Air Fryer Beef Jerky is chewy, tender, and incredibly delicious. Made with simple ingredients, this is the best beef jerky!
Air Fryer Beef Jerky
While you can go to the store and grab a bag of already cooked beef jerky, it’s even better homemade! This is a traditional beef jerky recipe that is filled with the classic flavors you love. But the best part is that it can be made in your air fryer in a few hours. And it’s DELICIOUS!
Years ago, I used to dehydrate my beef jerky in a smoker, and my children really loved it. Plus, I loved making them homemade treats. But now you can dehydrate beef jerky right in your air fryer, and I am going to share my foolproof method.
If you are looking for some other air fryer snacks, my family’s favorites are Copycat Air Fryer Cracker Jacks and KETO Air Fryer Pepperoni Chips.
Why You’ll Love This Traditional Beef Jerky Recipe
- Only 8 ingredients
- Great for an on-the-go snack
- Family-friendly
- Delicious
- Tender
- It’s the best beef jerky!
What Is The Best Meat For Air Fryer Jerky
The most important ingredient in the best beef jerky is, of course, beef. Whether you make it in a traditional dehydrator or even a smoker, you need to start with the right cut of meat.
If you choose the wrong cut of meat, you will end up with a tough jerky, and it will have a weird texture.
My selection for beef jerky in the air fryer would be one from the following list:
- Eye of Round Roast
- Top Round
- Sirloin Roast
- Rump Roast
- Flank Steak
- Venison (Deer)
These cuts of beef are great because they do not have a lot of fat or marbling; the fat will cause the meat to spoil.
How To Slice Your Meat For Beef Jerky
Once you have chosen your meat for the air fryer beef jerky, the next thing will be to learn how to slice it.
The easiest way to slice meat for jerky is to place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. This makes it easy to cut into long thin strips.
NOTE: If you purchase your meat from a butcher shop, they will cut it for you. Just tell them you are making air fryer jerky, and they will cut it into appropriate sized pieces.
There are two trains of thought when slicing meat for jerky, which are:
- If you slice the meat against the grain, you will get tender jerky.
- If you like it with the grain, you will get chewier jerky.
Feel free to cut the beef whichever way you prefer it. We like to do a combination of half against the grain and half with the grain. Go with whichever method you like best.
Air Fryer Beef Jerky Ingredients
- Steak
- Soy Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Brown Sugar
- Seasonings: Black Pepper, Crushed Red Pepper, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder
How To Make Beef Jerky In Air Fryer
Step 1: Slice the meat
Start by slicing the steak into long, thin strips approximately 1/8 of an inch thick, slicing against the grain.
Step 2: Prepare the marinade
In a large bowl, mix the soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and seasonings. Mix well.
Step 3: Marinade beef
Add your sliced meat to the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for at least an hour for best flavor.
Step 4: Air Fry Beef Jerky
Spray your air fryer basket with olive oil and place your beef into the basket, spreading the pieces out so they do not touch. Set the temperature to 180 degrees F for 2-3 hours. The chewier you want it, the more time it will need to air fry.
Some Common Questions Asked About This Recipe-
How Do You Store Leftover Beef Jerky?
Any uneaten air fryer jerky should be stored in a dry, cool place like your pantry or a cabinet.
Direct sunlight and/or heat will affect beef jerky’s freshness and flavor, so the best place to store jerky is in a dark, dry place.
If you want to make a huge batch of beef jerky in air fryer at once, I would recommend that you vacuum seal it to have it last.
There you go, Air Fryer Jerky!
How long can you keep homemade jerky?
If you do not vacuum seal it, it would be best if you placed it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. That way, it will last about 3 weeks.
If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it for up to six months. To use, place the frozen beef jerky into the refrigerator until it is thawed.
Some Other Great Air Fryer Snack Ideas:
My Top Air Fryer Pick
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Air Fryer Beef Jerky Recipe is loaded with classic jerky flavor. If you have been looking for an easy recipe to make beef jerky in the air fryer, this is it.
- 1 pound steak
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Teriyaki sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
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Start by slicing the steak into long, thin strips approximately 1/8 of an inch thick, slicing against the grain.
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In a large bowl, mix the soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and seasonings. Mix well.
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Add your sliced meat to the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for at least an hour for best flavor.
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Spray your air fryer basket with olive oil, and then place your beef into the basket, spreading the pieces out so they do not touch. Set the temperature to 180 degrees F for 2-3 hours. The chewier you want it, the more time it will need to air fry.
Just tried, awesome