How to Make Skinless Snack Sticks (No Casings, No Smoker)

If you love snack sticks but don't love dealing with casings or firing up the smoker, skinless snack sticks might be your new favorite project. These sticks use the same process as extruded jerky, just formed into a round, snack-stick shape—making them perfect for hiking, hunting, or everyday protein-packed snacking. 

In this guide, we'll walk through how to make skinless snack sticks at home using simple equipment and ingredients you can find at waltons.com. 

What Are Skinless Snack Sticks? 

Skinless snack sticks are essentially round jerky sticks. They look like traditional snack sticks, but there's no casing, and they're not smoked. Instead, they're dehydrated, giving them a more restructured jerky texture than a classic smoked sausage. 

Think of them as: 

• Easier than traditional snack sticks 
• Can be faster than smoked sausage 
• Perfect for jerky lovers who want a different shape 

Ingredients & Equipment You'll Need 

Meat 

• Fresh ground beef (80/20) 
  Using store-bought ground beef makes this process quick and beginner-friendly. The fat content helps with flavor and texture. 

Seasoning & Cure 

• Walton's Jalapeño Mango Seasoning is one option
• Cure (for jerky-style products) 

The cure is essential for food safety and shelf life, especially when dehydrating at lower temperatures. 

Equipment 

• Jerky Gun (with dual-nozzle attachment) 
• Dehydrator capable of higher temperatures (up to 194°F) 
• Vacuum sealer & bags (for storage) 

All of this equipment is available at waltons.com—everything but the meat. 

Step 1: Mix for Proper Protein Extraction 

Combine your ground beef, seasoning, and cure, then mix thoroughly. 

What you're looking for: 

• A sticky, tacky texture 
• Meat that binds together instead of staying loose 

You still need proper protein extraction for binding, but understand that this product will naturally experience some fat-out during dehydration. 

Step 2: Load the Jerky Gun 

Using a jerky gun makes forming skinless snack sticks fast and consistent. 

Tips for easy loading: 

• Roll the meat into compact meatballs 
• Slightly oval them to fit the chamber 
• Use a stomper to pack the meat tightly 

Avoid air pockets—they can cause uneven drying and misshapen sticks. 

Attach the dual-nozzle head to speed things up and produce uniform sticks. 

Step 3: Extrude the Snack Sticks 

As you squeeze the handle, the plunger will slowly push the meat through the nozzles. 

Key tip: 
You must move the jerky gun as you extrude. If you hold it in one place, you'll get “wiggles” in the sticks, which can affect both appearance and drying consistency. 

Lay the sticks out evenly on the dehydrator racks, leaving space between them for airflow. 

Step 4: Dehydrate in Stages 

This process uses a high-heat start followed by a long, low-temperature dry. 

1. 194°F for 15 minutes 
2. Rotate racks (important if the heating element is in the back) 
3. 194°F for another 15 minutes 
4. Reduce to 130°F for ~5 hours, or until desired dryness 

Because this is technically a jerky product, dryness is a personal preference. Some people like it very dry, others prefer a little moisture. 

Storage & Shelf Life 

These skinless snack sticks are fully dehydrated with low water activity, making them ideal for long-term storage. 

Important storage tips: 

• Let sticks cool completely to room temperature 
• Vacuum seal only after cooling 
• Store in a cool, dry place 

Vacuum sealing too soon can trap moisture, which may shorten shelf life or cause spoilage. 

Why Make Skinless Snack Sticks? 

•  No casings required 
•  No smoker needed 
•  Easier than traditional snack sticks 
•  Great for backpacks, hunts, and road trips 

They deliver the portability of jerky with the familiar shape of a snack stick—best of both worlds. 

From jerky guns and dehydrators to seasonings, cure, and vacuum sealers, you'll find everything you need at waltons.com and meatgistics.com. 

If you're looking for a fun, efficient way to make jerky-style snacks at home, skinless snack sticks are definitely worth a try.