The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Barbecue Grill & Smoker is a high-end electric barbecue aimed at anyone who wants authentic smoky flavour without faffing about with charcoal. It combines grilling, smoking and air frying in one sizeable outdoor cooker, with the bonus of smart app control.
With seven cooking programmes, an integrated smoker box for wood pellets and a large cooking area that can handle up to 10 burgers or 40 hotdogs, it’s clearly built for entertaining. Ninja has a strong reputation for well-thought-out kitchen kit, and that carries over here.
Owners rate it highly, with an average user score of 4.7 out of 5 from dozens of reviews, which suggests the performance largely lives up to the promise, even at a premium price point for an electric barbecue.
This model is ideal for households that love to host. The XL cooking area will comfortably feed a family and a few guests, so it suits medium to larger gardens, patios or balconies where you’ve got space to park a substantial grill.
It’s a strong option if you want the flavour of smoked food but don’t fancy managing charcoal or gas. The electric design, smoker box and automated programmes make it much more approachable for beginners, while still offering enough control – including a meat probe and app monitoring – to keep keen barbecue enthusiasts happy.
If you’re in a flat or have strict rules about open flames, the electric fuel type is a big plus. As long as you have an outdoor socket within reach of the 1.7 m cord and a weather-sheltered spot (it’s IPX4 weather resistant, not fully waterproof), you’re set.
Budget-wise, this is a premium purchase rather than a budget stopgap. It makes most sense for people who will use it regularly through spring and summer – and even year-round – and want one device that can grill, roast, smoke, bake, dehydrate and air fry rather than buying multiple appliances.
The combination of grill and smoker in one electric unit is the standout strength. You get the ease of plug-in power with the flavour boost of the dedicated wood pellet smoker box, so food comes off tasting properly barbecued rather than just oven-baked.
Capacity is another big win. Being able to cook up to 10 burgers or 40 hotdogs at once means you’re not stuck at the grill for hours when you’ve got people round. It’s well suited to family parties, kids’ birthdays and bank holiday cookouts.
The seven built-in programmes, spanning grilling, roasting, baking, dehydrating, reheating and air frying, make it very versatile. Rather than guessing temperatures and timings, you can lean on presets that are tuned for different styles of cooking.
Convenience features are strong too. The integrated meat probe helps you hit perfect doneness without constant checking, and the Ninja Pro Connect app means you can monitor progress from your phone, which is especially handy for longer smokes or roasts. Weather-resistant construction and a decent 2‑year manufacturer warranty add some reassurance that it’s built to last outdoors.
The main downside is cost: as a feature-rich, XL electric barbecue and smoker, it sits at the higher end of the price range for electric barbecues. If you only barbecue a couple of times a year, you may struggle to justify the outlay.
At 60.6 cm wide and 57.6 cm deep, it’s not a small unit, so it will dominate a compact balcony or tiny patio. You’ll also need a sturdy surface or stand to place it on, which adds to the overall space requirement.
The 1.7 m power cord is serviceable but not especially generous. In many gardens you’ll still need an outdoor extension lead to position it exactly where you want it. And while IPX4 weather resistance is reassuring, you shouldn’t just leave it fully exposed year-round – a cover or some shelter is still sensible.
Finally, the reliance on wood pellets for smoking adds another consumable to buy and store. They’re not expensive, but it is an extra running consideration compared to a simple grill.
Day to day, the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is designed to be as straightforward as possible. Being electric, you simply plug it in, choose your programme and temperature, and let it preheat – no battling with firelighters or gas bottles.
The control panel and LED indicators keep you informed about the cooking mode and status, so you’re not guessing what the grill is doing. The preset programmes reduce the learning curve, which is reassuring if you’re new to smoking or air frying.
The integrated meat probe changes how you cook larger joints or whole chickens. Instead of constantly opening the lid and poking food, you can track the internal temperature and let the grill tell you when it’s done, which helps avoid dry or undercooked results.
The 1.7 m cord gives you some flexibility in positioning, but in practical terms you’ll want to plan where your nearest outdoor socket is. IPX4 weather resistance means it can cope with the odd splash or shower, but you’ll still get the best experience by using it under a bit of cover and storing it sensibly between uses. Cleaning will mostly be around the grill plate and smoker box, which is still easier and less messy than emptying a charcoal firebox.
Performance-wise, the wide temperature range of 40–260 °C gives you plenty of headroom, from low-and-slow smoking and dehydrating up to fierce searing heat for steaks and burgers. That breadth is something many basic electric barbecues can’t match.
The seven cooking programmes cover grill, roast, bake, dehydrate, reheat and air fry, plus dedicated smoking thanks to Ninja’s Woodfire Technology. That smoker box burns natural wood pellets to infuse smoke without needing a full-on offset smoker design, so you can get ribs, brisket or wings with proper depth of flavour.
As an air fryer and roaster, it doubles as an outdoor oven. That’s handy in summer when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen, and it means you can do chips, veg, baked potatoes or even desserts alongside your main barbecue dishes.
Smart features are a real differentiator. The Ninja Pro Connect app lets you monitor and control key aspects of your cook from your phone, ideal for long smoking sessions when you’d rather be with your guests than hovering over the grill. Paired with the built-in meat probe, it turns what can be a hands-on, fiddly process into something much more relaxed.
The weather-resistant build and IPX4 rating show it’s been designed with British weather in mind, handling splashes and light rain. Combined with a 2‑year manufacturer warranty, it feels like a robust piece of kit for repeated outdoor use, not just a fair-weather gadget.
At around £399, the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL sits firmly in premium territory for an electric barbecue. However, you’re not just paying for a simple grill; you’re effectively getting a barbecue, smoker, air fryer and outdoor oven in one appliance.
When you factor in the XL capacity, wide 40–260 °C temperature range, integrated smoker box, meat probe and app connectivity, the feature list is considerably stronger than many simpler electric models. For someone who will use those functions regularly, it represents solid value.
The strong user rating of 4.7 out of 5 from a healthy number of reviews backs up the price tag – owners clearly feel they’re getting good performance and reliability for their money. If your budget is tight or you only want something for the odd burger night, it may feel like overkill, but for committed outdoor cooks it’s a justifiable investment.
The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Barbecue Grill & Smoker is an impressive all-rounder for anyone who takes outdoor cooking seriously but still wants convenience. It delivers the smoky flavour and high temperatures associated with “proper” barbecues, yet runs on clean, controllable electric power.
Its generous capacity, versatile cooking modes and smart features make it particularly well suited to families and keen hosts who’ll get plenty of use from it throughout the year. The addition of the wood pellet smoker box and meat probe means you can confidently tackle everything from weeknight chicken to slow-smoked joints.
You do pay a premium and you’ll need the outdoor space to house it, but if you’re looking for a do-it-all electric barbecue that can genuinely replace a traditional grill and add extra cooking options on top, this Ninja is one of the strongest choices currently available.
