If you’re looking for a steak recipe that is juicy, tender, and practically melts in your mouth, then look no further than this one! My Easy Oven-Baked Tri-Tip Roast is perfectly cooked, perfectly delicious, and is seasoned with my signature spice blend that is truly crave-worthy. It doesn’t get any better than this! I got this recipe from my mom, who made this all the time growing up, and I can’t wait to share it with you (along with some AMAZING ways to serve it). This is a recipe you’ll hang onto for ages!
Friends, want to know a funny thing that happens? The older I get, the more I appreciate my parents’ recipes. Sure, I love making the recipes of my fellow creators and friends (or even scrolling through TiKTok lookin for new recipes), but there’s something about my parents’ recipes that I always come back to. Whether it’s their juicy kofta kebabs or their Arayes, I find myself craving recipes that feel like coming back home. Maybe it sounds clicé, but the older you get, the more you realize that there’s truly no place like home.
So, when my mom came up to visit me in San Francisco recently, I found myself craving one thing and one thing only: her tri-tip. This was a dish that she made all the time growing up, and we ate it in everything from tacos to sandwiches to even rice. And every time we ate it, it was absolutely delicious.
This recipe is a twist on my mom’s recipe, because it’s prepared exactly the way she did, but it’s seasoned with my self-proclaimed signature spice mixture. I have been using this spice mixture to season everything from shrimp to tofu to yes, even tri-tip, and it is absolutely delicious. Trust me on this one!
3 Ingredients Needed to Make This Perfect Tri-Tip Roast
- Tri-Tip:Tri-Tip is a small, boneless, triangular-shaped cut of beef that, when cooked perfectly, is absolutely tender and delicious. You can get tri-tip from any butcher, even at Whole Foods! Plus, it’s a less-expensive cut of meat than a ribeye, so it’s great for those times when you’re craving steak, but don’t want to spend a ton of money.
- Coffee Grounds: Don’t knock it until you try it! Coffee grounds add the most delicious dark and smoky flavor to this tri-tip. This recipe is NOT the same without them!
- Kalejunkie Signature Spice Blend: My signature spice blend is my new favorite way to season everything from meats to veggies! It consists of cumin, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and chipotle, and is too good.
How to Make This Delicious, Easy Steak Recipe
To make this recipe, start by allowing the tri-tip to come to room temperature. Next, prepare the spice mixture by mixing together the the coffee, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, chipotle, and cumin in a bowl. Rub the tri-tip with the spice mixture, then let it rest while you preheat the oven to 350 F.
While the oven is preheating, heat a pan, on the stove, over high heat and add in a few tablespoons of olive oil (or avocado oil). Once the pan is hot, place the tri-tip inside of the pan and allow it to cook for about 4 minutes on each side. If you’re using a meat thermometer, place it inside of the tri-tip.
Then, remove the pan from the stove and place it into the oven. I like to cook my tri-tip so it’s medium rare, which means it reaches an internal temperature of 135 F. If you aren’t using a thermometer, this will take approximately 15-17 minutes. Once the tri-tip is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing it, serving as desired, and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to three days.
How to Serve This Perfectly Juicy Tri-Tip
Now that you have this delicious tri-tip ready to go, there are SO many fun ways that you can serve it! These are just a few of my favorite ways, but feel free to get creative – and if you do, comment down below and let me know how you serve it!
- On tostadas: I recently shared my tri-tip tostada recipe on Instagram and it has been a favorite in my household! Paired with my homemade guacamole from my cookbook, LOVE TO EAT, it is crunchy, tangy, delicious, and such a fun way to enjoy this recipe.
- With Chimichurri: Steak and chimichurri go together like bread and butter. Slather this steak with my Easy Chimicurri Sauce and you’ve got match made in heaven!
- Add it to a Salad: Steak salads are absolutely delicious, and make for the perfect quick and easy lunch! I love swapping it out for the chicken in my Healthy Caesar Salad recipe
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Gayle McLeod
Ingredients
For the Tri-Tip:
- 1 ½ Pounds Tri-Tip
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Coffee Grounds
- 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Chipotle
- 1 Teaspoon Cumin
Instructions
- To make this recipe, start by allowing the tri-tip to come to room temperature.
- Next, prepare the spice mixture by mixing together the the coffee, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, chipotle, and cumin in a bowl.
- Rub the tri-tip with the spice mixture, then let it rest while you preheat the oven to 350 F.
- While the oven is preheating, heat a pan, on the stove, over high heat and add in a few tablespoons of olive oil (or avocado oil). Once the pan is hot, place the tri-tip inside the pan and allow it to cook for about 4 minutes on each side.
- If you're using a meat thermometer, place it inside of the tri-tip.
- Then, remove the pan from the stove and place it into the oven. I like to cook my tri-tip so it's medium rare, which means it reaches an internal temperature of 135 F. If you aren't using a thermometer, this will take approximately 15-17 minutes.
- Once the tri-tip is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing it, serving as desired, and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to three days.
Rate & review
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What others are saying
I’m so happy to find this delish recipe for our Easter Dinner, I didn’t have chipotle but I substituted with pepper flakes and paprika……oh my goodness! What an amazing piece of meat! I roasted golden potatoes and tri colored carrots for the side along with Hawaiian rolls warmed up. Super easy ! Thank you so much for the recipe and Happy PassOver to you and your family 🙏🥂
I am so thrilled that it turned out well for you, Molly! Thank you so much for making it, and for leaving such a kind review!
So Good!
I’m so happy to hear that, Pam! Thank you!
Are the coffee grounds fresh or used?
Hi Brianna, they’re fresh!
The recipe requires the Tritons to be 1 1 /2 lbs
But I have an almost 10 lb (looks like the picture.
Do you put 9x the amount for each mixture? Seems excessive so what do you do. Can you please advise. Thank you!
Fantastic recipe! My dinner guests all loved it. Question: could I use decaf ground coffee and get the same great flavor?
Hi Kevin, yes, you absolutely can!
Nicole, this was F A N T A S T I C ! the rub was exceptional. Following you on insta for more great “tri tips”
This was AWESOME… even my roommate who hates everything, loved it! Thanks
Solid recipe. Made it tonight and husband raved it!
So few questions…so raw coffee grounds? Is it chipotle powder or canned? And lid on or off in oven?? Thank You..want to cook tomorrow night so hoping for quick response..sounds so yummy!!
Hi Kristina! Yes, raw coffee grounds and chipotle powder will do the trick ☻ Hope this helps!
Absolutely delicious! Thank you for a very tasy recipe. My family loved it. This recipe is a keeper and I will be making this again very soon.
I’m so happy to hear that, Connie! Thank you for your review!
First time I’ve ever used coffee grounds in a rub for roast. Wow!!! It was fabulously delicious. I did not have chipotle so I used red pepper flakes and chili powder. No one could believe that I used coffee and how amazing it was. Thank you for such a great recipe!
Question: can I use this rub on a pork roast???
Hi Ronnie! I am SO thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe – yes, you can absolutely use this rub on pork roast! I hope you enjoy ☻
Totally new to cooking tri tip. Wow! This was very easy as I followed directions exactly. Friends think I am a chef! Wonderful flavor and super yummy left overs
I am so happy that you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for making this recipe and for leaving a review!