Grilled Tri-Tip Steak with Smoky Chipotle BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-16 · Updated 2026-06-16

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Juicy grilled tri-tip steak infused with a smoky chipotle barbecue sauce, inspired by the celebrated BBQ flavors of Bakersfield. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs tri-tip steak, olive oil, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 lbs tri-tip steak
3 tbsp olive oil
2 peppers, minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until smooth and set aside as the BBQ sauce.
Step 2: Rub 3 tbsp olive oil evenly over 2 lbs tri-tip steak, then season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper on all sides.
Step 3: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Place tri-tip steak on the grill and cook for 6-7 minutes per side for medium-rare, brushing generously with the chipotle BBQ sauce during the last 5 minutes to build a smoky glaze.
Step 4: Remove steak from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain. Serve with remaining chipotle BBQ sauce on the side.