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Sweet, savory, and perfectly chewy, this Beef Jerky recipe is better than anything you can find at the store! It’s a high-protein snack that comes together with minimal effort.
Beef jerky is one of my favorite snacks. I love the chewy texture and the salty sweet and savory flavor. What I DON’T love is the price tag. So, of course, I had to try my hand at making homemade beef jerky. This recipe incorporates everything I love about beef jerky into an easy recipe anyone can make at home. I’ll never buy it at the store again!
Why This Is The Best Beef Jerky Recipe
- Sweet & savory. Ingredients like soy sauce, brown sugar, and spices give this beef jerky a flavor that’s sweet and savory with just a bit of heat. It’s also easy to customize the flavor to be a bit sweeter or a bit spicier.
- Cheaper than store-bought. One of the reasons I love making homemade jerky is that it’s significantly cheaper than store-bought jerky. An eye of round roast is cheaper than a bag of most jerky and will give you more slices of jerky too.
- Oven or air fryer. I wrote this recipe for the oven but it’s super easy to adapt to make it in the air fryer too. I’ve included those instructions below.
Recipe Ingredients
This recipe requires just a few ingredients plus a handful of spices. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Eye of round roast – This is my go-to for homemade beef jerky as it’s cheap and easy to find. Be sure to remove the fat and silver skin. Other cuts of beef, like top round or flank steak, also work.
- Soy sauce – The base of the marinade, soy sauce adds savory and salty umami flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce – Highlights the beefy flavor in the marinade.
- Brown sugar – Balances the savory flavors in the marinade.
- Meat tenderizer – Helps break down tough fibers, making the jerky more tender. Use unseasoned since there are spices are added separately.
- Spices – Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
How To Make Beef Jerky
One thing I love about homemade beef jerky is how hands-off the entire process is. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Cut the meat. Slice the meat into strips about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Be sure to slice against the grain.
- Make the marinade. Stir together all of the marinade ingredients until combined.
- Marinate. Add the strips of meat to the marinade, making sure each one is fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 175F. Line the baking sheets with foil then place wire racks on top.
- Bake. Remove the meat from the marinate, letting excess marinade drip off, and lay on a single layer on the racks. Bake for 4 hours, flipping halfway through. It should feel dry but still bend slightly without breaking.
- Enjoy. Let the jerky cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container for storage.
Can I Make Beef Jerky in the Air Fryer?
Yes, absolutely! To make jerky in an air fryer, set the temperature to 160°F (70°C) and arrange the strips in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 2-3 hours, flipping halfway through, until the jerky is dry but slightly pliable.
Just keep in mind that you may only be able to make a small quantity, based on the size of the air fryer.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few general times for making this homemade beef jerky recipe, as well as a few ways to customize it.
- Freeze before slicing. Freezing the meat for about 1 hour before slicing makes it easier to cut thin, even strips.
- Adjust the flavor. If you prefer a sweeter jerky, increase the brown sugar to 3 tablespoons. For spicier jerky, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Make it gluten-free. Substitute tamari or coconut aminos for soy sauce if you need a gluten-free option.
- No wire rack? No problem. If you don’t have a wire rack, you can place the meat directly on parchment-lined baking sheets, but the jerky may take slightly longer to cook.
- Other flavor options. Experiment with add-ins like liquid smoke for a smokier flavor or a splash of apple cider vinegar for a tangy kick.
Proper Storage
- Room temperature. Store homemade beef jerky in an airtight container at room temperature. It’ll stay good for about a week.
- Fridge. It can also be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Beef Jerky Recipe
Sweet, savory, and perfectly chewy, this Beef Jerky recipe is better than anything you can find at the store! It's a high-protein snack that comes together with minimal effort.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 2 pounds eye of round roast fat and silver skin removed
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon unseasoned meat tenderizer
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cut the meat into thin strips, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, slicing against the grain.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, meat tenderizer, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Add the meat strips to the marinade, making sure each piece is fully coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight for the best flavor.
- Heat your oven to 175°F (80°C). Prepare baking sheets by lining them with aluminum foil and placing wire racks on top.
- Take the meat out of the marinade, allowing any excess liquid to drip off. Lay the strips in a single layer on the wire racks, ensuring they don’t overlap.
- Bake the meat in the oven for 4 hours, flipping the strips halfway through. The jerky is ready when it feels dry but still bends slightly without breaking.
- Allow the jerky to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container for storage.
Last Step:
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Notes
Store homemade beef jerky in an airtight container at room temperature. It’ll stay good for about a week.
Nutrition
Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 935mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 165IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 3mg
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1 thought on “Beef Jerky Recipe”
My goodness!! Can’t hardly wait to try!!