At your next backyard bash, bring your pets in on the fun, too. And by that, we mean whipping up a pet-friendly BBQ sauce that you can lightly slather on dog- and cat-friendly meats and veggies.
While human BBQ sauce may not be safe for pet consumption (thanks to ingredients such as onions and garlic), we’ve whipped up two easy-to-make recipes—one for cats and one for dogs—that are both pet-friendly and tasty.
Created by cookbook authors and Trunk Pop Dinners co-founders Marge Perry and David Bonom, these BBQ sauce recipes are not only loaded with safe spices and tomato paste, but they also consist of a secret ingredient: The Honest Kitchen’s Bone Broth Pour Overs in beef stew and The Honest Kitchen’s Minced Chicken Recipe in bone both gravy, respectively.
Enough talk, though; let’s get cooking! (And be sure to stick around to the end of the article, where you can get to know our chefs—and their two dogs, Otis and Zoey—a little better.)
Doggy Delicious BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
1 (5.5 oz) container The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth Pour Overs Beef Stew
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
Yield:
1 cup
Serving size:
1-2 tbsp.
Use as a topper or snack
Prep time:
5 minutes
Cook time:
5-10 minutes
Instructions
1 For a chunkier sauce, combine the beef stew, tomato paste, paprika, and liquid smoke, in a bowl. Mix well.
2 For a smoother sauce, combine all of the above and puree in a blender.
Kitty 'Cue Sauce
Ingredients
1 (5.5 oz) container The Honest Kitchen Minced Chicken Recipe in Bone Broth Gravy
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Yield:
1 cup
Serving size:
1-2 tbsp.
Use as a topper or snack
Prep time:
5 minutes
Cook time:
5-10 minutes
Instructions
1 For a chunkier sauce, combine the minced chicken recipe, tomato paste, and paprika in a bowl. Mix well.
2 For a smoother sauce, combine all of the above and puree in a blender.
How to Serve Your Homemade Pet-Friendly BBQ Sauce
For Dogs, Try It On...
- These pet-safe kabobs: "We found we could get our dogs to wolf down vegetables (carrots, red bell peppers) with the barbecue sauce on it," Marge says.
- Sweet Potato Turkey Burger Sliders: Brush slices of peeled sweet potato with peanut oil, and grill them about 3 minutes each side until they're softer and easier for pups to chew.
- Corn: Grill a few ears of corn, and cut the corn off the cob. Drizzle with a bit of BBQ sauce.
- Zucchini crisps: Zucchini is packed with nutrients.
- Their kibble: "We put a little [sauce] on pieces of kibble and [Zoey and Otis] both loved it!" Marge says.
For Cats, Try It On...
- These pet-safe kabobs: The kabobs are loaded with good-for-them fresh protein and veggies.
- Salmon: Salmon is a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Freeze-dried salmon cat treats are a great option, too!
- Their kibble
Get to Know the Chefs: Marge and David
BeChewy: What did you enjoy most about making this recipe?
Marge: We kept imagining having friends come over with their pups for a summer barbecue—and instead of setting up the usual kids table, we’ll have a doggy table, where pups get their very own barbecue!
BeChewy: What was the biggest challenge to making this recipe?
Marge: We wanted the sauce to have the enticing aromas of human barbecue sauce, but to meet the nutritional needs of dogs, which is different.
This one came easily for David, [however], who specializes in barbecue (for humans).
BeChewy: Did your pups get involved at all in the process?
Marge: They are our taste-testers! While our little guy Otis [a 2-year-old Hound/Dachshund-mix] will eat anything (including, once, an entire pound of dried lentils), our girl Zoey [a 4-year-old Golden Retriever/Great Pyrenees rescue] is more fussy. If Zoey likes it, we think we’ve done well!
Otis scarfed it down in record time and was looking for more. Zoey smelled it cautiously—and then loved it!
BeChewy: How long did it take to develop this recipe?
Marge: David is a grill master who is very experienced with developing barbecue recipes, so this actually went fairly quickly. Before he walked into the kitchen, he had it fully envisioned—and he was right! I guess that’s what happens when you combine your love for dogs with your passion for barbecue!
BeChewy: Any advice for pet parents new to making food for their pets?
Marge: Just as we wanted to be sure to feed our human children nourishing food, we want to be sure that when we cook for our pups, we are making them food that they will love and that is good for them. My advice to people starting to make food for their pets is to break out of the expected ingredients like bacon and meat and find ingredients (like produce) that keep your dog healthy.
And there you have it: pet-friendly BBQ sauces for dogs and cats. They're easy, right? See, we wouldn't lead you astray. But before you go, we have one more important note from our chefs...
"When making barbecue for your dogs, don’t forget dessert!" Marge says. "Our dogs love fresh watermelon!"
This recipe was designed for both cats and dogs and reviewed by a veterinarian. It is intended as a treat or snack. Treats should only constitute a small percentage of your pet’s daily food. Feeding too many treats can lead to nutrient deficiencies. If your pet has health issues (including food allergies or sensitivities to fats) or if you have any concerns, consult your pet’s veterinarian before offering this food item.
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