Chicken Gumbo Recipe for Dogs

Chicken Gumbo is a tasty dish with a Cajun feel that's a great dish to warm you up on a cold night. Your dog can now safely enjoy chicken gumbo thanks to this dog-friendly chicken gumbo recipe from our friends over at Kirby the Dorkie:

The majority of Kirby's meals are homemade so I like to change it up to give him a variety of foods. This one has a lot of ingredients for their different healthy benefits but it’s so easy to make. Granted it’s not very pretty but the aroma while it’s cooking is divine. Even out of the freezer, once thawed it has such a fresh smell. I barely warm it in the microwave for roughly 20 seconds. Kirby scarfs this one down every time so I’m placing it on his monthly list of meals.

Debby's Chicken Gumbo Recipe (makes 14 1 cup servings)

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 2 - 3 hours

Ingredients:

• 4 lbs chicken breasts
• 2 ½ cups chicken broth*
• 16 oz bag frozen green beans, chopped
• 2 cups yellow squash, chopped
• 1 – 19 oz can lentils, rinsed
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• ¼ cup ground flaxseed
• 1/4 cup parsley
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp rosemary
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp ground eggshell**
• 1 cup barley, soaked***

*This is the broth, or juices, left from boiling the chicken. If you want to make this with leftover chicken use a dog safe chicken stock.

**This can be omitted. The majority of Kirby’s meals are home made so even though he takes a daily multi-vitamin he still needs the added calcium this provides.

*** Dogs have a harder time digesting grains which provide needed carbs so I soak the grains in water for at least several hours but preferably overnight. For this recipe I measured 1 cup barley into a large glass container with lid. Then I added roughly 3 cups water and placed the lid on. It does not need to be refrigerated. Drain the water when ready to use. You can leave the barley out of the recipe if you want a grain free meal.

Preparation Instructions:

1. Boil the chicken breasts in water until cooked. Once cooled, discard the skin and bones. Save 2 1/2 cups of the chicken broth. Shred or chop the meat and set aside.
2. Place the remaining ingredients in a large dutch oven or pot and cover with the reserved chicken broth. Heat over medium heat just until it begins to boil, then simmer covered on low heat for 2 to 3 hours until the veggies are soft.


3. Thoroughly mix in the shredded chicken.


4. Let cool and serve.

This made 14 – 1 cup servings which I froze in individual serving containers. It should last in the refrigerator for a week and the freezer for several months.

Some people are afraid of feeding their dogs garlic so I’ve added this information. Kirby, who is 15 lbs, eats garlic in most of his meals and some treats with no ill effects.

Garlic, contains germanium - an anti-cancer agent, helps to regulate blood pressure, helps strengthen the body's defenses against allergies, and regulate blood sugar levels. It's considered an aid to fighting and treating diabetes and liver, heart and kidney disease. It provides Vitamin A, B, B2, C, Calcium, Potassium, and Zinc. Garlic is a natural flea repellent and de-wormer. I also list Garlic under Foods That Harm Dogs because large amounts given over a prolonged period can result in the formation of Heinz bodies on the surface of red blood cells which are then destroyed by the body resulting in a severe hemolytic anemia. Whole Dog Journal claims a healthy dog can tolerate 1 clove per 20 lbs of body weight per day without any toxic effects.

This recipe has been carefully researched and tested by Kirby the Dorkie and his furiends. It is essential to seek the advice of your Veterinarian before changing your dog's diet or adding any ingredients to your dog's food especially if your dog has any underlying health issues. Debby, pawrent to Kirby the Dorkie, creates and develops recipes for dog treats and dog meals.