The Ninja Woodfire Pro XL Barbecue Grill & Smoker is a powerful 1700W outdoor electric cooker that aims to give you proper barbecue flavour without the faff of charcoal or gas. It combines grilling, smoking, air frying and roasting in one chunky, countertop-style unit.
Ninja has a strong reputation for well-thought-out kitchen kit, and this model follows the same playbook: lots of smart features, simple controls and a focus on consistency. It’s not the cheapest electric barbecue, but you’re paying for flexibility and the brand’s Woodfire technology rather than a basic hot plate.
With a 4.8 out of 5 rating from dozens of owners, it’s clearly gone down very well in real gardens. This review looks at whether its mix of wood-smoked flavour, Smart Cook temperature probe and generous capacity is worth the investment for your outdoor space.
The Ninja Woodfire Pro XL is ideal for anyone who wants authentic-tasting barbecue food but doesn’t want the hassle, smoke and unpredictability of a traditional charcoal grill. If you like the idea of simply plugging in, setting a temperature and letting the cooker do the hard work, it’s a strong fit.
It suits families and keen entertainers thanks to its large capacity and 1700W power. The XL footprint gives you enough room to cook for several people at once, making it a good option for regular weekend cookouts or summer parties.
Because it’s electric and designed for outdoor use, it’s also a sensible choice for homes where open-flame barbecues are discouraged or impractical – such as smaller gardens, patios and some shared outdoor spaces. You’ll still get smoke and woodfire flavour from the built-in smoke function, but without managing fuel or flare-ups.
Budget-wise, it sits in the mid-to-premium end of the electric barbecue market. It’s best suited to people who grill often, want the extra cooking modes and Smart Cook probe, and are happy to pay a bit more for a feature-packed, low-fuss outdoor cooker rather than a basic grill.
The big selling point is Ninja’s Woodfire technology, which adds real wood smoke to your food without needing a charcoal or gas setup. That means burgers, brisket, chicken and veg come off the grill with noticeably deeper flavour than a standard electric barbecue can manage.
The four cooking functions – BBQ grill, BBQ smoker, air fry and roast – make this far more versatile than a simple grill. You can reverse-sear steaks, smoke ribs low and slow, then use the air fry mode for chips or crispy chicken wings, all in the same unit.
Ninja’s Smart Cook system and built-in food probe take a lot of guesswork out of cooking meat. Instead of constantly checking and cutting into food, you set your doneness and let the cooker monitor internal temperature, which is especially handy for larger joints and whole chickens.
Practical touches are strong too: a removable drip tray and grill plates make clean-up much easier, and the cool-touch handle keeps the lid safe to lift even when the grill is scorching inside. The solid-feeling metal and stainless-steel body also suggests good durability for regular outdoor use.
User feedback is very positive, with a 4.8/5 rating indicating that owners find it reliable, easy to cook on and capable of delivering consistently tasty results.
Despite the “XL” name, the unit itself isn’t particularly portable: there’s no folding mechanism or carry case, and it doesn’t include a stand. You’ll need a sturdy outdoor surface or separate table, and it’s not the kind of barbecue you’ll casually take to the park.
The power cord is 1.7 metres, which is adequate but not generous. In many gardens you’ll end up using an outdoor-rated extension lead to position it exactly where you want it.
There’s no viewing window, so you need to lift the lid to check on food, which can briefly drop the temperature and let smoke escape. It’s not a deal-breaker, but a small glass panel would have made monitoring long smokes a bit easier.
You also don’t get Wi‑Fi or app control, which some premium outdoor cookers now offer. If you’re hoping to tweak temperatures from indoors on your phone, this model keeps things more traditional with onboard controls only.
Finally, while the two-year warranty is decent, it’s not class-leading for a product at this price, and there’s no mention of a detailed instruction booklet or recipe book beyond a basic guide, so complete beginners may wish there was a bit more hand-holding.
Using the Ninja Woodfire Pro XL feels more like cooking on a well-designed indoor appliance than wrestling with a traditional barbecue. You plug it in, set the temperature with the adjustable controls, and the 1700W element brings it up to heat quickly, even on cooler days.
The Smart Cook system and food probe make everyday grilling noticeably less stressful. Instead of standing over the grill, you can rely on the probe to track internal temperature and alert you when food is done, helping to avoid overcooked chicken or underdone sausages.
The cooking surface is a griddle-style hob material, which gives attractive sear lines and makes it easier to handle delicate foods like fish without them sticking or breaking up. The large capacity also means you can cook mains and some sides together, reducing the back-and-forth from the kitchen.
Cleaning is refreshingly straightforward for a barbecue. The fat drip tray and removable grill plates lift out for a quick wash, and because it’s electric there are no ash pans or sooty grill bodies to contend with. That lowers the barrier to firing it up for a midweek meal, not just big weekend barbecues.
The main consideration in day-to-day use is space and power. You’ll want a dedicated spot outside to keep it in, and a nearby socket or weatherproof extension. Once it’s set up, though, it’s an easy, repeatable experience that encourages you to barbecue more often, not just on the hottest days of summer.
With a 1700W power output, the Ninja Woodfire Pro XL heats up quickly and holds its temperature well up to a maximum of 240°C. That’s hot enough to sear steaks properly, crisp up chicken skin and roast veg without lingering in the danger zone where food stews instead of browning.
The standout feature is the dedicated Woodfire technology and smoke function. By burning small amounts of wood pellets inside the unit, it infuses food with smoke while still relying on the electric element for consistent heat. This hybrid approach gives you much more flavour than a standard electric grill but with fewer variables than a full-on smoker.
Its four cooking modes – BBQ Grill, BBQ Smoker, Air Fry and Roast – broaden what you can realistically do outdoors. You can smoke a pork shoulder low and slow, then use air fry to finish the crackling, or roast a chicken while air frying potatoes, all under precise temperature control. For a single outdoor appliance, that’s an unusually flexible toolkit.
The Smart Cook System, teamed with the included food probe, is another performance highlight. It continuously monitors internal food temperature and works with timers and temperature settings so you hit your desired doneness more reliably. This is particularly valuable for thick cuts and large joints that are easy to misjudge by eye.
From a usability point of view, the cool-touch handle, removable drip tray, removable grill plates and clear on/off and timer controls all contribute to a feeling of safety and control. There’s no Wi‑Fi or app integration, but for most users the straightforward onboard controls will be more than enough, and there’s less to go wrong over time.
The Ninja Woodfire Pro XL is priced as a mid-to-high-end electric barbecue, and it doesn’t pretend to be a budget option. You’re paying for the combination of woodfire smoking, multiple cooking modes and smart temperature control, rather than just a hot plate in a box.
Viewed against the broader electric barbecue market, the spec sheet is strong: a powerful 1700W element, large cooking area, integrated smoke function, Smart Cook probe and a genuinely versatile set of cooking modes. Many cheaper models offer only basic grilling with little help on temperature or doneness.
The two-year manufacturer warranty is reasonable, and the very high 4.8/5 user rating with over 50 reviews suggests that most owners feel they’ve had good value from it in real-world use. Fewer ruined steaks and undercooked chicken also have their own value, especially if you entertain regularly.
If you only barbecue a handful of times a year or just want something simple for the odd burger, a more basic grill will save you money. But if you’re serious about outdoor cooking and want reliable, repeatable results with wood-smoked flavour and minimal fuss, the price looks fair for what you’re getting.
The Ninja Woodfire Pro XL Barbecue Grill & Smoker is an impressive all-rounder for garden cooks who want genuine barbecue flavour without the mess and unpredictability of charcoal. Its Woodfire technology, Smart Cook probe and multi-mode cooking options combine to deliver consistently tasty, well-cooked food with far less effort than a traditional setup.
It’s not the most portable or the cheapest barbecue you can buy, and you’ll need a dedicated outdoor spot and power source. There’s also no app control or viewing window, so tech obsessives may wish for a few extra bells and whistles.
For most people, though, this is a smart, capable and highly versatile outdoor cooker that encourages you to grill, smoke and roast more often. If you’re happy to invest in a feature-rich electric barbecue that feels closer to an outdoor oven with serious flavour credentials, the Ninja Woodfire Pro XL is an excellent choice.
