Posted November 6, 2026
Hi, it's Aaliyah. If you've ever scrolled our menu, seen the words Hot Cheeto jerky and thought, "Wait, is that real?" this post is for you.
Yes. It's real. It's on our menu, it's one of our top sellers, and it has a sibling that sounds even wilder. So today I want to give these flavors the spotlight they deserve and help you figure out which one belongs in your bag.
The short version
We make two flavors built around that red Hot Cheeto dust:
- Hot Cheetos sits at a 4 on our heat scale.
- Hot Cheeto Pickle sits at a 3.
There's also a third member of the family, Hot Mamma Cheeto, which is a 5. My mom gets the credit for that one, and I already told the whole story in Hot Mamma Cheeto and flavors made for Burque. So this post is about the other two, the two that make people look twice at the menu.
Why Hot Cheetos on jerky even makes sense
If you grew up around here, you probably don't need convincing. Hot Cheetos with lime after school is basically a New Mexico food group. Chile goes on everything here, and we love snacks that are sweet, sour, salty and spicy all in one bite.
Our base is always the same: small batch carne seca, which is thin cut beef with a heavy hand on the seasoning and a long, slow dry. That thin cut is the secret here. Thin strips grab onto seasoning, so a dust like Hot Cheeto really coats every piece instead of sliding off. If you want the full breakdown of how carne seca is made, I wrote a plain English guide to carne seca earlier this week.
So when people say Hot Cheeto jerky sounds like a gimmick, I get it. But it comes from the same place as our green chile flavors. We take what people here already love and put it on beef.
Hot Cheetos: heat level 4
Here's how we describe it on the menu: red hot Cheeto dust packed into every strip. Your fingers will be red and you won't care.
That pretty much sums it up. This is the flavor for the person who always has a bag of Hot Cheetos in the car, the backpack or the desk drawer. It's bold, it's spicy and it's red. Very red. Keep a napkin nearby, or don't, and just own the red fingertips like everyone else at the booth.
At a 4, it's a real step up from our mild flavors. It's not our hottest, but it's not shy either. If Green at a 3 feels comfortable to you, Hot Cheetos is a fun next step.
Who it's for: Hot Cheeto fans, spice lovers who aren't ready for a 5 yet, and anyone who wants a snack that starts a conversation.
Hot Cheeto Pickle: heat level 3
This is the one that gets the biggest double take. The menu says it best: dill pickle tang meets Hot Cheeto heat. It sounds wild. It sells out anyway.
The pickle is what makes it work. Heat needs something to play against, and that sour dill tang cuts right through the spice, so every bite is salty, sour and hot at the same time. If you've ever eaten a pickle and a bag of Hot Cheetos together from the corner store, you already know this combo. We just put it on carne seca.
It also comes in a notch milder than straight Hot Cheetos, at a 3, so it's a friendly place to start if you're curious about the Cheeto flavors but nervous about the heat.
Who it's for: Pickle people, sour snack fans, and anyone who likes the idea of Hot Cheeto jerky but wants a little less fire.
And if you love the pickle part most, we also make plain Pickle at a 1. Tangy dill pickle jerky, sour, salty and weirdly addictive.
Which one should you grab?
Here's how I'd pick:
- New to spicy jerky? Start with Hot Cheeto Pickle. The tang balances the heat.
- Hot Cheeto loyalist? Go straight to Hot Cheetos. It's the classic.
- Can't decide? Get one of each. A small bag is $7, so trying both is easy.
- Already eat a 4 for breakfast? Hot Mamma Cheeto is waiting for you at a 5. You've been warned.
If snack aisle flavors are your thing, Takis is another fun one at a 4, with rolled chile lime crunch flavor on thin cut carne seca. A Hot Cheetos and Takis combo is a strong move for a game day snack bag.
One quick note: everything we make contains beef, and some flavors contain dairy, soy, wheat or corn. If that matters for you or someone you're sharing with, text us before you order and ask about the flavor you want.
How to get Hot Cheeto jerky in Albuquerque
The easiest way is right from your phone. Find Hot Cheetos and Hot Cheeto Pickle on the menu, add them to your cart and send your order. A small bag is $7 and a large bag is $20. The crew texts you to confirm, our dealer drops it at your door, and you get a photo once it's delivered. You can pay with Cash App, Venmo, Apple Pay or cash.
You can also text or call 505-922-5683 or 505-364-0678, or email jerkyfixx@gmail.com if you have a question first.
If you'd rather taste it in person, we set up at pop ups, festivals and ball games around Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. Our last stop was New Mexico Jerky Fest, Halloween Edition, on October 31, 2026 at Isleta Resort and Casino. Stay tuned for upcoming events. Check the dealer locator and sign up for alerts, or follow us on Instagram so you hear about the next one.
So yes, Hot Cheeto jerky is real, and Jerky Fixx makes it in small batches right here in New Mexico. The only real question left is whether you're a straight Hot Cheetos person or a pickle person. Either way, we've got a bag for you.
