These mouthwatering smoked pellet grill burgers are kissed with delicious, savory smoke then seared to perfection before serving. The hot-smoking process brings out the natural beefy flavors of these burgers, so get ready for a tasty experience!

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.

Why you should make smoked burgers.

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. The best part is that you can pair these smoked burgers with any topping of your choice. They are great with bacon, pulled pork, BBQ sauce, and more!

How long to smoke burgers

It takes between 60-75 minutes at 225 degrees F for these burgers to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Now this time can vary based on individual pellet grill (or smoker), weather, and other factors.

Do you flip smoked burgers?

Yes, the burger patties should be flipped halfway through the cooking. 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 to promote even cooking.

What you’ll need:

• Ground chuck (3 pounds worth – sub with ground sirloin, or a mixture of both)
• 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, pickles and bacon
• Preferred condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc)
• A reliable instant read meat thermometer

Optional step: Smoke the onions too. This add a nice flavor boost for these smoked pellet grill burgers. Or, top them with crispy Kansas City Style Onion Rings!

Recommended wood pellets

For these burgers, we recommend using a mild to moderate wood pellets. However, if you’d like a more robust smoke flavor, then mesquite or hickory pellets is the way to go!

• Apple
• Cherry
• Pecan
• Hickory
• Oak
• Mesquite

How to make Pellet Grill Burgers

• Preheat your grill to 225 degrees F. 
• Make the patties: 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.
• Grill them: Once on the grill, close the lid and let the burgers cook for 30 minutes. Flip them, close the lid once more, and continue cooking for 30 more minutes.
• Internal temp check: During the last half of cooking, check the internal temperature of the smoked burger patties. Once they reach 155 degrees F, it’s time to top them with cheese slices. If you plan to sear, do not add cheese until after.
• Reverse searing option: If you’d like to sear the burgers, remove them once they reach 140-145 degrees. Increase the heat to your pellet grill between 450-500 degrees. Once heated, place the burgers back on the grill and sear for 1-2 minutes per side. Top with cheese afterward. You can also sear the burgers in a cast-iron skillet on your stove top if desired.

Finishing Touches

• Cheese: 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.
• Assemble: It’s time to assemble your pellet grill burgers. Add the sliced tomatoes, lettuce, raw or smoked onions, burger (or BBQ) sauce, and bacon. Serve with potato salad, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, etc. 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, or microwave.
• Spice Level: Want it spicier? Add a little cayenne or chipotle chili powder to the seasoning mix.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover smoked pellet grill burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For best results, reheat in a skillet on your stovetop until warmed through.

More 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

Print

Smoked Pellet Grill Burger

A smoky, seared burger off the grill with blue cheese, onions, and barbecue sauce is unbeatable. This recipe is the ultimate pellet grill burger that's sure to make you happy after just one bite!

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, American BBQ

Keyword burger recipes, pellet grill recipes, smoked hamburgers

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 Burgers

Calories 552kcal

Author Derrick Riches

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

• Preheat your grill to 225 degrees F.
• Make the patties: 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.
• Grill them: Once on the grill, close the lid and let the burgers cook for 30 minutes. Flip them, close the lid once more, and continue cooking for 30 more minutes.
• Internal temp check: During the last half of cooking, check the internal temperature of the smoked burger patties. Once they reach 155 degrees F, it’s time to top them with cheese slices. If you plan to sear, do not add cheese until after.
• Searing option: If you’d like to sear the burgers, remove them once they reach 140-145 degrees. Increase the heat to your pellet grill between 450-500 degrees. Once heated, place the burgers back on the grill and sear for 1-2 minutes per side. Top with cheese afterward.
• Cheese: 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.
• Assemble: It’s time to assemble your pellet grill burgers. Add the sliced tomatoes, lettuce, raw or smoked onions, burger (or BBQ) sauce, and bacon. Enjoy!
• Store leftover burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For best results, reheat in a skillet on your stovetop until warmed through.

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

Calories: 552kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 329mg | Potassium: 514mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 5mg

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

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