Homemade Venison Jerky
Ever made homemade jerky? It’s surprisingly easy…and really delicious! This Homemade Venison Jerky Recipe is a favorite snack around our house!
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 103kcal
Ingredients
- 1½-2 pounds lean venison can substitute beef
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp liquid smoke optional
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 1 Tbsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, trim any fat from venison and slice across the grain into thin strips (~¼”); set aside. For a chewier jerky, cut meat with the grain. (Tip: Placing meat in freezer for 30 minutes prior to slicing will make it easier to slice thinly.)
- Using a large resealable plastic bag, add all remaining ingredients except for black pepper (soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, maple syrup, liquid smoke, brown sugar, salt, onion powder, garlic and red pepper flakes).
- Add strips of meat and seal bag; place in refrigerator for 4-6 hours, or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Remove venison from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Place strips in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 10 minutes, or until internal temperature of meat reaches 160°F. (This step is recommended by the USDA to destroy any bacteria that might be present.)
- Transfer venison strips onto the dehydrator trays. (Tip: Space out strips so that they are not touching.) Sprinkle tops of strips with black pepper.
- Set dehydrator temperature to 150°F and dehydrate for 3-5 hours, or until a piece of jerky doesn’t show any signs of moisture when cut in half. (Finished jerky should be able to be bent without breaking.)
Notes
If looking to store jerky unrefrigerated for a long period of time, then a cure containing sodium nitrite should be used.
Nutrition
Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 825mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 57IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 3mg
