Air Fryer Dog Treats: Homemade Snacks For Your Pup

Air fryers are a convenient and healthy way to prepare food for your dog. They are a great alternative to store-bought dog treats, which may contain unhealthy fillers and preservatives. Making your own dog treats ensures you know exactly what your dog is eating, and allows you to cater to their taste preferences and dietary needs. Air fryers are also a quick and easy way to cook, and can be used to make a variety of dog treats, from chicken jerky to peanut butter biscuits.

Chicken jerky

Ingredients:

You only need one ingredient for this recipe: a boneless and skinless chicken breast.

Preparation:

Start by placing the chicken breast in the freezer for about 10 minutes to 2 hours to make it easier to slice. This step is especially helpful if you want to cut thin, uniform slices.

Slicing:

Using a sharp knife, slice the chicken breast into thin, uniform pieces. For a chewier jerky, cut the chicken with the grain. If you're using a frozen chicken breast, let it thaw for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Air Fryer Setup:

Spray your air fryer trays or basket with non-stick cooking spray. You can also lightly spritz or brush the basket with olive oil. Make sure to lay the chicken slices in a single layer, avoiding any overlap.

Cooking:

The cooking process for chicken jerky in an air fryer involves two main steps: precooking and dehydration.

Precooking:

Place the basket in the air fryer and precook the chicken at 280°F for about 9 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 165°F, which is crucial for killing off bacteria.

Dehydration:

After precooking, it's time to dehydrate the chicken. Set your air fryer to a temperature between 170°F and 220°F. Cook for about 1½ - 2 hours, depending on the thickness of your chicken slices. You'll know they're done when they are hard and not spongy to the touch. Flip the chicken strips halfway through the cooking time.

Storage:

Let the chicken jerky cool down completely before storing. You can keep the treats in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Now you have some tasty and healthy chicken jerky treats that your dog will surely love!

Pumpkin and peanut butter cookies

These pumpkin and peanut butter cookies are a great treat for your dog, combining two flavours that dogs love. They are also healthy, packed with vitamins and minerals that support eye health, boost immunity and promote healthy skin and coat.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup of natural peanut butter (with no added sugar or xylitol, which is toxic to dogs)
• 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugar and spices)
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups of whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of water (optional)
• A pinch of salt (optional)

Method:

• Add the pumpkin puree, peanut butter and eggs to a large mixing bowl and mix until fully combined.
• Add in 1 cup of flour and mix until combined. Then add in the other cup of flour and mix until a doughy mixture forms.
• Knead the dough by hand and add the remaining flour as needed, until the dough reaches a soft, but not sticky or crumbly consistency.
• Lay out a large piece of parchment paper and sprinkle lightly with flour before dumping the dough onto the prepared surface.
• Roll out the dough with a rolling pin (or a glass) to about 1/4-inch thickness.
• Cut out as many cookies as you can with a cookie cutter (a bone shape is fun!) and place them on a cookie sheet or similar dish.
• Line the bottom of your air fryer with parchment paper and place as many treats as you can, making sure they are not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may fit around 6-7 treats.
• Cook at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 4-5 minutes or until lightly browned. If you want a crunchier treat, increase the cooking time by a few minutes.
• Remove the treats from the air fryer and let them cool completely before feeding them to your dog.
• Store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for up to three months.

Chicken breast

Ingredients:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breast (preferably frozen)
• Non-stick cooking spray

Method:

Step 1: Using a sharp knife, slice the chicken breast into thin, uniform pieces. Freezing the chicken breast for about 10 minutes beforehand will make it easier to slice. Aim for a thickness of around 1/4 inch.

Step 2: Spray the basket or trays of your air fryer with non-stick cooking spray. Place the chicken slices in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap.

Step 3: Preheat your air fryer to 280°F (some sources suggest 370-375°F) and place the basket inside. Cook for about 9 minutes to pre-cook the chicken and reach an internal temperature of 165°F, which is important to ward off bacteria.

Step 4: Now it's time to dehydrate the chicken. Set your air fryer to 170-180°F and cook for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the chicken is hard and not spongy to the touch. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your slices.

Step 5: Allow the chicken jerky to cool, then store it in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator. These treats should last for up to a week.

Some optional tips to consider:

• For chewier jerky, slice the chicken with the grain.
• You can experiment with different seasonings and spices, but be cautious as some common spices like salt and chili are not dog-friendly.
• If you want to make chicken jerky for humans as well, you can prepare it separately with added flavours like marinades or spices.
• You can also try using other parts of the chicken, like chicken hearts or chicken wings, for variety in your dog's treats.

Sausage links

Firstly, you can use any kind of sausage links for this recipe, whether they are frozen or fresh. If you are using fresh or thawed sausages, use a paring knife or a fork to poke holes in the casings. This will allow the fat to escape easily from the casing. If you are cooking frozen sausages, you can cook them straight from frozen.

Next, arrange the sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 400°F and then cook the sausages until they are well-browned on the outside and cooked through in the middle. This should take about 8-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the sausages. Make sure to cut into one to check that it is not pink on the inside before serving.

If you are cooking fully-cooked sausages, you can heat them in the air fryer by slicing them and arranging the slices in a single layer. Cook them for 4-5 minutes at 400°F, just until lightly browned.

Some tips for making the best air-fried sausage links:

• Don't pierce holes in the sausage as this will let the juices seep out and dry out the sausage.
• Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of your air fryer to catch any drippings and make clean-up easier.
• Air fry as many sausages as you can fit in a single layer.

Steamed broccoli

Ingredients:

• 1 head of broccoli
• 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

• Cut the broccoli into florets.
• Rinse the broccoli florets and pat them dry with paper towels.
• Place the broccoli florets in a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
• Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss the broccoli until it is evenly coated with the oil and spices.
• Transfer the broccoli to the air fryer basket, ensuring it is in a single layer with space around each floret.
• Add 1 tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket if you want softer, steamed broccoli.
• Set the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and cook for 7 to 9 minutes.
• Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
• Check the broccoli after shaking the basket. If you prefer it to be more steamed and softer, cook for an additional minute or two.
• Once cooked to your desired texture, remove the broccoli from the air fryer and let it cool before serving to your dog.

Note: It is important to wash and dry the broccoli before cooking. Any water left on the florets will create steam and prevent browning. Also, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure the broccoli cooks evenly and doesn't become mushy.

Frequently asked questions