venison jerky

The 5 Best Venison Jerky Recipes for Fall

Ready for an ultimate list of the best venison jerky recipes? Read on.

We've already told you about our favorite venison tenderloin recipes, as well as an epic holiday feast featuring a tenderloin. But what about everybody's favorite venison snack?

We went on the hunt to find you the tastiest and best venison jerky recipes for you to utilize this deer hunting season.

Here they are:

1. Whole Muscle-Cut-Style Venison Jerky

Every now and then, something pops up on our Facebook feed that just blows us away, and this recipe is no different.

We love being able to tear into a hunk of meat that is salty, sweet, and just the right amount of pepper, with enough toughness to put up a fight. This recipe is on our "must-do" list, but take it from the hoards of folks who helped this recipe go viral—if it's worth sharing, it must be good.

Ingredients:

  • Venison
  • Salt (for soak)
  • Commercial Curing Mix (available at sporting goods stores, should contain either sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate)
  • Seasoning Rub (if commercial curing mix comes unseasoned)

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2. Smoked Venison Jerky

Much like the previous recipe, this deer jerky comes in the whole-muscle cut style, but could easily be tweaked to be thinner like its more popular brethren. We love getting natural smoke flavor in meats, especially jerky, so this recipe was an instant winner during our quest for the best.

Ingredients:

  • 1 venison roast, at least 2 pounds
  • 4 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 4 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp. brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp. garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. onion powder
  • ¼ tsp. Bone Dust Barbecue Seasoning and Rub
  • Sriracha to taste
  • freshly ground salt and pepper

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3. Teriyaki Venison Jerky

Everyone loves a little sweet to their spice, and that flavor comes easily with a nice teriyaki marinade. This recipe calls for a smoker, but we think you could achieve similar flavors and texture by adding some liquid smoke and using the oven method, or even a dehydrator if you prefer.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup mirin or sweet cooking wine
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 "coins" of fresh ginger (each about 1/4-inch thick), or 2 teaspoons of powdered ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 pounds trimmed venison

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4. Black Pepper Jerky

For those who like a good kick to their meat, we recommend this delicious recipe which also includes a hearty helping of our second-favorite ingredient: beer. We're imagining a thick, dark stout could add a nice subtle flavor to your venison on this one. Hunt a good deer and put this one to great use. Note: the original recipe uses beef, but can easily be substituted for venison.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups amber ale or lager
  • 2 cups soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons cracked black peppercorns, plus 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper, for sprinkling before drying the meat
  • 2 pounds trimmed venison round or bottom round, about 1 1/2 inches thick

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5. Cidered Venison Jerky

"Cidered, eh?" is more than likely what you're thinking right now, and I can't blame you. Prior to discovering this recipe, it had never crossed my mind to add cider to a jerky marinade, but considering how amazing it tastes in every other recipe, I'm game to give it a try.

This recipe strictly calls for a dehydrator, so if your only option is an oven it may be best to tuck this one away until after you open up that dehydrator you asked for for Christmas (cough, cough).

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds venison, cut into strips
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (smoked salt will also add another level of flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon dried garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried mushroom powder

What You Need to Make Perfect Venison Jerky

1. A Sharp Meat Cutting Knife

Professional 10-Inch Carving Knife - Amazon, $23.99

This 10-inch carving knife is made of German steel and is made to thinly slice meat for jerky. It's dishwasher-safe and features a comfortable handle made to aid you in precise, even cutting.

2. Heat Seal Zipper Bags

ShieldNSeal Zipper Bags (50-Pack) - Amazon, $17.65

These high-quality food saver bags will professionally preserve your jerky, as these are commercial-grade bags. You'll need a heat sealer for this, but you can snag them for under $40, like this one here.

3. A Garlic Seasoning Set

McCormick Garlic Seasoning Set (4-Pack) - Amazon, $13.99

Anytime I cook, I have to throw some kind of garlic flavoring in the mix. Garlic is the deer cane of venison, and this pack even comes with a roasted garlic powder for deeper, more caramelized flavor.

4. A Beef Jerky Slicing Board

Amazon

Advanced Beef Jerky Slicing Kit - Amazon, $49.99

This dishwasher-safe cutting board has adjustable guard rails so you can customize the thickness of your jerky slice. The rails allow you to protect your hands while creating smooth, even, and consistent cuts. It's dishwasher-safe, and even comes with a knife.

5. A Food Dehydrator

Presto Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator - Amazon, $42.42

This electric food dehydrator is the perfect cooking device for some homemade jerky, and it's right around $40. It has a top-mounted fan that provides a circulated air flow for even, consistent cooking.

Editor's Note: Products featured on Wide Open Spaces are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. This post was originally published on January 30, 2016.

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NEXT: BARBECUE BACON VENISON ROLL-UP