ByThese chicken and carrot dog bites use plain cooked chicken, grated carrot, mashed rice, rice flour and an egg. They bake in about 25 minutes. The key safety rule is simple: plain chicken only, with no salt, oil, onion or garlic.
Recipe Snapshot
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 20-25 minutes
- Total time: About 40 minutes (plus cooling)
- Yield: About 24 mini bites (mini muffin mold)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Storage life: 3-4 days in the fridge, 2 months in the freezer
Key takeaway: These bites contain cooked meat. Keep them in the fridge or freezer, not on the counter.
My dog goes wild for anything with chicken. But store-bought chicken treats often cost a lot. These bites use leftovers from my weeknight chicken. I pull out a small plain piece before I season dinner.
Can dogs eat chicken and carrots?
Yes, plain cooked chicken and plain carrots are common dog-friendly foods. Keep the chicken boneless and unseasoned. The AKC warns that cooked poultry bones are brittle and can hurt dogs, so check carefully for bones. AKC on poultry safety
How do I make chicken and carrot dog bites?
Recipe Card: Chicken and Carrot Dog Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, plain, finely shredded or diced
- ¼ cup finely grated carrot
- ½ cup cooked white rice, unsalted and mashed
- 3 tablespoons rice flour
- 1 large egg
- A silicone mini muffin or treat mold
Steps
- Heat your oven to 350°F.
- Check the chicken for bones and skin. Remove them.
- Chop the chicken very small.
- In a bowl, mix the chicken, carrot and rice.
- Add the rice flour and the egg.
- Stir until the mix holds together.
- Press the mix into the mold.
- Bake 20-25 minutes until firm.
- Let the bites cool in the mold.
- Pop them out.
- Refrigerate or freeze right away.
⚠️ Dog-Safe Ingredient Check
- Chicken: Plain only. No salt, butter, oil, garlic or onion.
- No bones and no skin.
- Rice: Cook it in plain water, with no salt.
- Broth: Skip it unless the label says low-sodium with no onion or garlic. Plain water works fine.
- Cheese or parmesan: Skip it. It is salty.
Pro Tip: Shred the chicken in a food processor for 10 seconds. Smaller pieces bake more evenly.
Do I need to cook the chicken first?
Yes. Use fully cooked chicken. Bake or boil it plain, with nothing added, until it is cooked all the way through. Then cool and chop it. Leftover plain chicken from dinner works if you set it aside before seasoning.
How long do chicken dog bites last?
Because they contain meat and egg, keep them cold. In my kitchen, I use them within 3-4 days from the fridge. For longer storage, freeze them in a sealed container for up to 2 months. If they smell off or look slimy, throw them out.
How many chicken bites can my dog have?
Treats should be about 10% of daily calories. Add up the calories on every ingredient label, divide by the number of bites, and ask your vet for your dog’s daily goal. As a starting guide from my own kitchen, give 1-2 mini bites to small dogs and 3-4 to large dogs. For more help, read how many treats a dog should have a day.
Vet Tip: If your dog has pancreatitis or is overweight, ask your vet before adding any meat treat.
Substitutions and variations
- Chicken allergy: Swap in plain cooked turkey. See my simple turkey dog treats.
- Egg-free: Use 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce.
- Grain-free: Replace the rice and rice flour with mashed sweet potato and a little oat flour or chickpea flour. Ask your vet if your dog needs a grain-free diet.
- Extra veggie: Add 2 tablespoons finely grated zucchini. See easy zucchini dog treats.
- Small dogs: Use a mini mold.
- Want a crunchy version? Try chicken and oat dog treats.
If you’re short on time, I keep a bag of ready-made dog treats on hand. And if your dog needs more variety at mealtime, a variety meal plan can help.
Why not feed my dog just chicken?
Chicken is fine as a treat, but a balanced diet matters more. My guide on the 90/10 rule for dog diets explains how treats fit into the day.
FAQ
Q: Can dogs eat chicken and carrots together? A: Yes, if the chicken is plain, boneless and cooked, and the carrots are plain.
Q: Do I have to cook the chicken first? A: Yes. Use fully cooked, unseasoned chicken.
Q: Can I freeze chicken and carrot dog bites? A: Yes, for up to 2 months in a sealed container.
Q: Can I use chicken broth? A: Only if it is low-sodium and has no onion or garlic. Plain water is safer.
Q: How many can my dog have? A: Keep treats to about 10% of daily calories. Start with 1 small bite.
Source: AKC: Can Dogs Eat Turkey? (poultry bones, skin and seasoning guidance)
