The Best Ever Venison Jerky Recipe for Snacking (2024)

While that statement may seem just a little over the top my philosophy is, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”!

My family and I love jerky!

This has been our go-to venison jerky recipe for 20 years.

I’m pretty sure that if I made it any other way I would have a rebellion on my hands the likes of which Darth Vader and the Empire have never seen.

And I love giving it away as Christmas gifts as well. At least the stuff I’ve hidden well enough that no one finds it.

If I don’t hide it, it just seems to disappear.

Totally into thin air.

No one will fess up.

Did I mention it’s really good jerky?

Every year at hunting season, we are blessed with venison. I usually have a whole one that is reserved just for jerky and sausage making.

The last several years, that has been about 70 pounds of venison sliced for jerky and ground for burger each year.

And that, my friends, is a LOT of deer jerky!

I make Peppery Deer Sticks and Summer Sausage out of the ground meat as well. And we enjoy the roasts and backstraps of the others all winter long.

A special favorite is the Crockpot Venison Goulashon busy nights.

Today, we’re going to focus on the jerky, though.

Venison jerky stores well, is easy to take on hikes or camping trips, and is packed with protein.

And It’s great for snacking on at any time.

It’s also incredibly easy to make.

Which y’all know makes me happy dance. 🙂

This recipe is a little vague.

It’s less a recipe per se, and more a tutorial.

But here we go.

Best Ever Venison Jerky

• 1 venison backstrap
• 1 15 oz bottle soy sauce (I use Kikkomen)
• I capful of liquid smoke (unless you’re going to put it in the smoker, which I like to do)
• Homemade Lemon Pepper
• Dehydrator (this dehydrator is the one I have and I love it!)

If your deer meat is not already sliced, slice it as thinly as you can. Meat slices easier if it is partially frozen.

After it’s sliced let the meat thaw completely.

While the meat is thawing, mix up the marinade.

My venison jerky marinade is so simple! Just mix soy sauce and the liquid smoke (if you’re using it) in a large bowl.

Place the thawed meat into the bowl in layers.

I like to turn the first layer of meat a few times to let the marinade get all through it. And then repeat that with the next layers.

If you’re not using the liquid smoke, you can put some meat in the bowl, pour some of the soy sauce over it, and then add more meat.

When all the meat has been added to the bowl, make sure the it’s all submerged as much as possible.

If you have too much meat for the marinade, mix up some more in the same ratio and pour it over the top.

Marinating Your Venison Jerky

Now cover the bowl and put it in the refrigerator. You need to let the meat marinate for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours.

Every once in a while take it out and turn the meat so that it all gets marinated evenly.

After about 16 hours it will have absorbed all or most of the soy sauce mixture. And it will look darker like this.

At this point you have 2 options.

Option 1: Smoking

If you didn’t use the liquid smoke and you want to put it in the smoker here’s what I do.

I use parchment paper and make parcels.

Get a piece of parchment paper and put some of the meat in the middle a few layers deep.

Now, pull the longer ends up together and fold them over several times til you get down to the meat.

Then take the unfolded ends and fold them up on each side.

And then take a skewer or sharp fork and poke holes all over it. Top, sides, and bottom. That way it gets smoke in all over.

Then load them into the smoker. Just have it hot enough to make smoke.

I usually smoke it for about an hour and then bring it in and put it into the dehydrator.

Our favorite wood for smoking the venison jerky is hickory chips, but apple chips is our second favorite.

Option 2: Dehydrating

The second option is to just put it directly into the dehydrator.

Lay it out on the trays so that it’s not overlapping other pieces.Then sprinkle a liberal amount of the lemon pepper all over it.

Put the trays into the dehydrator and turn it on. If yours has a thermostat set it at 155°F.

After a few hours I usually turn it over. Depending on the dehydrator you have, you may need to swap the trays around to maintain an even heat.

I also consolidate the meat into fewer trays as it dries because it shrinks. I sometimes end up with half the amount of trays that I start with.

Of course, the kids snacking on it before it’s completely dried probably has something to do with that.

Your venison jerky is finished when it’s leathery but still pliable.

The drying time will depend on how thick the meat is, the humidity level, and the temperature of your dehydrator.

It could take as little as 4 hours, and up to 12 or more. After it’s dried, let it cool and then put it in an airtight container.

Option 3: Oven Dehydrating

If you don’t have a dehydrator, no worries!

Spread the jerky slices out on cooling racks over rimmed baking sheets.

The baking sheets catch the drips so they don’t end up in the bottom of your oven.

Set your oven to the lowest setting it has. Mine is 170°F.

Is should dry out faster in your oven because the temperature is usually higher than the dehydrator.

Check how dry it is after about an hour.

You will probably need to turn it over at the same time.

Check the dryness frequently. It’s done when it’s leathery but still pliable.

Storing Venison Jerky

The jerky has enough salt in it from the soy sauce to keep well in an airtight container for a few weeks.

At least, if it makes it that long. 🙂

But for longer storage I seal it with my FoodSaver and put it in the freezer.

And then hide it in the deep dark recesses so I can have some later when no one else is around.

But that’s our little secret…

Do you have a go-to jerky recipe? Share it with the rest of us. Pretty please. 🙂

Blessings!

More delicious kid approved snacks you should make: