When it comes to treating or meal-prepping for our dogs, keeping things simple, clean, and nutritious is the most important! Did you know that cooking for your dog doesn’t mean you need to prepare entirely separate meals? This healthy poached chicken recipe is actually a common Cantonese dish called 白切鸡 (bai qie ji) and is perfect for humans too with a special sauce! (More info below)
Poaching a whole chicken is one of the most efficient, nutrient-dense ways to prepare high-quality protein. There are no toxic seasonings like onions, garlic, and excessive salt so you can share this safely with your pup. All you’ll need is a large pot! Here’s the one I used but any one that fits your chicken will work.
Clean, Whole Ingredients
- 1 Whole Fresh Chicken: Choose antibiotic free, free-range chicken for the best quality. Take note of the weight for later!
- Filtered Water: Enough to fully submerge the chicken in your pot.
A Note on Cooked Bones: While we are cooking a whole chicken, never feed your dog cooked chicken bones. Cooked bones become brittle and can easily splinter, posing a severe choking hazard or risk of internal perforation. Always shred the meat off the bone before serving it to your pup.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Boil Water and Submerge
Boil enough water to fully submerge the chicken. Once boiled, place your whole chicken inside.. but don’t leave yet!
2. Turn Over
Flip the chicken once you see the water first start to boil again, removing any cold water from the inner cavity of the chicken.
3. Low simmer
Leave on a very low simmer for 10 min per pound of chicken (ex: 45 minutes for a 4.5lb chicken).
4. The Ice Water Bath
Once fully cooked through, immediately transfer the whole chicken from the hot pot into a large bowl filled with ice water. This rapid cooling technique instantly stops the cooking process, preventing the chicken from overcooking and becoming dry.
5. Shred and Serve
Once cooled, carefully separate the meat from the skin and bones. Shred the chicken into appropriate bite-sized portions for your dog’s size and serve as treats, a topper or the protein for a homecooked dog meal.
How to Serve the Poached Chicken
- The Meat: Serve a small portion of the shredded chicken as a high-value training treat or as a protein-rich topper over their regular kibble.
- The Broth: Don’t let the leftover cooking water go to waste! The remaining liquid is a clean chicken broth. Pour a small amount over your dog’s food to add hydration, or freeze it into silicone molds for a refreshing frozen treat on warm days. You can also use it for other human recipes just as a stock base.
- For the Humans: Since this chicken is poached entirely unseasoned, portion out what you need for your dog, then shred the rest for yourself. Add your own salt, pepper, or favorite sauces to easily transform it into chicken salad, tacos, or a healthy addition to a grain bowl. For my favorite Cantonese style dipping sauce called 姜葱蓉 (Jiang Cong Rong):
- Ingredients:
- Ginger: 2 tbsp, very finely grated
- Scallions (Green Onions): 3-4 stalks, finely chopped
- Oil: 3 tbsp oil (I prefer olive oil)
- Salt: 1/2 tsp or to taste
- Directions
- Put ginger and scallions in a bowl.
- Heat the oil to just simmer and pour over the ginger and scallions. It should sizzle and smell great!
- Mix and add salt to taste.
- Ingredients:
If you try this recipe and share on social media, please tag me (@chiffonthemaltipoo) on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok because I’d love to see!
Want to check out more dog friendly recipes?
– 5 Ingredient Dog Birthday Cake
– Dog Friendly Strawberry Popsicles
– Dehydrated Fruit Snacks for Dogs
– One Pot Dog Food Recipe
Always consult with your veterinarian before making significant changes to your dog’s diet, especially if they have underlying health conditions or specific dietary requirements.
