Santa Maria Grilled Tri-Tip Beef

4.9
(331)
262 Reviews
69 Photos

A Santa Maria tri-tip with a delicious spice rub is cooked on the grill until black-on-the-outside and perfectly pink inside for a spectacular steak. The tri-tip is cut from the bottom sirloin and when cooked properly, produces a very flavorful, incredibly juicy piece of beef. The town of Santa Maria, California, is home to this delicious barbecued beef specialty.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
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Updated on May 9, 2024
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself.
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69
Sliced Santa Maria Grilled Tri-Tip Beef garnished with fresh herbs next to sauce on a wooden cutting board
69
69
69
69
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:
4 hrs 30 mins
Total Time:
5 hrs 15 mins
Servings:
6
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • 1 ½ teaspoons paprika

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 (2 1/2 pound) beef tri-tip roast

  • ⅓ cup red wine vinegar

  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil

  • 4 cloves crushed garlic

  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

Directions

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Santa Maria Grilled Tri-Tip Beef ingredients on a white counter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Stir salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, rosemary, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl.

    Spice mixture in a glass bowl with a spoon

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Place tri-tip in a glass baking dish and coat on all sides with spice mixture. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

    Tri-Tip Beef coated in spice mixture in a glass baking dish

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Combine vinegar, vegetable oil, crushed garlic, and Dijon mustard in a sealable container. Cover the container and shake until ingredients are blended.

    Vinegar, vegetable oil, crushed garlic, and Dijon mustard mixture in glass jar

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Remove tri-tip from the refrigerator. Let sit uncovered at room temperature for 30 minutes.

  6. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat; lightly oil the grates.

  7. Place tri-tip on the preheated grill and brush with vinegar mixture. Cook for 4 minutes, flip, and baste. Flip and baste every 4 minutes until tri-tip starts to firm up and is reddish-pink and juicy in the center, 25 to 30 minutes total. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 130 degrees F (54 degrees C).

    Hand brushing sauce on a Santa Maria Grilled Tri-Tip Beef cooking on a grill

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Let rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

    Sliced Santa Maria Grilled Tri-Tip Beef garnished with fresh herbs next to sauce on a wooden cutting board

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

452 Calories
24g Fat
4g Carbs
53g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 452
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 166mg 55%
Sodium 855mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 53g 105%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 24mg 2%
Iron 5mg 27%
Potassium 488mg 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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