Description
Homemade Air Fryer Beef Jerky brings bold, savory flavors straight to your kitchen with minimal effort. Lean meat marinates in zesty spices before crisping perfectly, delivering protein-packed snacks you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) beef sirloin or flank steak, trimmed of fat and sliced thinly
Liquid Marinade Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) soy sauce
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
Dry Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Prepare beef by partially freezing for 30 minutes, which enables precise cutting against the grain into ultra-thin strips approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
- Create a robust marinade by whisking together soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Thoroughly coat beef strips in the marinade, ensuring complete coverage. Seal and refrigerate for minimum 4 hours, ideally overnight, allowing flavor penetration.
- Configure air fryer to lowest temperature setting of 180F (82C), creating optimal dehydration environment.
- Extract beef strips from marinade, meticulously blotting excess liquid using paper towels. Strategically position strips in single layer within air fryer basket, preventing overlap to guarantee uniform drying.
- Initiate air frying process at 180F for 2-3 hours, rotating strips midway through cooking. Monitor texture progression, aiming for dry, chewy consistency without brittleness.
- Allow jerky to cool completely at room temperature. Transfer to hermetic container or sealed bag, maintaining freshness at room temperature for one week or refrigerating for extended preservation.
Notes
- Slice beef partially frozen to achieve uniform, paper-thin strips that dry evenly and prevent uneven texture.
- Choose lean cuts like top round or sirloin tip to minimize fat content, ensuring jerky remains shelf-stable and prevents rancidity.
- Experiment with alternative marinade ingredients like coconut aminos for gluten-free options or add liquid smoke for enhanced smoky flavor without additional equipment.
- Pat beef strips thoroughly dry before air frying to accelerate dehydration process and create crisp, chewy jerky with concentrated flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours (or 3 hours)
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg