Are you looking for a healthy dog chew that’s easy to make at home? Chicken jerky for dogs is easy to make right in your oven with no special equipment. Your dog will love it–and you will love knowing just what’s in your dog’s treat!
Chicken jerky is made from thin strips of chicken slow baked to almost the point of crispness. Unlike jerky you’d buy for yourself, jerky for dogs is made without spices…just pure, meaty goodness!
The most time-consuming part is the slicing of the chicken; after that, just allow a few hours to bake the chicken to jerky chewiness.
If your dog loves jerky, don’t miss our turkey jerky recipe and liver jerky recipe!
Why Make Your Own Chews?
We all remember the chicken jerky dog treats worries several years ago–one reason that I prefer to make this popular treat for our dogs rather than purchasing chicken jerky for dogs. It’s quick and easy to make and requires only one ingredient: chicken!
Homemade jerky chews also have the advantage of letting you customize the thickness and chewiness of the chew based on your own dog!
If you have a senior who might be missing some teeth, you can create a softer chew. Slice the chicken against the grain for chicken jerky that’s easier to chew. You can also remove it from the oven earlier than you would for a longer-lasting jerky.
Are you sharing your home with a young chewing machine? You can create a tougher chew, all for a fraction of the price you’d pay for chews in the store. Slice the chicken WITH the grain to create a tougher jerky; leave it in the oven longer to dry it out and make it extra chewy.
How to Make Chicken Jerky for Dogs
All you’ll need to make chicken jerky dog treats is:
- chicken breasts (I like the deboned chicken tenderloins to make things easier)
- a cookie sheet
- a knife
- an oven
Tips for making jerky dog treats
It’s easier to slice the chicken when it’s semi-frozen rather than completely thawed; you can use the heel of your hand on the knife to “chop” the slices rather than trying to saw through thawed meat.
Slice with the grain of the chicken, rather than against it; this will make the treats a little chewier and make them last a LITTLE bit longer when you give them to your dogs.
You don’t want the chicken to be crispy to the point of snapping but you do want the pieces to be very chewy.
If you cook more than a pound of chicken, you’ll need to add extra baking time.
Want to make this jerky in the dehydrator?
Don’t miss our post on The Ultimate Guide to Making Dehydrated Dog Treats!
If you don’t have a drying rack, just flip over a dish drainer and drape with a dish towel. Put your treats on the towel to cool.
The object is to get the treats up off the metal cookie sheets so they’ll cool crispier. A wicker basket flipped over and draped with a dish towel work work great, too.
Be warned, though: these are VERY popular treats…they’ll go fast! (Cats also love them!)
FAQ
Can I use cooked chicken to make chicken jerky for my dog?
Yes, you can use cooked chicken to make jerky chews for your dog! Make sure you don’t include any bones and just slice off the meat as you would if the chicken were raw. Place it out on a cookie sheet and bake as above–but adjust your cooking time. Cooked chicken will dehydrate much faster than raw chicken.
How long can I store jerky chews?
You can store chicken jerky chews in your refrigerator for 4-6 days; if you have made more than you’ll need in that time period, freeze the chews.
Can I use turkey for jerky chews?
You can make turkey jerky chews using the same recipe as chicken jerky for dogs.
Should I add seasoning?
Jerky sold for human consumption has a wide range of seasonings, from salt to teriyaki. (This is the reason you don’t want to serve your dog store-bought jerky sold for your snacking.) For your dog, keep it simple: just chicken only!
Printable Chicken Jerky Recipe
Chicken Jerky Treats for Dogs
Make healthy chicken jerky for your dog right in your kitchen!
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts, deboned
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170-180 degrees Fahrenheit or lowest temperature setting.
- Lightly grease a cookie sheet, using one with a slight edge because there will be water and juices from the chicken during the first hour of cooking.
- Slice chicken breasts in strips no more than ¼-inch thick.
- Place slices on a greased cookie sheet, leaving at least a ½-inch between slices.
- Bake for two hours. After two hours, check the slices and see if they’re dry.
- Continue baking until slices appear very dried.
- When done, remove the treats from the oven and cool on a drying rack.
- When the treats are completely cool, bag in zippered bags or place in an airtight container and refrigerate.
More Recipes You Might Like
We have dozens of chew and treat recipes here on DogTipper including these your dog might like:
Tripe Chews for Your Dog: One Ingredient Recipe!
How to Make Dehydrated Sweet Potato Dog Treats {Dehydrator + Oven Recipes!}
Recipe for Turkey and Oatmeal Dog Treats {Great for Senior Dogs}