Smoking meat on a Traeger grill is a great way to add depth and complexity to the flavour of your steak. One cut of beef that is particularly well-suited to smoking is the tri-tip steak. This cut (which originated in California) is known for its rich taste and tenderness when correctly cooked or smoked.
Traeger grills are a prized item, reliable, controllable and an investment for a lifetime. Use the Super Smoke setting for guaranteed extra smoky layers.

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Easy Traeger Recipe for Tri Tip Steak with Lemon & Chilli Compound Butter
Here is our easy and delicious recipe for smoking tri-tip steak on the Traeger grills.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 lbs tri-tip steak
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp coarse salt
- 2 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- Your choice of wood chips (beef has a bold enough flavour to not be overpowered by hickory or mesquite – if you want a milder flavour try maple, pecan, apple or cherry wood)
Traeger Smoked Tri Tip Steak Method
- Preheat your Traeger grill to 225F and set it to the Super Smoke setting. Add your wood chips of choice to the hopper.
- In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and dried oregano to make your BBQ dry rub.
- Brush your tri tip steak with olive oil all over to give your dry rub something to stick to (i.e.use it as a binder).
- Rub the dry rub all over the tri-tip steak, making sure to cover it evenly on all sides.
- Place the steak on the grill grates over indirect heat and close the lid.
- Smoke the steak for 1-2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the steak reaches 135F for medium-rare or 140F for medium.
- Remove the steak from the grill and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Lemon & Chilli Compound Butter for Tri Tip Steak
Ingredients
- 1 cup room temperature butter
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp of grated lemon zest
- 1 tbsp of chopped fresh basil
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, basil, garlic, chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Mix everything together until well combined.
- Lay a sheet of clingfilm on a flat surface and scoop the butter mixture onto it.
- Roll the butter mixture into a log shape using the clingfilm, twisting the ends to seal.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until the butter is firm.
- Once chilled, slice the butter log into circular rounds and serve on top of your tri tip steak.
What to Serve with Traeger Smoked Tri Tip
- Mashed Potato
- Sweet Potato Fries or Mash
- Garlic Fries
- A Fresh Green Salad
- Pommes Puree
- Dauphinoise Potatoes
- Buttery Tenderstem Broccoli
If you enjoyed this article you might also enjoy this post on Tri Tip Steak: