The Best Homemade Dog Gravy Your Dog Will Love

Your homemade dog gravy should be low-sodium, packed with safe vegetables, and free from onions and garlic. Outside of that, it’s very simple to whip up a batch. 

Every dog deserves a delicious gravy to go with their dinner. We love it as people, so why not let our dogs share in one of the most delicious things we eat? However, human-grade gravy has way too much salt in it to be safe for dogs, and it often contains harmful ingredients such as onion and garlic. 

That’s why I’ve whipped up a homemade dog gravy recipe that your pooch is going to love. They will also love you even more than they already do for making it (if that’s even possible). It’s simple, delicious, and you can get it done in less than twenty minutes. All you need are a few ingredients and some time in the kitchen. 

Key Takeaways: 
  • Dogs cannot eat onions and garlic, so keep them out of the gravy 
  • Coconut oil is a fantastic alternative for a healthy coat 
  • Store-bought gravy for humans has far too much salt for dogs 
  • Avoid pork stock because of the salt levels; chicken and beef are much better 

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp / 27g olive oil or coconut oil 
  • 1 lb / 454g lean ground chicken
  • ½ cup / 70g veggies
  • 3 cups / 710ml natural unsalted chicken stock (or water)
  • 2 tbsp / 16g cornstarch
Dog gravy recipe
throw everything in a pan & then blitz!

Easy Homemade Dog Gravy

Delicious homemade gravy you can use as a food topper to add variety to your dog's kibble. So easy to make and your dog will absolutely love it!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 32 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp / 27g olive oil
  • 1 lb / 454g lean ground chicken
  • ½ cup / 70g veggies (see note)
  • 3 cups / 710ml Swanson 100% Natural Unsalted Chicken Stock (or water)
  • 2 tbsp / 16g cornstarch

Equipment

  • 1 Saucepan
  • 1 Ladle
  • 1 Wooden spoon
  • 1 Small bowl 
  • 1 Blender or food processor

Method
 

  1. Grab a large saucepan and heat the olive oil or coconut oil over a medium-high heat.
  2. Add the ground chicken and use a wooden spoon to break it up so that it cooks evenly. Allow the chicken to cook for 2-3 minutes so it is brown on all sides. The softer your chicken is, the smoother your gravy will be at the end.
  3. Add your chosen vegetables and the unsalted chicken stock to the pan. Reduce the heat down to medium-low and leave it to simmer for around 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. They should be soft enough that they fall off a fork.
  4. Use a ladle to scoop around ½ cup of the liquid from the pan and then transfer it to a small bowl on the side. You can then add the cornstarch to the bowl and mix it together until it’s smooth. 
  5. Add the cornstarch slurry to the pan slowly, being careful to stir it constantly. Once the slurry has been fully incorporated, you can remove the pan from the heat. However, if you want a thicker gravy, leave it to simmer on low for a further 10-20 minutes. 
  6. Allow the mixture to cool for 20 minutes. 
  7. If you want a smooth gravy, transfer the mixture to a blender or a food processor and blend until it is to your liking. You can then serve ¼ cup over your dog’s food.

Notes

Veggies Note
To keep things simple, choose whichever veggies you have on hand. Dogs especially love carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, peas and pumpkin. Veggies can be fresh or frozen when added to the pot.
Stock Note
If you want to use stock to add more flavor, be sure to choose one that is low in sodium and does not have any toxic ingredients for dogs like onion or garlic. Swanson 100% Natural Unsalted Chicken Stock is a great option. Or make your own stock!
Puree Note
In order to get a smooth gravy, ensure that all ingredients are thoroughly cooked and soft. Then use a high quality blender or food processor with very sharp blades to puree to your preferred smoothness. 
Storage Notes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Optionally, freeze gravy in an ice cube tray for easy serving sizes. Thaw cubes in the refrigerator before use or use your microwave’s defrost feature. Warm gravy for 30-45 seconds in the microwave before serving over dry food. Be sure gravy is not too hot!

What To Keep In Mind When Making Dog Gravy

Dogs aren’t picky with vegetables, which is great news for you. However, it is important that you avoid onions and garlic as these can be toxic to dogs. The best vegetables to choose for your gravy are carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, peas, and green beans. Mine also love corn, even though it doesn’t have much nutritional value. 

It doesn’t matter if the vegetables are fresh or frozen when they are added to the pot, and a lot of the time, there is more nutrition packed into frozen veg. When using stock, it is very important that you use one with low sodium and that’s free from garlic and onions. It can add more flavor, and it gives the gravy some extra pizzazz. 

Note:You can always try making your own stock if you aren’t sure the stock you have chosen will be good for your dog.

Bonus Recipe: Water Instead Of Broth

Sometimes you don’t have the energy for making gravy, but you want your dog to have something special. When this happens, it’s as easy as pouring hot water over their kibble and allowing it to sit on the counter to cool. While it cools down, the kibble will absorb the water and turn it into a delicious, thick soup that they will absolutely devour. 

Serving Suggestions For Your Doggy Gravy 

You can store your gravy in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can even pour it into an ice cube tray to make little gravy cubes for quick and easy access. All you need to do is defrost them in a pan or the microwave before serving, or you can use them as little treats in the summer to help them stay cool (Winston loves this!). 

The gravy can be served on kibble warm or cold, but if you warm the gravy up first, then you need to make sure that it’s not too hot before serving. 30-45 seconds in the microwave usually does the trick, and makes it that much more delicious. 

FAQ’s

What Kind of Gravy Can I Give My Dog? 

Any gravy that is low in sodium and contains safe vegetables (which means definitely no onions) is good to give your dog. Chicken and beef tend to be the safest options for this reason, while pork stocks tend to be far too salty. Turkey is also a fantastic choice as it’s a lean meat with a low sodium content. 

Is Branded Gravy For Humans Safe For Dogs?

No, gravy that has been made for humans is not safe for dogs. Not only does it contain a lot of salt (more than is healthy for your canine companion), but it is also very common for it to contain onion extract or garlic. Making your own gravy ensures that they stay safe and healthy. 

Are There Dog Safe Gravy Granules?

If you’re not feeling up to making your own gravy, there are dog-safe gravy granules that can be bought online or at pet stores. They aren’t always as healthy as homemade gravy, but they are safe for your dog to eat because they have been designed for pooches. 

Final Thoughts 

Making gravy for your dog is so rewarding, and it means they get a delicious treat that is completely safe for them to eat. After all, we get to have gravy on our food, so why can’t they? Even dogs need something different from time to time to keep them interested. Plus, I think we can agree that every pup deserves thick, yummy gravy with their dinner sometimes. 

Or maybe all the time…

Don’t forget to share your gravy recipes with us!

If you make this at home, we’d love to see! Tag us on Instagram @winstonbearofficial.

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