Spicy Homemade Ground Beef Jerky

Combine salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Mix these spices thoroughly until well combined.

Add the ground beef to this mixture and blend it in perfectly.

Now, pass the beef mixture through a meat grinder with the finest blade attachment. This will help to break down the ingredients and create a smoother texture.

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Place wire racks onto baking sheets, making sure they are securely in place.

To shape the beef mixture into strips, place half of it between two sheets of heavy plastic wrap on a flat surface. Use your hands to firmly compress the mixture into a uniform thickness of 1/8 inch. Remove the top layer of plastic wrap, flip the mixture over onto a prepared baking sheet, and discard the bottom layer of plastic wrap. Repeat this process with the remaining beef mixture.

Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven, ensuring that the door is slightly ajar. Allow the beef mixture to cook for 2 and a half hours, then rotate the baking sheet halfway through. Continue cooking until the jerky is cooked through, adding another 3 hours to the total time.

Once the jerky is done, remove it from the oven and cut it into strips while it's still warm.