Beyond the numerous health benefits that beef and other jerky types offer as a snack, beef and other types of jerkies just plain old taste good! Utilizing jerky in your favorite soup recipes can offer a healthier alternative to traditional soups while unlocking new flavor profiles. As colder weather approaches and you’re spending more time inside, experiment in the kitchen by adding jerky to your favorite soup recipes. Here are 10 soup recipes that easily incorporate jerky for a delightful new cooking (and eating!) experience.
1. Loaded Potato Soup with Original Beef Jerky
In just about any recipe that you can think of, jerky serves as a perfect substitute for bacon. Beef jerky and bacon are both similar in texture and in taste, allowing you to add jerky to any recipe that you would normally put bacon in. The added bonus? Jerky is way healthier for you than bacon, so you can make your soup both delicious and healthy. Choose your favorite recipe for potato soup and substitute an equal amount of chopped jerky for the amount of bacon that the recipe calls for. Save some jerky to crumble on your soup as a garnish and enjoy!
2. Vegetable and Steakhouse Beef Jerky Stew
This soup is the official soup of cleaning out your refrigerator. Vegetable stew is famous for its extreme versatility, as you can put just about anything in the pot and cook it up. This stew is the perfect dish for a spontaneous dinner and a chance at exercising your cooking skills. Gather the vegetables you have on hand and chop them up to add to a large soup pot with your choice of beef or vegetable stock. We recommend Crockett Creek’s Original or Steakhouse jerky to add an extra layer of heartiness to your stew along with a serious protein boost.
3. Spicy Beef Jerky Chili
On a chilly or rainy day, a good, homemade chili can’t be beat. For an extra burst of flavor and texture, you can add beef jerky to your chili as a meat substitute or in addition to the meat of your chili. To add jerky to your chili recipe, simply add the chopped jerky pieces to your chili after you have combined all of your ingredients. Allow the chili to simmer for as long as it takes to reach your desired thickness. If you are working from a recipe, consider adjusting the amount of salt in your chili as beef jerky can contain more sodium than other meats traditionally used in chili. If you like your chili on the spicier side, consider adding a jerky with a layer of heat to your recipe, such as Crockett Creek’s Fire, Sweet and Spicy, or Blazin’ Cajun jerky.
4. Cajun Jerky-Infused Jambalaya
Famous for its bold flavor profile, jambalaya is the perfect candidate for a recipe to incorporate your favorite beef jerky into. To add jerky to your jambalaya, combine your cooked chicken, sausage, and shrimp mixture with your chopped jerky, or omit a different meat and use jerky in its place. Incorporating a flavored beef jerky into your jambalaya can also provide support in the flavor department. We recommend using Crockett Creek’s Bayou Boil jerky to add an extra punch to your dish.
5. Bean and Smoky Beef Jerky Soup
Bean and bacon soup seems to be every cowboy’s meal of choice, but if you’re not riding around on a horse all day in the blazing heat, you may want to enjoy this soup in a more modern, healthier way. To do this, use your jerky as a bacon substitute. Substituting jerky for bacon will do wonders in the health department while leaving you just as satisfied and fulfilled as you would have been without the switch! Our recommendation for jerky flavors that will help you achieve the hearty bean and jerky soup you’re looking for are Original, Steakhouse, or Ol’ Smoky.
6. Asian Chicken Noodle Soup with a Garlic Jerky Twist
What do you get when you combine the distinct flavors of Asian food and the timeless classic, chicken noodle soup? A masterpiece. This dish takes an exciting Asian spin on the chicken noodle soup that we all know and love. This soup includes veggies, ramen noodles, and a delicious blend of flavor profiles that give it its uniquely Asian flair. To enjoy beef jerky in this Asian chicken noodle soup, substitute the chicken with Garlic or Teriyaki flavored jerky, or simply add your choice of jerky in addition to your meat for an extra boost of protein.
7. Real-Deal Beef Jerky Cheeseburger Soup
For a healthier take on this all-American classic, substitute beef jerky to imitate the taste of the much-sought-after bacon cheeseburger. To add jerky to this recipe, substitute an equal amount of beef jerky for the amount of bacon your chosen recipe calls for. If your recipe doesn’t include bacon, you can still add jerky to your soup to create that bacon cheeseburger feeling. Either add your desired amount of jerky into the soup pot while it simmers or save some jerky to crumble on top of your soup before serving.
8. Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup with a Garlic Jerky Flair
Broccoli cheddar soup is the soup that you’ll want to keep close on the coldest day of the year. This soup is warm, filling, and—above all—comforting. To add a protein-rich layer to this soup, look no further than your very own beef jerky stash. Jerky can help this dish to keep you full for longer and to contribute to the hearty feel of this comfort soup. To use jerky in this recipe, add your choice of jerky (we suggest using Original or Garlic jerky for this soup) to the soup pot while the ingredients from your chosen recipe simmer together, or crumble your jerky on top before serving.
9. Hearty Tomato and Beef Jerky Soup
Tomato soup is a childhood favorite for many. Bring this recipe into adulthood by giving it a more sophisticated flavor profile using your favorite flavor of jerky. Our Original or Steakhouse jerky recipes are most suited for this tomato soup, but to be fair, you’re the chef. Use whatever type of jerky tickles your fancy, and don’t worry—you can still have it with a grilled cheese on the side.
10. Mexican Tortilla Soup with Spicy Beef Jerky
This Mexican classic is jam-packed with the Latin spices and flavors that you love. This is the perfect soup for those who like to bring the heat. When adding your chicken to your soup pot, add your favorite spicy jerky (Crockett Creek Fire Beef Jerky) as well for a bit of heat. This bold soup will quickly become a favorite among those who live their lives on the spicier side.
Enjoy Crockett Creek Jerky in All Your Favorite Recipes
Crockett Creek jerky is the perfect addition for any chef who knows the importance of ingredients that are handcrafted with care. In Tennessee’s foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Crockett Creek has been crafting all-natural beef, venison, buffalo, and elk jerky for over 30 years. Family is at the center of our business, and we are proud to welcome our jerky-loving customers into this family, too. From our kitchen to yours, we hope that you will enjoy Crockett Creek jerky, spice mixes, and marinades in your own family’s recipes.
To shop more of our products, visit our website today. Contact us with any questions or feedback at 865-546-7702.
