Description
Honey Garlic Chicken Jerky is a flavorful, high-protein snack featuring thinly sliced chicken breasts marinated in a savory blend of soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and aromatic garlic and ginger. Oven-dried to perfection, this jerky is slightly pliable with a delicious balance of sweet and savory notes, perfect for a healthy treat or on-the-go snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thinly sliced)
Marinade
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Firm up the chicken: Place the sliced chicken in the freezer for 30 minutes to make slicing easier and ensure even thickness for drying.
- Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, ground ginger, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken slices in a zip-top bag or shallow dish, pour the marinade over them, seal, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight to maximize flavor absorption.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 175°F (about 80°C) and line a baking sheet with a wire rack to allow air circulation around the chicken.
- Arrange the chicken: Lay the marinated chicken slices in a single layer on the wire rack without overlapping to ensure even drying.
- Oven dry the chicken: Bake for 3 to 4 hours, flipping the slices halfway through cooking, until the chicken is dry but still slightly pliable to touch.
- Cool and store: Let the jerky cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container for storage.
Notes
- For a sweeter jerky, increase the honey to 3 tablespoons.
- You can make this recipe using a dehydrator set at 160°F for 4–6 hours instead of the oven.
- Store the jerky refrigerated for up to 1 week or freeze for longer storage.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce to make the recipe suitable for a gluten-free diet.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
