These Sweet Potato Dog Treats are so easy to make with just 4 pup-friendly (and human grade) ingredients and a few minutes of prep. Your dog will love them... And you probably will, too!
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Call me crazy (really, you can!), but for me, there's nothing better than making homemade treats for my dog and having her love them.
She's a picky dog and I've made her plenty of dog treats I've been really excited about only to have her reject them. It feels like the ultimate diss.
But when I make her a new treat and she begs and begs for more, it makes me so happy. So yes, I gladly keep giving her more and more. And then I make them again. The same was true for this chicken jello I made for her.
And then I come here to share the recipe with you. I can happily say that these sweet potato dog treats are picky dog approved and I hope your pup loves them, too!
🐶 Can dogs eat sweet potatoes?
I did a little research into this when Winnie was a puppy and I realized she loved sweet potatoes and learned that most dogs can eat sweet potatoes in moderation (as long as they're cooked properly and not fried or doused in sugar).
Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and beta-carotene and also contain some protein and vitamins, all great things for most dogs.
However, you should always check with your vet before adding new foods into your pup's diet as all dogs are different.
And make sure you're only giving your dog sweet potato in moderation. They are a high carbohydrate food and should only be given as an occasional treat.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
You'll love this recipe because your dog will love this recipe! And isn't it the best thing in the world to make your pup happy?
Sweet potato dog treats are also super easy to make and don't require many ingredients at all. You can even customize them to your dog's specific tastes.
🗒 Ingredients
Like I mentioned, you don't need many ingredients for these sweet potato dog treats. In fact, you really only need two ingredients, but I like to add a little flavor with cinnamon and ginger, too.
Here's everything I use for these dog treats (please see recipe card at bottom of post for ingredient amounts and full instructions):
- Sweet potato
- Coconut oil (in moderation, coconut oil has benefits for dogs)
- Ground cinnamon (in moderation cinnamon has benefits for dogs)
- Ground ginger (in moderation ginger has benefits for dogs)
While you can certainly slice the sweet potatoes with a knife, I do find that it's much easier to use a mandoline.
🍠 How to make sweet potato dog treats
The most difficult part of this recipe is slicing the sweet potatoes. But like I mentioned, it's super easy if you have a mandoline!
But before you get started, preheat your oven to 375 degrees and brush a large baking sheet with a little bit of coconut oil.
While the oven is heating, get slicing. You'll want the potatoes to be sliced very thinly, but not so thin that they're translucent. I use the 1/16" setting on the mandoline.
Place rounds on prepared baking sheet and lightly brush the tops with coconut oil. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and ginger over each if your dog is into those spices.
You could also leave them plain or add your dog's favorite seasonings (see below for more recommended seasonings).
Put baking sheet in the oven and bake the sweet potato rounds for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and flip each chip. Rotate baking sheet and return to oven for 3-5 more minutes, until sweet potatoes are getting crisp around edges but not getting too brown.
You'll want to keep a close eye on the treats as just 30 seconds can make a difference in "perfect" to burnt and if your rounds are of even slightly different thicknesses, they'll all bake a bit differently.
Once you remove them from the oven, let the sweet potato chips rest for about 5 minutes so they can further crisp up.
And your little sweet potato dog treats are ready for consumption! You can give them a taste yourself. I actually really liked them!
But not quite as much as Miss Winnie did. I'm so used to her turning up her nose at treats and refusing to even try anything new. So, I was actually a little shocked that she eagerly tried a sweet potato treat right away and then started begging for more.
While most of the treats were nice and crispy, a few were a bit chewy and a couple a little over-browned... But Winnie didn't care. She wanted all of them!
I had to stop myself from giving her the entire batch because I didn't want to over-do it.
But how cute is she eating her special sweet potatoes for dogs??
⏲ How to store
When stored in an airtight container, these sweet potato dog treats should keep fresh for about a week, though they may lose some of their crispness over time. Make sure the treats are completely cooled before storing them.
I find that one large sweet potato makes a lot of chips (I got about 50), but you can easily double this recipe if you want to make more.
💡 Other seasoning ideas
Winnie really seems to like both cinnamon and ginger and since both spices have health benefits for dogs when given in moderation and both spices go well with sweet potatoes, I love using them.
But there are many other seasonings you can use on the sweet potatoes for dogs if you and your dog prefer, including:
- Parsley
- Turmeric
- Basil
- Mint
- Thyme
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Rosemary
There are also so many ways you could prepare this eggplant jerky for your dog... and if your dog loves sweet potato, it's definitely worth letting them try eggplant, too.
🥥 Do I have to use coconut oil?
I like using coconut oil for these treats because it has health benefits for dogs, it tastes good, and it complements sweet potatoes really well.
But there are other oils you can use if you don't have coconut oil. Olive oil is actually safe for most dogs and is a cooking oil you're likely to have in your home.
Fish oil, sunflower oil, and flaxseed oil are also safe and all of the oils even have some health benefits.
🔪 Do I have to peel sweet potatoes?
The first time I made these, I didn't peel the sweet potatoes... I almost never peel sweet potatoes as the skin has so many nutrients in it and I figured if it was good for me, it must be good for my pup, too.
But then I did a little more research and learned that sweet potato peels can be a choking hazard to dogs and that they can be a bit hard to digest. So for those reasons, I do recommend peeling the potatoes before baking them.
🦴 More treats your dog will love
Throughout the years, I've done A LOT of testing in the kitchen to find recipes my dog will approve of! After lots of trial and error, I'm happy to share with you a few more homemade dog treat recipes I think your pup will love!
- Blueberry Muffins for Dogs
- Chicken Dog Treats
- Peanut Butter Pupcakes
- Chicken Jello for Dogs
- Donuts for Dogs
- Berry Oatmeal for Dogs
- Beet Cookies
- Pancakes for Dogs
If your dog is still hungry, you can check out all my recipes for dogs!
I hope these sweet potato treats bring a little extra happiness into you and your dog's days!
Let me know what your pup's favorite food is as I'm always working on new dog-friendly recipes!
📖 Recipe
Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato
- 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and brush a large baking sheet with a little bit of the coconut oil.
- Peel sweet potato and thinly slice into rounds using either a mandoline or a knife. Rounds should be thin, but not translucent (or they'll burn more easily). I use the 1/16" settings on the mandoline.
- Place rounds on prepared baking sheet and lightly brush the tops with coconut oil. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and ginger over each.
- Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and flip each chip. Rotate baking sheet and return to oven for 3-5 more minutes, until sweet potatoes are getting crisp around edges but not getting too brown. Remove and let sweet potato chips rest for about 5 minutes so they can further crisp up.
Notes
- Make sure to keep a close eye on the treats when they're in the oven as just 30 seconds can make a difference in "perfect" to burnt and if your rounds are of even slightly different thicknesses, they'll all bake a bit differently.
- To store: Once treats are completely cooled, put them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should keep fresh for about a week though they may lose some of their crispness.
Brenda says
Can I prepare them in my air fryer as opposed to baking them?
Sues says
I haven't tried this, but it should definitely work!
Leah O says
These are great! The only problem is I can’t stop eating them!;)
dogcounsel says
These sweet potato dog treats are a fantastic homemade option for our furry friends! Packed with vitamins and minerals, they offer a delicious and wholesome snack that dogs will absolutely adore. Can't wait to make a batch for my pup!
dogcounsel says
Delicious and nutritious! These homemade sweet potato dog treats are a fantastic choice for pampering our furry friends. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe that promotes their well-being.
dogcounsel says
Homemade sweet potato dog treats are a delicious and nutritious option for your furry friend. They're easy to make, and your dog will love the natural sweetness and health benefits!
Bonnie says
These sweet potato treats sound delicious for both pets and people.
Dee says
Is there another oil I can use?
Sues says
Hi Dee! Some other oils that are generally safe for dogs in moderation include olive oil, flaxseed oil, and fish oil. I hope this helps!
Eileen says
When storing them, do you store them in your pantry or fridge?
Thanks for the receipe!
Sues says
Hi Eileen! I keep them in an airtight container at room temperature and they stay fresh for a good amount of time.
Linda says
These are great but couldn’t get them crispy. Maybe I need to cook longer? They are about 1/16 “
Sues says
Hi Linda! If you're having trouble getting them crispy, you can try cooking them longer at a lower temperature. Also, try using a paper towel to make sure sweet potatoes slices are dry before brushing with oil. One other thing that could help is baking them on a rack instead of baking sheet.