What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear “beef jerky”? If it’s tough, overly salty beef sticks you bought at the gas station during family road trips, prepare to have your mind blown. Beef jerky has come a long way in the last few years.

Jerky is the perfect low-carb snack for people on keto or paleo diets, and it’s driving a lot of innovation. Gone is the leathery texture and overwhelming seasonings. Today, the best beef jerky brands use tender cuts of meat. They have a variety of marinades and seasonings that range from simple, old-fashioned beefy taste to exotic, chef-approved flavors. There’s a jerky out there for everyone. If you’re avoiding beef, you can even find some brands made using other protein sources, like turkey jerky or salmon jerky. Vegans can even enjoy tasty mushroom jerky.

So, whether you’re looking for a convenient on-the-go snack or something to keep you going between meals, you can’t go wrong with some flavorful beef jerky. Not sure what to buy? We’ve made a list of brands that use the best meat to make beef jerky, so you know every bite will be savory, chewy, and delicious. 

Ready? Strap on your hiking boots, grab your backpack and get ready to taste our selections for the best beef jerky that’ll make you forget all about those sorry meat sticks of the past.

1. Jack Link's Jalapeno Beef Jerky 3.25oz

So hot, you'll cry. It’s fresh flavor and incredible taste. Bring on the heat of Jack Link’s Jalapeño Beef Jerky. They marinate their selected cuts of 100% beef in a blend of herbs, spices, jalapeños, and red chilies. The craft continues by slowly cooking the meat over hardwood for a delicious smoky flavor free of nitrates, nitrites, and MSG. It’s a snack guaranteed to bring tears of joy.

$8.99

2. Righteous Felon Baby Blues BBQ Beef Jerky 2oz

Born from a collaboration with Baby Blues BBQ, Righteous Felon has produced a sweet and spicy jerky smothered (and covered) in Sweet Kick BBQ sauce. It’ll set your taste buds alight with a diabolical blend of chipotle, habanero, cayenne, and serrano peppers. Once the initial sweetness subsides, a delicious heat finishes off this flavor roller coaster ride.

$6.79

3. Old Trapper Old Fashioned Beef Jerky 10oz

Get back to basics with Old Trapper Old Fashioned Jerky. Lean cuts of real steak are carefully seasoned and then blended with brown sugar to create a hint of sweetness on top of the savory flavor. Then they're smoked over a wood fire. The result is a tender, never tough, original flavor jerky that’ll be the best you’ve ever tasted.

$17.99

4. Montana Bananas Peppered Beef Jerky 3.25oz

Some things are better thick! Slab-style cuts of beef from 100% top round steak, considered one of the best meats for beef jerky, are carefully seasoned with black pepper, salt, and garlic before heading to the smokehouse. The thicker cut makes for a delicious, chewy snack that’s so good you’ll feel like you’re riding the range and ropin’ doggies before finishing your first bite.

$10.99

5. Brooklyn Biltong Original 2oz

Biltong: Think of it as South Africa's version of beef jerky, but oh-so-much more. It’s beef marinated with spices and vinegar for maximum tenderness before drying slowly for a mouth-watering flavor. Sample a little biltong, and you’ll become a happy convert to understanding how amazing preserved beef can be.

$6.79

6. Country Archer Mango Habanero Beef Jerky 2.5oz

Country Archer worked hard to achieve the perfect balance in their beef jerky. This meaty treat is muy caliente. It’s made from 100% grass-fed beef, the best beef for jerky, with no preservatives or nitrites. You get all the smolder you expect from habaneros complemented by some light mango flavor. The touch of sweetness rounds out the flavor while maintaining its low-carb keto cred.

$8.99

7. Chef's Cut Chipotle Cracked Pepper Steak Jerky 2.5oz

This chef-approved jerky is crafted with the best cuts of beef for jerky and a heat-bringing marinade for the ultimate snacking experience. You get a flavor explosion of chipotle, roasted jalapeños, and fresh-cracked black pepper that can’t be beaten. It delivers extra mouth-watering oomph to every bite. Yes, it’s hot. But trust us, it’s eat-the-entire-bag good.

$8.39

8. Baja Beef Jerky Salsa Fresca 2.5 oz

Things are about to get fresh. This tender jerky combines the authentic flavors of Baja-style salsa into a perfectly tender, beefy bite. This snack is lower in sodium and sugar than other brands and has no gluten, nitrates, nitrites, or artificial ingredients. All you get is the pure, chewy flavor as exciting as the Baja California coast.

$5.99

9. Side Project Jerky Cowboy Beef Jerky 2oz

Looking for a snack that helps you sustain your energy? Side Project has collaborated with Philly's local Rival Bros Coffee Roasters to craft a beef jerky unlike any other. Using tender slices of premium beef, they marinate them in balsamic vinegar and soy sauce before tossing them with a dry rub of coffee and smoked paprika. The meat is then dried slowly for the perfect jerky texture.

$8.99

10. Dietz & Watson Organic Chipotle Beef Jerky 2.5oz

Taste the flavor of tradition in every bite of Dietz & Watson Organic Chipotle Beef Jerky. This snack is made using an old family recipe, meat from the best cuts of beef for jerky — all organic and grass-fed — and a signature marinade made from a blend of fresh seasonings. The combination is then smoked over a hardwood fire. It’s perfect whether your adventure is in the Appalachians or on your couch.

$8.39

11. Oberto All Natural Teriyaki Beef Jerky 3.25oz

Oberto only uses simple, high-quality ingredients that deliver a taste you can feel good about. They hand-select each ingredient and craft a rich, smoked flavor from a harmonious mixture of delicious hardwoods. High in protein and minimally processed, this snack is tasty, honest, rich, and flavorful fuel for your adventures.

$7.99

12. Think Jerky Sesame Teriyaki Grassfed Beef Jerky 2.2oz

Chef Gale Gand brings exotic Eastern tastes to an Old West favorite. As a Michelin-starred chef, she has created a delicious beef jerky recipe that combines sesame, Tamari, and other spices into savory teriyaki that’s the perfect complement to 100% grass-fed beef. It’s a healthy, feel-good meat snack with no nitrites, added hormones, antibiotics, or unnecessary additives.

$7.49

FAQ

What cut of beef is best for jerky?

You might think that making homemade beef jerky requires nothing more than a slab of meat, some liquid smoke, and a dehydrator. And that’s a recipe for disaster. You need to select the best cuts for beef jerky, or the result will be too tough or gristly.

First, you want your meat to be as fresh as possible. Buy it unfrozen from the butcher and store it in the refrigerator until you use it. Beef is safe to use for 3 to 5 days if properly refrigerated. 

Your second consideration is the cut. It might seem counterintuitive, but you don’t want a fatty cut of meat. What makes for a flavorful steak won’t work in jerky. While fat infuses grilled meat with flavor, it can become gristle when dehydrated. No one wants that. 

Look for a lean piece of meat. The best choices are fresh top, bottom, or eye of round, flank steak, sirloin, or short loin. Brisket, chuck, tenderloin, and ground beef will do in a pinch. Avoid skirt steaks and rib cuts. These are either too tough or too fatty to make good jerky. If you’re not sure, consult your butcher.

Follow these guidelines, and you’ll have the best beef jerky recipe that’ll become the people’s choice for delicious snacking.

Is beef jerky good for losing weight?

Beef jerky is a high-protein snack that can work with keto and paleo diets if you check the ingredient list. Some brands use pineapple juice, brown sugar, and other sweeteners in their marinades, increasing the net carbs.

Brooklyn Biltong Original beef jerky recipe is a fantastic choice. It's a meaty snack bursting with flavor, zero sugar, and no artificial preservatives. If you’re looking for a snack with Asian cuisine flavors, Side Project Jerky Pho is another delicious option. It combines star anise, cardamon, and Thai basil into a satisfying low-carb treat.

If you have any questions about the best products to incorporate into a keto or paleo diet, speak with a registered dietitian. They’ll be able to give you the skinny on which ones to choose.

Does Jack Link's beef jerky taste good?

Jack Link is one of the dominating brands in the beef jerky market. They have a wide variety of flavors, and you’ll be sure to find one that you’ll love. 

If you’re a traditionalist who likes their jerky on the sweet side, give their Original Beef Jerky a try. If you want to change things up but still stay authentic, Jack Link's Hickory Smoked Beef Jerky keeps it honest. For the more adventurous eater, there are Jalapeño Beef Jerky and Sriracha Beef Jerky flavors to keep you hopping. 

Once you try one, we’re sure you’ll want to try everything Jack Link has to offer.