Mesquite Creek Jerky Co. is a small‑batch, Texas‑inspired beef jerky brand that prides itself on taking the ordinary snack and turning it into a bold, flavorful experience. With roots firmly planted in Texas tradition, the company handcrafts each batch using premium beef and an innovative blend of spices to create unique flavor profiles where the flavor names are what they say, from tangy Dill Fuego, Atomic, and Bloody Mary.
Their mission is simple: no more bland, dry, forgettable jerky, just the kind that “slams” with real, authentic taste in every chew. You won’t find industrial, mass‑produced strips here as each piece is thoughtfully marinated, tumbled, and crafted to deliver maximum flavor. With a spirit of adventure and a nod to Texan ingenuity, Mesquite Creek Jerky Co. appeals to snackers who crave premium quality, bold taste, and a jerky experience that’s anything but ordinary.
The owner, Ruben Hinojosa, has a passion for bold flavors. “Bold” was his word of the year for 2024, when he quit his job in San Francisco to move back home without any prospects of a job. He had to be bold to chase his dream, and he wanted to inspire others to do the same. That’s why their mission is to fuel your bold. His roots are his inspiration. Family and loyalty run deep and show up in how they do business. Whether it’s their flavor choices or how they treat customers, there’s a personal story behind it all.
A quote from Ruben: “I get excited about taking risks with flavor. We’re not here to play it safe, we’re here to be bold and bring better jerky to the world. We never claim to be the best. The best is subjective, implying a finish line. Instead, we aim to be better. Better every day. Better recipes. Better flavors. Better for our customers because they deserve nothing less.”
This Mesquite Creek Jerky Co. brand is distributed under the same name as Mesquite Creek Jerky Co. and it is located in Weslaco, Texas. This jerky is manufactured by Stoney Point Inc., and is located in Littlestown, Pennsylvania.
The next review on Mesquite Creek Jerky Co. will focus on a 2 ounce/56 gram bag of their Lemon Pepper flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as delivering a zesty lemon zing followed by a bold pepper punch that perfectly complements the rich, savory beef. The jerky was kindly submitted for review by President Ruben Hinojosa.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Garlic, Sugar, Sugar, Spices, Lemon Powder, Citric Acid, Silicon Dioxide, FD&C Yellow 5, Lemon Oil Citral, Water, Monosodium Glutamate.
The beef used is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle have partial free range access to roam about and graze on grass the way nature intended. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade used here is comprised of water and healthy lemon oil citral.
Some healthy ingredients added are lemon pepper, spices, and garlic.
The artificial color FD&C yellow 5 is used to lose a rating.
The sugar level is excellent at 0 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is a little high at 380mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, the main preservative used is salt. The unhealthy flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used to lose a rating.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
MESQUITE CREEK JERKY CO. – LEMON PEPPER BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell both slight lemon and slight pepper. The jerky is medium to large, and they are sliced paper thin, and is dry and almost crumbly.
When I bite into the jerky I am met with a myriad of different flavors. I taste strong salt, pepper, lemon, and natural beef. This flavor and texture are crazy good, and every frickin’ bite tastes like “MORE!!” A no-brainer 20/10 for this particular make and model, and yes, I said 20/10, but since that is impossible, we’ll have to settle for a 10/10. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this Lemon Pepper beef jerky flavor from Mesquite Creek Jerky Co.: “Thanks Paul for the glowing taste review. Very true, the lemon flavor is at a great, strong level. The salt is at a good level, and the black pepper is also at a strong level. Thankfully, the sweetness is at a minimal level, which allows the natural beef flavor to shine with no hint of tasting processed.”
“I would not say that these strips are paper thin, but thin nonetheless. The hue of this jerky does take on a yellowish appearance, which is attained from the artificial yellow color, which is unnecessary in my opinion. This flavor delivers on the lemon and pepper in spades, which you could term as bold tasting. A unanimous Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded. Two thumbs way up!!👍👍”
This 2 ounce/56 gram bag of jerky sells online for $10.99. That works out to $5.50 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has labels affixed to the front and back. The logo of the Mesquite Creek Jerky Co. has a bull’s head in the center. The bag has a small illustration of lemons on a plate.
Some slogans printed could be “Bold Meat Snacks” and “Fuel Your Bold”. Some facts printed on this bag are “Quality is our Core – Bold Flavor is our Signature”, “No Preservatives”, Made in USA”, “Mesquite Creek Jerky is here to make your snack time legendary”, and “Let’s Get Social”.
There are no missing bag categories. A great blurb is printed on the back about Mesquite Creek Jerky Co. and this Lemon Pepper flavor. You are encouraged to follow Mesquite Creek Jerky Co. on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. A QR code is displayed on the back.
Order their jerky online: www.mesquitecreekjerky.com
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