by Josh |
Last Updated: September 11, 2020 A great grilling technique starts with a great grill.
If you are looking to get a grill that grills your burgers to perfection, you really can’t go wrong with a pellet smoker.
Pellet smokers are so named because they use pellets made out of compacted wood and sawdust, that add a smokey taste to your food that is out of this world.
If you are looking to get a great taste for your burgers, here is a rundown on how you can use a pellet smoker to achieve a high-quality flavor.
In this post we'll cover:
Tips for Making a Great Pellet Smoked Burger
There are several meats that you can grill on a pellet smoker, but these grills are known for grilling a hamburger to perfection.
Here are some tips and tricks that will help you grill the best hamburger possible.
- Temperature: The ideal temperature for grilling burgers on a pellet smoker is 425 – 450 degrees. This way it will be cooked through and you’ll get a nice sear and a smokey flavor.
- Appearance: The outer layer of the burger will get a reddish appearance as it smokes. This is known as a smoke ring and it is perfectly normal.
- Use a Thermometer: Using a meat thermometer will be the best way to tell if your burger is done. If you cut into it, you will lose some of the juices and you may dry out the burger. The burger will be around 160 degrees when it’s done. An instant read meat thermometer is recommended.
- Don’t Open the Cover Too Often: If you open the grill cover too often, it will lose heat. Therefore, you will want to minimize the times you flip the burger. It is ideal to flip the burger after 8-9 minutes, then allow it to grill for 8-9 minutes on the other side. This may seem like a long time, but it will be just enough to allow the burger to become infused with the smokey taste.
- Go for high quality meat: Of course, you can use frozen, pre-made patties, but high-quality meat will get you the best results. An 85/15 ratio of meat to fat is ideal but 80/20 will make a juicier burger.
- Use strong wood chips: Mesquite, hickory and oak are recommended for infusing burgers with a great smokey flavor.
Pellet Smoked Burger Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. paprika
- 2 tbsp. smoked paprika
- 4 tbsp. ground black pepper
- 2 tsp. salt
- ½ tbsp. brown sugar
- ½ tbsp. garlic powder
- ½ tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and use 1 ½ tsp. of the mixture for every pound of meat.
Now that your burgers are properly seasoned, let’s do a quick rundown on how to cook the burger.
- Add your preferred flavor of wood pellets to your smoker.
- Preheat smoker to 425 – 450 degrees with the lid closed.
- Add patties, cover smoker with lid and let sit 8-9 minutes.
- Flip burgers and let grill for another 8-9 minutes until thermometer reads 160 degrees.
- Add cheese during the last minute of grilling and let it melt.
- Serve with your favorite toppings.
What is a Pellet Grill?
Pellet grills run on electricity. Pellets are added to the hopper, which are then funneled down to a rotating auger and motor. The auger pulls the pellets into the firepot, which speed and temperature are set by a temperature control panel.
When the pellets hit the firepot, an ignitor rod creates a flame that produces smoke. A fan at the bottom of the unit spreads the smoke and heat throughout the grill to heat your food.
Benefits of Smoking with a Pellet Smoker
Smoking with a pellet smoker provides the following benefits.
- No flare ups
- Great smokey flavor
- Easy to use
- Very fuel efficient, burns one pound of pellet for every hour of cook time
- Weather will not affect your smoker’s grilling temperature
- No heavy propane tanks needed
- Very versatile
- Set and forget controls
- Low maintenance so it is great for busy people
- Will not over smoke food
- It is a grill and smoker in one so users get more bang for their buck
If you love burgers and you don’t have a pellet smoked burger at least once in your life, you may be missing out. These smokers provide a unique flavor that can not be beat.
What are your favorite pellet smoked burger recipes?
Also read: this is the best wood for smoking meatloaf
