Traeger Westwood XL review: the best smart value pellet smoker

Using a wood pellet smoker grill to cook ribs, chicken, or pork is an essential part of summer, if not all seasons. To make sure more people can join the party, Traeger continues to expand its line of grills, which now features the lower-priced Westwood ($699) and Westwood XL ($799).

The two products are nearly identical under the hood, featuring a wide temperature range, a large pellet hopper, and WiFi. The XL model simply offers an extra 170 square inches of cooking space.

I've been testing the Westwood XL since before its official release, putting it through its paces alongside the best Traeger smokers and competing grills on the market. As outdoor appliances have gained Wi-Fi and mobile app connectivity, my work as a tech journalist for over a decade has uniquely come into play. Making dinner should be eased by technology, not complicated by it — and that's exactly where this grill shines.

Most people can set up the Westwood XL in an hour or less

Despite dealing with a banged-up leg from a running injury, I was still able to put the Westwood XL together by myself. Following design improvements first seen on Traeger's Woodridge line, the company has streamlined the setup.

While some pellet grills require a chaotic afternoon of sorting through dozens of unmarked screws, everything on the Westwood can be put together using one Philips head screwdriver, which comes in the box.

You might want a second pair of hands to lift the heavy drum, but otherwise, it's a breeze. One built, you get a clean, ultra-minimal control panel and two side shelves, though the shelves seem a bit small if you're trying to set down a massive serving tray.

It's time to smoke: From six-hour ribs to quick weeknight burgers

To see how the entry-level smoker compares to other Traeger grills, I put it through a gauntlet of backyard tests, starting with a full rack of ribs to test its low-and-slow cooking capabilities.

I smoked the ribs for six hours total using a traditional 3-2-1 method — three hours unwrapped, two hours wrapped with butter and brown sugar, and a final hour slathered in barbecue sauce. The 220-degree internal temperature remained rock steady the entire time, yielding beautifully tender results. Plus, with 823 square inches of cooking space, the XL easily proved it has enough capacity to feed a family of four to six or a larger weekend get-together.

A good patio smoker needs to handle everyday cooking, too. The grill tops out at 450 degrees and heats up in under 20 minutes, making it surprisingly efficient for quick weeknight meals. I fired the Westwood XL up to 400 degrees for standard weeknight burgers, which took on a rich flavor and a distinct red smoke line in no time.

I also experimented with chicken thighs, smoking them at 200 degrees for 30 minutes to capture that deep wood-fired profile before cranking the heat up to 400 degrees for the final 15 minutes to crisp up the skin. They came out incredibly juicy, proving that the grill is as reliable for a fast Tuesday dinner as it is for a Saturday afternoon cookout.

Smart cooking: Flawless app integration

Once you set your initial temperature on the physical panel, Traeger's polished companion app handles the rest. I used it to control all subsequent cooking efforts and even used it to set a timer.

The Wi-Fi connectivity gives you the freedom to monitor ambient grill heat and track the included wired meat probe from anywhere. (You can also pair wireless probes seamlessly.) It's even possible to adjust the cooking temperature remotely, but I never needed to.

Among the dozens of smart smokers I've tested, Traeger's app remains the most intuitive on the market, using large buttons and a clean layout that requires zero learning curve.

The catch: A downgraded grease bucket and two-wheel design

To hit the lower price point, Traeger did make a couple of compromises.

The one feature I detest is the hanging grease and ash bucket on the side of the grill. It's not that it fails; it's that Traeger has downgraded a feature they spent years improving.

Higher-end options like the Traeger Woodbridge feature a secure, locking container with a hand grip that slides directly under the grill where it can't be knocked over or spilled.

By contrast, the Westwood's open hanging bucket leaves room for the wind to catch it, and because it sits completely exposed, it's easy to bump into. This is easily the biggest drawback to the Westwood line.

Like most cleaning products, cleanup and maintenance requirements will depend on what you cook. For really greasy foods, you'll want to clean it more often. Fortunately, because you assembled the grill yourself, removing the grates and internal pieces to clean them is much less intimidating.

While not a total dealbreaker, the Westwood grill can also be a pain to move since it only has two wheels.

What are your alternatives? How the Westwood compares to the Traeger Woodridge and budget rivals

There are two obvious alternatives to the Westwood XL. If you want a smaller footprint, the standard Traeger Westwood saves you $100.

However, if you have a flexible budget under $1,000, you should step up to the Traeger Woodridge. The Woodridge offers a vastly superior ash-management system and larger side shelves that easily accommodate full serving trays.

I've also tested budget alternatives from brands like Pit Boss and Z Grills. While they perform fine mechanically, Traeger's Wi-Fi platform has proven significantly more consistent over my five years of long-term testing.

The bottom line

At $799, the Traeger Westwood XL Pellet Grill and Smoker is the ideal value-play for newcomers who want incredible smoking performance without constant babysitting. It handles everything from quick weeknight burgers to low-and-slow briskets with absolute reliability.

If patio space is tight, opt for the standard Westwood. Otherwise, the Westwood XL's extra cooking capacity is well worth the extra $100 investment.

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