How to Make a Simple Teriyaki Ground Beef Jerky Recipe

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One of my favorite jerky recipes is teriyaki. When this particular marinade is mingled with beef, the taste is just so fantastic! The flavor is a balance of sweetness and sourness, making it a delectable family treat. If you can just see the happiness in the eyes of my kids when I prepare this jerky, you will certainly be amused.

Well, there are a lot of jerky recipes out there that you can make in your kitchen. But if you want a basic dish that you can do on the get-go, then you should try the teriyaki ground beef jerky recipe. Although it has a savvy name that can make you feel intimidated, this recipe is very simple to do. All you need to do is to secure the right tools and ingredients. After that, you can start your magic!

Of course, I am generous enough to share my own recipe for this type of jerky. So hop on and start paying attention!

Teriyaki Ground Beef Jerky Recipe

In this recipe, I will be using a special beef cut called as the flank steak. But if this one is not available in your market, you could just use other cuts of beef. Just make sure that they are lean and free from fat.

​Ingredients

Ground beef

  • Brown sugar (1 tablespoon)
  • Kosher salt (1 1/2 teaspoon)
  • Onion powder (1 teaspoon)
  • Garlic powder (1/4 teaspoon)
  • Teriyaki marinade (2/3 cup)
  • Orange juice (1/2 cup; no pulp)
  • Water (1/4 cup)
  • Honey (1 tablespoon)
  • Soy sauce (1 teaspoon)
  • Liquid smoke (1 teaspoon)
  • London broil (3 pounds; ground)

How to Make Teriyaki Jerky with Ground Beef

Step 1: Securing the Meat Ground

ground meat is procced

You can buy high-quality ground meat on your local market. It should be an easy find for you, considering that beef is a common meat. However, if you can’t purchase ground beef, you better make it yourself. Just buy a whole cut and just grind it using a meat grinder.

Step 2: The Marinade

Marinate the ground meat

Use a bowl and pour the onion powder, brown sugar, pepper, salt, and garlic powder together. Just make sure that you whisk them properly so that they can mix evenly. Next, add the teriyaki marinade, honey, soy sauce, orange juice, liquid smoke, and water. Whisk the mixture again until such the time the salt dissolves fully.

Adding the Ground Beef in the Marinade

​After this, put the ground beef in a large zip-top bag. Alternatively, you could also use a large bowl for the placement of the meat. Just make sure that it has enough room to cater for your marinade. Also, you need to coat the entire meat with the marinade so that the flavor would seep into the flesh.

Putting it on the Refrigerator

​Cover the container and put it in your refrigerator. Let it stay there for 8 to 12 hours to guarantee that the marination process is a complete success. Some people would have to refrigerate the meat for a day to make sure that the meat can acquire their intended flavor!

Step 3: Preparing the Ground Meat

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Ideally, the best way to prepare a jerky is by using lean meat strips. They are very easy to dehydrate, which lessens the overall drying procedure. Of course, there is a way to convert a ground beef into strips. Just invest in a jerky gun. I have this one, and it perfectly benefits me, even if I am not making jerkies at all. This tool features a chamber in which you put the meat. Just like a caulking gun, there is a trigger that pushes the meat out from the chamber and through its nozzle.

Initial Drying

Putting back ground meat to refrigerator

Take out the ground beef from the marinade for them to dry. In doing so, you have to pour the marinade out of the bowl. Don’t worry about this since you should be using the same marinade in the first place. Place them back again in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes. This should hasten the drying process. Take note that air-drying in your kitchen counter is not advisable, as some airborne bacteria could land your food.

After this, insert the meat on the chamber of the jerky gun. Next, pull the trigger and the strips would gradually come out from the nozzle of the tool.

Step 4: Dehydrating the Meat

Use another rack to distribute the meat strips evenly. Make sure that the strips won’t have a physical contact with one another (overlapping). Put them in your oven or food dehydrator with a temperature of around 165 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not exceed this temperature range as your goal here is to dehydrate the meat strips, not cook or fry them. With this temperature, the drying time should take around 4 to 7 hours.

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Tips:
  • If you are using an oven, make sure that there is a slight opening on its door. This will allow the movement of moisture and warm air. As a result, the drying process would become more efficient. If you are using a smoker, just open its vent. As for food dehydrators, I think that most of them have integrated mechanism to optimize the movement of warm air.
  • Also, don’t forget to flip the meat strips in the middle of the dehydration. This would ensure that you can get an even result.
  • You can indicate that the meat is already a jerky if it doesn’t have any reddish color. Moreover, you should be able to bend it but not breaking. Ideally, the texture should be firm and chewable. Of course, if it is not fully dry, then the meat is not yet the teriyaki beef jerky that you are waiting for. On the flipside, do not overdry the meat. If you bend the meat and it breaks, then you went overboard. Because of this, there is a need for you to check the meat throughout the drying process regularly.

Preserving the Jerky

I know that preparing a 3-pound jerky might too much for some of you. Of course, it would be too bad if you just throw the leftovers, right. Fortunately, you can preserve jerkies in a very convenient manner. This is because jerkies have a naturally long lifespan. Just store them in an airtight container, and they can last for a month. Moreover, if you put the container in the freezer, it can still be edible after 3 to 4 months.

Preserving the Jerky

This is the main reason why jerkies have been a favorite of many hikers and outdoor adventurers. They are as good as pemmican when it comes to giving nutrients. Since their quality doesn’t wither quickly, they become an excellent source of nourishment for those who have long excursions on the field.

As long as you store them properly, jerkies could become your instant energy boosters!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is teriyaki beef jerky healthy?

Yes, beef jerky is a delicious snack in most situations. It’s low in fat and in calories but it’s high in protein. It can aid in quicker recovery, increased muscle mass, and a fuller feeling during the day. The nutritional critiques of jerky tend to be a little nitpicky. Sure, the sodium content may be a little high but if you limit yourself to one serving and exercise regularly, this should be a non-issue.

Can you marinate beef jerky too long?

Yes, it is possible to over-marinate when you leave the beef in the liquid too long. The marinade draws water out of the meat while pushing salt into it. The meat becomes firmer and saltier as it cooks. So it will eventually become too salty when over-marinated. 2 hours is the minimum time for jerky, and 24 hours is the maximum time. Best option for marinade is 8 hours overnight. To test it, take a chunk and eat the beef jerky.

How long do you dehydrate ground beef jerky?

Dehydrate for 6-12 hours at 145 degrees (F) in a dehydrator. To cool and absorb any excess fat, place the jerky strips on paper towels. The drying time should be between 4 to 7 hours at this temperature. Preheat the oven or food dehydrator between165 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range should not be exceeded because the intention is to dehydrate the meat strips, not to cook or fry them.

What cut of beef should I use to make tender beef teriyaki?

Top round and bottom round cuts are the best cuts for beef jerky since they are lean and juicy. The sirloin tip is incredibly lean, but it’s not that tender and it costs a little more. Flank steak is also lean (though some fat may need to be removed) and juicy, but if cut against the grain, it can be tough.

Conclusion

Making a teriyaki ground beef jerky recipe is a pretty easy procedure. Although it is true that it takes time, the process is straightforward and doable. Moreover, the ingredients are very easy to acquire. You don’t need to scour deeply just to get these meat, condiments, and spices. Just go to your nearest market. I am pretty sure that they are all available.

Moreover, I do recommend that you should practice proper kitchen hygiene when preparing any food. You don’t want your dish to be infected with foodborne illnesses that could send you quickly to the hospital.

Did you learn from this simple recipe? If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, just feel free to ask me! I’ll be waiting! Have fun in the kitchen!

Last update on 2022-09-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3 Comments

  1. Reggie November 14, 2019
  2. Janeane Singleton January 18, 2020
    • Jennifer Smith February 4, 2020

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