This tri tip marinade is a blend of olive oil, herbs and spices that produces a tender and juicy tri tip roast every time. You can also use this flavorful marinade for other types of beef, chicken, pork and even seafood!
A good marinade really adds a lot of flavor to any cut of meat or fish. I always make marinated salmon, pork tenderloin marinade, and of course beef tri tip marinade.
You can’t go wrong with steak, and tri tip is one of my favorite cuts. I always use this tri tip marinade to flavor my meat for perfect results every time!
WHAT IS TRI TIP?
Tri tip is a triangle shaped beef roast that comes from the bottom sirloin area of the cow. This cut of beef is naturally tender and well marbled, and is especially delicious when cooked on the grill, a smoker or in a skillet on the stove top. If you can’t find meat labeled as tri tip at your local grocery store, it may be packaged under a different name such as Santa Maria cut or bottom sirloin tip.
How do you make tri tip marinade?
This marinade is a blend of soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, fresh garlic, dried Italian herbs and spices. Mix everything together in either a bowl or a gallon sized freezer bag. Add your tri tip, and give it at least one hour to soak up all that great flavor!
Helpful hints for the perfect marinade
- This marinade can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days before you plan to use it, so it’s great to make in advance if you’re entertaining. You can even freeze your marinade for up to 2 months if need be! The olive oil may solidify as the marinade sits in the fridge, it will liquefy again if you leave the marinade at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
- Feel free to use a low sodium soy sauce if you’re watching your salt intake.
- Italian seasoning is a blend of dried herbs that can be found in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. This seasoning is typically a mixture of dried basil, parsley, garlic and oregano. If you can’t find Italian seasoning, you can blend together your own combination of dried herbs in equal amounts.
- This marinade works well with other types of beef, I recommend using it on flank steak, New York strip, ribeye, sirloin or filet mignon. It’s also great with chicken thighs, pork chops or salmon fillets.
- For maximum flavor, you can marinate your beef for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Tri tip marinade flavor variations
While I love this marinade as written, you can easily switch up the flavors to customize it to your tastes.
- Cilantro Lime: Substitute fresh lime juice for the lemon juice. Add 1 teaspoon of lime zest. Omit the Italian seasoning, and add 1/3 cup of fresh chopped cilantro leaves.
- Sesame Ginger: Swap out the lemon juice with lime juice. Omit the Italian seasoning, and add 1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger. Stir in 1/2 cup sliced green onions.
- Garlic Lovers: Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and double the amount of fresh garlic.
- Italian Style: Swap out the lemon juice with red wine, and add 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped herbs such as rosemary, thyme and parsley.
How to cook tri tip
You can smoke, grill, broil or pan sear your tri tip. Keep in mind that this is a larger cut of meat, and hence will take more time to cook than something like a steak. You can sear your meat on the grill or in a pan, then you’ll want to cook it at a lower heat until you reach your desired internal temperature. I recommend using a digital thermometer to monitor the temperature of the meat as it cooks. I typically cook my tri tip to 140 degrees F which is medium.
HOW TO SERVE TRI TIP
Thinly slice your tri tip against the grain for the most tender bites of meat. This cut of meat has fibers that run vertically in one section, and the other part of the meat has fibers that run at an angle. You’ll want to pay attention to the area you’re slicing to make sure it’s cut properly. Serve your meat as-is with an assortment of side dishes, or use it in other dishes such as salads, sandwiches and tacos.
This tri tip marinade produces the best tri tip I’ve ever had! No matter how you choose to cook your meat, it’s sure to get rave reviews.
More beef recipes you’ll enjoy
Tri Tip Marinade Video
Tri Tip Marinade
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup soy sauce can use low sodium
- 1/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a bowl or in a resealable gallon sized freezer bag. Mix to combine.
- Add the tri tip the marinade. Marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours.
- Grill, broil or pan cook the tri tip as desired. Let the meat rest for at least 5 minutes. Slice the meat against the grain, then serve.
Once you move meat to grill Can you heat marinade (boil) and use as gravy?
Yes if it’s boiled that should be fine!
I used your marinade recipe for a tri-tip. My husband cant stop talking about how good it was! This is definitely a keeper!
Super delicious and juicy, this recipe is a keeper
This is fantastic! This is my new go to marinade! So flavorful & easy!
I used honey vs. brown sugar and it was just as delicious.
I have 7 or 8 lbs. of tri-tip. Should I double the recipe?
Yes I’d double it!
Love this marinade for the Tri tip! I also made your Seafood Boil recipe. Its a FEAST for my family & WE LOVE IT! THANK U VERY MUCH FOR SHARING. I will be making it twice a month.
Best marinade I have ever used. TrinTip came out PERFECT on grill. Subbed lime juice for lemon and cooked at 425 degrees.
We are going camping in a fifth wheel and are limited on space. Can I mix all the wet ingredients in a plastic container and the dry in another container then 24 hours before cooking mix them all together with the meat?
Yes that should be fine!
Can I marinate more 24 hours? 2 days up to 5 days ok?
2 days should be ok, 5 days is too long and I’m worried the meat would spoil after sitting for that long.
This is my go to marinade for chicken, I never thought of using it on Tri Tip, but that changes this weekend.
Hi, I have a 4 lb Tritip roast; is this enough marinade for that size?
yes that will work!
Love this marinade. It’s my go to for every trip tip we smoked. I’ve even used mocked soy sauce (guest had a soy allergy) and it came out divine! I shared this with my mom who loves it as well!
We LOVE this marinade! It penetrates and tenderizes the meat so well and makes for such a flavorful tri-tip. We’re marinating other cuts with it as well and can’t get enough of it.
Great recipe for a marinade. We really enjoyed it. It’s a tasty marinade and the lemon juice really makes the meat tender
Perfect marinade for grilling tri tip! This is my go to recipe for my marinade!
my tri-tip is currently marinating (yours) in the fridge. i plan to bake it on a rack in the oven. my question is do i sear both sides or only the fat cap side.
thank you…
I sear both sides!
perfect timing! thanks
i recently purchased a stovetop grill at costco. it’s called ‘the rock plus’ & is ceramic non-stick. i haven’t used it yet & wonder if you think i could make my tri-tip on that. if so, what temperature would you suggest. i just started making this roast & your marinade recipe sounds delish! i usually sear my roast on the stove first & then roast at 425 ’til it reaches 135-140degrees.
i would like to try making it on this stovetop grill but don’t want to ruin it! thank you
I think it would be ok although I’ve never used this particular appliance. I’d sear it on high heat, then reduce the heat to medium until it cooks to your desired temperature.
this particular grills instructions advise to not use on Hi. the roast sears well on a med or med/hi.
searing well makes suck a difference. always advise it!
This was fantastic! I let it sit over night and grilled it. Absolutely adding this to our recipe box . Thank you!
Can I leave out the brown sugar? Will the marinade still work without?
Thanks!
Yes that should be fine!