Short on backyard space or shopping on a budget? Here's our full review on the beginner-friendly Traeger Tailgater pellet grill.
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Traeger Tailgater Review: The Best Pellet Grill for Beginners
Updated Sep. 15, 2024
A Traeger pellet grill makes use of wood pellets to cook a variety of foods with smoke-kissed flavor. While most Traeger models are meant for use in the backyard or on the deck, there’s one that can be used both at home or while traveling: the Traeger Tailgater.
Our Product Testing team recently tested multiple pellet grills, with grilling expert Catherine Ward leading the charge. We evaluated four models from Traeger, plus others from Pit Boss, Recteq, Weber and Yoder. The Traeger Tailgater earned top marks for its accessibility, thanks to its folding legs and small, portable footprint. More importantly, we love that it delivers delicious cooks on pork, chicken and vegetables. Here’s everything we learned about this beginner-friendly pellet grill.
What is the Traeger Tailgater?
The Traeger Tailgater is part of Traeger’s portable line-up, meaning it’s built to be compact. Due to its smaller size, it also comes in at a much lower price point than many other Traeger models, making it a great gift for grillers.
Like all Traegers, the Traeger Tailgater is constructed from powder-coated steel. However, instead of four legs with wheels, it has two legs with large casters and two legs without. Each of the four legs folds down to make transport that much simpler. The pellet hopper and its lid are located on the left side, but the grill doesn’t have any additional shelving on either side or underneath. However, you can purchase an additional front folding shelf—among other helpful Traeger accessories—for more prep space.
Inside, there is one porcelain grill grate with 300 square inches of cooking space. That space is large enough for cooking a pork shoulder, a brisket or two whole chickens at once. The pellet hopper can hold 8 pounds of pellets, which last four to seven hours depending on the temperature. The grill itself reaches a maximum temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
To control your cook, there’s a small set of buttons on the pellet hopper, which allows you to turn the pellet grill on and off and adjust the temperature. It also has a keep warm mode, which holds food at 165 degrees Fahrenheit until you’re ready to pull it off and dig in.
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We Tried It
Traeger Tailgater
How We Tested the Traeger Tailgater
The Traeger Tailgater was put to the test along with three other Traeger models during our pellet grill testing. First up, the Product Testing Team assembled the pellet grill and noted that thanks to its 60-pound weight, it was easy to turn the grill upside down for smooth assembly. From there, the 8-pound pellet hopper was easy to fill to get the grill going.
The testing team cooked chicken breasts at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for about two hours and 10 minutes and noted they had a nice, smoky top with a little bit of caramelization. Both the chicken breasts and seared pork chops were juicy and moist.
Because this is a smaller pellet grill, it wasn’t the best fit for smoking a large pork shoulder for a long smoke of about nine and a half hours. At 275 degrees Fahrenheit, the pellet grill ran out of pellets after seven hours without any notice. The team noticed the temperature dropping and refilled the hopper during the cooking process. The finished product wasn’t dry, but it didn’t quite fall off the bone. “You’ll want to keep an eye on the pellet consumption on the Tailgater,” says product tester Sheri Kaz.
After plenty of cooking, the drip pans were easy to scrub, and it was simple enough to clean the grates with a sponge, soap and water in the sink after letting them soak.
Pros
- Lower price point for beginners
- Compact design for small spaces
- Folding legs for portability
- Easy-to-tackle assembly
- Large enough to hold food for a couple or small family
- Delicious chicken, pork chop and salmon results
Cons
- Small hopper only holds 8 pounds of pellets
- Not the most tender pork shoulder compared to other Traeger results
FAQ
How do you start a Traeger Tailgater?
To get started cooking on a Traeger Tailgater pellet grill, first make sure the power cord is plugged in and the pellet hopper is full. Use the control on the hopper to set the temperature and hit the ignite button. This will begin preheating the smoker so you’ll be able to throw meat on the grill in 10 to 15 minutes.
How do you turn off a Traeger Tailgater?
In the center of the control panel, hold down the button until the screen says “off.” This will begin the shutdown cycle for the pellet grill, which takes about 10 minutes.
Why You Should Trust Us
The Taste of Home Product Testing Team tested the Traeger Tailgater alongside three other Traeger grill models, including the Traeger Pro, Traeger Ironwood XL and Traeger Timberline, with grilling expert Catherine Ward taking the lead. We thoroughly evaluated the pellet grill for ease of assembly, cooking performance, design, special features and ease of cleaning. We compared pellet grills to charcoal and gas cookers and even assessed which brand is best for different home cooks, such as Traeger vs. Recteq.
I am a writer specializing in food and lifestyle, with a specific passion for outdoor cooking and grilling. While I love to keep my eye on the latest food trends and kitchen gadgets, I focus on established products so I can recommend items that are worth the investment and will last, including pizza ovens, fire pits, grills and smokers. I have personally tested and used the Traeger Timberline and Traeger Ironwood for two years in my own backyard.
Where To Buy the Traeger Tailgater
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Best for Beginners
Traeger Tailgater
Ready to get cooking on a smoker? The Traeger Tailgater is available on Traeger’s Website for $480. It can also be found at Amazon, Ace Hardware and BBQ Guys.
Originally Published: September 15, 2024
