Want to make your pup homemade dog treats with fresh ingredients? These Chicken Dog Treats are easy to make with whole ingredients. Your dog will love them!
(This recipe for Chicken Dog Treats was originally posted in July 2011, but has been updated with new photos and content in 2018).
I first made these chicken treats way back in 2011, long before I knew how obsessed I would be with my someday dog. I made them for my aunt's dog Mitzi and rather than eat them, she basically went around and buried them throughout the house.
I wasn't super offended though because Mitzi is a one treat kinda girl and doesn't really believe that variety is the spice of life.
My dog Winnie, however, is a whole other story. She's picky to the extreme, but has several favorite treats in her arsenal and is always looking to expand her options. To say she's treat motivated is the understatement of the year and yes, I am a ridiculous enabler and spoil her to no end.
So, I decided to remake these chicken treats for her to see if she'd be a fan. Fingers crossed.
Verdict: Oh yes. She is very much a fan. If you make them, I hope your dog is, too! And if you want to try an even more unique chicken treat, try this Chicken Jello for Dogs!
Chicken Dog Treats Recipe
I should start by saying that though this recipe is not for human consumption, the ingredients in it are all totally edible and these dog treats actually smell kind of incredible fresh out of the oven.
So, if you're looking for a savory cookie, go for it. You might just want to cut them in a shape other than dog bones. Or not. Whatever floats your boat. No judgement here.
These homemade treats are great because they're made with all real ingredients that you can feel good about feeding your dog. That said, every dog is different, so if you have any questions, be sure to check with your vet.
Some dogs can't tolerate dairy well and should avoid it, while some have no problem... My dog would drink milk out of a bowl like a cat if I let her.
I used a mix of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour, but you can certainly use all whole wheat if you prefer (Winnie is much more likely to enjoy treats if they're not 100% whole wheat).
Other than that, there's a little bit of dry evaporated milk powder, an egg, delicious shredded chicken (I cooked a chicken breast, let it cool, and shredded it, but you could also use a rotisserie chicken), carrots, sodium-free chicken broth, and a little bit of parmesan cheese.
If your dog can't do lactose, you can definitely leave the cheese out. I've also had readers tell me they've left the evaporated milk powder out with no problem.
Also, feel free to sub the carrots for a veggie your pup enjoys more. Winnie used to love carrots, but now she won't eat them plain... However, she loves them in these chicken dog treats!
On that note, one of my very favorite Winnie memories is what happened the first time we left her alone with a carrot for a bit.
Anyway, back to the treats! Your dough should be pretty firm, but you can definitely add a little more chicken broth into it if needed. Then you'll want to roll the dough out to about ¼-inch thick on a lightly floured surface.
And cut out your shapes. I did a couple different sizes of dog bones, but feel free to cut the cookies into any shape you want. Something tells me your dog won't really care whether he or she is eating a bone or a simple circle.
Place the biscuits on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until they're nice and golden.
And you have fresh-baked dog treats! Or savory human cookies if you decide to go that route. I'm not kidding when I say these smell really good.
Make sure you let the biscuits cool completely before you feed them to your dog.
Unlike when I fed these to Mitzi (who hid them behind the couch pillows and then hid them behind the bed pillows), Winnie wanted to dig in right away.
She had been eyeing them since she saw me cooking the chicken and watched my every move in the kitchen.
I'm pretty sure she would have eaten every single one of these chicken dog treats if I let her. We're really working on teaching her to wait and stay until we say otherwise and she's doing such a good job.
I tried hard to show some restraint and cut her off after two treats, though if I had it my way, I'd let her eat treats to her little heart's content. But something tells me she would never stop.
Luckily, I do feel pretty good about feeding her these chicken dog treats as I know exactly what's in them and that there are no added preservatives. I also like that she's getting plenty of protein and veggies with each one!
I love this dog cookie base and can think of so many different variations that could be made to it to suit your dog's tastes. Let me know if you have any requests or homemade treats you want me to try!
I'm sure it sounds silly, but it makes me so happy to bake something for my pup that she's literally begging me for. Yes, she's a beggar to the ultimate degree. And I know I caused it. But I'm OK with it because I'm pretty sure that if I were a dog, I'd be begging for these chicken treats, too!
If you have a pet, is he or she a picky eater?
If you're looking for other delicious homemade dog treats, check out my Chicken Jello, Peanut Butter Banana Pupcakes or Banana Doughnuts for Dogs. I also can't wait to make these Frozen Watermelon Dog Treats from For the Love of Cooking soon!
Chicken Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 cup cooked and shredded chicken (from about 1 breast)
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, optional
- ¾ cup- 1 cup sodium-free chicken broth
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flours and powdered milk.
- Add beaten egg, chicken, carrots, parmesan cheese (if using), and ¾ cup chicken broth and mix together until just combined. The dough should be firm, but malleable. If it's too dry, add remaining ¼ cup chicken broth 1 Tbsp at a time.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead dough a few times. Roll dough out to a ¼-inch thick round. Cut out cookies using cookie cutter of any shape.
- Place cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for about 25-30 minutes, until treats are turning golden around edges.
- Let cookies rest in in pan for about 5 minutes before moving to wire racks to cool completely.
- Store chicken dog treats in airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
- The treats should keep for about 4-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
sweeter salt says
I might need to try these for my little man!
Laura
Christina says
Gaaaaah, way cute! My dogs are similarly picky, and one of them eats his weight in Pupperoni on a daily basis. He's old, so we cut him some slack.
Emily @ A Cambridge Story says
So cute!! My mom makes little bone-shaped treats with whole wheat and veggie purees for her dog and mine - but never with chicken! I'll have to try these for my pup, Sadie. She will eat ANYTHING (she's a lab!).
Malorie says
I'll have to make a batch of these next time I go visit my parents (and their dog)
Michelle says
This blog post brought a huge smile to my face.
Sara @ Saucy Dipper says
My beagle is definitely not a picky eater. He can't let a treat or a piece of kibble sit idle for more than a millisecond. Although he will take his favorite treats (Greenies) over onto the carpet to enjoy. I guess things taste even better while laying on soft surfaces.
Cute post!
Erica says
haha- thats awesome that she hid it behind the pillow! I've made Frank homemade treats once and he loved them! Hes not really a picky eater though....
Chris says
If our old dog wasn't wandering around with a tennis ball in her mouth, she was wandering around with an empty water bottle in her mouth. Those were her favorite toys. She loved the crunching of the plastic bottles, and it was like a puzzle for her. She would work on it until she unscrewed the top then come looking for a new one. 🙂
Her favorite (non-meat) treats were carrots, but she would eat pretty much anything. I did make cookies for her once but can't remember the recipe now. She was a cheese hound, so I know they had Parm or Romano in them. Romano was her favorite cheese.
The dog we have now is a VERY picky eater. She turns her nose up at almost everything, but I just figured out she really likes cucumbers. I just make sure to give her the outside (without the seeds) so she doesn't get gassy!
Given the option of another pet, I would DEFINITELY look for the same breed as our last dog. She was a Comfort Retriever - part retriever, part spaniel. She was the most loving, intelligent, expressive pet I have ever known! She was in my sister and her family's lives for 18 years. I was lucky enough to have been a part of her last 4 years (they weren't enough)! 🙁
As for the hiding of treats, I think most dogs do that on occasion, but some are obsessive about it. We have to be careful what we give our little one. You never know what will turn up where! LOL
beth says
Knowing Mitzi, this post literally made me laugh out loud!
emily @ the happy home says
thought it's not really flattery, as carson will eat ANYTHING, i think my puppers would gobble those up. i keep meaning to make them treats from scratch! love the shape, too-- and the fact that they're the size of mitzi's head
Untypically Jia says
These are awesome. I'm always looking for homemade recipes and including the pets is great. My dogs are the least picky eaters in the world. The pug once found a 3lb stash of jelly beans and the basset hound eats without chewing.
I worry about them both. Sigh.
Jenn's Food Journey says
That is cute! Love the idea of making treats for pets... they don't need all that added gunk either!! We have three cats.. one will eat anything he sees you eating.. anything... even grapes!! lol
Erica @ In and Around Town says
Such a cute post! I am a sucker for all things dog related - I have one, Holly, who is oddly picky about her food, but I am sure she would love one of these!!!
Pam says
I'll pass this on to all my friends who own dogs.
Bee says
Sues--thank you for the sweet comment on my blog! It sucks but I know I'll get through it, and now that my blog hiatus is over I'll be happily cooking away and messing up my parents' kitchen double-time.
I am so going to make these treats for my little Yorkie, Tocha--actually my parents' Yorkie but I love her to bits and she's a picky cookie eater.
Jaime says
your pup is so cute!!! i haven't seen homemade chicken dog treats before, this is neat!
Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living says
What a sweet pup! I've been meaning to make homemade dog treats for Shelby, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. These look great, and I'm sure she would love them.
Shannon says
hehe, love it. glad she was a fan of the treats!!
peachkins says
awww..that is so sweet of you to make a homemade treat for her...and I'm glad she liked it..
Reeni says
Aww, Mitzi is adorable! I bet he loved the treats. My cat is not picky at all - he wants to eat everything I do.
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says
Mitzi sure is a cutie! I don't have a dog, but I always get a Christmas present for my canine "nephew." Maybe he'd love some of these homemade treats! 🙂
Mary says
Pampered pups everywhere will love you :-). I'm passing your recipe onto some dog lovers I know. We are cat people. Any ideas for feline treats? Have a great weekend.Blessings...Mary
Melissa says
How hilarious and adorable!! I wish I had a dog to make these for!
Doggy Dessert Chef says
What a great recipe, I'm adding it to my facebook page right now. Woof!
Kelly says
Once I gave my pup a piece of lamb on the bone..yummy, yummy good lamb and he hid it behind a couch cushion. Take it as a compliment!
John Thompson says
I made these this weekend and both my dogs absolutely love them. I have a question though. Because of the chicken, do you know how long these will last? I'm keeping them in the fridge.
Cheers and thank you!
Ruth says
Knowing Mitzi; you captured her personality exactly. It must have been a lot of fun to see her hide the treat.....loved all the pictures. We should all have such loving and adorable "cousins". Thanks.
Sues says
@John- I kept mine in the fridge, too... I wouldn't keep them for more than 4 days, but they *might* last longer. I just wanted to play it safe!
Val says
I have 3 dogs all different 1.cocker 2.Heinz 57. 3 is boxer pit mix thank goodness none are picky eaters the pit mix is still a puppy so not sure about her stomach yet the Last batch i made p.nutbutter buiscuits were eaten with much gusto or like a vacum cleaner "ssllllurp" I hop yours goes the same way they sound great.
Michel L says
These are great, my St Bernard loves them, but how do you store them ,in the frig, just in a container ?
Stelios says
Thanks for the great recipe! Our dog loves anything to do with chicken, duck, pigeon 😛 Cooking them now... I am so sure he will love them he is sitting by the oven waiting.
btw didnt have milk powder so I just left it out but they are looking great!!
Zorro sends his regards 😀
Parisa Kaprealian says
Hi!
Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe. After my dog's favorite chicken treats called recalled, both my husband and I got worried about purchasing them again. We are worried to purchase any retail treats for that matter. So we both opted for home made treats and I must say my dog Tabasco has quite the full belly. He loved them!
Thanks again.
Parisa
Dog Lover says
First off, what a cute dog you have there. I really loved the post.. It was informative and helpful and the treats look like they turned out pretty great.
I think I will give this recipe a try. Great stuff, and I really appreciate it!
Vicky says
Thank you for this recipe! After rolling them out, I just cut them into squares with a pizza cutter - couldn't have been easier! I subbed the dry milk with some nutritional yeast (vegans use it for a "cheesy" flavor) I had from another dog treat recipe. And I used oat flour in place of wheat. Just thought I'd share the sub in case anyone else's dog cannot have wheat! The next time I have leftover beef, I plan to try that, too.
Laura says
Taking a treat and trying to bury it is a definite sign that a dog likes it. Really, really likes it a lot.
My canine "niece" is extremely fussy. The only homemade treat she has ever eaten was peanut butter oatmeal biscuits. But I might give this a try and see how it goes. It might work better with fish than chicken, since her favourite treat is actually sea food medley flavour cat treats.
Tina Clark says
I added garlic powder and find these very yummy. Fortunately my 4 dogs do also. Thank you.
K Coe says
I made these when friends came Charlie and Babe loved loved loved them. 8 paws up!!!!!!!!
Melanie Cross says
How long will these last. Can I freeze the baked ones? Or, would I do best freezing them uncooked to bake at a later date. I just got through making some small heart shaped ones and ended up with 88 treats!
Sues says
@Melanie- You can definitely freeze them, though it would probably be best to freeze before baking. I don't think your pup will mind though and might even enjoy eating them frozen 🙂 Unfrozen, I'd say they'd last in the fridge for about 4-5 days!
kiamesha says
Can you placed these in a dehydrator , so that they can have a longer shelf life? Also do you think it is possible to sub it for coconut flour, for a gluten free treat? Thanks looks wonderful
Sues says
@Kiamesah- I've never tried putting these in a dehydrator, but I think it's worth a try. I would just roll them pretty thin... They might just get crunchier than normal, but there's nothing wrong with that! In terms of the coconut flour, you should be able to replace, but not at the same ratio as the all-purpose/whole wheat since coconut flour is more absorbent. I would just add it a little at a time until the dough holds together without being crumbly. You can also add more chicken broth and/or another egg to the recipe to compensate. Let me know if you try them!
Phyllis says
Tried the no back, three ingredients yesterday. Our dogs LOVED them. Shared with neighbor and her dogs. Same response. Thank you for sharing healthy dog treats!
Sues says
@Phyllis- Yay! So happy the pups enjoyed them 🙂
Kiamesha says
Do you think Dehydrating these could provided a more extended shelf life
Sues says
@Kiamesha- I haven't tried it, so I can't guarantee it, but I do think it would work. I would just roll them a bit thinner. Please let me know if you try it!
Brenda says
My dog loves them I ground the chicken in my nija and used mixed vegies and lima beans i also sprinkled cheeder cheese on top but first lightly brushed with broth so the cheese would stick. He through a fit the whole time I was making them next time I am trying gojo berries and red bell peppers he loves them I wil! Try a food dehydrator after bakeing to get a better crunch thank you
Dawn Hudnell says
Can these be stored in the freezer for longer?
Sues says
@Dawn- I haven't tried freezing them, but I don't think it would be a problem. I would just make sure to wrap them tightly before freezing!
kim says
can i swap out skim milk for the dry milk powder?
Sues says
@Kim You should be able to, but since I've never tried, I'm not sure of the exact ratio. You wouldn't need all of the chicken broth since the milk will be added liquid, so I would add the milk and then add a little bit of chicken broth at a time until you get a nice firm dough. I hope that helps!
Debbie says
I think I did something wrong. It was all sticking to my hands and could not be rolled out so sticky!! Had to put it all on a cookie sheet and it’s baking as one big thing right now. Any advice??
Sues says
@Debbie- Is it possible you added the chicken broth all at once instead of using 3/4 cup and then only adding more if needed? In my experience, this dough has always been more on the dry side and definitely shouldn't be too sticky. But often if dough is too sticky, you can put it in the fridge to firm it up a bit and make it easier for rolling. I hope that helps!! I have a feeling your dog will still enjoy it even if it's not in the shape of bones and isn't the perfect consistency 🙂
Ginny says
I have three chi mixes, a Chi-Jack, a Chi-Iggy and a Chi-Rat. The Chi-Iggy has trouble chewing because a malformed jaw. He won’t eat any biscuits usually. These are soft enough I can cut them into very small pieces for him. The other two LOVE these. We also make homemade jerky for their snacks and it’s a toss up which one they like the best.
Can cheddar cheese be substituted for the Parmesan? I don’t always have Parmesan on hand.
Thanks for the great recipe. I’ve made it 3 times already and not a scrap goes to waste.
Sues says
@Ginny- I'm so happy your pups love these!! And yes, you should be able to use cheddar instead of parmesan... I'll need to try this because my dog loves cheddar, too 🙂