Sometimes, we all feel the need for more protein. Or we need a handy, low carb, no sugar added snack. Or we just love meaty meat. We know. We've got you. It was a lot of chewing, but we've made a list of the best jerky brands and meat stick brands made in the USA.
Best Jerky Brands and Meat Stick Brands Made in the USA
I thought that every meat snack in stick form or in a vacuum sealed bag was classified as jerky. I was soooo wrong! There are several ways of preserving meat for tasty snacks and jerky is just one of them.
What is the difference between jerky and meat sticks?
Jerky and meat sticks are both popular meat snacks, however they have some key differences in terms of texture, shape, and preparation. Here are the main distinctions between the two:
- Texture: Jerky is typically dried and cured to a firm, chewy texture. It requires a longer drying time to remove most of the moisture, resulting in a tougher consistency. Meat sticks, also known as meat snacks or meat sausages, have a softer and more tender texture.
- Shape and Size: Jerky is usually sliced into thin strips or sheets, which can vary in size and shape. It is commonly sold in flat, elongated pieces. In contrast, meat sticks are cylindrical in shape and resemble a small sausage or a stick.
- Preparation Process: Jerky is made by marinating thin strips of meat in a seasoned liquid or dry rub, and then drying it slowly over a long period, usually using methods like air drying or smoking. Meat sticks are made by grinding or mincing the meat into a paste-like consistency, mixing it with seasonings and other ingredients, and then stuffing the mixture into a casing. The meat sticks are then cooked, either by smoking, baking, or drying, depending on the specific recipe.
- Moisture Content: Jerky is characterized by its low moisture content, typically ranging from 10% to 50%, making it a relatively dry snack. Meat sticks have a higher moisture content that gives them a softer and more succulent texture compared to jerky.
- Flavor Varieties: Jerky and meat sticks both come in a wide range of flavors, depending on the seasonings and spices used. Meat sticks can incorporate other ingredients like cheese or vegetables.
Ultimately, the choice between jerky and meat sticks comes down to personal preference in terms of texture, shape, and taste. Both can be enjoyed as protein-packed, on-the-go snacks, but they offer different eating experiences.
Biltong is another popular dried meat snack. We have a list for that! Check out our list, What is Biltong? Our Favorite Biltong Brands Made in the USA
Health benefits of meat snacks
Both jerky and meat sticks are popular snacks. They both have health benefits when consumed as part of a balanced diet. Those benefits include:
- High protein content: Meat snacks are a concentrated source of protein.
- Nutrient-rich: Jerky and meat sticks can contains various essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and niacin.
- Low in fat: Beef jerky is typically made from lean cuts of beef, resulting in a low-fat content. Compared to other snacks, it can be a healthier option as it provides satiety without adding excessive fat to the diet.
- Convenient and portable: Beef jerky and meat sticks are a shelf-stable and portable snack, making them a convenient option for those who are on the go or need a quick source of protein.
- Extended shelf life: The drying and curing process involved in making beef jerky and meat sticks increases the shelf life, allowing them to be stored for longer periods without refrigeration. This can be beneficial for outdoor activities, travel, or emergencies.
- Diet friendly: Most of the jerky and meat sticks on this list are gluten free, Keto friendly, Paleo friendly and/or Whole30 certified. We noted the ones that are.
And now on to our list!
If you have a favorite made in USA jerky brand or meat stick brand that we missed, let us know in the comments. We update this list frequently.
Best Jerky and Beef Sticks Made in USA: Unique Meat Stick & Jerky Brands We Love
Best Jerky Brands Made in the USA
Appalachian Jerky Company
Two friends, Ron Myrick and Doug Labb, started Appalachian Jerky Company back in the 1990s. They liked the convenience of jerky as a healthy snack while enjoying outdoor adventures. Today, Appalachian Jerky Company beef jerky is made in Vermont using premium strips of top round beef sourced from the northeast USA and intense brines jam packed with flavor.
Appalachian Jerky Company jerky strips are packaged in a vacuum sealed bag that easily fits in a pocket. There are three flavors to choose from- Hickory Smoked, Sweet & Hot, Garlic Teriyaki. They all contain sugar, so they are not Whole30 and Paleo compliant.
Country Archer Provisions
Country Archer Provisions jerky is made from grass fed beef and cage free turkey. All of the ingredients are natural and there is no MSG, no nitrates, and no preservatives. All Country Archer jerky flavors are made in small batches and the meat is marinated and slow cooked to perfection. There are eleven flavors to choose from. The Zero Sugar beef jerky is keto certified. All varieties are gluten free.
Country Archer also has several varieties of meat sticks.
- Shop Country Country Archer Amazon store.
- Shop Country Archer at REI.
- Shop Country Archer at Walmart.com.
House of Jerky
House of Jerky has been making high quality jerky for over 30 years. They use only the best cuts of the premium sources for meats. All meats are marinated to perfection for prime flavor and is baked at just the right heat to achieve tenderness.
House of Jerky has over 50 meat and flavor combinations to choose from, including exotic meats. Most of the flavors have wheat and sugar as ingredients, but there are sugar free and gluten free options. They also offer jerky for dogs.
Jerkface Artisanal Jerky
Jerkface Artisanal Jerky is a small beef jerky business located in Washington, DC. With connections to the artisanal brew community in DC, the founder paired his flavors to theirs- genius! Flavors can rotate with the seasons and with brewery pairings, so if you find one you love, stock up! Current flavors include; Garlic Chili, Maple Jalapano, Wasabi Ginger, Gravy!, Pineapple Buffalo, and more hand-cut selections.
Jerky's Gourmet
Jerky's Gourmet founders Tim and Dria made it a goal to create healthy, all natural jerky snacks that are tasty and good for you. Jerky's Gourmet beef jerky is made from 100% grass fed and finished beef from cattle sustainably raised in the Pacific Northwest. The cattle is pasture raised with no antibiotics and no added hormones. The jerky is nitrate free and contains no artificial preservatives. Soy free, gluten free, and Paleo friendly jerky options are available.
There are currently 8 varieties of Jerky Gourmet's tender cut jerky; Black Pepper, Ghost Pepper, Sweet Citrus, Smokehouse BBQ, The Nake Original (this is the Paleo friendly choice), and Maple Bacon. There are also craft beer inspired flavors- India Pale Ale, and Habanero Sculpin
Mingua Beef Jerky
Mingua Beef Jerky is a family owned and run jerky company that started in 1994- almost 30 years ago. Mingua Beef Jerky is made in Paris, Kentucky from the finest cuts of beef following an old fashioned and all natural recipe.
There are 8 Mingua Beef Jerky flavors to choose from; Original, Hot, Cajun, BBQ, Garlic and Onion, Teriyaki, Sweet and Hot, and Bourbon.
Mission Meats
Mission Meats is on a mission to help people by donating 10% of its proceeds to social-good organizations that have a philosophy of empowering people to help themselves, while also offering us clean, tasty jerky.
Mission Meats jerky is made with grass fed and finished beef and aromatic seasonings. There are seven flavors to choose from: Original Grass Fed Beef Jerky, Carolina Reaper Grass Fed Beef Jerky, Sea Salt and Black Pepper Beef Jerky, Classic BBQ Grass Fed Beef Jerky, Korean BBQ Bacon Jerky, and Teriyaki Seasoned Grass Fed Beef Jerky. All varieties are gluten free, nitrate free, nitritie free, MSG free, and dextrose filler free. These are Keto friendly, Paleo approved jerky, and Whole30 certified beef jerky.
Mountain America Jerky
Mountain America Jerky is gourmet hickory smoked jerky made in small batches in Colorado. It is made from a variety of meats includeing beef, buffalo, elk, venison, fish and turkey. There are even exotic meats like alligator, wild boar, antelope, duck, and more.
Mountain America Jerky uses basic ingredients and the highest quality, whole muscle, solid strips of meat. The beef jerky is meaty, chewy, and somewhat moist; not the thinner style. There is a variety of flavors to choose from and they even have jerky for dogs.
Naked Cow
We introduced you to Ron Myrick and Doug Labb above with their jerky brand Appalachian Jerky Company. Well, Naked Cow is another jerky company that they own. Naked Cow jeky was developed in 2013 when Ron decided to eat a more Paleo friendly diet.
Naked Cow strip beef jerky is made with grass fed beef, real spice, and no fillers. It is available in three flavors- Smoke, Fire, and Mojo. They are all gluten free, MSG free, Paleo jerky and have no added nitrates. They are sweetened with raw honey, and they have a large amount of protein- 22 grams.
Best Meat Sticks and Meat Bars Made in USA
Ayoba: Droëwors
Technically Ayoba Droëwors meat sticks are not jerky, but we still think they are worth mentioning in this list. Unlike traditional beef sticks that are made through a dehydration process, Ayoba Droëwors meat sticks are hung and air dried for days like a sausage.
The Ayoba Droëwors meat sticks are handmade with 100% grass fed beef following a South African family recipe. There are three flavors to choose from- Traditional, Spicy, and Garlic & Herb. All Aboya Droëwors meat sticks are keto, Paleo and Whole30 compliant beef sticks.
Brooklyn Biltong Meat Sticks
Brooklyn Biltong Meat Sticks are also Droëwors dried sausage meat sticks. They are made from air dried grass fed beef. There are no sugars, no corn syrups and no preservatives used as ingredients. The Brooklyn Biltong Meat Sticks are Paleo friendly and Whole30 approved.
Chomps
Chomps is a small family owned business and all of Chomps meat sticks are manufactured in the Midwest.
Chomps meat sticks are made with the highest quality ingredients. The meat proteins are sustainably sourced. The 100% grass fed and finished beef is sourced from Australia. The organic free range turkey is sourced from California and Pennsylvania, while the free range antibiotic free turkeys are from Minnesota and Indiana. The Venison is sourced from New Zealand.
Comps meat sticks contain 9-10 grams of protein, no sugar, and no fillers. They are low carb, keto friendly, Paleo, and Whole30 complaint meat sticks and are allergy friendly. There are 9 flavors to choose from, so something for everyone- Taco Seasoned Beef, Jalapano Beef, Habanero Beef, Sea Salt Beef, Original Beef, Italian Beef, Salt and Pepper Venison, Original Turkey, and Pepperoni Seasoned Turkey.
Save 15% off your Chomps order when purchasing through the Chomps website with code USALOVE.
- Shop the Chomps Amazon store.
- Find Chomps at Target.
- Shop Chomps jerky at Thrive Market.
Related- Whole30 Snack Ideas, All Made in USA
Circle B Ranch: Big John's Jalapeno Bacon Snack Sticks
Circle B Ranch, located in Seymour, Missouri, was started in 2009 by Marina and John Backes. The couple relocated from Branchburg, New Jersey to the lush rolling hills of the Ozark countryside in southwest Missouri. They were looking for the perfect weather for raising Heritage Berkshire/Kurabota hogs. This clean and natural environment allows the hogs to graze freely on the lush pastures and roam the woods foraging for nuts and acorns, while also allowing them to be free from any additional hormones and antibiotics from their fed. Marina and John raise the hogs using sustainable and humane production methods that adhere to the Certified Humane Raised and Handled and Animal Welfare Approved standards of operation.
Big John's Jalapeno Bacon Snack Sticks are a Circle B Ranch best seller. The bacon snack sticks contain no added nitrates. They are sugar free and Keto and Whole30 meat sticks.
The New Primal
The New Primal meat sticks are made with 100% grass fed beef, and all natural turkey and chicken. All are raised with no added hormones or the use of antibiotics. The New Primal meat sticks are gluten free, Paleo friendly, Keto certified and Whole30 certified.
Wild Zora; The Original Meat & Veggie Bars
Ok, Wild Zora's Original Meat & Veggie Bars are not a jerky, but they have been a favorite of USA Love List editors for years and they are sooooo unique that they do not fit any other category.
Wild Zora Original Meat & Veggie Bars are incredibly flavorful, moist and tasty. They are made in Colorado with grass fed beef that is free of antibiotics and hormones. There are four flavors to choose from- Italian Beef, Mediterranean Lamb, Apple Pork, and BBQ Beef.
Save 15% on your Wild Zora purchase when ordering through the Wild Zora website using code USALOVE. One use per customer. No expiration date.
Have you visited our Made in USA Shopping District? It is the place to start your shopping when you want to find the best of American-made.
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Image Credit: Captain Jake's Jerky
Please give Cattaneo Brothers from San Luis Obispo, California a try. Our very favorite……truly wonderful!
That Circle B sounds amazing. I love the idea of added pineapple. Yummy! I will search these out, we really like beef jerky at my house.
Salmon jerky is one of our faves!
Those brands are new to me! I would love to try the Ruby Bay Smoked Salmon–I love smoked fish!
Jerky is a favorite of mine. Mingua Brothers Jerky (from here in KY) is also pretty good!
I have tried a couple of these. I do have to admit I do not consider jerky that is not meat based as truly being a jerky in the traditional sense. I think of them more as dried fruits. Interesting choices.
Great job slapping this list together. All great contenders and flavors. Especially dig the companies not using Maltodextrin; dang stuff is worse than table sugar if your not working out.
Oh, my, I love jerky! I need to give several of these a try, I think. Thanks for the suggestions!
100% Grass-Fed Jerky from The New Primal sounds good. The best jerky I have ever had has beeen elk jerky from a ocal elk farmer- delicious and also made in the USA.
i love. Jerky is yummy
Wow – I have to say I’ve never tried jerky! Knowing these that are made in the USA and look sooo good I’m excited to try some!! A great new snack instead of the usual trail mix!