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Ground Beef Jerky Recipe

Ground Beef Jerky Recipe

Katie WellsMar 30, 2011Updated: Jan 3, 2020
Reading Time: 3 min

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My kids really like beef jerky, and actually I do too. For a long time, we never had it in the house because a) it’s expensive and b) unless its full of sugars and nitrates, it is really expensive!

When a road trip left me desperate for some kind of portable protein, I tried an idea a friend had recommended: making jerky from ground beef. It was surprisingly easy, much cheaper, and the kids loved it. I now keep this on hand for daily snacks and make big batches for trips.

I’ve also found that ground venison and other game meats can be prepared this way and are excellent! Usually, we just use grass fed beef though.

Some Notes:

The jerky will harden up more after taking it out, so don’t let it get too dry in the oven. It also shrinks a lot as the moisture leaves it, so make more than you think you will need. My kids actually like this dipped in guacamole or salsa, but we also eat it plain or with raw cheese slices.

Ground Beef Jerky Recipe

Ground Beef Jerky Recipe

Make healthy, nitrate-free, beef jerky at home with ground beef. Easily customize the flavor with natural spices...
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Calories 161kcal
Author Katie Wells
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Servings

8 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to its lowest setting. On my oven this is 170°F.
  • Lightly rub olive oil over the bottom of a large baking sheet with a lip. (It is ok to use olive oil here because we aren't heating to high temps!)
  • In a medium size bowl, mix together the ground meat with desired spices.
  • Using the bottom of a glass baking dish or a rolling pin, roll the meat evenly around the baking sheet to ¼ inch thickness. If it is too thick, use a second baking sheet.
  • Use a butter knife to lightly score the meat to make the sizes you want for the jerky. You can also skip this step and use kitchen scissors to cut into strips when it's done.
  • Brush with coconut aminos or fermented soy sauce if desired and sprinkle with a little extra sea salt.
  • Place in the oven and cook for 8-12 hours or until hardened. It is a good idea to flip it once, but not necessary at all. I usually stick this in at night and it is ready to flip in the morning and done a few hours later.
  • Store at room temperature for up to a couple weeks, or keep in the freezer if you aren't going to use it before then.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Ground Beef Jerky Recipe
Amount Per Serving (2 oz)
Calories 161 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 70mg23%
Sodium 1031mg45%
Potassium 396mg11%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Protein 24g48%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 2.7mg15%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

You can easily mix up the flavors in this recipe with different spices. I've made a Mexican type flavor with cumin and cilantro; a Chinese variation with ginger and coconut aminos; and an Italian version with oregano, basil, marjoram, extra garlic, and pepper.
Make sure you use lean ground meat for best flavor and longest lasting jerky.

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Ever made jerky? Were you successful? Let me know below!

This ground beef jerky is easy to make and customize and is much cheaper to make than traditional jerky.

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (76 Comments)

  1. Athena

    5 stars
    I love making and eating this jerky, so does my toddler!
    We add a bunch of raw spinach, fresh garlic, fresh turmeric root, chia seeds and seaweed powder. I like upping the fiber and nutrients any way I can. 🙂

    Reply

  3. Jincy

    I do not have garlic powder and don’t know too many uses for it to buy one.
    Can we use garlic paste/crushed garlic instead of garlic powder in this recipe?

    Reply

  4. Marie-Eve MacPherson

    5 stars
    I made mine with our home raised ground pork and dried apples I wizzed in the coffee grinder! Good isn’t even the word!!!

    Reply

  7. Casey

    5 stars
    Finally a beef jerky recipe, they ARE so expensive prepackaged and packed with sugar and all other types of ingredients. Thanks!!

    Reply

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