Tri-Tip Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions

Name: Tri-Tip Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. tri-tip ((thinly sliced against the grain)); 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 small yellow onions ((sliced)); 1 package 12-count artesano rolls ((or Hawaiian Rolls)); 8 ounces sliced pepper jack cheese ((or favorite cheese)); 3 tbsp unsalted butter; 3 cloves garlic; 1½ tsp ranch seasoning

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Whether you grill, smoke, or prepare a tri-tip roast in the oven, there's a good chance you'll end up with tri-tip leftovers. One way to use up the leftovers is to make these delectable Tri-Tip Sandwiches (or tri-tip sliders). The mini sandwiches are layered with thinly sliced tri-tip, caramelized onions, and pepper jack cheese, then brushed with garlic butter.

Why This Recipe Works

Tri-Tip Sandwiches are super easy to build and can be customized to fit everyone's taste. For example, if someone in the family dislikes onions, they can be easily left off of a few of the sliders. They are perfect to serve for a potluck, game day, or the holidays!

Additionally, you can do the prep work ahead of time, cover them with foil, then refrigerate them. When you are ready to serve the tri-tip sandwiches, just pop them in the oven for 25 minutes or so.

Leftovers can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated. To reheat the sandwiches, they can be microwaved for 45 to sixty seconds.

What Goes into This Recipe

Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions

Tri-Tip: Tri-tip is one of my favorite cuts of beef. You can use your favorite tri-tip recipe or try mine. I season my tri-tip roasts with my Santa Maria Seasoning which is made a combination of salt, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and fresh rosemary. If you have to, you can use roast beef or prime rib instead of tri-tip.
Bread: Although I used Artesano Bakery Rolls to make sliders, you can use Hawaiian rolls or ciabatta rolls. Sourdough rolls would also be an excellent choice.
Cheese: The Pepper jack cheese can be replaced with your favorite cheese including Swiss, Cheddar, Havarti, or Provolone cheese.
Onion: If you don't have yellow onions, you can use red onions instead.

How To Make Tri-Tip Sandwiches or Sliders

Step 1: Line a 9"×13" pan with aluminum foil; set aside.

Step 2: Place tri-tip roast onto a cutting board and slice thinly against the grain.

Step 3: Slice onions and sauté in olive oil until caramelized.

Step 4: While the onions are sautéing, use a serrated bread knife to slice the bread rolls without separating them. You should end up with 2 slabs of bread.

Tip: It's ok if the top or bottom portions don't stay intact. You can arrange them back together when you assemble them in the pan.

Step 5: Place the bottom slab into the prepared pan. Layer with sliced tri-tip, caramelized onions, and cheese. If you have a lot of tri-tip leftovers, you can do multiple layers of meat and cheese. Add the top bread layer.

rolls topped with Tri Tip and caramelized onions

Step 6: Whisk melted butter, crushed garlic, and ranch seasoning in a small bowl. Brush the tops and sides of the rolls. At this point, you can either cover and refrigerate the rolls or bake them immediately.

Step 7: When you're ready to bake the tri-tip sliders, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover the pan with foil and bake the sandwiches for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Use a sharp knife to slice into individual portions and serve the steak sandwiches while hot.

Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

What is Tri-Tip?

Tri-tip is a sirloin roast with a triangular shape, hence the name "tri-tip" or "3-tips." Although this cut is lean, it's also very flavorful and perfect when thinly sliced against the grain.

Tri-tip is less expensive than prime rib and is excellent when smoked. However, it can also be cooked on a charcoal or gas grill or baked in the oven. To retain the roast's juiciness, do not be overcook the tri-tip.

How do you slice Tri-Tip for sandwiches?

Tri-tip needs to be sliced against the grain into thin slices. Since the grain on the roast goes in two different directions, you have to slice it in half first and then slice each piece in a different direction, against the grain. If you are a visual person, here is a helpful video.

What to serve with Tri-Tip

Tri-tip can be served with a potato dish such as baked potatoes or Air Fried Potato Wedges. For a vegetable side option, consider serving Healthy Broccoli Salad, Cheesy Bussel Sprouts, or coleslaw.

Although tri-tip sliders are amazing as-is, adding your favorite sauce takes them to a whole new level. I love adding BBQ sauce to my individual tri-tip sliders. However, you may prefer mustard, horseradish, chipotle aioli, or plain mayonnaise. If you want to push the envelope a bit, add some huckleberry chutney or Chimichurri sauce.
If you love mushrooms, they would be delicious in these sandwiches. Just sauté some at the same time you sauté the onions.
Pickles, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce are all great options as well but I would add them just before serving.

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