66 meat tenderizer recipes

Hickory-smoked BBQ pork ribs rubbed with olive oil and barbecue spice, then slow-smoked for tender, fall-off-the-bone meat with a sticky sauce finish.

Spicy lamb braised in a fresh paste of chilli, lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric with coconut milk, the meat first tenderized with papaya skin. Served with a sharp green papaya salad dressed in lime and fish sauce.

Golden, crispy beer batter softshell crabs fried to perfection. The batter rests to thicken before frying, giving each crab a crunchy shell with tender, sweet meat inside.

Overnight marinated chicken with vinegar, rosemary, marjoram, and white pepper. Grill or oven-roast for tender, herb-infused meat with a tangy kick from the vinegar marinade.

Jellied venison salad sets tender game meat in a savory bouillon gelatin with vinegar tang, served chilled on lettuce with mayonnaise. A retro cold salad worth reviving.

Taco lentils simmer green lentils until tender, then bake them in a smoky pureed ancho chile and tomato sauce spiced with cumin and chili. A high-protein, high-fiber vegan stand-in for taco meat.

Whole roasted chicken glazed with sweet honey and warm curry spices creates crispy golden skin over tender meat. Clove-studded onion inside perfumes the bird as it roasts.

Pickled spring garlic in vinegar and sweetened soy sauce, Korean-style. Slow ferment that mellows young garlic into tender, savory cloves perfect for rice bowls and grilled meats.

Slow-roasted beef brisket brushed with soy sauce and smothered in onion soup mix. Four hours in the oven yields fork-tender, deeply savory meat that practically carves itself.

Venison or pork chops browned and smothered in ketchup and brown sugar, then simmered until sticky and fork-tender. A hunter's kitchen classic that turns game meat into candy.

Grilled soft shell crabs basted in a tarragon and lemon pepper marinade. Cooked slow over indirect heat for crispy shells and sweet, tender meat. A Chesapeake Bay summer classic.

Lamb steaks braised in dry apple cider with crystallized ginger, English mustard, apple, and yogurt. A British-style casserole with a sweet-sharp sauce and tender, fall-apart meat.

Traditional Shabbos cholent slow-cooked overnight with meat, soup bones, potatoes, barley, beans, and onions. This classic Jewish Sabbath stew simmers 18 to 24 hours for deeply rich, tender results.

Authentic Chinese stir-fried chicken and asparagus in fermented black bean sauce with garlic and sherry. A savory, glossy wok dish with tender thigh meat that rivals your favorite takeout.

Tender lamb stew meat braised in a fragrant blend of coriander, cumin, cardamom, turmeric, and ginger, then finished with a swirl of yogurt and fresh lemon juice. Serve over rice for a deeply aromatic Indian curry.

A trail-worthy chili made from beef jerky, chili powder, cumin seeds, and oregano simmered low and slow until the jerky rehydrates and turns tender. No fresh meat or refrigeration needed.