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Jerky Roundup

We analyzed 332 products to help you choose the healthiest & safest options.

Finding the perfect Jerky shouldn't feel like a guessing game. At CakeID, we take food transparency seriously. We have analyzed over 332 products in this category, breaking down every ingredient list to uncover hidden additives, excessive sugar levels, and potential allergens.

Whether you are searching for strictly Vegan options, Gluten-Free snacks, or simply want to avoid high-processed foods, our algorithm ranks products based on a comprehensive Health Score. Below is our definitive ranking of the safest and healthiest Jerky you can buy in 2026, sorted by their ingredient purity.

Editor's Quick Picks

Detailed Reviews

Calories
90
Protein
15g
World Wide Gourmet Foods Inc.

Salmon jerky

Ingredients: King salmon, salt, brown sugar, glucose syrup solids, natural flavoring, spices, and garlic powder.

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score
  • ● Sugar Free
  • ● Clean Ingredients

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
43g
Jack Link's

Jack link's, meat snacks, beef jerky, steakhouse recipe

Ingredients: Beef, water, sugar, brown sugar, less than 2% salt, flavorings, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (corn, soy, wheat, dextrose), beef flavor (beef stock, maltodextrin), mushroom flavor (gum arabic, natural smoke flavor, modified food starch), yeast extract, thiamine, citric acid.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
36g
JACK LINK'S

BEEF JERKY JALAPEΓ‘O

Ingredients: Beef, water, sugar, contains 2% or less of salt, beef stock, natural and artificial flavors, yeast extract, citric acid, jalapeno pepper, pineapple powder.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
46g
Jack Link, Jack Link's

Premium Cuts Beef Jerky, Original

Ingredients: Beef, water, sugar, less than 2% salt, corn syrup solids, dried soy sauce (soybeans, salt, wheat), hydrolyzed corn and soy protein, monosodium glutamate, maltodextrin, flavorings, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Contains Corn Syrup
View Full Analysis
Calories
246
Protein
49g
Wild Bill's

JAR Beef Jerky

Ingredients: Beef, soy sauce (water, salt, hydrolyzed soy protein, corn syrup, caramel color, potassium sorbate), seasoning (garlic, pepper, red pepper).

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score
  • ● Low Sugar
  • ● Clean Ingredients

The Bad

  • ● Contains Corn Syrup
View Full Analysis
Calories
1530
Protein
140g
Western Family

Hickory Smoked Bacon Jerky

Ingredients: CURED WITH WATER, SALT, SUGAR, SMOKED FLAVORING, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRATE.

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score
  • ● Sugar Free
  • ● Clean Ingredients

The Bad

  • ● Contains Sodium Nitrate
View Full Analysis
Calories
288
Protein
49g
Kroger

Beef Smokehouse Jerky

Ingredients: BEEF, WATER, BROWN SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SALT, FLAVORINGS, CITRIC ACID, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, SODIUM NITRITE.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Contains Corn Syrup
View Full Analysis
Calories
321
Protein
46g
Buc-ee's

Teriyaki Beef Jerky

Ingredients: BEEF, WATER, BROWN SUGAR, SALT, TERIYAKI POWDER (TERIYAKI SAUCE (TAMARI SOY SAUCE (SOYBEANS, SALT, ALCOHOL, WHEAT), SAKE (RICE, SALT), APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, NATURAL FLAVORINGS), MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, MALTODEXTRIN, SUCROSE, FRUCTOSE), NATURAL FLAVORINGS, MONOSOM GLUTAMATE, SOY SAUCE POWDER (WHEAT, SOYANS, SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM NITRITE

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
188
Protein
32g
Krave

Korean BBQ Plant-Based Jerky

Ingredients: Plant-based jerky (pea protein isolate, fava bean protein, pea fiber, salt), cane sugar, gluten-free soy sauce, contains 2% or less of the following: sesame oil, onion powder, garlic powder, spices, white vinegar, salt, gum arabic, citric acid (for flavor), maltodextrin, xanthan gum, natural flavor

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score
  • ● Sugar Free

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
321
Protein
29g
HTY

Sweet and spicy beef jerky

Ingredients: BEEF, SUGAR, STRAWBERRY JAM (SUGAR, STRAWBERRY PUREE, CORN SYRUP, PECTIN, CITRIC ACID), WATER, GLUTEN - FREE SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, SALT. SUGAR), SPICES, VEGETABLE OIL, CELERY POWDER (CULTURED CELERY POWDER, SEA SALT), SALT. CONTAINS: SOY.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Contains Corn Syrup
  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
321
Protein
46g
Meijer

Original turkey jerky

Ingredients: key, sweetener (cane sugar, hon brown sugar, salt, less 2% pices, cultured celery powder eacret, onion, garlic, stributed by meljer distribution, inc, rand rapids, mi 49544 ww,meijer,com our if you are replace this the m www,mee this package 100838 9 do not

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
32g
Simply Nature

Peppered beef jerky

Ingredients: organic beef, organic sugar, water, contains 2% or less of sea salt, organic black pepper, organic garlic, organic soy sauce (water, organic soybeans, organic wheat, organic salt), organic natural flavors, natural extractives of malted barley, yeast extract, citric acid

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
214
Protein
32g
Unknown

Grass-fed beef jerky

Ingredients: Grass-Fed Beef, Brown Sugar (Sugar, Molasses), Gluten Free Tamari Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol [|) Hatch Chile Seasoning (Salt, Dehydrated Onion and Garlic, Green Chili, Sugar, Green Bell Pepper Powder, Tomato Powder, Spices, Natural Flavors), Organic Seasoned Rice Vinegar Dressing (Organic Rice Vinegar, Organic Sugar, Water, Salt), Pineapple Juice, Cayenne Pepper, Hatch Green Chiles, Black Pepper Contains: Soy

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
250
Sugar
29g
Unknown

Mushroom jerky

Ingredients: organic crimini and portobello mushrooms, organic tomatoe paste, organic maple syrup, organic agave syrup, organic apple cider, vinegar, organic smoked paprika, sea salt, organic flavor, organic sunflower oil, organic Tara gum.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
282
Protein
49g
Kroger

Turkey Jerky

Ingredients: turkey, turkey broth, brown sugar, contains 2% or less of: potassium chloride, salt, natural flavors (including smoke), autolyzed yeast extract, dextrose, hydrolyzed corn protein, citric acid, hydrolyzed soy protein, paprika oleoresin, sodium nitrite. contains: soy.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
32g
Jack Link's

Sweet & hot beef jerky

Ingredients: beef, water, sugar, brown sugar, contains 2% or less of flavors, salt, beef stock, yeast extract, citric acid, pineapple powder.

The Good

  • ● Clean Ingredients

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
321
Protein
25g
Golden Island

Pork jerky

Ingredients: pork, sugar, w er, korean inspired seasoning sugar, toasted sesame seeds wheat free sok sauce powder scy sauce (fe ented soybeans a o salt), and salt), natural lavor. black pepper salt), brown sugar, gluten fee soy sauce (water so beans, salt), comtains 2% or less of: chili powder (red pepper, salt), salt, sesame oil. contains: soy

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
250
Protein
50g
Tillamook

Zero sugar original beef jerky

Ingredients: beef, gluten free soy sauce (water, soybeans, rice, salt), beef broth, flavorings, vinegar, cultured celery powder (celery powder, sea salt), granulated garlic, salt

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score
  • ● Sugar Free

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
250
Protein
43g
Unknown

Beef jerky

Ingredients: *percent daily values calorie diet. salt, beef stock, vinegar, yeast extract. onion powder, sugar spice, sea salt, o 2021 pacific gold kent, wa 98032 questions or comments, call: 1-877-453-7591 (weekdays 8am-4pm pst) pacificgoldsnacks.com

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
36g
Unknown

Original usda organic steak strips smoked beef jerky

Ingredients: Organic beef, water, organic cane sugar, contains 2% or less of organic soy sauce (water, organic soybeans, salt, organic alcohol), sea salt, organic natural flavors, natural flavors, organic pineapple powder.

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
39g
Whole Foods Market

Grass Fed Beef Jerky

Ingredients: Organic beef, organic gluten free tamari soy sauce (water, organic soybeans, salt), organic brown sugar (organic sugar, organic molasses), organic garlic powder, organic pineapple juice concentrate, liquid smoke (water, natural hickory smoke flavor), organic worcestershire sauce (water, organic vinegar, organic gluten free tamari [water, organic soybeans salt], organic sugar, salt, organic garlic powder, organic onion powder, organic spices), organic black pepper.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
1400
Protein
13g
Pan's

Mushroom Jerky Zesty Thai

Ingredients: Organic dried shiitake mushrooms, avocado oil, organic coconut sugar, water, himalayan pink salt, organic thai seasoning (*garlic, *onion, *lemon peel, *cayenne, *tomato powder, *coriander, *paprika, *citric acid, *basil, *black pepper, malic acid, *cilantro, *white pepper), organic chia seeds.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
39g
Organics

Organic Beef Jerky original

Ingredients: Organic beef, water, organic sugar, sea salt, contains 2% or less of: organic soy sauce (water, organic soybeans, organic wheat, salt), natural flavors, yeast extract, organic natural flavors, citric acid.

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
321
Protein
32g
Trader Joe's

Natural Turkey Jerky Teriyaki

Ingredients: Turkey, sugar, water, soy sauce (water, wheat, soybean, salt), pineapple juice concentrate, apple cider vinegar, salt, flavorings, paprika, natural smoke flavoring, caramel color.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
247
Protein
39g
Old Trapper Smoked Products Inc.

Beef jerky

Ingredients: Beef, brown sugar, water, salt, flavorings, hydrolyzed corn protein, vinegar, sodium nitrite.

The Good

  • ● Excellent Health Score
  • ● Clean Ingredients

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
36g
Tillamook Country Smoker Inc

Beef Jerky

Ingredients: Beef, brown sugar, water, sea salt, contains less than 2% of the following: black pepper, corn syrup solids, dextrose, garlic powder, sugar, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Contains Corn Syrup
  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
46g
Jack Link's

Turkey jerky

Ingredients: Turkey breast, water, sugar, sea salt, less than 2% molasses powder (refinery syrup, cane molasses), brown sugar, hydrolyzed corn protein, soy sauce [(wheat, soybeans, salt), maltodextrin], flavorings, turkey flavor (autolyzed yeast extract, turkey broth powder, natural flavor), citric acid.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis
Calories
274
Protein
31g
Jack Link's

Beef Jerky Peppered

Ingredients: BEEF, SUGAR, WATER, SALT, LESS THAN 2% FLAVORINGS, SOY SAUCE [(WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT), MALTODEXTRIN], YEAST EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED CORN PROTEIN, CITRIC ACID.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● High Sugar Content
View Full Analysis
Calories
286
Protein
39g
Kroger

Kroger, smokehouse jerky, beef, sweet & spicy

Ingredients: Beef, water, sugar, corn syrup, contains 2% or less of: salt, disodium inosinate and guanylate, flavorings, hydrolyzed soy protein, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Contains Corn Syrup
View Full Analysis
Calories
300
Protein
33g
Beyond Meat

Teriyaki Jerky

Ingredients: water, mung bean protein, pea protein, brown sugar, natural flavors, gluten free oat bran and fiber, salt, expeller pressed canola oil, less than 1% of sugar, vinegar, lemon juice concentrate, pomegranate concentrate, tapioca maltodextrin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, spice, yeast extract, yeast, vegetable juice color, citric acid, sunflower lecithin.

The Good

  • ● Convenient Snack

The Bad

  • ● Ultra Processed
View Full Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

Are products in the Jerky category always vegan?+
Not necessarily. We analyzed over 332 products in the Jerky category on CakeID. While some are plant-based, many contain hidden animal ingredients like milk powder, whey, or gelatin. Always check the "Is Vegan" status on our product pages.
How does CakeID rank the best Jerky?+
We rank Jerky based on their nutritional value, ingredient cleanliness (fewer additives), and vegan compatibility. Products with lower sugar and simpler ingredients rank higher.
Can I find low-calorie Jerky here?+
Yes! Our list highlights the nutritional details of each product. Look for the "Calories" badge on the product cards above to find low-calorie options.
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