If you’re looking for a super simple, no-fuss treat to spoil your pup, these 3 Ingredient Dog Treats are just the thing! With only a sweet potato, oats, and peanut butter, you can whip up a batch of homemade goodies that are healthy, tasty, and totally dog-approved.
Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just because your dog deserves a little extra love (which is always), this easy recipe has got your back.
FYI – This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
When it comes to homemade dog treats, simple is often best. And it doesn’t get much simpler than this! Beyond simplicity, here are some more reasons this recipe will be one of your favorites:
You only need three ingredients. No long shopping list or complicated steps, just grab a sweet potato, some oats, and peanut butter.
They’re budget-friendly. These treats are made with pantry staples you probably already have on hand, so no extra spending required.
They’re full of good stuff. Each ingredient brings its own health benefits, like fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
They’re easy to customize. Make an ingredient swap for what you have on hand or make cutout treats.
They’re freezer-friendly. Make a big batch, stash some away, and your pup will be set for snack time.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need and a little about each one:
- Peanut butter – Dogs go nuts for it! Adds richness, flavor, healthy fats, and protein.
- Sweet potato – Naturally sweet and loaded with vitamins and fiber. It gives the dough a soft texture and adds yummy flavor.
- Rolled oats – A wholesome base full of fiber and nutrients.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Let’s talk about a few important things to keep in mind when choosing your ingredients.
First and foremost, always check the label on your peanut butter. Do not use any that contains xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs.
You can switch out the peanut butter with almond butter or sunflower seed butter as long as they’re unsweetened and xylitol-free.
No sweet potato on hand? No problem! You can use pumpkin puree, unsweetened applesauce, or mashed banana as a tasty substitute.
Old-fashioned rolled oats are best, but quick cooking oats will also work. Just know that the treats will turn out a little softer and moister. Avoid instant oats or steel-cut oats because they’re not the right texture for this recipe.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these homemade dog treats. You can use any silicone mold but a dog paw print mold gives these treats a fun look.
How to Make 3 Ingredient Dog Treats
These are the steps and some photos of the process for making the treats. I hope they help you make this recipe. You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.
- Bake a large sweet potato. Let it cool, then peel it and mash the flesh. Discard the skin.
- Place a third of the oats in a blender or food processor and blend until it is like flour.
- Place mashed sweet potato, oatmeal, oat flour, and peanut butter in a bowl.
- Mix it with your hands until a dough forms.
- Press the dough into silicone molds. Place the molds on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours.
- Transfer the baked treats to a wire rack to cool.
Recipe Tips
If your dough seems a little dry or crumbly, add a bit more sweet potato, or try a spoonful of plain yogurt or applesauce to help bring it together.
Let the sweet potato cool completely before mixing it into the dough. Hot sweet potato + peanut butter = melty mess.
Note that instead of using molds, you can roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to cut the dough.
Serving Size
How many treats should you give your dog? That depends on their size, age, activity level, and overall diet. A good guideline is that treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories to keep their diet balanced and healthy.
Always start with just one treat to see how your dog reacts to new ingredients. If you’re not sure what amount is best for your pup, ask your vet for guidance.
How to Store the Treats and How Long They Last
Once the treats are completely cool, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.
If you want to make a big batch or just save some for later, pop them in the freezer! They’ll keep well for up to 3 months.
Can people eat these dog treats?
Absolutely! These treats are made with ingredients that are safe for people, too. There’s no added sugar or salt, so they’re a great option if you’re trying to avoid sweet snacks. They’re a bit bland for most human tastes. But if you’re curious, go ahead and try one!
More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Want to make more treats for your dog? Here are some different types of dog treats to make:
- 2 Ingredient Dog Treats
- Apple Oatmeal Dog Treats
- Banana Dog Treats
- Blueberry Dog Treats
- Coconut Dog Treats
- Homemade Frozen Dog Treats
- Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treats
- Liver Dog Treats
- Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats
- Pumpkin Dog Biscuits
Find lots of easy dog treat recipes right here on Spoiled Hounds!
3 Ingredient Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 large Sweet Potato big enough to yield ¾ cup mashed
- 3 cups Rolled Oats
- ½ cup Creamy Natural Peanut Butter
Instructions
- Bake the sweet potato at 400°F for 45 to 60 minutes or until done (you can easily insert a fork into the middle).
- Cool the sweet potato to room temperature.
- Remove and discard sweet potato skin. Mash the flesh.
- Measure ¾ cup of the mashed sweet potato to use in the treats.
- Preheat oven to 250°F.
- Add 2 cups of the rolled oats to a blender or food processor and blend until it is the consistency of flour.
- In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats with the oat flour.
- Add the peanut butter and ¾ cup mashed sweet potato to the oat blend and combine using your hands until a dough forms.
- If you are using a candy mold, simply press the dough into the mold making sure to fill in all the space.
- If you are using cookie cutters, turn the dough out onto a smooth surface. Using your hands, squeeze and combine the ingredients until you have a flat, smooth dough. Flatten evenly with your hands or a rolling pin to about ¼ to ½ inch thickness. Place the cutout pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake the treat at 250°F for 2 hours.
- Transfer baked treats to a wire rack to cool.
Im gonna mke them dor my aweet Bella. Rose she’s gonna love them
Love it. Easy. Healthy and fun!
How long do they last before they go bad?
If stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they should last for 2 to 3 weeks.
Thank you!
These came out great! But you should know that oats are gluten free! They are naturally gluten free but get a coating of flour during processing. You specifically have to buy gluten free oats to make them gluten free. I wanted to pony this out so no one with celiac or gluten sensitivity tries their dog treats and gets sick!
Below you say 7 to 10 days and here you say 2 to 3 weeks… can you clarify?
Sorry about that. It’s 2 to 3 weeks. I edited my other reply so it has the same info.
Can you used Canned sweet potatoes?
Yes, as long as they are plain (without sugar or spices).
These sound great – hoping my new picky pup Skye will love them! I’m making these right now but wondering if I can do less time or leave them as no back because she only likes soft treats?
Yes, you can reduce the baking time for softer treats or not bake them at all. Just be sure to keep them refrigerated for no longer than 5 days. You can freeze them for up to 3 months.
Can they be frozen?
Yes, they can be frozen. They should keep in the freezer for several months.
how long will they store on the shelf in air tight container
They should last from 2 to 3 weeks when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Can I blend all of the oatmeal to make the flour?
You could but it would change the texture of the treats and may not bake up the same way.
Thank you!
Can I please use oat flour
You can substitute 2 of the 3 cups of oats with oat flour – so it would be 2 cups oat flour and 1 cup of oats. That makes it so you don’t have to grind the oats in a blender or food processor to make the oat flour.
These were awesome and easy to make! My son and I made them for fur babies! They’re not too hard for sensitive chewers like one of my dogs has missing teeth and she had no problem eating them. I used all organic ingredients so I know whats inside their treats. This was my first time making a treat for them and this definitely a keeper! I even bought little molds that look like bones and paws.
These sound great for my allergic dog who also has pancreatitis. I am going to try making these with reconstituted powdered peanut butter called Naked PB so the fat content is low. My question, how many servings for the nutritional content, is this for 1 or 16?
Thank you for a great recipe!
The nutrition information is for 1 treat. Let me know how they turn out with the powdered peanut butter.
Can you microwave the sweet potatoes or cook in instant pot instead of baking?
You sure can! Cook the sweet potatoes whichever way is best for you. They just need to be cooked plain and not seasoned.
Could you cook these in a dehydrator? If so how long do you think?
I don’t know if these could be cooked in a dehydrator. See if your dehydrator manual has recommended settings and times for foods like cookies or similar.
Hi there, I was wondering if this was Fahrenheit or Celsius?
It is Fahrenheit.
I’m confused by the mix rolled oats with oat flour. Is it the flour we made PLUS 3 cup rolled oats ?
Need to make these in bulk. Like 2 treats each for about 60-80 dogs.
Would it be possible to give me the measurements for a batch this large ? Hoping to do this within the next few days. Thanks !!!
Yes, it is to mix the ground flour and whole oats – 2 cups ground into flour and 1 cup whole. You can adjust the recipe on the recipe card. Just hover over the servings and move the slider to increase or decrease.
Can pumpkin be used instead of sweet potatoes.
Yes, you can use plain pumpkin puree instead of sweet potatoes.
This looks like a quick and easy recipe. I plan to use carrots instead of the sweet potato because I have about 25 lbs. of raw carrots I want to use and not have them go bad. At a later date, I will try the sweet potato because my boys love them as baked chewy strips and I am sure they will enjoy the sweet potato treats.
I was so happy to find this recipe. My kids and I made them. Our pup refuses to eat them, though my kids love them lol. I gave some to a few other pup owners and they said their dogs didn’t like them either.
I’m sorry your dogs didn’t like the treats. But at least your kids enjoyed them.
My very picky dog couldn’t get enough of these! Just like kids, dogs have very different tastes! 😂
I’m so glad your dog enjoyed the treats! And yes, it is so true how dogs can have different tastes.
I cut the recipe in half and added honey and a little water to make it more moist. My Bichon and Shipoo normally will not eat homemade treats. They love these. I will keep some out for a few days and freeze the rest. Thank you for the recipe.