Description
Make smoky, tender, protein-packed beef jerky in your air fryer oven! A simple, healthy snack recipe perfect for meal prep or satisfying on-the-go bites.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef:
- 1 lb lean beef (flank steak or top round), thinly sliced
For the Marinade:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the Meat: Pat the beef slices thoroughly dry with paper towels. This helps the marinade absorb and ensures the jerky dries evenly in the air fryer.
- Make the Marinade: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until the sugar is dissolved and the spices are well distributed.
- Marinate the Beef: Add the sliced beef to the bowl with the marinade. Toss well to thoroughly coat each piece. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 4–6 hours or, for the most robust flavor, overnight.
- Preheat the Air Fryer Oven: Set your air fryer oven to 175 °F (80 °C) and allow it to fully preheat.
- Arrange the Beef: Lay the marinated beef slices out in a single layer on the air fryer oven rack or tray. Be sure to leave a little space between each piece for proper airflow and even drying.
- Air Fry the Jerky: Cook for 2–3 hours, flipping the pieces midway through cooking. The jerky is done when it is dry but still has a slight bend and does not snap in half when bent.
- Cool and Store: Remove the jerky from the air fryer and let it cool completely. Once cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Notes
- Marinating overnight intensifies the flavor and tenderness of the jerky.
- Slice the beef as thinly and evenly as possible (⅛-1/4 inch thick) for the best texture.
- If using a basket-style air fryer, work in batches and turn the jerky as it dries.
- For spicier jerky, add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the marinade.
- Finished jerky will keep for up to 1 week unrefrigerated or up to 1 month refrigerated.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 4–6 hours marinating)
- Cook Time: 2.5 hours
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 1 oz)
- Calories: 40
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg