Easy Smoked Tri-Tip Recipe | Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts (2024)

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Smoked Tri Tip – a perfectly smoked cut of meat is a gorgeous thing! This Tri tip is coated in a quick and easy rub, and then smoked to perfection!

You may remember, especially if you follow along on Instagram, last June I had the amazing opportunity to go to Wooster Ohio, and meet with the people at Certified Angus Beef Brand. Well today, I am going to show you an amazing recipe, and I learned it all from the chefs during my trip.

I am usually the one that grills at our house, so I can make the best turkey burger, grill up chicken, pork, and I can even do a steak. But….I use a gas grill. I have never used charcoal in my life. So this trip was an eye opening experience. And now I am all about smoking a tri-tip better than anyone else!

So pretty much the first thing we did when we arrived at the Culinary Education Center was head outside. They had 2 smokers set up, and we learned all about proper smoking techniques, temperatures, the right equipment etc. Then we actually got to start one up! We added charcoal, wood chunks, and started it all one fire.

The other bloggers attending were all huge grill people, so I am pretty sure I was the only one who was taking notes and learning at this point. But it paid off, because at home I can now start a charcoal grill like a pro! Thanks Chef Michael, I couldn’t have done it without you. We immediately smoked a tri-tip and got to try it. So good! I knew it was going to be the first thing I wanted to do at home, and share with my family.

The next day at the education center we got a serious crash coarse in butchery. I mean, a side of beef hanging in the kitchen, a meat scientist (Dr. Phil who went to CSU, where I live) telling us all about the different parts and cuts of meat. Then we actually got to do some hands on work. We were able to cut different steaks and roasts out of different sections. I was really nervous about this part, but it was so much more fun that I thought, and I learned so much!

For lunch we even got to make our own grind of meat and grill burgers. I have never ground my own meat before, but now I wish I had the capabilities to do it at home! And of course the trip would not have been complete, without a lot of food consumed! More smoked tri-tip, brisket, dry aged ribeyes, a whole charcuterie set up and so much more!

Certified Angus Beef Brand is an amazing company, with such great people working for them. I could go on and on about them all day, I am just so supportive of their mission, their product, and everything they stand for. Please, when you see the Certified Angus Beef seal when you are at the store, pick it up, you will not be disappointed.

The quality of their meat is just far superior, and you will get the same thing every single time. No wondering why it didn’t turn out the same as last time, or what did you do differently. Do a side by side taste test if you don’t believe me, and then let me know. It is night and day! And no, they are not paying me to say this. I just really want you to love it as much as I do!

So now let’s talk about this smoked tri tip recipe. It has a super quick and easy rub on it and then it is smoked to perfection.

How Long to Smoke Tri Tip

Smoking a tri-tip does not take very long. I usually have mine on the smoker for about 90 minutes.

Smoked Tri Tip Temp

You want to cook the meet to 130 degrees for medium rare. It takes about about an hour and half to get there, so it isn’t an all day event, like if you smoke a brisket. I like to hold the smoker between 215-235 during the cook time. It is best to have a meat thermometer in during the cooking time, so you can keep an eye on it and know when it is time to remove.

How to Smoke a Tri Tip

Rub – Mix together all of the ingredients for the rub together and generously coat and rub the mixture into the meat.
Smoke – Heat the smoker to 225 degrees. Once it up to temp add the meat to the smoker. Cover and let cook for about 90 minutes until it reaches 130 degrees for medium rare. There are also instructions below for how to make this on the grill if you don’t have a smoker.
Rest – Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before you slice to serve it. This lets all the juices redistribute and keep the meat super tender and juicy!

What to Serve with Tri-Tip

Taco Pasta Salad
Best Potato Salad
Homemade Baked Beans
Cucumber Tomato Salad

More Great Dinner Recipes to Try

Buffalo Chicken Burgers
Grilled Chicken Thighs
Perfect Grilled Ribeye
2AM Breakfast Burger
Barbecue Ribs
Bruschetta Chicken

Yield: 6

Smoked Tri-Tip

Smoked Tri-Tip - a perfectly smoked cut of meet is a gorgeous thing! This Tri-tip is coated in a quick and easy rub, and then smoked to perfection!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

2 1/2 pound Tri-Tip roast
1 Tbls kosher salt
1 Tbls black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp granulated raw sugar

Instructions

Heat smoker or grill to 225 degrees.
Combine salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle over roast, and gently rub into the meat.
Place onto smoker or grill. Cover and cook until you reach 130 degrees (about 90 minutes).
Remove from heat and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Thinly slice to serve

Notes

I used apple wood for the smoker.
You can make this on a grill following the same instructions, you will just not have the same smokey flavor.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per ServingCalories 405Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 157mgSodium 153mgCarbohydrates 2gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 49g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

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**Certified Angus Beef did pay for my travel to and from their headquarters. I was not compensated for my time. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands I love and that make Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts possible.

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Erin S

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

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Easy Smoked Tri-Tip Recipe | Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with smoked tri tip? ›

Smoked Tri Tip Roast is great served with just about anything! Try it with a green salad with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch, a side of Corn Salad, or along with these Smoky Oven Roasted Potatoes. It's also great sliced super thin on a crusty baguette for a terrific steak sandwich or topped on a salad or grain bowl.

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How long should you smoke tri tip? ›

Smoke until the internal temperature reaches 135°F for medium rare. Insert a temperature probe, or use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature of the tri tip. A 3 pound tri tip will take approximately 2 hours to smoke, but always smoke to temperature, not to time!

Keep Reading ›

Should I wrap a tri tip in foil when smoking? ›

When the tri tip reaches 160°F (71°C), wrap tightly in pink butcher paper. This locks in the color and holds in the moisture while still allowing it to maintain some good bark. Foil works too but the bark will end up softer than with paper.

Get More Info ›

Should I sear tri tip before smoking? ›

By searing at the end you get the benefit of the flavors introduced by searing and the meat will stay juicy inside. For tri-tip I like to smoke low until an internal temp of about 125. Then pull and foil loosely until the temp has peaked and then dropped back down to the 125 level.

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What is tri tip best for? ›

It's a tender cut that is ideal for roasting and grilling but can also be broiled or cooked in a skillet. Originally, tri-tip beef was used only for hamburger meat up until about the 1950s, when Bob Schutz of the Santa Maria Market decided to try his hand at cooking it like a regular steak.

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Do you have to sear tri tip after smoking? ›

Step 6: Sear It!

This is optional but I think it's well worth the trouble and adds a lot of flavor to the meat. When the smoked tri-tip reaches about 110°F (43°C) it's a great time to remove it from the smoker and place it over some hot coals.

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Should you spray tri tip while smoking? ›

It is important to spritz the meat every half hour to 45 minutes to prevent it from drying out. It also adds a coating that allows the smoke to travel over the meat and stick to it.

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Why is my smoked tri tip tough? ›

Smoking and then searing tri tip gives you perfectly even meat with a beautiful crust. Smoking allows the meat fibers to cook evenly and slowly. Muscle fibers tense and toughen up at high temperatures, which causes the meat to be tough and chewy. Not to mention the added smokey flavor.

Read The Full Story ›

Does tri tip get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

The longer you cook tri-tip the more tender it will become, so you can choose your time according to what you are trying to accomplish. For a more traditional texture you can cook it until it is just heated through, usually 3 to 4 hours.

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How to make tri tip fall apart? ›

The key to being able to smoke a tri tip like a brisket (low and slow so you get fall-apart meat goodness) is to begin with a Prime cut tri tip. You need enough fat in your steak because tri tip is leaner than a brisket.

Learn More Now ›

How to get good bark on tri tip? ›

Get More Bang For Your Bark

More surface area – the more surface area you have the more bark will form. ...
No pan means more smoke and convection on all surfaces – if you want to catch drippings, place a drip pan under the meat in a lower part of your grill or smoker, but don't place the meat in a pan.

More items...

Read On ›

Is it better to sear or reverse sear a tri tip? ›

Tri tip is rich, beefy, and incredibly flavorful, and the reverse sear cooking method produces a final product that maximizes the tenderness of the cut itself.

How long does it take to smoke tri tip at 225? ›

At 225 degrees Fahrenheit, a 2-pound tri tip takes an hour for rare, to an hour and a half for medium-rare. A 3-pound tri tip requires about 90 minutes for rare, and 2 hours for medium-rare.

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What is the best temperature for tri tip? ›

Tri tip is a steak-like cut with very little connective tissue, and that means it should be cooked to the same doneness as a steak would be: 130°–135°F (54–57°C) for medium-rare or 135°–145°F (57–63°C) for medium. The temperature to cook the tri tip at is kind of up to you.

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Does smoked tri tip taste like brisket? ›

And I've been skeptical… But I had to try it out and I was surprised. Smoking a Tri Tip like a brisket produced some flavorful, juicy meat. Some folks thought it was better than brisket. And it was a lot quicker to cook a tri tip that a whole brisket too.

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