A triangular cut of meat from the bottom of the beef sirloin, the tri-tip roast generally ranges in size from about 1 1/2 to 3 pounds, perfect for cooking in a 6-quart slow cooker. You may not readily find a tri-tip at your local grocery store, since it often gets sacrificed to the ground beef packages, but specialty butchers and grocery stores or warehouse clubs with higher volume meat counters usually recognize the value and sell it as a roast or cut into steaks. The comparatively low price tag and great flavor make it a worthwhile search.

In this recipe, a savory chili-seasoned rub flavors a crock pot tri-tip roast, although you can substitute a chuck arm, bottom round, or rump roast instead. The list of ingredients seems long, but it relies heavily on pantry staples for full-bodied flavor, which develops when you let the roast marinate for at least 1 hour before you start cooking it.