The technique will essentially be the same whether you are using a Traeger, Pit Boss, Z Grill, or other brand of pellet smoker. The recipe I’m sharing with you today shows you how I smoke tri tip on a pellet grill.
My biggest change for smoking roasts like a tri tip on a pellet grill is that I rarely perform a reverse sear on the steak, although I have modified many of my standard techniques for cooking on a Weber kettle.
I find that I was able to get more flavor on the crust by using a bold rub than I could by searing, so instead, I embrace the smoke, use a hearty brisket rub, and let the tri tip cook until it reaches 130F.
On top of that, you don’t want to reverse sear a steak with a strong flavor profile because the ingredients in the rub, such as garlic, onion powder, paprika, etc., would burn, scorch, and taste bitter.
Reverse Seared Tri Tip | Beef Tri Tip Recipe Smoked on Traeger and Grilled on PK 360
Smoked Tri Tip 🔗
Smoked Tri Tip is a flavorful and juicy steak that will soon become one of your favorites. When cooked correctly, it's incredibly tender and completely delicious. In today's post I'll teach you how to smoke tri tip like a pro!
Prep: 5min
Total: 140min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 81 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Fat 8 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 22 mg, Sodium 75 mg, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 2-3 pound tri tip roast (fat cap and silverskin removed (may be done already by your butcher))
- 2 Tablespoons Beef Seasoning (or equal parts salt, pepper, and garlic powder)
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter
- 1 sprig rosemary
Instruction:
- Preheat the smoker. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F. I like to use a strong wood like oak or hickory.
- Season the meat. Season the tri tip on all sides with the Beef Seasoning or equal parts salt, pepper, or garlic powder. Lightly press the seasoning into the meat.
- Place in the tri tip directly on the grill grates of your smoker. Close the lid and smoke until the internal temperature is within 5-10 degrees of your target final temperature (115 degrees F for a rare roast, 125 for a medium rare roast, 135 for a medium roast, 145 for a medium well roast, or 150 for a well done roast).
- Preheat a cast iron skillet for searing. When your tri tip is near the correct internal temperature, preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Remove your tri tip from the smoker.
- Sear the tri tip. Put 2-3 tablespoons of butter into the cast iron skillet and let it melt. Drop in the sprig of rosemary and then place the tri tip into the sizzling butter. Sear the tri tip for 2-3 minutes per side, spooning the butter and rosemary over the steak as it cooks.
- Rest, slice, and serve. Pull your roast out of the pan and move onto a cutting board. Allow the roast to rest for 15 minutes before slicing against the grain and serving. The grain changes in a tri tip, so I always start at the smallest point end and angle my knife as needed to keep my slices going against the grain.
FAQ
How long does it take to smoke a tri-tip on a pellet grill?
Directly on the grill grates, cover the grill, and cook the tri-tip for 60 to 90 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 130°F.
What temperature should I cook a tri-tip on a pellet grill?
Tri-Tip on a Pellet Smoker Set the smoker to a constant temperature of between 225 and 250 degrees F. Place the tri-tip roast inside, insert a temperature probe into the center of the thickest part of the meat, and close the lid. Allow the meat to cook for about 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F, or medium-rare doneness.
How long should you smoke a tri-tip at 225?
The best way to determine when your meat is done is to insert a digital probe thermometer into the thickest part of the roast. Smoked tri tip cooks at 225 degrees F. You can plan on it taking about 30 minutes per pound of meat.