Can Dogs Eat Meatballs? Plus 5 Recipes!

Are Meatballs Bad for Dogs? 

Some people believe that meatballs are bad for dogs because they can be high in fat and sodium. And you might ask yourself, “Can dogs eat meatballs?”

Meatballs are not bad for dogs. As long as you provide your dog with a balanced diet, you can include meatballs in their meal plan. Just avoid adding any salt or spices to the meatball mix, and only give them a small portion size.

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to add some protein to your dog’s diet, meatballs are a great option! Make sure that you consider your dog’s individual nutritional needs and adjust the recipe as needed. 

So if you have ever wondered, “Are meatballs bad for dogs?”, you have the answer.

Meatballs on plate with rice and cute dog

Can Dogs Eat Meatballs?

Yes. You can feed dogs meatballs. However, you should avoid feeding them doggy meatballs that are made with onions or garlic. These ingredients can be toxic to dogs. You can also give your dog meatball treats as a special reward. 

You may feed your dog homemade meatballs without any added sauces if they’re made with plain ground beef or chicken breast (or other lean meats). 

You could also try adding some vegetables like carrots and peas into them too. However, keep an eye out while cooking because these veggies can get mushy when cooked too much.

Also, make sure that the meatballs are cooked thoroughly and do not contain any harmful ingredients. Finally, you can give your dog meatball treats as a special reward.

5 Dog Meatball Recipes for You To Try at Home

Are you wondering how to make meatball for dogs? Look no further because we have five recipes for you to try at home. From the classic beef meatball to an exotic turkey and lamb mix.

So why not test out a few different recipes and see which one your pup prefers? 

The best part about these dog meatball recipes is that you can make them with whatever ground meat your dog prefers, whether beef, turkey, pork, lamb, or chicken. 

And if you don’t have any of the ingredients on hand, never fear – most are pantry staples! So get cooking and give your furry friend a delicious, nutritious meal they’ll love.

No-Frills Doggy Meatballs Recipe

Time: 20 minutes

Serving size: Approximately 12 meatballs

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time:  15-15 minutes

Nutritional Facts/Info Per Serving/in Total

  • Calories: 190
  • Fat: 0.4 oz (12 g)
  • Protein: 0.5 oz (13 g)
  • Sodium: 90 mg
  • Potassium: 330 mg

Ingredients

  • ½ pound ground beef
  • ¼ cup dry bread crumbs
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder in a large bowl. 
  3. Roll mixture into small meatballs (about the size of a teaspoon). 
  4. Place on a baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven.

Turkey Meatballs for Dogs Recipe

Time: 25-30 minutes

Serving size: Makes about 24 small meatballs

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ Ib (227 g) ground turkey
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup dry bread crumbs

Instructions

  1. Mix together ground turkey, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs until thoroughly combined in a large bowl.
  2. Shape into small balls about the size of tablespoons or teaspoons, depending on your dog’s size. Bake at 350° F (175°C) for 25 to 30 minutes or fry them up in some olive oil if you prefer! 

Tip: Store in the fridge and heat them when you’re ready to serve. And that’s how simple it is to prepare these dog-treat meatballs.

Turkey Meatballs

Meatballs for Dogs Recipe To Gain Weight

Time: 15-20 minutes

Serving size: 20 meatballs

Prep time: 15  minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Nutritional Facts/Info per serving/in total:

  • Calories: 190
  • Fat: 0.39 oz (11 g)
  • Carbs: 0.46oz  (13 g)
  • Protein: 0.42 oz (12 g)

Ingredients

  • 64 oz (4 lbs) of Lean Ground Beef
  • 8 oz (½ lbs) of Bacon
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup of oatmeal, old fashioned or quick-cooking
  • 1.5 cups of cream style corn
  • Half a cup of Peanut Butter

Instructions 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375° F( 187.5° C).
  2. Chop bacon into small pieces and fry in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels, saving the drippings
  3. Mix eggs, oatmeal, cream style corn, and peanut butter together in a large bowl
  4. Gently mix bacon pieces with the rest of the ingredients. Be careful not to over-mix, which can result in tough meatballs
  5. Shape into rough tablespoon-sized balls and place on a baking sheet. The size of the balls will determine how long they need to bake for. A rough guideline is 8-12 minutes per pound but check after eight minutes. You want the internal temperature to be around 165 ° F (84.5 ° C).
  6. Serve and watch your pup gobble it down!

Protein-Rich Meatballs Recipe for Dogs

Time: 30 minutes

Serving size: 48 meatballs

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Nutritional Facts/Info Per Serving/in Total

  • Calories: 190
  • Carbohydrates: 15g
  • Protein: 20.0g
  • Fat: 11.0g

Ingredients

  • 16 oz (1 lb) lean ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup water
  •  2 eggs 
  •  1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  •  4 tbsp calcium carbonate
  •  1/2 cup milk

Instructions 

  1. Combine ground beef of choice, water, eggs, and flour in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil to help with cleaning up.
  3. Roll about 1 tbsp of the meat mixture in your palms to form a ball, then roll in calcium carbonate.
  4. Place the meatballs on a prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining mixture, leaving about 1 in. (2.5 cm) in between each meatball. You should end up with about 48 meatballs.
  5.  Bake in a preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes or until slightly browned and puffed. The mixture will need to be rolled in calcium carbonate before baking each time.
  6. Let meatballs cool completely before serving. Store extras in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze them for later use. 

Homemade Doggy Meatball Subs Recipe

Time: 20-30 minutes

Serving size: 20 meatballs

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 80 oz (5 lbs) ground beef (preferably organic)
  • 16 oz (1 lb) Italian sausage (preferably organic, skinless)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (preferably whole grain) 5 to 6 slices white or wheat bread (or a bag of your dog’s favorite commercial brand)
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, based on preference)
  • 2 eggs (preferably organic)
  • 1 tsp salt (you can reduce the amount if your dog is on a low sodium diet)
  • 1 tsp pepper (you can reduce the amount if your dog is on a low sodium diet)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic (fresh or jarred)
  • 2 tbsp parsley (fresh or dried)

It’s important to use the amount of garlic and parsley specified in this recipe to decrease the chance of bloat. Additionally, you can add 1/2 cup of onion instead of garlic and parsley.

Instructions 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180°C).
  2. Combine the ground beef and Italian sausage in a large bowl and mix well with your hands.
  3. Add water and breadcrumbs and mix well.
  4. Add in the oregano, red pepper flakes (if you are using them), eggs, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
  5. Add in the Parmesan cheese, garlic, and parsley and mix until everything is evenly distributed throughout the meat.
  6. When the oven is preheated, place a wire rack on a baking sheet, spray it with nonstick cooking spray, or brush it with oil for easy cleanup.
  7. Form the meat mixture into balls (based on whether or not your dog is eating one meatball or two) and place them on the wire rack.
  8. Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the meatballs are firm and cooked through.
  9. Allow to cool before serving to your dog.  

These five recipes are a great place to start, but feel free to get creative and make your own variations. Your pup will love them.

Can Dogs Eat Meatballs With Tomato Sauce?

Dogs cannot eat dog meatball treats with tomato sauce. Tomato Sauce has onion and garlic in it, which are toxic to dogs. You should stay away from feeding your dog meat or any other food that has tomato sauce in it.

Garlic contains allyl methyl sulfide, which is toxic to dogs. In addition, when dogs ingest garlic, it can cause damage to their red blood cells.

This can lead to anemia, which is a lack of red blood cells. Garlic can also cause gastrointestinal problems in dogs, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Onion contains thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs. When dogs ingest onion, thiosulfate can cause damage to the red blood cells of their body. Read our article and find out if dogs can eat avocado.

If you’re looking for a tasty treat that your dog can enjoy, try giving them some cooked chicken or beef instead. You can also find many commercial dog foods that contain no onion or garlic. Ask your veterinarian for suggestions if you’re unsure what food is best for your dog. Thank you for reading.

Can Dogs Eat Spaghetti and Meatballs

If you have ever wondered, “ can dogs eat spaghetti and meatballs?” the answer is yes but in moderation. It is imperative to never feed dogs any spaghetti with tomato sauce as it contains onion powder which can be toxic to dogs.

Dogs are omnivores, so they can eat pretty much anything that humans can eat but in moderation. 

Although there are some foods that a dog should not consume at all, such as onions and garlic, which contain sulfites or thiosulfates, respectively, which affect the red blood cells causing anemia if ingested by your pet pooch.

So spaghetti and meatballs are generally okay for dogs to eat but make sure there is no tomato sauce added to the dish. As a general rule of thumb, always consult with your veterinarian about what foods are safe for your specific dog. Thanks for reading!

To prepare this dish for your dog, you can simply boil some spaghetti noodles in water until they are soft and add a little bit of butter or olive oil.

You should cook the meatballs well before feeding them to your dog so that he doesn’t get sick from undercooked beef, which may contain harmful bacteria such as E Coli O157: Hg (Escherichia coli). 

If possible, use ground turkey instead because it is much leaner than ground beef and less expensive too! When cooking the meatballs, make sure not to season with salt or any other seasoning; dogs don’t need these extra flavors in their food anyway. 

Once everything is ready, just serve up some delicious pasta goodness without all those pesky carbs – just kidding!

If you’re looking for a new recipe to try out on your pup, how about making some homemade spaghetti and meatballs? Dogs are omnivores and can digest most things that humans can, so this meal is generally okay for them to eat. 

However, it’s important to avoid feeding them any spaghetti with tomato sauce as onions – common in many Italian dishes – can be toxic to dogs. As always, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions about what’s safe for your pup to eat.

Pug dog eating a meatball

Our Final Word

So can dogs eat meatballs? Yes, but it is important to make sure that meatballs for dogs have no onions or garlic in them. If your dog does not like the taste of meatballs, you can try feeding him a piece of chicken instead. This will be much healthier for his overall health and well-being! 

Plus, they might even enjoy it more than just plain old spaghetti noodles…but then again, maybe not! 

We hope this article has helped answer any questions about whether or not your dog can have some meatballs. Thank you for reading!

Groomers' Land