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My Tri-Tip Rub recipe is the perfect blend of savory spices, and is a must-have pairing with juicy tri-tip steak! Coming together in under 5 minutes with simple ingredients, you are not going to believe how much flavor you can add to tender tri-tip steak by using this easy rub recipe.
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Best Tri-Tip Seasoning Blend
My tri-tip rub blend is essentially a way of infusing meat with flavor before cooking it. My family loves using this rub on smoked beef, but you can also use it on a cut of beef before you grill, roast, or sear it!
Tri-tip is an excellent cut of beef to feature as a main course entrée. It is budget friendly, large enough to feed a crowd, and when mixed with my tri-tip rub recipe, you know it will be tender, juicy, and flavorful every single time!
Using just the right amount of aromatic garlic flavor, this tri-tip rub recipe really compliments the tenderness of the beef! It's simple, but effective. I guarantee you will love this easy rub recipe!
Pair it with my tri-tip recipe: Smoked Tri-Tip
Tri-Tip Rub FAQs
Though there are many variations for tri-tip rub, my recipe includes salt, pepper, thyme, and granulated garlic. This creates a perfect savory blend of seasonings that complements beef well.
Though dry rubs and marinades are both used to infuse protein with flavor, dry rubs tend to not have liquid (hence the name "dry" rub) while marinades often contain vinegar, oil, or acid (typically citrus juice), which is used to break down the tough fibers in meat. If working with a tender cut of meat, rubs help add flavor without breaking down the protein.
You can pre-mix a dry rub and leave it in an airtight, sealed container for up to 6 months when left in a cool, dry area of your kitchen (typically a pantry or spice shelf).
My recipe for tri-tip rub is a naturally gluten and grain free rub. As always, be sure to check each ingredient for proper allergy and food handling instructions.
Tri-Tip Rub Ingredients
- Course Salt
- Course Black Pepper
- Granulated Garlic
- Fresh Thyme
How to Make Tri-Tip Rub
- In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and fresh thyme.
- Whisk ingredients until fully blended.
- Store until ready to use.
How to Apply Tri-Tip Rub
Applying a dry rub is super simple, and it requires little effort!
- If using this rub for tri-tip steak, start by trimming excess fat from the steak.
- Sprinkle the rub on all sides of the steak, then use your hands to work the rub into the meat (if you want, you can place the steak in a plastic bag, cover with seasoning mix, then close the bag and shake or massage the rub into the meat).
- I like to cover the meat after the rub has been applied (or keep it right in the plastic bag I used to adhere the seasoning to the meat).
- Keep the seasoning tri-tip in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
Recipe Tips
- I like to store my tri-tip rub in a mason jar, which I can leave right in my pantry for quick access when I need a seasoning blend!
- When using dried herbs or spices, always check the expiration date. The fresher the herbs, the more intense the flavors will be.
- Be sure to give your rub time to work into the meat, this is not a step you want to skip! Overnight is best, but even two hours in the fridge will make a difference.
For best flavor, use fresh minced garlic as well as granulated garlic. Both add a depth of flavor to the seasoning blend. To use fresh garlic with the rub, simply mince fresh garlic and either apply it to the steak as it's cooking or reverse sear the steak in garlic butter.
Other Uses for Rub Seasoning
This is a versatile rub recipe, and though it pairs so well with tri-tip steak, there are many other cuts of beef I like to use my seasoning blend with. Here are a few:
- Seasoning mix for hamburgers - especially Smoked Burgers
- As a dry rub for ribeye steak
- Prime rib roast
- Seared boneless sirloin or picanha steak
Variations
This is a fantastic recipe to utilize as a dry rub. Dry rubs are the best way to flavor meat, especially beef! A great variation for this recipe is to turn it into a marinade, which can be used for steak, chicken, shrimp, lamb, and vegetables.
All you need to do is mix the seasonings together in a small bowl or plastic bag, add ½ cup olive oil and the juice of half a lemon!
More Easy Rub Recipes
- Brisket Rub
- Coffee Rub
- Dry Rub for Ribs
- Roast Beef Seasoning
- Prime Rib Rub
- Sweet and Spicy Rub
- Meatball Seasoning
- Try all of our BBQ Rub Recipes!
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Tri-Tip Rub Recipe
Equipment
- 1 small bowl
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 kitchen knife
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- ¼ Cup Fresh Thyme
- 2 Tablespoons Coarse Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Coarse Black Pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Granulated Garlic
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine minced fresh garlic, salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and fresh thyme.
- Whisk ingredients until fully blended.
- Store until ready to use.
Notes
- This is enough seasoning for a 5 pound tri-tip.
- I like to store my tri-tip rub in a mason jar, which I can leave right in my pantry for quick access when I need a seasoning blend!
- When using dried herbs or spices, always check the expiration date. The fresher the herbs, the more intense the flavors will be.
- Be sure to give your rub time to work into the meat, this is not a step you want to skip!
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