Tri Tip Meal Prep: Cook Once, Eat Three Ways
Tri tip doesn’t just belong at backyard barbecues—it’s also perfect for meal prep. Cook it once, stretch it into multiple meals, and keep your week flavorful without feeling like you’re stuck on leftovers. Here’s how to take one tri tip and turn it into three fresh, delicious meals.
Step 1: The Base Cook
- Marinate your whole tri tip (California Backyard style).
- Grill/smoke/roast it until medium-rare (125–130°F).
- Rest, then slice HALF of it thin for Meals 1 & 2.
- Take the other HALF, slice into ½–¾” steaks and finish quick-searing on the Blackstone with garlic butter (Meal 3).
California Backyard Marinated Tri Tip
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 2 –3 lb tri tip roast
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar or balsamic
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- Optional: fresh rosemary chopped
Instructions
- Mix marinade ingredients in a bowl or zip bag. Add tri tip and marinate at least 4 hours (overnight is best).
- Preheat grill to medium heat (350–400°F).
- Remove tri tip from marinade, pat lightly dry, and grill over direct heat 5–6 minutes per side for a crust.
- Move to indirect heat and cook until internal temp reaches 125°F (medium-rare).
- Rest 10–15 minutes. Slice half of it thinly for Meals 1 & 2. Cut the other half into ½–¾ inch steaks for Meal 3.
🍽️ Meal 1: Santa Maria Sandwiches
- What to Prep: Toasted garlic bread, provolone cheese, thinly sliced tri tip, side of salsa or chimichurri.
- Meal Prep Hack: Store bread & cheese separate, reheat tri tip gently (pan with splash of broth), assemble fresh so it’s not soggy.
🌮 Meal 2: Tri Tip Street Tacos
- What to Prep: Warm tortillas, tri tip slices (chopped), salsa verde, onions, cilantro, lime.
- Meal Prep Hack: Portion meat in small containers, tortillas in foil. Heat tortillas on skillet or griddle, add meat, then top fresh.
🥗 Meal 3: Garlic Butter Steak Bowls
- What to Prep: Blackstone tri tip steaks, rice or grains, roasted veggies (broccoli, peppers, zucchini).
- Sauce: Drizzle with that garlic butter or a chimichurri for freshness.
- Meal Prep Hack: Store bowls pre-portioned; reheat meat/veggies together, add sauce last so it stays bright.
Bonus Ideas for Leftover Tri Tip
- Dice into a quick fried rice with eggs and veggies.
- Add to scrambled eggs for a hearty steak & egg breakfast wrap.
- Toss into a salad with avocado and vinaigrette for a light option.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never tried meal prepping with tri tip, this method is a game changer. You get the smoky, savory flavor of grilled tri tip in sandwiches, tacos, and steak bowls without spending hours cooking every night. Cook once, eat three ways, and enjoy meal prep that doesn’t taste like meal prep.
👉 Looking for more ideas? Try pairing tri tip with classic sides like grilled corn, baked beans, or even mac and cheese to round out your meal prep plan.
