Let’s not beat around the bush: this year isn't pulling any punches. Traditions have gone out the window, friends and families are separated and that communal grill we all took for granted has been cordoned off with caution tape like it just finished guest starring in CSI. And yet, while it feels like all our favorite things are on pause, time hasn’t stopped. Which means, here we are: fall approaching and not a single barbecue under our belts. Which got us thinking. Is there a safe way to host a backyard gathering that’s not totally lame, without investing in a hazmat suit?

If your barbecues regularly feature bouncy houses, communal ball pits and bobbing for hot-dogs, the answer is: well, no. Unless it’s a party for one (in which case, never change). If you’re like us though, and a BBQ just means good people, great meat and a blue sky, then yes!

The success of hosting a mid-pandemic-BBQ lies in a combination of good planning and embracing the new and the weird. And, well, we wouldn’t be People’s Choice if we didn’t have some thoughts about how jerky plays its part in this all. So sit back, relax and let us guide you through how our meat is going to save your next socially distanced outdoor gathering.

Let’s not beat around the bush: this year isn't pulling any punches. Traditions have gone out the window, friends and families are separated and that communal grill we all took for granted has been cordoned off with caution tape like it just finished guest starring in CSI. And yet, while it feels like all our favorite things are on pause, time hasn’t stopped. Which means, here we are: fall approaching and not a single barbecue under our belts. Which got us thinking. Is there a safe way to host a backyard gathering that’s not totally lame, without investing in a hazmat suit?

If your barbecues regularly feature bouncy houses, communal ball pits and bobbing for hot-dogs, the answer is: well, no. Unless it’s a party for one (in which case, never change). If you’re like us though, and a BBQ just means good people, great meat and a blue sky, then yes!

The success of hosting a mid-pandemic-BBQ lies in a combination of good planning and embracing the new and the weird. And, well, we wouldn’t be People’s Choice if we didn’t have some thoughts about how jerky plays its part in this all. So sit back, relax and let us guide you through how our meat is going to save your next socially distanced outdoor gathering.

Don’t panic, your BBQ can still feature premium smoky, sticky, spicy meat. And no, the answer is not going out and buying your own Weber. It’s jerky! We’re not talking gas-station fare that has been left on a dusty rack since 2002, and which you are now serving to your grandma on a paper plate in a moment of grill-less desperation. Picture this:

Extra-thick cuts of 100% USA Beef, seasoned with an Asian-inspired blend of natural spices featuring ginger powder and savory soy sauce, then slow cooked for a minimum of five hours until the sweetness of the teriyaki sauce and the bite of ginger come together to perfectly enhance the rich, meaty flavor. Or maybe you were craving ribs. How about those extra-thick cuts seasoned with a robust medley of natural spices featuring black pepper, black pepper, and — wait for it — more black pepper, the boldness of which is married with the slight sweetness of sugar and the richness of Worcestershire sauce.

Sounds good, right? This is People’s Choice — real food, made by real people. Just people who aren’t you. Which means that instead of sweating over an oven-rigged version of your regular grilling-season party menu, your afternoon can be spent destroying your kids in a game of jerky cornhole (we’ll get to that) and other equally life-affirming and possibly sponsorship grabbing (we’ll get to that too) pursuits.

Subbing jerky for grilled meat also means that you can be much more amenable to the particular preferences (read: obsessions) of your friends. Does your quaranteam include that one heat fanatic who always brings his own unmarked, homemade hot sauce and pours it over everything until everyone’s eyes burn? Tell him to leave his bootleg Sriracha at home and have a bag of Nashville Hot ready to light a fire in his heart. And that friend that, no matter the occasion, always suggests (demands) tacos? Check out our Machaca, the star of our world’s easiest taco recipe. Or maybe you’re tired of enduring the gasps that follow your no-bun-please burger order? Our meat sticks have your back. So does our Carne Seca, our Old Fashioned Original…actually, none of our jerky comes with buns.

Until now, that is, when you’re trying to throw a backyard cookout with your ‘quaranteam’ and realize that the grill you always use is actually at Kevin’s house (because as much as you pretend otherwise, it is actually Kevin’s grill).  

Don’t panic, your BBQ can still feature premium smoky, sticky, spicy meat. And no, the answer is not going out and buying your own Webber. It’s jerky! We’re not talking gas-station fare that has been left on a dusty rack since 2002, and which you are now serving to your grandma on a paper plate in a moment of grill-less desperation. Picture this:

Extra-thick cuts of 100% USA Beef, seasoned with an Asian-inspired blend of natural spices featuring ginger powder and savory soy sauce, then slow cooked for a minimum of five hours until the sweetness of the teriyaki sauce and the bite of ginger come together to perfectly enhance the rich, meaty flavor. Or maybe you were craving ribs. How about those extra-thick cuts seasoned with a robust medley of natural spices featuring black pepper, black pepper, and — wait for it — more black pepper, the boldness of which is married with the slight sweetness of sugar and the richness of Worcestershire sauce.

Sounds good, right? This is People’s Choice — real food, made by real people. Just people who aren’t you. Which means that instead of sweating over an oven-rigged version of your regular grilling-season party menu, your afternoon can be spent destroying your kids in a game of jerky cornhole (we’ll get to that) and other equally life-affirming and possibly sponsorship grabbing (we’ll get to that too) pursuits.

Subbing jerky for grilled meat also means that you can be much more amenable to the particular preferences (read: obsessions) of your friends. Does your quaranteam include that one heat fanatic who always brings his own unmarked, homemade hot sauce and pours it over everything until everyone’s eyes burn? Tell him to leave his bootleg Sriracha at home and have a bag of Nashville Hot ready to light a fire in his heart. And that friend that, no matter the occasion, always suggests (demands) tacos? Check out our Machaca, the star of our world’s easiest taco recipe [link]. Or maybe you’re tired of enduring the gasps that follow your no-bun-please burger order? Our meat sticks have your back. So does our Carne Seca, our Old Fashioned Original…actually, none of our jerky comes with buns.

You can throw some grapes, pretzels and cheese cubes on a plate and feel bad about yourself, or you can present your guests with crisp green grapes nestled up to salty pretzels, sharp white cheddar and a piece of Sweet Chili Habanero jerky to tie it all together. It’s not a Lunchable, but a charcuterie board! You're not settling, you're innovating like a boss.

Jerky elevates your charcuterie game with no added work. It can be safely stored away for anytime the fancy mood strikes — which means no last-minute grocery run — and it’s full of lean protein to keep everyone happily sated. From a flavor perspective, it's highly versatile, running the gamut from our thicker-cut, sweeter options (Orange Honey Teriyaki) to the ultra-savory, steak-like classics (Old Fashioned Original).

And, while we’d never say no to you inviting the more traditional summer sausage, peppered salami or salty prosciutto to the party, the texture and shape of jerky allows it to easily double as a chip for dip, moonlight as a spoon for soft cheese and provide a sturdy base that won’t fold under the weight of a gorgeous hunk of cheddar (jerky and cheddar were made to mingle…it’s science).

As for the rest of the board, add in creamy, tangy dips, a smear of jam, fresh fruit and crunchy vegetables and voila! You have the culinary version of a choose-your-own-adventure novel. Meaning, your friend who dreams in blue cheese can eat the funk out of his afternoon while your keto friend can joyously fuel herself with lean protein, and your cracker-crazed children can settle down to their tower of Ritz.

Have lots of time on your hands and want to take your board to the next level? Candy some nuts. Make some quick pickles. Bake your own seeded breadsticks. Still got time to kill? Carve faces of celebrities into the grapes and make people guess who’s who. Total crowd pleaser, that one.

COVID-serving tip: Rather than having one big board, make individualized spreads for your guests to prevent germs from spreading between people as they snack.

You can throw some grapes, pretzels and cheese cubes on a plate and feel bad about yourself, or you can present your guests with crisp green grapes nestled up to salty pretzels, sharp white cheddar and a piece of Sweet Chili Habanero jerky to tie it all together. It’s not a Lunchable, but a charcuterie board! You're not settling, you're innovating like a boss.

Jerky elevates your charcuterie game with no added work. It can be safely stored away for anytime the fancy mood strikes — which means no last-minute grocery run — and it’s full of lean protein to keep everyone happily sated. From a flavor perspective, it's highly versatile, running the gamut from our thicker-cut, sweeter options (Orange Honey Teriyaki) to the ultra-savory, steak-like classics (Old Fashioned Original).

And, while we’d never say no to you inviting the more traditional summer sausage, peppered salami or salty prosciutto to the party, the texture and shape of jerky allows it to easily double as a chip for dip, moonlight as a spoon for soft cheese and provide a sturdy base that won’t fold under the weight of a gorgeous hunk of cheddar (jerky and cheddar were made to mingle…it’s science).

As for the rest of the board, add in creamy, tangy dips, a smear of jam, fresh fruit and crunchy vegetables and voila! You have the culinary version of a choose-your-own-adventure novel. Meaning, your friend who dreams in blue cheese can eat the funk out of his afternoon while your keto friend can joyously fuel herself with lean protein, and your cracker-crazed children can settle down to their tower of Ritz.

Have lots of time on your hands and want to take your board to the next level? Candy some nuts. Make some quick pickles. Bake your own seeded breadsticks. Still got time to kill? Carve faces of celebrities into the grapes and make people guess who’s who. Total crowd pleaser, that one.

COVID-serving tip: Rather than having one big board, make individualized spreads for your guests to prevent germs from spreading between people as they snack.

Remember, there are no wrong answers when it comes to pairing. The only rule is you have to relax. Life is hard enough without you having an existential crisis over whether an amber ale pairs well with soy sauce. It’s about what you like. It’s also about convenience. Which means yes, you can absolutely use this opportunity to get rid of the 20 mismatched beers taking up precious fridge space and make up reasons for why you chose to give each person the flavors you did. It’s your party — you can lie if you want to.

All virtual? No problem. Send your friends our sampler pack, and crack open a cold one over video chat.

Enter the game with built-in conversation starters: the jerky x beer pairing. With basically no rules, and many different strategies, there is no way to do it wrong. You can choose a crowd pleaser like Cowboy Peppered and pair it with a flight of beers to find your favorite combo. Or maybe you’re looking for the perfect pairing for your favorite IPA? Crack it open, line up the bags and have a vote. Want to curate a flavor journey for your friends? Select three combos that promise to play well and elevate each other. As a general strategy, start with your milder choices and work your way up to your full-bodied, spicy numbers (aka match intensity with intensity). Here are some of our favorite combos:

Remember, there are no wrong answers when it comes to pairing. The only rule is you have to relax. Life is hard enough without you having an existential crisis over whether an amber ale pairs well with soy sauce. It’s about what you like. It’s also about convenience. Which means yes, you can absolutely use this opportunity to get rid of the 20 mismatched beers taking up precious fridge space and make up reasons for why you chose to give each person the flavors you did. It’s your party — you can lie if you want to.

All virtual? No problem. Send your friends our sampler pack, and crack open a cold one over video chat.

So while the adults are making their way through their tasting flights, put your kids to work practicing their skills, subbing jerky bags for sand bags and inching their way closer to a sponsorship deal. Who knows, a star could be born — and a college scholarship paid. To kick the competition up a notch, download the Cornhole Tournament App to fuel backyard rivalries from the palm of your hand.

Really, this is all we’re trying to say: times are weird, so embrace the strange. Whatever your needs, whatever your kitchen limitations, whatever your current energy or patience levels, we’ve got a jerky to make you and your people happy: no grill, no 96-hour marinade, no eight-liters of frying oil and the subsequent pharmacy run for Neosporin, just good meat, ready to go. Because what we need right now is not more stress, but some quality time with friends and family. That’s the heart of a BBQ. Be safe and cherish your people. The rest is just extra.

Really, this is all we’re trying to say: times are weird, so embrace the strange. Whatever your needs, whatever your kitchen limitations, whatever your current energy or patience levels, we’ve got a jerky to make you and your people happy: no grill, no 96-hour marinade, no eight-liters of frying oil and the subsequent pharmacy run for Neosporin, just good meat, ready to go. Because what we need right now is not more stress, but some quality time with friends and family. That’s the heart of a BBQ. Be safe and cherish your people. The rest is just extra.

Really, this is all we’re trying to say: times are weird, so embrace the strange. Whatever your needs, whatever your kitchen limitations, whatever your current energy or patience levels, we’ve got a jerky to make you and your people happy: no grill, no 96-hour marinade, no eight-liters of frying oil and the subsequent pharmacy run for Neosporin, just good meat, ready to go. Because what we need right now is not more stress, but some quality time with friends and family. That’s the heart of a BBQ. Be safe and cherish your people. The rest is just extra.