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    Home » Recipes » Beef

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce

    Published: Jun 27, 2017 · Updated: May 15, 2023 by Maggie Unzueta

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is a yummy cut of meat covered in a sweet and spicy sauce. Soft, juicy and absolutely perfect. Enjoy!
    Jump to Recipe
    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is made for summer cookouts and hanging out with friends. This tender and soft meat is layered with a spicy, sweet sauce that you and your guests will love. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen
    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is made for summer cookouts and hanging out with friends. This tender and soft meat is layered with a spicy, sweet sauce that you and your guests will love. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

    Tis the season for grillin’! There’s something about grilled meats that I absolutely love. Maybe it’s the char from the BBQ sauce or tenderness of the meat. Barbecues are meant for summers, good friends, and yummy chelada.

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    What to make for your next backyard cookout? Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce.

    Table of Contents

    • 1 Instructions
    • 2 More Grilling Recipes:
    • 3 Serve With:
    • 4 Hungry for More?
    • 5 Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce
      • 5.1 Ingredients
      • 5.2 Instructions
      • 5.3 Notes
      • 5.4 Nutrition
          • 5.4.0.1 Maggie Unzueta

    Instructions

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is made for summer cookouts and hanging out with friends. This tender and soft meat is layered with a spicy, sweet sauce that you and your guests will love. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen


    It all starts with a good spice rub the night before.

    This is a mixture of garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, paprika, ground cumin, oregano, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stuff you can easily find in your cupboard. If not, THIS is a good one.

    Let this sit overnight, but no less than 6 hours.

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is made for summer cookouts and hanging out with friends. This tender and soft meat is layered with a spicy, sweet sauce that you and your guests will love. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

    Next is the Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce. If you’re not into making your sauce, here’s a sneaky chef trick.

    Buy a store bought BBQ sauce. THIS ONE is my favorite from-a-bottle sauce.

    Pour it into a saucepan, add the whiskey and chipotle powder. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, and ready. Easy, right?!

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is made for summer cookouts and hanging out with friends. This tender and soft meat is layered with a spicy, sweet sauce that you and your guests will love. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

    Grilling is an art, my friends. You can’t rush good BBQ.

    Take the meat out and let it rest. Reason for this is that you don’t want to shock the meat.

    Soft and tender meat, that’s what we’re after. In the meantime, heat up the grill.

    More Grilling Recipes:

    • Chipotle Carne Asada
    • Carne Asada Street Tacos
    • Tacos Arabes
    • Mulitas
    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is made for summer cookouts and hanging out with friends. This tender and soft meat is layered with a spicy, sweet sauce that you and your guests will love. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

    When you place the meat on the grill, have your Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce ready for the first layer.

    Don’t walk away. That’s why you need to enlist someone to freshen up your drink. Close the lid. Let the grill do its THANG for 10-20 minutes. 10 minutes for the smaller tri tips, 20 minutes for the larger tri tips.

    Keep your cooking thermometer handy. It is ready when the Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce reaches 145 degrees F for medium rare, 160 F for medium, and 175 F well done.

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is made for summer cookouts and hanging out with friends. This tender and soft meat is layered with a spicy, sweet sauce that you and your guests will love. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

    Serve With:

    • Ejotes a la Mexicana
    • Ensalada de Pollo
    • Horchata Recipe
    • Elote en Vaso

    The MOST important part is the final step. Remove from the grill and tent it with foil paper. Let your Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce rest. Minimum 10 minutes. If you don’t let it rest and just slice into it, the juices will spill out and your meat won’t be as juicy. Talk about a tragedy! Happy Grilling!

    Hungry for More?

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    Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is made for summer cookouts and hanging out with friends. This tender and soft meat is layered with a spicy, sweet sauce that you and your guests will love. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce

    Grilled Tri Tip with Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce is a yummy cut of meat covered in a sweet and spicy sauce. Soft, juicy and absolutely perfect. Enjoy!
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: BBQ
    Cuisine: Mexican American
    Prep Time: 1 day day
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 day day 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 -8
    Calories: 535kcal
    Author: Maggie Unzueta

    Ingredients

    • Meat:
    • 2 lbs Tri Tip
    • For the Spice Rub:
    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
    • 2 tablespoons paprika
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 2 tablespoons salt
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • For the Whisky Chipotle BBQ Sauce:
    • ½ onion minced
    • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
    • ½ cup whiskey
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ tablespoon salt
    • 2 cups ketchup
    • ¼ cup tomato paste
    • ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
    • 1 ½ tablespoons liquid smoke
    • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ cup packed brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon chipotle powder or less, depending on your taste

    Instructions

    • Mix all the spice rub ingredients together.
    • Add spice rub to the meat.
    • Cover and refrigerate overnight, or 6 hours minimum.
    • For the Whiskey Chipotle BBQ Sauce:
    • Add whiskey, garlic, and onion to a large skillet.
    • Simmer for 5-6 minutes, or until onion is cooked and translucent.
    • Add black pepper, salt, ketchup, tomato paste, vinegar, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and chipotle powder.
    • Bring everything to a boil.
    • Reduce heat.
    • Simmer for 15 minutes.
    • For a smoother consistency, strain the sauce.
    • Set aside.
    • Heat the grill to 350 degrees F.
    • Place the meat on the grill.
    • Apply the first layer of BBQ sauce.
    • Close lid and cook for 10-20 minutes.
    • (For smaller tri tips, 10 minutes)
    • (For larger tri tips, 20 minutes)
    • Turn and apply another layer of BBQ sauce.
    • Close lid and again cook for 10-20 minutes.
    • Tri tip is ready when 145 degrees F for medium rare, 160 F for medium, and 175 F well done.
    • Cover with foil paper for a minimum of 10 minutes before slicing into thin slices.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Make the sauce ahead of time, and take it out when the ribs are ready to hit the grill. 
    You can also buy the tamarind paste instead of making it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 535kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 3977mg | Potassium: 1156mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 2608IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 6mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!
    Maggie Unzueta
    Website | + posts

    Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Donalyn Deeds

      April 30, 2022 at 2:33 pm

      5 stars
      Tamarind paste? Only found it in the notes, so didn’t use it. Recipe is excellent as it is.

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        May 02, 2022 at 3:37 pm

        That’s good to know. Glad you enjoyed it as is. Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Debra

      December 13, 2020 at 3:34 pm

      5 stars
      So much yum in one recipe! Awesome combo of flavors.

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 14, 2020 at 1:03 pm

        Thanks! Yes, this recipe it’s delicious

        Reply
        • Kim White

          July 20, 2022 at 3:23 pm

          Such a big fan of Tri Tip lots of people in Wisconsin never heard of it .When I lived in Los Angeles it was a poolside favorite of ours. Now when I bbq it in the midwest eyes and noses open wide to the new experience. Thanks for the recipe.

        • Maggie Unzueta

          July 26, 2022 at 10:43 am

          Yes, it’s virtually unheard of in many states, or they have different names for it. Sometimes, you have to special order it from the butcher.

    3. Swathi

      December 11, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      5 stars
      This Grilled tri-tip looks yum. love that whiskey chipotle bbq sauce.

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 17, 2020 at 12:48 pm

        So glad you enjoyed this!

        Reply
    4. Michele Peterson

      December 11, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and a great option to the usual barbecue!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 17, 2020 at 12:48 pm

        So glad you enjoyed this Michele!

        Reply
    5. Emily Flint

      December 11, 2020 at 8:15 am

      5 stars
      I can’t wait to make this sauce so my man can grill up a nice tri-tip!! LOL, thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 11, 2020 at 10:38 am

        This recipe is delicious! Hope you try it

        Reply
    6. Sue

      December 11, 2020 at 6:11 am

      5 stars
      I love this sweet and spicy chipotle sauce! A great complement to themeat!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 11, 2020 at 10:39 am

        It’s so yummy! Hope you try it

        Reply
    7. FOODHEAL

      December 11, 2020 at 1:54 am

      5 stars
      This looks amazing, I’ll share with my friends who like grilled meat.

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 11, 2020 at 10:41 am

        So glad you enjoyed this!

        Reply
    8. Chloe

      December 11, 2020 at 1:13 am

      5 stars
      That whiskey chipotle bbq sauce sounds like an awesome combination!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 11, 2020 at 10:41 am

        An it is! Hope you try it!

        Reply
    9. Amy

      December 10, 2020 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      Whiskey chipotle BBQ sauce??? How good does that sound?

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 11, 2020 at 10:41 am

        Delicious! Hope you try it

        Reply
    10. kaka

      December 10, 2020 at 7:04 pm

      5 stars
      I loved the balance of sweet and spicy in the BBQ sauce. I was a bit worried about the meat but it turned our soft and juicy! Cant wait to try it again

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 11, 2020 at 10:41 am

        So glad you enjoyed this!

        Reply
    11. Anonymous

      December 10, 2020 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      I loved the balance of sweet and spicy in the BBQ sauce. I was worried abt the meat but it turned out soft, and delicious! Thank you

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        December 11, 2020 at 10:42 am

        So glad you enjoyed this!

        Reply
    12. Jason

      August 23, 2019 at 10:11 am

      I love the BBQ sauce! I added my own hack because I love Scotch…So I used Laphraoig 10 year old (very peaty/smoky scotch whisky) and then left out the liquid smoke. I found I had to increase the borwn sugar a little but then it was delicious Super good on chicken

      Reply
    13. Jennifer Gilbert

      June 18, 2019 at 5:17 pm

      Ooh, that whiskey chipotle barbecue sauce sounds so good! I love the spice combinations you used with paprika, chili powder, and cumin-some of my favorites! I’m going to try this this weekend.

      Reply
    14. Mardene Carr

      July 02, 2017 at 9:16 pm

      This looks really good…nice piece for a summer barbecue evening

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        July 03, 2017 at 11:27 am

        It is! love summer grilling.

        Reply
    15. 204 Park

      June 28, 2017 at 6:06 pm

      This post has my mouth watering!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        June 29, 2017 at 9:10 am

        Sorry… not sorry. 😉

        Reply
    16. Leah

      June 27, 2017 at 9:05 pm

      This sounds so delicious and what a great meal! The whiskey sauce looks fantastic!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        June 29, 2017 at 9:10 am

        I’ll have to find a good cocktail to go with this. 😉

        Reply
    17. Maryanne | the little epicurean

      June 27, 2017 at 7:33 pm

      Whiskey and chipotle sounds like such a delicious combination! I can’t wait to grill this summer!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        June 29, 2017 at 9:10 am

        The thrill of the grill. Love it! Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    18. Cathy @ Our Mini Family

      June 27, 2017 at 6:40 pm

      Mmmmm this is like summer BBQ porn! Looks so amazing and I cannot wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        June 29, 2017 at 9:11 am

        Lol. Hope you do. Enjoy!

        Reply

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