The Meat Doesn’t Lie—This Traeger Grill Is Worth Every Penny

Smoking and grilling large pieces of meat can be a daunting task that requires an hours-long commitment—even though the payoff is a juicy, deeply-flavored meal. But grilling giant Traeger has taken a lot of the effort out of smoking with one of its best-selling pellet grills. The Pro 575 pellet grill is a smart, Wi-Fi-enabled smoker and grill that produces fall-off-the-bone roasts, juicy ribs, and tender smoked fish and cheese with minimal effort. This spacious grill is designed for cooks of all levels who have high expectations of their smoked fare.

Best Pellet Grill

Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill

Buy at Traeger Buy at Amazon Buy at Ace Hardware

Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill: At a Glance

Our rating: 5/5

Testing the Traeger 575 Pro Pellet Grill 

I tested the Traeger 575 on my back patio on mild, dry fall days. I made a rack of baby back ribs, a pork butt roast, and a batch of smoked Italian sausages. I used Traeger’s suggested recipe for 3-2-1 ribs: I smoked the ribs for 3 hours at 180 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by 2 hours at 225 degrees. 

Throughout testing, I used the Traeger mobile app on my iPhone to monitor the meat and keep track of its internal temperature as well as the ambient temperature inside the grill. To write this review, I assessed how easy the grill was to assemble. I also rated the grill’s performance, including how quickly it reached the desired temperature, how well features like the app, hopper clean-out, and attached meat thermometer worked, and how easy the grill was to clean. Of course, we also tasted the meat and assessed how well the grill smoked and cooked the various cuts. 

How easy is the Traeger 575 to set up?

We had the grill delivered directly from Traeger, which required coordination with the delivery company. It arrived in a single large box that required a dolly to move; the box weighs 128 pounds and is large and unwieldy, and the barrel alone probably weighs over 100. It’s a two-person job to assemble. 

If you have a friend to help, this grill is very easy to put together. You need to attach the legs and pellet hopper to the barrel. From the time of initial unboxing, the process took us about half an hour. The grill includes wheels, so once assembled, you can easily move it around the patio or in and out of the garage for use. 

What features does the Traeger 575 Pellet Grill include?

This grill is outfitted with several smart features that set it apart from more basic (and cheaper) pellet grills. For starters, it connects via Wi-Fi (or as Traeger calls it, WiFire) to the Traeger smartphone app, allowing you to  control and monitor the temperature of both the grill and the contents from afar. I loved being able to check the temperature of the meat without opening the grill, or even being outside, especially because the temperature dropped significantly every time we popped open the lid (though it did regain heat quickly).  

The pellet hopper has a spacious 18-pound capacity. At high heat, that will run the grill for 9 hours, and at lower temperatures it can run for up to 20 hours without a refill, making this a great option for lengthy smoking sessions. Each bag of pellets costs around $20. If you like experimenting with different pellet flavors, the grill’s hopper clean-out feature makes it easy to switch between fuel sources mid-smoke. 

Under the hood, the grill has 575 square inches of cooking space between two tiers of porcelain-coated steel grates. Though Traeger makes a larger 780-square-inch option, the 575 has ample space to cook 24 burgers. This is a great size for most homes, either for family or backyard gatherings unless you regularly cook for very large crowds. 

How easy is the Traeger 575 to use?

The Traeger 575 is straightforward to use. First, dial in the desired temperature and let the grill preheat for a few minutes. It heats quickly and efficiently. Then add the meat and insert the included temperature probe. After that it’s pretty much a set-it-and-forget-it deal. Just use the Traeger app to check progress and adjust the heat if necessary. 

We found that the smoker works better for long sessions at lower temperatures than for high-heat searing—a minor flaw, but certainly not a dealbreaker. The porcelain-coated grates don’t get as hot as an oven broiler or cast-iron skillet on the stove, so the meat doesn’t develop the sear marks and crust that add flavor and texture. The smoker burns pellets faster and the fan is blowing harder to maintain the heat at higher temperatures, so you don’t get as much flavorful smoke inside the chamber. For a crisp crust on your roast or ribs, I recommend transferring the smoked meat to a cast iron griddle or pan on the stovetop to finish the job. 

Our smoked pork butt came out beautifully tender with just the right amount of smokiness. It developed the pink smoke ring—a tell-tale sign of proper smoking. 

The Traeger Pro 575 makes restaurant-quality cooking easy.

This grill typically retails at Traeger for $800, but it’s often on sale there and elsewhere for $600, which is a great deal given how well it performs and how easy it is to use. This grill produces delicious smoked meats that any pitmaster would be proud of with very little hands-on work. The connected smartphone app makes the Traeger Pro 575 accessible to cooks of all levels. Though we found it better for smoking than searing, the extra step of searing indoors takes less time and doesn’t consume pellets, so it’s also cheaper and more efficient. 

This is far from the priciest Traeger grill on the market, but it offers high-end performance. And though you can find cheaper pellet grill options, they often require more attention and expertise on the part of the cook. 

Buy the Traeger Pro 575 at:

Product Comparisons

So, is the Traeger Pro Series 575 Grill right for you?

This spacious pellet grill is a great choice if you want to smoke meat, cheese, fish, and other delicacies without having to keep an eye on your smoker all day or just have a backyard barbecue, grilling meats, fish, and vegetables. With smart features that enable accurate hands-free cooking, a speedy preheating time, and a large-capacity pellet hopper, this pellet grill and smoker is perfect for the lazy cook who wants top-notch flavor. 

It’s not the most compact grill, so it might not be right for a small patio, nor is it large enough for whole-animal smoking. We think the 575 square inches of cooking space is perfect for most households, whether you’re cooking just for family or entertaining.  

Meet the Tester

Lizzy Briskin is a contributing food and kitchen writer and product tester for Bob Vila. She has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and was previously the food editor at Food Network Magazine and Real Simple Magazine. She takes a detailed approach to product testing to share the honest pros and cons of each item—and she’s especially thorough when it comes to taste testing.  

 

This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation

Whether you’re selling or staying, everyone can get something out of a kitchen update. Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget.

Where to Start