About Smoking Dad BBQ

Hi, I’m James—the dad behind Smoking Dad BBQ. I’m on a mission to help backyard pitmasters conquer their grills and make food their friends and family can’t wait to eat again.

I’ve been grilling and cooking over live fire for over a decade. What keeps me firing up another cooker isn’t just the finished plate: it’s figuring out why a method works, what went wrong, and how to make the next cook easier.

Practical lessons, tested in the backyard

I cook on kamados, offsets, pellet smokers, and charcoal grills. I compare setups, test accessories, and put familiar barbecue advice under pressure. Sometimes a blind taste test confirms what I expected. Sometimes it changes my mind.

My goal is to explain the trade-offs so you can make your own decisions—not convince you that one grill or one barbecue rule is right for everyone.

Find help for your next cook

• Kamado Grills: learn about airflow, vent settings, heat deflectors, and cooking setups.
• Offset Smokers: understand backyard fire management, smoker design, and wood consumption.
• Brisket: explore trimming, smoke, tenderness, and holding methods.
• Grill Reviews: compare real cooking performance and ownership compromises.
• Ribs: work on seasoning, texture, and a method that suits your cooker.

Keep learning with me

I also make digital guides for Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg, and Primo owners, covering vent settings, smoke management, and double-indirect setups. You can browse them in my shop.

A note about support

Some manufacturers provide equipment or sponsor my work, and some product links earn me a commission. I disclose that support in the relevant content and explain the tests and limitations behind my conclusions.