Juicy Tri Tip Bites with Garlic Butter

Smoked Tri-Tip Bites

Tri-tip is one of those cuts that works beautifully as a main dish, but it also makes an outstanding appetizer when sliced thin and served in small portions. These smoked tri-tip bites are designed to be easy to pick up, simple to serve, and packed with bold barbecue flavor.

This recipe brings together several classic pairings: smoky beef, creamy horseradish, sweet onions, and warm bread. The tri-tip is seasoned generously and cooked on a Traeger until tender and juicy. After resting, it is sliced against the grain and layered onto mini pita bread with a spoonful of homemade horseradish cream sauce and a topping of buttery caramelized onions.

The result is a balanced appetizer with smoky, tangy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors in every bite. These Tri-Tip Bites are great for entertaining because the components can be prepared ahead of time and assembled shortly before serving. They also work well for tailgating, backyard cookouts, holiday appetizer trays, or any meal where you want a beef appetizer that feels special without being complicated.

Why You’ll Love This Dish

• Big smoky flavor: The tri-tip is cooked on a Traeger grill, giving the beef a rich smoked flavor that stands out in every bite.
• Creamy horseradish sauce: The sauce adds a tangy, slightly sharp contrast that pairs perfectly with beef.
• Sweet caramelized onions: Slowly cooked onions bring sweetness, depth, and a soft texture to the appetizer.
• Great for entertaining: These are easy to serve, easy to eat, and ideal for parties or barbecue spreads.
• Flexible and customizable: Use mini pita bread, baguette slices, crackers, or your favorite small bread base.

Recipe Shopping List

Before you start cooking, gather the ingredients for the smoked tri-tip, horseradish cream sauce, and caramelized onions. Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

• Tri-tip
• OWYD Smokey SPG
• Mini pita bread bites
• Sour cream
• Roasted garlic or garlic powder
• Freshly grated horseradish
• Dijon mustard
• Champagne vinegar
• Pepper
• Sweet onion, such as Walla Walla or Vidalia
• Salted butter
• Brown sugar

How To Make This Recipe

Here is a simple overview of how to make these smoked tri-tip appetizer bites. For best results, follow the full recipe card instructions and use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature of the tri-tip.

1. Prepare the tri-tip:
   • Preheat the Traeger grill to 250°F.
   • Season the tri-tip generously with OWYD Smokey SPG and place it on the grill.
   • Cook for 30 minutes, flip, and cook for another 30 minutes.
   • Increase the grill temperature to 350°F and continue cooking for 20-30 minutes. Pull the meat at 125°F for medium-rare or 135°F for medium.
   • Let the tri-tip rest for 10 minutes, then slice it thinly against the grain.
2. Make the horseradish cream sauce:
   • Whisk together the sour cream, roasted garlic, freshly grated horseradish, Dijon mustard, champagne vinegar, and pepper.
   • Keep the sauce refrigerated until you are ready to assemble the bites.
3. Caramelize the onions:
   • Warm a pan over medium to medium-low heat and melt the butter.
   • Slice the onion into long strips and cook until translucent.
   • Add the brown sugar and continue cooking until the onions are soft, golden, and caramelized.
4. Build the bites:
   • Arrange the mini pita bread bites on an oven-safe baking dish.
   • Warm them on the Traeger for 3-5 minutes, just until lightly toasted.
   • Top each pita with horseradish cream sauce, sliced tri-tip, and caramelized onions.
5. Serve:
   • Serve warm for the best texture and flavor.

Recipe FAQ

How To Perfectly Cook Tri Tip

Serve This With

• Smashed Potatoes
• Roasted Asparagus
• Greek Salad

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