The Camp Chef SmokePro SG Pellet Grill is that rare breed of equipment that’s so easy to use; you can feel like a master after your first cook. Although this was the first pellet grill/smoker I’ve ever used, the SmokePro SG made me feel like a championship BBQ pitmaster. Starting at $749.99, the SmokePro SG belongs in every carnivore’s backyard.
If you want a perfect smoke ring on your first try, check out the SmokePro SG. If you want to “set and forget” your smoker for cooks up to 23 hours, check out the SmokePro SG. If you want to be able to be nimble enough to switch from an indirect flame to direct flame grilling with the pull of a lever using “slide and grill technology,” check out the SmokePro SG. If you want the ability to add an accessory that can perfectly sear your meat after smoking it, hitting temperatures up to 900ºF to get those beautiful grill marks, check out the SmokePro SG with Sear Box accessory.
Check out the video I put together that reviews some of the main features of the SmokePro SG:
With an electronic auto-start ignition, thermostat to maintain temperatures, large capacity pellet hopper, two meat probes, and a 4,850 cubic inch grilling area volume, you can smoke or gill to your heart’s content. Let’s not forget about the slide and grill technology that allows you to switch seamlessly between indirect and direct flame mode so you can achieve two separate flavor profiles all on one grill.
Everything that Camp Chef sent
The Computer, where you set the grill temperature, check internal meat temperature, and more.
Upper racks hidden so that you have a half-rack setup up top.
Full upper rack setup
If you’re new to pellet grills, here’s a crash course in how they work: You set a temperature on the computer/thermostat and this tells the auger how many pellets to feed into the firebox and how often. When the firebox is full of pellets, the electronic igniter sets the pellets on fire and the integrated fan distributes the heat throughout the grill similar to a convection oven. This allows you to get great smokey flavor with minimal effort or babysitting. That’s the simplest explanation of what we’re talking about here.
The Sear Box in all its glory
Showing off the cast iron grates on the Sear Box
Flame on, inside the Sear Box
Rear of the pellet grill with the Sear Box open
The pellet hopper with lid open.
Inside the pellet hopper
A full pellet hopper is a beautiful thing
The SmokePro SG is jam-packed with impressive features, check out the full list, below:
- Electronic auto-start ignition
- Dual LED temperature readout: internal cooking temps and internal food temps
- Simple temperature selection system
- Automatic auger dispenses pellets as needed for improved smoker efficiency
- Included warming rack provides additional space to cook your favorite foods
- Includes 2 meat probes
- Pellet hopper cleanout
- Large capacity (22 lb) pellet hopper
- Patented Ash Cleanout System
Check out the specs from Camp Chef as well:
- Grilling Area Volume: 4,850 cub. in
- Lower Rack Area: 429 sq. in
- Upper Rack Area: 382sq. in
- Total Rack Surface Area: 811 sq. in
- Hopper Capacity: 22 lbs. of pellets
Pull this to switch from indirect to direct flame
The ash cup
My steak started out around 51 degrees
The BBQ Sear Box Accessory pairs perfectly with the SmokePro SG. The best way to reverse sear your meat is to cook it slowly in a smoker and then taking it directly from the smoker to the 900ºF sear box to sear the exterior of the meat, giving you those gorgeous and delicious grill marks. It’s super easy to use, just turn it on like you would any stove. The BBQ Sear Box powered by a propane tank that can be mounted to the back of the stove using an included hook.
Let’s also take a look at the features and specs of the BBQ Sear Box accessory:
- Stainless steel construction
- Enamel-coated cast iron grilling grates
- Raised ribs for distinct grill marks
- Propane burner for high heat
- Propane tank holder included
- Grease management system with drip tray
- Built-in ignition for easy lighting
- Heat diffuser plates for infrared cooking
- Reaches temperatures up to 900° F
- Easily replaces existing side shelf with existing holes and hardware
- Searing Area Dimensions: 11.5″x16″
- Total Surface Area: 184 sq. in
- 16,000 BTU Stainless Steel Burner
- Overall Weight: 34 lbs.
- Propane Tank not included
Check out the gallery of photos from my first cook, rib steak:
Now let’s talk about my experience with the SmokePro SG pellet grill. Camp Chef was nice enough to include a whole slew of accessories, including two bags of Competition Blend pellets, a patio cover, a BBQ tool set, the Sear Box, and a bamboo cutting board. Once I unpacked everything from the shipping pallet, it was fairly easy to assemble the SmokePro SG. I mention it in my overview video, but it took about 1.5 hours to assemble it myself, however Camp Chef recommends assembly with two people. I’m sure it would be much easier and take less than an hour with two people. That said, the assembly instructions are clear and simple.
Smoking some baby back ribs:
As previously mentioned, using the grill is extremely simple. You just set the thermostat to the temperature you want, between 160ºF and 500ºF, wait for it to ignite and preheat, then put your meat on and wait for your meat to come to temperature.
The first night, I bought a 2-inch thick bone-in rib steak to cook on the SmokePro SG. I set the SmokePro SG to 225ºF and let it cook for a few hours, trying to get the steak to medium rare. Like a dummy, I completely forgot the temperature for medium-rare, 130ºF, and accidentally cooked the steak to 150ºF, which is closer to medium well. I was so worried that the steak would be dry, especially due to the fact that it’s an expensive piece of meat. What was surprising was that due to the slow smoking cooking method, the meat was still tender, juicy, and flavorful, with a nice smoke ring. Plus, the sear box gave the meat delicious, professional-looking grill marks.
Smoking ribs, London broil, and corn:
I’ve also cooked ribs, London broil, and a brisket on the SmokePro SG. The ribs came out with an awesome smoke ring and delicious smoky flavor while the London broil was tender and juicy. The brisket was a bit overcooked, but that was my fault. Brisket is notoriously difficult to cook properly and the brisket I chose was a bit too small, so it got a little dry. The flavor, however, was out of this world and I will definitely be trying brisket again with a much larger cut. And that’s the thing about the SmokePro SG pellet grill; it really does make you think that you can be Aaron Franklin for a day.
While my experience with this pellet grill was overwhelmingly positive, I have noticed some quirks. The grill temperature appears to swing about 15 degrees in either direction at times, which BBQ purists will tell you is less than ideal. Also, while the direct flame grilling mode is nice to have, the firebox is small and you can’t grill a ton of meat over it at one time. Finally, if I’m stretching for a complaint, the materials do feel slightly on the lower end. I’ve used grills in the past that use heavier gauge metal that feel more “high-end,” though I can’t speak to the grill’s durability at this point.
Brisket!:
Camp Chef has made me a huge fan of pellet grills. The SmokePro SG gave me the courage to take on a smoked brisket, one of the toughest challenges in BBQ, and that’s saying something. It’s easy to assemble, easy to use, and produces delicious, smoke-infused food. It’s versatile and has a large capacity. I was able to smoke two racks of ribs, two London broils, and 9 ears of corn at one time and they all came out fantastic. With innovative features like slide and grill technology and the simple ash cleanout system, the SmokePro SG is a great option for beginners and experts alike.
Camp Chef’s SmokePro SG comes in two finishes, black or bronze, and it can be purchased directly from Camp Chef at CampChef.com for $749.99.
Source: The Camp Chef SmokePro SG pellet grill and accessories were manufacturer supplied review sample.
What I Like: Easy to assemble; Easy to use; Versatile; Large pellet hopper; Large capacity; Makes delicious food; Sear Box completes the package perfectly
What Needs Improvement: Temperature swings