These mouthwatering pellet grill burgers are kissed with smoke and seared right before serving. The hot-smoking process brings out the natural beefy goodness of these burgers that will have you coming back for more.
When we first developed this recipe, we were amazed at how tender and flavorful the burgers were. And the cooking process was so easy! The secret is using good seasoning and keeping a close eye on the cooking temperature. We’ve used this smoke and sear method ever since, with great results each time.
Are smoked burgers good?
Yes! The smoking method is a fantastic way to cook hamburgers. The low and slow cooking process yields a juicy beef burger with a nice red-brown crust.
How long do you smoke burgers?
It takes between 60-75 minutes at 225 degrees F for the burgers to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
When smoking burgers, do you flip them?
Yes, the burger patties should be flipped halfway through the cooking process. However, some backyard cooks will leave them as is. It’s a matter of personal choice. We’ve tried both ways and noticed that flipping helps promote even cooking.
What you’ll need:
- Ground chuck (3 pounds worth)
- Sliced cheese (blue, pepper jack, American, or cheddar cheese)
- Large onion (we recommend red onions for these pellet grill burger, but these Smoked Onions are amazing too!)
- Hamburger buns (regular, sesame seed, or brioche)
- Barbecue sauce (bottled or homemade)
- Salt and pepper (or a BBQ Rub)
- Sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and bacon
- Preferred condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc)
- A reliable instant read thermometer
Optional step: Smoke the onions too. This add a nice flavor boost for these pellet grill burgers. See recipe list above for the link to our fantastic pellet smoker onion recipe! Or, top them with crispy Kansas City Style Onion Rings!
Recommended wood pellets:
For these pellet grill burgers, we recommend using a mild to moderate fruitwood. However, if you’d like a more robust smoke flavor, then hickory pellets is the way to go!
- Apple
- Cherry
- Pecan
- Hickory
How to make Pellet Grill Burgers
- Prepare your grill to 225 degrees F.
- Form the ground beef into 4 equal-sized hamburger patties. Make a small well in the center of each patty.
- Season your patties with salt and pepper or BBQ rub right before placing them in the pellet grill.
- Once on the grill grate, close the lid and let the burgers cook for 30 minutes, flip them, and let them continue cooking for another 30 minutes.
- After this time, check the internal temperature of the smoked burger patties. Aim for 155 degrees F before topping with cheese. If you’d like to sear the burgers I recommend removing them at 140-145 degrees, and increasing the heat to your unit to as high as it will go. Once heated, place the burgers back on the grill and sear for 2 minutes per side. Top with cheese afterward. Keep in mind that searing is not required for this recipe.
Finishing Touches
- Once the hamburgers are nearly done, top each with a slice of cheese. We recommend sliced blue cheese, pepper jack, American, or cheddar for these smoked burgers. Let them cook for another 3-4 minutes until the cheese has melted and the burgers reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
- It’s time to assemble your pellet grill burgers. Add the sliced tomatoes, lettuce, raw or smoked onions, burger sauce, and bacon. Enjoy!
Recipe Suggestions
- Burger sauce: You can use barbecue sauce as a topping. In a bowl, combine 1 cup bottled or homemade barbecue sauce with 1/3 cup of mayonnaise for a creamier hamburger topping.
- Cheese can make all the difference between a “meh” burger to a phenomenal burger. If you like blue cheese and you can get your hands on some blue cheese slices, give that a go. Otherwise, sharp cheddar, white cheddar, pepper jack, feta cheese, or Smoked Cream Cheese will work well on these pellet grill burgers. If you’re looking for something calmer, use swiss or provolone.
- Make it a meat lover’s dream by adding some black pepper bacon or pulled pork.
- Leftovers: Store these leftover pellet grill burgers in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 325 degrees F, or in a skillet, air fryer, ormicrowave.
- Spice Level: Want it spicier? Add a little cayenne or chipotle chili powder to the seasoning mix.
The Best Pellet Grill Burger
Equipment
- Pellet Grill
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground chuck
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 11/2 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 red onion raw or smoked (see instructions)
- 6 slices Blue cheese or Pepper Jack (or cheese of choice)
- 1 cup Barbecue sauce (see notes)
- 6 hamburger buns
- 2 medium tomatoes sliced
- 12 slices cooked bacon
Instructions
- Prepare your pellet grill for 225 degrees F.
- Form ground beef into 6 equal-sized patties, about 1 to 1 ½ inches thick. Make a small indentation in the center of each parry. Season with salt, pepper, or BBQ rub.
- Place burgers into the pre-heated pellet grill. Close lid and cook patties for 30 minutes, flip the burgers, and cook for 30 minutes more.
- Optional step: Smoking the onions. Slice them thin and toss them with seasonings and oil. Place them into a disposable aluminum pan and cook for 45 minutes to an hour or until they are tender and caramelized.
- Once the hamburger patties are near done (internal temperature of 155 degrees F), top each with a slice of cheese. I recommend sliced blue cheese, pepper jack, American, or cheddar for these smoked burgers. Cook for an 3-4 minutes until cheese has melted.Burgers are done once they reach between 160-165 degrees F.
- Remove from grill and assemble your burgers wit sliced tomatoes, lettuce, raw or smoked onions, burger sauce (see below), and bacon.
- Note: You can use barbecue sauce as a topping. Or mix 1 cup barbecue sauce with 1/3 of cup of mayonnaise for a creamy burger sauce.
- Store leftover smoked burger patties in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 325 degree oven, microwave, or in a skillet on your stovetop.
Notes
- Cheese can make the difference between a “meh” burger and a phenomenal burger. If you like blue cheese and you can get your hands on some blue cheese slices, give that a go. Otherwise, sharp cheddar, white cheddar, pepper jack, feta cheese, or Smoked Cream Cheese will work well on these pellet burgers. If you’re looking for something calmer, use swiss or provolone.
- Make it a meat lover’s dream by adding some black pepper bacon or pulled pork.
Nutrition
Try some of our other pellet grill recipes:
- Pellet Cooked New York Strip Steaks
- Pellet Grilled Old Bay Chicken Wings
- Smoked Chuck Roast
- Pellet Smoked Beef Tri-Tip
- Pellet Roasted Leg of Lamb
- Holiday Rib Roast on a Pellet Grill
- Pellet Cowboy Steak
- Pellet Grill Pork Ribs
Need a Pellet Grill?
If you want to make the best burgers on a pellet grill, you are going to need a Traeger Grill, Pit Boss, or another pellet grill. Chances are if you are looking at this recipe, you already have one, but in case you don’t, you might want to check out my list of the best pellet grills on the market. I have broken them down by price, so you can find something that fits your wallet. There are more than a hundred models out there these days, so I thought you might appreciate a little help in your search.
Check out my lists of the Best Pellet Grills
