
Recipes
Santa Maria Style Tri-Tip
Grilled tri-tip seasoned with a traditional dry rub is the centerpiece of Santa Maria Style BBQ meal.
What You'll need
Tri-Tip Ingredients
- 2 cups red oak chips soaked in water for 2 hours (don't skip this, it's what gives the tri-tip its authentic flavor)
- Santa Maria Style Barbecue seasoning
- 2.5 lb beef tri-tip
Steps to Make
Cooking Directions
- Rub your prepared Santa Maria Style seasoning into the meat and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling.
- Prepare your grill for direct and indirect medium-high heat. Add red oak chips to 30 minutes before you begin grilling.
- Set your tri-tip over the direct heat, fattiest-side up, and sear about 10 minutes, or until browned. Flip the meat over and sear the other side the same way.
- Move your tri-tip to the indirect-heat. Cover your grill and let the tri-tip cook 20 to 30 minutes, until a thermometer reads 130 degrees F in the thickest area of the meat.
- Take the tri-tip off the grill and move to a cutting board. Let the meat rest for 15 minutes. Slice the meat against the grain to serve.

Santa Maria Style
Tri-Tip at Home
Need more recipes for simple, traditional Santa Maria Style foods? Download the official Santa Maria Valley Cookbook.