4-Ingredient Chicken and Biscuits Homemade Dog Treats
~ These simple Homemade Dog Treats are the doggy version 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’re ultra 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-style chicken and biscuits, in a pup-friendly, treat form!
What makes these dog treats totally 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 post for Frozen 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 morsel of the bird – including the little bits of meat stuck to the bones, and the cartilage and connective tissue that most people don’t eat. It often adds up to more 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 actually don’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 a recipe (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 simply to make 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 cutters keeps 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 …
4-Ingredient Chicken and Biscuits Homemade Dog Treats
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 servings Serving Size: 1 treatAmount 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.
How long do these last if I just keep it in the fridge and don’t freeze them?
Hi, Jen! I don’t leave my dog treats in the refrigerator for more than a few days. Because these contain cooked chicken, you wouldn’t want to leave them in the refrigerator for more than about a week, at the very most. Since this recipe makes a pretty big batch (a lot more than my pup will eat in a week), I keep mine in my freezer (where they should last well for 2-3 months). ~Shelley
Is it safe to use organic Brown Rice Flour instead of whole wheat flour???
Hi again, Donna! I’ve only used whole wheat flour, as my pup isn’t sensitive to gluten and whole wheat is what I generally have on hand. So, I’m not sure how that might alter the final consistency of the treats. But, here’s an article that may help answer your question more specifically: https://pets.thenest.com/types-flour-dog-biscuits-11966.html. Have a terrific week! ~Shelley
Can you add fresh parsley and or fresh basil to the batch?
Hi Donna! I’ve never tried this, but I do have a few suggestions that might help you decide if you want to do that. First, I’m not sure that the treats will keep in the fridge or freeze as nicely, specifically with respect to the basil, which can discolor and blacken in cold conditions. Secondly, you need to be cautious about the parsley, as some varieties aren’t good for dogs. Here are a couple articles that explain more about that: http://www.redbarninc.com/blog/parsley-good-for-my-dog-cat/ and also http://www.antigravitymagazine.com/2013/03/paw-talk-pets-vs-plants/. I hope that helps you! ~Shelley
My pup loves these, but are they supposed to be soft or crunchy?
Hi, Scheryl! Finny loves these, too — so glad to hear your pup agrees! 😀
To answer your questions: There’s no specific need to make these any one way. Personally, I don’t bake them so long that they’re particularly crisp. They’re fully baked and slightly toasty-golden-brown on the outside, with a finished, “set” exterior … but they’re not crisp all the way through, like you could snap them in half with a crunchy-crack. I guess you could say that they’re rather soft and pliable – although not soft in a crumbly, fall-apart way (they hold together just fine). Does that makes sense??
Really, though – if your doggie likes them a bit softer, or a bit thinner and crispier, I don’t see any reason not to make some that way. As long as they’re not burned or raw … why not?!? In fact, my mom and I tested a batch that we baked for 25 minutes extra, just to see — and it got a hearty stamp of approval from Finn!
I hope that helps — and let us know what ends up working for you! 😀 ~Amy
How long can these be kept of frozen
Hi, Demi! These will hold up in the freezer for a pretty long time — we’ve had no problem keeping them in there for up to several months! Hope your pooch enjoys! 🙂 ~Amy
We recently rescued a young dog dumped on our street. She is very pretty, matter of fact, she looks so much like your dog. What kind of dog do you have in these photos? I appreciate your time. Thanks, Susan
Hi Susan! How wonderful of you to save your pup – what a lucky little dog! All of our dogs through the years have been rescues, too. Our current little guy, Finn (who’s in these pics), is allegedly a Jack Russell – Rat Terrier mix. He was salvaged from “death row” as a young pup, but the rescue organization where we found him was pretty certain of his breed type since they had been able to find out that he was dumped by a boutique breeder that couldn’t sell him fast enough and would turn “extra puppies” over to the local kill shelter. His personality, size, and coloration seem consistent with the characteristics of those breeds, so I think it’s likely accurate information they gave us. I hope that helps you in learning more about your own little sweetie! And I hope she’ll enjoy some of these treats as much as Finny does! 😀 ~Shelley