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.
I wonder if it would work with buckwheat flour ground as thin as possible? My dog is sensitive to both gluten and rice, so I’m having a hard time baking him yummy treats like this one ?
Hi, Ellie! I’ve never tried substituting buckwheat flour in this recipe, but I did a little research on that for you, and it looks like buckwheat flour (which can work quite well in recipes like this one that don’t need to rise), is still generally recommended to be used in place of only about half of the regular flour. I found one especially great article on the topic at Food52, if you’d like to read more. However, I think it’s possible that this recipe will have enough inherent binding power from the egg and Greek yogurt to make a complete replacement possible. I really can’t guarantee it, though, never having tested it myself. One other idea: I do have another homemade dog treat recipe that you could try. It’s a 2-Ingredient Frozen Dog Treat that doesn’t use any flour and is gluten free. My pup, Finny, loves that recipe, too – plus it’s super-duper easy, with no baking needed at all! If you try the frozen treat recipe – or give this one a try with the buckwheat flour – I’d love to know what your dog thinks! GOOD LUCK! ~Shelley
How long do these last. Like shelf
Life
Hi, Irene! I keep these dog treats in the fridge for a few days – maybe a week at most. Beyond that, I recommend stashing them in the freezer. They should keep well for 2-3 months, frozen. I usually have a gallon-sized zipper freezer bag of these stashed in my freezer, ready to pull out whenever Finn is an especially good boy! 😉 ~Shelley
Hello! What can I use as an alternative to Greek yoghurt or any other type of yoghurt?
Hi, Sam! I’m really not sure. I specifically designed this dog treat recipe with Greek yogurt as an integral component, and with only 4 ingredients, each one plays a specific role in the baking chemistry and flavor. I have two ideas, but I want to emphasize that I haven’t tested either of them, so I can’t promise exactly how well they will work. Having said that – you might try substituting either sour cream or cottage cheese (which you have blended to a completely smooth consistency). If you do decide try either of those ideas, I’d love to hear how it works out – good luck! 🙂 ~Shelley
Hi. Great recipe. But how long can it go without going stale? I mean the shelf life.
Hi Rohan! I wouldn’t keep them in the fridge for any more than a week, tops. I recommend storing all the extras in the freezer, where they should keep well for 2-3 months. ~Shelley
would all purpose flour be okay?
Hi, Isabella! All-purpose flour should be totally fine. 🙂 We just suggest whole wheat because it has better nutritional value, and is what we tend to have on hand — but I don’t see any reason why all-purpose wouldn’t work out just as well. Hope you and your puppy enjoy!
~Amy