Go Back Email Link
+ servings
Beef jerky in a dish on cutting board with spices scattered around
Print

The Ultimate Beef Jerky Recipe 📋

The best beef jerky recipe made with Habanero Peppers is bound for greatness! The spicy kick of the peppers and the saltiness of the Sea Salt really makes this the top jerky recipe ever! This Ultimate Beef Jerky recipe quickly jumped to the top of my list of hundreds of jerky recipes I have made over the years. 
Course Beef Jerky, Snack
Cuisine American
Type Beef Jerky
Flavor Spicy
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours
Servings 5
Calories 184kcal
Author Will

Ingredients

Lean Meat

Marinade

  • 1 ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 2 whole habaneros 3 if extra hot is wanted
  • 2 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • ¾ cup cold water
  • ¼ teaspoon curing salt optional

Instructions

  • Trim all visible fat from the beef and place in freezer for an hour or two to partially freeze.
  • While the meat is in the freezer, combine marinade ingredients in a blender and blend until the peppers have been chopped into very small pieces. Place in a bowl or ziplock bag.
  • Remove the meat from the freezer and slice ¼" strips against the grain for an easy chew. Cut with the grain for a more chewy jerky. 
  • Add sliced beef to the mixture in the ziplock bag or bowl and marinate for 8-24 hours in the refrigerator.
  • After the meat has finished marinating, remove from refrigerator and strain excess marinade in a colander and pat dry with paper towels.
  • Load dehydrator trays with jerky strips leaving room for air to circulate I used my Excalibur Dehydrator and dried for 3 hours at 165°F and 1 hour at 145°F
  • The jerky is finished when it bends and cracks, but does not break in half.

Notes

  • Omit Habaneros if you don't want a spicy jerky
  • Wash hands before handling meat
  • Make Sure to use a blender to incorporate ingredients
  • Adjust the amount of peppers to your liking

Nutrition

Serving: 0.15lb | Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 683mg | Potassium: 268mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 6.6mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 2.6mg