Beef Jerky (Sweet, Spicy, or Peppered)
Homemade beef jerky is a healthy, portable snack packed with protein. Choose between a sweet, peppery, or spicy marinade. You can use an oven, dehydrator, or smoker to get these perfectly chewy strips.
Equipment
- dehydrator or smoker (optional)
Ingredients
Spicy Jerky
- 2 lbs lean beef
- ½ c soy sauce
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp ground pepper
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
Sweet Jerky
- 2 lbs lean beef
- ½ c soy sauce
- ¼ c + 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
Peppered Jerky
- 2 lbs lean beef
- ¼ c soy sauce
- 1 c beer
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cut off any visible excess fat and slice your meat thinly to a width between ¼’ and ⅛”. Your butcher can do this for you, or you can place your chunk of meat in the freezer for an hour prior to slicing for more ease.
- Choose one of the marinade recipes above. Combine the ingredients and add them to a freezer bag with your slices of beef. Let the meat marinate in the fridge for 8-24 hours.
- Set your dehydrator or smoker to 170 degrees F. If you are using your oven, set it on the lowest temperature possible with the door slightly ajar.
- Let excess marinade drip off and then place the slices of beef on the dehydrator trays, grill grates, or pans with grates. Make sure the pieces aren’t overlapping.
- The jerky should take anywhere from 2-5 hours to dehydrate. Check it for doneness every hour. Your jerky should be firm but still pliable.
- Let it cool before storing. Read the blog post for preservation suggestions.