The invention discloses a preparation method for air-dried beef. The preparation method comprises the following steps: (1) cutting raw beef into strip beef, wherein the raw beef is originated from Xinjiang brown cow at an age of 18 to 36 months; (2) adding the strip beef and any one pickling agent selected from pickling agents described in 1) to 4) into a rolling and kneading machine for rolling, kneading and pickling, wherein a pickling agent described in 1) is composed of salt, pepper, myrcia, ginger, ascorbic acid, sodium nitrite and transglutaminase, a pickling agent described in 2) is composed of salt, pepper, myrcia, ginger, Chinese prickly ash, chilli, ascorbic acid, sodium nitrite and transglutaminase, a pickling agent described in 3) is composed of salt, pepper, myrcia, ginger, mashed garlic, ascorbic acid, sodium nitrite and transglutaminase, and a pickling agent described in 4) is composed of salt, pepper, myrcia, ginger, Fructus galangae oil, ascorbic acid, sodium nitrite and transglutaminase; and (3) air drying the strip beef pickled in the step (2) in an airing room. The preparation method provided by the invention prepares the novel Kazakhstan air-dried beef with the advantages of unique flavor, abundant nutrients, toughness, fragrance and tenderness.