Description
This Best Beef Jerky Ever recipe delivers tender, flavorful homemade beef jerky using simple ingredients like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and honey. Marinated for hours and slow-baked at a low temperature, this jerky is the perfect protein-packed snack with just the right balance of savory, sweet, and smoky flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef
- 1 lb lean beef (sirloin, flank steak, or round)
Marinade
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for spice)
Instructions
- Slice the Beef: Slice the beef into thin strips, cutting against the grain to ensure tenderness and easier chewing once dried.
- Prepare the Marinade: In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes if desired to create a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate the Beef: Place the beef strips into the marinade, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat deeply.
- Preheat Oven or Dehydrator: Preheat your oven to a low temperature of 170°F (77°C), or prepare a food dehydrator according to its instructions for drying jerky.
- Arrange the Beef: Lay the marinated beef strips in a single layer on a baking rack or dehydrator trays, making sure the pieces do not overlap to allow even drying.
- Cook: Bake the beef strips in the oven for 4 to 6 hours, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. The jerky should become dry, chewy, and firm but not brittle or overly tough.
- Cool and Store: Once cooked, allow the jerky to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container to preserve freshness and texture.
Notes
- For best results, slice the beef very thinly and against the grain to improve tenderness.
- If using an oven, keep the door slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape more efficiently.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to taste depending on your preferred spice level.
- Store jerky in a cool, dry place; it can also be refrigerated or frozen to extend shelf life.
- You can substitute honey with brown sugar or maple syrup for a different sweetness profile.
