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A lot of people buy readymade smoked beef jerky. But when you discover how easy a homemade jerky recipe is, you’ll want to try it! This gluten free and paleo beef jerky is bursting with wonderful flavor making it a favorite homemade beef jerky recipe. It is a great recipe for a smoker like a Traeger grill. Read on for all the details for how to make this pellet grilled smoked beef jerky.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker like a Traeger grill. You will love this healthy homemade beef jerky!

Get ready to elevate your snack game with homemade smoked beef jerky! This protein-packed snack is easy to make at home and tastes amazing.

More tasty recipes you might like include smoked beer can chicken, bacon cheddar stuffed burgers and Greek chicken gyros.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker like a Traeger grill. You will love this healthy homemade beef jerky!

Homemade beef jerky makes a great snack and it’s fun to experiment with other flavours. It will keep for several months (well, maybe not in this house!) and still be just as delicious.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares how to make homemade smoked beef jerky. It makes a healthy snack!

What Beef is Best for Smoked Beef Jerky?

If you want to know how to make beef jerky, you’ll be curious which type of beef works best. Flank steak is ideal. Choose the leanest cut you can find and trim off visible fat before making your jerky. This is the key to delicious jerky!

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker like a Traeger grill. You will love this healthy homemade beef jerky!

Bottom round steak and top round are also tasty and lean. London broil is another option for your homemade jerky recipe. Sirloin tip is lean but less tender and it costs more too. Tenderloin makes a wonderful homemade jerky recipe but it’s expensive.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares how to make homemade smoked beef jerky. It makes a healthy snack!

To ensure the best texture, you need to cut the meat just right. This is just as important as choosing a good cut. Slice it against the grain and take your time to get the thickness right. If it’s too thick it will be chewy and if it’s too thin it will dry out during dehydration. Practice makes perfect!

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares how to make homemade smoked beef jerky. It makes a healthy snack!

Traeger Beef Jerky Ingredients

The ingredients I used to flavour the jerky were coconut aminos, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, onion, chilli powder, and black pepper. These ingredients include sweet, savoury and spicy elements.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares how to make homemade smoked beef jerky. It makes a healthy snack!

This is a great recipe smoking beef jerky on a pellet grill or pellet smoker like a Traeger grill. Not everyone has a smoker but it’s a great investment! Especially for smoked beef jerky fans. An electric smoker will work, too. This Traeger jerky recipe is so easy and will become your go-to recipe!

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker like a Traeger grill. You will love this healthy homemade beef jerky!

How to Make Smoked Beef Jerky

You need to whisk all the jerky marinade ingredients together until well combined. The meat needs to be cut against the grain into ¼-inch thick slices with a very sharp knife. Next add the beef slices to the marinade and let it marinate overnight (or for at least 3 hours) in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap or in a sealed container. In fact you can marinate it for up to 4 days for the richest flavour.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker. You will love this gluten free and paleo beef jerky.

The pellet grilled smoker to smoke beef jerky needs to be 165 degrees F. This is a typical temperature for a recipe for a smoker like a Traeger grill. Smoking temperatures are always cooler than grilling ones. A low temperature like this is perfect for making jerky.

After the meat has marinated, you will want to try to remove the excess marinade. Remove from the refrigerator and place the slices of meat on a cookie sheet lined with foil and paper towels. Place down one layer of meat, and then add a paper towel layer. Continue this layering until you have placed all of the meat on the baking sheet. Absorbing the extra moisture will help the meat cook more evenly.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker. You will love this gluten free and paleo beef jerky.

When it’s hot enough, arrange the sliced beef strips on the grill grates and smoke jerky for 4 hours. If it’s done you will be able to pick up a strip by one end. It should be firm but a little pliable. If it bends a lot, give it another half-hour and check again.

Let the homemade smoked jerky cool on a wire cooling rack and enjoy! I am certain it won’t last long once it is cooled, so it is good thing that making beef jerky is so easy. Store the jerky strips in an airtight container.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker. All the directions for how to make smoked beef jerky.

Tips for Homemade Beef Jerky

If you aren’t confident in cutting the beef the right thickness, just ask the butcher to do it. Discovering how to make smoked beef jerky is even simpler if the meat is sliced already! Another way to simplify the cutting is to pop the beef in the freezer to partially freeze for half an hour first. This makes it harder so it’s easier to get the cuts the right thickness. A meat slicer will also work if you have one.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker. You will love this gluten free and paleo beef jerky.

No smoker but in the mood for smoked beef jerky? You can make it in the oven or in a dehydrator set around the same temperature. You won’t get the same smoky taste but you could always add a few drops of liquid smoke to the recipe for a similar result.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker. You will love this gluten free and paleo beef jerky.

To make the most flavourful pellet grilled smoked beef jerky, arrange the sliced meat strips not touching in a dish. Then pour the marinade over it. This ensures all sides of every meat strip are in contact with the marinade. Whisk the marinade well before adding it to the beef.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker. All the directions for how to make smoked beef jerky.

How to Cut Meat for Beef Jerky

It’s important to cut your meat perfectly. Press down on the beef with one hand. You need to put some pressure on it (enough to leave indentations!) Cut it into thin strips (about ¼-inch is good) using the sharpest knife you have. This is a good tip for any recipe for a smoker like a Traeger grill. Sharp knives are your friend!

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker. All the directions for how to make smoked beef jerky.

How to Eat Smoked Beef Jerky

This pellet grilled gluten free and paleo beef jerky makes a great snack by itself. It’s easy to carry around and is always tasty. There are some other ways to enjoy it though. Cut or crumble yourhomemade beef jerky up and then try one of these:

  • Crumble it over salad.
  • Simmer it in tomato sauce then serve over spaghetti and meatballs.
  • Mix it into cornbread to add meatiness.
  • Toss it into Brussels sprouts instead of bacon.
  • Add it to beans along with a pinch of cumin.
Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares a smoked beef jerky recipe for a pellet grill or a smoker. All the directions for how to make smoked beef jerky.

Homemade Jerky FAQs

What type of wood chips are best for smoking jerky?

Oak, pecan, hickory, maple or apple are good options for wood chips.

Do I flip the jerky while smoking it?

No, you do note need to flip your jerky during the smoking process.

How do you know when beef jerky is done?

Smoke the jerky until it bends but doesn’t crack. To test, take a piece from the smoker and let it come to room temperature. If it is pliable when you fold it in half and the meat fibre is starting to break but looks chewy then it is done. If the jerky is floppy, then put it back into the smoker. If it snaps in half, then you have already overcooked it.

How long can you keep smoked beef jerky for?

If you store homemade beef jerky in an airtight container at room temperature, it will last about a week. If you store your jerky in the refrigerator in an airtight container, it should last 1 to 2 weeks.

Food blogger, Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella, shares how to make homemade smoked beef jerky. It makes a healthy snack!

Homemade Smoked Beef Jerky Recipe

5 from 56 votes

Homemade Smoked Beef Jerky

Smoked beef jerky is a favourite! This gluten free beef jerky is bursting with wonderful flavour making it a favourite homemade beef jerky recipe. It is a great recipe for a smoker like a Traeger grill. Read on for all the details for how to make this pellet grilled smoked beef jerky.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 1/4 pound servings (3 lb jerky total)

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Combine coconut aminos, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, onion, chili powder and black pepper in a large, sealable mixing bowl. Whisk well.
  • Slice steak into ¼” thick slices against the grain. Add to the bowl and seal. Place into the fridge and let marinate at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
  • After the meat has marinated, remove from the refrigerator and place the slices of meat on a cookie sheet lined with foil and paper towels. Place down one layer of meat, and then add a paper towel layer. Continue this layering until you have placed all of the meat on the baking sheet. Absorbing the extra moisture will help the meat cook more evenly.
  • Set smoker to 165 degrees F and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes.
  • Once preheated, arrange sliced steak directly on the grill grate and smoke for 4 hours.
  • Check to be sure the jerky is done by lifting one end of the meat, if it holds its shape (and is somewhat pliable) the jerky is ready. If it bends too much, place back onto the smoker and check again after 30 minutes.
  • Place on a wire rack lined baking sheet to cool for 30 minutes. Store any leftovers in a ziplock in the fridge.

Notes

  • Oak, hickory, pecan and apple woodchips are good options for jerky

Nutrition

Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 653mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Don’t be fooled by store-bought jerky that’s often loaded with preservatives and additives – make your own and you’ll taste the difference! Perfect for on-the-go snacking, road trips, or game day munchies. Give this homemade smoked beef jerky a try and you’ll never go back to store-bought again.

Let me know if you try to make jerky in a smoker. It is a great recipe for a smoker like a Traeger grill. This homemade beef jerky just happens to also be a gluten free and paleo beef jerky, too! All the details are above for how to make this pellet grilled smoked beef jerky….so enjoy!

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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Recipe Rating




5 from 56 votes (52 ratings without comment)

6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is my go to jerky recipe. So simple and the results are wonderful. My wife and I can’t go back to store bought.