Tri-tip is a kind of flavorful cuts of beef that doesn’t want a lot added to it and cooks up quick. We use a fast rub and butter basting to offer it a flavorful bark. It’s an ideal selection once you need to impress however don’t need to overcomplicate issues.
Make it a meal and add a facet of our Mediterranean Pasta Salad.
Why Our Recipe
- An excellent easy rub that will get the meat on the smoker quick and let’s all of the beefy taste shine.
- Low and gradual smoking adopted by a scorching sear for juicy tri-tip.
- Basted in butter and completed scorching for an ideal crust.

This recipe is all about retaining issues easy and simple. One of many large appeals of the smoker is that it doesn’t need to be difficult to have actually scrumptious meals. Whether or not you’re new to tri-tip or it’s already a go-to in your BBQ lineup, this methodology will get persistently nice outcomes. We’ve additionally included pellet suggestions and slicing ideas so it seems excellent each time.
Ingredient Notes
- Tri-Tip Roast: Search for a 2-pound beef tri-tip roast with an excellent fats cap. This lower is understood for its wealthy, beefy taste and advantages from a easy prep. Make sure to notice the grain course earlier than cooking—it runs in two instructions, and also you’ll need to slice it correctly later.
- Olive Oil: Helps the seasoning stick and provides a bit of moisture to the floor.
- Salt: Common desk salt works effective. If utilizing kosher salt, bump it as much as about 2 teaspoons
- Black Pepper: Freshly floor provides the most effective punch of taste, however pre-ground works too.
- Garlic Powder: Simply sufficient to reinforce the meat with out overpowering it.
- Salted Butter: Melted and used for basting through the sear. It’s also possible to use unsalted butter if that’s what you’ve got readily available.
Slicing Towards the Grain
Tri-tip is a bit of tough as a result of the grain runs in two completely different instructions. Earlier than you season or smoke it, take a second to have a look at the grain (the way in which the traces seem within the meat) so you know the way to slice it later.
After resting the meat, begin on the smaller finish and slice till you hit the spot the place the grain modifications course. Then rotate the meat and maintain slicing. Chopping in opposition to the grain shortens the muscle fibers, making every chunk tremendous tender relatively than chewy.
Pellet Suggestions
Oak or Hickory Pellets: Your go-to for daring, traditional barbecue taste. Hickory is a bit of heavier, whereas oak provides you a pleasant balanced smoke that pairs completely with beef.
Cherry Pellets: Delicate, candy, and a bit of fruity. Provides simply sufficient smoke with out overpowering the meat, plus it provides a wonderful reddish shade to the bark.
Combine It Up: We love combining oak or hickory with cherry. You get that deep, wealthy smoke with only a contact of sweetness and nice shade.


Use a Meat Thermometer
Tri-tip can go from excellent to overcooked quick, so a meat thermometer is a should. Smoke it till the thickest half hits 125°F for medium-rare. After the new sear, it ought to attain 135°F to 140°F.
For medium, goal for 145°F, however we advocate pulling it sooner. Tri-tip actually shines at medium-rare to medium.
Makeshift Smoker
For those who don’t have a pellet smoker, you’ll be able to nonetheless make wonderful tri-tip on a fuel or charcoal grill! Simply make sure to monitor the grill temperature and add extra wooden chips as wanted to maintain the smoke going.
Fuel Grill: Flip one facet on low and go away the opposite off. Place a smoker field or a foil pouch crammed with wooden chips over the lit burner. Put the tri-tip on the unlit facet and maintain the lid closed. Attempt to keep a gradual 225°F.
Charcoal Grill: Push all of the coals to 1 facet and add soaked wooden chips or chunks straight on the coals. Place the tri-tip on the cooler facet and modify the vents to maintain the temperature round 225°F.
Storage & Reheating Directions
Refrigerate any leftover tri-tip in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.
To Reheat in a Skillet: Add a small drizzle of olive oil or a little bit of butter to a skillet over medium warmth. Place the tri-tip slices within the skillet and warmth for two to three minutes per facet till warmed by.
Extra smoked goodness…
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