You don’t need a bakery or a long shopping list to spoil your dog. Most of these recipes use things already in your kitchen.
Here are six 3 ingredient dog treats, each one simple, safe and ready in under an hour. No sugar, no salt, no mystery ingredients.
Before you start: three safety rules
Homemade treats are only as safe as what goes into them. Check these every time.
- Peanut butter must be xylitol-free. Xylitol (sometimes listed as “birch sugar”) is extremely toxic to dogs. Plain, unsalted peanut butter is best.
- Pumpkin means plain canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling has sugar and spices like nutmeg.
- Applesauce must be unsweetened, with no added sugar or sweeteners.
And skip the “extras” you’d add for people: no chocolate, raisins, onion, garlic or nutmeg.
What you’ll need
Nothing fancy. If you bake at all, you already have it.
- A baking sheet and parchment paper
- A mixing bowl and a fork
- A rolling pin (a wine bottle works)
- A cookie cutter, or just a knife to cut squares
- A blender if you want to turn oats into oat flour
Oat flour is easy: blend rolled oats until fine and powdery. It’s a good choice if you’re not sure how your dog does with wheat.
1. Pumpkin peanut butter biscuits
The classic. Crunchy, sturdy and great for a pocket.
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- 2 cups oat flour
- 1 cup plain pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Mix everything into a stiff dough. Add a spoon of flour if it’s sticky.
- Roll to about 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes until firm. Let them cool completely.
For crunchier biscuits, turn the oven off and leave them inside for an hour to dry.
2. Banana oat cookies
Soft, chewy and the easiest recipe here. Perfect for using up a spotty banana.
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Mash the banana, then stir in the oats and peanut butter.
- Drop small spoonfuls onto the tray and flatten them a bit.
- Bake about 15 minutes until set.
Because they’re soft, keep these in the fridge.
3. Sweet potato biscuits
A good pick for dogs who can’t have peanut butter.
- 1 cup mashed cooked sweet potato (plain, no butter or salt)
- 1 egg
- About 2 cups oat flour
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Mix the sweet potato and egg, then add flour until you get a rollable dough.
- Roll, cut and bake 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Chicken and rice bites
Savory, smelly and a huge hit for training. Dogs go wild for these.
- 1 cup plain cooked chicken, no skin, bones or seasoning
- 1 cup plain cooked white rice
- 1 egg
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Pulse everything in a food processor until it holds together.
- Roll into marble-size balls and press flat.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes until firm and cooked through.
Keep these in the fridge and use them within a few days, like any cooked meat.
5. Apple oat cookies
Lightly sweet from the fruit alone.
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- About 1 1/2 cups oat flour
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Mix the applesauce and egg, then add flour until the dough is firm.
- Roll, cut and bake about 20 minutes.
6. No-bake peanut butter carrot balls
No oven needed. Great for a hot day or a quick job.
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1/2 cup finely grated carrot
- Mix everything in a bowl.
- Roll into small balls.
- Chill for an hour until firm.
These are rich, so keep them small.
Easy swaps that keep it at three ingredients
Out of something? Most of these recipes are forgiving. Swap one ingredient for another from this list.
- Pumpkin, banana and applesauce can stand in for each other as the wet ingredient.
- Plain mashed sweet potato works in place of pumpkin.
- Oat flour and whole wheat flour swap one for one, though wheat dough is a little stickier.
- An egg can replace peanut butter as the binder in the baked recipes, for dogs who can’t have nuts.
Just stick to plain, unsweetened versions of everything.
How many treats can my dog have?
Treats are extras, not meals. A common rule of thumb is to keep treats to about 10% of your dog’s daily calories.
- Small dogs: break biscuits into pieces.
- Training: cut chicken bites into pea-size bits.
- Weight watchers: cut back their regular food a little on heavy treat days.
Your vet can tell you how many calories your dog really needs.
Trying a new treat for the first time
Even safe foods can upset some stomachs. Go slow with anything new.
- Give one small piece and wait a day.
- Watch for itching, vomiting or loose stools.
- If your dog has a known allergy or a health condition, ask your vet first.
How to store homemade dog treats
No preservatives means a shorter shelf life. Store them like fresh food.
- Crunchy biscuits: airtight jar on the counter for a few days, or in the fridge for about a week.
- Soft treats and anything with meat: fridge only, and use within a few days.
- Freezer: most of these freeze well for a couple of months.
Toss anything that smells off or shows mold. When in doubt, throw it out.
Want a bigger baking project? Try this dog birthday cake recipe, or these peanut butter oatmeal dog treats.
Common questions
What’s the easiest 3 ingredient dog treat?
Banana oat cookies: banana, oats and xylitol-free peanut butter, baked for about 15 minutes.
Can I use regular flour?
Yes, plain whole wheat flour works if your dog tolerates wheat. Oat flour is a gentler choice.
Is peanut butter safe for dogs?
Plain peanut butter in small amounts usually is. Always check the label for xylitol.
Can puppies eat these treats?
Most puppies can have small pieces. Introduce one new food at a time and keep portions tiny.
How long do homemade dog treats last?
About a week in the fridge for crunchy ones, a few days for soft or meat treats, and a couple of months frozen.
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