What is Beef Jerky?

Beef Jerky is basically dried lean beef strips packed with the flavors of multiple spices. Its name, “Jerky,” comes from the Quechua word “Ch’arki,” which means “Dried Salted Meat.” The best thing about his recipe is that it’s Keto, Paleo, and Gluten-free. Plus, it doesn’t contain any sugar. So, even if you’re dieting, you can still enjoy this amazing protein-packed snack without disturbing your diet plan.

You may have tried many beef recipes throughout your life: sweet beef, spicy beef, and many more. But beef jerky serves the best as a snack. It’s flavorful, spicy, and healthy as well.

Homemade Beef Jerky Recipe

This beef jerky is smoky, savory, and full of bold flavors — and you can make it right in your oven with no dehydrator required.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs beef of your choice (top round, flank steak, or sirloin work best)

• ¾ cup gluten-free soy sauce

• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

• 1 ½ tsp salt

• 2 tsp ground black pepper

• 1 ½ tsp liquid smoke

• 1 ½ tsp garlic powder

• 1 ½ tsp onion powder

• 1 ½ tsp ancho chile powder

• 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tbsp dried oregano

Instructions

1. Prep the Meat

   • Trim all visible fat from the beef. This helps the jerky last longer without spoiling.

   • Freeze the meat for 30–45 minutes — firm on the outside but still soft in the center. This makes it much easier to slice thinly.

2. Slice

   • Using a sharp knife, cut the beef into thin strips, about 0.5 cm (⅛–¼ inch) thick.

3. Marinate

   • Place the beef strips in a large zip-top bag.

   • Add all remaining ingredients to the bag, seal, and shake well to coat the meat.

   • Massage the marinade into the strips so they’re evenly covered.

   • Refrigerate for at least 2–4 hours, or ideally 12–16 hours for maximum flavor.

4. Bake

   • Preheat oven to 175°F (80°C).

   • Line 2–3 large baking sheets with aluminum foil and set wire racks on top.

   • Drain excess marinade from the beef and arrange strips in a single layer on the racks.

   • Bake for 3–4 hours, checking after 3 hours. The jerky should be firm and dry but still slightly pliable.

5. Cool & Store

   • Let jerky cool completely before storing.

   • Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or refrigerate for longer storage.

Tips for the Best Jerky

• The longer you marinate, the deeper the flavor — overnight is best.

• Removing all fat is essential for shelf life.

• Freezing the beef slightly before slicing gives cleaner, thinner cuts.

• Using a rack allows air to circulate, helping the jerky dry evenly.

Oven baked Beef Jerky

If you’re following some sort of diet plan, it can be quite challenging for you to find the recipes that fit best for your plan. Most of the healthy foods are quite boring and you have to compromise on taste. There are only a few recipes that are tasty and healthy simultaneously. But beef Jerky is one recipe that promises a great flavor and texture and doesn’t interrupt your fitness goals.

Can you make Jerky in Food Dehydrator?

Food Dehydrators give you the best results when it comes to drying up fresh fruits. But they don’t work well when you use them for making Jerky. The results are not satisfactory and you get really disappointed after so many hours of waiting.

Beef Jerky in Oven

The oven will never disappoint you while you’re making the Jerky. It will give you impressive results and will make you the best Jerky at home.

The oven at its lowest heat is still hotter than a food dehydrator. It dries up the meat quickly without altering its flavor.

The basic ingredients of the Beef Jerky

There are many meat cuts and spices used to make beef Jerky. But I would recommend only a few that give out the best jerky.

1. Beef

One of the best beef cuts for Jerky is silverside. It’s a lean cut with little fat and is less likely to spoil. Other good cuts I would recommend are Sirloin and the Beef Eye of the round.

2. Soy Sauce

Use gluten-free soy sauce. But if you are following a Paleo diet plan, use coconut aminos instead.

3. Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce enhances the flavor of the beef.

4. Liquid Smoke

Liquid smoke will give a smoky flavor to your jerky just like the real wood smoke.

5. Spices

You can add spices according to your taste. But I would recommend salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ancho chili powder, oregano, and smoked paprika to give a great flavor.

Cooking Method for Beef Jerky:

1. First of all, trim the fat and freeze the meat for 30 minutes. Once the meat gets frozen, finely slice it into thin strips of about 0.5cm thickness. Add these strips into a ziplock bag.
2. Add all the spices and ingredients into the ziplock bag. Mix them well and coat the strips well with the ingredients. Leave them in the fridge for 4-12 hours so that they get marinated properly.
3. Once they are marinated thoroughly, preheat the oven to 175°F—Line the baking sheets with aluminum foils. Place the rack on top of it. Drain off the remaining marinade mixture. Place the strips onto the rack placed over the baking sheets.
4. Bake the strips in the oven for 3 − 4 hours. Check after three hours to see if the jerky’s got your desired texture.

When the meat is done, take them out of the oven and let them cool. When cooled, you can store them in an airtight container.