Jerky is a great snack for your dog, and given in moderation, it can be a healthy snack, however most jerky made for human consumption includes added salt, preservatives, and spices which can be dangerous for our pups. So we decided to take on the challenge to find healthy AND delicious recipes for dog jerky!
We tried and tested a range of recipes and here are 3 of our favorite ways of how to make jerky for dogs.
1. Homemade Beef Jerky
This recipe was so simple because it only included one ingredient, not only that but I am lucky to have an organic butcher nearby who actually sold the beef, organ, and bones mix preblended. Whilst you can use ground beef, using organs is really good for your dogs because it gives them a wide range of vitamins and nutrients. You can store for 3 weeks in the cupboard or longer if you keep refrigerated. This recipe is from What Great Grandma Ate
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 12 hours
Ingredients
1 lb mix of ground beef & organ meat & bones (Can use only ground beef)
Instructions
1.Preheat your oven 130 degrees
2.Place the meat on parchment paper, and using a rolling pin flatten the meat to approx. 1/8 inch thick.
3.Use a knife to score into squares so you can break them later into pieces.
4.Place on a baking sheet, and dry in the oven for approx. 8 hours.
5.Remove from the oven and drain any fat.
6.Break into pieces along the lines, then place them on a rack back in the oven above fresh parchment paper.
7.Cook for a further 4-5 hours.
2. Fish Jerky Treats
I wasn’t too sure about this one as the salmon was cooking, my kitchen took on a fishy smell that infiltrated throughout the house. But my dog LOVED them! She is a fan of fish anyway, but she never took her eyes off the oven door for 3 hours. When they finally cooled she was drooling and lapped them up, fish is great for dogs being high in omega 3 and protein so we have included it for any fish fanatics out there! This recipe is from The Daily Puppy
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2-3 hours
Ingredients Salmon or tuna steaks
Instructions
1.Place your fish steaks in the freezer and freeze until nearly frozen.
2.Remove from the freezer and slice them into strips approx. 1/8-inch-thick, 1 inch wide and 3 inches long.
3.Line your tray with aluminum foil, before adding the rack – makes for a quick clean up.
4.Dry your strips with paper towels and place on the tray.
5.Cook at 180 degrees with the door open an inch for circulation.
6.Cook 2-3 hours, checking the consistency is stiff.
Store at room temperature for 3 weeks, or keep in the fridge if planning to keep longer than that.
No Time To Cook?
The Dog Bakery make really yummy jerky that’s ready to go
✔️ 100% Sourced & Made in the USA
✔️ Three Day Air Dried Then Slow Baked
✔️ Absolutely Nothing Artificial (seriously!)
3. Chicken Jerky
This recipe was a bit different to some other chicken jerky I have made before because it included some dog-friendly spices. This made it super tasty and it smelt delicious. It needs to be stored in an airtight container in the fridge but it made a lot of jerky and had no added salt or sugar. This recipe is from Proud Dog Mom
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2-3 hours
Ingredients
- 1 pound of chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Optional dog-approved pices: Turmeric, and ginger (grounded)
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 250ºF
2. Grease your wire rack with the oil and place the parchment paper underneath.
3. Remove all the fat from your chicken breasts.
4. Slice your chicken 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick.
5. (Optional) Sprinkle with dog-approved spices.
6. Place your chicken on the rack and place in the oven.
7. Cook 2-3 hours, checking the consistency is stiff and then flip them over.
8. Cook for a further 45 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Conclusion
And there you have three of our favorites, so whether your dog prefers fish, beef or chicken there is a
recipe for dog jerky that he or she can enjoy and you can be assured that there will be no added preservatives or ingredients that are bad for them. Bear in mind that drying out the meat will take a few hours but prep time is low so you can get on with your day while the meat is toughening.
And the best thing is that your pooch will love it!
Healthy Jerky Choices – Made In USA
