Ninja built its reputation with blenders, air fryers, and other kitchen gear, and now they’re coming for your backyard. Over the past few years, they’ve been rolling out electric outdoor grills that combine easy operation with legit grilling and smoking performance.

I got my hands on the original Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill when it launched in 2022, and I’ve been using it regularly ever since. I’ve also been hands-on with the newer Pro Connect XL, which added more cooking space, app connectivity, and smart upgrades.

In this review, I’ll walk you through both models, share how they compare, and help you decide whether the extra features of the ProConnect XL are worth the upgrade.

Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect Premium XL Outdoor Grill & Smoker

Our Verdict: The Ninja Woodfire Grill is a versatile outdoor electric grill with real wood smoke flavor, air frying, and grilling all in a compact, easy-to-use package. The ProConnect XL is worth the extra cost with added cooking space and app connectivity.

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Ninja Kitchen sent me both grills for free in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Related – Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven Review.

Quick Look: Ninja Woodfire vs Pro Connect XL

Not sure which Ninja Woodfire grill is the better fit for your needs? Here’s a quick breakdown of how the original model compares to the newer ProConnect XL. From cooking space to connectivity, these grills share a lot of DNA

Our Verdict

The Ninja Woodfire ProConnect XL is the better all-around grill.

In our original review of the standard Woodfire, our biggest complaint was that it felt a little cramped. The 141 square inches of cooking space was fine for small meals, but started to feel limiting when cooking for more than two people or trying larger cuts of meat.

The ProConnect XL solves that with a roomier 180 square inches of cooking area, plus a few major upgrades.

WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity provide app-based control, and support for two wired temperature probes makes the XL feel like a much more complete outdoor cooking system.

The ability to control everything from your phone, including setting doneness levels by protein type, makes it especially useful for newer grillers or anyone who wants more convenience.

The standard Woodfire Grill is still a solid option if you’re after something smaller, simpler, and more affordable. It has the same 7-in-1 functionality and delivers surprisingly good smoke flavor for an electric unit, just in a more compact package.

Bottom line:

• Choose the ProConnect XL if you want more space and more intelligent controls
• Stick with the Standard Woodfire if you’re cooking for 1–2 people or prefer simplicity

First Impressions and Setup

Ninja consistently makes setup easy, and both the standard Woodfire and the ProConnect XL follow that trend.

With the original Woodfire, I appreciated how little assembly was required. Aside from attaching the handles (a quick job with the included Allen wrench), the grill was basically ready to cook right out of the box.

The ProConnect XL arrives fully assembled, with just two steps required. Slide in the grease trap and insert the pellet holder. It’s a bit heavier than the original, so having someone around to help lift the box is a good idea.

Both models are packed with plenty of protective Styrofoam and tape to prevent damage during shipping. Just be prepared to clean up a decent amount of packaging afterward.

The overall footprint of both models is quite small. While I was able to cook plenty of food on the Woodfire, if you want to feed a lot of people, you’re better off looking at Ninja’s new FlexFlame grill.

Both the standard Ninja Woodfire and the ProConnect XL use a familiar, simple, and intuitive control layout.

A central dial lets you select between Grill, Smoke, Air Crisp, Bake, Roast, Broil, and Dehydrate. Just to the right of the dial, there’s a dedicated Woodfire Flavor button, which you press when you want to ignite pellets and add smoke during non-smoking modes like Grill or Air Crisp.

Below the display, you’ll find digital controls for adjusting temperature and cook time, and a large Start/Stop button rounds out the panel on the far right.

What’s in the Box?

• Standard Woodfire: Grill unit, grill grate, air crisp basket, two sample bags of pellets (All-Purpose and Robust), pellet scoop, drip tray, Quick Start Guide, and Recipe Book
• ProConnect XL: Adds a wired meat probe

Cooking Performance

Both the standard Ninja Woodfire and the ProConnect XL offer the same 7-in-1 functionality: Grill, Smoke, Air Crisp, Bake, Roast, Broil, and Dehydrate. In practice, that means you can cook everything from smoked ribs to crispy fries without needing a second appliance.

I’ve cooked extensively on both models, and while they share the same core technology, there are some noticeable differences in how they handle larger cuts, how fast they cook, and how evenly they perform especially when it comes to smoke and airflow

How Each Ninja Woodfire Handles Everyday Grilling

For basic grilling, both models heat up quickly and deliver good sear and char marks, especially considering they’re electric. When testing the ProConnect XL, I grilled smoked sausage, bread cheese, and scallions on the Medium setting.

The sausage cooked faster than expected and developed a crisp snap on the outside while staying juicy inside. The scallions were perfectly charred in just a few minutes.

The extra grill space on the XL makes a real difference. On the original Woodfire, cooking for more than two people felt a bit cramped. The XL’s wider grate gives you more breathing room, which helps with even cooking and airflow.

Can an Electric Grill Really Deliver Smoke Flavor?

This is where I really saw the ProConnect XL shine.

To test its smoking chops, I cooked a 3-pound tomahawk ribeye low and slow at 250°F. I used Ninja’s pellets in the smoke box and tracked the cook using the built-in meat probe and the ProConnect app.

The grill reached temperature quickly, and the pellets ignited without issue.

What surprised me was how quickly the steak reached doneness. It took just 45 minutes to hit medium, even at 250°F.

That’s due to the constant air circulation from the built-in fan, which helps brown the outside while cooking evenly through the middle. The end result had a great crust and a mild smoke flavor that wasn’t overpowering. I didn’t even bother searing the steak afterward, which is rare for me.

The standard Woodfire also delivers solid smoke flavor, especially for short cooks like chicken wings or pork tenderloin.

I smoked a pork tenderloin on the original unit at 250°F, and it was tender, juicy, and smoky after just under an hour.

But again, space becomes a limiting factor if you’re working with anything bigger than a single roast.

Air Frying on a Grill?

One of the standout features of both the standard Ninja Woodfire and the ProConnect XL is the ability to air fry outdoors, which you won’t find on most grills. On the control panel, Ninja labels this setting as “Air Crisp,” but it functions just like any traditional air fryer. It uses high heat and a fan to circulate air, giving food a crispy, golden finish.

To test it, I cooked a batch of frozen fries. I started at 390°F for 18 minutes and increased the temperature to 425°F for another 5 minutes. The results were excellent: crispy, evenly browned fries with a fluffy center.

The standard Woodfire includes the same Air Crisp functionality and can deliver similar results, although the smaller basket means you’ll need to work in smaller batches to avoid crowding.

This setting really shines when finishing smoked foods. One of my favorite techniques is to smoke chicken wings first, then switch over to Air Crisp for 10 to 15 minutes to get perfectly crisp skin. It gives you that fried finish without needing a separate appliance or the hassle of oil.

ProConnect Smart Features

The biggest upgrade the ProConnect XL offers is its built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which lets you control the grill from your smartphone using the Ninja ProConnect app.

Once connected, the app mirrors the grill’s control panel and gives you remote access to:

• Start or stop a cook
• Adjust temperature and time
• Monitor internal temperature with the included meat probe
• Set doneness levels for common proteins (Rare, Medium-Rare, Medium, etc.)
• Get alerts when it’s time to add food or when your cook is done

The ProConnect XL has two probe ports and comes with one included probe. You can set the grill to track temperature manually or use the built-in presets, which let you choose your protein and preferred doneness without needing to know exact temps.

For example, cooking a steak to medium-rare is as easy as selecting “Steak” and “Medium-Rare” in the app. The grill takes care of the rest and notifies you when it’s time to pull it off.

This level of guidance is incredibly helpful for newer grillers or anyone who multitasks while cooking.

You don’t have to hover over the grill or guess when your food is ready. Even as someone with years of experience, I appreciated being able to monitor my tomahawk steak’s progress without stepping outside every 10 minutes.

While the standard Woodfire has the same dial and button layout, it lacks any sort of app integration or probe support, so all temperature tracking and adjustments must be done manually at the grill.

Ninja Woodfire Wood Pellets

Ninja has co-branded their own wood pellet blends with Bear Mountain BBQ, and the grill comes with both varieties: All-Purpose and Robust.

The All-Purpose blend is a combination of cherry, maple, and oak and has a smoother, sweeter flavor. The Robust blend combines the same woods as the All-Purpose but adds a touch of hickory for more smoky and rich flavor.

Ninja recommends sticking with their own pellets, but I’ve already experimented with other brands and haven’t had any issues so far.

Each sample-sized bag is enough for three smoke sessions, according to the package.

Ninja includes a scoop/measuring cup for the pellets. You just fill the pellet scoop, lift up the Woodfire smoke box, and pour the pellets in.

One thing to keep in mind with the Ninja is that the pellets are for flavor, not for fuel. It’s a fully electric grill, and the pellets are simply there to add Woodfire flavor to your cook.

They do not affect the temperature of the grill in any way.

Cleanup and Maintenance

One thing I love about this grill is how easy it is to clean. The grill surface is easy to remove and you can bring it inside and clean it right in your kitchen sink.

The nonstick surfaces make it easy to wipe away food and debris with dish soap and water.

Same goes for the Air Crisp basket. It comes out easily and can be cleaned right inside your kitchen.

If you need to clean the exterior of your grill, you can just use a spray cleaner and some paper towels, but overall, this grill does not require much cleaning or maintenance.

Finally, the drip pan. Similar to just about every other grill, the drip pan is removable, and you can dump the drippings as you normally would. It can also be cleaned with soap and water.

Accessories

Ninja makes a few accessories for the Woodfire series of grills, but one in particular really stands out to me as a “must-buy,” and that’s the collapsable stand.  I’ve had mine for a few years now and use it for all of my Ninja grills. I also put other small grills and pizza ovens on it.

It’s super sturdy but still lightweight enough to move around easily. Plus, it has three height levels, so you can set it where you like it. It also has hooks for storing tongs, spatulas, etc.

I also recommend snagging a grill cover if you plan to store the grill outside. It will keep it safe from the elements and help keep the grill clean between cooks.

They also make a half grill, half griddle insert for the grill if griddle-style cooking is something you want to do, but it’s really not enough surface area to replace an actual griddle. Their rib rack is another good option for maximizing space inside of the grill as well. 

Final Thoughts and should you buy?

Overall, this little grill really impressed me. As I mentioned before, I’ve owned the entire lineup of Ninja outdoor products, and this grill is my favorite, aside from the Ninja FlexFlame.

The FlexFlame is about twice as expensive as this model, but if price or size isn’t a factor, then I would recommend it.

This grill is a fantastic option for people who live in apartments or condos that may not be able to use a traditional grill on their balconies.

It’s compact and doesn’t take up much space, but has a lot of different functions to play around with so that you can cook a large array of things on it. 

While I don’t think this grill is a suitable replacement for a full-sized smoker or pellet grill, it’s a great compact option with a lot of flexibility.

If you’re trying to decide between the original Ninja Woodfire and the Ninja Woodfire ProC onnect XL, I definitely urge you to lean towards the Pro Connect model. While it’s a bit more expensive, it’s still very affordable considering what it’s able to do, and having the Bluetooth & WiFi functionality is a major improvement in my book.