Homemade Teriyaki Beef Jerky Recipe

Beef jerky is a classic treat that's easy to make and everyone loves. This homemade beef jerky is filled with delicious, classic flavors that we all love. It's the perfect homemade teriyaki beef jerky recipe. 

I don't know what your family is like, but my husband and son could live off of beef jerky. I love it, but those two? Remember the old kid's saying, "if you like it so much why don't you marry it?" I think if my husband and son could mary jerky they would, especially this homemade teriyaki beef jerky. 

All About Beef Jerky

Snacks come in all forms. For some, chips come to mind, maybe crackers, cookies, or even a candy bar. Others may prefer something more protein charged, like nuts, or cheese sticks.

A tasty treat like beef jerky can be an enjoyable snack or a source f energy when taking a brief pause from a recreational activity, particularly outdoors.

For me, beef jerky is synonymous with hiking and is best served with a side of trail mix. But how does it rank on the snack food scale for healthiness? Is it good for you?

I'll share the benefits of beef jerky, why you should make your own, what meat to choose and how to make it right here. First of all, let's address whether or not beef jerky is good for you.

Is Jerky Healthy?

As with most processed foods the food itself isn't inherently bad. It's what you put into it that can make it more or less healthy than it already is. Beef jerky, like beef, is basically healthy depending on your diet.

One ounce will deliver a payload of various nutrients including zinc, vitamin b12, phosphorus, folate, iron, and potassium among other things. It's also a good source of protein and fat, though proper jerky is made from lean meat.

Jerky is also low in carbs. At least, it should be but that's not always the case.

Jerky is typically salted, which isn't bad on its own. However, jerky most often includes a variety of additives including marinades, sugars, and preservatives that can diminish the healthiness of the snack.

One way around this is to always check the nutritional values on the packaging before you buy beef jerky. The other (and best) way is to make your own beef jerky at home with only the best ingredients.

The Best Meat for Jerky

Beef jerky is made from lean meat, so you want to avoid fattier cuts. If you have even a good cut of meat with a fatty vein running through it, you will need to cut away the lean parts and use only those.

When looking for a good cut to make your own jerky with think round. Eye of round, bottom round, and top round are all excellent options for cuts of beef.

I use the eye of round roast in my recipe below because it's the most tender part of the round.

Another popular choice is brisket, which is a course and marbled cut that holds its structure very well over long periods of cooking. Like brisket, flank can be a little tougher, but it's a good lean cut of meat, though a little on the pricier side.

You will also need to trim away some fat, but overall it's a good alternative to round roast. The round is the portion of beef in the rear, behind the sirloin, and above the shank. 

Dehydrator Jerky VS Smoker

There are two main ways to make beef jerky at home. You can smoke it and you can dehydrate it. Dehydration is the traditional method and most jerky is dehydrated using a dehydrator.

We used a forced-air dehydrator for its recipe. Dehydrated jerky often gets smoked beforehand as well.

Today, I want to talk about how to make this homemade teriyaki beef jerky both ways because it's delicious whichever method you choose. 

How to Make Beef Jerky With a Dehydrator

To make jerky strictly using a dehydrator, make sure you marinate the meat for a good amount of time.

Let the sliced meat soak for at least 24 hours before you lay the slices out on the rack. thinner slices will reach the right consistency sooner and you should remove them when they do.

Be careful not to leave the slices on too long or they will become too brittle and unenjoyable.  

The liquid smoke used in this marinade helps to impart a smoked flavor without actually using a smoker, but if you want to add another step and elongate your beef jerky-making experience, you can smoke your meat prior to dehydrating it.

How to Make Beef Jerky In a Smoker

If you decide to smoke your jerky before dehydrating it, you will need to prep the meat by first slicing it against the grain and seasoning it based on the recipe description below.

Don't use too much smoke because the smoker requires moisture, which is the enemy of dehydration Smoke it for about three hours at 150. Then you have a choice of finishing it in the dehydrator or oven.

You can even leave it in the smoker for another 8-10 hours if you want to keep it confined to one cooking method.

What will I need to complete this recipe?

In addition to the ingredients below you'll need some supplies. To start with, get two airtight containers. One is for the marinade and the other is to hold the beef jerky in when it is done. Pasta containers work great.

You will also need a couple of different knives. Use a good carving knife for slicing the beef and use a flexible fillet knife to cut away any excess fat from the cut you are working with. This Henckels fillet knife is a good quality mid-range knife, but you can find some for around $20, too.

In addition to these tools, you should also have a cutting board of your preference, I like plastic.

Finally, you need a dehydrator or a smoker. You can use either or both to make beef jerky.

Homemade Teriyaki Beef Jerky

This homemade teriyaki beef jerky is absolutely divine. Teriyaki sauce is the star of the show, but the supporting players are must-haves in this recipe, as well.

To go with the teriyaki sauce, you'll be using ingredients that add tang, heat, and even one ingredient you might not think of. 

Ingredients:

It only takes a few ingredients to make this super easy recipe. As you'll see below, outside of the roast that you'll use for the jerky, all the ingredients are for the marinade to impart that wonderful flavor. Take a look. 

• 1-5 pound beef eye round roast, cut into ¼-inch strips
• ¾ cup soy sauce
• ¾ cup teriyaki sauce
• 5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 5 tablespoons taco sauce
• 1 ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 2 ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:

Making this homemade teriyaki beef jerky is as straightforward as the ingredients it calls for. The entire process is simply a matter of mixing ingredients, marinading, and then smoking or dehydrating. It's one of the easiest beef recipes you'll ever try. 

• Combine all of the ingredients in a large airtight container and allow the sliced beef to soak for at least 24 hours.
• Place strips in a single layer on the racks of the dehydrator and dry at 160 degrees Fahrenheit until the jerky is pliable, but not brittle.
• Check on the jerky every 2 hours or so and rotate racks if needed. Smaller pieces and thinner pieces will finish faster and should be removed as they reach the desired consistency. Letting them on too long will cause them to become too dry and brittle.
• Enjoy!

Note:

Dehydrating times will vary depending on the type of dehydrator used. Ours is a forced-air dehydrator.

Beef Jerky Variations

One of the best things about jerky is that all of the flavors are imparted with the marinade. This makes it an extremely versatile food to make. There are lots of ways that you can change things up to suit your tastes when it comes to this recipe. 

Remove the Heat

As you might have noticed in a lot of my recipes, I love heat. If you don't, simply remove the red pepper flakes from the recipe. 

Add Some Sweat

This homemade teriyaki beef jerky recipe has no sugar in it. I'm of the opinion that not all jerky has to be sweet. However, if you love your jerky with a sweet kick, simply add brown sugar to the marinade. 

Use Different Meats

You can make this jerky with chicken breast or lean pork, as well. They both taste fantastic when it's all said and done!

Can I eat these warm or cold?

Either! We love them fresh out of the dehydrator (because, who can resist) and they are just as good after they’ve cooled down to room temperature.

Honestly, my method is whatever fits in the jar goes back on the shelf. Everything else I eat warm. It all comes down to personal preference.

How do I store the Beef Jerky?

You can store the jerky in an airtight container at room temperature for weeks, however, if not all of the moisture has been removed from the jerky during the dehydration process, the jerky can get moldy before then.

You can also store the jerky in the fridge and it will easily last months. Realistically, unless you make a ton of jerky at once, you won't need to store it for that long and you don't need to worry about spoilage unless you tend to really let things sit.

Try This Easy, Delicious Beef Jerky for Yourself

All it takes is a few minutes of mixing and about a day of marinading to get started making one of the best homemade teriyaki beef jerky recipes you'll ever have.

With so many great flavors, super easy prep, and the ability to change things up to suit your tastes, this recipe is one that you should definitely give a try.

It's perfect for snacking, putting in lunch boxes, or just about any other occasion you can think of. After all, it's never a bad time for jerky!

Homemade Teriyaki Beef Jerky Recipe Video