These Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Sandwiches are made with fall-apart tender tri-tip on toasty bread and topped with cheese and sweet, tangy BBQ sauce.
Tri-tip is a great cut of meat, and when you make it in the slow cooker, it comes out fabulously tender and perfect for making into sandwiches.
It’s also incredibly simple to make. In the morning, you just rub your tri-tip with seasoning salt and then let the tri-tip hang out in your crockpot on low for 8 hours.
At the end of the day, your house will smell amazing, and you just shred the meat and pile it onto sandwiches topped with BBQ sauce and cheese. With almost no effort, you get to enjoy homemade BBQ without ever having to step foot outside. And that’s living the BBQ dream if you ask me. 😉
Ingredient Notes
- Tri-tip: Unlike my Oven-baked Tri-tip, I recommend using a trimmed tri-tip roast in this recipe but if untrimmed is all that’s available, that will work too. Just roughly (it doesn’t need to be beautiful) trim away and discard the fat cap (the thick layer of fat over one side of the meat) before cooking. While fat is usually delicious, in the crockpot it does nothing but make a blobby mess.
- French rolls: A good-sized soft French roll is my favorite for tri-tip sandwiches, but any soft white bread will do. Hot dog or hamburger buns are great as is sliced French bread or even plain, sliced sandwich bread.
- Seasoning salt: If you don’t have seasoning salt, not a problem. Mix together 2 teaspoons each of salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and use it in place of the seasoning salt.
A Note on Tri-tip: Tri-tip is most popular in California and along the west coast. If you are outside of California and having trouble finding tri-tip in the store, you might find it under other names like “The California Cut” or “Bottom Sirloin Tip.”
How to Make Tri-tip Sandwiches
- Sprinkle seasoning salt over the entire tri-tip. Place tri-tip and water or broth in the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 6 to 8.
- Assemble sandwiches with mayonnaise, cheese, and cooked tri-tip.
- Bake until bread is toasted and cheese bubbly.
- Add BBQ sauce and enjoy!
FAQ
Can I freeze tri-tip sandwiches?
You don’t want to freeze assembled bbq sandwiches (they will get soggy), but the cooked tri-tip is a great candidate for freezing. Just store portions of cooked meat in freezer-safe plastic bags with some of the juices and freeze for up to 3 months.
How many sandwiches will this make?
A standard 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 pound tri-tip is enough meat to make about 5 to 8 sandwiches. If you’re a small household, and that’s too many for you, freeze the extra tri-tip. You can also use it in salads, burritos, or burrito bowls.
Can I sear the tri-tip before cooking it in the slow cooker?
Absolutely. If you’d like to brown your meat before slow cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and brown both sides before transferring to the slow cooker.
This step is optional as it does deepen and improve the beefy flavor, but isn’t super noticeable when being eaten in a sandwich and requires you to wash another dish.
What to serve with tri-tip sandwiches?
- Microwave Corn on the Cob
- Butter and Garlic Green Beans
- Small Macaroni Salad
- Smashed Red Potatoes with Garlic Aioli
- Baked Potato Salad
More Slow Cooker Favorites
Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Sandwiches
Ingredients
Special Equipment
Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Sandwiches
- Seasoning salt *
- 1 trimmed tri-tip *
- 1 cup water, beef, or chicken broth
- 5 french rolls sliced open
- 5 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 1/4 cup (5 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce warmed in the microwave if desired
Instructions
- Sprinkle seasoning salt over the entire tri-tip. Place tri-tip and water or broth in the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low 6 to 8. The meat is done when you can easily pull it apart with a fork. Use two forks to shred the meat in the slow cooker.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spread mayonnaise over the inside of the rolls and top with the shredded tri-tip and shredded cheese. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes until bread is toasted and cheese bubbly.
- Add BBQ sauce and enjoy!
Notes
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using them. There is absolutely no additional cost to you.
Melinda says
This was soo good! My 10 year old who is a picky eater loved it as well. I added a cup of broth to the crockpot. It came out perfect.
Tracy says
So happy to hear it, Melinda!!
Monique Flores says
Oh darn! I wish I continued reading… My husband made me nervous when he saw the Tri- tip in the crockpot with just the seasoning and no liquid. So I added 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of beef broth…. next time I will do it right..
Annie says
Thank you for the “easy” recipe…usually sear and then grill, but was wanting easier way for sandwiches. We don’t like cooking when it’s hot outside either (Tucson), so the crockpot is perfect and I put it outside on the patio for the day, while it cooks…The neighbor quietly called over the wall 3 times he’d be over for dinner at 6 because whatever I’m “cooking” smells delicious. I see the recipe was modified to add liquid, but agree with you…not necessary.
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed it, Annie!!
Rich says
Thank you so much Tracy for this simple recipe! My brother left a preseasoned tri tip from Costco in the fridge (raw not cooked) and didn’t know what to do with it. It’s way too cold outside to grill. So I busted out the crockpot for some tri tip sliders tonight. (Not only is it cold, I’m too lazy to cook today. Post Super Bowl Blues) I followed your directions, altering it a little bit. I added a little Santa Maria rub to the already preseasoned BBQ rub Costco uses on their meats. I used an onion (Cut half-moon) chopped garlic, chopped jalapeño, rubbed in olive oil, S&P and placed on the bottom of the CP. Made 3 big slits on the meat but keeping intact and nestled in the veggies. With the beef broth I added a little soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and poured over the meat. Cooked on high for 4 hours. I took a an unused package of Hawaiian Sweet rolls, and cut across the middle keeping the rolls intact. I spread some mayo on the bread, topped with cheddar cheese and baked till the cheese melted. Pulled the rolls out of the oven and topped with the tri tip and warm BBQ sauce. The flavor is unreal… Too easy! As the Chef du Jour, I feel like I cheated the system.
Tracy says
I’m so glad this recipe was useful to you, and I LOVE the idea of adding some jalapeño in there. A little spice makes everything better!
D Lynn says
I am trying this tommorow in my crock pot. I am going to sear it 1st bc I want it sliced not shredded for sandwiches.
Hope it works! My tri tip was trimmed so I can’t use your oven method which I read first.
Tracy says
Hope you enjoyed it!
Maureen says
I can’t wait to try this sounds delish, will let you know how it comes out as we are having for dinner tonight..i love BBC of any kind..
Tracy says
Hope you enjoy it, Maureen!!
Maureen says
Turned out fantastic will have this again real soon with left over tri-tip im going to make taquitos..
Tracy says
Yay! So happy to hear. Love the idea of making it into taquitos. I think I need to try that too! 😉
john johnston says
Thanks Tracy for the tri-tip sandwich recipe. I didn’t know you could put the meat in slow cooker with out water or broth. However, you answered that question in previous replies. Going to try out the recipe today. Looks delicious!
Tracy says
Hi, John. This is the way my mom has cooked tri-tip since I was a kid, so I’ve never even thought twice about it. 🙂 But if you’re worried about it, you can always add a little broth or water to the slow cooker. Hope you enjoy the sandwiches!
Melissa says
Hi can you tell me what brand and type of ctock pot you use? I am looking to buy one so I can make dinner when I’m busy. Thank you.
Tracy says
Hi, Melissa, my current one is ancient, and I’m actually in the market for one right now too, so I don’t have one that I can recommend from experience. Sorry!
Loving the crockpot says
There are some that you can sear the meat right in the crockpot. It did that tonight and will wake up to a pot of beef ready for an afternoon lunch for my mom’s birthday. I used a Montreal seasoning. Often I would finely chop up an onion and add it to the pot. It gets mixed into the meat. Yum. Back to the crockpot—it is really about size. I have a larger one and it works well for my family. Love crockpot-I get. I make a mean lasagna as well as an enchiladas dish & they come out perfectly yummy.
Justin Kelley says
Do you use broth or anything in the crock pot, or should the fat from the meat be enough?
Tracy says
You can just put the meat in on its own. It will release quite a bit of liquid as it cooks.
Jeff says
Traci, I know people who would typically sear the tri tip before putting in the slow cooker
Tracy says
Hey, Jeff, you can sear it first, but since the meat is getting shredded and put into sandwiches, I usually skip that step and the extra dirty pan.
Shannon says
I am a complete idiot in the kitchen and this is probably a stupid question but do you put the meat in the crock pot dry without anything else but seasoning? Do u have a youtube video?
Tracy says
Not a stupid question! You can just pop the seasoned meat into the slow cooker. It will release a ton of liquid as it cooks and be nice and juicy by the time it’s done. I don’t have a video for this recipe yet, but it’s on the list!
Casey says
Thanks so much for asking this. i had the same question 🙂
Esther says
Same!!! I read somewhere that there has to be liquid and freaked out a little.
Tracy says
Hi, Esther, if you’re worried about it, you can add some beef broth, but we’ve always just popped it into the slow cooker in my family. 🙂
Albert Bevia says
This tri-tip slow cooker meat looks incredible and so tender, such a great idea to use the slow cooker during the hot summer months. A+ for presentation.
Tracy says
Thanks, Albert!
Felesha says
Oh my!! I need a bite of this right now!! Beautiful pics!
Tracy says
Thanks, Felesha!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
I think I am in steak heaven. This looks awesome. Love my slow cooker it makes meat so tender
Tracy says
Hehe, thanks, Bintu!
Lucy @ Supergoldenbakes says
I love the simplicity (and the short prep time) of this recipe. As you say, it’s way better than turning on the oven in summer.
Tracy says
Thanks, Lucy!
Brandi says
This looks delicious! I’m totally with you….I hate using my oven during the summer. We have already had so many 100 degree days here!
Tracy says
Thanks, Brandi! And yes! It’s way too hot already!