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An image of a perfectly medium-rare sliced Santa Maria tri-tip recipe.
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5 from 10 votes

Santa Maria-Style Grilled Tri Tip

Barbecue doesn't just belong to the South! This Grilled Santa Maria-Style Tri-Tip is a delicious taste of the Central California Coast where it is enjoyed with pinquito beans, salad, tomato salsa, and buttery garlic bread.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Additional Time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds tri-tip roast, preferably with good marbling and some fat on one side
  • 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Combine all of the rub ingredients in a small bowl, then rub over the meat and let it sit out for 1 hour, covered, so it isn't cold when it goes on the grill.
    1 Tablespoon kosher salt, 1 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 Tablespoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 2-3 pounds tri-tip roast, preferably with good marbling and some fat on one side
  • Preheat the grill for both direct and indirect heat. Sear the tri-tip over direct heat (right over the flames) on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to indirect heat (between 250-300°F) and cover the grill, letting the tri-tip cook until it reaches 130°F on an instant read digital meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat for a medium-rare tri-tip. This should take roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Remember that the temperature will continue to rise about 5°F after taking it off the grill. 
  • Let the tri-tip rest for 10 minutes before slicing it in half to separate the two different grains, then slicing thin slices against the grain of each piece.

Notes

If you are curious, a rare tri-tip would be 120°F, and medium would be 140°F, but I highly recommend taking the tri-tip off at 130°F.  

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1244mg | Potassium: 531mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 286IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg

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