Recipes

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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Recipes

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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.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 6

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.55 minServes 6

Pick a Cooking Method

Every recipe here names the cooker it was written for, and most work on others. Start with the gear you have: Santa Maria style grill, charcoal grill, gas grill, kamado, smoker, pellet smoker, oven or slow cooker. Every way to cook tri tip compares them.

Before You Cook

How Much to Buy

The serving calculator sizes the roast for your head count.

When to Pull It

Tri tip internal temperatures, from rare to well done, with rest times.

How to Slice It

The grain changes direction in the middle. How to slice tri tip shows where.

What to Season With

Rubs before the fire, sauces after.