You want a flat-top for weeknight smash burgers and a smoker for Saturday brisket. The Blackstone Bronco XL puts both on one cart. The real question is whether paying for them together beats buying a griddle now and a smoker later.
The Bronco XL griddle and pellet smoker combo is worth it if you’ll smoke regularly and want one footprint, one cabinet and one cover. On KS Products, it costs $1,100 more than the Bronco XL griddle sold on its own, so the smoker half has to earn that. If you mostly griddle, or want a full pellet grill rather than a vertical smoker, buy the griddle alone and add a separate unit later.
What is the Blackstone Bronco XL combo?
The Bronco 28″ XL Griddle Vertical Pellet Smoker Combo is a 28-inch XL Omnivore griddle and a 900 square inch vertical pellet smoker built into one cart with a propane storage cabinet.
On the griddle side, you get three independently controlled heat zones, built-in wind guards on the Omnivore plate, rear grease management and push-button ignition. On the smoker side, you get three adjustable cooking racks, a rear pellet hopper with a window so you can see the pellet level, and wireless control through the Blackstone Connect app.
Combo vs two separate units: what’s the real price difference?
The cleanest comparison is the combo against the Bronco XL griddle sold on its own. The gap between them is what you’re paying for the smoker half.
| Option on KS Products (prices as of October 2026) | Price |
|---|---|
| Bronco XL griddle and vertical pellet smoker combo | $1,899.99 |
| Bronco XL Omnivore griddle with hood and storage cabinet | $799.99 |
| Difference: the smoker half | $1,100.00 |
| Bronco XL griddle + 900 pellet grill with air fryer | $2,699.98 |
So the combo saves $800 against buying the Bronco XL griddle plus Blackstone’s 900 pellet grill separately. That’s not quite a like-for-like swap. The 900 is a pellet grill with a 7-quart air fryer drawer, while the combo’s smoker is a vertical cabinet built for low-and-slow cooking on stacked racks.
If you already own a smoker, the math flips. You’d be paying $1,100 for a second one.
When does the combo make more sense?
The combo suits you if most of these are true:
- You’ll smoke ribs, pork shoulder or brisket several times a season, not once a year.
- Your patio has room for one large unit but not two.
- You want one propane cabinet, one cover and one spot to clean up.
- You like starting a long smoke on the app, then cooking sides on the griddle next to it.
The pairing works well for big cooks: smoke the meat on the racks, then griddle the onions, peppers and buns beside it.
When are two separate units the better buy?
Two units make more sense if any of these apply:
- You mostly griddle. The Bronco XL griddle on its own is $1,100 less. Spend part of that on accessories you’ll use every week.
- You want to grill on grates too. A vertical smoker is built for low-and-slow, not searing on grates. A pellet grill such as the 900 is the better fit.
- You want to spread the cost. Buy the griddle this season and add a smoker later.
- You want them in different places. Two units can sit apart on the patio or be stored separately for winter.
If you’d rather start smaller on the griddle side, the Original Series 28″ XL Omnivore griddle with hood and side shelves also has three heat zones, at a lower price than the Bronco XL griddle with cabinet.
What does owning a combo involve in Canada?
A combo runs on two fuels and has two sets of needs. Plan for both before it arrives.
Weight and space. At 350 lb, it needs a level, permanent spot and help to move it. Measure your patio against the 53 × 36 × 25 inch listing before you order.
Propane and pellets. The griddle runs on propane stored in the cabinet. The smoker burns wood pellets, and its controller and app connection need a power outlet nearby. Keep pellets in a sealed bin, because damp pellets swell and crumble.
Cold-weather smoking. Cold air and wind pull heat from any smoker, so winter smokes take longer and burn more pellets. Pick a sheltered spot and check the pellet window more often on long cooks.
Off-season cover. A fitted cover keeps snow and moisture off both halves. KS carries the Bronco Series soft cover for the 28″ XL vertical pellet smoker combo.
For the griddle top itself, the same winter habits apply as on any Blackstone; see our guide to Blackstone seasoning mistakes that make food stick.
Quick answers
How much smoking space does the Bronco XL combo have?
The vertical pellet smoker has 900 square inches of cooking space across three adjustable racks. You can reposition the racks or remove them and hang them on the built-in rack hangers.
How is the Bronco XL combo different from the Culinary 22″ XL pellet grill with griddle?
The Bronco XL pairs a larger 28-inch griddle with three heat zones and a vertical smoker. The Culinary 22″ XL pellet grill with griddle pairs a smaller 22-inch, two-burner griddle with an 884 square inch pellet grill and a 20 lb hopper. Pick the Bronco XL for more griddle space; pick the Culinary for a full pellet grill instead of a vertical smoker.
Does the Bronco XL smoker have app control?
Yes. The pellet smoker connects wirelessly to the Blackstone Connect app, so you can control it remotely during a long cook.
Is the Bronco XL worth it?
If you’ll fire up the smoker regularly and want one unit doing both jobs, yes: the combo is cheaper than pairing the Bronco XL griddle with Blackstone’s 900 pellet grill, and it keeps everything on one cart. If the smoker would mostly sit idle, buy the Bronco XL griddle with cabinet and keep the $1,100.
Compare both, plus the rest of the range, in the KS Products pellet grills section.
