Smoked Dry Rubbed Tri Tip Steak

posted in: Beef 8
Smoked Dry Rubbed Tri Tip Steak
Smoked Dry Rubbed Tri Tip Steak
QB Club Tri Tips
QB Club Tri Tips

Smoked Dry Rubbed Tri Tip Steak - Over the last few decades I've cooked and been part of cooking hundreds if not thousands of Tri Tips either at home, on the road with my RV, and as a member of the Ripon Quarterback Club serving Tri Tip sandwiches at the local high school home football games. The club still grills 200 to 400 lbs of Tri Tips a game depending on the expected size of the crowd. We grilled the Tri Tip according to classic Santa Maria methods. Either way, the results are simply delicious!

Oddly enough I have never known a Tri Tip Roast to be called a Tri Tip Steak! But who knows why Costco has chosen to calling it a steak instead of a roast. No matter what Costco chooses to call these roasts I have smoked/cooked them in a multitude of ways but no method is easier than just a straight smoking recipe. When picking my Tri Tips I never buy anything below choice grade. That's why I always purchase the majority of my meat Costco. It's hard to beat their quality and price.

Beef Loin Tri Tip Steak
Beef Loin Tri Tip Steak
Dry Rubbed Tri Tip Steaks
Dry Rubbed Tri Tip Steaks
Smoked Trisket
Smoked Trisket

While checking out the label I noticed that Costco is being quoting USDA guidelines for Tri Tip internal temperatures ... They recommend grilling the product to a minimum internal temperature of 160ºF ... yes, you read correctly - 160ºF! What a waste of good meat that would be. Most people cook their Tri Tips to a temp of 130º - 145ºF. I prefer 145ºF which is perfect for our family as the photo below shows.

But if you choose to go beyond an internal temperature of 145ºF then I highly recommend you cook your Tri Tip as a "Trisket" ... a Trisket is basically a Tri Tip cooked like a Brisket and is taken to an internal temperature of 200ºF. Try it sometime and you'll be surprised just how delicious it is!

Smoked Tri Tip Steaks
Smoked Tri Tip Steaks
Sliced Tri Tip
Sliced Tri Tip

When it comes to smoking a Tri Tip my smoked Dry Rubbed Tri Tip Steak recipe is as simple as it comes.

  • Start by using Choice Tri Tip Steaks (Roasts) - about 2.5 lbs each
    • If you don't purchase peeled Tri Tips then trim the fat cap off and any silver skin
  • Rub the Tri Tips with roasted garlic extra virgin olive oil (glue for dry rub)
  • Season the Tri Tips moderately with my Pete's Western Rub (page 169 of my cookbook, The Wood Pellet Smoker and Grill Cookbook)
  • Wrap the seasoned Tri Tips in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours
  • Preheat your wood pellet smoker grill to 235ºF using cookinpellets.com Premium Perfect Mix wood pellets
  • Smoke the Tri Tips at 235ºF for approximately 2 1/4 hours till the internal temperature reaches 145ºF
  • Rest the Tri Tips loosely under a foil tent for 15 minutes before slicing against the grains
    • Be aware that Tri Tips have multiple grain directions

Like I said ... "Easy Peasy"

8 Responses

  1. Rick Grigsby
    | Reply

    Pete has the rare ability to take the complex and make it simple enough to use. If you don’t have his book, and you are a BBQ nut like I am, you are really handicapping yourself. Pete’s book, ‘The Wood Pellet Smoker and Grill Cookbook’ is the best of its kind and I’ve got dozens of them trying to find something new or special. If I could only keep 3 BBQ books, Pete’s would be one of the three. It’s that good.

    This recipe for tri-tip is typical of his recipes. I’ve made it just like this and it’s always been fantastic. Be prepared for guests to eat way more meat than you might expect. Happens every time! I budget a pound per quest and sometimes that’s not enough.

    Thanks, Pete for a book that far exceeds my expectations!!

    • Pete Jautaikis
      | Reply

      Thank you for the kind words Rick. I always strive to make my recipes easy to use no matter what type of wood pellet smoker-grill one owns. But most of all, the food has to look fantastic and taste great!

  2. Rene Pare
    | Reply

    Next time your at Costco ask the Butcher staff for Prime grade Tri Tips. They have them in the back and there only $6,59 per pound here in Central Point, Oregon. Look forward to seeing you again as Orange Grove RV Park sometime.

    • Pete Jautaikis
      | Reply

      Rene, My Costco in Northern California has Prime grade Tri Tips but the price here is higher than $6.59/lb even when you buy a Cryovac package of twelve roasts. As an example: The 2 Choice Grade Tri Tips that I smoked were $6.99/lb

      Search my blog for “prime tri tip” to see my postings of prime cooks … I will say that the prime Tri Tips were scrumptious!! Hope our paths cross again … we do stay at Orange Grove RV Park often.

  3. Pete
    | Reply

    Looks really good, Pete! Reminds me of the tritip we had with you guys at Winchester Bay

    • Pete Jautaikis
      | Reply

      We really enjoyed your company at Winchester Bay, Oregon and the Dungeness crabbing was great that year. Hope to see you guys again down the road Pete.

  4. Rene Pare
    | Reply

    I just bought a cryopack at my Costco yesterday, 7 roasts for $6.99 per pound, the advantage of living in Oregon!
    I just ordered your cookbook to be delivered to me in Arizona. I look forward to using the recipes and advice that you share with your readers. Thanks also for this blog, it’s fantastic!

    • Pete Jautaikis
      | Reply

      Before most people learned about Tri Tips I was able to get them for less than $2/lb. Nowadays the price of Tri Tips have become ridiculous! But they’re worth it …

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