Pit Boss 850 DX Pellet Grill Review: Best Budget Pellet Grill?

I’ve cooked on most of the Pit Boss lineup over the years, so I have a good sense of what the brand does well and where it usually cuts corners. The Pit Boss 850 DX is a Lowe’s exclusive and it’s one of the more interesting grills they’ve put out, especially for a first pellet grill.

It’s priced very competitively, and it includes a few features that you don’t typically see at this level, which makes it a strong contender for most backyard cooks looking for their first pellet grill.

Keep reading or watch our full hands-on testing video below to see if the 850 DX is the right pellet grill for you.

Pit Boss sent me this grill in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Pit Boss 850 DX Overview & First Impressions

We’ve spent a lot of time cooking on Pit Boss grills over the years, especially the Sportsman series, so we had a pretty good idea of what to expect with the DX.

In most cases, Pit Boss sticks to a familiar formula: large cooking space for the price, simple controls, but not without a few trade-offs.

The DX series comes in three sizes, 740, 850, and 1130. We’ve tested the 850 and think it’s the sweet spot for most people, but there aren’t any major feature differences between sizes besides a larger hopper on the 1130, so it mainly comes down to how much cooking space you need.

What you need to know:

	740 DX	850 DX	1130 DX
Cooking capacity	743 sq in	840 sq in	1,130 sq in
Main grilling area	~540 sq in	554 sq in	~760 sq in
Secondary rack	~200 sq in	256 sq in	~370 sq in
Temperature range	180° to 500°F	180° to 500°F	180° to 500°F
Hopper capacity	21 lb	21 lb	30 lb
Weight	~150 lb	~164 lb	~185 lb
Meat probes	2 ports (1 included)	2 ports (1 included)	2 ports (1 included)
Warranty	5 years	5 years	5 years
Price	Check Lowe’s Price	Check Lowe’s Price	Check Lowe’s Price

After getting the 850 DX set up, the overall layout felt very familiar. The cooking chamber, flame broiler system, and general design haven’t changed much from previous Pit Boss models. But there are a few upgrades here that make this version more compelling.

The biggest change is the addition of a PID controller with WiFi and Bluetooth, along with a probe-controlled cooking mode. Once your food reaches the target internal temperature, the grill can automatically switch to a keep-warm setting. That’s a genuinely useful feature.

Build quality follows the usual Pit Boss approach. The body is fully powder-coated and feels solid without being overly heavy. Inside, you’ve got the familiar rounded drip pan and flame broiler, but the enamel-coated grates are easier to clean than older designs we’ve used.

Overall, this feels like Pit Boss taking a proven design and adding a few genuinely useful upgrades, rather than trying to reinvent anything.

Assembly & Burn Off

Assembly on the 850 DX is straightforward, but not completely hassle-free. It took us about an hour to put together, which is typical for a grill in this size range. The main challenge is attaching the legs to the cooking chamber. Like most Pit Boss models, it’s a bit awkward to line everything up, so having a second person helps.

Before cooking, you’ll need to run a burn-off to clear out any oils or residue from manufacturing. The process is simple. Fill the hopper, prime the auger using the dedicated button, and run the grill at a lower temp first before ramping it up. We like to start around 250°F for 20 to 30 minutes, then increase to 400 to 450°F to finish the burn-off.

One small detail we liked is the primer button, which helps speed up getting pellets into the firepot during the first startup. It’s a simple feature, but it makes the initial setup a bit less frustrating.

After the burn-off, the grill is ready to cook, and from there the experience is very typical of a Pit Boss, simple to get going and easy to manage.

Build quality

Build quality on the 850 DX is in line with what we expect from Pit Boss, solid for the price, without trying to compete with premium grills.

The body is fully powder-coated, which not only looks clean but makes it easy to wipe down after a cook.

The steel isn’t especially thick, but it doesn’t feel flimsy either. When opening the lid, there’s enough weight to it that the grill feels stable and well put together.

Inside the cook chamber, the layout will be familiar if you’ve used a Pit Boss before. You get the standard rounded drip pan with a central flame broiler, which allows for some direct-flame cooking. It’s a simple system that works, but the usable searing area is fairly small.

One upgrade we did appreciate is the switch to straight enamel-coated grates. Older Pit Boss models used a diamond pattern that could be harder to clean. These are much easier to brush down after a cook and hold up well over time.

At around 164 lb with two locking casters, it’s easy enough to move around, especially if you plan to roll it in and out of a garage.

In terms of overall construction, this is not a heavy-duty, competition-style pit, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. For a grill in this price range, the balance between weight, durability, and ease of use feels about right.

Testing the Pit Boss DX for Low and Slow Barbecue

Most people buying the 850 DX are going to use it for low and slow smoking, and that’s where it makes the most sense.

We cooked chuck roast on the 850 DX at around 200°F for about 8 hours, then panned it up and finished it until probe tender. The 21 lb hopper had enough capacity for the full cook without needing a refill, which makes this a practical option for overnight sessions.

Smoke output was right where we’d expect from a Pit Boss pellet grill. It produced a steady amount of smoke from the stack and gave the meat a solid smoke flavor without tasting harsh. It doesn’t have a smoke box like the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro, but it does a good job for classic backyard barbecue.

The PID controller also gives you better control than older Pit Boss models, including a useful 275°F setting. That might sound minor, but it’s a nice addition if you like cooking ribs, pork butt, or chuck roast a little hotter than 250°F without jumping all the way to 300°F.

The best feature for long cooks is the probe-controlled Keep Warm mode. You can set your target internal temperature, and once the food hits that number, the grill drops to around 180°F. That’s a great safety net if your cook finishes early or you’re running an overnight smoke and don’t want to overshoot your target temp.

Grilling

The 850 DX can grill, but it’s still better thought of as a smoker first.

We grilled pork chops without even opening the flame broiler and still got enough heat to put some color on them. It also gets hot enough for burgers and brats, so weeknight grilling is definitely on the table.

If you want direct flame, the slide-plate flame broiler gives you access to very high heat right above the firepot. Pit Boss claims the area over the firepot can reach around 1,000°F, and based on how the system works, that’s believable.

The catch is that the direct-flame zone is small. Typically, I don’t use the flame broiler a lot, as I’m usually cooking more food than a little square can handle.

It’s fine for finishing off a couple of steaks or burgers, but you’ll need to keep your BBQ tongs handy and keep the meat rotating so it’s not a hands-off feature.

That’s the main trade-off with the 850 DX. It’s versatile enough to handle basic grilling, but if high-heat cooking is your main priority, you’ll still be better off with a dedicated gas grill, charcoal grill, or a pellet grill designed more around searing.

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleaning the 850 DX is pretty typical for a Pit Boss, simple overall, but a bit more hands-on than some higher-end pellet grills.

Inside the cook chamber is where things get a little more involved. To access the firepot and clear out ash, you need to remove the flame broiler handle and lift out the drip pan. It’s not difficult, but it does add an extra step compared to grills with a dedicated ash cleanout system.

Like most pellet grills, you’ll still need to vacuum out ash every few cooks, depending on how often you use it and how much food you’re cooking. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to stay on top of if you want consistent performance.

The grease management system uses a side-mounted grease bucket, which is easy to remove and empty. The downside is that it can get knocked loose if you’re not careful, especially if the grill is in a high-traffic area. We prefer an integrated grease system, as you find on the Weber Searwood, but it’s not a deal breaker.

Overall, cleanup is manageable, but it’s not a standout feature. It works, just expect a bit more manual effort compared to some of the newer premium designs.

App & connectivity

The 850 DX comes with a PID controller with WiFi and Bluetooth, and on paper, it’s a solid upgrade over older Pit Boss models.

In use, the controller itself performs well. You can set temps from 180°F up to 500°F in 5-degree increments, and it’s simple to dial in. You also get two probe ports (one included), with the ability to track internal temps directly from the controller or the app.

Where things get a bit less smooth is during the initial setup.

In our testing, getting the app connected took around 45 minutes. That’s much longer than we’d expect, and it wasn’t an issue with the network. It just took time to get everything paired and working properly. This isn’t something you deal with every cook, but it’s worth knowing going in.

Once everything is set up, the experience improves. You can monitor temps and adjust settings from your phone, and the connection is stable enough for day-to-day use.

The most useful feature tied into the controller is the probe-controlled Keep Warm mode. You set a target internal temperature, and once it’s hit, the grill automatically drops to around 180°F. That’s a simple but genuinely helpful feature, especially for longer cooks or when timing isn’t exact.

Overall, the tech here is a step forward for Pit Boss. The app still isn’t as good as what you find on a Traeger, but it’s good enough for most tasks.

Competition to consider

There aren’t as many good-value pellet grills under $700 as there used to be, which is why the 850 DX stands out. We cover more options in our guide to the best pellet grills under $700, but in this price range, the direct competition is thinner than you might expect.

The closest competition from Z Grills used to be easier to recommend on price alone, but that gap has narrowed. Z Grills prices have climbed over the last few years, and that makes the 850

DX look like stronger value than something like the Z Grills 7002C2E. You’re getting similar beginner-friendly pellet grill appeal, but with Pit Boss’ flame broiler system, a larger hopper, and the probe-controlled Keep Warm feature.

Traeger also now has the Westwood, which is priced closer to the 850 DX than older Traeger models. It has a better app experience, but it’s quite a bit smaller, with less main grate space than the 850 DX, and it doesn’t have Pit Boss’ slide-plate flame sear system. If app polish matters most, Traeger still has the edge. If you want more hands-on cooking versatility for the money, the Pit Boss makes a stronger case.

Should you buy the Pit Boss 850 DX?

The 850 DX hits a sweet spot that’s getting harder to find. You get a good amount of cooking space, consistent performance, and a few genuinely useful features, without paying the premium you see on brands like Traeger or Camp Chef.

It’s not perfect. The app setup can be slow the first time, and cleanup still requires a bit of manual effort. But once you’re up and running, it’s easy to use and delivers the kind of results most backyard cooks are looking for.

That balance is exactly why we named it our best budget pellet grill in our roundup of the best pellet smokers. It’s one of the few grills at this price that still feels like a smart buy.

If you want an easy way to get into pellet grilling, or just want solid performance without overspending, the 850 DX is a very strong option.