Lunch & Snacks Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Beef Jerky
Savory homemade beef jerky marinated in soy sauce and garlic, then slowly dried.
Contains common allergens
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Instructions
6 steps- 1
Slice the London broil thinly across the grain into long strips, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Partially freezing the beef for 30 minutes first makes slicing easier.
- 2
Place the strips in a large glass bowl and pour in enough soy sauce to fully submerge the beef. Stir in the minced garlic and mix well.
- 3
Cover and refrigerate to marinate for about 24 hours, stirring once or twice.
- 4
Remove the strips from the marinade and lay them out in a food dehydrator, or arrange on parchment-lined oven racks in a gas oven set to 170°F.
- 5
Dry for 6 to 10 hours, checking every couple of hours and turning the strips as they begin to dry, until firm and leathery but not brittle.
- 6
Let cool completely, then store in a sealed container.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
70/100
Good fit for most families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving30
Calories
4 g
Protein
3 g
Carbs
0 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
Drying meat into jerky is one of the oldest preservation methods in the Americas; the word comes from the Quechua charqui, and Indigenous peoples across the continent dried strips of game long before refrigeration. The marinated, low-and-slow oven or dehydrator version is the modern home-kitchen descendant. It endures because it turns lean beef into a shelf-stable, protein-dense snack that travels anywhere.
Listahan note
This version leans on a soy-and-spice marinade and a long low dry so the jerky comes out chewy and savory rather than brittle, with the fat trimmed hard for shelf life.
Technique cues
- Slice the beef against the grain for a tender chew or with the grain for a classic tough, long-lasting bite, and freeze it briefly first so it cuts thin and even.
- Trim every visible scrap of fat, since fat does not dry and is what turns homemade jerky rancid.
- Dry low and slow with the oven door cracked or the dehydrator vented, so moisture escapes and the meat dries instead of cooking.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Mix the marinade while the beef firms up in the freezer, then slice and submerge in one go.
- Make-ahead
- Marinate the strips overnight in the fridge so the flavor penetrates fully before the long dry.
- Leftover move
- Chop leftover jerky into trail mix or simmer a few pieces into a pot of beans for smoky depth.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Line the oven racks with foil under the meat to catch drips, so cleanup is pulling the foil rather than scrubbing racks.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
Lean beef (eye of round or flank)
the jerky itself
Purpose: A lean, fat-trimmable cut is essential because fat spoils and prevents proper drying.
Handling: Freeze briefly, then slice thin and even, trimming all fat.
Adaptation: Top round or sirloin tip also work; bison or turkey breast make leaner alternatives.
Soy sauce
salty cure and umami
Purpose: Soy sauce seasons the meat deeply and its salt helps draw out moisture.
Handling: Combine with the other marinade ingredients and submerge the strips fully.
Adaptation: Tamari makes it gluten-free; coconut aminos lower the sodium.
Worcestershire sauce
tangy depth
Purpose: Worcestershire adds a tangy, savory complexity that rounds out the marinade.
Handling: Whisk into the marinade with the soy and spices.
Adaptation: A splash of balsamic vinegar plus a little fish sauce gives similar depth; check labels for a GF Worcestershire.
Brown sugar
balance and sheen
Purpose: A little sugar balances the salt and gives the jerky a faint glaze.
Handling: Dissolve into the marinade so it coats evenly.
Adaptation: Honey or maple syrup work; omit for a sugar-free jerky.
Black pepper and garlic powder
seasoning bite
Purpose: Pepper and garlic give jerky its classic savory, peppery character.
Handling: Add to the marinade and dust extra pepper on the strips before drying for a coarse finish.
Adaptation: Add chili flakes or smoked paprika for heat and smoke.
Technique notes
- Pat the marinated strips dry before they go in the oven, since surface marinade slows drying and can leave sticky spots.
- Lay strips in a single layer without touching so air circulates and every piece dries evenly.
- Test doneness by bending a cooled strip; it should crack but not snap, which means it is dry enough to store but still chewy.
Ingredient swaps
- Gluten-free direction
- Use tamari in place of soy sauce and a gluten-free Worcestershire so the whole batch is celiac-safe.
- Lower-sodium direction
- Swap in coconut aminos for the soy sauce and skip added salt to cut the sodium load.
- Lower-sugar direction
- Leave out the brown sugar and lean on garlic, pepper, and smoke for flavor.
Serve alongside
- Mixed nuts and dried fruit
- Cheese cubes
- Apple slices
- Whole-grain crackers
- Cold water
- Black coffee
- Unsweetened iced tea
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Cool completely, then store in an airtight container or zip bag; properly dried jerky keeps one to two weeks at room temperature, longer refrigerated. For months-long storage, vacuum-seal or freeze. If any condensation appears in the container, dry the jerky further before resealing.
Equipment
- Sharp slicing knife
- Wire racks or a dehydrator
- Oven with vented door or dehydrator
- Airtight storage containers
Make this household-aware
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