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Home » Snacks » Keto Beef Jerky

Keto Beef Jerky

Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw
Nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD, CPT

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A delicious and easy recipe for keto beef jerky that you can make in your oven. No sugar and no soy sauce!

Keto Beef Jerky

This keto beef jerky recipe is the result of my desire to avoid high-sugar commercial brands. It’s a simple recipe, made with just a few simple ingredients.

Apart from thinly slicing the beef, this recipe is very easy to make. Ever since I learned how to make it, I rarely buy commercial jerky.

Commercial brands are often very sugary

Beef jerky is one of my favorite snacks. But it’s very difficult to find commercial brands that aren’t made with lots of sugar.

In fact, most jerky packages contain quite a few grams of carbs per serving, in addition to an insanely high amount of sodium.

This homemade recipe is not only chewier and tastier than commercial versions. It’s also made with no soy sauce and with no sugar.

Is it difficult to make keto beef jerky?

Not at all! This is a very simple and easy recipe. You don’t need a special smoker or dehydrator. You can use your oven, And you don’t even have to marinate the beef prior to drying it in the oven, although you could if you wanted to.

This homemade jerky is so good, that I now make it once a week for our family of four. And it doesn’t even last an entire week! My kids absolutely love it in their lunch boxes.

The ingredients you’ll need

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty keto snack. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:

Skirt steak or flank steak: Both are tough cuts with a great beef flavor. 🥩Slow cooking tenderizes them.

Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the dish could end up too salty.

Spices: Garlic powder and chili powder. Make sure they are fresh! A stale spice can easily ruin a dish.

How to make keto beef jerky

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

1. Slice the beef thinly against the grain. This means finding the direction of the muscle fibers, then slicing against them, not alongside them. Cutting into the muscle fibers makes the meat easier to chew.

2. Now, use a meat pounder to pound the meat strips thin – as thin as you can get them.

3. Toss the meat slices with salt, pepper, and spices.

4. Arrange the seasoned beef slices on two parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets.

5. Bake them for 3 hours at 225°F, then cool on cooling racks.

How to store homemade keto beef jerky

The only drawback compared to commercial products is that the final product does require refrigeration. You should keep it in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days.

When I pack it to go, I use an insulated lunch box with ice packs and consume it within two hours. Here’s a guide from the USDA on traveling with cold food that requires refrigeration.

Other keto snacks that you might enjoy

Who says you can’t have great snacks on the keto diet? Another keto snack that I really like and make quite often is this recipe for salami chips.

I also love jalapeno cheese crisps, homemade pork rinds, and almond flour crackers.

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4.96 from 344 votes

Keto Beef Jerky Recipe

Yes, beef jerky can be healthy and good for you if it’s made without soy sauce and sugar! This keto beef jerky is delicious – and healthy.
Prep Time1 hr 20 mins
Cook Time3 hrs
Total Time4 hrs 20 mins
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 137kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

  • 1.5 lb. skirt steak (or flank steak)
  • 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Unfold the skirt steak and place it on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut the beef crosswise, against the grain (so that you sever the tough, thin fibers that you can see on the steak) into 2-inch-wide strips.
  • You want the strips to be no more than 1/8-inch thick, so if they are thicker, slice each strip into two thinner, 1/8-inch-thick strips. This is not too hard to do, but if you want to make it even easier, place the beef strips in the freezer for 20 minutes before slicing them thinner.
  • Use a meat pounder to pound the strips so that they are thinner and more even in thickness.
  • Place the beef strips in a large bowl, add the spices and toss with your hands until thoroughly coated.
  • Arrange the beef strips on the two baking sheets, not touching each other. Bake 3 hours, rotating the position of the baking sheets midway, until beef is browned and dry.
  • Remove to a cooling rack placed on a tray or on foil (to catch any drips). Allow to cool and dry about one hour before enjoying. Refrigerate any leftovers – they’re delicious straight out of the fridge.
NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please feel free to make your own calculations. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.
Nutrition Facts
Keto Beef Jerky Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 137 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Sodium 492mg21%
Carbohydrates 1.3g0%
Fiber 0.4g2%
Sugar 0.1g0%
Protein 17g34%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
NEVER MISS A RECIPE! I typically publish a new healthy recipe once or twice per week. Want the new recipes in your inbox? Subscribe!
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Keto Beef Jerky

More Healthy Recipes:

Salami Chips with a Spicy Dip
Salami Chips with a Spicy Dip
Jalapeno Cheese Crisps
Jalapeno Cheese Crisps

Filed Under: Snacks Tagged With: Beef Recipes Last updated on December 3, 2019

About the Author

Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She has taken nutrition courses at the Harvard School of Public Health and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, Reader's Digest, and Better Homes and Gardens. Learn more...

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Healthy Recipes Blog logo - circle Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. You can contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.
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