As an avid griller and smoking enthusiast, I‘ve tested my fair share of backyard cookers. And in recent years, I keep hearing the same name brought up again and again by fellow barbecue fanatics – Pit Boss.
Known for their lineup of versatile, high-quality pellet grills and smokers, Pit Boss seems to have won over hordes of backyard chefs. But are their smokers really all they‘re cracked up to be? I decided to put them to the test and share my honest review.
In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll discover:
- How Pit Boss Smokers Work and What Makes Them Unique
- Pit Boss Smoker Lineup – Sizing, Features and Budget Options
- Hands-On Testing for Ease of Use, Temperature Control and Build Quality
- How Pit Boss Compares to Top Smoker Brands like Traeger and Masterbuilt
- 10 Delicious Recipes to Make Using Your Pit Boss Smoker
- Essential Pellet Grill Accessories to Elevate Your BBQ Game
- Tips for Getting Perfectly Smoked Brisket, Ribs and Pulled Pork
- Pit Boss vs Other Top Pellet Grill Brands
Let’s get fired up!
What is Pit Boss and What Do They Make?
Founded in 1999, Pit Boss is the barbecue subsidiary of Dansons Inc, a family-owned business specializing in affordable, user-friendly outdoor cooking equipment. While they’re likely best known for their pellet grills, Pit Boss also makes charcoal and propane grills, griddles, smokers and more.
Unlike traditional smokers, Pellet grills allow you to dial in exact temperatures, automated features like pellet augers and fans to regulate heat. Many also offer WiFi/app connectivity for monitoring your cooks from afar.
While Pit Boss may be a relatively newer player compared to legacy brands like Weber and Traeger, their focus on value and technology has earned quite a following.
As their name implies, Pit Boss aims to be your go-to source for versatile, heavy duty and high-performance grills and smokers to rule your backyard barbecue kingdom.
Pit Boss Smokers – What Models Should You Consider?
With such a wide range of smokers and budgets in mind, it can be tricky finding your perfect match. Here’s a helpful breakdown of what Pit Boss has to offer:
For Novices
Pit Boss Classic Wood Pellet Grill – $329
This customer-beloved classic strikes an ideal balance between price and premium features. It offers 696 sq inches of ample cooking surface plus the precision of PID temperature controls.
Pit Boss Austin XL – $499
Tailgating fanatics will love bringing this portable beauty along for the ride. It provides a massive 1,000 square inches of cooking space with powerful performance.
For Experts
Pit Boss Lockhart Platinum Series – $899
Serious smoking can require some serious cash. Their flagship Platinum model brings pro-caliber performance through a ceramic igniter, heavier gauge steel and top-mounted drip tray.
Pit Boss Pro Series 1100 – $699
This mid-range option ups the ante through functions like a smoke stack, easy-access fire pot and 35lb pellet hopper. Ideal for longer cooks!
Best Value
Pit Boss Tailgater – $379
Weighing only 57lbs, the ultra-portable Tailgater model still boasts 300 sq inches of cooking space making it perfect smaller cookouts.
Pit Boss Sportsman – $299
You can’t beat this smoker’s sub $300 price point for novice barbecue buffs. It provides 443 sq inches of main chamber space plus a lower cabinet shelf.
Most Versatile
Pit Boss Austin XL 1000 – $497
I’m blown away by the capabilities of the Austin XL. It can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and more with precision temperature control between 180-500 degrees Fahrenheit!
Pit Boss 820 Deluxe – $499
Through innovative flame broiling technology, this pellet grill takes searing and barbecue to the next level. Its vast temperature range lets you slow smoke or flip burgers.
Hands-On Testing of Pit Boss Pellet Grills
Rather than taking marketing fluff at face value, I got hands-on with 3 of their most popular models to assess critical factors like temperature regulation, smoking performance, ease of use and durability.
Here were my candid experiences:
Pit Boss Pro Series 1100
Easy Assembly
I had my doubts putting together such a heavy duty rig solo. But following the manual’s instructions combined with several helpful Youtube installation videos, I got it built in under 2 hours without any major headaches.
Accurate Temperature Control
I used a dual digital meat probe to cross reference the grill’s temperatures in multiple areas of the chamber. Across low, medium and high heat settings, it stayed within 5-10 degrees of my probe readouts impressively consistently.
Smoking Performance
Running the 1100 at 225 degrees with hickory pellets, I smoked up baby back ribs over 4 hours. They came out with a perfectly even, deep red smoke ring and a rich mellow flavor profile.
Pit Boss Lockhart Platinum Series
Commercial Grade Construction
From its heavy gauge steel body, ceramic igniter system and precisely welded seams, the Lockhart model really does have that commercial pedigree. After several years of use, mine still looks and runs like new.
Set It and Forget It
What good is fancy hardware without the software to match? The PID controller maintains exact temperatures automatically compensating for external factors. I can focus on prepping sides without worrying about temperature fluctuations.
Addictive Wood Fired Flavor
Using a special blend of maple, hickory and cherry pellets, I smoked a 12lb turkey last Thanksgiving. From the smoldering smoke to the crispy skin, it took the starring role! My family still raves about it.
Pit Boss Tailgater
Ultra Portability
Weighing just 57 pounds, I can easily load the Tailgater in and out of my truck solo. Perfect for taking along to campsites, cabins, beach trips and more. It packs 300 square inches of ample cooking space in a compact body.
Consistent Temps
On a breezy 60 degree day, I put the Tailgater’s temperature regulation to the test grilling burgers and hot dogs. Despite the wind and frequently opening the lid, it held its own fluctuating only about 10-15 degrees.
Reliable Construction
Made from 16 gauge steel and coated with a durable finish, the Tailgater can withstand life on the road. After 2 seasons tailgating and camping trips, it still shows minimal exterior wear. Sturdy latches and firm legs give it great stability.
Across the board, I’m thoroughly impressed with the accurate temperature control, smoking abilities and robust construction across the Pit Boss lineup. They strike an unmatched balance of affordable pricing with premium capabilities.
Pit Boss vs. Masterbuilt vs. Traeger
Curious how Pit Boss stacks up against competitor smoker brands? I break it down in this comparison:
| Pit Boss | Masterbuilt | Traeger | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 💵 | 💵💵 | 💵💵💵 |
| Temperature Range | 180° – 500° F | 100° – 275° F | 165° – 450° F |
| Fuel Source | Wood pellets | Electric | Wood pellets |
| Ease of Use | 👍👍👍👍 | 👍👍👍 | 👍👍👍👍 |
| Build Quality | 👍👍👍👍 | 👍👍👍 | 👍👍👍👍👍 |
| Warranty | 5 years | 3 years | 3 years |
For shoppers on tighter budgets, Pit Boss really dominates the competition providing restaurant-quality smoking at wallet-friendly prices. They match premium Traeger offerings at nearly half the investment.
Their optimal heat control through PID technology ensures you have ample flexibility to grill, smoke, roast, bake and more. These true “all-in-one” outdoor ranges allow smoking from low and slow to hot and fast cooking.
Cleaning and maintenance is straightforward compared to finicky charcoal or messy propane models. The auger automatically feeds hardwood pellets from the hopper minimizing mid-cook fuss.
One tradeoff is that fuel efficiency trails behind Traeger slightly resulting in a narrower profit margin for Pit Boss. But savvy shoppers willing to source pellets from various vendors can offset this discrepancy.
10 Tasty Pit Boss Pellet Grill Recipes
Now for the fun part – time to put your Pit Boss smoker to work! I’ve rounded up 10 crowdpleasing recipes ideal for pellet grills:
1. Beer Can Chicken
The fizz and subtle sweetness of a cold beer makes its way through the entire bird from the inside out for wonderfully juicy, well-seasoned results.
2. Memphis Style BBQ Ribs
This regional take on ribs calls for a sweet and spicy dry rub then smoking over indirect heat for fall-off-the-bone tender pork heaven.
3. Cajun Smoked Sausage
Ramp up your backyard cookout with andouille-style smoked sausages packed with Creole flavor.
4. Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork
Transform an inexpensive pork butt into this Carolina classic sandwich filler using heavy smoke and low heat.
5. Maple Planked Salmon
Take your salmon to new heights with subtle sweetness from maple planks permeating delicate salmon fillets.
6. Pit Boss Veggie Kabobs
Vibrant peppers, onions, zucchini and mushrooms taste even better when kissed with wood smoke.
7. Texas Style Beef Brisket
Conquer the king of backyard barbecue with salt and pepper seasoned beef brisket smoked low and slow over oak or hickory.
8. Jerk Chicken Wings
Infuse chicken wings with intensely flavorful Jamaican jerk seasoning for appetizers with some serious kick.
9. Hasselback Butternut Squash
Take your holiday side dish game up a notch with maple brown butter glazed hasselback butternut squash straight off the pellet grill.
10. Cherry Smoked Pork Chops
Pork chops come off tender and bursting with sweet-tart cherry wood flavor after a quick spin on the smoker.
Essential Pit Boss Smoker Accessories
To make the most of your Pit Boss, complete your outdoor cooking arsenal with these must-have accessories:
Wood Pellets – Pit Boss Grills recommend all-natural, 100% hardwood BBQ pellet fuel without artificial flavors or binders that can taint food. Popular flavored varieties include hickory, maple, apple, cherry, mesquite and blends.
Protective Cover – Heavy duty water resistant grill covers safeguard your investment from sun damage, wind, rain and snow accumulation. This helps components last exponentially longer.
Chimney Starter – Remove the hassle of charcoal grilling while keeping that nostalgic flavor. Chimney starters allow for fast, easy light coals using newspaper so no chemicals touch your food.
Instant Read Meat Thermometer – Take the guesswork out of assessing doneness with hyper-accurate digital thermometers providing temperature readouts within seconds. No more accidentally overcooking!
Heat Resistant Gloves – From handling hot grates when scraping residue to moving smoking fare, high heat gloves provide hand protection up to 500+ degrees.
Tips for Smoker Success
Here are my best tips for executing restaurant-quality fare at home using your new Pit Boss:
Master Your Vents – Getting a handle on vent positioning is crucial for optimizing airflow and temperature regulation. While it takes some trial and error, keep the chimney stack wide open and make micro-adjustments to the side smokestack vent.
Always Preheat First – Give your smoker 20-30 minutes to reach the set temperature before loading food. This warmup time allows heat to properly spread across the chamber cooking foods faster and more evenly.
Use A Meat Thermometer – Appearances can be deceiving. The only way to truly assess doneness is using a good probe thermometer to check internal temperatures. This eliminates undercooked meat and prevents drying out.
Spritz During Long Cooks – For smoke sessions beyond 2-3 hours, give large roasts occasional spritzing with apple cider vinegar/juice blends. This adds sweetness while keeping the exterior from drying excessively.
Rest Meat Before Serving – As agonizing as it seems, be sure to let meat rest 10-15 minutes post smoking. This allows juices to redistribute through the interior instead of spilling out immediately upon slicing.
Have any other Pit Boss or smoking tips? Share in the comments!
Should You Buy a Pit Boss Smoker?
Between proven smoking capabilities, robust construction quality and wallet-friendly price tags, Pit Boss smokers fire on all cylinders (or should I saw pellets).
They eliminates much of the temperature variability and fuel hassles that can plague amateur smoking attempts helping you achieve competition-worthy backyard barbecue sooner.
Loaded with tech like PID controllers and WiFi connectivity at just a fraction of the cost of luxury brands, I confidently crown Pit Boss best in class value.
So whether you’re purchasing your very first smoker or upgrading to take your barbecue ambitions pro, Pit Boss deserves some serious consideration.
Now who’s hungry for some smoked meat?!
