Jim Melton's Hickory Smoke Jerky Marinade 64 oz Concentrate — No MSG, No Nitrates, Great for Homemade Jerky & Grilling

Jim Melton's Jerky Marinade is a concentrated 64-ounce hickory-smoke flavored marinade crafted to make savory homemade jerky and to season meats and vegetables for grilling or cooking.

This concentrated marinade has been a favorite among jerky makers for decades. It’s designed to infuse strips, ground meat, or chunks of game with a balanced savory-smoke profile without adding MSG or nitrates. Versatile in the kitchen, it works both as a long soak for jerky and as a quick brush-or-marinade for grilling, delivering consistent flavor whether you’re dehydrating in a tray or searing over a fire.

How do I use this marinade to make homemade jerky?

Marinating jerky is straightforward: add strips to a gallon zipper bag, pour enough marinade to cover, and refrigerate. For best flavor, marinate 12–24 hours, turning once; then drain and dehydrate or oven-dry following your equipment instructions.

• Use a 64-ounce bottle to cover multiple gallons of meat in batches.
• Turn the bag at least once during marination for even absorption.
• Drain excess marinade before dehydrating; do not reuse marinade.
• Add cracked black pepper or red pepper flakes for extra spice.

Can I use it for grilling and everyday cooking?

Yes — the formula is highly concentrated, so short marination or brushing while grilling gives excellent results. For steaks, burgers, poultry, fish, pork, or vegetables, marinate 30–60 minutes or apply during cooking to avoid overpowering delicate proteins.

• Brush onto foods during grilling to build surface flavor.
• Marinate thin cuts briefly, thicker cuts up to an hour.
• Great on wild game, beef, chicken, fish, pork, and vegetables.
• Concentrated bottle means a little goes a long way.

What makes this marinade different from other jerky sauces?

Jim Melton’s recipe focuses on a clean, hickory-smoke forward profile without MSG or added nitrates, making it both flavorful and straightforward to use for home jerky. The concentrate was developed specifically for jerky fans and later adopted more broadly as a grilling and cooking marinade.

• No added nitrates and no MSG for a simpler ingredient profile.
• Hickory smoke notes for a traditional jerky taste.
• Formulated to work equally well for long jerky marinades and quick grill use.
• Suitable for many meats and vegetables, including wild game.

How do I adjust flavor and moisture when making jerky?

Adjust marinating time and post-dehydrate handling to control taste and texture. Longer marination intensifies flavor; a light spritz of cold water after dehydrating can restore chewiness if needed.

• Longer marinating (12–24 hours) = stronger flavor infusion.
• Lightly sprinkle cold water into storage bag for moister jerky after drying.
• Use ground meat variations by following same marinade process for strips.
• Season with pepper or chili flakes before drying to modify spice level.

Who is this for: Home cooks and outdoor cooks who want a reliable, restaurant-style hickory-smoke flavor for large-batch jerky making, weekend grilling, or seasoning game and everyday proteins. It’s ideal for hobbyists who dehydrate meat at home, hunters prepping wild game, and families seeking an easy, concentrated marinade without MSG or nitrates.

Ingredients

Water, Salt, Soy Protein, Corn Syrup, Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor, Vinegar, Molasses and Natural Flavoring, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate to preserve freshness