5 Amazing Beef Jerky Recipes

Jerky powers long-distance hikes and makes for a great snack on road trips. But you’re missing out if you only enjoy this dried meat between meals. Adding some strips of beef jerky to the pot is a simple way to boost both the flavor and protein of your meals.  It’s a particular favorite to those who eat beef or follow an all meat diet. Today, we’re sharing five delicious and best beef jerky recipes showing how beef jerky can be so much more than just a snack. You will also want to visit https://www.fatcatjerky.com/ to get some amazing beef jerky!

1. Beef Jerky with Beans

Smoky jerky adds an earthy flavor to this side dish. It is a great substitute for bacon in traditional baked beans. You can always add a diced jalapeño as well for some spicy heat. 

Ingredients

• ½ cup pepper beef jerky, minced
• 3 cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1?½ cups low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Beef Jerky with Beans Preparation

Heat oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Add garlic, bell pepper, and onion to the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Now add broth and other ingredients and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour with occasional stirring. Uncover and cook for about 15 minutes until liquid is reduced by about half, then serve.

2. Beef Jerky Spinach Pasta

Now get ready for a deliciously unique pasta bake that can make your mouth water. Only beef jerky can give you this smoky flavor. 

Ingredients

• ½ cup smoked beef jerky
• 2 cups whole wheat spaghetti, cooked
• ? teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
• ¼ cup diced red onion
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves (optional)
• 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Beef Jerky Spinach Pasta Preparation

Heat oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add jerky, red pepper, garlic, and onion and cook for about 4 minutes until the jerky is tender.

Add pasta and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through. Then pour in the wine and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated (about 3 minutes). Add spinach and remove the skillet from heat. Toss the mixture until spinach is a bit wilted. Lastly, garnish with parsley and Parmesan, and enjoy!

3. Beef Jerky Fried Rice

A few strips of beef jerky increase the flavor of this fried rice recipe to an entirely new level. You can prepare this beef jerky recipe with rice one day ahead of time and finish cooking just before serving if you like. 

Ingredients

• ½ cup sliced beef jerky
• 3 cups warm cooked rice
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 2 beaten eggs
• ½ cup finely sliced scallions
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup chopped white onion
• 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon raw sugar
• ½ cup kettle-cooked, crushed potato chips, and some more for serving
• Cilantro leaves and thinly sliced red onion for serving

Beef Jerky Fried Rice Preparation

Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet or nonstick pan over high heat. Cook mushrooms for about 1 minute until they get brown. Add eggs and stir vigorously for about 15 seconds. Pour in rice and break up any clumps by patting it down and spreading out in an even layer. Then toss everything together. Continue tossing and patting until the grains separate and dry out.  

Add beef jerky, ½ cup potato chips, raw sugar, scallions, and white onion to the rice mixture. Season with salt. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring until the onion is softened. Now pour broth around the edges of the skillet. Continue cooking and tossing this mixture until the broth evaporates.

Finally, serve fried rice topped with cilantro, red onion, and more potato chips.

4. Beef Jerky Tomato Sauce

Beef jerky is the magical ingredient in this quick and easy tomato sauce recipe. To make sure that the beef is not too tough, soften it in boiling water before adding it to the pot. 

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 ounces beef jerky
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) chopped tomatoes
• ½ cup chopped green pepper
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup boiling water
• Pinch of kosher salt

Beef Jerky Tomato Sauce Preparation

Slice the jerky into bite-size pieces using kitchen shears. In a bowl, add 1 cup boiling water and the pieces and set aside.

Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat in a 12-inch sauté pan and add bell pepper, onion, and kosher salt. Sweat until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for about 3 more minutes. Add the tomatoes, the jerky with the soaking liquid, cream, and parsley, and cook for another 9 to 10 minutes. When the sauce is slightly thickened, serve it with rice or pasta and enjoy!

5. Beef Jerky Avocado Salad

This beef jerky recipe uses avocado and roasted corn salad blend all the fresh summer vegetables with smoked pistachios and peppery beef jerky. The outcome is a light avocado salad with abundant hickory and spice, mixed with the coolness of tomato and avocado.

Ingredients

• ½ can shredded jerky
• 5 cubed avocados
• 2 14oz cans corn
• ¼ can hickory-smoked pistachios
• 1 diced tomato
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ minced red bell pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons minced cilantro (reserve 1 teaspoon for garnish)
• ¼ can finely minced red onion (reserve a pinch for garnish)
• 5 thinly sliced radishes (reserve a few slices for garnish)
• 1 minced jalapeno
• 2 limes, juiced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Beef Jerky Avocado Salad Preparation

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a sauté pan and add the corn. Sprinkle on the pepper and salt, stirring constantly, and cook for about 10 minutes until slightly charred. Set aside this mixture. 

Add avocado, diced tomato, jerky, smoked pistachios, radishes, lime juice, cilantro, jalapeno, red onion, and red pepper to a large bowl and toss. Then add the cooled corn to the bowl. Toss with olive oil, pepper, and salt. Garnish with radish, cilantro, and red onion, and serve at room temperature. 

These are only a few of the many delicious dishes that you can prepare using beef jerky. Try them out, then just sit back and let the compliments come rolling in. Happy cooking! 

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