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How to make homemade meatballs for dogs

Hey there! I’m so happy to share this recipe for meatballs for dogs with you. These doggy meatballs are made with lean ground chicken, rolled oats and grated carrot for a nutritious addition to your dogs food, or a tasty snack.

Your pups will go bonkers for this delicious treat, and you can feel good about feeding it to them because it is made with real food, and contains no preservatives or additives.

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

Check out the other homemade dog food recipes on the blog too!

Meatballs for dogs in red dog bowl with hearts.

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Please watch the dog meatball web story here.

Chicken meatballs for dogs

Doggy meatballs are even easier to make than regular meatballs. I used ground chicken for this version, because it is lean protein and easily available.

This homemade version is healthier for your pup than those store-bought varieties.

Our dogs ate these for breakfast and treats and they’re OBSESSED! They finish them in seconds and come tearing around the corner for more. I even found them licking the floor where they ate them!

– Reader & Dog Mom Courtney

Dog meatball recipe

Making these chicken meatballs for dogs is simple and takes very little time, especially if you have another set of hands to help roll them.

Meatballs for dogs on sheet pan.

Below, I will show you exactly what is in this recipe and how to make substitutions and variations. The recipe yielded 31 small meatballs, using this small cookie scoop.

If you use a larger scoop, you will end up with a few less meatballs than the recipe.

Ingredients

Ingredients for meatballs for dogs
  • Ground chicken – a great source of lean protein
  • Rolled oats – great for pups with digestive issues, they are a source of fiber
  • Egg – protein + a binder for the meatballs
  • Dried parsley – parsley also aids digestion, freshens breath and add flavor
  • Carrots – the same reason they are good for you applies to your dog
  • Yogurt – good source of protein, probiotics and calcium, which are all beneficial to your dog’s immune system

How to make them

First gather your equipment – a medium mixing bowl, a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and a small cookie scoop.

How to make doggy meatballs

Next, gather your ingredients and add everything into the mixing bowl. Use clean hands to mix it all up until the mixture looks uniform.

Using a small scoop, portion out the meatball mixture. Use wet hands to roll them and place on lined baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

Variations

  • If your dog has a sensitivity to chicken; you can use ground turkey (try this ground turkey dog food recipe), ground beef, ground lamb or ground pork.
  • To substitute rolled oats: Rice flour, which is simply ground rice, would be a great option. You could also use almond flour in place of oats.
  • To substitute grated carrots: Try chopped green beans, peas or grated sweet potato.
  • To substitute egg: a scoop of pure pumpkin purée or applesauce would be great.

FAQ

Can dogs eat meatballs?

YES! As long as there isn’t anything in them that is unsafe for your dog. They LOVE meatballs.

How can I add more flavor?

Please keep in mind that these are for your dog, not for a human palate. Your dog does not need seasonings like salt, other spices or added herbs. To your dog, these are delicious just as they are.

Can I use other meat?

Absolutely. See the list above for suggestions. You could also use any game meat that you might have access to, like venison.

Can I freeze these?

Yes. These will keep in the freezer, if properly stored, for up to 3 months.

How long do they last in the refrigerator?

Properly stored, in an airtight container, they’ll keep in the fridge for about 5 days.

Chicken meatballs for dogs.

Dog treat recipes

Here are a few of my dog treat recipes that your pup might like:

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Yield: 31 meatballs

Homemade meatballs for dogs

Homemade meatballs for dogs

Quick and easy recipe for meatballs for dogs using ground chicken.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp. dried parsley
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 2 tbsp. low fat PLAIN (unflavored) yogurt
  • 1/4 cup grated carrots, optional, but recommended

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C / Gas mark 4
  2. Gather your ingredients and add everything to a medium mixing bowl.
  3. Use clean hands to mix it all up until the mixture looks uniform.
  4. Using a small cookie scoop, portion the meatballs until the mixture is all used. Wet your hands with water and roll the meatballs, then place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  5. Bake for 25 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through baking time.
  6. Remove from oven and let cool before feeding to your dog.
  7. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

*See post for notes about substitutions and variations.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

15

Serving Size:

2 meatballs

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 68Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 29mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 8g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

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14 Comments

    1. Hi Melissa, Thank you! I’m so glad your pup loves them! I would ask your vet about portions, they would be able to guide you best for your dog. xx

  1. I’ve recently been trying to make more food for my dog than buying it and he LOVED these. He’s really picky but he gobbled them up. I did use rice flour and didn’t have any yogurt but he doesn’t have a problem with dairy so I just subbed some light sour cream and it worked great. Thank you so much for this easy (and also extremely cost effective) recipe.

    1. I’m not sure how that will work with already cooked turkey. If you can get it to bind together, it should be fine to proceed with the recipe. You can reduce the cooking time, since you won’t need to cook the turkey.

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