Homemade Dog Gravy

Human gravy is full of salt, fat, onion and garlic. This version is just unseasoned broth thickened with a little cornstarch, plus shredded chicken.

A spoonful over dry food is often enough to win over a picky eater.

Why your dog will love this

• Turns dry kibble into a warm meal
• Picky eaters come running
• Freezes in handy cubes

Ingredient notes

• Unseasoned homemade chicken bone broth, strained Safe

  Strain twice to remove every bone fragment.

  Plain, cooked, boneless and unseasoned.

• Cornstarch Safe

  Fine in small amounts to thicken gravy.

• Cooked chicken, finely shredded Safe

  Plain, cooked, boneless and unseasoned.

See every ingredient in the safety guide

How to make Homemade Dog Gravy

Homemade Dog Gravy takes about 15 minutes from start to finish and makes 2 cups. It is an easy recipe. You will need a small saucepan and silicone ice cube tray. Read through every step once before you start, and set out all the ingredients so nothing is missed.

Ingredients and why they are here

You need 3 ingredients. Each one is checked against the ingredient safety guide for dogs.

• 2 cups unseasoned homemade chicken bone broth, strained: Strain twice to remove every bone fragment. Plain, cooked, boneless and unseasoned.
• 1 tbsp cornstarch: Fine in small amounts to thicken gravy.
• 1/2 cup cooked chicken, finely shredded: Plain, cooked, boneless and unseasoned.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Whisk the cornstarch into 1/4 cup of cold broth until smooth.
2. Bring the rest of the broth to a simmer in a small saucepan.
3. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture and simmer until thickened. Allow about 3 minutes.
4. Stir in the shredded chicken and remove from the heat.
5. Cool to lukewarm before serving. Allow about 10 minutes.

Tips for success

• Whisk the cornstarch into cold broth first so the gravy stays lump-free.
• Freeze gravy in an ice cube tray; one cube tops one meal for a small dog.
• Serve gravy lukewarm, never hot, and stir before pouring over food.

How to store it

Let everything cool completely before you pack it away, since trapped steam causes sogginess and mold. Keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freeze in ice cube trays; one cube is about 2 tbsp. If anything smells off or shows mold, throw it out.

How much to serve

1–2 tbsp over each meal for small dogs, 3–4 tbsp for large dogs. Each tbsp has about 15 calories. Treats and toppers should stay under 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories, so cut back their regular food a little on days you serve extra.

Swaps and variations

No unseasoned homemade chicken bone broth? Use water used to boil plain chicken. No cornstarch? Use 1 tbsp arrowroot. No cooked chicken? Use cooked lean turkey. Change one ingredient at a time so you can tell how each swap affects the texture.

Why dogs love it

Turns dry kibble into a warm meal. Picky eaters come running. Freezes in handy cubes.

Feeding tips for dogs

Introduce any new food slowly, starting with a small piece, and wait a day to see how your dog’s stomach handles it. Dogs with allergies, pancreatitis, kidney disease or diabetes may need changes, so check with your vet first. Keep fresh water out, especially with dry or salty-tasting treats, and count every treat toward the daily allowance so meals stay balanced.

Make it ahead

To save time, measure and prep the ingredients the day before and keep them covered in the fridge. Label containers with the recipe name and date so you always know what to use first. Most of the work in this recipe is hands-off, so it fits easily around a busy week.

Safety notes

Use broth made without onion, garlic or salt; most store-bought broths and gravy mixes contain them. Never add onion, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol or salt, and check the safety guide before trying a new ingredient with your dog. This recipe is general information, not veterinary advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs eat regular turkey gravy?

No. Holiday gravy is high in fat and salt and usually contains onion or garlic.

Can I use store-bought broth?

Only one made for pets or labeled with no salt, onion or garlic.

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