We’re often asked, can you make beef jerky in an air fryer? While we prefer to smoke our premium jerky, our answer is a resounding, Yes!

If you’re looking for a jerky recipe to make air fryer jerky, you’ve come to the right place. 

Can you air fry jerky?

You can absolutely air fry the meat you want to make into jerky. Though air fryer temperature settings may not go as low as those of traditional dehydrators, making air fryer jerky can still be fun and fruitful with a good recipe and a little practice. This step-by-step guide focuses on making beef jerky in an air fryer, but you can also experiment with using deer, turkey, buffalo, or any of your other favorite jerky-making meats. 

How To Make Beef Jerky in an Air Fryer

Our favorite air fryer beef jerky recipe pairs a long marinade time with a relatively quick cook. We think top round or bottom round are the best cuts of beef for jerky, but you can also use sirloin or flank steak in this recipe. 

Supplies

• Air fryer
• Large bowl
• Meat thermometer

Ingredients

• 1 pound top or bottom round ¼- to ?-inch thick and cut into strips
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ? cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp honey or brown sugar 
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp paprika 
• ½ tsp chili flakes (add more if you like it spicy!) 

Directions

1. Mix all the ingredients for the marinade (everything other than the meat) together in a large bowl. 
2. Thinly slice the meat and add it to the bowl, ensuring all its surfaces are covered by the marinade.
3. Cover the bowl and store in the fridge for between 8 and 24 hours.  
4. Remove the meat from the marinade and pat dry with a paper towel. 
5. Arrange the strips of marinated meat in single layers in your air fryer. If necessary, use racks or skewers in your air fryer basket to create layers so the strips don’t overlap.  
6. Air fry at 175 degrees Fahrenheit/80 degrees Celsius for 2 hours. 
7. Check the jerky, noting its texture and its internal temperature. For beef jerky, you’re aiming for a reading of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure doneness, but you can continue to cook the jerky in additional 15-minute increments to reach your desired level of dryness.

Tip: A longer cooking time will make for chewier and tougher air fryer jerky, but not cooking long enough will yield a product that’s too soft. Play around with cook time to find the texture you prefer, just remember you need to test the internal temperature of cooked meat to ensure food safety.

Why air fryer jerky?

Smoked jerky is the best jerky, but if you don’t own a smoker, an air fryer is a suitable option for making homemade jerky. One positive of using an air fryer is that the finished product should be flavorful and uniformly cooked in a relatively short amount of time.

Air fryers are quicker than ovens because they circulate hot air around what they’re cooking. Air fryers distribute heat evenly, so as long as your cuts are uniform and the strips aren’t overlapping, the finished texture of your jerky should be quite consistent. The rapid air movement in the appliance also helps concentrate the marinade’s flavor, intensifying the taste of air fryer beef jerky.

The Downsides of Making Jerky in an Air Fryer

While air frying jerky can be a fun way to use a favorite appliance, there are some factors to consider before investing too much time or money into the process.

Making jerky in an air fryer essentially dries or dehydrates it, but the temperature settings on an air fryer might be higher than what’s generally used to dehydrate meat, so it’s also cooking the meat. To avoid overcooking, you need a machine you can set to 180 degrees Fahrenheit or below. 

Since air fryers are typically not particularly large, you are also limited in how much jerky you can make at once. This is compounded by the fact that you must arrange everything in a single layer to ensure even drying. Still, you may end up with overly dry jerky if you aren’t paying enough attention. Be sure to check your jerky at the 2-hour mark and again every 15 minutes to avoid overcooking. 

If you want to try air fryer jerky, be prepared to go through a few rounds of trial and error. But you may just find a process you love! If you do, be sure to review how to store your jerky for peak flavor and freshness to protect your finished product. 

Using Jerky in Recipes

Whether homemade air fryer jerky or your favorite variety of smoked jerky from Mountain America, jerky is more than just a snack. There are many great ways to use jerky in your favorite recipes or make meals out of jerky when camping. 

Not sure if making air fryer beef jerky is worth it? Check out reviews from our new and longtime customers to see if ordering a jerky sample pack is more up your alley.