Tri-Tip Chili Cheeseburger Recipe | Hey Grill, Hey (2024)

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By Hey Grill Hey

On September 18, 2017 (Updated June 06, 2021)

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A Chili Cheeseburger is the ultimate in over the top meaty eats. To take these burgers to an even higher level of awesome, I topped them with my glorious smoky tri-tip chili. We’re talking layers of tasty indulgence, perfect for a weekend cookout or tailgating with your crew. Full mouths, messy hands, can’t lose.

Tri-Tip Chili Cheeseburger Recipe | Hey Grill, Hey (2)
To be completely honest with you, I could just eat the chili by the bowlful and be a happy little camper. I think a good chili cheeseburger needs a chili that can stand on its’ own. That way the burger just adds that extra layer of mmmmmmm (and cheese) to bring everything together. This chili is loaded with layers of flavor. From the homemade South of the Border Spice Rub, to the smoky meats and veggies, this chili packs a punch on every level. Spooned on top of a juicy chuck roast patty with some sour cream to tie it all together and we are good to go. Just have lots of napkins on hand.

Tri-Tip Chili Cheeseburger Recipe | Hey Grill, Hey (3)
This epic Tri-Tip Chili Cheeseburger comes to you today as a celebration of National Cheeseburger Day!! You know I couldn’t let a holiday like that pass me by! I hooked up with a bunch of my favorite burger lovin’ blog buddies to bring you all cheeseburgers all day. Check out their tasty cheeseburger day contributions, grill up something amazing tonight, and tag me in your meaty conquests on Instagram!!

Tri-Tip Chili Cheeseburger Recipe | Hey Grill, Hey (4)
CHEESEBURGER RECIPES FROM THE CELEBRATING FOOD BLOGGERS:
Mac and Cheese Stuffed Cheeseburger|Ashlee Marie
Bacon Cheeseburger Pie | Creations by Kara
Cheeseburger Pasta | The Baker Upstairs
Cheeseburger Cobb Salad | Real Mom Kitchen
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup | ‎365 Days of Slow Cooking
Easy Cheeseburger Dip | Gather for Bread

MY OTHER CHEESEBURGER RECIPES:
Bacon Mac and Cheese Stuffed Burgers
Red, White, and Blue Cheese Stuffed Burgers
Sweet Bourbon Burgers with Crispy Onion Straws
Steakhouse Butter Burgers
Garlic Butter Burgers
Grilled Lentil Burgers

CHEESEBURGER RECIPES FROM OTHER AWESOME BLOGGING BUDDIES:
Cheeseburger Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers | The Recipe Critic
Sharp Cheddar and Crispy Onion Burgers | A Mind”full” Mom
Reverse Seared Coffee Rub Burgers | Foodtastic Mom
DaBomb Burger with Balsamic Onions | Joy In Every Season
Firecracker Burgers | Mom Loves Baking
Spicy Cheeseburger Dip | Southern Plate

Tri-Tip Chili Cheeseburger Recipe | Hey Grill, Hey (5)

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Tri Tip Chili Cheeseburgers

By: Susie Bulloch

0 from 0 votes

Chili Cheeseburgers are the ultimate in over the top meaty eats. To take these burgers to an even higher level of awesome, I topped them with my glorious smoky tri-tip chili.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time6 hours hrs

Total Time6 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Servings4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 2-3 pound tri tip roast
  • 1 large sweet onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 14 oz can pinto beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 14 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste

South of the Border Spice Rub

  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

For the Burger Patties

  • 2 pounds 80/20 ground chuck
  • 4 or 8 hamburger buns 4 if you're building double stacked burgers, 8 for singles
  • 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
  • sour cream as garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat your grill or smoker to 225 degrees with thin blue smoke from soaked wood chips or chunks.

  • While your grill preheats, prepare your meat and vegetables for smoking. Lay a large piece of aluminum foil on a baking sheet. Evenly spread the onions, peppers, and garlic across the foil and drizzle with the olive oil. Set an elevated cooling rack over the vegetables.

  • In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the South of the Border Rub. Sprinkle the rub on all sides of the tri tip. Reserve about a tablespoon of the rub to season the burgers later and sprinkle any remaining rub over the vegetables on the sheet pan.

  • Set the baking pan on the grate of your smoker, close the lid and smoke at 225 for about two hours.

  • When your tri tip and vegetables are almost done smoking, prepare the base of your chili. Pour the tomatoes, beef broth, and beans into a large pot. Remove the vegetables and meat from the grill. Carefully pour the vegetables into the pot. Slice the tri tip into small pieces and stir that into the chili pot as well. Finally, stir in the tomato paste. Cover and simmer over very low heat for 2 more hours. This time simmering is crucial to a chili that is well balanced and tri tip that will melt in your mouth. Stir the pot regularly while simmering to prevent burning. You can also do this step in a crock pot on low heat.

  • When you're about ready to eat, it's time to make the cheeseburgers! Preheat your grill to high heat (400-450 degrees F). Form your ground chuck into 8 1/4 pound patties. Season the patties with the reserved South of the Border Rub and place on the grill.

  • Grill the patties until they are 160 degrees F, add the sharp cheddar, and cook until nice and melty. Stack the patties on toasted hamburger buns, pour on a ladle full of the tri tip chili, and a spoonful of cool sour cream. Serve with lots of napkins and enjoy!!

Nutrition

Calories: 1806kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 139g | Fat: 100g | Saturated Fat: 40g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 41g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 438mg | Sodium: 3041mg | Potassium: 2367mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 2712IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 766mg | Iron: 16mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About

FOUNDER/BBQ BOSS LADY

Susie is the BBQ Brain behind the Hey Grill Hey website. Her passion for smoked meats and developing fun, new recipes have landed her on the Food Network, cooking turkeys with Shaq, and on a couple of Guinness World Records. When she’s not grilling, she is hanging out with Todd and their three kids, preferably outdoors!

Read More About Me

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Tri-Tip Chili Cheeseburger Recipe | Hey Grill, Hey (2024)

FAQs

How to cook tri tip beef patties? ›

PREHEAT FRYING PAN OVER MEDIUM- HIGH HEAT. ADD 1 TABLESPOON OF OIL. OPEN THE PACKAGE AND PLACE THE PATTIES IN THE SKILLET. COOK FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-3 1/2 MINUTES ON EACH SIDE.

Is smoked tri tip good? ›

Smoked Tri Tip is a flavorful and juicy steak that will soon become one of your favorites. When cooked correctly, it's incredibly tender and completely delicious.

What temperature to smoke tri tip? ›

Smoke the tri tip.

Preheat a smoker to 225°F. When the smoker is hot, place the seasoned tri-tip on the smoker. Smoke until the internal temperature reaches 135°F for medium rare.

Do you sear a tri-tip before or after grilling? ›

Reverse searing is a cooking method that involves cooking a steak slowly in an oven or on the grill until it is almost done, then searing it quickly over high heat to create a flavorful crust. This method is ideal for cooking tri tip steak, as it results in a tender, juicy steak with a crispy crust.

Is tri-tip better than brisket? ›

Flavor and Texture

Tri-tip offers a leaner, beefier taste with a firmer bite, making it more akin to traditional steak. Brisket, on the other hand, is renowned for its intense, smoky flavor and unparalleled tenderness. It's a true embodiment of low and slow cooking.

Does tri-tip get tender the longer you cook it? ›

The longer you cook tri-tip the more tender it will become, so you can choose your time according to what you are trying to accomplish.

What is the best cooking method for tri tip steak? ›

Tri tip steak usually cooks best when cooked in low heat over a long period of time, so roasting it in the oven or smoking it are excellent methods for moist tri tip. Sous vide and slow cooking also work well, as these methods lock moisture into the meat.

Do you flip a tri-tip on the grill? ›

Grill on medium heat (300-400°F). Grill for 20 to 40 minutes until internal temp is 135°F. Flip tri-tip every few minutes. Rotate around on grill if grill cooks unevenly.

Is it better to cook tri-tip fast or slow? ›

The best techniques for how to cook tri-tip steak are fast-cooking methods, meaning less time in the kitchen and more time for eating. This particular cut comes from the bottom sirloin, which also makes a delicious roast.

How to make tri-tip fall apart? ›

The key to being able to smoke a tri tip like a brisket (low and slow so you get fall-apart meat goodness) is to begin with a Prime cut tri tip. You need enough fat in your steak because tri tip is leaner than a brisket.

Why is my smoked tri tip chewy? ›

The tenderness of tri-tip is in large part reliant on how it is sliced post-Traegering. Incorrectly slicing meat can make a perfectly Traegered steak tough and chewy.

Should I wrap a tri-tip in foil when smoking? ›

Place tri-tip on smoker unwrapped for 60-90 minutes. Cook until internal temperature reaches 125 – 130 degrees F for rare and remove. Wrap tri-tip in foil and let rest for 15 minutes. When slicing any cut of beef, it's important to slice against or perpendicular to the grains.

What temp is tri-tip most tender? ›

Tri tip is a steak-like cut with very little connective tissue, and that means it should be cooked to the same doneness as a steak would be: 130°–135°F (54–57°C) for medium-rare or 135°–145°F (57–63°C) for medium. The temperature to cook the tri tip at is kind of up to you.

How do you make tri-tip more tender? ›

My tri tip marinade starts with a base of olive oil plus red wine and balsamic vinegar. The oil adds a little extra fat and helps tenderize the meat. The acid in the vinegar does its part, too, breaking down the steak's tough fibers.

Can you substitute tri-tip for brisket? ›

And I've been skeptical… But I had to try it out and I was surprised. Smoking a Tri Tip like a brisket produced some flavorful, juicy meat. Some folks thought it was better than brisket. And it was a lot quicker to cook a tri tip that a whole brisket too.

What is tri-tip best for? ›

The tri-tip's robust beefy flavor and firmer texture adds incredible flavor and bite when added to recipes, like tacos, sandwiches or fajitas. For mouth-watering results try a marinade and marinate two to three hours before you cook. Or, use a simple dry brine to tenderize and season the steak.

Can tri-tip be used for beef tips? ›

Can I use a different type of beef? I recommend using tri tip or sirloin roasts, but you could try another type of beef roast – just keep in mind that some cuts of beef don't cook up quite as tender.

Can I use tri-tip instead of sirloin? ›

Tri Tip steak has more flavors than top sirloin because it has more fat. Although it can be chewy at times, it also can still be tender when cooked properly. The top sirloin is leaner and is not from the juiciest section of the cow, but it is quite popular for its deep beefy flavor.

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