The Best Homemade Oven Beef Jerky Recipe
Anytime I put the word “best” in a title, I feel like I need to explain myself… We have made many beef jerky recipes over the years. Some with brown sugar or honey, some with various cuts of beef, and different spices. This particular Best Homemade Oven Beef Jerky recipe is a personal favorite, because:
There is no added sugar. It offers a fabulous blend of spices. And it fits into Paleo, Keto, and Gluten-Free meal plans.
It’s not the sweetest jerky or even the prettiest beef jerky I’ve ever made. Yet it does take the cake in bold flavor, texture, and health! When you are trying to stick to a particular diet, it can be really tricky to find healthy and tasty store-bought items that fit. (Have you tried some of the gluten-free or Paleo snack foods out there? Ick!) Therefore, you tend to have to make meals, and all your snacks, at home. Although this is a little inconvenient at first, it leads to a much healthier, much more delicious daily routine. You can also check out all of my gluten-free and low carb options! It also revs up the creative juices! For instance: We were recently testing out a new food dehydrator. Even though I loved how it dried fresh fruit, I was very unhappy with the results of homemade beef jerky. Especially after waiting so many hours. So, to the oven, we went to make the best beef jerky right at home! I’ve made this oven beef jerky recipe many times since, and have been thrilled with the results every time. I hope you give homemade jerky a try soon and love it as much as we do!
What Ingredients You Need
Many of the ingredients needed for making beef jerky at home are pantry staples. Feel free to swap out the spices and sauces to create your favorite flavors.
Beef eye of round roast – or sirloin tip roast Gluten-free soy sauce – use coconut aminos to make it Paleo Worcestershire sauce Liquid smoke Spices – oregano, black pepper, garlic powder, ancho chili powder, and smoked paprika
The best cuts of meat for beef jerky are eye of round roast, sirloin tip roast, flank steak, top round, bottom round, or other lean cut of meat you desire. Some other cuts of meat that could make some great jerky are elk, bison, turkey, pork, or ground beef jerky.
How to Make the Best Beef Jerky in the Oven
To me, the best homemade beef jerky is made in the oven. Even with the oven set at its lowest heat, it is still hotter than a food dehydrator. I believe this dries the beef faster and locks in the flavor. The key to any delicious jerky is first letting the beef sit in a flavorful marinade for several hours, all the way up to 12 hours for maximum deliciousness. Although making beef jerky is not a quick process, it is still very simple and requires just a handful of easy steps. Once done, allow to cool before storing in an airtight container. If you’ve completely trimmed the fat from the beef it will keep well at room temperature for up to two weeks, but if there is still fat on your cuts you’ll want to store the jerky in the fridge. See? Making your own beef jerky is easy and fun!
Best Homemade Oven Beef Jerky Cooking Tips
One of the most important things to do when making beef jerky at home is to prep the beef properly before marinating. It’s important to trim off all the extra fat so that the jerky can stay out at room temperature after baking. If there are little chunks of dried fat in the jerky, it will turn rancid at room temperature. Then “flash freeze” the beef just long enough to firm up the outside, so it is much easier to cut into thin strips to create these keto snacks! After cutting the beef into 1/8-inch strips, marinate the strips in the seasoning for at least two hours. Remember, the longer the beef soaks in the seasoning, the stronger the flavor will be. I like to marinate beef jerky overnight so it’s seasoned well. Use baking racks set in oven pans to bake the beef jerky. This allows the juices and marinade to drip down so the beef can dry out properly. Finally, taste-test the beef jerky early, so you don’t leave it in the oven too long. You’ve got this!
Looking for More Savory and Healthy Snack Recipes?
Baked Zucchini Chips Low Carb Cauliflower Crackers Bacon-Wrapped Avocado Sheet Pan Keto Chicken Nachos How to Cook Bacon in the Oven Healthy Baked Carrot Chips Venison Jerky by Low Carb Yum
Check the printable recipe below for nutritional information including calories, protein, carbohydrates, fats, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar percentages. You can also find the prep time and total time it takes to make this recipe below. Share This Recipe With Friends!
