4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Roast (So easy!)

Name: 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Roast
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 495 min
Ingredients: 3 lb tri-tip roast (trimmed); 2 tbsp steak seasoning; 2 tbsp oil; 2 cups beef broth (or beef bouillon dissolved in 2 cups of hot water); 3 tbsp heavy cream

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This Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Roast is made with just 4 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep! It’s fall-apart tender, perfectly seasoned, and bathed in a succulent, creamy gravy. Serve with mashed potatoes for the easiest meat and potatoes dinner!

Slow cooked tri-tip roast on white platter with mashed potatoes and gravy.

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What is tri-tip?
Why this recipe is great
Ingredients for slow cooker tri-tip roast
Helpful kitchen tools
How to make slow cooker tri-tip roast
For a crowd
FAQs
Tips and tricks
More slow cooker recipes
Recipe
Comments

What is tri-tip?

A tri-tip roast, also called a Santa Maria steak, is a triangular cut of meat that comes from the lower portion of the sirloin, or the bottom of the beef sirloin. In contrast, a sirloin tip comes from the top of the sirloin. This flavorful cut of beef is large, nicely marbled with fat, and can be ultra-tender and juicy if cooked correctly.

Tri-tip can be grilled, braised, roasted, or smoked. You can also cook tri-tip in the Crock Pot! This is the easiest way to get tender, pot roast style meat. In fact, this recipe is very similar to our Slow Cooker Pot Roast recipe.

Why this recipe is great

So tender it falls apart!
Super flavorful with only 4 ingredients
Gravy is made right in the slow cooker
Easy slow cooker recipe - just season sear, pour and go!
Great with lots of side dishes

Such a simple, easy & delicious dinner.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Brittney

Ingredients for slow cooker tri-tip roast

Beef roast, cream, seasoning, oil, and broth on a white cutting board.

You only need four ingredients to make this tri-tip crock pot recipe.

Tri-tip roast: If your roast has a fat-cap on one side, trim it off before seasoning.
Montreal steak seasoning: We love McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning (affiliate). You can substitute this with another brand, just be sure that it includes salt, pepper, onion, and garlic.
Beef broth or beef stock: You can also use beef bouillon and hot water.
Heavy cream: This extra ingredient makes the gravy rich and creamy.

Helpful kitchen tools

How to make slow cooker tri-tip roast

Season: Sprinkle both sides with seasoning.
Sear: In a large skillet or dutch oven, heat canola or olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear both sides of the roast in the hot oil for 4-5 minutes. We use a cast iron skillet (affiliate).
Add to slow cooker: Place roast in a 6 quart Crock Pot (affiliate) and pour in the beef broth. Cook for 6-8 hours on low, or until it’s very tender and shreds easily.

Seasoned beef roast (picture 1), roast seared in pan (picture 2), and roast in Crock Pot with broth (picture 3).

While the beef roast is cooking, go about your day. Do a load of laundry, go to work, finish a project, or take a nap. Dinner is taken care of 😉

Shred meat: Once the meat is tender, use two forks to shred it right in the slow cooker.
Finish the gravy: Add the cream, then cook it for another 30 minutes on high with the lid partially off. Gravy done!

Forks shredding tri-tip (picture 1) and pouring cream into slow cooker (picture 2).

For a crowd

This recipe serves 6 people. If you are serving a larger group, I suggest making two roasts in separate Crock Pots. One 3 lb tri-tip will cook well in a 6 quart slow cooker.

Overhead Crock Pot with slow cooked tri-tip pot roast.

FAQs

Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the Crock Pot?

For best results, definitely brown it first. Searing the roast gives it a beautiful crust on the outside and adds a lot of flavor. You won’t regret taking the extra few minutes to sear it!

Does tri-tip get more tender the longer you cook it in the slow cooker?

Yes! You want to cook it until it very easily shreds when prodded with a fork. If it is still a bit tough at the 6 hour mark, cook it for another hour or two.

What to serve with slow cooker tri-tip roast?

Slow cooked tri-tip roast is excellent with creamy mashed potatoes or crispy smashed potatoes. You can also serve it with roasted veggies, like this Oven-Roasted Broccoli or this amazing Pan Fried Corn. For more ideas, check out this whole list of the best Roast Beef Sides.

How do I store leftovers?

Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. The next day you can enjoy a hearty dinner all over again.

Close up of tender slow cooker tri-tip roast drizzled with gravy and fresh parsley.

Tips and tricks

Get extra flavor by pouring the broth in the skillet, scraping up the brown bits, then adding it to the slow cooker.
Cook the meat until ultra-tender. It should easily fall apart when prodded with a fork. If it is still a bit tough, keep cooking it.
If you want a thicker gravy, dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch into the cream before adding it to the slow cooker.

More slow cooker recipes

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