The Kitchen

BBQ Tri Tip Recipes for the Whole Table

BBQ tri tip recipes for the grill and smoker: Santa Maria style, reverse sear, rubs, sauces, sides, and drinks. Tested and written for the backyard.

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Tri Tip Recipes

13 recipes

Every way to cook the roast itself.

Most popular

Santa Maria Style Tri Tip Recipe

The traditional California method for grilling tri tip over red oak coals with Santa Maria seasoning. Direct and indirect heat, 30-45 minutes total.1h 20mServes 6

Carne Asada Tri Tip

Carne asada tri tip marinated in orange, lime, garlic, and chiles, grilled hot and sliced thin for tacos. Big citrus-chile flavor on a bigger cut.50 minServes 6

Mustard Tri Tip

The simplest tri tip there is: French’s yellow mustard, a heavy coat of kosher salt, and a hot grill. The mustard cooks off into a deep, savory bark.55 minServes 6

Oven-Roasted Tri Tip Recipe

Tri tip roasted in the oven at 425°F with a stovetop sear. No grill needed. Crispy crust, medium-rare center in under an hour.50 minServes 6

Smoked Tri Tip Recipe

Low and slow smoked tri tip at 225 degrees F with oak or cherry wood. Deeper smoke ring, more bark, richer flavor than grilling. 2-3 hours total.2h 45mServes 6

Chimichurri Marinated Tri Tip

Tri tip marinated in a chimichurri-inspired blend, grilled to medium rare, and finished with fresh chimichurri spooned over slices cut against the grain.55 minServes 6

Garlic Butter Tri Tip

Reverse-seared tri tip basted in foaming garlic-herb butter, then sliced into the drippings. Rich, savory, steakhouse style.1h 15mServes 6

Korean BBQ Tri Tip

Korean BBQ tri tip marinated bulgogi-style in soy, Asian pear, sesame, and garlic, then grilled and sliced thin. Sweet, savory, deeply caramelized.55 minServes 6

Reverse Sear Tri Tip Recipe

The most precise way to cook tri tip. Low oven to temperature, then a scorching sear for edge-to-edge pink with a hard crust. No gray band.1h 15mServes 6

Shredded Tri Tip (Chile-Braised for Tacos)

Yes, you can shred tri tip if you braise it. Chile-braised and pulled into its reduced sauce for tacos, burritos, and bowls. Oven, slow cooker, or smoker.4hServes 6

Slow Cooker Tri Tip Recipe

Tri tip braised low and slow in a crockpot until fork-tender. A hands-off method that turns a lean cut into something rich and shreddable.8h 20mServes 6

Sous Vide Tri Tip Recipe

Set your exact target temperature and the meat cannot overcook. 132 degrees F for 3-4 hours, then a hard sear for the crust the water bath cannot deliver.4h 10mServes 6All 13 tri tip recipes

All 13 tri tip recipes

Rubs & Marinades

5 recipes

Seasonings for a proper crust.

Most popular

Red Wine Tri Tip Marinade

Cab, Zin or Syrah with garlic, soy and rosemary. The acid loosens surface fibers and the wine concentrates on the heat. Six hours is the sweet spot.10 min1 batch

Santa Maria Seasoning (SPG Rub)

Santa Maria seasoning is salt, pepper, and garlic in a 2:1:1 ratio. The classic SPG rub, how to scale it, store it, and why it beats the shaker.5 min1 batch

Chile-Lime Rub for Tri Tip

Ancho chile, cumin and fresh lime zest push tri tip toward a Baja profile. Bright and acidic with slow-building heat. Excellent for tacos and carne asada.10 min1 batch

Coffee Rub for Tri Tip

Dark roast coffee, smoked paprika, and black pepper build a dark, almost black crust. Best for smoked tri tip or reverse sear.5 min1 batch

Herb Crust for Tri Tip

Fresh rosemary, thyme, and olive oil create an aromatic crust. Closer to steakhouse than backyard. Best for reverse sear.10 min1 batch

Sauces

7 recipes

Salsas and sauces to serve with it.

Most popular

Board Sauce for Tri Tip

Built directly on the cutting board before you slice. Butter, garlic, herbs. The meat juices mix in as you cut. Simple, dramatic, delicious.5 min1 batch

Santa Maria Salsa Roja

The traditional table salsa served at Santa Maria BBQs. Chunkier and simpler than restaurant salsa. The celery is the signature ingredient.20 min3 cups

Chimichurri for Tri Tip

The single best sauce for grilled tri tip. Bright, herbaceous and sharp with parsley, oregano, red wine vinegar, garlic and olive oil. Never cooked.15 min1 cup

Guacamole

Ripe avocado, lime, onion, cilantro, and serrano, mashed chunky. The cool, rich counter to smoky, charred tri tip. Serve it with sliced steak or tacos.15 min2 cups

Horseradish Cream Sauce

Sharp, creamy, and a classic steakhouse pairing for beef. Especially good with reverse sear or sous vide tri tip.5 min3/4 cup

Pico de Gallo

Fresh chopped tomato, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime. The bright, crunchy salsa that finishes tri tip tacos, tortas, and burritos.15 min2 cups

Smoky BBQ Sauce for Tri Tip

Thinner and less sweet than rib sauce. Vinegar-forward with smoked paprika and ancho chile. Tangy enough to match lean beef and cut through the char.30 min2 cupsAll 7 sauces

All 7 sauces

Sides

9 recipes

Beans, bread, and salad for the plate.

Cowboy Caviar

A cold bean and corn salad with lime and cilantro, crunchy and bright next to sliced tri tip. Make it the morning of your cook and it holds for hours.15 minServes 8

Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

Grilled corn with mayo, cotija, chile powder and lime. Char it on the hot side while the tri tip rests, about 10 minutes, so it’s ready with the meat.15 minServes 6

Grilled Broccolini

Broccolini charred over direct heat with olive oil, red pepper flakes, and lemon. A bitter, green contrast to a rich plate.9 minServes 4

Grilled Caesar Salad

Halved romaine grilled until charred, dressed with Caesar, shaved parmesan, and croutons. The char echoes the tri tip.12 minServes 4

Grilled Garlic Bread

Not oven garlic bread, this one’s grilled. Char marks, slight crunch, garlic butter. The bread that mops up bean juice and meat drippings.13 minServes 6-8

Loaded Tri Tip Fries

Thick-cut fries topped with sliced tri tip, chimichurri or cheese sauce, and pickled jalapeños. A crowd favorite for game day, parties, and leftovers.1h 20mServes 4

Pinquito Beans

The signature side of Santa Maria BBQ. Small, pinkish-brown beans simmered with bacon, tomato sauce, and spices. Creamy but holds its shape.3h 20mServes 8-10

Santa Maria Green Salad

The traditional Santa Maria BBQ side. Iceberg, tomato, and ranch. Simple, cold, and crisp against hot beef off the grill.10 minServes 6

Smoked Mac and Cheese

Sharp cheddar and smoked gouda mac finished on the smoker. The last 30 minutes on the grate picks up real smoke flavor.1hServes 8All 9 sides

All 9 sides

Tri Tip Dishes

5 recipes

Sandwiches, tacos, and plates built on it.

Tri Tip Burrito

A loaded tri tip burrito with rice, pinquito beans, salsa, and cheese in a warm flour tortilla. The Central Coast answer to the California burrito.20 min4 burritos

Tri Tip Salad

Sliced tri tip over greens with cherry tomatoes, avocado, cotija, and a lime vinaigrette. The light, fresh way to stretch your leftover tri tip.15 minServes 2

Tri Tip Sandwich

Thin-sliced tri tip on a toasted French roll with salsa roja. The bread, the sauce, whether to add cheese, and five variations worth making.15 minServes 4

Tri Tip Tacos

Sliced or chopped tri tip in warm tortillas with onion, cilantro, salsa, and lime. The fastest, tastiest way to turn leftover tri tip into dinner.15 minServes 4

Tri Tip Torta

Tri tip on a toasted telera roll with warm pinquito beans, avocado, tomato, and pickled jalapenos, pressed so it eats like one thing. Ready in 15 minutes.15 min2 tortas

Drinks

11 recipes

Aguas frescas, cocktails, and sangria.

Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Cooler)

Deep red hibiscus agua fresca, brewed strong and sweet-tart to pour over ice. The Mexican-Californian cooler that cuts through smoky, grilled tri tip.30 minServes 8

Agua de Sandía (Watermelon Cooler)

Blended watermelon agua fresca, the lightest pour on the table. Cold, faintly sweet, and made for a hot day around the fire.10 minServes 6

Bloody Maria

A Central Coast Bloody Maria: tequila not vodka, local tomato, horseradish, and a skewered bite of tri tip. The cookout-brunch pour.10 min1 cocktail

Central Coast Sangria

A dry red sangria built on a Central Coast wine, with citrus and not too much sugar. The pitcher that cuts the fat and smoke of red-oak tri tip.15 minServes 8

Coastal Cooler

Our wine-country spritz: Central Coast rosé, soda, local fruit, and herb. Light, fizzy, and low-proof for people who skip the heavy cocktail.5 min1 cocktail

Gold Coast Punch

Central Coast strawberries and citrus, poured big and topped with a little fizz. The no-proof cookout punch built to cool a hot afternoon and carry a crowd.15 minServes 8

Lavender Lemonade

Meyer lemon lemonade with a whisper of Santa Barbara County lavender. Floral, tart, and cold, the prettiest pour at a Central Coast cookout.15 minServes 6

Paloma

Tequila, fresh grapefruit, lime and soda. Bright and a little bitter, the Paloma scrubs the smoke and richness of tri tip off your palate between bites.5 min1 cocktail

Ranch Water

Tequila, lime, and sparkling water, with agave optional. The light, clean, low-sugar highball for a long afternoon at the fire.5 min1 cocktail

Red Oak Michelada

Mexican lager, fresh lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire over ice with a chile-salt rim. The savory, spicy cooler made for smoky beef off the red oak.5 min1 cocktail

West Coast Sweet Tea

California cold-brew sweet tea, sweetened light with honey and brightened with Meyer lemon, orange, and mint. Southern sweet tea, gone West Coast.20 minServes 8All 11 drinks

All 11 drinks