Making Air Fryer Beef Jerky at home is easier than you think and costs a fraction of store-bought jerky. With simple ingredients and no dehydrator required, this recipe delivers chewy, flavorful jerky that’s perfect for snacking, road trips, lunches, or game day.
If you’re looking for a quick way to make homemade beef jerky, the air fryer is a game changer.
Beef jerky is the perfect snack recipe for on the go. If you love homemade jerky too, then you will love this air fryer recipe. There is no need to us a dehydrator for this recipe. The air fryer does all the work and the results are chewy jerky with amazing taste.
I was amazed how easy it was to make Homemade beef jerky thanks to the air fryer. It taste so much better than store-bought jerky because how tender it cooks and packed with intense flavor.
We love using the air fryer for many recipes. Check out some of my other favorite snack recipes – Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza and How to make Air Fryer Pizza Rolls.
Ingredients
- Beef Steak – Choose top round or sirloin and trim any of excess fat
- Soy Sauce – See Best Soy Sauce Substitute if you need to use a gluten free option.
- Worcestershire Sauce – See The Best Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes if you are out.
- Brown Sugar – Try making Homemade Brown Sugar with pantry ingredients. You can even substitute with honey
- Garlic Powder – If you are check out, The Best Garlic Powder Substitute
- Onion Powder – Best Onion Powder Substitutes if you are looking for a substitute.
Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe details.
How to Make Easy Beef Jerky in the Air Fryer
Step 1 – Slice the beef steak against the grain into thin strips, about ¼ inch thick.
Step 2 – In a large bowl or resealable plastic bag, whisk together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
Step 3 – Add the sliced beef to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or seal the bag, and refrigerate for 4-8 hours, or overnight for a more intense flavor.
Step 4 – Preheat the air fryer to 180°F. Remove the beef slices from the marinade, drain and pat them dry with paper towels. Discard the remaining marinade.
Step 5 – Arrange the beef slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap. You may need to cook the beef in multiple batches.
Step 6 – Air Fry the beef jerky in the air fryer for 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, or until the jerky is dry and firm, but still slightly pliable. Check the jerky every 30 minutes and flip the slices over for even drying.
Step 7 – Remove the beef jerky from the air fryer and let it cool completely at room temperature.
Air Fryer Beef Jerky
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef steak such as top round or sirloin, trimmed of excess fat
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
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Instructions
- Slice the beef steak against the grain into thin strips, about ¼ inch thick.
- In a large bowl or resealable plastic bag, whisk together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Add the sliced beef to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or seal the bag, and refrigerate for 4-8 hours, or overnight for a more intense flavor.
- Preheat the air fryer to 180°F. If your air fryer doesn’t have a low temperature setting, use the lowest setting available.
- Remove the beef slices from the marinade and pat them dry with paper towels. Discard the
- remaining marinade.
- Arrange the beef slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap. You may need to cook the beef in multiple batches.
- Cook the beef jerky in the air fryer for 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, or until the jerky is dry and firm, but still slightly pliable. Check the jerky every 30 minutes and flip the slices over for even drying.
- Remove the beef jerky from the air fryer and let it cool completely at room temperature.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Expert Tips
- Slicing Steak – If the steak is partially frozen, it will be easier to slice thinly. Make sure to trim fat from the steak.
- Marinade – For the best flavor, make sure to marinade cut of beef for at least 4 hours. We like to marinate overnight.
- Cooking Beef – Make sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure the steak if cooked to internal temperature of 160 degrees.
Variations Ideas
- Teriyaki Sauce – You can marinate beef strips in a teriyaki sauce mixture.
- Smoked – Add in liquid smoke to the beef marinade for amazing variation.
- Spicy – To add some heat to the jerky, you can include 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper in the marinade ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend using a lean cut of beef for the best option. Top round steaks or sirloin tip is what we recommend. The type of beef will determine if you want a chewy textures or a softer texture.
Yes, you can make Beef Jerky in the oven, just make sure to lay on a rack to bake to ensure it dries out evenly.
Store the leftover jerky in an airtight container. If you place in a zip lock bag, make sure to remove in any air so the jerky will last longer. Store at room temperature for 2 weeks or a little longer in the fridge.
Yes, air fryers work well for jerky because they maintain low heat and consistent airflow.
Most jerky takes about 2 hours, depending on thickness and air fryer model.
Yes! Place beef jerky in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
If you love this Air Fryer Beef Jerky Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review. We love to hear from you.
This beef jerky turned out with the best flavor and texture.