Spice Rubbed Tri-tip with Horseradish Sauce
4
10 minutes
2 hours
BBQ
Beef
Tri-tip can be challenging to find. Call your local butcher. This recipe can also be made with flank or sirloin steak cut around 2-inches thick.
Tri-tip comes from the bottom of the sirloin and juts up against the round and flank steaks. It’s a full-flavoured cut of beef that is dense with even marbling throughout. It lends itself better to being cooked to medium-rare to medium rather than well done. Slice thinly on an angle across the grain and you’ll be rewarded with a delicious meal.
In addition to smoking, you can also cook the tri-tip over indirect heat on the BBQ, or uncovered on a rimmed cookie sheet in the oven at 200°F
Tri-tip comes from the bottom of the sirloin and juts up against the round and flank steaks. It’s a full-flavoured cut of beef that is dense with even marbling throughout. It lends itself better to being cooked to medium-rare to medium rather than well done. Slice thinly on an angle across the grain and you’ll be rewarded with a delicious meal.
In addition to smoking, you can also cook the tri-tip over indirect heat on the BBQ, or uncovered on a rimmed cookie sheet in the oven at 200°F

Ingredients
- One 2 ½ pound beef tri-tip, trimmed
- Hot sauce or oil, for rubbing on the meat
Spice Rub
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp ground pepper
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika, or additional paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp salt
Horseradish Sauce
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup prepared horseradish
- 1/3 cup sour cream
Directions
- Preheat smoker to 190°F-200°F.
- In a bowl combine all the ingredients for the spice rub. Rub the meat all over with the hot sauce or oil. Transfer half the rub to a small bowl. Sprinkle it all over the meat and rub it into every nook and crevice so the meat is well coated with the rub. Store the remaining rub in a jar.
- Transfer the tri-tip to the smoker (or BBQ or oven). Close the lid and smoke to desired doneness. It will take about 2 hours at 190°F to reach 125°F (rare). Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Be sure to slice thinly on an angle across the grain to get tender slices. Serve warm or room temperature.
Horseradish Sauce
- Whisk together all the ingredients and chill until ready to serve.