~ These simple Homemade Dog Treats are the doggyversion of that classic comfort food, chicken and biscuits! They’re also the perfect way to use up leftover chicken that might otherwise go to waste. With just 4 ingredients, they’reultra quick and easy, and they store beautifully in the freezer for weeks! ~
This Recipe Is:• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Freezable •Make Ahead •
Our Finny is a seriously pampered pooch with a pretty (ahem …) doggone good life. He’s got a doggy door so he can head out to sun himself on the deck whenever he pleases. He sleeps cuddled next to me, under the covers, every night. And you know he’s my favorite running buddy.
It’s good to be him.
Homemade dog treats, though? Really?
As though I have a whole bunch of extra time on my hands for that little indulgence, right?!?
But actually, I do! These dog treats take just moments to mix together, and with only four ingredients (because we’re not counting that freebie water!), they’re a total breeze!
They’re like home-stylechicken and biscuits,in a pup-friendly, treat form!
What makes these dog treatstotally THK-terrific, though, is the make-ahead, ready-and-waiting-when-you-are tip on how these treats help you use up chicken that would otherwise go to waste:
Stockpile (and Freeze) Your Bits of Leftover Chicken
As I mentioned in our postforFrozen Dog Treats, here at THK, we have a lot of recipes that start with a rotisserie chicken (such a simple shortcut!). But, when I’m working with a rotisserie chicken, I really hate not using up every morselof the bird – including the little bits of meat stuck to the bones, and the cartilage and connective tissue that most peopledon’t eat. It often adds uptomore than a cup of chicken I wouldn’t otherwise use! These homemade dog treats are the perfect way to put those extra little bits to great use!I’m so happy to feel like not one bit of the animal went to waste – that I used all I could.
So, instead of preparing chicken just to make this dog treat recipe (now, that really would be a pampered pooch!), I stockpile leftover bits of chicken any time we have some from our own (human) meals. I measure it out and keep it in labeled zipper bags in the freezer.
When I have enough chicken,I can whip up a batch of these homemade dog treats. And Finn is a happy, happy boy!
Chicken You Don’t Want to Use
When you’re chopping or shredding leftover chicken, be careful that you don’t include any bones. And go easy on including too much fat, particularly the fatty skin. I actuallydon’t recommend including the skin at all, if the chicken has been roasted with a lot of spices or salt that’s still clinging to it.
Similarly, if you’re using leftover chicken meat from arecipe (rather than using up a rotisserie chicken), and the meat is heavily sauced or deeply flavored from cooking spices or marinades, you should probably skip that, as well. To avoid upsetting your pup’s tummy, it’s best to keep things simple.
But What About Cute Shapes?
I see so many darling recipes for homemade dog treats that have been lovingly shaped into things like hearts or doggy bones. But it all just seems like a lot of fuss simplytomake people happy. I’m pretty much 100% certain that Finn loves these treats just as much in a plain-old round shape, as he would if I’d spent loads of extra time making them into bones or hearts.
They’re basically just simple drop biscuits you plop onto a baking sheet– as easy as easy gets!
And all that time I saved?
Hey – it’s a few more minutes he and I can spend out running, or just cuddling on the couch. He’d vote for that any day!
Trust me – skipping the cookie cutterskeeps these homemade dog biscuits lightning-fast and easy-peasy! And your dog won’t even notice (or care). Dogs don’t judge! They just gobble these down … and ask for more!
Which is exactly why I’m off to make another batch right now …
Yield: About 4 dozen treats
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
These easy Homemade Dog Treats are the perfect way to use up leftover chicken! They're quick to make, and store beautifully in the freezer for weeks!
• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Freezable •Make Ahead •
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken (see note)
- 2 cups whole wheat flour or white whole wheat flour
- 1 (5.3-ounce) container nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring until thoroughly incorporated. Batter will be very thick and sticky.
- Drop batter by level tablespoons onto parchment-lined baking sheets. (Because these dog biscuits spread very little during baking, I crowd them together more than typical cookies, and get all of them onto 2 baking sheets.) Using the back of a spoon, flatten the dog treats slightly.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, until lightly golden brown.
- Cool completely on wire racks. Store in refrigerator or (for longer storage) in zippered freezer bags in freezer (thaw before serving).
Notes
Chicken: As discussed in the post, this recipe is an opportunity to use up leftover chicken, and we often utilize the bits of unused rotisserie chicken that we have left after making other recipes. Any cooked, chopped chicken will work for this recipe, but be very careful not to include any bones. Also, don't use too much of the fatty chicken skin, particularly if the skin has spicy seasonings or a lot of salt on it. Once you've finely chopped your leftover chicken for this recipe, you can pre-measure it and store it in a labeled, zippered freezer bag in your freezer until you have time to make this dog treat recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 48 servingsServing Size: 1 treat
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 33Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
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