3-Quart Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Roast Recipe for Two

My easy Tri-Tip in a crockpot or slow cooker is perfect for two and a deliciously lazy Sunday dinner for two. It only takes a few minutes to prepare the ingredients so you can set it and forget it until mealtime. Depending on your appetite, you can have enough leftovers for cold Tri-Tip sandwiches for lunch the next day, yum!

Looking for more slow cooker recipe ideas? Check out more great recipes for a small slow cooker.

this Recipe

For more small-batch comfort food recipes try my turkey breast and ham steak recipes

Table of Contents

• Ingredients and Substitutions
• Recipe Directions
• Tools Used
• What to Serve with a Tri-Tip Roast
• Storage
• 📖 Recipe
• Slow Cooker Food safety

Ingredients and Substitutions

• One pound Tri-Tip roast: Tri-Tip is a wonderful cut of beef to cook slow and low. For the best flavor choose a cut with some nice marbling running through it. I buy packaged one-pound Tri-Tip from Ralph's grocery, but if you can't find it in your area, ask the meat counter if they can cut one for you. You can also buy a larger tri-tip roast and cut it in half, freezing the other half for cooking later.
• Salt and Pepper seasoning: A mix of ground pepper and salt is a simple rub to bring out the flavor. You can add garlic powder or other dried seasonings to your personal taste.
• Beef Broth: I love using "Better Than Bouillon" beef base for the broth.
• Steak sauce: I've used A-1 steak sauce forever. You can also substitute Worcestershire sauce and add it to the beef broth.
• Onion: Use yellow, white, or brown onions.
• Potatoes: Baby red potatoes, fingerling, or any other potato works. If you use larger potatoes slice them into smaller pieces so they cook properly.

Optional ingredients:

• Add 2 or 3 ounces of dry red wine to the slow cooker.
• Chop of fresh garlic added on top of the Tri-Tip.
• Add chopped carrots for a true one-pot meal.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Recipe Directions

Season both sides of the Tri-Tip roast with salt and pepper.

Rub the steal sauce onto the seasoned trip tip roast.

Place the onion in a 3-quart slow cooker. Place the seasoned tri-tip on top of the onions.

Pour the beef broth into the slow cooker, avoiding washing away the seasoning on top of the tri-tip roast. Add the baby red potatoes.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Use a meat thermometer to check that the tri-tip reaches a minimum temperature of 165 °F.

For slideshow directions visit my web story for this slow cooker tri-tip recipe.

If you enjoy this roast recipe you might also like my slow cooker beef stew for two.

Tools Used

• 3-quart slow cooker is the perfect size for 1 or 2 people.
• Tongs make flipping and transferring meat easy.
• The Duralex Bowls are simply the best.
• If you only have one Measuring Cup it should be a 2 cup version.

Storage

Store leftovers in a covered container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To freeze the roast, wrap tightly in saran wrap and freeze for up to two months.

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Slow Cooker Food safety

Slow cooker safety tips from the USDA.