If you’re wondering what to serve with your tri-tip, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 39 of the most popular side dishes for tri-tip.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
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.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
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
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.
The best sauces to serve with tri tip:
- Teriyaki sauce
- Chimichurri sauce
- Wine reduction sauce
- Sicilian herb sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Creamy mushroom sauce
- Tiger sauce
- Gorgonzola sauce

What To Serve With Tri-Tip
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!