From their inception, pellet grills have excelled at slow cooking. A technological game changer, they made cooking pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and other traditional barbecue dishes much easier by automating the fire-tending process. As pellet grills have progressed over the years, advanced models like the Yoder Smokers YS640s have added versatility to convenience by becoming proficient in additional cooking methods. However, every pellet grill worth its salt can provide delicious slow-cooked meals with minimal effort.
From understanding the features that have influenced an increasing number of outdoor cooks to turn to pellet grills as their slow cooker of choice to tips on how to get consistently delicious results from your pellet grill, here are our top insights from over 15 years of cooking on pellet grills and helping customers find the grill that best fits their needs.
Understanding Pellet Grills
Slow cooking at low temperatures yields excellent results but can take time. For example, smoking chicken thighs at 225°F can typically take 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the perfect internal temperature of 165°F. And smoking a 10 lb. brisket at low and slow temperatures can cook up to 15 hours before it needs to be pulled off the grill at an internal temperature of 203°F.
That’s a lot of time to manually tend to a fire if you’re grilling over charcoal, while also having the added challenge of contending with temperature fluctuations. But since pellet grills work by automatically feeding compressed food-grade wood pellets into a firepot, where fans can maintain a fire that keeps the grill at a consistent preset temperature, the need to babysit the grill is cut out.
The most advanced modern pellet grills offer additional features like WiFi/Bluetooth control, multi-food probe monitoring, and real-time temperature monitoring with accompanying apps. These capabilities provide convenience without sacrificing quality, and vice versa. Having that control and precision at your fingertips not only ups your grill game but also makes grilling less stressful and more enjoyable.
Benefits of Slow Cooking with a Pellet Grill
Slow cooking creates delicious food by cooking meat evenly and infusing it with rich flavor over a long period. Cooking meat too quickly at higher temperatures can leave you with dried-out edges and an undercooked interior. However, lengthening that cook time by lowering temperatures results in a more consistent internal temperature while preventing the exterior portions of the meat from losing too much moisture.
Pellet grills also enhance the flavor of food by exposing it to smoke. You can find pellets made from a handful of different woods that pair well with foods like oak, mesquite, apple, cherry, and pecan. Each of these options has its unique flavor profile, allowing you to choose pellets that best complement the food you are cooking.
For instance, as a naturally milder meat, light wood pellet flavors like apple or cherry will enhance the natural taste of poultry without overpowering it. The distinct smoke from hickory or oak pellets accentuates richer meats like beef and pork. Blending pellet types is a great way to experiment if you want to hone in on a specific flavor profile. Mixing hickory with mild fruit woods creates a more layered flavor profile that works particularly well with pulled pork.
The other upside to cooking with quality wood pellets is that they give off a consistently clean smoke since they have very low moisture content. Our go-to brand is BBQr’s Delight, as they provide consistent burn rates, create minimal ash, and are made from 100% hardwood without any bark or filler.
Perfecting Temperature Control
The ability to control temperatures with minimal effort or oversight is a key selling point for pellet grills, and one of the features that allows them to excel at slow cooking. For example, a Yoder Smokers Adaptive Control System allows you to set precise temperatures in five-degree increments, and the welded 10-gauge steel cooking chamber excels in maintaining consistent temperatures even when the weather turns cold and windy. The thick steel prevents rapid heat loss by acting as a thermal buffer and allows for a quicker recovery time after a door opening.
Since temperature fluctuations can significantly affect a slow-cooked dish, use the ATBBQ Tips To Maximize Airflow on your pellet grill if you notice it struggling with temperature regulation. If that doesn’t solve the issue, our Troubleshooting 101: Diagnosing A Grill That Isn’t Working guide may get you pointed in the right direction for how to fix your grill.
Recipes for Slow Cooking on a Pellet Grill
If you’re ready to try your hand at some slow-cooked pellet grill classics, here are three of ATBBQ Staff Chef Tom Jackson’s favorites:
- Brisket: The Ultimate Slow-Cooked Delight – Chef Tom initially goes super low, smoking brisket overnight at 190°F before turning up the heat just a bit to finish this classic cut of beef at the still low temperature of 250°F. Using the Foil Boat Method to preserve moisture, this recipe renders a flavorful and tender brisket every time.
- Pulled Pork Perfection on a Pellet Grill – Get plenty of smoke on this boston butt pulled pork shoulder by smoking it at 225°F. Injecting the meat with Sweetwater Spice Smoked Apple Spice Butt & Rib concentrate before slow cooking ensures it turns out incredibly moist and juicy.
- Slow-Smoked Dr. Pepper Ribs – Savory, sweet, and fun to eat, these ribs are slow-cooked with plenty of smoke and then braised in Dr. Pepper. Slathered with a Dr. Pepper reduction sauce, these ribs tickle the tongue and go down easily.
Slow Cooked Vegetarian and Side Dishes
Meat isn’t the only option for slow cooking. Check out these tasty side options:
- Smoked Mac and Cheese: A Crowd-Pleaser – Chef Tom’s Smoked Green Chile Mac and Cheese is a more methodical take on a dish most people are used to cooking in just a few minutes, but the extra time spent is totally worth it. The original recipe adds bacon, but you can feel free to leave that out if you want a meat-free dish.
- Roasted Vegetables with Smoky Flavor – Asparagus, carrots, broccoli, and artichoke are a handful of light and healthy choices that taste delicious when slow-cooked on the grill. Finish them off on high heat to add a bit of char for an extra texture and flavor.
Common Slow Cooking Mistakes to Avoid
Part of mastering slow cooking on a pellet grill is learning to avoid common mistakes. Two areas that trip people up when getting comfortable with the technique include:
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Over-Smoking: When Less Is More
When it comes to smoke, it’s possible to get too much of a good thing. This is especially true with foods with delicate flavors or easily absorb flavors. Avoid wood pellets that can overpower mild foods like mesquite or oak for vegetables or seafood. Instead, stick to apple or cherry. And if you find dishes are coming out too smoky, then raise the temperature a couple of clicks on the next attempt to lower smoke levels and decrease cooking time. -
Not Accounting for Cooking Time Variations
One of the first concepts to master when cooking meat is that it’s best to cook to a certain internal temperature instead of for a specific period. While it might be helpful to know that it typically takes ten hours to smoke a brisket, the fact of the matter is that various factors can skew that timeframe in either direction. Recipes for slow-cooked meats will give you a target internal temperature to pull the meat off the grill. Especially when cooking larger cuts, account for possible time variations.
Have fun as you continue exploring outdoor cooking techniques, and keep ATBBQ in mind for all your wood pellet grilling needs. Our extensive library of tips and recipes is available to help guide your grilling journey, and we regularly alert folks to new content through our newsletter.
As your friendly neighborhood outdoor cooking enthusiasts, we have experience preparing thousands of meals on pellet grills for our loved ones and friends. We are always happy to serve as a resource and talk All Things Barbecue with beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike, so feel free to visit us online at www.ATBBQ.com, call us at 316.440.3950, or drop by the store where we have dozens of grills on display for you to check out in person.
Happy grilling!
