Living in Southern California means I get to eat Tri-Tip regularly. Santa Maria Seasoned Tri-Tip is one of the most popular in this area.
The Santa Maria Valley where this seasoning originated is less than a 2 hour drive from where I live.
While the ingredients typically include garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and other herbs, the exact blend can vary.
In my opinion, the combination of ingredients listed on the recipe card is a perfect blend for a Tri-Tip roast.
How to Apply Dry Rub
Before you apply your dry rub to your meat, pat your meat down with a paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Next, you need a binder to help the dry rub stick to the meat. You can use olive oil or even yellow mustard. I prefer to use Yellow Mustard when cooking Tri-Tip.
Once the binder has been applied, liberally apply the dry rub all over the meat. Make sure you take the proper precautions not to cross-contaminate! I suggest you use one hand to apply the dry rub and the other to rub the dry rub into the meat.
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Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Santa Maria Tri-Tip Seasoning recipe. For ingredient amounts please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Kosher Salt – regular salt is fine too
- Ground Black Pepper – use freshly ground pepper if possible
- Garlic Powder – adds a savory, mellow, and concentrated garlic flavor
- Onion Powder – adds a sweet, savory, and concentrated onion flavor
- Smoked Paprika – regular paprika is fine as well
- Dried Oregano – brings a bold, earthy, and slightly peppery flavor
- Ground Thyme – adds warm, earthy, and slightly minty notes
- Cayenne Pepper – to taste
How to Make Santa Maria Tri-Tip Seasoning
- In a small bowl, combine the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
- Pat the tri-tip roast with paper towels. Optionally apply a binder to the meat.
- Rub the seasoning generously over the entire surface of the meat. Make sure to coat it evenly on all sides.
- Allow the tri-tip to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking.
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Printable Recipe Card
Santa Maria Tri-Tip Seasoning
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IngredientsÂ
- 1 ½ Tbsp Kosher Salt
- 1 Tbsp Ground Black Pepper, freshly ground
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbsp Onion Powder
- 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 Tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 Tsp Ground Thyme
- 1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper, adjust to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
- Pat the tri-tip roast with paper towels. Optionally apply a binder to the meat.
- Rub the seasoning generously over the entire surface of the meat. Make sure to coat it evenly on all sides.
- Allow the tri-tip to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking.
Equipment Needed
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Very close to the real thing