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Because the Best Jerky Doesn’t Come from a Store
Dark turkey jerky strips beside green grapes

Teriyaki Turkey Jerky Recipe

By Charles Joseph · Updated
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There are a few things that make this recipe special. The jerky is made with lean turkey breast, so it is lower in fat and calories than most other types of jerky. Turkey is marinated in a teriyaki sauce, which gives it a unique flavor.

Top 5 reasons to try Teriyaki Turkey Jerky Recipe

  1. Turkey is very lean meat, making it a healthier option than other types of jerky.
  2. Turkey jerky has a milder flavor than beef jerky, making it a good choice for those who are not fans of strongly flavored meats.
  3. Teriyaki turkey jerky is easy to make at home and does not require any special equipment.
  4. This type of jerky can be stored for up to two weeks, making it a great snack to have on hand for busy weeks.
  5. Turkey jerky is a high-protein snack that can help fuel your body before or after a workout.
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Ingredients for the Teriyaki Turkey Jerky

Teriyaki sauce, liquid smoke and jars of seasonings
Turkey is about to get a sweet-and-savory change of scene.

Turkey for Our Teriyaki Jerky

For my recipe, I bought a turkey breast at Weis for $5.35/per 1 lb.

Thin raw turkey cutlets stacked on a cutting board
Starting with thin cutlets reduces the amount of slicing needed.

In order to calculate how much jerky would be left over after the dehydration, I measured the weight of the turkey.

Raw turkey on a scale reading 445 grams
445 grams of turkey starts this batch. Keep the number for the final weigh-in.

It could be challenging to chop the turkey if it is too mushy or cold; place it in the freezer for a while (for 1 – 2 hours).

Knife cutting a turkey cutlet into strips
Keep the strips a similar thickness to make drying more consistent.

Marinade for Teriyaki Turkey Jerky

The next step is to put everything together and make the marinade. The components above must be mixed in the right proportions.

See the measuring cup below.

Dark marinade measured in a glass cup
Mix the sauces and seasonings before adding the turkey.

The turkey and marinade should now be combined and sit for six to twenty-four hours in a refrigerator. The longer the turkey marinades, the more flavor it develops.

Turkey strips in teriyaki marinade inside a plastic container
Turn the strips through the marinade and refrigerate while they absorb the flavor.
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Dehydrating Turkey

The paper towel(s) will absorb any extra liquid after marinating the turkey.

Marinated turkey strips draining on paper towels
Blot away excess marinade before loading the drying trays.

You can use an oven or an electric smoker, but it is better to use a dehydrator: it is a good option for drying beef jerky because it is easy to use and not expensive. Dehydrators are also less likely to cause the beef jerky to become overcooked or dried. I bought mine on Amazon.

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Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
  • Dry your jerky evenly without the hassle of rotating trays.
  • Keep your oven free for dinner while your next batch of jerky dries.
  • Make a bigger jerky stash by expanding to twelve trays. Extra trays are sold separately.
Marinated turkey strips spaced on a dehydrator tray
Leave gaps between the strips so air can circulate around them.

Preheat your dehydrator to 160°F. Place the turkey slices on the dehydrator racks, making sure that they are not touching or overlapping. Dry the turkey for 5 to 8 hours, or until it is dry and leathery.

Dark turkey jerky strips on a dehydrator tray
The strips have darkened and shrunk: your teriyaki turkey project is taking shape.

You will get about 1/3 of the weight of the turkey in jerky. Our pound of turkey turned into 6.7 oz. or 189 grams.

Finished turkey jerky on a scale reading 189 grams
189 grams of teriyaki turkey jerky. A nice change of pace for the snack jar.

Recipe

This recipe serves 4 people and requires for me 14 hours and 30 minutes:

  • preparation time: 30 minutes
  • marinade time: 8 hours
  • drying time: 6 hours
IngredientsCost
1 lb. of turkey$5.35/per 1 lb at Weis
1 teaspoon of Prague Powder #1 curing saltBetween $12 and $13 for a 2.5 lb. pack (96 teaspoons per pound means that 1 teaspoon equates to 0.04 cents)
1/2 teaspoon of ginger powder$4 – 5 dollar range for a 1.64 oz. container (6 tsp. per oz. means that 1/2 teaspoon equates to 0.20 cents)
2 tablespoons of liquid smoke$1.34 for a 4 oz. container at Walmart (2 tbsp per one oz. means that 1 tablespoon equates to 0.17 cents)
3 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce$12-13 dollar range for 2 pk 10 oz. each (2 tbsp per one oz. means that 3 tablespoons equates to 0.9 cents)
1 teaspoon onion powderBetween $4 and $5 for a 1.73 oz. container (6 tsp. per oz. means that 1 teaspoon equates to 0.38 cents)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper$3.98 for 3.12 oz. a container at Walmart (6 tsp. per oz. means that 1 teaspoon equates to 0.21 cents)
Total Cost:$7.25/6.7 oz. (full cost: meat + ingredients)
3 whole habaneros$3 and $4 for 1 lb. at Walmart (3 habaneros equates to $1)
Total Cost:$7.64/6.1 oz. (full cost: meat + ingredients)

Shot Instruction

Dark turkey jerky strips beside green grapes

Teriyaki Turkey Jerky Recipe

There are a few things that make this recipe special. The jerky is made with lean turkey breast, so it is lower in fat and calories than most other types of jerky. Turkey is marinated in a teriyaki sauce, which gives it a unique flavor.

Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
6 hours
Marinade Time
8 hours
Course: SnackCuisine: AmericanKeyword: Beef JerkyServings: 4Calories: 106kcalCost: $7.64

Equipment


Ingredients


Instructions

  1. Freeze the turkey for a few hours
  2. Slice the turkey crosswise or against the grain into slices no thicker than 14 inch.
  3. Put your turkey in a container or Ziploc bag with the marinade after combining all the ingredients, and refrigerate for 6 to 24 hours.
  4. The meat can be dried in a food dehydrator, oven, or electric smoker for 6 to 8 hours, or until it bends without snapping. Remove any remaining liquid from the meat with a paper towel.

Nutrition

Serving: 47.3g | Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.1g | Protein: 17.7g | Fat: 0.7g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 1100mg | Potassium: 291mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 3.4g | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

QUOTE:

"You might be a redneck if you think that beef jerky and moon pies are two of the major food groups."

-- Jeff Foxworthy

About the Author

In 2017, a good friend introduced me to the most amazing beef jerky I had ever tasted. And his source was from the most unexpected of places--a random guy in Thailand whom he had met while living there. Although I had been eating jerky since as far back as I could remember, I was genuinely blown away by the flavor. I realized the best beef jerky doesn't come from a store. This experience inspired me to create Beef Jerky Hub and put into writing all the things I've since learned about this amazing food. If you're interested, you can read more about my story here.