14 Best Beef Jerky Brands

We tested the best beef jerky brands on the market for 2023 and this is how they performed.

Updated on June 21st, 2023
If you purchase a product from one of our links below, we may earn a percentage from one of our affiliate partners. This does not impact how we review products. Read more about our review process and affiliate partners.

We tested some of the best beef jerky brands available today according to price, protein per ounce, taste, and ingredients. Read on to see how they performed, which is best for you, and get some valuable buying advice.

Best Beef Jerky Brands

The best beef jerky brands are:

  • Best Overall Beef Jerky Brand: MADE BY TRUE
  • Best Budget Beef Jerky Brand: PEMMICAN
  • Best Tasting Beef Jerky Brand: EPIC
  • Best Beef Jerky Brand with the Cleanest Ingredients: KRAVE
  • Best High-Protein Beef Jerky Brand: SAVAGE JERKY CO.
  • Best Beef Jerky Brand Found Nearly Everywhere: JACK LINK’S

The product comparison table below is sortable. Click the arrow in the heading cell to sort the models by preferred spec.

BRAND AVERAGE
PRICE

PROTEIN

PROTEIN
PER
OUNCE

TYPE

SCORE

1. Made By True $22.46 16 0.71 Beef, Venison 9/10
2. Pemmican $52.00 15 0.29 Beef 9/10
3. Savage Jerky Co. $15.99 10.75 0.67 Beef, Pork 9/10
4. Krave $20.81 8 0.38 Beef, Pork 9/10
5. Epic $31.99 9.20 0.29 Beef, Deer, Chicken, Pork, Bison 9/10
6. Field Trip $24.66 10 0.41 Beef, Chicken, Turkey 9/10
7. Jack Link's $12.24 10 0.82 Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork 8/10
8. Mingua $23.65 14.42 0.61 Beef 8/10
9. Duke's $18.30 7 0.38 Pork 8/10
10. Country Archer $26.69 9.8 0.37 Beef 8/10
11. Chef's Cut $24.95 10 0.40 Beef, Chicken, Turkey 8/10
12. Oberto $34.81 12 0.34 Beef 7/10
13. Three Jerks $53.69 11.4 0.21 Beef 7/10
14. The New Primal $24.95 7.25 0.29 Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Buffalo 7/10

Best Overall Beef Jerky Brand

MADE BY TRUE

Price: $22.46

made by true beef jerky
Pros

✅ Clean ingredients

✅ Tasty

✅ High in protein

Cons

❌ No major cons

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 16
  • Protein per ounce: 0.71
  • Type: Beef, Venison
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Made By True jerky is our pick for the best overall beef jerky brand. It’s one of the best-tasting jerky brands we tested and has one of the cleanest ingredient lists too. Made By True is also Keto, Paleo & Whole30 Diet Friendly. You might think most jerky falls into these categories, but actually, many use refined sugar.

Made By True is technically biltong, which, in short, is a South African style of jerky that is a dry, thick cut. We found this gives a satisfyingly meaty chew. It’s also very high in protein, one of the highest per ounce on our list. The price runs about average, and which we think is amazing for the quality of jerky you are getting with Made By True.


Best Budget Beef Jerky Brand

PEMMICAN

Price: $52.00

pemmican beef jerky
Pros

✅ Best budget jerky

✅ Clean ingredients

Cons

❌ Lower protein per ounce

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 15
  • Protein per ounce: 0.29
  • Type: Beef
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Pemmican is a beef jerky company that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. They stick to four classic beef jerky flavors - Teriyaki, Peppered, Sweet and Hot, and Original. We like that the ingredient list is simple and clean too.

Pemmican is a great budget pick costing the second least on our list. They keep the price low by selling in cases - either 6 x 12-ounce bags or 8 x 2-ounce bags. We think these are a fantastic choice if you’re loading up for a long hike or mailing in resupply boxes. The protein per ounce is lower than other options, but this is one of our top beef jerky.


Best High-Protein Beef Jerky Brand

SAVAGE JERKY CO.

Price: $15.99

savage jerky co beef jerky
Pros

✅ Best high-protein jerky

✅ Good taste

✅ Clean ingredients

Cons

❌ Expensive

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 10.75
  • Protein per ounce: 0.67
  • Type: Beef, Pork
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Savage is all-around great dry beef jerky that you can chew for ages. We like the clean ingredient list without preservatives. Savage dials back the sweeteners, allowing the quality of the meat to stand out. They focus on the spice in many of their flavor offerings, so if you want heat, this is the brand for you.

Try the Carolina Reaper if you dare. The best part for us is how much protein Savage packs into each ounce of jerky, the highest of all the brands we tested. Unique to Savage is its wide variety of bacon jerky.


Best Beef Jerky Brand with the Cleanest Ingredients

Krave

Price: $20.81

krave beef jerky
Pros

✅ Great taste

✅ Clean ingredient list

Cons

❌ Low protein per ounce

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 8
  • Protein per ounce: 0.38
  • Type: Beef, Pork
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

We like Krave for its well-crafted, artisanal jerky. The beef jerky is made with grass-fed beef, and the ingredient list is short and clean, just like we like it. We found the taste to be excellent, one of the best that we tested. A lot of flavors could have been our favorites, but we went with the classic Teriyaki as our top choice.

The price falls in the middle of the jerky we tested, which is impressive given the quality ingredients used. Krave also has a large flavor range, including “plant” jerky made from beans and peas. Our biggest gripe would be that, per ounce, the protein is lower than most brands we tested.


Best Tasting Beef Jerky Brand

Epic

Price: $31.99

epic beef jerky
Pros

✅ Very tasty

Cons

❌ Low protein per ounce

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 9.20
  • Protein per ounce: 0.29
  • Type: Beef, Deer, Chicken, Pork, Bison
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

The thing we like most about Epic is the taste. They are one of the tastiest beef jerky brands we tested. The Bison Bacon Cranberry is one of our favorites. Like Duke's, these “meat bars” are not as dry as traditional jerky and have a chewy texture.

They also have pieces of real fruit in them. This fruit and the higher water content make the protein per ounce lower than more traditional jerky. If you’re prioritizing taste over protein, Epic is our top choice.


Best Beef Jerky Brand Found Nearly Everywhere

JACK LINK’S

Price: $12.24

jack link's beef jerky
Pros

✅ Affordable

✅ Found everywhere

Cons

❌ Rubbery texture

❌ Not great ingredients

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 10
  • Protein per ounce: 0.82
  • Type: Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork
  • Minimally processed?: N
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Jack Link's is found everywhere. Walmart, gas stations, hiker boxes - you name the place, and Jack Link's will be there. It’s a very affordable jerky, the third least on our list. We’re not huge fans, though. The taste is bland, and the texture can be rubbery. Nothing like high-quality jerky that requires time to chew, savor, and ruminate on.

We also found the ingredient list to be less than desirable. It includes maltodextrin and other artificial sweeteners. But if you need beef jerky, Jack Link's will be there.


The Other Noteworthy Models

Field Trip

Price: $24.66

field trip beef jerky
Pros

✅ High in protein

✅ Clean ingredients

✅ Great taste

Cons

❌ Expensive

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 10
  • Protein per ounce: 0.41
  • Type: Beef, Chicken, Turkey
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

We like Field Trip for making minimally processed beef, turkey, and pork jerky and sticks. No preservatives, MSG or Nitrites either. The range of jerky products is smaller than other companies we tested, but they make up for it in taste. This is some tasty jerky!

Field Trip is also high in protein and lower in sugar than other brands. It’s a dry and more traditional style, which tends to be our favorite type of jerky. Great for chewing and crushing miles. The drawback is this is an expensive jerky, the second highest on our list.


Mingua

Price: $23.65

mingua beef jerky
Pros

✅ High in protein

✅ Good taste

Cons

❌ Uses preservatives

❌ Corn syrup

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 14.42
  • Protein per ounce: 0.61
  • Type: Beef
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Mingua beef jerky company has the second highest protein per ounce of all the brands we tested. This is because this stuff is dry; there is almost no water left. But being dry and tough doesn’t mean it’s not tasty; this definitely is.

If you prefer an old-school jerky that can be savored and chewed for miles, this is the brand for you. The downside for us is the less-than-stellar ingredient list. Mingua uses Potassium Sorbate as a preservative, and some flavors feature corn syrup and maltodextrin as sweeteners.


Duke's

Price: $18.30

duke's beef jerky
Pros

✅ Affordable

✅ Tasty

Cons

❌ Lowest protein per ounce

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 7
  • Protein per ounce: 0.38
  • Type: Pork
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Duke’s specializes in “Shorty Sausages,” which are between a true beef jerky and a sausage stick. We think they taste great, with a chewy and chunky texture. They are the cheapest beef jerky company we tested, costing, on average, $1.14 per ounce.

They have the lowest protein per ounce of any beef jerky brands we tested. Likely because the sausage stick is wetter than fully dehydrated beef jerky. We like the Hickory Peach flavor's balance of sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors. The original recipe isn’t necessarily bad, and it’s just a bit plain.


Country Archer

Price: $26.69

country archer beef jerky
Pros

✅ Good ingredients

Cons

❌ Expensive

❌ Not as tasty

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 9.8
  • Protein per ounce: 0.37
  • Type: Beef
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Country Archer has a large selection of jerky and snack sticks. We like that they have a clean ingredient list and use grass-fed beef. We found the taste to be just ok, and the texture was a little moister than some other jerky on the list.

They are one of the most expensive beef jerky brands we tested, likely due to the use of high-quality beef. Try the Mango Habanero flavor if you like sweet and hot jerky.


Chef's Cut

Price: $24.95

chef's cut beef jerky
Pros

✅ Wide variety of flavors

Cons

❌ Middle of the road in all categories

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 10
  • Protein per ounce: 0.40
  • Type: Beef, Chicken, Turkey
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Chef’s Cut scores in the middle of the pack in every category we measured. That’s either a good or a bad thing, depending on if you’re a glass-half-full or half-empty person. We found the texture to be quite dry, which is great if you want a jerky that you can chew on for a while and not be tempted to wolf down.

The flavor of the meat is good, but some of the flavors, especially the sweet ones, can be overpowering. Our favorite was the tried and true Beef Original Recipe because it doesn’t add additional sweeteners or flavoring.


Oberto

Price: $34.81

oberto beef jerky
Pros

✅ Found almost everywhere

✅ Better ingredient list than Jack Link’s

Cons

❌ Not great taste

❌ Lower protein per ounce

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 12
  • Protein per ounce: 0.34
  • Type: Beef
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

A large rival to Jack Links and found at virtually every gas station. What sets it apart from Jack Links is the ingredient list. While it’s not great, it is better. If you’re at a gas station that has both, Oberto is the one to choose from a quality standpoint.

We found the taste to be ok, a bit bland. The texture is hard while still breaking down fast when you chew it. Per ounce, Oberto also has less protein than most of the brands we tested.


Three Jerks

Price: $53.69

three jerks beef jerky
Pros

✅ Clean ingredients

Cons

❌ Expensive

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 11.4
  • Protein per ounce: 0.21
  • Type: Beef
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

Three Jerks used high-quality filet mignon cuts. We found them dry and easy to chew. This quality comes at a high price, and it is the most expensive beef jerky company we tested.

For the price, we wanted to like Three Jerks more than we did. We wouldn’t say it’s a bad jerky, but we’re not sure it’s worth the premium cost vs. other similar brands like Epic or Krave. Give the Chipotle Adobo a try. The Maple Bourbon Churro is an interesting idea.


The New Primal

Price: $24.95

the new primal beef jerky
Pros

✅ Zero sugar

✅ Use grass-fed beef

Cons

❌ Less protein per ounce

❌ Use citric acid

KEY SPECS

  • Protein: 7.25
  • Protein per ounce: 0.29
  • Type: Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Buffalo
  • Minimally processed?: Y
  • Artificial sweeteners?: N
  • Preservatives?: Y
  • Added salt?: Y
  • Nitrates?: N

The New Primal isn’t a beef jerky company; it is focused on meat sticks. Because it’s a meat stick, we found it to be chewable, and you can eat them fast. We like that they use grass-fed beef and focus on being zero sugar for all of their products.

We don’t like that they use citric acid as a preservative. Citric acid is linked to side effects such as confusion, lightheadedness, and fatigue. These are rare, but you don’t want to find out on the trail that you suffer from them, so best to try these at home first.


Key Factors To Consider When Choosing

Price

The largest factor in price is the quality of ingredients used. Beef jerky brands that use high-quality, grass-fed beef and natural seasonings tend to be the most expensive. Brands that use more processed ingredients are often cheaper.

Beef jerky brands that provide the greatest value:

Most Affordable beef jerky brands:

Premium beef jerky brands (most expensive):

Protein per Ounce

Protein is one of the main reasons for carrying beef jerky while backpacking. Ounce per ounce of beef jerky packs a lot of protein. The brands with the most protein per ounce are usually the driest because they contain the most meat and the least amount of water.

The beef jerky brands with the most protein per ounce:

Ingredients

When assessing ingredients, we recommend looking for beef jerky brands with ingredients that you can pronounce. Look for natural seasonings, and if they use grass-fed beef, it's a major bonus. Steer clear of refined sugars, preservatives, and maltodextrin.

The best beef jerky brands for minimally processed ingredients, added preservatives, sugars, or salt:


Other Things to Consider

Taste

Beef jerky comes in a wide range of flavors, from classics like cracked pepper and smoked to more out-there flavors like an everything bagel. You can get sweet, moist jerky to savory, dry jerky. However you like it, we recommend buying a small amount before purchasing enough for a long hike.

Texture

Texture is another subjective opinion, but it goes hand-in-hand with taste. Dry, hard jerky is best for those that like to chew away on a piece of jerky for many trail miles. More wet, chewy jerky is great when you’re hungry and want to crush a high-protein snack.

Shelf Life

A huge perk for taking beef jerky backpacking is its long shelf life at room temperature. You don’t have to worry about it spoiling in your pack. Most commercial brands should last at least a year. Homemade jerky should be good for at least a few months. We recommend storing jerky in dry, cool conditions for the longest shelf life.

Type

  1. TOUGH OR SOFT: Some jerky is tough and chewy, designed for a slow flavor-absorbing experience. Others are soft to go down easily. Generally, soft jerky has been tenderized or ground down and reformed.
  2. DRY OR MOIST: You can go heavily spiced and crumbly or sticky to the touch and soaked in sweet syrups.
  3. TYPE OF MEAT: Beef is our American favorite. Deer (venison), chicken, pork, turkey, buffalo (bison), and duck are all popular as well. Everything from kangaroo to alligator is available, though.
  4. STRUCTURE: Jerky strips, long and skinny sticks, rectangular bars, and small bites are on the list. Take your pick.
best beef jerky brands how to make homemade beef jerky

CC BY 2.0 | Stephano A.


How Beef Jerky is Made

The fundamentals are pretty simple. Slice up some meat, marinate it, and then dry it out. Note drying is not necessarily cooking. The main goal is only to eliminate moisture. The real delicacy and art of the process come with the cut of meat, the preparation, the marinade, the spices, etc.


History of Man Meeting Dried Meat

It is believed that the consumption of dried meat dates as far back as the Neanderthals - notably eating "woolly mammoth jerky." Curing meat as a means of preservation was utilized in a variety of different methods in early civilizations. Some used salt or sugar to withdraw water moisture out of meat through the process of osmosis. Others smoked or dehydrated their meat.

Animal sources, preparation, and flavorings evolved over centuries into countless varieties all over the world - Pemmican in North America, Kilishi in Nigeria, Ch'arki in South America, Biltong in South Africa, and Bakkwa in China, to name a few.

best beef jerky brands
Justin Sprecher photo

About Justin Sprecher

Justin is a thru-hiker and writer with a passion for wild backcountry. He's thru-hiked the Pacific Northwest Trail, LASHed the Great Divide Trail and Arizona Trail, and clocked up 1,000s of miles on long-distance trails around the world.

About Greenbelly

After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Chris Cage created Greenbelly to provide fast, filling and balanced meals to backpackers. Chris also wrote How to Hike the Appalachian Trail.

Stoveless Backpacking Meals
  • 650-Calorie Fuel
  • No Cooking
  • No Cleaning