The Traditional Santa Maria Spread
A Santa Maria BBQ isn’t just tri tip on a plate. It’s a full spread that’s been served the same way on the Central Coast for generations: tri tip, pinquito beans, salsa roja, green salad with ranch-style dressing, and grilled French bread rubbed with garlic butter. Every element plays a role and the combination is greater than the sum of its parts. For the history behind this tradition or the simplest way to eat it all, piled on a roll, see the tri tip sandwich. New to the cut? Our BBQ tri tip guide starts from the beginning: the cut, the fire, the cook.
Building the Plate
For a traditional Santa Maria plate, serve the sliced tri tip alongside a scoop of pinquito beans, a pile of salsa roja, a wedge of green salad, and a piece of grilled garlic bread. The bread goes on the same plate. It’s meant to soak up the bean juice and the meat drippings that pool at the bottom.
For a more modern spread, mix and match. Two sides plus the tri tip is usually the right amount. Three sides if you’re feeding a crowd and want variety. More than that and the plate gets cluttered. For what to pour alongside the spread, see our guide to the best wine and beer pairings for tri tip. And if the centerpiece isn’t settled yet, start with our BBQ tri tip recipes and build the plate from there.
For more BBQ side dishes beyond the Santa Maria tradition, coleslaw, baked beans, cornbread, mac and cheese, see the recipes on BBQ Junkie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the traditional sides for Santa Maria BBQ?
The traditional Santa Maria plate includes pinquito beans, fresh tomato salsa roja, a tossed green salad with ranch-style dressing, and garlic toast made from local French bread. This combination has been served at Central Coast community barbecues for over 60 years.
What are pinquito beans?
Pinquito beans are a small pink heirloom bean grown almost exclusively in Santa Barbara County. They’re firmer and meatier than pintos, sweeter than navy beans, and traditionally slow-cooked with bacon, garlic, ham hock, and salsa. They’re the defining side dish of Santa Maria BBQ.
How many sides should I serve with tri tip?
Two sides plus the tri tip is the right amount for most meals. Three if you’re feeding a crowd and want variety. More than that and the plate gets cluttered. For a traditional Santa Maria plate, serve all four classic sides together.