Listen, when my sweet old Gus started getting picky, I freaked out! I knew all those crazy ingredients listed on commercial dog food bags weren’t doing his tummy any favors. I needed control over exactly what went into his bowl. That’s why I hunt down simple, whole-food recipes, and wow, have I nailed one for you now. Forget watery soft food or mystery crunchies; we are making actual, dry, **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles** right in the air fryer! Seriously, it’s so easy, and the smell when they finish is way better than that dusty shelf stuff. Gus absolutely devours these, and knowing exactly what’s inside makes me feel like the best dog mom ever.
Why You Will Love Making Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
Honestly, I think you’re going to wonder why you didn’t start making these sooner! Switching to homemade treats gives you total peace of mind. Plus, the air fryer makes this whole process incredibly fast. Look how quick these are:
- The prep is done in about 15 minutes. You can’t beat that for dog food!
- The total time, from start to finish, is less than an hour. That means more time for walks and belly rubs.
- Your dog gets real, wholesome ingredients you trust.
Quick Preparation Time for Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
I know we are all busy parents, right? That’s why this recipe is a lifesaver. You spend maybe 15 minutes actually mixing and rolling the dough, and then the air fryer takes over for about 20 minutes. Thirty-five minutes total for a huge batch of **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles**? Yes, please! It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you need a healthy topper fast.
Simple Ingredient List for Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
This is what I love most about this recipe compared to those bags filled with ingredients I can’t even pronounce. We are using just four main things: chicken, pumpkin, oat flour, and an egg. That’s it! Knowing your pup is getting pure chicken and fiber from the pumpkin makes these **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles** so rewarding to make. No weird fillers here!
Essential Ingredients for Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
Pull all your ingredients out before you start mixing; it saves so much time, trust me! We aren’t using a ton of stuff, but every element plays a role in making these kibbles dry and crunchy enough to satisfy your dog’s inner wolf. Keep everything measured out so you don’t overdo the pumpkin!
- 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast (Make sure it’s plain! No salt or seasoning needed.)
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (This MUST be plain canned pumpkin, not that spiced pie filling—that’s full of stuff dogs shouldn’t have!)
- 1/4 cup oat flour (This helps bind it all without being too heavy.)
- 1 large egg (Just one binder to hold your tasty mix together.)
My big tip for building trust and making this truly great dog food is starting with really good chicken. I always use chicken breasts that I boiled myself and shredded finely. If you’re using store-bought rotisserie chicken, make absolutely sure there isn’t any onion, garlic powder, or salt hiding in there. Your dog’s health is everything!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
The pumpkin situation is serious, folks. If you grab the wrong can, your dough will be way too wet, and you’ll end up with steamed mush instead of nice, crisp kibble. Check the label—it should only say pumpkin!
For the oat flour, if you happen to run out, you can substitute it with simple rice flour. It works just as well structurally! If you try regular wheat flour, though, the texture gets a little heavy. You *can* use my recipe for Chicken and Pumpkin Digestive Jerky if you want something less crunchy, but for these air crisped morsels, oat flour is your friend.
And don’t forget, if you need more recipe ideas using these healthy components, I have tons of options, like my Chicken and Pumpkin Digestive Jerky which uses similar stuff but gives you a different texture!
Equipment Needed for Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
Okay, before you even think about mixing anything, let’s make sure your kitchen is ready! This is why I love this recipe so much—it doesn’t require any specialized, expensive pet-food-making gadgets. You probably have everything sitting right in your drawers already. Being prepared means the actual mixing goes super smooth.
You’ll need just a few basic things to get this dough rolled out and baked perfectly. I always lay everything out on the counter because once Gus hears the refrigerator beep, he starts watching me like a hawk!
- A sturdy mixing bowl. You need something deep enough because that thick dough gets heavy when it all comes together. Don’t use your best glass one unless you plan on really scrubbing it later!
- A rolling pin. We need to get this dough nice and flat, right around an eighth of an inch.
- A cutting utensil. You can use a tiny cookie cutter if you want those perfect little shapes, or honestly, just use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter if you’re aiming for speed.
- Your Air Fryer! This is our magic machine that gets the kibbles nice and dry without turning them into charcoal.
That’s really it! Just simple tools for simple, good-for-your-dog food.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
Okay, here is the fun part where we turn that thick, rustic dough into actual ready-to-eat dog food! Since we aren’t baking these slowly like a traditional cookie, we need that preheating step to ensure they crisp up properly. Go ahead and pop your air fryer on to 325°F (160°C). That lower temperature is key; we want to dry them out, not cook them fast like a steak!
Gather your dough and your floured surface. Roll it out thin—and I mean thin! About 1/8 inch is the sweet spot, maybe even a hair thinner if your dog has a tough jaw. If the dough is too thick, they’ll stay soft in the middle, and that’s not what we want for our **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles**.
Once you’ve cut out your little shapes, you’ll layer them into the air fryer basket. Work in batches! If you pile them up, they steam, and we worked too hard for steamed chicken mash. Keep them in a single layer. Then, air crisp them for 15 to 20 minutes total. Remember the flip! Halfway through, you have to open the basket and flip every piece over so both sides get that lovely golden crunch. Don’t forget to check out my recipe for Chicken and Oat Hearty Porridge for Morning Warmth if you prefer something softer for breakfast.
Achieving the Right Texture in Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
This is where you need to use your judgment. The recipe says 15 to 20 minutes, but every air fryer is a little different, right? After the first 15 minutes, pull a few pieces out and let them cool for a second. They should feel totally dry and feel firm and hard when you press them. If they still feel spongy or bendy, toss them back in for another three to five minutes until they are truly ‘crisped.’ Getting that dry texture is what makes these **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles** shelf-stable for a week!
Tips for Success When Making Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
Even with such a simple recipe, a few little tricks can take these from good to absolutely perfect. I’ve definitely learned a few lessons the hard way—like ending up with sticky dough plastered to the air fryer basket! Here are my biggest secrets for making sure batch one of your **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles** is a winner.
First up, the sticking issue. Unless you oil your cutting board and your cutter really well, the dough clings like crazy, especially since pumpkin is naturally moist. I use just a light dusting of oat flour everywhere, but if you find things still sticking when you cut them, try rolling the dough between two sheets of parchment paper instead of directly on the counter. It makes cleanup a breeze!
Also, seriously focus on keeping that thickness uniform. This is my biggest personal tip. If you make some pieces thick and some thin just because you got impatient with the rolling pin, the thin ones will burn before the thick ones even dry out. Take your time and try to make every little square or bone shape the exact same thickness; it makes the 15-to-20-minute crisping time accurate for the whole batch.
Finally, don’t try to cram too many into the air fryer at once. I know you want to maximize the yield of **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles**, but overcrowding equals soft treats. If the hot air can’t circulate completely around every surface of every piece, you end up steaming them slightly. You’ll have to do a few batches, but trust me, a slightly slower process for crispness is better than rushing and having a soft, moldy batch later!
Storage and Make-Ahead Options for Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
So, you’ve made this awesome giant batch of **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles**! Yay! Now, the big question is: how do we keep them crunchy and safe until Gus can inhale them all? Since we purposefully left out all those commercial preservatives, we have to be a little smart about storage, but it’s super easy.
The main thing here is moisture control. Even though we air crisped these until they were dry, leaving them on the counter allows ambient humidity to creep back in, and soft kibble doesn’t last long—we don’t want any fuzzy science experiments happening in the treat jar!
For the short term, you’ll want an airtight container. Put them straight into the fridge as soon as they are completely cool. That refrigeration keeps them firm and tasting fresh for about a week. That’s perfect for my regular feeding schedule, but if you’re a big batch baker like me, you need the freezer!
If you want to make these **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles** last longer—say, for a vacation or just so you don’t have to make them every week—pop them into freezer-safe bags or containers. You can realistically keep them frozen solid for up to two months. I usually portion mine out into Ziploc bags by week before freezing. When you pull a bag out, just let it thaw on the counter for an hour, and they’re ready to go!
If you are looking for another recipe that’s great for meal prepping and freezing, you should absolutely check out my recipe for Turkey and Pumpkin Lean Jerky. It holds up beautifully in the freezer too!
Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
I get so many messages asking clarifying questions once people start making these, which is great! It means you care about making high-quality **dog food** for your pup. Here are a few things I hear all the time about turning this simple mix into successful **air fryer pet treat** batches.
Can I bake Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles instead of air frying?
Yes, you absolutely can! If you don’t have an air fryer, don’t worry. Traditional baking works just fine, though it takes longer because the heat isn’t as direct. You’ll want to bake them low and slow. Pop your cookie-sheet-laid-out kibbles into an oven preheated to about 300°F (150°C). You’ll need to bake them for closer to 45 to 60 minutes, flipping regularly, until they feel completely firm and dry through and through. Keep an eye on them after the 40-minute mark!
How small should the pieces be for Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles?
That’s the million-dollar question when making your own kibble! We talk about ‘kibble-sized,’ but that means different things for a tiny Chihuahua versus a big Labrador, right? For smaller dogs, I recommend cutting them down to the size of a pea or maybe 1/4 inch square. For medium to large dogs, you can go up to about a 1/2 inch square, or even stick to the size of a small shirt button. The main rule is to keep all your pieces roughly the same size so they all finish crisping at the exact same time. If you want to learn more about why we focus on healthy ingredients like this, you can check out my About Page!
If you want to see what other folks are asking about ingredient safety and quality, you can always check out my FAQ section on the About Page!
Estimated Nutritional Information for Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
Now, I have to give you a little disclaimer right off the bat, okay? Keeping track of exact nutrition in homemade pet food is tricky business! These numbers are my best, most educated guess based on the raw ingredients I use and how much this recipe yields—about two cups total. You should really think of this as a fantastic, wholesome addition or topper, not necessarily a complete, science-backed meal replacement unless you’re a vet nutritionist!
Because we are using lean chicken and fiber-rich pumpkin, I’m always thrilled with the macros we get out of this treat. It’s low in fat and high in the good stuff your active dog needs. I always keep these numbers handy, especially since Gus gets a specific amount every day because of his sensitive tummy.
Here is the breakdown according to the basic calculations for one serving size (which we figure is about 1/4 cup worth of the finished, dry product):
- Calories: 180
- Protein: 18g (That’s fantastic!)
- Fat: 5g (Low fat, just like we wanted.)
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
Notice that the fat is quite low, which is why this recipe is perfect if you’re trying to manage your dog’s weight or just keep mealtime light. We focused on lean protein with that shredded chicken breast. It’s so much better than the mystery fats sometimes found in commercial stuff.
If you are watching sodium levels closely, you’ll be happy to see this measured very low at only 50mg per serving. If you’re interested in how you can balance out protein with greens, you might want to check out my Chicken and Cabbage Weight Care Light Nutrition recipe—it uses similar principles but swaps the pumpkin for cabbage for an even lower carb count!
Share Your Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles Creations
I just love hearing about your success stories! Seriously, seeing your pup happily crunching on something you made with your own two hands makes all my kitchen experiments worth it. Please take a minute to rate this recipe down below if it worked for you and your dog.
Did your dog give you the happy tail wags? Drop a comment and tell me how your first batch of **Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles** turned out! If you snapped a picture of your happy eater, you can share it with me over on the Contact Page. Happy crunching!
Print
Homemade Chicken and Pumpkin Air Crisped Kibbles
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: Approximately 2 cups 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Simple recipe for making dry dog food kibble using chicken and pumpkin in an air fryer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (160°C).
- In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken, pumpkin puree, oat flour, and egg. Mix until a stiff dough forms.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch thickness.
- Use a small cookie cutter or knife to cut the dough into small, kibble-sized pieces.
- Place the pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary.
- Air crisp for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the kibbles are dry and firm.
- Remove and let cool completely before storing.
Notes
- Store the finished kibble in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- For longer storage, you can freeze the kibbles for up to two months.
- Adjust cooking time based on your air fryer model to achieve desired crispness.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Pet Food
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 60
Keywords: dog food, homemade kibble, chicken, pumpkin, air fryer, pet treat