Beef jerky or sticks are a convenient, protein-filled snack. Today, they come in different sizes and flavors. You can get the original beef stick or a teriyaki-flavored one.
Two companies in particular stand out on the meat stick market: Jack Links and Slim Jim. What’s the difference between these two brands?
Does one offer better quality than the other?
In this article, I will look at each company’s history, the ingredients of their products, and whether they have much in common.
Jack Links
Jack Links is one of the most popular beef jerky manufacturers in the USA – and sells more jerky snacks than any other competitor. Let’s look at the company’s history, what it sells, and whether the products are full of weird ingredients.
The History of Jack Links
The history of the Link family in the USA goes back to 1880, but the story of the actual company began with Jack Link, the son of cattle rancher Wolf Link.
One day, Jack had the idea to make jerky with his grandfather’s recipes, and together with his son, the first Jack Link’s jerky was created. It was first shared with friends and family, then with the region – and then the world.
Jack Links entered the market in 1986. Jack Link is still alive and prides himself on a family-run business that became an international success.
Read Related: Who Owns Jack Link’s Protein Snacks Company?
What Jack Links Chews Are There? Where Can I Buy Them?
You can find Jack Link’s products in most supermarkets and other retailers that sell groceries. You can use the official store finder to find the closest store to your address – or you can shop online and get them delivered.
If you live in the USA and are a real fan of Jack Link’s, you’ll need to visit one of their stores where you can buy their products and some fun merchandise.
There are many different types of Jack Link’s snacks on the market. Here are some of the most popular options:
The Jack Links Beef Sticks are a classic snack and perfect for on the go. You can get them in various flavors, e.g., the classic and Teriyaki.
The Original Flavor Multipack is an excellent snack-sized option if you prefer the snack version to the beef sticks. The multipack comes with 20 bags.
The Beef Jerky Snack Variety Pack is great if you like it spicy. It comes in three flavors: peppered beef jerky, Jalapeno Carne Seca Beef Jerky, and Sweet&Hot beef jerky.
The Teriyaki Beef Jerky is excellent for people who enjoy this classic Japanese flavor mixed with the distinct taste of beef jerky.
Jack Link’s Meat Bars are a chunkier version of the classic stick format. These can also be purchased as chicken varieties instead of beef.
Jack Link’s Tender Cuts are a good option for people who prefer a slightly less chewy version of the jerky snack.
Jack Link’s Premium Cuts are nice, giant slabs of beef steak jerky that are ideal if you like your snack to be a bit more substantial than a beef stick.
What Are Jack Links Ingredients?
Jack Link’s ingredient list is surprisingly short, considering beef jerky is a highly processed food.
The Jack Links ingredients are:
Beef, Water, Salt, less than 2% Brown Sugar, Spices, Monosodium Glutamate, Sugar, Flavorings, and Sodium Nitrite.
Flavorings differ depending on which flavor you choose. If you opt for the more unusual chicken jerky, you hopefully realize that there’ll be no beef in it!
Slim Jim
Slim Jim has been on the market for longer than Jack Links (though Jack Links has a longer history with meat in general). Like Jack Links, it is a popular producer of meat sticks, though they are often more described as a fermented sausage snack, e.g., pepperoni sausage.
The History of Slim Jim
Adolph Levis invented Slim Jim in 1929 (in Philadelphia), but the product only went into industrial production in 1940.
The businessman then sold the company in 1967. It was sold again in 1982 and ended up in the ConAgra family of brands in 1998. The company has changed its owner quite often – a big difference compared to Jack Links, which the same family still runs.
There’s less pride behind this brand and less of a connection between products and producers.
What Slim Jim Chews Are There? Where Can I Buy Them?
Like its competitor, Slim Jim makes it easy to look up the location of a store near you where you can buy Slim Jim products. Even easier: Buy the products online!
Slim Jim’s Beef Sticks come in various flavors: BBQ to Dill Pickle, Habanero, Teriyaki, and Original.
The Monster-Sized Slim Jim Beef Sticks are comparable in weight to Jack Link’s Premium Cuts (2oz).
Slim Jim’s snack-sized Beef Sticks are small and ideal for lunch boxes or snacks on the go. You can get a big box with 120 of them in it!
Slim Jim’s also come in a SAVAGE-sized meat stick version. These weigh 3oz (per stick). This makes them three times bigger than the original Slim Jim meat stick.
Slim Jim has a tempting offer for people who love the combination of meat and cheese: The Original’n’Cheese meat stick. This is a combo of a meat stick with a cheese stick, and you’re supposed to eat both simultaneously.
What Are Slim Jim Ingredients?
The ingredient list for a classic Slim Jim meat stick is a tad longer than Jack Link’s ingredient list. Let’s look at it:
Beef, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Water, Corn Syrup, Soy Protein Concentrate, less than 2% of Salt, Spices, Dextrose, Paprika, and Paprika Extractives, Flavoring, Hydrolyzed Soy, Corn, and Wheat Proteins, Lactic Acid Starter Culture, Sodium Nitrite
So you see, it’s not just beef that goes into these meat sticks. Some varieties also include pork.
Comparison Questions
Jack Links vs Slim Jim Comparison Chart:
| Jack Links | Slim Jim |
| Family-owned, based on family traditions. The founder is still in control of the company. | No family traditions; the company changed owners multiple times |
| Made from beef (with some chicken products in the offering) | Made from a mix of beef, chicken, and pork |
| Halal | Not halal |
| Has some gluten-free options | No gluten-free options |
| Offers a wider variety of products | Focused on meat sticks |
| It has a fan base and actual retail stores with merchandise | Fans seem less dedicated |
| Short ingredient list | Comparably longer ingredient list |
| Proper jerky texture | More like a fermented sausage |
Are Jack Links and Slim Jims Halal?
Jack Links have an official Halal certification on their product’s packaging, so there is no doubt about it.
Slim Jim meat sticks are a different story as they are a mix of beef, chicken, and pork. This makes them unsuitable for people who only eat halal meat.
Which Lasts Longer?
They last for about a year if they remain in unopened pouches. Thanks to the way jerky is produced, there’s no difference.
Once you open a bag (and don’t eat it all), you must store both jerky brands properly to keep them from becoming less appetizing. Please keep them in an airtight container or bag.
If you keep them at room temperature, you must eat them within 2-3. If you store them in the fridge, you can keep them for up to a week.
The best-before date is found on each bag, usually printed in black.
Which Is More Affordable?
When it comes to snacking, you want good quality for a reasonable price, so let’s look at how the average prices for three similar products compare.
| Product | Jack Links | Slim Jim | Which Is Cheaper? |
| Jerky Snack | $1.40 per oz | $2.50 per oz | Jack Links |
| Beef/MeatSticks | $0.90 per stick | $1.10 per stick | Jack Links |
| Big Sticks | $1.80 per stick | $1.50 per stick | Slim Jim |
Overall, Jack Links is the more affordable brand.
Are Jack Links or Slim Jims Gluten-Free?
Some products in the Jack Links line contain gluten, so you must check the ingredient list carefully if you have a gluten intolerance. The labels will have these ingredients marked.
While some of Jack Link’s products are gluten-free, none of Slim Jim’s offerings are considered gluten-free. They are not listed on ConAgra’s official list of gluten-free products (you can get an up-to-date copy of that list by contacting them). Barley malt extract is the problematic ingredient here.
Related Questions
Can You Eat Jacks Links And Slim Jims On A Keto Diet?
Beef Jerky might look ideal for a Keto diet, but it is not. There are various reasons for this, but the main reason is the ingredients. There’s more in beef jerky than meat, and many components are not allowed on a Keto diet.
Beware: some sellers claim these meat sticks are acceptable on a Keto diet, but it is false. The same sellers also label these MEAT sticks as vegan products, so use common sense when you see such strange claims.
Can You Give Jerkies To Your Dog?
While your dog would love these snacks, they are not pet food and contain problematic ingredients that could cause discomfort (bloating, for example). If you want to treat your dog, get some good dog snacks or give your dog natural, unprocessed meat.
Is Jerky A Good Source Of Protein?
Beef jerky is quite a good source of protein, but whether it is a healthy source is another question. It is better than many other snacks but should be consumed in moderation because of its high sugar and sodium content.
Final Thoughts
After researching the brands in detail, I found quite a few differences.
Overall, I prefer Jack Links as there seems to be more value to what they offer. The brand also has more character and comes across as more appealing.