Tri-tip is a tender, flavorful cut of beef that comes from the lower part of the sirloin. It’s known for its rich taste and is often grilled or roasted.
After experimenting with loads of different combinations, I’ve come up with 20 delicious sides that pair perfectly with tri-tip.
The best side dishes to serve with tri-tip are mashed cauliflower, spicy green beans, and garlic potato fries. You can also serve a side of blue cheese salad, baked pinto beans, shrimp skewers, or creamed corn. Or you can use the tri-tip to make a pasta salad or serve it on a flatbread.
Mashed cauliflower
Let’s start our list strong with some mashed cauliflower.
It’s soft, fluffy, and much lower in carbs than your classic mashed potatoes (but will still absorb all the juices from your tri-tip).
There are loads of different ways to flavor the mash too – you can go herby using thyme and rosemary or mix in brown butter for a uniquely nutty flavor.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a fun twist on a classic.
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Mashed cauliflower
Make it a classic
Garlic mashed potatoes
Make it different
Mashed sweet potatoes
Steak pasta salad
Got some leftover tri tip?
Turn it into a salad with your favorite pasta shapes, some greens, and a creamy dressing.
Voila! You’ll have a fresh tangy salad that’s perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a hearty all-in-one bowl meal.
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Steak pasta salad
Make it leafy
Arugula steak salad
Make it simple
Cucumber Caprese salad
Spicy green beans
Heat things up with a side of spicy green beans.
The sweet and spicy glaze livens up a traditional side that can be slightly boring
Psst… add extra crushed red pepper flakes for a more fiery taste. And if you don’t like spice, try some balsamic green beans instead.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a delicious side you can make in less than 15 minutes.
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Spicy sriracha green beans
Make it colorful
Oven roasted bell peppers
Make it earthy
Sauteed mushrooms
Grilled shrimp skewers
Serve a variation on surf and turf with tri-tip and shrimp.
It’s great for a grilling party, or if you just want to impress your guests.
And the best part? The shrimp only takes ten minutes to make – it’s that easy!
Why we love this recipe: it’s delightful with a glass of your favorite wine.
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Grilled shrimp skewers
Skip the grill
Garlic butter sauteed shrimp
Make it easy
Grilled vegetables
Potato fries
You can’t go wrong with a classic side of potato fries.
And the secret to extra crispy fries – you need to fry them twice.
Then simply toss the fries in fresh garlic, dill, and fine sea salt to flavor them – yum!
Sometimes I make things more interesting by adding a sprinkle of wasabi powder for a nice kick.
Why we love this recipe: you can never go wrong with fries.
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Homemade French fries
Make it different
Air fryer sweet potato fries
Make it healthier
Parmesan zucchini fries
Creamed corn
Turn your tri-tip meal into a comforting dinner with a side of creamed corn.
Each smokey kernel is coated in a creamy butter mix which is just irresistible.
And the cheesy crusty topping adds some much-needed texture.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a fool-proof holiday dish.
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Creamed corn
Swap the veggie
Creamed spinach
Make it simple
Corn on the cob
Caprese roasted asparagus
Roasted asparagus would be fine, but we don’t like to do things by halves here.
So let me introduce you to caprese roasted asparagus.
It’s got sweet juicy tomatoes, melty mozzarella, and fresh basil.
And the tangy balsamic glaze gives you a refreshing break from the savory bites of steak too.
Why we love this recipe: it will transport you straight to Italy.
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Caprese roasted asparagus
Make it simple
Steamed broccoli
Make a salad
Asparagus salad
Jalapeno cornbread
Thinking of making a BBQ tri tip over the weekend?
Good idea! Don’t forget to make some cornbread to pair with it.
It will do a fine job of sopping up all the meaty juice from your plate.
Psst… complete the meal with some saucy baked beans.
Why we love this recipe: it’s great for serving a crowd.
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Jalapeno cornbread
Make it sweet
Sweet cornbread muffins
Make it different
Cheddar garlic cornbread biscuits
Warm brussel sprout and blue cheese salad
Tired of leafy green salads?
Use brussel sprouts as your base instead.
Then add in some bacon and blue cheese salad for a touch of sophistication.
Don’t skip the walnuts either!
Why we love this recipe: it will convert the sprout haters.
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Blue cheese and green bean salad
Make it fruity
Pear and blue cheese salad
Go traditional
Classic blue cheese wedge salad
Grilled garlic flatbread
Use this flatbread to make an open sandwich with your steak.
Top the garlic-flavored bread with steak, gorgonzola, fresh tomatoes, and arugula (or whatever you want – that’s just my suggestion).
And yes, you could buy your own flatbread, but making your own will make your house smell so amazing.
Why we love this recipe: it’s made with basic pantry staples.
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Grilled garlic flatbread
Make it simple
Crusty French bread
Make it unique
Garlic naan grilled cheese
Baked pinto beans
Baked pinto beans are a warm homey side that’s perfect for a cold winter’s day.
They’ll take a while to make, but it’s not too labor-intensive. Most of the time the beans are cooking away in the oven.
And the secret ingredient, Dr pepper, means the sauce is finger-lickingly good.
Why we love this recipe: the leftovers will still taste amazing the next day.
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Baked pinto beans
Make it Italian
Cheesy white bean bake
Make it Mexican
Mexican beans with chorizo
Pico de gallo
Brighten up your tri tip steak with some authentic pico de gallo.
It’s full of refreshing flavors and will look great spooned over your steak.
Pro tip: the key to getting a super flavorful salsa is to give it time to rest before serving.
Why we love this recipe: you can easily change the flavor profile by dicing in some fruit or extra jalapenos.
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Authentic pico de gallo
Make it warm
Roasted cherry tomato salsa
Make it different
Pineapple salsa
Spinach salad
Not into brussel sprouts? Try this light leafy salad instead.
It’s full of classic fall flavors which are all bought together with in a tasty maple cider vinaigrette.
It could not be any more perfect for the holidays.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a versatile side.
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Apple pecan feta spinach salad
Skip the spinach
Kale salad
Make it simple
Easy wilted spinach
Cucumber and dill salad
For a refreshing contrast to the rich, smoky flavors of tri-tip, try a cucumber and dill salad. This dish combines the coolness of cucumbers with the subtle tang of dill, and it’s dressed lightly in a vinaigrette that cleanses the palate.
It’s also ridiculously easy to make, so great if you don’t like spending hours in the kitchen (who does?!).
Why we love this recipe: it offers a crisp contrast to the meaty texture of of tri-tip.
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Classic cucumber and dill salad
Make it creamy
Creamy cucumber salad
Make it summery
Cucumber and watermelon salad
Honey-glazed carrots
Honey-glazed carrots, with their gentle sweetness and hint of butter, will bring a touch of elegance and color to your tri-tip meal. The honey enhances the natural flavors of the carrots, and the pomegranate seeds in this recipe add a nice sharpness, and they look really pretty!
Psst… I often skip the pomegranate seeds because who always had a pomegranate on hand, and the carrots are still delicious.
Why we love this recipe: it transforms a humble and often overlook vegetable.
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Honey-glazed carrots
Make it savory
Roasted carrots with thyme
Add some spice
Spicy glazed zuchinni
Quinoa and black bean salad
Pair your tri-tip with a quinoa and black bean salad for a hearty, nutritious complement. This salad combines protein-packed quinoa and black beans with a burst of fresh flavors from lime and cilantro.
It’s great for making ahead of time because the flavors marry together when it’s left for a few hours and the quinoa doesn’t get soggy. I’ve also made this with couscous and it was yummy.
Why we love this recipe: it’s super healthy.
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Quinoa and black bean salad
Make it tropical
Mango quinoa salad
Add more greens
Quinoa and wilted spinach
Smoked paprika roasted sweet potatoes
Smoked paprika roasted sweet potatoes will add a smoky depth to your meal that echoes the charred, grilled flavors of tri-tip. The natural sweetness of the potatoes contrasts beautifully with the savory paprika, and you can go for sweet, smokey, or spicy paprika.
Pro tip: make sure the potatoes are well spread out in the pan so they can crisp up (but don’t get your hopes up, sweet potaotes never get as crispy as regular potatoes).
Why we love this recipe: it’s an easy way to jazz up sweet potatoes.
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Smoked paprika roasted sweet potatoes
Go hearty
Sweet potato casserole
Go for fries
Sweet potatoes fries
Charred corn and avocado salad
Charred corn and avocado salad brings a burst of summer and color to your plate, making it an ideal side for tri-tip.
The smoky sweetness of the charred corn pairs wonderfully with the buttery avocado and then you’ve got tomatoes for sweetness. I always chop the ingredients up pretty small, so I can have a bit of everything in every bite.
Why we love this recipe: its fresh and fun.
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Charred corn and avocado salad
Try Mexican
Esquites salad
Make a classic
Guacamole
Sautéed mushrooms with thyme
Sautéed mushrooms with thyme are a classic pairing for beef, making them an excellent choice for tri-tip. The earthy flavors of the mushrooms and the aromatic thyme build on the meat’s natural umaminess and you can spoon them over the meat like a sauce.
For even more flavor, use a mix of mushrooms including shiitake mushrooms and oyster mushrooms.
Why we love this recipe: you can have the leftovers with eggs for breakfast.
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Sautéed mushrooms with thyme
Make it creamy
Creamy garlic mushrooms
Go for a sauce
Mushroom and pepper sauce
Butternut squash with walnuts
Butternut squash with walnuts is a warm, comforting side that is perfect for the holiday season. The walnuts add some much needed texture, and they’re super healthy too – full of omega 3.
There’s also hints of orange, cinnamon, maple syrup, and ginger, which helps cut through all the sweetness.
Why we love this recipe: it’s cozy and wintery.
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Roasted butternut squash with walnuts
Make it easy
Butternut squash mash
Add some cheese
Butternut squash with blue cheese
What sauce goes with tri tip?
The best sauce to serve with tri tip is a bright and herby chimichurri sauce or a classic red wine reduction . For something creamy, try gorgonzola sauce or a mushroom sauce. For an Asian spin, try teriyaki sauce.
What To Serve With Tri-Tip [20 Ideas]
Ingredients
- 1 portion tri-tip
Instructions
- Prepare your tri-tip according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: mashed cauliflower, steak pasta salad, spicy green beans, grilled shrimp skewers, potato fries, creamed corn, caprese roasted asparagus, jalapeno cornbread, warm brussel sprout and blue cheese salad, grilled garlic flatbread, baked pinto beans, and pico de gallo.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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