5 BEST VENISON JERKY RECIPES TO ENJOY THIS OFFSEASON

Ready for an ultimate list of the best venison jerky recipes we’ve found? Read on.

We’ve already told you about our favorite venison tenderloin recipes, as well as an epic holiday feast featuring a tenderloin. But what about everybody’s favorite venison snack?

We went on the hunt around the web to find you the tastiest and best venison jerky recipes for you to utilize this deer hunting season.

Here they are:

1. Whole Muscle-Cut-Style Venison Jerky

Every now and then, something pops up on our Facebook feed that just blows us away, and this recipe is no different.

We love being able to tear into a hunk of meat that is salty, sweet, and just the right amount of pepper, with enough toughness to put up a fight. This recipe is on our “must-do” list, but take it from the hoards of folks who helped this recipe go viral–if it’s worth sharing, it must be good.

Ingredients:

• Venison
• Salt (for soak)
• Commercial Curing Mix (available at sporting goods stores, should contain either sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate)
• Seasoning Rub (if commercial curing mix comes unseasoned)

View Instructions

2. Smoked Venison Jerky

Much like the previous recipe, this deer jerky comes in the whole-muscle cut style, but could easily be tweaked to be thinner like its more popular brethren. We love getting natural smoke flavor in meats, especially jerky, so this recipe was an instant winner during our quest for the best.

Ingredients:

• 1 venison roast, at least 2 pounds
• 4 tbsp. soy sauce
• 4 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• ¼ tsp. onion powder
• ¼ tsp. Bone Dust Barbecue Seasoning and Rub
• Sriracha to taste
• freshly ground salt and pepper

View Instructions

 

3. Teriyaki Venison Jerky

Everyone loves a little sweet to their spice, and that flavor comes easily with a nice teriyaki marinade. This recipe calls for a smoker, but we think you could achieve similar flavors and texture by adding some liquid smoke and using the oven method, or even a dehydrator if you prefer.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup mirin or sweet cooking wine
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 “coins” of fresh ginger (each about 1/4-inch thick), or 2 teaspoons of powdered ginger
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 pounds trimmed venison

View Instructions

4. Black Pepper Jerky

For those who like a good kick to their meat, we recommend this delicious recipe which also includes a hearty helping of our second-favorite ingredient: beer. We’re imagining a thick, dark stout could add a nice subtle flavor to your venison on this one. Hunt a good deer and put this one to great use. Note: the original recipe uses beef, but can easily be substituted for venison.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups amber ale or lager
• 2 cups soy sauce
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons cracked black peppercorns, plus 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper, for sprinkling before drying the meat
• 2 pounds trimmed venison round or bottom round, about 1 1/2 inches thick

View Instructions.

5. Cidered Venison Jerky

“Cidered, eh?” is more than likely what you’re thinking right now, and I can’t blame you. Prior to discovering this recipe, it had never crossed my mind to add cider to a jerky marinade, but considering how amazing it tastes in every other recipe, I’m game to give it a try.

This recipe strictly calls for a dehydrator, so if your only option is an oven it may be best to tuck this one away until after you open up that dehydrator you asked for for Christmas (cough, cough).

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds venison, cut into strips
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (smoked salt will also add another level of flavor)
• 1 teaspoon dried garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried mushroom powder

What You Need to Make Perfect Venison Jerky

1. Meat Cutting Knife

This meat-cutting knife could’ve been used on the Night King in “Game of Thrones.” It’s approved by jerky lovers. Also, having a high-quality knife saves so much time in the kitchen.

2. Clear & Black Heat Seal Zipper Bag

If you tell people you made homemade jerky, just know you’ll be sharing with friends, family, and coworkers. Keep your jerky fresh with ShieldNSeal bags.

3. Garlic Seasoning Set

Anytime I cook, I have to throw some kind of garlic flavoring in the mix. Garlic is the deer cane of venison.

4. Beer Jerky Slicing Kit

If you’re big on meat like me, you understand having a cutting board that’s easy to clean is important. This cutting board is dishwasher-safe. It also comes with a knife!

Reviews are fantastic, and not stressing out over dull knives is always a perk.

5. Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator

It’s summertime, so keep yourself hydrated and your food dehydrated. This electric food dehydrator is the perfect cooking device for some homemade jerky. It’s under $40, and the pictures of everyone’s jerky in the Amazon reviews look delicious! I can’t wait to make some and share with the family.

Why buy beef jerky, when you can provide your own wild game deer meat and make it especially for you and those you love?

This post was originally published on January 30, 2016.