Best meat for jerky

Sharon Lehman is a freelance writer and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in food, best meat for jerky, and wellness topics. She is the Small Appliance Expert for The Spruce Eats. Here are the best beef jerky picks of all different shapes, textures, and flavors.

LOLJerky Beef Jerky of the Month Club at Skimresources. Walmart reviewers rated this product 4. The best beef jerky should be soft, but chewy and pack plenty of flavor. Country Archer’s Original Beef Jerky fits the bill.

Country Archer jerky is made from 100 percent grass-fed beef and is free from nitrates, nitrites, and MSG. It’s available in seven flavors, and the brand also offers two turkey jerky flavors along with meat sticks. Although not technically the same as strips of jerky, you’ll notice plenty of jerky brands also offer meat sticks. Chomps takes the cake for best meat stick, which isn’t surprising since its product line is limited to meat sticks only. Project Verified, Whole30 Approved, and keto- and paleo-friendly, since they contain 0 grams of carbohydrates or sugar.

Quality jerky uses quality premium cuts of meat. Whether it’s beef, pork, or poultry, the important thing is to use hand-selected, hand-trimmed meat and look for recognizable, premium ingredients on the label. Another marker of premium quality jerky is the absence of any nitrates or nitrites. Biltong is a South African-style of cured meat that’s been marinated in vinegar and slowly dried with air instead of heat. Brooklyn Biltong boasts a minimal ingredient list, making it suitable for anyone following Whole30, paleo, or keto styles of eating.

There are zero sugars added to this meat, and it contains zero nitrates or nitrites. We love this brand for the simplicity of its ingredient list and because it uses 100 percent grass-fed beef. Buyers rave about the moist, tender texture. Jerky makes for an awesome topping and delicious garnish when you use it to jazz up things like a simple avocado toast or popcorn. If you just can’t get enough beef jerky in your life, you may want to consider a jerky of the month snack subscription. LOLJerky curates beef jerky boxes and delivers them directly to your doorstep.

You get to choose how many bags of jerky you want each month. Keep in mind the more bags you receive, the lower the price per bag. Need your jerky conveniently packaged for brown-bagged lunches and on-the-go snacking? Each mini pouch of steak bites provides 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of sugar per serving. Tasters love the hearty steak flavor balanced with a bit of tangy sweetness from the addition of pineapple powder.

If you’re vegan, vegetarian, or simply looking for more plant-based products in your life, Unisoy Vegan Jerky offers many of the same features as beef jerky. It’s chewy, savory, high in protein, and makes an easy and tasty snack. Beef jerky was my first almost-slip-up after going vegetarian, which is why I was so stoked when a friend recommended this brand. The texture and flavor are on point. Top-notch beef jerky should be made from high-quality grass-fed cattle, tender, and flavorful, as well.