True barbecue isn’t just about heat and meat—it’s about flavor, patience, and the satisfaction of knowing every bite was earned. Whether you’re spending a full day smoking ribs or tossing wings on for a quick dinner, what fuels your fire matters. At Knotty Wood BBQ, we’ve worked to develop the best pellets for ribs, brisket, chicken, and everything in between. Our Hardwood smoking pellets don’t just keep the temperature steady—they bring flavor, depth, and consistency to every cook.

Unlike many alternatives on the market, our pellets are made from 100% pure wood. No fillers, no synthetic binders, no mixing in of inferior materials to pad the weight. Each bag contains only what’s printed on the label, and the difference shows up in the smoke, the aroma, and the taste. That’s the standard we apply across every variety of our Hardwood smoking pellets, from almond and plum to wine barrel blends.

100% Pure Almond Wood Barbecue Pellets

There’s a reason almond wood has become a go-to for those who demand reliability from their fuel without sacrificing flavor. Our 100% Pure Almond Wood Barbecue Pellets offer a mild, nutty smoke that complements a wide range of proteins. They’re particularly well-suited for ribs, where the meat can absorb subtle flavor while still letting rubs and sauces do their work.

Almond wood burns hotter and longer than many common pellet woods like oak or fruitwood blends. This means fewer reloads, less ash cleanup, and better control over long cooks. When you’re smoking baby backs or St. Louis cuts, maintaining temperature for hours is crucial. These pellets handle that with ease.

Beyond ribs, almond is excellent for poultry, pork tenderloin, vegetables, and even seafood. Its smooth profile works well with light seasoning or heavy sauces alike. For those who want the best pellets for ribs that won’t overpower delicate flavors, this is a strong contender.

100% Pure Plum Wood Barbecue Pellets

Plum wood brings something a little different to the table. The smoke is light but carries a fruity richness that’s instantly noticeable in the finished dish. If you’re smoking short ribs or lathering on a sticky glaze, plum wood offers a balance that’s hard to match.

Our 100% Pure Plum Wood Barbecue Pellets are made entirely from orchard-pruned plum trees—no blended sawdust or unknown scraps. This gives the pellets a consistent burn and a flavor that’s both distinct and clean. Unlike pellets that can add bitterness or excessive smoke, plum enhances the natural sweetness in pork and can elevate marinades with soy, honey, or spice.

For those looking to explore something beyond the standard hickory or mesquite, plum offers a different, more refined direction. It’s ideal for backyard BBQers who want a signature smoke that turns heads.

Cabernet Wine Wood BBQ Smoker Pellets

Wine-soaked wood adds another dimension entirely. Our Cabernet Wine Wood BBQ Smoker Pellets are made from real oak barrels used in the aging of cabernet wine. Each pellet contains the history and complexity of those barrels, bringing a smoky profile layered with subtle wine notes—think dark fruit, oak, and a whisper of tannin.

These pellets are perfect for beef ribs, tri-tip, and lamb. The flavor holds up against bold rubs and stands out even through thicker sauces. When you want to impress at your next gathering—or just want your ribs to taste like they came out of a custom-built smokehouse—Cabernet pellets are the answer.

They also create a deep, reddish smoke ring on the meat, adding to the visual appeal. And because the wood has been naturally aged and dried, it delivers a smooth, even burn with minimal ash.

Competition Blend: Plummond Wood Barbecue Hardwood smoking pellets

Some recipes demand a bit of everything. Sweetness, heat, richness, and a smoke profile that plays well with them all. That’s where our Competition Blend: Plummond Wood Barbecue Pellets come in. This blend marries the unique characteristics of almond and plum to create a balanced smoke that’s bold without being aggressive.

Almond contributes the high heat and clean, steady burn, while plum adds just enough fruit character to round out the flavor. This combo is ideal for competition-style ribs, where judges are looking for complexity and finish in every bite. Even outside the competition circuit, the Plummond blend helps elevate backyard cooks who want their ribs to turn out as memorable as they are delicious.

For those who cook across a wide spectrum—beef, pork, chicken, or even veggies—this blend provides flexibility and confidence. It handles everything from high-heat searing to slow smoking without skipping a beat.

Plum & Cabernet Wine Blend Pellets

When we set out to create something that brought out the full spectrum of smokehouse flavor, the Plum & Cabernet Wine Blend Pellets were the result. This is a blend that offers both fruit-driven depth and wine-barrel complexity. If you want to turn your ribs into a showcase piece, these pellets bring the flavor needed to get there.

Plum brings in that smooth, slightly sweet character, while the cabernet barrel wood adds sophistication and a rustic quality that enhances fatty cuts and bold rubs. Together, they create a balanced smoke that lingers in the best way.

This blend works particularly well with spare ribs and beef ribs, especially when using rich glazes or red wine reductions. It’s a great match for slow weekend cooks or whenever you’re looking to experiment with something a little more layered than standard wood varieties.

What Makes These Pellets Different

The quality of wood pellets affects everything: the heat your grill produces, the length of your cook, the cleanup after, and most importantly, the flavor of the food. With Knotty Wood BBQ Hardwood smoking pellets, you’re not gambling on what might be mixed into the bag. You’re getting 100% of the wood you paid for, in every pellet.

That consistency helps deliver the kind of results serious grillers are after. Low ash production means fewer shutdowns or cleaning interruptions. Reliable burn temperatures let you focus on the cook itself, not fire maintenance. And because the pellets are made from real, whole wood—not floor sweepings or bark-heavy leftovers—you can taste the difference in every rack of ribs you pull off the grates.

Each pellet line we offer is made with a clear flavor profile and performance goal in mind. Whether you’re cooking lean baby backs or heavily marbled beef ribs, there’s a pellet for that. And once you start pairing the right wood with the right cut, you’ll understand why we believe ours are the best pellets for ribs—bar none.

Your grill is only as good as what you put in it. With Knotty Wood BBQ pellets, you’re getting the kind of fuel that meets the moment, every time.