Smoked Tri-Tip BBQ with California-Style Dry Rub

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-23 · Updated 2026-05-23

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 developed and reviewed.

Tender smoked tri-tip steak seasoned with a fragrant, smoky dry rub inspired by top California BBQ restaurants, served with a tangy BBQ sauce. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 195 minutes, pairs tri-tip roast, paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, 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: 15 min Cook: 180 min Serves 6 American cuisine 350 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

2 pounds tri-tip roast
2 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp hot sauce

Know when the beef is done: thermometers under $100 → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: Mix 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp chili powder, and 1 tsp smoked paprika in a bowl. Rub this dry spice mix all over the 2 pounds tri-tip roast evenly.
Step 2: Preheat your smoker or grill to 225°F and place the tri-tip roast on the grate. Smoke for about 2.5-3 hours until internal temperature reaches 135°F for medium-rare.
Step 3: While the tri-tip smokes, whisk together 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, and 1 tsp hot sauce in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Remove the tri-tip from the smoker and let rest for 15 minutes covered loosely with foil. Slice thinly against the grain and serve with the tangy BBQ sauce drizzled on top.