The short answer: The best all-natural dog treats are made from a handful of whole-food ingredients—things like carrots, apple, sweet potato, plain cooked salmon, oats, banana, and natural peanut butter—baked at home with no additives, preservatives, or fillers. Below are three simple, vet-sensible recipes we make ourselves, plus the ingredients to always avoid.
I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. We built our business on the idea that dogs do best on simple, real food, so homemade treats fit right in with what we believe. You don't need to be a baker to make them, and you'll always know exactly what your dog is eating.
Why make your own dog treats?
Making treats at home comes down to three things: control, digestion, and cost. You control every ingredient, which means no mystery additives or chemical preservatives. Whole-food ingredients tend to be easier on a dog's stomach. And a batch of homemade biscuits costs a fraction of most boutique store-bought treats.
Homemade treats pair well with a good everyday chew. If you want a zero-ingredient-list option for daily chewing, our single-ingredient chews are 100% natural, 100% real meat, fully digestible, and contain no rawhide—a simple companion to the recipes below.
Three all-natural dog treat recipes
1. Carrot & apple biscuits
Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup grated carrot, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 egg.
Method: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix everything into a dough, roll it out, cut into shapes, and bake about 30 minutes until firm. Carrots and apple add fiber and vitamins, and the crunch is good for teeth.
2. Sweet potato & salmon bites
Ingredients: 1 large sweet potato (cooked and mashed), 1 can flaked plain salmon (no added salt), 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1 egg.
Method: Combine, form into small patties, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes. The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon support skin and coat health.
3. Peanut butter & banana cookies
Ingredients: 2 cups oat flour, 1 cup natural peanut butter, 1 ripe mashed banana.
Method: Mix into a dough, drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet, flatten, and bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes. Peanut butter is a dog favorite for good reason—if you want more ideas, see our guide to peanut butter dog treats. Important: use plain peanut butter only. Many "sugar-free" brands contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs (VCA Animal Hospitals).
What ingredients should you avoid?
A treat is only "all-natural" if everything in it is safe. Keep these common toxic foods out of any homemade recipe: chocolate, xylitol (a sugar substitute), grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, and anything heavily salted or sweetened. The ASPCA and the American Kennel Club both keep good reference lists. When you try a new ingredient, introduce it in small amounts and watch how your dog handles it.
Tips for better homemade treats
Keep recipes simple—fewer, higher-quality ingredients make it easier to guarantee what your dog is eating. Because homemade treats have no preservatives, store them in an airtight container and use within about a week, or freeze for longer. And remember that treats, homemade or not, should stay under roughly 10% of your dog's daily calories.
Treats vs. long-lasting chews
Baked treats are great for training and quick rewards, but they disappear fast. For the kind of chewing that keeps a dog genuinely busy and supports dental health, a natural chew lasts far longer. If you have a heavy chewer or a puppy, a softer natural option like a trachea chew is worth a look. Our chews are ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms, single-ingredient, fully digestible, and 100% high-quality guaranteed—no rawhide, ever.
Homemade treats have been a fun way to know exactly what goes into what our dogs eat, and they pair perfectly with a simple, natural chew. Get creative in the kitchen, keep it simple, and enjoy the wagging tails.
This post was last updated at August 6, 2026 23:38
