The Method
Tri Tip Recipes
Every way to cook the cut, from the original Santa Maria grill to smoked, reverse-seared, and flavor-packed marinades. Each one tested, measured, and written for the backyard.
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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.
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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.
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.
Coffee-Rubbed Tri Tip
Tri tip coated in a ground coffee, cocoa, and brown sugar rub that builds a dark, bittersweet bark. Reverse-seared for edge-to-edge pink.
Garlic Butter Tri Tip
Reverse-seared tri tip basted in foaming garlic-herb butter, then sliced into the drippings. Rich, savory, steakhouse style.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Teriyaki Tri Tip
Tri tip marinated in soy, mirin, ginger, and brown sugar, then grilled until the teriyaki glaze caramelizes into a sticky, savory-sweet crust.