• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hilda's Kitchen Blog

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Book
  • About
  • Resources
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Book
    • About
    • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • Recipes
    • Book
    • About
    • Subscribe

    You Are Here Home » Appetizer Recipes

    Published: Jan 10, 2021 Updated: Jan 10, 2021 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 13 Comments

    Spicy Smoked Pork Jerky

    Sharing is caring!

    1049 shares
    • Share202
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    spicy pork jerky pin

    This Spicy Smoked Pork Jerky recipe is amazing! It's marinated in a chipotle and citrus marinade with just the right amount of spice to keep you hankering for one more piece. You may also want to try my elk jerky recipe!

    jerky on a rack

    Although I created this recipe to be prepared in a Traeger, you can also use a dehydrator or an oven if you need to.

    I'll never forget the first time I tried smoked pork jerky. I mean it was just a few weeks ago 😬. While driving on a long stretch of road called Farm to Market, we decided to stop at a pork processing establishment called Farm to Market Pork & Beef.

    business sign with a rainbow over it
    If you're ever in Kalispell, Montana, be sure to stop by for some pork jerky and other goodies!

    After looking around to see what they had to offer, we settled on a package of jalapeno brats and some smoked pork jerky.

    Their smoked jerky did not disappoint! We managed to devour it before we made it back to the house. We decided right then and there that the first recipe we were going to prepare our new Traeger was smoked pork jerky. Here's how we did it!

    packaged pork jerky
    a piece of dehydrated meat being held up infront of a car window
    Jump to:
    • 🧐Why This Recipe Works
    • 🛒What Goes Into This Recipe
    • 🔖Recipe Ingredient & Substitutions
    • 🥓How to Make Smoked Pork Jerky
    • 🤷🏻‍♀️Recipe FAQs
    • 👩🏼‍🍳Pro Tips
    • 🥩Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🧐Why This Recipe Works

    I've never liked overly sweet jerky. To me, it defeats the purpose of eating jerky. Jerky is supposed to be a low-carb snack!

    I LOVE is spicy, smoked jerky with BOLD flavors. I kept all this in mind when choosing what ingredients to add to the pork jerky marinade. The result is a perfect balance of flavors.

    Jerky makes an excellent on the go snack and keeps for a long time, especially when refrigerated.

    🛒What Goes Into This Recipe

    pork jerky ingredients

    🔖Recipe Ingredient & Substitutions

    • Pork Tenderloin — The best cut of meat to use for making pork jerky is pork loin. The loin should be sliced against the grain.
    • Orange/Pineapple Juice — To add a bit of sweetness and tang, I used a combination of freshly squeezed orange and pineapple juice. However, you can use either one or a combination of the two.
    • Pomegranate Molasses — Pomegranate Molasses adds another depth of flavor but can be left out since we're only adding 1 tablespoon and most people don't already have some. However, if you'd like to add it, you can purchase pomegranate molasses on Amazon.
    • Chipotle in Adobo Sauce — The spice in the marinade comes from the chipotle peppers (jalapeno peppers). I used ½ of a 7-ounce can. To reduce the amount of spice less may be used.

    🥓How to Make Smoked Pork Jerky

    Step 1: Slice the pork against the grain into 2" x 6" strips that are ⅛" to ¼" thick.

    pork loin
    pork loin with pork slices around it

    Step 2: Mix the remaining ingredients and blend until you have a smooth marinade.

    marinade ingredients in a plastic cup
    marinade in a plastic cup

    Step 3: Next, layer the marinade and the pork strips inside a large ziplock bag. Massage the marinade into the pork for a few minutes to make sure all the strips are coated in the marinade. Refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours or preferably overnight. 

    pork strips in marinade
    meat and marinade in a ziplock bag

    Step 4: Heat the Traeger to 180 degrees F. Place the pork strips on a rack or directly on the grate and smoke for 5 to 6 hours or until the meat is dry but still pliable.

    jerky recipe -marinated pork strips on a Traeger
    pork jerky recipe jerky on a tray
    After 6 hours of smoking
    a piece of dehydrated meat over a tray of jerky

    If the cooled jerky is bent in half, it should bend but not break.

    Oven Directions

    • Preheat oven to 175 degrees F
    • Place jerky on a wire rack, with a foil-lined tray underneath. Allow room for air circulation between the jerky pieces.
    • Bake until dry and leathery or approximately 3 to 4 hours.

    Dehydrator Directions

    • To prepare this pork jerky recipe in a dehydrator, place the pork strips on the dehydrator trays leaving enough space for air circulation.
    • Use the jerky settings for your particular model to determine the temperature and length of time to dehydrate the pork. It takes approximately 6 hours to make jerky in my dehydrator.

    🤷🏻‍♀️Recipe FAQs

    What cut of pork is best for jerky?

    Pork tenderloin is the best cut for making pork jerky. Tenderloin has the right texture and is pretty lean. Make sure to trim off any excess fat before slicing and marinating the pork because the fat will cause the jerky to go rancid quicker.

    Is it safe to dehydrate pork?

    There's no reason why you can't dehydrate pork or use it to make pork jerky. You just have to follow proper food-handling guidelines. This includes avoiding cross-contamination, sanitizing the work area, and washing your hands frequently while handling the raw pork.

    You also need to make sure that the pork is cooked to the right temperature.

    What does pork jerky taste like?

    The taste of pork jerky will obviously depend on the marinade used prior to dehydrating or smoking the jerky.

    With the right marinade, the pork can taste spicy, salty, or sweet. Pork Jerky can also be smokey or peppery, depending on the amount of smoke and pepper used in preparing it.

    Still, another factor that can determine the taste is the flavor of the pellets used.

    How long does pork jerky last?

    There are many factors that affect how long your jerky will last. Let's take a look at a few of these factors:

    1. Cool Completely — Allow the jerky to cool completely before storing, otherwise, the warm jerky will create condensation in the bag or container that it's stored in. The moisture will encourage bacteria growth.
    2. Proper Storage — Store cooled jerky in an airtight container. Using a vacuum sealer is a great option. Storing the jerky in a refrigerator extends its life while freezing it extends its life even further.
    3. Cure — Using a cure is yet another way to extend the life of your jerky. The pink curing salt inhibits bacteria growth and helps to maintain the flavor and appearance of the jerky. 1 teaspoon is enough to cure 5 lbs. of meat, so you would need ½ of a teaspoon for this recipe.

    👩🏼‍🍳Pro Tips

    • Slicing the pork is easier if the pork is semi-frozen instead of completely thawed.
    • The pellet flavor used to make smoked pork jerky depends on your preference. We used hickory, but cherry, alder, pecan, apple, or maple would be great options as well.
    • Pomegranate molasses is more tart than sweet. If you decide to replace it, add 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses plus one teaspoon of vinegar to the marinade.
    • If using a dehydrator or an oven to make this jerky, you will want to add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the marinade to give the jerky a smoky flavor.
    pork jerky recipe using an oven (jerky on tray with one piece being held up)

    🥩Related Recipes

    • Carne Asada on a plate
      Mexican Carne Asada Marinade
    • steaks being grilled in a pan
      Grilled Ribeyes Basted in Herbed Garlic Butter
    • chipotle smoked Mac and cheese in a cast iron skillet
      Chipotle Smoked Mac and Cheese
    • sliced smoked brisket
      Smoked Brisket Seasoned with Santa Maria Rub

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    jerky up close with more in the background

    Spicy Smoked Pork Jerky

    Smoked Pork Jerky in a chipotle and citrus-flavored marinade.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Snacks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours hours
    Marinating Time: 8 hours hours
    Total Time: 14 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 45 pieces
    Calories: 34kcal
    Author: Hilda Sterner

    Equipment

    • Traeger, dehydrator, or oven

    Ingredients

    • 2½ lbs pork tenderloin
    • 3½ ounces chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (½ can)
    • ⅓ cup orange juice (or pineapple juice or 50/50 of each)
    • ⅓ cup soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses (or replace with 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses and a teaspoon of vinegar)
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

    Instructions

    • Slice the pork against the grain into 2" x 6" strips that are ⅛" to ¼" thick.
    • Mix the remaining ingredients and blend until you have a smooth marinade.
    • Layer the marinade and the pork strips inside a large ziplock bag. Massage the marinade into the pork for a few minutes to make sure all the strips are coated in the marinade. Refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours or preferably overnight.
    • Heat the Traeger to 180 degrees F. Place the pork strips on a rack or directly on the grate and smoke for 5 to 6 hours or until the meat is dry but still pliable.

    Notes

    • Slicing the pork is easier if the pork is semi-frozen instead of completely thawed.
    • The pellet flavor used to make smoked pork jerky depends on your preference. We used hickory, but cherry, alder, pecan, apple, or maple would be great options as well.
    • Pomegranate molasses is more tart than sweet. If you decide to replace it, add 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses plus one teaspoon of vinegar to the marinade.
    • If using a dehydrator or an oven to make this jerky, you will want to add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the marinade to give the jerky a smoky flavor.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1piece | Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 228mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g
    Tried this Recipe? Please leave A Star Rating!Mention @HildasKitchenBlog or tag #HildasKitchenBlog!

    More Appetizer Recipes

    • portobello mushrooms with dip in the background
      Air Fryer Portobello Mushroom Fries
    • smoked jalapeno poppers with one being picked up with blue tongs.
      Carnitas Stuffed Smoked Jalapeno Poppers
    • arook being held up with blue tongs
      Arook (Iraqi Meat Patties)
    • bruschetta caprese
      Bruschetta with Mozzarella (Bruschetta Caprese)

    Sharing is caring!

    1049 shares
    • Share202
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




       

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Shawn says

      April 15, 2023 at 8:49 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome recipe with superb flavor. I will be making this for years to come. Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        April 15, 2023 at 8:55 pm

        Thank you, Shawn! I really appreciate the review! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Lori Ross says

      February 13, 2023 at 12:32 am

      5 stars
      I just made this today and it turned out really good. It was super easy! I took Hilda's advice and cut the pork while it was slightly frozen which made it easy to cut in similar size pieces. These ingredients would not have even been on my radar had it not been for this recipe. It was a hit with my husband too. Thanks Hilda!

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        February 13, 2023 at 6:44 am

        Thank you, Lori! I'm glad you're getting use of that new dehydrator! I'm glad that now you can make jerky at home! I really appreciate the review too!❤️

        Reply
    3. Tom says

      October 31, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      To clarify, you mention both pork loin and tenderloin, which are two different things. The pictures seem to show pork loin, the larger of the two. And getting 2" x 6" slices across the much smaller tenderloin would be difficult. Could you specify which you were using here? I'm sure either would be great, just the tenderloin pieces would be smaller bites.

      Like you, have made many batches of beef and chicken jerky. Local store has Buy One Get One on pork products. What could I use it for??? Pork jerky?? Got me looking, found your recipe.

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        October 31, 2022 at 3:36 pm

        Hi Tom, I've done it with both. The first time I used pork loin and the second time they only had tenderloin so I tried it with that. It was excellent with both! But like you mentioned, the ones with the tenderloin were smaller pieces. Thanks!

        Reply
    4. Bryan says

      September 03, 2021 at 3:56 pm

      If I use pink salt, should I wash it before going on the smoker?

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        September 03, 2021 at 4:01 pm

        Hi Bryan, I'm a bit confused by your question. Do you mean the pink curing salt? If so, no, it'll be mixed in with the marinade. If you mean regular pink salt, you wouldn't be able to wash that off either, since it will be diluted into the marinade. I hope that answered your question!

        Reply
    5. Kelly Methey says

      February 04, 2021 at 4:32 pm

      5 stars
      This pork jerky is so delicious! We just love it. Plus it is so easy to make, why would you ever want to buy it when you can do it yourself?
      All I can say is, try it, you’ll like it! Yum!

      Reply
    6. cheryl says

      January 24, 2021 at 6:43 am

      5 stars
      perfect balance of tart and hot, wow. Love this recipe!!! Mine took 8 hours in the regular oven, but I may not have had enough air circulation. Next time may try draping from bamboo skewers in the air fryer.

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        January 24, 2021 at 7:45 am

        Thanks, Cheryl, I'm glad you like the flavor. I need to make another batch soon. First two batches disappeared pretty quickly!

        Reply
    7. Kelly Methey says

      January 10, 2021 at 12:20 pm

      You make it sound so easy and absolutely delicious!

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        January 10, 2021 at 7:13 pm

        Let me know what you think!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    profile photo-Hilda

    Hi, I'm Hilda! I'm the creator of Hilda's Kitchen Blog, author of Mom's Authentic Assyrian Recipes, and a recipe contributor to Brian Baumgartner's Seriously Good Chili Cookbook (AKA Kevin Malone, from The Office).

    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to use unique ingredients to make tasty meals for your family! more about me →

    Get My Cookbook!

    cook book on a wooden board

    Check Out My Etsy Shop!

    montana healing salves logo

    Grilling Recipes

    • kabobs on the grill
      Lamb & Beef Kofta Kebab
    • Carne Asada on a plate
      Mexican Carne Asada Marinade
    • grilled boneless chicken thighs topped with sliced lime
      Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
    • shish kabob on skewers
      Lamb Shish Kebab with Grilled Vegetables
    • steaks being grilled in a pan
      Grilled Ribeyes Basted in Herbed Garlic Butter
    • smoked chicken thighs on a silver tray
      Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs

    Popular Recipes

    • Katiafi pastry
      How to Make Kataifi Pastry from scratch!
    • smoked Tri Tip being sliced
      Traeger Smoked Tri-Tip
    • smoked turkey breast on the grill
      Traeger Smoked Turkey Breast
    • tri tip sandwiches featured image
      Tri-Tip Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions
    • orange powder in a jar with oranges around it
      Drying Orange Peels and How to Use Them
    • jiffy cornbread with creamed corn in a cast iron pan with a slice removed
      Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn

    Featured On

    featured on

    Subscribe to Get my Latest Recipes!

    Privacy Policy

    Stay Connected

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • My Etsy Shop

    Policies

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Photo & Content Sharing Policy

    LET'S CONNECT!

    • Contact Page
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 • Hildas Kitchen Blog • All rights reserved