This instant pot tri tip is fork tender, full of flavor and super easy to make! Throw all your ingredients in the instant pot, set and wait for delicious shredded tri tip deliciousness!
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If you are just learning to cook with your instant, this instant pot tri tip recipe is the perfect easy instant pot recipe that will wow your friends and family. Full of delicious flavor and super easy!
For other amazing instant pot recipes, be sure to check out my Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup, Instant Pot Risotto and Instant Pot Rice!
This recipe was inspired by the famous Mississippi roast, originated by Robin Chapman who made a chuck pot roast in her slow cooker. I have adapted this recipe in a number of ways.
First, making a delicious roast in the instant pot is a game changer! Gone are the days of needed to spend hours in the slow cooker to get a tender shredded tri tip.
I also use tri tip instead of the original chuck or pot roast. Lastly, I have included a Mexican inspired variation as well as a traditional way to cook fork tender shredded trip tip in the instant pot.
You can use this basic recipe to make instant pot tri tip tacos, an instant pot tri tip sandwich and instant pot tri tip and gravy. Serve alongside some vegetables and you are good to go. Move over steak, you’ve got competition!
Why this recipe works
- This tri tip in the instant pot has so much flavor. Seriously, it is going to blow your mind. I love serving this shredded beef over my easy Whole30 Mashed Potatoes or rice. It is also great with a side of my easy Roasted Asparagus.
- This tri tip recipe is set and forget. Throw all your ingredients in the instant pot, set it for 60 minutes and wait for deliciousness to ensue!
- The ingredients to make this recipe are inexpensive and can be easily kept in your pantry. All you need to buy is your tri tip and boom, you have everything you need to make a delicious main dish dinner for your family or your next dinner party.
Ingredients
- Tri Tip Roast: You can buy a tri tip at your local grocery store. I use about 5 pounds but 4-6 pounds will work. Just be careful not to overfill your instant pot. 5 lbs might sounds like a lot of meat but it will shrink in size as you cook in the instant pot.
- Can Diced Tomatoes
- Can Diced Green Chilies
- Pepperoncini: Mezzetta Greek Pepperoncini’s are a good option. I like using the pre-sliced version but you can also use whole pepperoncini. Just cut off the stems ahead of time.
- Ranch Salad Dressing Seasoning Mix Packet: You can use a hidden valley ranch seasoning mix packet or the store brand version.
- Au Jus Gravy Mix Seasoning Packet: McCormick’s Au Jus Gravy Mix or store brand work well.
- Fajita Seasoning Packet
How to make instant pot trip tip
- Cut up tri tip into 2-3 inch cubs (does not need to be exact but smaller size helps cooking)
- In instant pot, add cut up tri tip roast, tomatoes, green chilies, pepperoncini, ranch salad dressing seasoning mix, au jus seasoning and fajita seasoning.
- Cook in instant pot on high pressure for 60 minutes. Note: For total cook time, it will take about 15-20 minutes for the instant pot to reach pressure.
- Quick release pressure when instant pot cooking is done.
Instant Pot Tri Tip Variations
Basic Tri Tip Recipe: If you would like to make a more traditional version, simply omit the ranch and fajita seasoning, the diced tomatoes and the green chilies. Use 1 cup water, 2 au jus packets, 3 whole cloves or garlic and one onion slice into thin strips or chopped.
You can also add olive oil and a dry rub or garlic powder to your tri tip if you want to add extra flavor. If you don’t have au jus packets, you can use beef broth or a combination of water and better than bullion.
Mississippi Roast Instant Pot Tri Tip: Omit fajita seasoning, diced tomatoes and green chilies. The classic Mississippi roast recipe uses chuck roast (pot roast) and also adds a stick of butter. While the butter adds another dimension of flavor, I don’t find that the extra butter is necessary as the fattiness of the meat is more than enough. You can’t go wrong either way.
Pressure Cooker Tri Tip: An instant pot is a multi functional kitchen gadget that has a pressure cooker functionality. If you have a standard pressure cooker, bring your pressure cooker to high pressure and cook for the same amount of time as this recipe indicates (60 minutes).
FAQ and expert tips
You can overcook in an instant pot but it depends on what you are cooking. Vegetables will easily overcook vs. cuts of meat, especially beef, tend to be more forgiving.
This recipe is generally keto. However, you will want to double check the carb count on the seasoning packets that you use because they can vary.
Instant pot quick release is when you push the instant pot knob to release the pressure right away. Natural release is when you let the pressure release slowly (don’t press the knob) after the cooking process is finished.
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Instant Pot Tri Tip (3 Ways!)
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 5 lbs tri tip roast
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 7 oz can diced green chilies
- 16 oz jar pepperoncini and juice (pre-sliced or whole pepperoncini, if whole, cut off stems)
- 1 packet ranch salad dressing seasoning mix
- 1 packet au jus seasoning
- 1 packet fajita seasoning
Instructions
- Cut up tri tip into 2-3 inch cubs (does not need to be exact but smaller size helps cooking)
- In instant pot, add cut up tri tip roast, tomatoes, green chilies, pepperoncini, ranch salad dressing seasoning mix, au jus seasoning and fajita seasoning.
- Cook in instant pot on high pressure for 60 minutes. Note: It will take about 15-20 minutes for the instant pot to reach pressure.
- Quick release pressure when instant pot cooking is done.
Michelle
Hi Aubrey,
Trying this for dinner tonight – however I have a 7 lb tri tip. How much longer will I need to cook or is 60 min okay? Thank you!
Aubrey
Hey Michelle! The same timeframe work for 7lbs. Let me know how it turns out! 😁
June
Fixed for dinner. I have fixed quite a few roasts in the Instant pot, but this recipe looks & sounds so much easier and I like the idea about the tomatoes & chili’s. Can’t wait for dinner tonite!
Deb G
Aubrey, planning to make this tonite, but realized my Tri Tip is 3#. How do I adjust timing on IP? Thank you!
Aubrey
Hey Deb! You will be fine using a 3 pound tri tip and keeping the ingredients the same. I usually recommend a bigger cut because she’s the meat shrinks quite a bit. You will have a good amount of juice. You can use any leftover juice to make soup. It’s also yummy on mashed potatoes or dip some crusty bread.
Hope that helps and let me know how it turns out! 😁
James
This instant pot tri tip rocks!
Andrea
Dude! This is instant pot tri tip is fantastic. The recipe is set and forget in the instant pot, only a few ingredients and is DELISH!!! Thank you!!!
Tandy
I have tried so many instant pot recipes and this instant pot tri tip is hands down my fav! The flavor is amazing. I have even used this recipe with other cuts of meat and they all then out delicious. Thank you!!!
Tess
This instant pot tri tip melts in your mouth. The flavor is incredible and it is so easy to make! Thank you!
Lauren
This was my first time making instant pot tri tip and this recipe was easy and delicious. Will definitely be making again. Thank you!
Jules
This instant pot tri tip is SO easy and packed with flavor. I did the basic recipe with ranch, au jus and pepperoncini and it was so good. I like tri tip because it is more lean than chuck. Cooking times were perfect.