A barbecue cooking apparatus is an apparatus used to cook food items by utilizing different barbecue smoking methods. The apparatus includes a barrel, a lid, a frame, a shelved cooking system, a venting system, and a winch mechanism. The barrel further includes a base, a lateral wall, and a rim. The barrel provides a thermal enclosure for cooking the food items. The lid serves to seal the barrel during the cooking process and to support the shelved cooking system. The shelved cooking system holds the food items within the barrel during the cooking process. The shelved cooking system further holds the fuel source utilized to generate energy to cook the food items. The frame serves to hold the winch mechanism offset from the rim. The winch mechanism facilitates the retrieval of the shelved cooking system from the barrel as well as the reintroduction of the same into the barrel.