Description
Homemade Air Fryer Beef Jerky delivers incredible protein-packed snacking perfection with minimal effort. Lean meat strips seasoned boldly create a protein-rich treat you’ll crave for quick energy and satisfying flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (450 grams) beef sirloin tip steak, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Marinade:
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika)
Instructions
- Craft a flavor-packed marinade by blending soy sauce, Worcestershire, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a mixing vessel.
- Immerse beef strips into the marinade, ensuring thorough coating, and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour or ideally overnight to intensify taste profiles.
- Initialize air fryer at lowest temperature setting (180F/80C), preparing for precision dehydration process.
- Meticulously arrange marinated beef strips in singular layer across air fryer trays, preventing any overlapping to guarantee uniform drying.
- Execute slow-cooking technique for 2-3 hours, rotating strips midway through cooking cycle to promote consistent moisture extraction.
- Verify jerky’s readiness by texture – should appear dry yet maintain slight pliability without brittleness.
- Allow jerky to reach ambient temperature completely before transferring to sealed storage container, which preserves quality for approximately two weeks at room environment.
Notes
- Customize the spice level by adjusting red pepper flakes for a milder or hotter kick.
- Choose lean cuts like top round or sirloin tip to reduce excess fat and ensure better jerky texture.
- Pat beef strips completely dry before marinating to help achieve crispier, more concentrated flavor.
- Test jerky’s doneness by bending a piece – it should crack but not break completely, indicating perfect moisture level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 139 kcal
- Sugar: 5.4 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 3.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.5 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 22.7 g
- Cholesterol: 52 mg