~ 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.
These treats are really the best very easy my dog loves them the best out of all the recipes i’ve tried thank you
Oh, Michele – I’m so delighted! Happy that you found these treats easy to make … and such high praise that your dog likes them the most, compared to other recipes you’ve tried. That’s awesome – thank you so much! 😀 ~Shelley
I had some brown rice in the fridge and turned this recipe into a five ingredient treat. If I had cooked sweet potato, carrot, or broccoli the recipe might have turned into a six ingredient treat. My two dogs give these treats a four paw’s up!
Oh those are awesome additions – and I’m so happy your dogs love the treats!! 😀 If you want to try adding sweet potato sometime, you could take a peek at our Sweet Potato and Turkey Dog Treats (you can also use chicken instead of turkey) as a guide. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your ideas and the 4-paw review! ~Shelley
Do you know an estimated store life like fridge and freezer?
Hi, Jayla! Since these dog treats involve real, fresh chicken, I wouldn’t store them in the fridge for longer than you’d store cooked chicken used in other dishes. The USDA recommends about 3-4 days in the fridge. And, for the best quality, I agree with the USDA’s suggestion of no longer than 4 months in the freezer. To help them last as long as possible, be sure to keep them in a tightly sealed freezer bag, with as much air squeezed out as possible, when storing in your freezer. I hope your pup adores these treats as much as our little Finny does! 😀 ~Shelley
I’ve always stored them in the freezer, and they have been fine for several months….well at least my dog didn’t complain about them! :
I’ve made these for my Scottie for a few years and he loves them! I usually break one cookie in several pieces and use them to reward him for getting brushed every day…one little piece for each leg, each side of his beard, his back, etc…..he will do almost anything to get one of his “chicken cookies”.
Oh my goodness … this melted my heart, just picturing your little sweetie getting a tiny treat for each bit of his grooming – that’s absolutely adorable! Love it! And thanks for weighing in on how long you store these homemade dog treats in the freezer – I’ve had good success with storing them for a few months, too, and it’s super helpful to have readers offer their experiences to share with others. Really appreciate it! Have a great day, Chris! 😀 ~Shelley
Just finding your site. We have a new puppy in the family. He’s a Pomsky 7 mos. old named Hati. As in Hot-tea…lol
Excited about making him treats that are healthy. Have made him the pumpkin and peanut butter treats and he loves them. I have been cooking for him since he’s 3 mos. old. mixing in a variety of meats brown rice and veggies.
I see many recipes using yogurt…I thought no dairy??
Awwwwwww Hati sounds ADORABLE! 😀 So, you can read more about Greek yogurt for dogs in this article from PetMD, or about Greek yogurt (even as compared to regular yogurt and other dairy products) in this post from Purina – in the Purina article, the heading “Can Dogs Eat Greek Yogurt” is near the bottom of the article. But certainly, if you have any concerns about sweet little Hati’s diet, you should always check with your veterinarian before changing things up on him. ~Shelley
Does dehydrating then make them last longer and is it recommended
Hi, Angela! I’ve never tried dehydrating these dog treats, so I’m not sure how that would work out or how it would impact shelf life. ~Shelley
I dehydrate everything. I’ve done cookies like this. It enhances the flavor and shelf life. I also do it at 160 degrees to be sure.
Thank you so much for the great info, Ginny! Super helpful – I appreciate it, and ALWAYS love it when cooks swap tips and help each other! 😀 ~Shelley