend to be slightly pricier but arguably built better than Traegers (and I do love the horn handles on Recteq grills).
As far as gear goes, if you go with a pellet smoker there isn’t a whole lot more you need to get started. You’ll want to get:
- Flavored wood pellets
- Meat thermometer (ThermoPro TP20 Wireless)
Weber Performer Premium Charcoal Grill 22″
Out of all of my BBQ equipment, this is the most versatile because you can smoke, BBQ, and grill on it! Similar to the Weber Smokey Mountain, it has tons of attachments and add-ons to cook everything from pizzas to whole chickens. From smoking a turkey for thanksgiving to grilling burgers and dogs for the 4th of July, the Weber Performer can do hot-and-fast or slow-and-low; one of the best BBQ smokers for beginners.
The biggest difference between the Weber Smokey Mountain and the Weber Performer is the temperatures they are able to reach. Unlike the WSM, the Weber Performer is best for smoking hot and fast items like chicken. I’m not saying you can’t smoke chicken on the Weber Smokey Mountain, but you may find it difficult to reach temperatures needed to get that skin nice and crisp on the WSM.
The Performer is one of the best smokers to start with and also comes with a convenient shelf built-in, an ash collector, and a trash barrel. It is a staple on the patio of pitmasters because you can do anything with it and they are nice looking. If you plan on going with one of these babies, make sure you buy the gear I have listed underneath the Weber Smokey Mountain section. Additionally, you will want to get a vortex for cooking/smoking chicken wings to perfection… trust me (pictured above). If you order your Weber Performer on Amazon, you can be up-and-running in just a few days!
The Bottom Line
These are my three recommendations for the best BBQ smokers for beginners. Hopefully, this gives you a bit of direction. There are plenty of other smokers out there such as offset smokers (known as “stick burners”), however, I’d recommend not buying a stick burner for your first go-around as they require more skill and patience to use.
The BBQ community is large and continuously growing. As a husband and father in his late 30’s, I absolutely love headed out to my patio on a Sunday morning to get my smoker fired up. Trying new recipes, different methods of cooking, different rubs, injections, and wood flavors… it is just awesome and the possibilities are endless. Whether you want to become a BBQ guru or simply want to add some variety to your family meals, you likely will not regret buying a smoker and giving it a shot.
Learning Resources
Here are a few of my favorite YouTube channels and websites where I’ve learned the most. If you want to get really excited about BBQing and smoking, check these out!
- How To BBQ Right – Malcolm Reed
- Heath Riles BBQ
- BBQFood4U – The Backyard BBQ Show
- The Virtual Weber Bullet
- New England Pitmasters
Feel free to ask questions and/or comment below! Did you find this article helpful in making a choice? What did you end up going with and what did you cook? What is the best smoker to start with that you recommend? Happy grilling!
