AmazingRibs.com is supported by our Pitmaster Club. Also, when you buy with links on our site we may earn a finder’s fee. Click to see how we test and review products.

Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco Drum Smoker Review

Share on:
Oklahoma Joe's Bronco

Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco Drum Smoker. Oklahoma Joe’s first-ever Upright Drum Smoker brings to the market a package full of features you won’t find on many smokers at this price. My Pit Barrel Cooker sells for a slightly higher MSRP and lacks many of the extras that set this drum smoker apart from the competition. Oklahoma Joe’s describes their drum smoker as versatile, and it is just that.

Upright drum smokers

Popularity of upright barrel smokers, aka Ugly Drum Smokers, has been on the upswing. Having cooked on an upright barrel smoker for over six years, I appreciate the small footprint, ease of use, and unique grill-like flavors characteristic of this design. Not long ago Ugly Drum Smokers were a Do-It-Yourself item. Then kits became available and we now have new upcoming companies manufacturing their versions of “Not So Ugly Drum Smokers.“ Oklahoma Joe’s produced a variety of smokers for decades, but no upright barrels until the Bronco.

The Bronco bonus

Starting right off the top, the Bronco has a hinged lid with a gasket. This gasket enables thermometer cables to pass under the lid without getting pinched, giving pitmasters the opportunity to utilize one or more of the many digital thermometers available. One standard side shelf with the option of adding another sure makes it nice when carrying 15 pounds of meat to the smoker. The cooking grate can hold up to two 8 pound pork butts, and thanks to a hanging system, you can hang up to 9 racks of ribs using three Meat Hangers and Food Hooks. A Lift Out Tool is also supplied to handle hot Food Hooks. The exhaust and intake are indexed so you can easily dial in your settings. Inside, the smoker is equipped with an Ash Pan, Charcoal Basket and Heat Diffuser plate. A front mounted Temp Gauge provides approximate smoker temps at a glance, although we always recommend using a reliable digital thermometer and you should read why A drainage cap on the bottom provides an outlet for liquid and debris when cleaning the inside. Oklahoma Joe’s Wagon Wheels also make it easy to move this smoker on almost any terrain. Finally, the Bronco Grilling Guide gives easy to follow instructions on the Smoker’s Features, Smoker Maintenance, Smoking and Slow Cooking, Charcoal Grilling, and much more.

Pulled pork

The first test cook was a 9 pound pork butt, and it was a resounding success. Look at that bark!

Large hunk of smoked meat on a round grill.

Clean bone.

Piece of smoked meat falling off a bone.

Solid smoke ring.

Dark, smoked meat with a pink smoke ring.

And a nice little money muscle.

Small piece of juicy smoked meat.

Coworkers kept complimenting the smoke flavor. Wondering how it’s done? Click here for Meathead’s Best Pulled Pork BBQ Recipe Ever.

Brisket

Until I read the Bronco’s Grilling Guide, I wasn’t sure if the Food Hangers could support the weight of a brisket. But the set-up turned out to be pretty sweet: the Food Hanger brackets are indexed, which allows you to set the position of the Hanger, and the indexing prevents the Food Hanger from swaying. First, the briskets were hung for 5.5 hours, then transferred to the grate for another 7 hours or so. Total cook time was just over 12.5 hours.  Large hunk of smoked meat covering a round grill.

Excellent results. Check out that smoke ring. Slurp!

Oval slices of smoked meat showing pink smoke ring.

To bone up on brisket technique, click here for Meathead’s Smoked Beef Brisket Recipe.

round charcoal basket inside a round barrel.

This smoker can grill!

Smoking was a success. Time to see if Bronco can grill! Grilling instructions can be found on page 16 of the Grilling Guide, and setting up the Bronco for grilling couldn’t be simpler.  Just flip the Heat Diffuser and place the Charcoal Basket on top of it. This brings the Charcoal Basket high enough for grilling.

Hamburgers sizzling on a grill.

With the grill set up, I whipped up 6 tasty burgers in no time.

Tired of the same old hamburgers? Click here for a patty party and explore our delicious burger recipes.

Hanging chicken

Onto the chicken test. Hanging chicken in an upright barrel smoker cooks it to perfection due to what we call “Stationary Rotisserie Cooking.” The bird hangs without moving, while the heat and smoke swirl around it. This results in delicious, juicy meat with crispy skin. Meathead’s Sweet Georgia Brown Smoked Chicken is my go to preparation.

Dislikes

Pork butt, brisket, burgers, and chicken? Is there anything this cooker can’t do? Well, nobody’s perfect but my dislikes here are minor so I’ll get them out the way. The dial thermometer lags behind the actual temp, which is not uncommon for dial thermometers on any grill or smoker. Also, the barrel leaks from the Air Intake Cap, and I’ve seen reports on the internet of leakage from the sides where the two barrel sections connect. Nonetheless, no one has reported any adverse effects with respect to temperature control. A little spilled milk never hurt anybody.

Likes

Geez, where do I start? A $299 barrel smoker with hinged lid, gasket, side shelf, wheels, capacity to hang up to 9 racks of ribs, grilling capabilities, adjustable intake and exhaust, and charcoal basket that can hold up to 12 hours worth of charcoal while running low and slow? What’s not to love? Accessories are also available, including a cover, extra shelf, and a unique Triple Grate that allows you to hang meat and cook an array of food, such as chicken legs, seafood, and vegetables simultaneously. Try beating that with a rubber hose!

Packaging and assembly

The Bronco comes with a Product Guide that’s clear and easy to follow, making assembly simple. Two tools and twelve steps later, the Bronco is ready to be seasoned. Parts are well packaged, and the unit we tested was free from shipping damage.

Conclusion

Prior to receiving the Bronco Drum Smoker, I informed Oklahoma Joe’s that I would be donating the smoker to the local fire department across the street after testing was complete. Once I cooked on it, however, I regretted my decision. For a second, I even considered telling Oklahoma Joe’s that the tires went flat and I would just have to keep the smoker. I soon realized they would more than likely just send new wheels, so I followed through with my promise, somewhat reluctantly, and donated the Bronco to our local firefighters.

Warranty

Limited 2 year warranty on perforation, manufacturing, and material defects; applicable in the United States and Canada only.

We thank Oklahoma Joe’s for providing the Bronco for testing.

Date Reviewed: 07/10/2019

Haven't found what you want?
Click the buttons below to search our complete database of reviews:

Product Information:

  • Model:
    Bronco Drum Smoker Review
  • Item Price:
    $ 350.00
    *Price Subject To Change
  • Where to buy (buying from this supplier supports this website):
  • Made in USA:
    no
  • Review Method:
    Cooked On It
    We have hands-on experience testing this product. We have also gathered info from the manufacturer, owners and other reliable sources.
  • Primary Function:
    Grill, Smoker, Combination Grill and Smoker
  • Fuel:
    Charcoal
  • Primary Capacity:
    284 square inches
    Small (about 14 burgers)

Published On: 7/10/2019 Last Modified: 12/9/2023

  • Jerod Broussard -

    Jerod Broussard is a maestro of the drum smoker and Texas barbecue in general. Born and raised in Southwest Louisiana on a rice farm, Jerod earned a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and moved to Texas where he has been a food inspector since 2002. Don’t be shy with your questions regarding chicken, Jerod inspects [...]


 

High quality websites are expensive to run. If you help us, we’ll pay you back bigtime with an ad-free experience and a lot of freebies!

Millions come to AmazingRibs.com every month for high quality tested recipes, tips on technique, science, mythbusting, product reviews, and inspiration. But it is expensive to run a website with more than 2,000 pages and we don’t have a big corporate partner to subsidize us.

Our most important source of sustenance is people who join our Pitmaster Club. But please don’t think of it as a donation. Members get MANY great benefits. We block all third-party ads, we give members free ebooks, magazines, interviews, webinars, more recipes, a monthly sweepstakes with prizes worth up to $2,000, discounts on products, and best of all a community of like-minded cooks free of flame wars. Click below to see all the benefits, take a free 30 day trial, and help keep this site alive.


Post comments and questions below

grouchy?

1) Please try the search box at the top of every page before you ask for help.

2) Try to post your question to the appropriate page.

3) Tell us everything we need to know to help such as the type of cooker and thermometer. Dial thermometers are often off by as much as 50°F so if you are not using a good digital thermometer we probably can’t help you with time and temp questions. Please read this article about thermometers.

4) If you are a member of the Pitmaster Club, your comments login is probably different.

5) Posts with links in them may not appear immediately.

Moderators

  Max

Click to comment or ask a question...

Spotlight

These are not paid ads, they are a curated selection of products we love.

All of the products below have been tested and are highly recommended. Click here to read more about our review process.

Use Our Links To Help Keep Us Alive

Many merchants pay us a small referral fee when you click our “buy now” links. This has zero impact on the price you pay but helps support the site.