Making your own dog treats will save you a lot of money and you'll know that you are providing your dog with a healthy snack. Commercially made jerky treats for dogs have been some of the most commonly recalled pet products, but they are our boxer's favorite type of treat. A couple of years ago I decided to make my own jerky treats for dogs, and we've never looked back.
Not only are these jerky treats healthy, they are SO easy to make. They require more time than most dog treat recipes, but that's because you have to bake them for at least 2 hours. You can use this recipe to make jerky treats with other meats as well.
I made these treats with chicken, but you could also use other protein sources including:
- beef
- venison
- duck
- turkey
- bison
…and any other meats approved by your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist.
Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Recipe
Ingredients
- boneless chicken breast (or other protein source)
Instructions
As I mentioned, these one ingredient treats are extremely simple to make. First, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a fillet knife, cut the boneless chicken breast horizontally in strips that are about 1/8-inch thick. In my video you'll see that I lined by cookie sheet with tin foil. You don't have to do this, but it makes for much easier cleanup when you're done.
RELATED: Recipe – Frozen ‘Pupcakes' Dog Treats with Fruits and Vegetables
Spray the cookie sheet with non-stick spray. Lay the chicken strips on the sheet so they are as close together as possible without touching. You should be able to fit all the strips from one large chicken breast on one cookie sheet.
Bake the strips for about 2 hours, flipping them every 30 minutes. The time will vary greatly depending on how thin you are able to cut the strips.
You'll know that they are done when the strips are a golden brown color on both sides and they have been completely dried out.
You can take one out of the oven to test the texture. If the chicken strip bends without breaking, they aren't done. If you can snap small pieces off, they've cooked long enough. You may have to cook them for about 3 hours if you cut them thicker than 1/8-inch, so don't get worried if they aren't done after only 2 hours.
As I mention in my video, if you have a dehydrator you could use that instead of your oven. This would be much easier, but if you don't have one the oven works just as well.
Once the strips are finished, you can put them in an airtight container or a resealable zippered bag. They will keep for about 2 weeks in your refrigerator. This is great, as you can make them up ahead of time and have healthy treats for your dog without the hassle of cooking them every few days.
