Low Sugar Lemon-Dill Beef Jerky

Total time12 hr 20 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time4 hr

4.9

(20)

Homemade beef jerky is one of those snacks that feels indulgent but can absolutely be made without any added sweeteners — and this lemon-dill version proves it in the most flavorful way possible. Most store-bought jerky is loaded with brown sugar, honey, or mystery syrups, so making your own is the only reliable way to know exactly what's in every strip. The marinade here leans on coconut aminos for that savory depth, with bright lemon juice and zest, fragrant fresh dill, garlic, ginger, and turmeric pulling everything together into something genuinely exciting. A long marinade — anywhere from eight to twenty-four hours — lets those bold flavors fully penetrate the meat before it ever hits the oven. Slicing the beef partially frozen is a smart trick that makes clean, even cuts easy, and the low-and-slow oven method gives you total control over texture and food safety. The result is chewy, tangy, herby jerky that holds up beautifully for weeks and travels well in a bag, a lunchbox, or a hiking pack. Once you taste how good this is, reaching for a sugar-laden gas station bag is going to feel like a serious downgrade.

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Ingredients

6 servings

For the jerky

1 ½ lb beef top round or flank steak, trimmed of visible fat

For the marinade

¼ cup coconut aminos
Chef's tip
Soy sauce is saltier and less sweet; start with less and adjust.
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp lemon zest (from about 1 large lemon)
3 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp fine sea salt

Instructions

1
Place the beef in the freezer for 30–45 minutes, until it is firm but not frozen solid — this makes slicing much easier. Using a sharp knife, slice the beef against the grain into strips about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. For chewier jerky, slice with the grain.
2
In a zip-top bag or shallow dish, combine the coconut aminos, lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh dill, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and sea salt. Stir or squeeze to mix well.

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