Justine Sterling
Gwynedd Stuart
Danny Palumbo
The best beef jerky is the perfect in-between food. You eat beef jerky between meals to quell hunger pangs. Beef jerky is eaten in between places, too; it’s the quintessential road trip food. Gnawing on some jerky you bought from a gas station behind the wheel of a car? Partner, that there is called the American experience. Beef jerky even gets stuck in between your teeth. If you have trouble remembering to floss, might we recommend eating beef jerky every day to get in the habit?
What we were looking for in the best beef jerky
We love beef jerky because it’s portable, has a long shelf life, and is a delicious source of protein. But what’s the best beef jerky? Well, we wanted that perfect texture. Jerky shouldn’t be so damn tough that it’s like chomping down on shoe leather, but it shouldn’t be curiously soft and mushy, either. We wanted fibrous, fleshy jerky. Unique flavor is a bonus (unless it’s a fruit flavor—fruit flavored jerky did NOT hit for us), but plain jerky can still wow if the texture is good enough.
Over the course of three different taste tests, including one you can watch below, we tried 30-plus beef jerky styles, flavors, and brands to find the very best beef jerky out there, available in grocery stores, convenience stores, and, of course, gas stations.
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- Simms Original Biltong
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Biltong is a South African type of jerky made with a variety of meats ranging from game like ostrich to America’s favorite, beef. It is sometimes cut into strips, but Simms (Aldi’s jerky brand) cuts their biltong into small, thin flats. We’re talking seriously thin. While biltong is most commonly associated with jerky, this one tastes closer to bresaola, Italian air-dried, salted beef. The flavor is pure beef with a hint of pepper on the end. It’s chewy and delicate and very different from your typical jerky eating experience. I’ve been seeing more and more biltong brands pop up, but this is the best biltong I’ve tried so far. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Aldi
- Jack Link’s Wild Heat Beef Jerky
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This is really, really spicy beef jerky. A lot of companies say their product is hot, but don’t deliver on the heat. Not Jack Link’s Wild Heat. Good lord, these will singe your tongue. The heat rises, stays, and it’s delightful. It kind of reminds me of the super-intense Paquis Ghost Pepper chips. If you like hot-ass jerky, then Jack Link’s Wild Heat is the best beef jerky for you. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Jack Link’s Extra Tender Original Beef Steak Strips
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I know, the package is labeled as tender, but somehow it’s the chewiest jerky on this list. Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling likes to really gnaw on her jerky. “I want it to be an activity,” she said. I reckon Justine can’t be alone here. Chewing tough jerky is a pleasant activity and passes the time. However, if Jack Link’s Tender was any tougher, these flavorful little strips of jerky would be meat-gum™. Still, the flavor is pleasantly salty, and if you like your jerky to be gnawable, this is the best beef jerky for you. It’s a great road trip snack that I’m sure you’ll see at most gas stations. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Beef Jerky
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If you hate dry, dusty beef jerky, Trader Joe’s Beef Jerky is downright wet. I mean, I described it as wet during our taste test, but really I mean moist—slick and toothsome rather than desiccated and powdery like a lot of beef jerky. It’s sweet and salty in equal measure—the flavors really work together perfectly. Note: Don’t accidentally buy Trader Joe’s Organic Beef Jerky; dusty, musty city! —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Tillamook Zero Sugar Teriyaki
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Teriyaki flavored snacks are often sweet and savory—but not this one. If you’re looking for that, you’re better off with Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Beef Jerky. Tillamook’s Zero Sugar Teriyaki is all about savory soy flavors. As a savory person, I adore that, and I’m glad they didn’t decide to replace sugar with an overly sweet artificial sweetener. If you have a salty tooth instead of a sweet tooth, this is the best teriyaki beef jerky out there. —Justine Sterling
- Great Value Peppered Beef Jerky
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The pepper flavor of this peppered beef jerky is outstanding. This isn’t ground pepper powder, mind you, these are peppercorns. The whole chunks of smashed peppercorns punch you in the mouth with a pungent and earthy fist. To me this feels like a chef seasoned this bag of jerky; it’s bold and flavorful. The texture is great, too. It’s got that coarse tissue quality we look for in the best beef jerky. There’s also MSG and dried soy sauce, so you really feel the umami. I love this jerky so much, I made sure to take it home with me after the test. Great Value coming in hot with the best peppered jerky. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Beef Jerky
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We tasted a lot of newfangled flavored beef jerky in our most recent beef jerky taste test. Beef jerky that tastes like Doritos, beef jerky that tastes like mangoes, and beef jerky that tastes like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (which, as it turns out, isn’t a great idea). This was the only flavored beef jerky we tried that really made us experience something resembling joy. It’s sweet and sticky, but still has plenty of chew. We want chew! So many of the sweet and spicy-sweet jerkies we tried had a coating that made them feel mushy and soft in your mouth. This is sweet and full of flavor, but it still resists when you bite (positive). —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Tillamook Country Smoker Original Beef Jerky
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This jerky from Tillamook (no relation to the cheese and ice cream company) is fantastic. The texture is the biggest selling point. It almost gives the impression of being homemade with its meaty, fibrous texture. You can easily rip this jerky apart with your teeth and howl at the moon like an animal. “This is meat,” said Justine. A simple, yet profound statement. Tillamook beef jerky tastes natural. It’s a chewy, delightfully slow snack that maybe could use a bit more flavor. But if you’re in it for the meat, Tillamook is the best beef jerky brand for you. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Old Trapper Hot & Spicy
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You can see the red pepper seeds and flakes on this spicy beef jerky, so consider yourself warned. While it’s not as straight-up hot as Jack Link’s, it is actually spicy—but not so spicy that you won’t come back for another piece almost immediately. The flavor is incredible—it actually tastes like fresh, real chile pepper. But there’s also a hint of sweetness to balance out the spice and the savory, salty meat. This is the best beef jerky according to my own, personal tastes, but because spice isn’t for everyone, I’m holding it back from the top spot. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Old Trapper Old Fashioned Beef Jerky
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This beef jerky takes the crown for best overall flavor and texture. Old Trapper is smoky, salty, and sweet. The texture is spot on, too. It’s chewy, but not so tough that it feels like you’re nibbling on an end table. This jerky beckons you to buy it with its glistening chunks of beef protruding through its see-through bag. The strips of jerky look like meaty hunks of beef, not pieces of paper. This is the most savory of the jerky we tried, and the flavor is just incredible. We think you’ll love it. After three separate taste tests, it’s still the best tasting beef jerky. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Ryan Martin / Target
Best Biltong
Best Very Spicy
Best Road Trip Snack
Best Budget
Best Zero Sugar Teriyaki
Best Pepper Flavor
Best Teriyaki Beef Jerky
Best Plain
Best Spicy (Not Too Spicy)
Best of the Best
Other beef jerky brands we tried in our taste test
Oberto Teriyaki, No Man’s Land Beef Jerky, Archer Grass-Fed Classic Zero Sugar, Simms Original, Simply Nature Original, Archer Mustard BBQ, Homegrown Meats Tangy Orange Teriyaki, 365 Peppered Beef Jerky, 365 Hot & Spicy Beef Jerky, Simms Teriyaki Beef Biltong, Simply Nature Teriyaki, No Man’s Land Beef Jerky, Simms Peppered Beef Jerky, Jack Link’s Teriyaki, Great Value Original Beef Jerky, Bridgford Original Beef Jerky, Chef’s Cut Chipotle Pepper Steak Jerky, Oberto Original, Kirkland, Kroger Smokehouse Jerky, 365 Original, Perky Jerky, Trader Joe’s Natural Beef Jerky, Krave Original, Epic Venison with Beef Bites, Jack Links Spicy Red Pepper, Bridgford Roasted Garlic Sweet Baby Ray’s, Bridgford Sweet Baby Ray’s, Bridgford Honey BBQ, Jack Links Duos Mango Jalapeno, Jack Links Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili, Jack Links Flamin’ Hot, Jack Links Bacon Jerky, Archer Mango Habanero
Jordan Myrick
