Store-bought sweet potato chews can cost a small fortune per bag, yet the homemade version needs exactly one ingredient and a slow oven. These sweet potato dog treats come two ways: chewy oven-dried strips, and soft two-ingredient cookies made with oats. You’ll learn how to slice and dry the chews for the texture your dog likes, whether to cook before dehydrating, how many strips fit into a day, and why homemade is the smarter route.
Chews: 1 ingredient, 10 minutes prep, 2½–3 hours at 250°F (120°C) • Cookies: 2 ingredients, 20–25 minutes at 350°F (175°C) • Yield: about 25 chews per large sweet potato, about 28 cookies • Storage: fridge 2–3 weeks, freezer 3 months
One strip has roughly 10 calories, which makes it a light, long-lasting chew.
Table of Contents
Why Make Your Own Sweet Potato Chews?
Plain, cooked sweet potato is a safe snack for most dogs. Commercial dried chews have a more mixed record: the FDA’s investigation into jerky pet treats included sweet potato treats among the illness complaints it received. Making them at home means you know exactly where the sweet potato came from and that nothing else was added.
It’s also cheap. One large sweet potato turns into a couple dozen chews for the price of a single treat at the pet store.
Recipe 1: Oven-Dried Sweet Potato Chews
You’ll need: 1 large sweet potato (about 300 g), scrubbed well. That’s the whole list.
Oven-Dried Sweet Potato Chews for Dogs
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Set a wire rack on a baking sheet or line it with parchment.
- Peel the sweet potato if you like. Peeled strips are easier on small or sensitive dogs.
- Slice lengthwise into even strips about 1/4 inch thick.
- Arrange in a single layer with space between the strips.
- Bake 2 1/2 to 3 hours, flipping halfway, until dry on the surface and bendable without feeling wet inside.
- Cool completely on the rack.
Notes
Chewy or Crispy? Getting the Texture Right
- Chewy, leathery strips: slice ¼ inch thick and stop baking when they bend. Best for most dogs.
- Crispy chips: slice ⅛ inch thick and bake a little longer until they snap. Good for small dogs, since they break into smaller pieces.
- Too hard? Strips baked until brittle can be tough on teeth. Pull them sooner next batch.
Using a dehydrator? A dehydrator runs at a lower temperature than an oven, so the strips dry out without really cooking through. Many owners steam the slices for 5–7 minutes first, which softens the starch and makes the finished chew easier to digest. Then dehydrate until leathery, usually 6–8 hours depending on the machine.
Recipe 2: Two-Ingredient Sweet Potato Cookies
Two-Ingredient Sweet Potato Dog Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a sheet with parchment.
- Mix the sweet potato and oat flour into a soft dough. Add a spoonful more oats if it is sticky.
- Scoop tablespoon-size mounds, flatten each with the bottom of a glass and bake 20 to 25 minutes until firm.
Notes
No egg needed: the starchy sweet potato holds everything together. For more baking ideas with a similar orange base, see our pumpkin dog treats.
How Many Sweet Potato Dog Treats Per Day?
Drying removes water, not calories. A large sweet potato has about 260 calories based on USDA FoodData Central values, so each of its 25 or so strips carries roughly 10. Each cookie comes to about 20 (the batch totals around 560).
The WSAVA recommends keeping treats under about 10% of daily calories. Fiber is the other limit, since too much can loosen stool. A sensible daily ceiling for the chews:
| Dog Size | Weight | Chews Per Day | Approx. Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | Under 10 lb | 1–2 small pieces | 10–20 kcal |
| Small | 10–25 lb | 2–3 strips | 20–30 kcal |
| Medium | 25–50 lb | 3–5 strips | 30–50 kcal |
| Large | 50–90 lb | 5–8 strips | 50–80 kcal |
| Giant | 90+ lb | Up to 10 strips | ~100 kcal |
For healthy adult dogs. Introduce gradually, and ask your vet first if your dog is diabetic or overweight, since sweet potato is starchy.
Storage
Homemade chews contain no preservatives, so keep them cold. Store cooled chews and cookies in a sealed container in the fridge for 2–3 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months. Throw out any piece that turns soft, sticky or moldy.
Keep it plain. Skip butter, brown sugar, cinnamon sugar and marshmallows, and never use holiday sweet potato dishes or pie, which can contain nutmeg or xylitol. If your dog eats a store-bought dried treat and starts drinking and urinating much more than usual, seems lethargic or vomits, stop the treats and call your vet. Our sweet potato guide covers these warning signs in more detail.
Sweet Potato Treats for Dogs: Quick Serving Guide
Do
- Slice strips evenly
- Stop baking when they bend
- Store chews in the fridge
- Introduce them gradually
Don't
- Butter, brown sugar or marshmallows
- Sweet potato pie or casserole
- Brittle, rock-hard chews
- Ignore changes in thirst
Every dog is different. Check with your veterinarian before adding new treats if your dog has diabetes, kidney disease or another health condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dried sweet potato treats safe for dogs?
Homemade ones made from plain sweet potato are a safe choice for most dogs. With store-bought chews, choose brands that are transparent about where they source and make their products, and watch your dog for changes in thirst or energy.
Do you need to cook sweet potato before dehydrating?
In a 250°F oven, the long bake cooks the slices as they dry. In a lower-temperature dehydrator, briefly steaming the slices first makes the chews easier to digest.
Are yams the same as sweet potatoes for dogs?
In most US supermarkets, the orange “yams” are actually a type of sweet potato. True yams are a different plant and are rarely sold in regular stores. Either way, skip canned yams packed in syrup.
Can dogs have sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar?
It’s best not to. The added fat and sugar can upset a dog’s stomach, and rich, fatty foods are a known pancreatitis trigger. Set aside a plain piece before you season the rest.
Can I feed my dog sweet potato every day?
A few chews or a small spoonful a day is fine for many healthy dogs if it fits their treat allowance. Keep the amount consistent and watch their stool.
Want more ideas? See the full collection of homemade dog treat recipes.
The Bottom Line
Homemade sweet potato dog treats are about as simple and wholesome as treats get: one sweet potato, a low oven and a bit of patience. Slice evenly, stop when the strips bend, keep them in the fridge, and hand them out in small numbers. Browse more recipes in our Homemade Treats collection. This article is general information, not veterinary advice; see our Veterinary Disclaimer.
References & Sources
Written by CPD Nutrition Desk using the sources below. We are not affiliated with these organizations, and this guide is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — FDA's investigation into jerky pet treats
- WSAVA — WSAVA guidetotreats dogs 251107