Santa Maria Seasoning (Tri Tip Rub)

Santa Maria Seasoning

Traditional Santa Maria Tri Tip is smoked over red oak wood, which imparts a unique flavor—so you don’t need a lot of different herbs. Just garlic, salt, black pepper, and dried parsley. The smoke from the wood and grill does the work and provides the rest of the deep flavor.

To really bring out the natural flavor of beef, nothing beats the right seasoning; this tri tip dry rub is iconic for good reason – it enhances the flavor but doesn’t over-shine it.

Tri Tip Rub

This santa maria rub for tri tip is a copycat version of the most popular brand in Central California – Susie Q’s. It’s perfect for Oven Baked Tri Tip, Smoked Tri Tip, Sous Vide Tri Tip and even Grilled Tri Tip.

Tip – This Santa Maria seasoning recipe is versatile and will enhance the flavors of your favorite beef dishes, not just tri tip.

Tri Tip Marinade

Prefer a marinade over a dry rub?  This spice rub can easily turn into a tri tip marinade. Just add 1 batch of the tri tip seasoning to 1/4 cup of olive oil. That’s it!

This burgundy pepper marinade, aka Cardiff Crack, is another great marinade option.

Tips From Darcey’s Kitchen

• Adjust the amount of salt and pepper to your taste preferences.
• If you need a good binder, we highly recommend using our Dijon mustard recipe.
• Marinate your meat for at least an hour to ensure maximum flavor absorption.
• This is the perfect spice mix if you’re making tri tip sandwiches.
• Store the spice mix in an airtight container, for up to 6 months.

More Dry Rub Recipes

Here are a few more dry rub recipes to consider making at home instead of buying:

Related Resources

Santa Maria Seasoning (Tri Tip Rub)

Santa Maria seasoning is a savory spice blend rooted in California’s Central Coast, known for its perfect balance of garlic, pepper, salt, and herbs. This tri tip rub brings authentic Santa Maria-style flavor to grilled meats, vegetables, and more. It’s perfect for Oven Baked Tri Tip, Smoked Tri Tip, Sous Vide Tri Tip and even Grilled Tri Tip.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 tbsp

Calories: 12kcal

Author: Darcey Olson

Cost: $1.00

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Ingredients

• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• ½ tbsp black pepper
• ½ tbsp dried parsley

Nutrition

Calories: 12kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2329mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.3mg