Top 10 Best Beef Jerky

Best Beef Jerky Reviews

There's no doubt about it: beef jerky is an iconic snack food that's both delicious and convenient. Whether you're packing it for lunch, saving it for a salty snack, or keeping it as an emergency food with a long shelf life, beef jerky is a food that can't be beat. Plus, it's perfect for a low-carb diet like keto, Paleo, or Atkins. Here are the best beef jerky options to satisfy your cravings!

See also:

• Keto Diet: 10 Things To Know Before You Start
• 10 Best Atkins Bars
• 10 Best Keto Protein Powders

Best Overall

While there are a few big brands of beef jerky that we all grew up eating, Chudabeef Original Beef Jerky rivals all of our original favorites for the perfect jerky for camping and hiking. Chudabeef crafts this snack for those on the go in mind with a resealable package and convenient sizing. Made with USDA choice beef with no nitrites or preservatives, this jerky lets you snack without the fear that you're putting too many artificial chemicals in your body. If you're in the market for a premium snack that changes everything you thought you knew about dried meat, Chudabeef's Original Beef Jerky simply can't be beat. 

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PROS

• Premium Meat Choice
• Amazing Quality
• Resealable Packaging
• No Nitrates or Preservatives

Best Price

From the original beef jerky makers that we all know and love comes Jack Link's perfectly crafted and priced Prime Rib Tender Cuts. Jack Link's lives up to its title as America's #1 beef jerky brand. After all, this brand established the American tradition of eating jerky as a snack and delivers the original taste that is as undeniably American as apple pie. But best of all, Jack Link's is incredibly affordable to make sure Americans from every walk of life can enjoy this delicious component of the American Dream. 

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PROS

• Price
• Original Iconic Flavor
• 100% Beef
• 96% Fat Free

CONS

• Flavored With Sugar

Best Keto Jerky

Contrary to popular belief, not all beef jerky is keto! If you're looking for a jerky that's particularly tasty and fits right into your health plan, try out Mission Meats Keto, Sugar Free, Grass-Fed beef jerky. Crafted specifically for keto and low-carb dieters, this snack has an astonishing one gram of carbs per serving.

Mission Meats' jerky is not only sugar free and low carb, but also Paleo friendly, gluten free, and made with no MSG. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better snack to fit your low-carb lifestyle that also satisfies your hunger and extinguishes that craving for a salty and high-carb snack!

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PROS

• 1 Gram of Carbohydrates
• Keto & Paleo Friendly
• Grass-Fed Beef

CONS

• Price

Is beef jerky keto?

As you start you ketogenic journey, you may think that beef jerky is a "safe" food that's virtually carbless and won't ruin your ketosis. After all, there are no carbohydrates in one serving of unseasoned meat. However, there is one component that can make or break a meat's status as "keto" — sugar content. You've probably never taken a big bite out of a piece of beef jerky and thought, "Wow, this is sweet!" However, there's often a larger amount of sugar in these tasty treats than you thought. So, why the heck do beef jerky makers add so much sugar?

The answer is simple. Sugar is addictive. The more addicted you are to the sugar in your jerky, the more likely you are to buy it, which means more money for manufacturers. Plus, added sugars and seasoning make the meat heavier. Okay, why is that important? The answer here also has to do with money: so that manufacturers can spend less money on the meat itself but still meet industry weight requirements. Don't confuse sugar with seasoning and flavoring — well-seasoned and tasty beef jerky doesn't have to be candy coated to be delicious!

So, what kind of beef jerky makes the perfect keto snack? Which brands should you avoid like a sugar-coated plague? As a rule of thumb, watch out for varieties that come with sweeter flavors like teriyaki or barbecue. Usually, original or peppered varieties are less sugary, but always remember to check the nutrition label. This way, you can find out exactly how many grams of sugar there are. This can help you ensure your keto beef jerky doesn't make your blood sugars skyrocket. 

At the end of the day, most beef jerkies are an awesome way for any low-carb dieter to satisfy a craving for salt without indulging in an entire bag of potato chips. Remember to check out the nutrition label to make sure your keto jerky really is low in sugar, and happy snacking!