Smoky Cajun Jerky Recipes

CAJUN BEEF JERKY

Steps:

• Trim all visible fat from the beef and place in freezer for an hour or two to partially freeze.
• While the meat is in the freezer, combine the white vinegar, cold water, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, seasoning salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper, horseradish, and red pepper flakes in a bowl or ziplock bag and mix well.
• Remove the meat from the freezer and slice ¼" strips against the grain for an easy chew. Cut with the grain for more chew. Or skip the freezing phase and use a Jerky Slicer for even sliced strips.
• Add sliced beef to the mixture in a ziplock bag or bowl and marinate for 8-24 hours in the refrigerator.
• After the meat has finished marinating, remove from refrigerator and strain excess marinade and pat dry the beef strips with paper towels
• Dry with either a Dehydrator, Smoker, or Oven. A Dehydrator was used above and the jerky was dried for 5 hours at 160 degrees.
• The jerky is finished when it bends and cracks, but does not break in half.

SPICY BEEF JERKY

Steps:

• Whisk together soy sauce, hot water, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, Creole seasoning, and Cajun seasoning in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about 1 minute; stir well. Add beef and toss to evenly coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap; marinate in the refrigerator, 8 hours or overnight. Remove meat from marinade and rinse with hot water.
• Preheat oven to 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Place a pan on the bottom of oven to catch drips.
• Place meat strips on a rack about 1 inch apart from each other; dehydrate in the oven for 5 to 6 hours, or until desired consistency is achieved.

SMOKY CHICKEN JERKY

Steps:

• Cut chicken with the grain into very thin strips, about 1/4-inch thick, while still mostly frozen.
• Mix soy sauce, teriyaki marinade, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, lemon juice, smoked salt, ginger, garlic powder, black pepper, and red pepper together in a small bowl. Place chicken strips in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour marinade over the meat and toss to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees F (80 degrees C). Prepare a jelly roll pan by placing a wire rack on top and coating it with cooking spray.
• Place chicken strips on the rack as close together as possible without having them touch.
• Bake in the preheated oven, flipping halfway, until each piece is a uniform dark orange color and dry inside when cut in half, 4 to 5 hours total.

TOMS OVEN MADE CAJUN CHICKEN JERKY

Steps:

• Mix the salts, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and onion powder together and put into a salt shaker; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 150°F.
• Cut chicken into 1/8th inch strips or 1/8th inch cubes (thickness doesn't have to be exact, can be a little thicker).
• On a cutting board, sprinkle each strip evenly and heavily then with a meat mallet, rolling pin or pan, pound mixture into chicken. Turn chicken over and repeat.
• Place strips in single layer on a oven-safe metal cookie cooling rack (fine mesh or closely spaced bars work best).
• Cook chicken until dry but not brittle, 4 to 5 hours, rearranging once.