Two studies evaluated the effect of replacing traditional growing diets with a complete pelleted feed. In Exp. 1, 6 steers were utilized in a 4 × 6 Youden square to evaluate the effects of a complete pelleted feed on total-tract digestion. Four treatments consisted of 2 control diets containing 18% modified distillers grains (MDGS), 18% solubles, and either 60% untreated corn stover (−CON) or 60% alkaline treated corn stover (+CON). The remaining 2 diets were 1 of 2 complete pelleted feeds (Pellet A or Pellet B). Pellets contained alkaline treated corn stover, dry distillers grains, solubles, and supplement. Corn stover used in Pellet A and B were harvested using different methods causing Pellet B to have less stem than Pellet A. In Exp. 2, a 92-d growing study utilized 360 (initial BW = 316 ± 22 kg) yearling steers to evaluate replacing a diet consisting of 60% corn stover, 18% solubles, and 18% MDGS with a complete pelleted feed on growing cattle performance. The pelleted feed was the Pellet A treatment in Exp. 1. Pellets were either pair-fed (Pel-PF) to the control (CON) treatment (CON fed ad libitum) or fed ad libitum (Pel-AL). In Exp.1, differences (P < 0.01) in total-tract digestibility of OM (OMD) and NDF (NDFD) between the 4 treatments were observed. Pellet B had the greatest OMD and NDFD (75.55% and 63.93%, respectively) and the −CON had the lowest (67.58% and 54.36%, respectively). The +CON and Pellet A were intermediate and statistically similar to one another (P ≥ 0.22). In Exp. 2, there were no differences (P > 0.50) between the CON and Pel-PF in ending BW, DMI (by design), or ADG (1.29 ± 0.17 and 1.27 ± 0.22 kg/d, respectively). Greater DMI (12.18 ± 0.71 kg/d) and ADG (1.63 ± 0.20 kg/d) were observed for the Pel-AL compared with the CON and Pel-PF treatments (P < 0.01). The Pel-AL treatment (0.134) had lower G:F (P = 0.05) compared with the CON and Pel-PF treatments (0.143 and 0.140, respectively). Replacing a traditional growing diet with a complete pelleted feed resulted in similar or improved diet digestibility, depending on stover harvesting method. Pelleting increased DMI and ADG if cattle were fed ad libitum but decreased G:F.