Instant Pot Tri Tip

Instant Pot Tri Tip: Found at the grocery store, Tri tip is an affordable cut of meat, and is wonderful made as a roast in this Instant Pot recipe.

Quick Overview: Pressure cook on high for 30 minutes and natural release. Optional gravy recipe included!

Why you’ll love this recipe

Similar to cooking a pot roast in the Instant Pot, this tri tip in the Instant Pot is not only easy but it is an affordable cut of meat that makes a wonderful roast! It helps you accomplish those dinner goals with minimal effort!

This Instant Pot tri-tip recipe also uses simple ingredients so it’s nice that you can usually keep the ingredients on hand for a quick Sunday dinner idea (or busy weeknight dinner) that the entire family will love!

Jump to:

• Why you’ll love this recipe
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• How long to pressure cook tri tip
• How to make gravy for tri tip
• Substitutions
• Equipment
• What to serve with tri tip
• Storage
• Top Tip
• More Tri Tip Recipes
• Instant Pot Tri Tip

Ingredients

Although we used potatoes and carrots in this recipe, you can leave those out if you prefer, and the roast will still cook the same way!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Tri-Tip Ingredients

• 2 to 2.5 pound tri tip roast (it’s a cut of beef that has a triangular shape)
• 1 Tablespoon paprika
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 Tablespoon onion powder
• 1 Tablespoon black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon dried rosemary
• 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper (this can make it pretty spicy for kiddos – either omit or cut in 1/2)
• 2 Tablespoon butter
• 4 cups of beef broth
• 1 pound baby potatoes
• 4-5 carrots, peeled and cut in to small sticks

Gravy, if desired:

• 5-6 tablespoons of flour
• 5-6 tablespoons of water
• meat drippings

See recipe card toward the bottom of this post for full instructions.

Instructions

1. This tri-tip that we used was about 2.5 pounds. But yours may be slightly different in size, yet the cooktime should remain the same, as long as it’s within 2 to 2.5 pounds.

2. Mix paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dried rosemary, kosher salt, brown sugar and crushed red pepper (if desired), together in small bowl.

3. Then, rub spice mixture on both sides of the meat, massaging it in to the meat.

4. Turning the saute function on, on your Instant Pot, add the butter and allow it to melt.
5. Once butter has melted, place tri tip in pot and sear each side of the tri tip for 5 minutes on each side.

6. Then remove the instant pot tri-tip roast from the Instant Pot and set aside.

7. Pour a small amount of beef broth in to instant pot and using a wooden spoon (or similar) scrape brown bits of cooked meat/spices off the bottom of the pot.
8. Next, place trivet (metal rack) inside of Instant Pot.

9. Place tri tip on metal rack and, if desired, pour any leftover spices on top of meat.

10. Pour in beef broth, pouring around the roast, so it doesn’t wash spices off.
11. Next, add in the potatoes and carrots.
12. Pressure cook on high for 30 minutes, and then allow to natural release.

How long to pressure cook tri tip

My Instant Pot is an 8 quart – and the natural release took about 35 minutes. This time may vary for different sizes.

You CAN use the quick release method, if you’re in a rush but I prefer to naturally release it because I believe it helps make a tender meat or tender roast.

How to make gravy for tri tip

If you would like to make a gravy for the tri tip, our favorite method is using the drippings that remain in the pot.

1. Remove veggies and roast from pot and leave drippings.

2. In small bowl, mix cold water and flour until smooth.
3. Add in a few spoonfuls of the meat drippings and mix together until smooth.

4. When smooth, pour in to pot of drippings and turn Instant Pot on to “saute” and let gravy cook and stir (with a whisk) until thickened.

Gravy Tip: Before serving, we found it best to pour gravy in to a mesh colander, to separate any fat, etc. for a “cleaner” gravy but it’s not necessary.

Substitutions

If you prefer to switch out some of the spices, feel free too! The wonderful thing about roast, is that it can be flexible with your favorite spices.

Although we use beef broth in this recipe, feel free to use vegetable broth or even chicken broth if that’s what you have on hand or prefer.

If you prefer to leave out the brown sugar, for less sugar… you absolutely can. The brown sugar just gives it a hint of sweet to go with the salty spice flavor.

Olive oil can be used instead of butter if you prefer.

Soon, you’ll have a delicious meal that may just become your new favorite easy recipe!

Equipment

I used an 8 quart Instant Pot but this can also be made in a 6 quart. The only difference is that it could take less time to come to pressure if using a smaller Instant Pot.

You may also use a different brand of electric pressure cooker or even a stovetop pressure cooker but do note that the times may vary for a pressure cooker tri tip.

What to serve with tri tip

This tri tip can pair perfectly with delicious breads, such as Italian baked bread, Focaccia bread, or even this jalapeno cheddar cornbread!

Storage

If you have leftover Instant Pot tri tip roast and/or gravy, allow to fully cool and then place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

To reheat, you can microwave leftovers or even place in the oven in an oven-safe baking dish.

Top Tip

If you find that your roast is tough, it could be the cut of meat. You can also try pressure cooking a little longer, around 15-30 minutes to see if it becomes more tender.

More Tri Tip Recipes

If you love tri tip steak, roast or this cut of meat, you will absolutely love this smoked tri tip recipe! (We found our tri tip at Costco and two came in a pack so we made one in the pressure cooker and smoked one, and then made tri tip tacos with leftoves!)