By The Breed-to-Bowl Team | Breed-to-Bowl
10 Easy Homemade Dog Treats (5 Ingredients or Less)
Skip the store-bought treats full of preservatives and mystery ingredients. These simple recipes use wholesome ingredients you probably already have!
Commercial dog treats can be expensive and often contain questionable ingredients like artificial colors, preservatives, and fillers. The good news? Making your own treats at home is incredibly easy, affordable, and lets you control exactly what goes into your pup's snacks.
All of these recipes use 5 ingredients or fewer, require minimal cooking skills, and can be made in under 30 minutes. Let's get baking!
🥜 1. Peanut Butter Banana Bites
A frozen favourite that dogs go absolutely crazy for!
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 tbsp peanut butter (xylitol-free!)
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- Mash banana in a bowl until smooth
- Mix in peanut butter and yogurt
- Spoon into silicone molds or ice cube trays
- Freeze for at least 2 hours
🎃 2. Pumpkin Training Treats
Tiny, low-calorie treats perfect for training sessions.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- 2 cups oat flour (blend oats in a blender)
- 1 egg
- Preheat oven to 160°C (320°F)
- Mix all ingredients until dough forms
- Roll out to 5mm thick, cut into small pieces
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until firm
🍠 3. Sweet Potato Chews
A healthy, chewy alternative to rawhide with just ONE ingredient!
Ingredients:
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- Preheat oven to 120°C (250°F)
- Slice sweet potatoes lengthwise into 5mm strips
- Place on baking rack over a tray
- Bake for 2.5-3 hours, flipping halfway, until chewy but not crispy
🧀 4. Cheesy Biscuits
Irresistible cheese flavour that makes dogs drool!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup wholemeal flour
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
- Mix flour and cheese, add oil and water
- Knead into dough, roll out, cut into shapes
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden
🍎 5. Apple Crunchies
Crunchy, naturally sweet, and great for teeth!
Ingredients:
- 2 apples (seeds removed!)
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- Preheat oven to 100°C (200°F)
- Core apples and slice into thin rings
- Sprinkle with cinnamon if using
- Bake for 2 hours until crispy, flipping once
🥕 6. Carrot & Oat Cookies
Packed with fiber and beta-carotene for eye health.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup grated carrot
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
- Mix all ingredients until combined
- Drop spoonfuls onto lined baking tray
- Flatten slightly, bake 20-25 minutes
🐟 7. Salmon Bites
Omega-3 packed treats for a shiny coat!
Ingredients:
- 1 can salmon (drained, bones removed)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup oat flour
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
- Mash salmon with a fork
- Mix in egg and flour until dough forms
- Roll into small balls, flatten slightly
- Bake 20-25 minutes until firm
🥒 8. Frozen Veggie Cubes
Zero-calorie refreshing treats for summer!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Chopped carrots, cucumber, or berries
- Place veggie pieces in ice cube tray
- Pour broth over vegetables
- Freeze until solid
- Pop out and serve!
🍌 9. Banana Oat Balls
No-bake energy balls that dogs adore!
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- Mash banana in a bowl
- Mix in oats and peanut butter
- Roll into small balls
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up
🍗 10. Chicken Jerky
The ultimate high-value training treat—pure meat!
Ingredients:
- 500g chicken breast
- Preheat oven to 90°C (200°F)
- Slice chicken into thin strips (5mm thick)
- Place on wire rack over baking tray
- Bake 3-4 hours until completely dry and leathery
Important Tips for Homemade Treats
- Treats should be ≤10% of daily calories - Even healthy treats add up!
- Always check peanut butter for xylitol - This artificial sweetener is deadly for dogs
- Store properly - Fridge or freezer extends shelf life significantly
- Introduce new ingredients slowly - Watch for any digestive reactions
- Adjust size for your dog - Tiny treats for small dogs, bigger for large breeds
Treats to Avoid
Never include these in homemade treats:
- ❌ Xylitol (or any artificial sweetener)
- ❌ Chocolate or cocoa
- ❌ Grapes or raisins
- ❌ Onions or garlic
- ❌ Macadamia nuts
- ❌ Excessive salt or sugar
Want Complete Meal Recipes Too?
Browse our collection of balanced, homemade meal recipes
View Meal Recipes →