If you want to know how to cook tri-tip on Traeger and want to have a tender, juicy, and total crowd-pleaser tri-tip, it’s unsurprisingly the Traeger Smoked tri-tip which is one of my all-time favourite grill recipes.
Seriously whenever I pull this out at a summer BBQ, I’ll usually be fielding recipe requests for the rest of the afternoon. Despite being big on flavour and packing a meaty punch, this recipe for a pitmaster is surprisingly easy.
- Preheat the Traeger.
- Mix ingredients for the dry rub and set aside.
- Coat the meat evenly with the dry rub.
- Place the tri-tip on the Traeger and cook until it reaches 125°F.
- Wrap the meat in foil or butcher paper and let it rest before serving.
Table of Contents
How To Cook Tri-Tip on Traeger?

Tender, juicy, and a total crowd-pleaser, it’s unsurprising that this Traeger Smoked tri-tip has become one of my all-time favourite grill recipes. Choose a USDA Prime or Ranch with beautiful marbling in the meat for the best results.
How to cook tri-tip on Traeger? It’s relatively easy. You all need to do the proper slicing and season it entirely so you can have your desired mouth-watering result. You can also tell others how to cook tri-tip on Traeger.
Ingredients
1 (3-5 lb) tri-tip
2 Tablespoon Freshly ground black pepper
2 Tablespoon Kosher salt
STEPS
- When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 225°F and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. For optimal flavour, use Super Smoke, if available.
- Insert the probe into the thickest part of the tri-tip. Place the tri-tip directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook until the internal temperature reaches 130°F, 60-90 minutes.
- Insert the probe into the thickest part of the tri-tip. Place the tri-tip directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and cook until the internal temperature reaches 130°F, 60-90 minutes.
- Remove the tri-tip from the grill and wrap it in foil. Increase the Traeger temperature to 450°F (or 500°F, if available) and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes.
- Unwrap the tri-tip. Re-insert the probe and return the tri-tip to the grill. Sear on each side for 4 minutes.
- Remove the tri-tip from the grill and let rest for 10-15 minutes. Slice against the grain, then serve. Enjoy!
How To Cook a Tri-Tip Roast on Traeger?

A well-seasoned tri-tip roast, barbecued to juicy tenderness, will secure your status as grill master. Marinate your slab in Traeger ‘Que BBQ Sauce. This will help how to cook a tri-tip roast on Traeger.
Then shower it with Traeger Prime Rib Rub for a competition-worthy ‘cue that will have your neighbours haulin’ down the block. Plan, the tri-tip needs to marinate overnight.
Ingredients
1 (2-3 lb) tri-tip roast
Traeger ‘Que BBQ Sauce
Traeger Prime Rib Rub
1/2 Cup beef broth
Steps
- Cover the tri-tip in enough Traeger ‘Que BBQ Sauce to coat, then marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
- Remove the tri-tip from the marinade and discard the marinade. Lightly season the tri-tip with Traeger Prime Rib Rub.
- When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 180°F and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes.
- Insert the probe into the thickest part of the tri-tip. Place the tri-tip directly on the grill grates, close the lid, and smoke for 3-4 hours.
- Remove the tri-tip from the grill and place it on a large aluminium foil. Pour the beef broth around the meat, then close the foil tightly to seal. Increase the grill temperature to 350°F.
- Place the meat back on the grill with the lid closed for 45 minutes. Remove from the grill and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Enjoy! This is how to cook a tri-tip roast on Traeger.
How Long to Cook Tri-Tip on Traeger?
To make the best tri-tip on Traeger, it is essential to know how long to cook tri-tip on Traeger. Insert the probe into the thickest part of the tri-tip. Place the tri-tip directly on the grill grates, and close the lid.
And cook until the internal temperature reaches 130°F, 60-90 minutes. Your desired juicy, tender tri-tip will be ready, and this is how you know how long to cook tri-tip on Traeger.
How To Cook Tri-Tip Steak on Traeger?

A tri-tip steak is a tender and flavorful cut that’s ideal for grilling. Whole tri-tips are sometimes sold as “tri-tip steaks”; you may also see 1- to 2-inch slices of tri-tip sold as steaks. The important thing is how to cook tri-tip steak on Traeger.
The cut comes from the thigh area of the animal. How to cook tri-tip steak on Traeger For a pre-sliced tri-tip steak, direct cooking over high heat is the way to go. Season the steak with your favourite rub or salt and pepper.
Then, set your Traeger to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the grill has preheated, place the steak directly on the grill for 4 to 6 minutes per side until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 135 degrees Fahrenheit for medium rare.
TRI-TIP Steak Internal Temperature
- For rare, aim for 120-130 °F internally.
- For medium-rare, aim for 130-135°F internally.
- For medium, aim for 135-145 °F internally.
- For medium-well, aim for 145-155 °F internally.
- For well done, aim for 155-165 °F internally.
What Temperature to Cook Tri-Tip on Traeger?

Let’s talk about that medium-rare meat for a minute. Not overcooking this cut is crucial to turn out tender and juicy, as opposed to harsh and dry if you let it go too long on the Traeger. So, what temperature to cook tri-tip on Traeger?
The ideal cooking temperature for a tri-tip cut is 200 250 °F or 93-121 °C (for indirect heat). This will enable you to simmer the meat over low temperatures. It ensures an even cook helps avoid overcooking the outside of the meat.
Due to the nature of this cut, the tri-tip temp, when done, is relatively similar to that of a steak. You can cook it to 130 to 135 °F (54 to 57 °C) for medium rare and 135 to 145 °F (57-63 °C) for medium.
Use this guide to help you achieve the ideal internal temp and enjoy this piece of meat however you want it done. This will tell what temperature to cook tri-tip on Traeger.
- Rare The ideal internal tri-tip temperature is 120 °F (48 °C)
- Medium rare – The ideal internal tri-tip temperature is 130 °F (54 °C)
- Medium – The ideal internal tri-tip temperature is 140 °F (60 °C)
Slow Cook Tri-Tip on Traeger

The ideal cooking temperature for a tri-tip cut is 200-250 °F or 93-121 °C (for indirect heat). This will enable you to simmer the meat over low temperatures. It ensures an even cook helps avoid overcooking the outside of the meat.
Whatever type of grill you use for cooking, ensure to place the meat away from the highest heat zone. Temperature control is one of the essential skills you must possess if you cook the perfect tri-tip.
This is how you slow cook tri-tip on Traeger, and for sure, this will give the best result you have ever had. You just have to set the proper cooking temperature to ensure even doneness on all meat parts; thus, you slow cook tri-tip on Traeger.
Traeger Tri-Tip 350
To make Traeger tri-tip 350 in a small bowl, mix the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, rosemary, and cayenne.
Place the tri-tip in a baking dish and coat on all sides with the rub. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Make the mop sauce: In a resealable jar, combine the red wine vinegar, vegetable oil, garlic, and Dijon mustard. Close the jar tightly and shake to emulsify
Add the tri-tip to the grill and cook for 7 minutes on each side, then reduce the heat to 350 F. and continue cooking for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 135 F. this will make your Traeger tri-tip 350.
Traeger Tri-Tip 450
For the Traeger tri-tip 450, trim any fat cap that is on the surface of the steak. Most of the time, the steak will come already trimmed, but if there are layers of fat or silver skin on the meat, you will want to trim that off before smoking.
I am not a huge fan of smoking steaks at low temperatures until finished; they come out tough, in my opinion. The best way to smoke a steak is at a low temperature for a short time and then finish it off at a high temp, 400°F or higher.
When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 450°F and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. Thus, your Traeger tri-tip 450 will be ready.
Traeger Tri-Tip 425
For Traeger tri-tip 425, turn the temperature up to 425°F. When cooking tri-tip on a pellet grill, I like placing my grill grates inside the smoker to get those excellent sear marks on the steak.
Let the grill grates warm up with the smoker; either side of the grates will work. Used the ridged side, place the tri-tip onto the grates when the smoker reaches 425 degrees F to reverse sear. This is how you get Traeger tri-tip 425.
FAQs How to Cook Tri-Tip on Traeger?
What’s The Difference Between a Tri-Tip Roast and A Tri-Tip Steak?
Tri-tip steaks are slices from a tri-tip roast.
What’s The Difference Between a Beef Tri-Tip Steak and A Sirloin Cap Steak?
These are similar cuts in size and flavour; they come from different parts of the anima.
Conclusion
Tri-tip is a type of beef cut that can be prepared in various ways, such as grilling, smoking, and oven-roasting. These cuts can also come in various sizes and range in weight from 1.5 to 2.5 lbs per cut.
By following the correct recipe and maintaining the accurate temperature, you can get the best results for how to cook tri-tip on Traeger. You can also do it by slow cook method. Just keep in mind the marination time and control temperature.