This Air Fryer Tri Tip is so amazing that we stopped everything to make another one and we wanted to tell you about it! It is a fantastic cut of meat that is air fried in just a few minutes.
🐄 Why This Recipe Works
- Simple steps to get a perfectly cooked tri tip.
- Three ingredients.
- Perfectly seasoned.
- A great weeknight or weekend dinner.
- Swap the spices to fit your preference.
- No need to turn on the grill.
🥩 Ingredients
All you need is a quality air fryer and a few ingredients to make this delicious dinner idea.
Tri Tip Roast – This is a juicy and delicious piece of meat. It works perfectly in the the Air Fryer, as well as the grill, in the oven, broiled, or even smoked.
Trader Joe’s Coffee BBQ Rub – There are so many wonderful things I can tell you about this rub. It’s absolutely delicious! It has a subtle spiciness, sweet flavors, and it’s also smoky and a little bit salty. It is perfect for steak, fish, pork, and even chicken. If you don’t have Trader Joe’s near you, you can make your own homemade coffee rub.
Garlic Powder – You just need a little bit of garlic powder to give you a great flavor.
🧂 What is Tri Tip Steak
A tri tip (also called a Santa Maria steak or Triangle Tip) is a triangular piece of meat that is found near the backside of the cow. It can range from 1.5 – 5 pounds.
It is a cheap and lean portion of the sirloin, so it will not be as tender as a ribeye, but don’t let that deter you!
The flavor is amazing! The one we cooked today was a small 1.5-pound cut that was perfect for the three of us.
🍽️ Instructions
Allow the tri tip to come to room temperature. The rub will also absorb better if you do this step.
Step One: Heat the Air Fryer for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees so it is piping hot.
Step Two: Create a rub for the tri tip. This one combines garlic powder and Trader Joe’s BBQ Rub. Pat the tri tip dry and then cover the entire roast with the dry rub.
Step Three: Place it in the Air Fryer for 5 – 7 minutes. Turn it over and set the time for another 5-7 minutes. Check the temperature so you don’t overcook it.
Do you see the juice in the finished photo? That is accomplished by allowing the it to rest for 10 minutes after you remove it. Don’t skip this step. Allowing it to rest is essential!
⏲️ Cooking Time
At 400 degrees, it should take 5-7 minutes per side to get a nice medium temperatures. For different temps, refer to these:
- Medium Rare 130-135 degrees
- Medium 140 degrees
- Medium Well 155 degrees
- Well Done 165 degrees
The best options when cooking beef is to start with the shortest time and work up testing the temperature of the meat. I always suggest testing, as everyone’s Air Fryer is slightly different and not everyone likes a medium rare piece of meat.
🍴Expert Tips
- Use another larger cut of beef to replace the tri tip. You will need to adjust the cooking time a bit.
- Allow your beef to rest, as this will help prevent it from drying out.
- Change out the seasonings in the rub to change the flavor.
- Always watch your food, as every air fryer will heat just slightly different.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to cook your meat to your preference.
👩🍳 Recipe FAQs
Tri Tip is a sirloin cut of beef. It gets its name from its triangle shape. It is low in fat and very flavorful.
Sirloin butt and Santa Maria cuts are other names you might encounter. If you can’t find it, just ask the butcher at the store or meat shop.
Place some bread on the bottom of your air fryer. As the meat cooks and the fat drips, it will land on the bread. This prevents your air fryer from becoming smoky.
Why Should I Buy An Air Fryer
Air Fryers are not going away, so if you don’t have one, go get one now. These handy, dandy kitchen appliances are all the rage for very good reasons!
- The air circulation makes sure that there are no major hot spots and everything cooks evenly.
- It is simply hands-off cooking, my favorite!
- It is lightning fast.
- Cleanup is a breeze.
- It’s super fun.
These are meant for busy people who want delicious homemade meals in a jiffy. We are so in love with our Air Fryer that it is now one of our favorite things to talk about when we get together with friends.
We don’t work for any Air Fryer company, but we just love them that much. I wish they were around when my son was younger and I was running around like a crazy lady trying to get it all done.
This would have been a life preserver!
🍽️ Related Recipes
Don’t miss out on the other Air Fryer recipes we have created. They are becoming a hot passion of ours and we can’t wait for you to try them all!
Air Fryer Tri Tip Roast
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb Tri Tip
- 2 tbsp Trader Joe's Coffee BBQ Rub you can make your own java rub as well
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- Olive Oil Spray
Instructions
- Combine the Trader Joe's Rub with the garlic powder and stir together.
- Heat the Air Fryer to 400 degrees.
- Spray the tri tip with olive oil spray and coat it with dry rub, making sure to cover both sides.
- Add the meat to the air fryer tray. Note that I added a couple pieces of bread to the drip pan to catch any drippings. I find that it stops and unwanted smoking and makes cleanup a lot easier.
- Cook the tri tip for 5-7 minutes on each side. Each air fryer is different, so check it early and often to avoid overcooking.
- Remove the tri tip when you reach the desired temperature and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Medium Rare 130-135 degrees
- Medium 140 degrees
- Medium Well 155 degrees
- Well Done 165 degrees
Nutrition
Love tri tip. (did 4 for our family 4th celebration)
Your heat and times are right on.
Thank you for this simple method to have perfectly cooked tri tip. :O)
Thank you so much! We love the tri tip as well!!
cleaning is not a breeze
Margaret, how was the tri tip? Can you share what caused a 1 star review? Any thoughts besides you not enjoying the clean up? I’d love to help so let me know. Cheers! Ginny