The Best Vegan Jerky for Outdoor Adventures
Vegan jerky is one of the tastiest and easiest ways to add a little protein to your diet when you need an energy boost. As vegans, we now have SO many choices when it comes to vegan jerky. There seems to be an endless list of plant-based jerky options in stores and online.
If you’re planning an outdoor adventure of any kind, vegan jerky is your best friend. It’s perfect for a quick mid-day backpacking snack to help fuel and rebuild sore muscles. It’s also super lightweight. Most vegan jerky comes in small portions or even single serving sticks!
Our vegan jerky list includes some of the most popular brands on the market today, along with some lesser know (and absolutely delicious) brands that are just now breaking onto the vegan jerky scene.
Table of Contents
What is Vegan Jerky Made of?
Vegan jerky is made of a number of different plant-based ingredients and seasonings. Mushrooms, jackfruit, seitan, and soy beans are some of the most common types of vegan jerky. However, new recipes are emerging all of the time from chefs around the world who love to experiment with new ingredients.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a very popular base for vegan jerky. Not only do mushrooms have a naturally “meaty” taste, their structure is also very meat-like. Mushrooms are very absorbent, making them perfect for marinating and soaking up flavors. Mushroom vegan jerky is made by boiling, marinating, and dehydrating the ingredients until they resemble a traditional strip of jerky.
Jackfruit
You don’t have to be vegan long to discover the magic of jackfruit. Like mushrooms, jackfruit has a very meat-like texture that resembles pulled pork. When seasoned, marinated, and cooked correctly, you can fool almost anyone into thinking its the real thing! Vegan jerky made of jackfruit is often in bite sized chunks, rather than hearty strips. Check out Sassy Birch Vegan Jerky, they make jackfruit jerky that can be added to dishes while cooking at home or in the backcountry.
Seitan
Seitan, also known as “wheat meat”, is made from hydrated wheat gluten that resembles a meat texture. Water and wheat gluten are mixed together to create tough gluten strands. Then, the mixture is wrapped in foil and cooked in a pressure cooker or instant pot until it hardens. The “wheat meat” can then be pulled apart and marinated just like real meat. To make vegan jerky it is dehydrated or baked in the oven until all of the moisture has evaporated.
Soy Beans
Many DIY vegan jerky recipes call for soy curls. Soy Curls are made from soy beans that have been boiled and stirred at high speeds. The strands of beans are then dehydrated into a brittle soy curl. To create vegan jerky from soy curls they must be rehydrated, marinated, and dehydrated or baked again. Commercial soy-based vegan jerky has a slightly different process and it typically has a much longer shelf life than homemade vegan jerky.
How long does Vegan Jerky Last?
Most vegan jerky will last for months or even years when left in an unopened package. Some brands suggest refrigeration after opening the packaging to maximize freshness. In general, most vegan jerky is shelf stable even after exposed to the air. If you plan to take your vegan jerky on the road or on the trail, double check the packaging for any warnings or storage instructions.
What is the Best Vegan Jerky?
The best vegan jerky can be based on many different factors. Are you looking for the best tasting vegan jerky, the best texture, or the highest nutritional density? It would be great if there was a vegan jerky that hit all three right?
Below is a breakdown of 13 different vegan jerky brands that are available in stores today. We’ve outlined each jerky’s amount of protein, fiber, and calories. If you’re looking for a great vegan jerky to take with you on the trail, look for high protein and high calories. Whatever your requirements are, you’re bound to find a vegan jerky you’ll love on our list!
| Brand | Protein | Fiber | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pan’s Mushroom | 1g | 6g | 110 |
| Louisville | 7g | 2g | 80 |
| It’s Jerky Y’all | 7g | 3g | 150 |
| Primal Spirit | 10g | 1g | 100 |
| Gardien | 12g | 0 | 80 |
| AKUA | 6g | 6g | 97 |
| No Harm Done | 5g | 1g | 80 |
| Sassy Birch | 3g | 5g | 120 |
| Vegerky | 3g | 6g | 140 |
| Moku | 2.5g | 4.5g | 110 |
| Munchrooms | 2g | 6g | 120 |
| Urban Cowboy | 6g | 4g | 60 |
Pan’s Mushroom Jerky
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 1g
Fiber: 6g
Calories: 110
Portland, Oregon based Pan’s Mushroom Jerky has a reputation of amazing flavor and texture. The vegan jerky is made from mushrooms and the original recipe was passed down from the founder’s family in Malaysia. The company is currently expanding to bigger markets and should be more widely available in 2021.
Louisville Vegan Jerky
Serving Size: 1oz 28g
Protein: 7g
Fiber: 2g
Calories: 80
Louisville is one of the most well known vegan jerky brands today (and for good reason!). Their jerky is made from TVP (textured vegetable protien) and baked to jerky perfection. They even have a new line of vegan jerky toppings that you can cook with and add to any dish! Perfect for spicing up your backcountry meals.
It’s Jerky Y’all
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 7g
Fiber: 3g
Calories: 150
Texas-style jerky but make it vegan! It’s Jerky Y’all makes their vegan jerky out of soy bean protiens that are non GMO and packed with protein. Plus, a portion of their proceeds go to Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, a home for rescued farm animals. Awe!
Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky
Serving Size: 1 Package (28g)
Protein: 10g
Fiber: 1g
Calories: 100
The perfectly portioned vegan jerky for backpacking, hiking, or just when you need an energy boost now! Primal Spirit vegan jerky strips are an awesome choice for outdoor adventures. Their jerky strips are made from Seitan, shitake mushrooms, or soy beans. They have a few gluten free options and other diet-specific choices. Their vegan jerky is non-gmo and kosher certified.
Gardein Vegan Jerky
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 12g
Fiber: 0
Calories: 80
You know Gardein from all of your vegan roasts and vegan chicken nuggets of your early vegan days! Now they have vegan jerky and its good. This is the vegan jerky with the highest protein per ounce on our list. It is made from a combination of seitan and soy beans. The texture and look is almost too real.
AKUA Kelp Jerky
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 6g
Fiber: 6g
Calories: 97
Kelp Jerky? Not the first thing you’d imaging your vegan jerky to be made of, but trust us, it’s awesome! Seaweed is packed with nutrients like fiber, omeg-3 fatty acids, and protein. Akua sources their seaweed from a sustainable, regenerative farm. Not a fan of seaweed flavor? You won’t even taste it in their rosemary and maple bbq style. Akua wins for most nutrient dense vegan jerky!
No Harm Done Jerkless Jerky
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 5g
Fiber: 1g
Calories: 80
Jerkless Jerky is an independent, small batch, vegan jerky company. Their jerky is made from TVP (textured vegetable protein) and marinated in delicious tropical flavors like teriyaki agave chili and teriyaki pineapple. Their ingredients are certified non-gmo and each bag has a whopping 20g of protein.
Sassy Birch Jackfruit Jerky
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 3g
Fiber: 5g
Calories: 120
I first stumbled upon Sassy Birch via instagram of all places! This is an independent, woman-owned business. I love that sassy birch is designed to be added to dishes and cooked with. This would make a great addition to any DIY backpacking meals. The vegan jerky pieces are made from jackfruit and it comes in several delicious flavors. Bonus point for 100% compostable packaging!
Vegky
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 2g
Fiber: 5g
Calories: 112
Vegky is another vegan jerky brand that utilizes the taste, texture, and nutrients of shitake mushrooms. The texture and umami taste of vegky jerky is solid. It’s a vegan jerky that even skeptical carnivores will really love.
Moku Vegan Jerky
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 4g
Fiber: 7g
Calories: 170
Moku vegan jerky is an environmentally conscious brand based on the island of Oahu. The main ingredients are oyster mushrooms, coconut aminos, chickpea miso and maple syrup. Founder Matt Feldman wanted to use ingredients that are real and do not sound like they’ve been made up in a lab! Read the whole story about Moku Vegan Jerky on Vegnews.
Munchrooms Vegan Jerky
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protien: 2g
Fiber: 6g
Calories: 120
Munchrooms are low in fat, low in carbs, and high in fiber, which makes them great for snacking, but not the best for intense outdoorsy activities. They taste amazing but you definitely want something more substantial for a boost while hiking or backpacking.
Urban Cowboy
Serving Size: 1oz (28g)
Protein: 6g
Fiber: 4g
Calories: 60
Urban Cowboy claims that they’ve never had a meat eater not be in shock when told their jerky is vegan. For a mushroom jerky it’s packed with protein and savory flavors.
Looking for more trail treats? Check out my favorite vegan protein bars and vegan hiking snacks!