Ground Venison Jerky

What is it?

Ground venison jerky is made with lean ground deer meat aggressively flavored with seasonings, then dehydrated at a low temperature to cook and dry. Pink curing salt is added to make your homemade jerky shelf stable and to prevent botulism from forming during the slow drying process. Skip the store-bought seasoning packets, making this homemade jerky is a great way to create a snack you'll be proud of!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Lean ground venison - Ideally you want ground meat without fat added, but it will still taste great even with fat. However, it won't store as long. Although this recipe is designed to use with deer meat, you can substitute any ground meat or wild game meat.

Soy sauce

Worcestershire sauce

Liquid smoke

Ground black pepper

White sugar - Brown sugar can be substituted for a deeper flavor. If you try to avoid sugar in your diet, it can be omitted from the recipe.

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Ground mustard - Yellow mustard can be substituted.

Canning salt - Sea salt and table salt can also be substituted.

Ground coriander

Cayenne pepper - To make spicy jerky you can add up to a full teaspoon. Otherwise, hot sauce and crushed red pepper flakes can also be used.

Pink curing salt - There are different types of curing salts, so it is important to use pink curing salt referred to as Prague Powder #1 or Insta Cure #1. You won't find this in the typical grocery store, so ask your local butcher or order it online.

Equipment Needed

You will need a couple of pieces of specialized equipment to make your homemade ground deer jerky. Specifically, a dehydrator, or at least an oven with a dehydrating feature. Alternatively, you can make your jerky in a smoker as well. I also strongly recommend using a jerky gun (which is like a caulking gun) to easily create uniform thin strips of meat.

How to make it

Begin making your homemade ground venison jerky by crumbling the ground venison into a large mixing bowl, then adding the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, black pepper, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, canning salt, coriander, cayenne pepper, and the pink curing salt. Mix everything together until well combined, then place in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld together for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, remove the raw ground meat jerky mixture from the fridge and load it into your jerky cannon. Squeeze long strips into a single layer on your dehydrator's wire racks and set the dehydrator to 160 degrees. Let your meat dehydrate for 3-5 hours. It is done with the dry meat bends without breaking.

Note: I always recommend butchering your own deer so you have full control over the process from start to finish. If you have never done it before, grab a meat grinder and follow my guide on how to butcher a deer.

Venison Jerky FAQs

How can I make ground venison jerky without a jerky gun?

If you don't have a jerky gun, you can make your venison jerky by rolling it flat over parchment paper with a rolling pin, and then slicing it into strips with a knife or pizza cutter. Place the individual strips on the dehydrator trays and discard the wax paper.

When is ground jerky done?

Dehydrate your ground venison jerky for 3-5 hours and periodically check for doneness by doing the bend test. If you gently bend the jerky strips and they don't break, they are done and ready to enjoy!

How long can you store venison jerky?

The more fat you have in your jerky, the quicker it is going to spoil. This is why we recommend using lean meat. Your jerky will also have a longer shelf life the longer it is dried, however, it also becomes harder to chew as it is dehydrated longer. According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, homemade venison jerky can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks when properly prepared.

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