I have four tri tip marinade recipes for your to choose from when making this oven baked tri tip: my classic “best steak marinade” recipe, highly-rated Santa Maria-style marinade, Cardiff Crack (burgundy pepper), and an Asian-inspired marinade. Start to finish you’ll have a juicy Tri Tip roast ready to cut and serve in just an hour (+ marinating time).
Tri tip is a lean, flavorful cut that cooks beautifully in the oven or on the grill. For more on tri tip and other popular steaks and roasts, see our Ultimate Guide to Beef Cuts.
Marinade Options
Here are the four tri tip marinades I’ve showcased in various tri tip recipes here on Foodie and Wine. The recipe card below includes an all-around beef marinade, but my other two favorites to consider:
Smoked Tri Tip – this version uses a classic Santa Maria Seasoning that wildly popular in California. You won’t be disappointed with this route. Santa Maria Dry Rub Ingredients: Coarse Sea Salt, Freshly Cracked Black Pepper and Garlic Powder.
Sous Vide Tri Tip – this version uses a dynamic and flavorful Asian-based marinade. The reviews on this marinade are stellar! Asian Marinade Ingredients: soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and gochujang.
Cardiff Crack – this flavorful burgundy pepper marinade is a San Diego legend.
Here are the ingredients required if making the classic steak marinade I used here. It’s great for any beef recipes.
Oven Baked Tri Tip
Here’s how to bake tri tip in the oven. For the full list of steps, see the recipe card below:
Whisk Up The Marinade – Add all the tri tip marinade ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
Marinate The Roast – Pour over the tri tip and let sit for 1 hour minimum (ideal), up to 24 hours.
Sear The Roast – Sear the tri tip roast to develop the highly desirable brown crust. This method allows for even cooking through out the tri tip and adds texture. You can skip this step, however it will take longer for your roast to cook.
Bake the Tri Tip Roast – Bake for 12 minutes per pound for medium temperature (140°F).
Rest, Slice and Serve – Rest for 10-15 minutes and slice against the grain.
Internal Temperature
How long to cook tri tip in the oven? When baking tri tip go by temperature, not time. Here are the “final doneness temperatures”. Your “pull from the oven” temperature will be 5-7°F below your desired final temperature as resting will increase the tri tip internal temp.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
My personal favorite temperature for oven baked tri tip is 140°F as it can be a “chewier and tougher” cut of beef. At this temperature you’re left with a soft and slightly firm texture with a slight pink color.
- Rare: 125°F – 130°F
- Medium Rare: 131°F – 140°F
- Medium: 141°F – 150°F
- Medium Well: 151°F – 160°F
- Well Done: 161°F+
* The USDA recommends cooking steaks and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F for safety.
Reference my FREE PRINTABLE Tri Tip Temperature Chart for additional cooking tips.
Darcey’s Expert Tips
- Searing can create smoke, so don’t forget to turn on the hood fan prior.
- Make sure to do a thorough job patting dry the roast with paper towels. To get a good pan-seared crust, the roast needs to be dry.
- Always use a meat thermometer when baking a tri tip. My go-to digital thermometer is the Thermaworks Dot.
- Cap the temperature at medium. Tri tip will toughen up after a certain temperature. It’s best to serve rare, medium rare or medium.
- For even more tender results, especially with lean cuts like tri-tip, don’t miss my full guide on how to tenderize beef.
Side Dish Ideas
A few of my favorite side dishes include: creamy cucumber salad, Classic Macaroni Salad, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese, Homemade Garlic Bread, Red Wine Mushrooms, Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze. You can also whip up a batch of Horseradish Butter.
Uses For Leftover Tri Tip
If you have leftovers, consider adding it to a Quesadilla with Steak or Steak Fajitas. This Tri Tip Sandwich or Prime Rib Sandwich would be great as well… just replace the prime rib with tri tip.
Wine Pairing Recommendations
Finally, here are a few great wine pairing options for tri tip – Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, and Tempranillo.
Juicy Oven Baked Tri Tip
Ingredients
Tri Tip:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2-2½ lbs Tri Tip Roast
Tri Tip Marinade:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- ½ tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
Marinate The Tri TIp
- Add the marinade ingredients to a small bowl and mix to combine.½ cup olive oil, ⅓ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, ¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning, ½ tbsp minced garlic, 2 tsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp Black Pepper, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Pat dry the tri tip and trim any silver skin or excess fat. Transfer to a re-sealable bag or large container and pour the marinade over the meat. Massage to evenly coat. Let rest on the kitchen counter for an hour to marinate.2-2½ lbs Tri Tip Roast
Bake The Tri Tip
- Pre-heat the oven to 425° F.
- Add the olive oil to a large cast iron skillet and pre-heat on the stove over high heat. Add the tri tip to the skillet and sear for 3 minutes, without moving the roast. Use tongs to sear the edges of the tri tip for approximately 30 seconds. each. Finish searing by placing the roast uncooked side up.2 tbsp olive oil
- Transfer the hot skillet to the oven and bake for approximately 12 minutes per pound to reach medium temp (140° F).
- Remove from the oven 5-7° F below your desired final internal time. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing against the grain and serving.
Notes
- Rare: 125°F – 130°F
- Medium Rare: 131°F – 140°F
- Medium: 141°F – 150°F
- Medium Well: 151°F – 160°F
- Well Done: 161°F+