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–+ servings
sliced smoked santa maria tri-tip
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5 from 2 votes

Santa Maria Tri-Tip

Step-by-step instructions for the best Santa Maria Tri-Tip recipe. Crispy, salty crust juicy tender inside. Both smoker and grilling instructions included. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 55 minutes
Refrigerate4 hours
Total Time6 hours 5 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 348kcal
Author: Kadee & Desarae

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lb tri-tip

Dry Rub

  • 1 tablespoon garlic salt
  • 1 tablespoon onion salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Basting sauce

  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
  • ⅓ cup veg oil (or oil that have a very high smoke point)
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

Instructions

  • Combine dry rub ingredients and coat entire tri-tip. Wrap in plastic wrap or gallon size bag. Place in bowl/pan and keep refrigerated 4 hours to over night. 
  • In small bowl combine ingredients for basting sauce. 

Smoker Instructions

  • Preheat smoker 220 degrees. 
    After 15 minutes, flip tri-tip and baste continue this pattern every 10 minutes.
    Tri-tip is done about 127 internal temp (+/- depending on what your preferred doneness is). It'll take somewhere between 60-90 minutes. 

Grilling Instructions

  • Grill med to med-high heat.
    Flip tri-tip and baste every 5 minutes. Continue this pattern every 5 minutes. 
    for about 30 minutes or until internal temp is 127 +/- your preferred doneness. 

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcal | Protein: 31g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 2804mg | Potassium: 494mg | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2.5mg