Description
Dr. Pepper Jalapeño Beef Jerky is a flavorful, spicy, and slightly sweet homemade jerky that combines the unique taste of Dr. Pepper soda with a blend of spices and fresh jalapeños. Perfect for snacking, this recipe uses either a food dehydrator or an oven to slowly dry tender beef strips, resulting in a chewy yet tender jerky with a pleasantly spicy kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef
- 1 lb beef (flank steak, sirloin, or round)
Marinade
- 1 cup Dr. Pepper soda
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Additional
- 1-2 fresh jalapeños, thinly sliced (adjust based on heat preference)
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Slice the beef into thin strips against the grain, aiming to keep them uniform in size for even drying.
- Make the marinade: In a medium-sized bowl, combine Dr. Pepper, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, honey, minced garlic, black pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, cumin, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir well until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Marinate the beef: Add the beef strips and sliced jalapeños to the marinade, tossing to coat all pieces evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight for enhanced flavor absorption.
- Preheat dehydrator or oven: Set your dehydrator to 160°F (71°C). If using an oven, preheat it to its lowest setting around 170°F (75°C).
- Arrange the beef strips: Remove beef from marinade, letting excess liquid drip off. Lay the strips in a single layer on dehydrator trays or on a parchment-lined baking sheet, avoiding overlap to ensure proper drying.
- Dehydrate the beef: Dry in the dehydrator for 4-6 hours. If using an oven, leave the door slightly open to allow moisture to escape and dry for 4-6 hours, checking periodically.
- Check for doneness: The jerky is ready when it feels firm yet remains slightly pliable. When bent, it should crack without breaking apart completely.
- Cool and store: Allow the jerky to cool completely before storing in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bag to maintain freshness.
Notes
- For best results, slice beef uniformly thin to ensure even drying.
- Adjust jalapeño quantity according to your preferred spice level.
- Overnight marinating enhances flavor depth but minimum 4 hours is sufficient.
- When oven drying, propping the door open helps prevent moisture buildup and promotes proper dehydration.
- Store jerky in a cool, dry place and consume within 2 weeks, or freeze for longer shelf life.
