We all love the snap of a jerky stick while sitting in the blind, driving in the truck, or watching a ballgame. But we dislike looking at the labels and not knowing how to pronounce half the ingredients. Here's a simple Honey BBQ Jerky recipe that will turn your wild turkey, or any other game meat, into a delicious and quick snack stick.
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The Spruce | Eric Kleinberg
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (or more) wild turkey (thighs and legs preferred) or other wild game meat
- 3 tbsp granulated honey
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cracked pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp celery salt
- 1/2 tsp molasses
- 1/2 tbsp of liquid smoke if not using a smoker to dry
- 1 tbsp quick cure
Directions
- Start by grinding your turkey meat through the largest grind plate available.
- Mix in all ingredients. Once fully mixed, place in sealed plastic bag and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours. This allows all the flavors to meld and the meat to firm up with the sugar and honey.
- Preheat smoker or oven to 150-160 degrees.
- Using a jerky gun or piping bag (like those used for cake decorating), dispense even lines on the grill grate.
- Insert meat thermometer into one jerky stick.
- Smoke on low until temperature reaches 145 degrees, about 2 to 3 hours. Lower the temperature and smoke until meat reaches 155 degrees. Remove meat and let rest 10 minutes.
- Put jerky in a clean plastic bag, seal and refrigerate. This is a key step as it stops the cooking process.
After an hour in fridge, the jerky is ready to eat and enjoy.
Jerky sticks will last four to five days unrefrigerated, about three weeks refrigerated, and six to eight months in the freezer.
- Jeremiah Doughty from NWTF.org
