I am always looking for convenient snacks that are healthy and will satisfy my hunger pains. One of my favorite go-to snacks is jerky. It's lean, full of protein, and tastes really good too. I used to be intimidated about cooking my own jerky at home because I thought I needed a dehydrator. Turns out you don't need anything but your oven, and you can create the most delicious jerky in whatever flavor combinations you desire. It's super simple, cost effective, and I guarantee you will love it! My method for how to make turkey jerky is easy to follow and you will have so much fun experimenting with new flavor combinations.
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Things You'll Need
4 turkey breast cutlets or 4 boneless turkey breasts
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon fish sauce
Tip
You can flavor your jerky any way that you want! The key is to have enough sodium and intense flavors that will shine through.
Step 1: Thinly Slice the Turkey
Place the turkey meat in a freezer for 60 minutes. Take out of the freezer and place onto a cutting board to slice the turkey. Slice the breasts or cutlets into 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick slices, irregular is fine.
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Tip
Placing the meat in the freezer prior to slicing allows the turkey to be cut easier. Also, the thinner you are able to cut your turkey the quicker it will dry out in the oven.
Step 2: Marinate the Meat
Combine the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, Sriracha sauce, honey, pepper, red pepper flakes, and fish sauce in a large plastic zipper bag. Place the thinly cut turkey slices inside the bag. Let the meat marinate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
Step 3: Thoroughly Dry the Meat
Once the meat has been marinated, let it come to room temperature for about an hour. Then, remove the meat from the bag and discard the marinade. Blot the turkey strips with paper towels until all excess marinade has been removed.
Step 4: Line Baking Sheets and Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit and move the racks up as far as they will go in the oven. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil covering the entire pan. Place a cooling rack or wire rack on top of the baking sheet so that air can circulate all around the jerky in the oven. Layer the strips on the cooling rack leaving a little room around each one.
Step 5: Place Turkey in the Oven
Bake the turkey jerky for 3 to 4 hours depending on the thickness of your meat, turning a few times throughout the cooking process. Turn off the oven after this time and leave the meat in the oven to finish drying for another 1 to 2 hours until the jerky is the right consistency. You'll want the jerky to be able to tear apart, but not break off in a hard piece. Serve after fully cooled or keep in an airtight container for up to 4 months.
Tip
Make sure your oven stays at 175 degrees throughout the cooking process. Some ovens may require you to prop the door open to ensure it stays at the right temp. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your turkey strips.
I can't believe I've been buying jerky my whole life and never knew how easy it was to make my own at home! This would be the perfect snack to have out at a party or to use up any extra turkey around the holidays!