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How to Make Turkey Jerky

How to Make Turkey Jerky
  • Prep 30 min
  • Total 5 hr 0 min
  • Servings 12
Learn how to make homemade turkey jerky using just your oven!
By Macheesmo
Updated March 7, 2017

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless turkey breast, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha chili sauce
  • 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoons coarse ground black pepper

Steps

  • 1
    Stick turkey breast in the freezer for 20-30 minutes so it firms up. Then use a very sharp knife to slice the breast into thin, 1/8-inch slices. Try to make them as uniform as possible.
  • 2
    Combine turkey slices in a medium-sized bowl with all other ingredients. Stir together and let sit for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • 3
    Scoop turkey into a colander in the sink and let extra marinade drain off.
  • 4
    Preheat oven to 175° F. Place 2 wire racks over baking sheets and lightly oil them with a neutral oil.
  • 5
    Carefully place turkey slices on wire racks. Make sure no slices are overlapping.
  • 6
    Bake turkey for 2 hours, then flip pieces and bake for 2 more hours. You could go longer if you want the jerky even chewier.
  • 7
    Cool jerky and store in an airtight container in the fridge for freeze for longer storage.

No nutrition information available for this recipe

  • If you’ve ever bought jerky, you might have had a shock at the cash register. It can be expensive for not very much jerky at all. Luckily, making jerky at home is very easy—and you don’t need a dehydrator like many people think. You can make it in your oven! For this version I made a slightly spicy homemade turkey jerky that’s addictive and delicious. You want to bake these strips at 175ºF for FOUR hours at a minimum. The very low temp will basically slowly cook the turkey, but mostly just dry it out—which is exactly what you want. After the first two hours in the oven you'll flip your turkey strips so they cook evenly. It’s a waiting game, but luckily not hard. It’s pretty much impossible to overcook them. After four hours the jerky strips will be dark brown and really chewy. If you want your jerky chewier, you can bake it for another hour or so. You can also pull off pieces that are done and cook any thicker pieces longer. Theoretically, this jerky would be fine in an airtight container at room temperature since it’s cured and dried, but we recommend storing it in the fridge just to make sure it’s safe to eat. It won’t last long either. It’s so delicious, you'll find yourself grabbing a piece or two every time you open the fridge!
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