Homemade Dog Food Gravy Topper

Do you have a picky pup at home? Many pooch parents find it difficult to entice their canine companions to finish their doggie dinners.

Thankfully, food toppers can provide an excellent way to improve the taste of boring kibble so that your mutt finishes all of his meals. They can also provide a great way to sneak some additional nutritional value into your dog’s diet.

There are plenty of places to buy high-quality dog food toppers, but you can also make some at home! We’ll share 23 of the very DIY best dog food topper ideas below.

1. 1 pound ground low-fat chicken, turkey, or beef.
2. 2 Tbsp cornstarch or tapioca flour.
3. 2 cups low sodium or homemade stock or broth.

Why This is the Best Dog Gravy Recipe

This is the best gravy for dogs because it makes every dinner feel like one of those special occasions! Easy recipes like this are great for you because they take no time at all. Plus, you can change this recipe and use other dog-friendly veggies (like green beans).

This is a flavorful gravy that only takes small amounts to improve your dog’s dry food. Use it as a special treat or as daily dog food toppers. Commercial foods are low on taste, and wet food is pricy, but this gravy is a good idea because it’s low-cost and good for your pet.

If your furry family members don’t eat their dry dog food, try to cover it in homemade dog food sauce. These tasty toppers are made with lean meats and are fantastic for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

The entire ingredient list, quantities of each, and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. First, I want to share some additional information about the ingredients I used in this dog gravy:

Coconut Oil is a healthy fat for cooking meat.

Ground Chicken is a great source of protein.

Carrots are a healthy vegetable loaded with beta-carotene.

Green Peas are protein-rich and have fiber and essential vitamins.

Chicken Stock without salt, onions, and garlic.

Corn Starch or Arrowroot Powder is the thickener for the gravy.

Water for a liquid to mix with cornstarch to thicken the gravy.

You can substitute olive oil for coconut oil.

You can use ground turkey, extra lean ground beef (95/5 or 90/10), or chicken liver instead of ground chicken.

You can use turkey or beef stock instead of chicken broth stock. Be sure to use stock without salt, onions, or garlic. Homemade bone broth stock is great!

You can substitute any dog-safe fresh vegetables for carrots and peas.

You probably have all the equipment needed for making this dog gravy recipe. Just in case, here are a few of the important ones:

These are the recipe steps and photos of the process of making the gravy. I hope they help you make this healthy dog gravy recipe!

You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.

Melt oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat.

Add ground chicken to the skillet and cook, stirring to break up the meat, until it is fully cooked and crumbled.

Add stock and vegetables to the skillet. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.

For chunky gravy, use a slotted spoon to take out a cup of cooked meat and vegetables.

Mix cornstarch with cold water to make a slurry.

Slowly add the slurry to the gravy mixture stirring while adding it.

Remove the gravy from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.

Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and blend it until smooth.

Add the reserved meat and vegetables back to the blended gravy.

Serve over your dog’s food.

How much gravy to pour over dog food? A general serving would be 1/4 cup but that can vary. You may just need to put a little bit of gravy on your dog’s food or enough gravy to soften dry dog food.

It also depends on your dog’s size. Small pets require fewer calories than larger ones. Maintaining a dog’s healthy weight is very important. Keep that in mind when feeding dogs and adding any topper to their food.

Store this meaty gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 7 days.

You can freeze it for longer storage. Put it in a freezer-safe container or portion it out in small containers or freezer bags. You can also pour it into an ice cube tray, freeze it, then transfer the frozen cubes to a plastic freezer bag. Frozen gravy will last up to 3 months.

When ready to use, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Dog gravy can be served cold, at room temperature, or slightly warmed on the stove or in the microwave. Be careful and not heat it too much because hot gravy can burn your dog’s mouth.

Dog-food toppers dont have to be a gravy or even a liquid. Scramble an egg in a pan without using any oil, butter or seasoning as a tasty treat for your dog. A hard-boiled egg once in a while is also good for your dog. Peel it and break it on top of the dry dog food. The cooked egg shell is also good for dogs, providing calcium. Fresh berries, apples, or bananas are also excellent dog food toppers for picky eaters.

Bone broth, made by heating marrow-filled bones in a slow cooker, offers minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Its also great for your dogs digestive system and joints. Make bone broth as a homemade dog food topper that also jazzes up dry food, making it tastier for picky eaters.

Much like people, dogs may tire of eating the same food day after day. Make your four-legged friends food more interesting by adding a gravy or dog-food topper to that dry kibble. Bone broth is also an excellent topping for dry dog food, as its packed with nutrients and minerals beneficial to your dogs health.

Wash fruits before feeding them to your dog to remove pesticides and other residues. A sardine packed in water, not oil, also serves as a tasty topper for your dogs food. Larger dogs may be able to eat two or three sardines. Add such toppers slowly to your dogs diet to ensure they dont cause stomach upset. Remember that any topper also adds calories to his diet, so adjust the amount of food in his bowl as needed.

Place beef marrow bones, still full of marrow, in a slow cooker, or use chicken feet or a combination of both. The number of bones doesnt matter; the more you use, the more broth youll have on hand. Add enough water to cover the bones or feet by two inches. Add in several tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, which helps draw nutrients out of the bones. Cover the pot, set it to high for an hour, then turn it down to low for 12 to 24 hours. Check the pot after six hours to ensure theres still enough water to cover the bones. Add more water if necessary.

16 Single-Ingredient Homemade Dog Food Toppers

Here are some of our favorite single-ingredient toppers you can use to spruce up Spot’s food if you’re in a pinch. These quick and easy toppers are all safe foods for dogs and humans to share and most of them contain additional nutrients to keep Fido feeling his best.

Most dogs go ga-ga for blueberries, so they make a super quick-and-easy dog food topper when you’re pressed for time. Blueberries are absolutely packed with vitamins A, C, and K, and they’re also full of antioxidants, so they provide a nutritional boost as well.

They are, however, kinda expensive, so be prepared. I personally buy Spicy frozen blueberries so that she can enjoy them throughout any season at a fraction of the cost.

If your canine craves an extra crunch, cucumbers might make the perfect low-calorie topper. These hydrating vegetables contain potassium and magnesium helping your hound feel his best. You can cut fresh cucumbers into small, diced pieces to make it easy for your mutt to munch on.

Just be sure to avoid pickled or seasoned cucumbers since these products contain seasonings like garlic or onion, which are both toxic to our furry friends.

Olive oil is safe for dogs and can help your pooch achieve a strong and beautiful coat. This cupboard staple contains omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E, helping your dog’s skin stay moisturized. Plenty of dogs also love the taste and texture that olive oil adds to dry food.

Just be careful not to overdo it, since olive oil is very rich in fat and calories. It’s generally recommended that you provide your pooch with no more than one teaspoon of olive oil per 20 pounds of body weight per day

Many dogs take fish oil as an added supplement, but this can serve as an excellent kibble topper as well! Fish oil is an abundant source of omega-3 fatty acids which is a fat that supports your pup’s brain and body. Plenty of pooch parents turn to fish oil to help with their hounds’ flaky skin or dry coat.

Most dogs love the taste of this oil as well, so you can certainly add a couple of drops to your canine’s kibble to make it more enticing and nutritious.

Dogs can have cheese in moderation and most canine companions go crazy for this savory treat. Cheese can also have nutritional value since it’s packed with protein, B vitamins, and vitamin A.

However, cheese can be high in fat, so you’ll want to select a leaner variety like mozzarella or goat cheese, and sprinkle the shreds into your dog’s food. Also, some dogs tolerate dairy better than others– if your dog experiences tummy troubles after trying out this topper, it’s best to seek out a different option.

FAQ

What kind of gravy can I put on my dogs food?

1. Blueberries.
2. Canned pure pumpkin.
3. Canned sardines or mackerel.
4. Crumbled bacon or turkey bacon.
5. Hard-boiled eggs (a little of the shell is good for dogs)
6. Ground beef, chicken, turkey, or lamb.
7. Ground-up liver treats.
8. Nori.

How do you make homemade dog food toppers?

1. Blueberries.
2. Canned pure pumpkin.
3. Canned sardines or mackerel.
4. Crumbled bacon or turkey bacon.
5. Hard-boiled eggs (a little of the shell is good for dogs)
6. Ground beef, chicken, turkey, or lamb.
7. Ground-up liver treats.
8. Nori.

Is homemade gravy good for dogs?

1. Blueberries.
2. Canned pure pumpkin.
3. Canned sardines or mackerel.
4. Crumbled bacon or turkey bacon.
5. Hard-boiled eggs (a little of the shell is good for dogs)
6. Ground beef, chicken, turkey, or lamb.
7. Ground-up liver treats.
8. Nori.

What can I add on top of my dogs food?

1. Blueberries.
2. Canned pure pumpkin.
3. Canned sardines or mackerel.
4. Crumbled bacon or turkey bacon.
5. Hard-boiled eggs (a little of the shell is good for dogs)
6. Ground beef, chicken, turkey, or lamb.
7. Ground-up liver treats.
8. Nori.