Beef Jerky Is Shockingly Healthy—Here Are the Best Brands to Buy

Whether it’s beer, whiskey, or indeed jerky, there’s a journey everyone who gets really into something goes on. You begin at what everyone knows—Miller Lite, Wild Turkey, etc.—then you go through your pretentious phase. The pretentious phase has you scoffing at the mass market, always available products you used to enjoy. Then, with time, you come to realize those things that are culturally unswayable are that way for a reason. In the world of jerky, that’s Oberto.Oberto original beef jerky doesn’t do anything to wow you, it’s just the standard for what solid beef jerky is. Dry, salty, a little chewy, and extremely crushable. Oberto gets points for not only setting the bar, but also remaining as affordable and available as its seemingly always been.

If you’re looking for a widely available beef jerky that is a bit less chewy than Oberto, Jack’s Links, or the other top brands, try Chef’s Cuts. Flavor-wise, it’s a bit less generic than Oberto but carries fairly similar calories, protein, fat, and carbs. It’s also excellent if you’re slightly worried about sodium intake, as servings have about 30 to 40 percent (depending on flavor) less sodium than the mainstream brands.

EPIC makes a lot more jerky than just the traditional beef kind, but its simple salt-and-pepper beef jerky bites are just as good as the rest of its lineup. The jerky has no added sugar and relatively low sodium levels, making it a strong choice for folks cutting back on salt or sweets. If you’re adventurous, don’t sleep on the salmon bites.

Jack Link’s is Oberto’s fiercest competition on gas station convenience store shelves and, by our estimation, a step behind in terms of quality. It doesn’t have the same chew, and the meat can sometimes look a bit too consistent; plus the sodium and sugar levels are a bit higher, and you’ll find more more processed stuff like hydrolyzed corn protein on the ingredients list. Despite this, Jack Link’s is still tasty, affordable, and generally good for you to eat. It’s not the top choice for beef jerky, but its consistency and widespread availability are laudable. Plus, if we’re being honest, the teriyaki flavor goes hard.

The worst thing we can say about Krave jerky is that it’s probably a bit too tender. But if you’re someone who doesn’t want to gnaw on a piece of jerky (or have tough jerky lodge between your molars), you should try Krave. The pieces are small and easy to throw back, making them great for quick bites while working out, and the flavors are far more interesting than the usual stuff at the gas station (surely there are enough black pepper options by now?). Plus, the ingredient list and nutrition label are clean—there aren’t any surprises or ingredients you’re unfamiliar with in this jerky.

If you like beef jerky to taste like, well, beef jerky, try Wicked Cutz. Obnoxious brand name aside, it’s got the lowest sodium content on this list and there’s absolutely no lack of flavor. It’s meaty, it’s fairly priced, and it’s nice and chewy. No, you won’t be floored by some bizarre combination of peppers and brown sugar and god knows what else—but you will have salt-of-the-earth-good-for-you beef jerky to snack on.