10 Tasty Beef Jerky Recipes for Your Food Dehydrator

Making beef jerky at home is easy with a food dehydrator. It's cheaper and healthier than store-bought jerky, and you can make unique flavors. Here are 10 yummy beef jerky recipes you can try:

1. Classic Beef Jerky

Let's start with a simple favorite. You'll need lean beef, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and garlic powder. Slice the beef thinly, mix the marinade, and let it sit overnight. Then, put the strips on your dehydrator trays and dry at 165°F for 4-6 hours.

A 7-tray dehydrator lets you make big batches at once. The digital timer and temperature control help you get perfect jerky every time. For the right texture, your jerky should bend without breaking but not snap when folded.

2. Sweet and Tangy BBQ Beef Jerky

For a different taste, try this BBQ-style jerky. Mix BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and smoked paprika for the marinade. This recipe gives you a nice mix of sweet and tangy flavors. The brown sugar makes a slight glaze on the jerky, and the vinegar adds flavor and helps make the meat tender.

If you're making jerky for a lot of people, you might want to use a 10-tray dehydrator. This bigger size lets you make enough jerky for parties or to save for later.

3. Spicy Sriracha Beef Jerky

If you like spicy food, you'll love this Sriracha beef jerky. Mix Sriracha sauce, soy sauce, honey, and lime juice for a spicy, tangy marinade. You can add more or less Sriracha depending on how spicy you like it. Remember, the flavors get stronger as the jerky dries, so you might want to start with less Sriracha and add more next time if needed.

For making lots of jerky, our commercial-grade 11-tray dehydrator is great. It's big and has precise controls for making consistent, high-quality jerky.

4. Teriyaki Beef Jerky

For a Japanese-style flavor, try teriyaki beef jerky. Mix soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic for the marinade. This sweet and savory jerky is always popular. Let the beef sit in the marinade overnight for the best flavor. The longer it marinates, the more flavor gets into the meat.

To make sure the jerky dries evenly, you can use a hanging rack in your dehydrator. This lets air move around each piece of jerky better, so it dries more evenly.

5. Garlic and Herb Beef Jerky

For a taste of the Mediterranean, try this garlic and herb jerky. Use fresh rosemary, thyme, and lots of minced garlic in your marinade. Add some lemon zest for extra flavor. This recipe shows that jerky doesn't have to be spicy or sweet to be tasty. The herbs give it a complex flavor that goes well with the natural taste of the beef.

Our 6-tray dehydrator is perfect for making herb-flavored jerky. You can set the right temperature for drying herbs and meat together.

6. Peppered Beef Jerky

Sometimes, simple is best. This peppered beef jerky uses black, white, and red peppercorns for a complex, spicy flavor. Crush the peppercorns yourself for the freshest taste. Add some garlic powder and salt too. The different types of pepper give layers of heat and flavor that you can taste as you chew the jerky.

For small batches of this peppery snack, our compact MFD-5000 dehydrator is perfect. It's great for trying new recipes or making jerky just for yourself.

7. Honey Mustard Beef Jerky

For a tangy-sweet jerky, try this honey mustard recipe. Mix Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, and a bit of cayenne pepper for your marinade. The result is a well-balanced jerky that's great for snacking. The honey makes it a little sticky on the outside, while the mustard gives it a tangy kick.

To make cleanup easier, use our non-stick trays when drying this sticky marinade. These trays stop the jerky from sticking, making it easier to remove and clean up after.

8. Smoky Chipotle Beef Jerky

Get a smoky flavor without a smoker using chipotle peppers. Blend chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with honey, lime juice, and cumin for a complex, smoky marinade. This jerky has a lot of flavor in every bite. The chipotle gives it heat and smokiness, while the honey balances the heat and helps keep the jerky a bit moist.

Our stainless steel trays are great for these strong flavors and are easy to clean. They're tough enough to handle the acidic parts of the marinade without rusting.

9. Thai-Inspired Beef Jerky

For a different taste, try this Thai-inspired jerky. Use lemongrass, ginger, lime juice, fish sauce, and a bit of brown sugar in your marinade. This gives you a nice mix of sweet, sour, and savory flavors that will make your taste buds happy. The lemongrass and ginger make it smell fresh, while the fish sauce adds depth to the flavor.

Find the right dehydrator for your special jerky recipes in our collection. We have dehydrators for different batch sizes and with precise temperature control for perfect jerky every time.

10. Coffee-Rubbed Beef Jerky

For a unique flavor, try this coffee-rubbed jerky. Mix ground coffee with brown sugar, chili powder, and garlic powder for a rich, complex rub. This jerky is great for people who like strong flavors. The coffee gives it a deep, earthy taste that goes well with the beef, while the brown sugar adds a bit of sweetness to balance the bitter coffee.

Remember, jerky gets smaller as it dries. If you start with 3 pounds of raw meat, you'll end up with about 1 pound of finished jerky. This happens because the meat loses water as it dries, which makes the flavors stronger and helps preserve the meat.

Conclusion

Making beef jerky at home is fun, saves money, and lets you create flavors you can't buy in stores. With these 10 recipes and a good food dehydrator, you're ready to start making your own jerky. Always be safe when preparing and storing your jerky. If you dry and store it properly, jerky can last for several weeks at room temperature or even longer in the fridge.

For more cool recipes using your food dehydrator, check out our recipe blog. You'll find more ideas for jerky flavors and other foods you can dehydrate. Have fun making jerky!