Oven Tri Tip
This oven tri tip is incredibly hearty, savory, juicy and tender! Each bite is loaded with flavor. This quick and easy recipe is great for the whole family. Quick and easy enough for busy weeknights but fancy and gourmet enough for holidays. This oven roasted steak is so flavorful!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This oven tri tip is quick and easy to make.
- Less than 45 minutes from start to finish.
- This family friendly dinner is great for tacos, sandwiches, salads, burritos and more.
- It can be roasted in the oven or grilled.
- This cut of beef is more affordable than other cuts of meat.
- It is readily available at most grocery stores and butcher shops.
- This recipe is quick enough for any night of the week.
- It feels gourmet and worthy enough of Christmas or Valentine’s Day dinner.
- This recipe is great for meal prep and leftovers too.
- This tri tip in oven is Whole30 compliant, Paleo, Keto, gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, nut free, and low carb.
- Check out this Instant Pot Steak for another quick and easy family dinner recipe!
Ingredients & Substitutions
These are the main ingredients and substitutions for oven tri tip. Scroll down to the recipe card for full ingredients list and instructions.
Use fresh tri tip instead of previously frozen if possible. Butchers sometimes sell it fat trimmed or with the fat cap. Both of these work well.
Olive oil helps sear the steak. Feel free to use avocado oil instead.
Sea salt and pepper add a subtle flavor.
The BBQ dry rub is also made up of garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder and paprika. Feel free to adjust amounts to suit your taste. For a sweeter option, add in a little coconut sugar or brown sugar (not Whole30).
What is Tri Tip?
Tri tip steak is a cut of beef from the sirloin. This cut of steak is very flavorful and low in fat.
The bottom part of the sirloin subprimal produces the tri tip. The upper part yields top sirloin steaks. Check out this Top Sirloin Steak Recipe.
Tri tip beef is usually between 1 and 3 pounds. It is naturally triangular in shape, contributing to its shape.
Butchers serve this either as an entire tri tip roast or trimmed into smaller steaks.
This cut of steak is most popular in California but slowly becoming more popular. Also known as a California cut, Newport steak, Santa Maria steak or poor man’s brisket, this beef is extremely flavorful.
Previously, tri tip steak was used in ground up hamburger meat. In the 1950s, Santa Maria Market owner Bob Schutz first prepared the meat as a steak. That begins the tri tip steak phenomenon!
It tastes like classic steak, but even more hearty and flavorful.
Taste & Texture
This oven tri tip is hearty, savory and flavorful. It tastes like classic steak with a bit more flavor. The BBQ seasoning blend adds a subtle hint of flavor. This steak is so flavorful that it does not need sauce or condiments.
This steak comes out tender and juicy. Be sure not to overcook it. Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature.
How to Make
Step 1
First, preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2
Season the tri tip steak generously all over with sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika.
Step 3
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil to the skillet.
Step 4
Once oil is hot, carefully place seasoned steak into the skillet.
Step 5
Sear for 2 minutes. Then, carefully flip over and sear another 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Step 6
Place skillet in the oven. Roast at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes per pound. Check internal temperature with meat thermometer.
Step 7
Finally, remove tri tip from oven. Allow the steak to rest on a cutting board or plate for 10 minutes. Then, slice against the grain and serve!
How to Grill Tri Tip
To make grilled tri tip, follow these steps.
- Preheat grill to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season tri tip on all sides with dry rub.
- Once grill is preheated, sear for 5 minutes. Carefully flip and sear for another 5 minutes.
- Lower heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook for another 10 to 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches desired doneness.
- Finally, remove from grill. Place on cutting board on plate. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing against the grain.
- Serve!
For another method, try this Sous Vide Tri Tip.
Expert Tips & Tricks
Follow this recipe. This is exactly how to cook tri tip in the oven.
Both fat trimmed and tri tip with the fat cap work well.
If your steak is smaller or larger, adjust cooking time as needed.
Be generous with the spices and seasonings.
Make sure steak gets a nice sear on both sides. This adds color, texture and flavor.
Use a meat thermometer for most accurate results.
Allow steak to rest for 10 minutes after cooking. This keeps in extra juicy.
Slice against the grain.
Temperature Chart
This is the temperature chart for oven tri tip steak. This is for a 2 pound cut of beef.
| Doneness | Internal Temperature |
| Rare | 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Medium Rare | 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Medium | 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Medium Well | 150 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Well Done | 160+ degrees Fahrenheit |
How to Serve & Store
Serve this oven baked tri tip after it has rested for 10 minutes.
Serve with mashed potatoes, a side salad, roasted vegetables, French fries, green beans and potatoes, baked sweet potato slices or cauliflower rice.
Try these Sautéed Carrots too!
Try this delicious Korean BBQ sauce on top!
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tri tip does not need long in the oven. After searing, it only needs about 8 minutes per pound.
Cook the tri tip at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the fat cap is still intact, cook fat side up.
Yes! Any sort of dry rub works well.
Yes, this recipe is healthy. It is Whole30 approved, Paleo, Keto, gluten free, dairy free, low carb, sugar free and nut free.
Yes, this recipe is gluten free as written.
Equipment Needed
Meat Thermometer: Use this meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of this tri tip.
Cast Iron Skillet: This heavy duty cast iron skillet is great for cooking. It works well on the stovetop and in the oven. For this recipe, it easily goes from the stovetop directly into the oven.
You May Also Like
If you make this oven tri tip recipe, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Join my exclusive Facebook Group for a behind the scenes look. I would love for you to follow along! For more ideas, see these Lunch and Dinner Recipes.
Get the Recipe: Oven Tri Tip
Ingredients
- 2 pound tri tip
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
- First, preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season tri tip steak all over with sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil to the skillet.
- Once oil is hot, carefully place seasoned steak into the skillet.
- Sear for 2 minutes. Then carefully flip over and sear another 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Place skillet in the oven. Roast at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 16 minutes, or 8 minutes per pound. Use meat thermometer to check internal temperature.
- Finally, remove from oven. Allow steak to rest on a cutting board or plate for 10 minutes. Then slice against the grain and serve!
Notes
- My grocery store sells tri tip with the fat trimmed. Tri tip with the fat can be used as well.
- If your steak is smaller or larger, adjust amount of spices and cooking time.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature of meat.
- Rare meat is 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Medium rare is 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Medium is 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Medium well is 150 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Well done is anything over 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow steak to rest for 10 minutes after roasting. This locks in the juices.
- Slice against the grain for best texture.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in skillet, oven or air fryer.
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6 Comments on “Oven Tri Tip”
Thanks for the clear differentiation of rare, medium, and well done steaks with the temperatures. I can finally achieve the right texture,
Tri tip is my favorite cut but I was nervous to try it. Your tips and recipe were spot-on! I was the dinner winner and we gobbled up every bit of this meaty dinner! Yum!
I am so happy to hear that, Jenn!
This was super delicious. So juicy and tender… Loved it!
I found some tri tip on sale at the grocery store and glad I tried this recipe. It was so delicious! Will make it again.
This came out so juicy and tender! I’ll never make it another way again.