If you are looking for the best on-the-go snack packed with protein and rich in flavor, a strip of jerky is the best option to go for. Jerky is basically dried meat with various seasonings, which also serve as a natural preservative.
Traditionally, jerky can be prepared by cutting thin strips of meat. You can either marinade the meat or add seasonings before dehydration, but this method can lead to uneven-looking strips. Today, jerky guns have been made available to create uniform strips of jerky. In this method, ground meat is necessary.
You can buy readily available ground meat at the market, you can do it yourself if you have a meat grinder at home. Season the meat first before loading it into the jerky gun. Most jerky guns have a flat nozzle to mimic the traditional look of jerky, but a round nozzle is also available as another option.
There are lots of delicious jerky recipes out there, but we have here the best jerky recipes that you’ll absolutely love. These have been tried and tested by various kitchen experts, so you will not be disappointed with the outcome. In fact, you might just find yourself bringing hearty snacks with you wherever you go!
Spicy Beef Jerky
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 lb beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
- ⅔ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup balsamic
- ¼ cup teriyaki sauce
- 5 tbsp liquid smoke
- ½ pineapple juice
- Combine the onion and garlic powder and a little bit of black pepper in a bowl. Lightly season the meat, but do not use all at once. Set aside the leftover seasoning, you’ll need that later. Place the seasoned meat in an airtight container and refrigerate for a few minutes.
- Combine the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, teriyaki sauce, balsamic, pineapple juice, liquid smoke and brown sugar in a saucepan. Keep mixing the ingredients over medium heat and stop once the brown sugar has melted completely. Let the marinade cool down and refrigerate.
- Pour the marinade on the meat and mix everything together evenly by hand. You can use a vacuum sealer to seal the marinated meat, or simply seal the container. Refrigerate for about 3 hours.
- Place the strips on a food dehydrator rack. You can use the leftover seasoning for added flavor, or add chili pepper flakes if you prefer a spicier beef jerky. Let it dry for about 5 hours or more, depending on your preferred texture.
Korean Beef Jerky
Ingredients:
- 1 lb beef flank steak, cut into strips
- 9 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 2 tsp liquid smoke
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp chili pepper flakes (optional)
- Mix the garlic, honey, sugar, ground pepper, soy sauce, liquid smoke, sesame seeds and chili pepper flakes in a bowl. Coat the beef with the marinade. Store in a covered container and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or overnight.
- Place the strips on a food dehydrator rack. Dry for about 8 hours, making sure to turn each strip after 4 hours to dry them evenly.
Check out even more beef jerky recipes using a food dehydrator!
If you liked these jerky recipes, make sure to take a look at our other recipes and cooking tips:
