Traeger Tri-Tip - Smoked Tri-Tip Recipe on the pellet grill (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to smoke a tri tip on a pellet grill? ›

For optimal flavor, use Super Smoke if available. Combine salt and pepper. Season all sides of meat with a heavy coat of the salt and pepper mixture. Place tri-tip directly on the grill grate and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 130℉, this should take about 60 to 90 minutes.

The amount of time it takes to cook a tri tip depends on the size and also the level of doneness you're going for. At 225 degrees Fahrenheit, a 2-pound tri tip takes an hour for rare, to an hour and a half for medium-rare. A 3-pound tri tip requires about 90 minutes for rare, and 2 hours for medium-rare.

Once the grill is up to searing temp, sear the tri-tip on each side for approximately 2 minutes, flip, and repeat on the other side. Continue doing this until there's a good crust on the tri-tip and/or your desired finished internal temperature is achieved.

Place the tri-tip, fat side up, on the lower smoker rack. Insert the attached probe thermometer in the fatter end of the roast. Close the top. Smoke for approximately 2 hours for medium rare.

Smoke: Place your roast on a 225° smoker and close the lid. I like it best when cooked to 130-135°, which will give you a nice cooked interior that's still a little pink. If you cook tri tip past this point and into medium and medium-well, you'll sacrifice tenderness.

Wrap and smoke.

Remove the tri tip from the smoker and wrap it in peach butcher paper. Place the wrapped tri tip back on the smoker and continue to smoke until the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees F (this should take about 3-4 hours with the whole smoking process taking 8-9 hours).

Place tri-tip on smoker unwrapped for 60-90 minutes. Cook until internal temperature reaches 125 – 130 degrees F for rare and remove. Wrap tri-tip in foil and let rest for 15 minutes. When slicing any cut of beef, it's important to slice against or perpendicular to the grains.

How Long to Smoke a Tri Tip at 250°F: Cook the meat for 30 minutes per pound at 250°F. For your average tri tip, this means about an hour and a half.

Generously season all sides of the tri tip. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the tri tip. Place the tri tip directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook until the internal temperature reaches 130℉, 60-90 minutes. Remove the smoked tri tip from the grill and wrap in foil.

Rub dry rub generously over roast. Place tri-tip on a baking rack set in a rimmed baking sheet. Allow to sit at room temperature as the smoker heats up.

How long do I smoke a tri tip at 225? ›

For the first part of the cook, smoke the tri tip at 250ºF until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF to 170ºF or until you're satisfied with the bark. If your tri tip stalls in the 150ºF range but has been on the smoker for 3-4 hours, it's probably formed a great bark and picked up enough smoke.

Tri tip is a steak-like cut with very little connective tissue, and that means it should be cooked to the same doneness as a steak would be: 130°–135°F (54–57°C) for medium-rare or 135°–145°F (57–63°C) for medium. The temperature to cook the tri tip at is kind of up to you.

Smoke the tri tip.

Smoke until the internal temperature reaches 135°F for medium rare. Insert a temperature probe, or use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature of the tri tip. A 3 pound tri tip will take approximately 2 hours to smoke, but always smoke to temperature, not to time!

How Long to Smoke a Tri Tip at 225°F: Smoke at 225°F for about 2 hours. This is a longer cook time so the meat will heat up more slowly, but infuse the meat with more smoke. How Long to Smoke a Tri Tip at 250°F: Cook the meat for 30 minutes per pound at 250°F.

Let the tri-tip cook for about 3 hours at 250°F (121°C) or until the thickest part measures 160°F (71°C) as read by an accurate meat thermometer.