Tri tip on the green egg

If you want to try to grill Tri Tip on your Big Green Egg, this easy recipe will set you up for success. But first, let’s dig into this cut of meat that is still relatively unheard of on the East Coast.

The Legendary Tri Tip!

Tri-Tip used to be hard to find on the east coast, but it is relatively easier to find these days than it used to be. If you want to try Trip Tip for the first time, do what I did and order it from a high-quality meat purveyor like Snake River Farms to make it worth your while. Tri-Tip is also known as the “Triangle Tip” because it is a triangle shape roast taken from the bottom sirloin area.

The first part of a successful cook is getting the highest quality meat possible, which is why I order from Snake River Farms.

Seasoning and Roasting Tri Tip

The Trip Tip is actually a very lean cut of meat so you don’t want to overcook it. One of the more popular seasonings and styles is a “Santa Maria Style” Tri Tip, which is a simple rub of salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Because this is a roast, I recommend cooking this steak using the reverse sear method, which means you first start on indirect and then finish on direct for a quick sear on the outside before pulling off.

With the Big Green Egg in particular, you will need to start cooking indirect via the plate setter first. Then, you’ll need to bring the temp up and get a nice sear cooking on the grates at the end.

For a traditional gas or charcoal grill where there is no place setter involved, you will start via the side not over coals (indirect), and then finish over the coals (direct).

(Note: Some people will say to do the sear on the BGE first and then switch to indirect, but I find it much easier to get the egg up in temp than it is to get it down, hence why I recommend starting on the indirect first.)

I served this with a blue cheese basil butter that was the perfect pairing! Every bite was the perfect combo of succulent meat and blue cheese butter.

Blue Cheese Basil Compound Butter is the perfect pairing for Tri Tip. Ecstasy in Every Bite!

Take a look at the guide below to help you determine what temperature your steak should reach! If you are wondering about what internal temperatures other proteins should meet, check out my BBQ Calculator! To determine what temperature your meat is at, I recommend using an internal read thermometer, such as Thermapen.

This Tri Tip and Blue Cheese Basil Compound Butter are a match made in heaven!

Print

• Freshly grated pepper
• Freshly grate sea salt (I prefer Bourbon Barrel Foods Smoked Salt and Pepper– that is all I use on my steaks!)
• Dash smoked paprika (optional)
• 1 tsp olive oil

Blue Cheese Basil Butter:

• 4 oz blue cheese
• 1 stick softened butter
• fresh ground pepper
• 1 tbsp basil

Combine all in an immersion blender. Reserve for serving with the slice Tri Tip.

1. Prepare your BGE or Kamado Style smoker for 350 degrees on indirect heat using the place setter. While the grill is heating up, go ahead and prepare your Tri Tip by rubbing it with olive oil and adding the salt and pepper.
2. Let the Tri Tip roast on the BGE on indirect for 20 minutes or until the internal temp reaches about 120 degrees.
3. Now, get your temp up high to about 500-600 degrees for a nice sear. Then sear the Tri Tip on each side for 2 minutes, or until the internal temp reaches 130 for medium rare. Be mindful that the skinniest part of the triptip will cook faster than the thicker part of the meat, and also remember that this is a roast so it is best cooked to a medium rare, not well done. To make sure your steak is perfect – I recommend using a thermapen to check internal temperatures.
4. Let rest for 10 minutes under foil, then slice, and enjoy Tri Tip ecstasy!

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