Have you been thinking about going keto but don’t know where to start? This keto beef jerky recipe will give you a good idea of the types of foods that are not only keto-friendly but also delicious.
No need to head to the store or specialty shop when it’s so easy to make on your own!
Ingredients for Keto Beef Jerky
- 1 lb. of beef
- 6 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire
- 1 ½ tsp liquid smoke hickory or mesquite
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp black pepper ground
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
Selecting a Beef for Our Recipe
When you are making beef jerky, the fat in the meat makes a big difference. The fatter you are cutting, the more likely your jerky will spoil.
So we used eye of round because it has less fat and it’s affordable, but you can use other cuts like sirloin tip or bottom round too.
For this recipe, I bought Eye of round beef at Walmart for $6.61/per lb.
How to Prepeare the Beef
To Trim the Fat
Connect with Real Jerky Makers
Because the Best Jerky Doesn't Come from a Store
You are trying to make good beef jerky, right? Good jerky does not have any extra fat.
Trim the fat off the meat, so it lasts longer and tastes better.
I weighed the meat before I started making jerky.
To Cut the Beef
Put the beef in the freezer for an hour or two when you remove the fat. You want it to be firm, so it is easier to cut. Do not forget about it!
Now cut the beef into strips no more than ¼ inch thick. Cut across the grain of the meat so that your jerky is more tender and has a better texture.
How to Marinade the Beef
The next step is to mix ingredients in the right proportions with a measuring cup.
Put meat in a container and add the marinade to the meat. Put the container in the fridge for 7-24 hours.
Shake it once or twice so it doesn’t get stuck to one side.
Dehydrating Our Beef
You will need to drain the liquid from your beef. You can do this by placing the beef on a paper towel for a few minutes. The paper towel will absorb any excess marinade, and your beef will be ready to dry. But it’s okay to skip this step.
The dehydration process can take between 4 and 8 hours. It depends on the thickness of the meat, the temperature, and how you are dehydrating it. If you use an electric smoker, the cooking time is between 7 and 8 hours. If you use an oven or a dehydrator, it takes 6 hours at 160 F.
I prefer to use the dehydrator (see the pictures).
- EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION: 600 watts of drying power provides even heat distribution; consistent drying that is four times faster than other food dehydrators
- ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL: The adjustable temperature control (95°F -160°F) gives you the flexibility to achieve the best results when drying different foods that need varying temperature settings
- EXPANDABLE TO 12 TRAYS: Comes with five (13 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 12 trays so you can dry large quantities at once with no tray rotation needed; additional trays sold separately
- EXPANDABLE TO 12 TRAYS: Comes with five (13 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 12 trays so you can dry large quantities at once with no tray rotation needed; additional trays sold separately
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: (2) Fruit Roll Sheet, (2) Clean-A-Screens, a sample of Jerky Seasoning & Cure, and (1) Care & Use Guide
After cooking my jerky, it weighed it. It was 6.63 oz. or 188 grams. The process removed 9.57 oz of weight through the cooking process, equating to a 59% weight loss.
Recipe
Makes 5 servings
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Marinade Time: 7-24 hours,
Drying Time: 4 – 8 hours
| Ingredients | Cost | |
| 1 lb. of beef; I choose Eye of round beef, but any could work | $6.61 per 1 lb. at Walmart | |
| 1 ½ tsp liquid smoke hickory | $1.34 for a 4 oz. container at Walmart (2 tbsp per one oz. means that 1.5 tablespoons equate to 0.26 cents) | |
| 6 tablespoon soy sauce | $1.52 for a 5 oz. container at Walmart (2 tbsp per oz. means that 6 tbsp equates to 0.91 cents ) | |
| 5 garlic cloves | Between $0.4 and $0.5 per whole garlic at Walmart (5 garlic cloves equates to 0.20 cents) | |
| 1 teaspoon sea salt | $1.96 for 2.12 oz. a container at Walmart (6 tsp. per oz. means that 1 teaspoon equates to 0.15) | |
| 3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce | $1.00 for a 10 oz. container at Wallmart (2 tbsp per oz. means that 3 tbsp equates to 0.15 cents) | |
| 1 teaspoon ground black pepper | $3.98 for 3.12 oz. a container at Walmart (6 tsp. per oz. means that 1 teaspoon equates to 0.21 cents) | |
| 1 teaspoon onion powder | Between $4 and $5 for a 1.73 oz. container (6 tsp. per oz. means that 1 teaspoon equates to 0.38 cents) | |
| 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar | Between $2.27 per 16 oz. container in Walmart (6 tsp per oz. means that 1 tsp equates to 0.02 cents) | |
| Total Cost: | $8.89/6.63 oz. (full cost: meat + ingredients) |
Shot Instruction
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb of beef; I choose Eye of round beef, but any could work
- 1 ½ teaspoon liquid smoke hickory
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Cut the fat off your beef, then freeze it for 1 to 2 hours before cutting it into thin slices no thicker than ¼ inch.
- Mix the marinade ingredients in a container and add your beef.
- Put the mixture in the refrigerator for 7-24 hours in the fridge.
- Dry in a food dehydrator at 160 degrees F for 4-5 hours (thin strips) or 5-8 hours (thick strips).
Nutrition
"You might be a redneck if you think that beef jerky and moon pies are two of the major food groups."
-- Jeff Foxworthy
can I cook in the oven on parchment or in an air fryer?
You can cook it in the oven — here are some tips: https://beefjerkyhub.com/how-make-beef-jerky-in-oven
If you use an air fryer, jerky must be cooked slowly and at low heat. You must cook the jerky in the air fryer for two to three hours at a temperature of 210°F (100°C). Low temperatures are necessary to escape the beef’s moisture before the beef strips burn.
You can use an oven and parchment. Just place a drip tray or baking tray under the meat on the rack just in case anything falls off during the drying process.