Description
Delicious homemade venison jerky recipe perfect for hunters and meat enthusiasts. Learn how to make tender, flavorful jerky from deer meat with this simple marinade.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds lean venison meat
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon curing salt (Prague Powder #1, optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Trim all visible fat from the venison meat and partially freeze it for easier slicing.
- Slice the meat against the grain into 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick strips.
- In a large bowl, combine all marinade ingredients and mix well.
- Add the meat strips to the marinade, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
- Remove meat from marinade and pat dry with paper towels.
- Arrange the strips on dehydrator trays or oven racks, ensuring pieces don’t touch.
- Dry in a dehydrator at 160°F for 4-6 hours, or in an oven at the lowest setting with the door slightly ajar.
- Check for doneness – properly dried jerky should bend without breaking and not squeeze out moisture when flexed.
- Allow to cool completely before storing in airtight containers.
Notes
- Use the freshest venison possible for best results.
- For tenderest jerky, always slice against the grain.
- If using an oven, place a tray on the bottom rack to catch any drips.
- Properly dried jerky can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 months in airtight containers.
- For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 3-4 months or freeze for up to 6 months.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Snack
- Method: Dehydrating
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ounce
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: venison jerky, deer jerky, homemade jerky, game meat, hunting recipes, dehydrated meat
