How to Cook Ground Chicken for Dogs (Easy Steps)

Ground chicken is a fantastic choice of food for a man’s best friend. This lean protein will give them the nutrients to grow strong and healthy while being low in fat contact to keep off the extra pounds that make your dog a bit unhealthy. 

But how do you prepare ground chicken for your dog? The best way to prepare ground chicken is in a meat grinder. Grind the chicken up and then boil it or cook it in a saucepan. Make sure it’s cooked through to kill any bacteria if you don’t intend to serve it raw!

There’s a lot more to know about ground chicken in your dog’s diet, however. Read on to find out everything you need to know and more about how to cook ground chicken for dogs!

The Cooking Process

Cooking ground chicken is a bit of a process, but it’s not too difficult. First, you need to make sure the chicken is ground. The easiest way to do this is to buy it that way, though that can be a little more expensive than grinding it yourself. 

If you have a meat grinder, the process is quite easy. Simply put the appropriate amount of chicken through and you’re done. Different meat grinders are used in different ways, but they’re all pretty intuitive. Just keep your fingers away!

Grinding it manually can be done with forks or a knife, but it’s far more tedious and difficult. Simply, cut, pull, and split it until it resembles the ground chicken you’re trying to produce. 

You’ll want to grind the chicken up before cooking, as it won’t be able to reproduce the same texture afterward. 

Things to know before serving your dog chicken

There are a number of important things you should know before you give the chicken to your dog. Firstly, chicken can be a carrier of salmonella and other bacteria. Make sure it’s rinsed and then cooked thoroughly to protect your dog from any of the potential dangers of chicken. 

Secondly, make sure any bones are taken out before you grind the chicken! Bones that go through a meat grinder can have sharp edges that your dog can choke on or can cut the inside of your dog’s mouth. You are better off getting rid of them completely. 

Also, you should choose whether or not you want to serve the skin to your dog before you grind the chicken as well. The skin contains fats and oils that improve the taste of the chicken but can be unhealthy for your dog, especially if fed to your pup on a daily basis. 

How much chicken to serve to your dog

How much chicken to feed to your dog depends on its body weight. As you might imagine, larger dogs need more chicken and smaller dogs need a lot less. For every twenty pounds of body weight your dog has, it should be given around a 1/4 cup to a 1/3 cup of ground chicken.

Serve this meal to your dog twice daily. Once in the morning for breakfast, and once in the evening for dinner.

What other proteins are good for dogs?

Chicken isn’t the only protein that’s good for dogs. While red meat and pork are not good for dogs, other lean proteins can be a perfect meal for your pooch as well. Other poultry such as turkey can be a great substitute if you’re afraid your dog is getting bored of chicken. 

Eggs can also be a great protein, but are a bit high in cholesterol and can make your dog’s farts smell, so it’s best not to feed your dog eggs every day. They are more a once in a while treat. 

What to serve with chicken

There are a number of great sides you can serve to your dog with chicken. This will not only improve the balance and flavor of the dish, making for a happier dog, but it will also balance out the nutritional content of the meal, making for a healthier dog as well!

A carb like rice or pasta can be a great addition to give some energy to your pup and help fill the bowl a bit. 

Vegetables are also a great addition, as they can give your dog vitamins and minerals that chicken is unable to provide, while also providing some interesting flavors. Kale, spinach, and carrots are all perfect additions and can be served raw or cooked. 

Dark or White Meat?

You might be wondering if you should be serving dark or white meat to your pup. Well, dogs can usually eat both. However, dark meat has a bit more fat in it. This might make your dog prefer the flavor, but it can also upset your dog’s stomach. 

If your dog doesn’t seem to have digestion problems from either kind of meat, then they are both fine. If your dog seems to be struggling with dark meat or is gaining a few extra pounds, switching to white meat could be a good option.

Breast or Thighs?

When choosing which chicken you want to grind, the choice between breasts and thighs is essentially trivial. The only real difference is the price, so thighs are probably the better bang-for-your-buck option.

Is ground chicken a daily meal?

Ground chicken is a great meal to feed your dog on a daily basis. It gives great nutrients like protein without containing the fat or other harmful factors that red meat and pork might have. You can feel comfortable giving it to your dog every day.

How long can ground chicken be stored?

Ground chicken can be stored in the fridge for one or two days. After this, it starts to spoil. Try not to make too much of it at one time because of this!

Is ground chicken good for sick dogs?

Ground chicken is a great meal for sick dogs as well. Its lack of fats and oils will help with an upset stomach because it is easy to digest. Try serving it with plain white rice to a sick dog.