Easy 3 Ingredient Kong Stuffing Recipe
When I’m preparing a trip and can’t take both dogs for me, I pre-fill Kongs and put them in the freezer to make it easier for Dog Dad, or a dog sitter, to care for them.
That way, the person watching the dogs can quickly grab one out of the freezer to help lure them into their crates.
While I occasionally buy pre-made stuff, I almost always use homemade Kong stuffing because it’s cheaper and more nutritious.
Sometimes I put real effort into stuffing the Kongs and get creative.
But sometimes I just need to fill them with something super quick.
In those cases, I use this super easy Kong recipe.
I use only 3 ingredients and just use what I have laying around (that is safe for the dogs to eat) at the moment.
First, I grab some kind of dog treat to use as a base.
These treats are typically made in the USA and include only high-quality ingredients.
Sometimes, I even use dry dog food (kibble) because, after all, the timing and amount of food in the Kong means it typically serves as a meal replacement.
On days the dogs get one or more Kongs, I only give them a dab of food at actual mealtime to make sure they don’t gain weight.
Then I use something to stick the treats together inside the Kong to hold the them in place and make them more challenging to get out.
This is usually plain yogurt.
Finally, I add a bit of pumpkin to the concoction.
If the mixture is a little runny, then I add pumpkin powder to soak up some of the liquid.
If the mixture is too stiff and sticky to easily fill the Kong, I add a bit of pureed pumpkin.
If the mixture is still not the right consistency, I add a little bit of water to make it runnier or a little more pumpkin powder to soak up the excess liquid.
Instructions for the Quick and Easy Kong Stuffing
Kong stuffing ingredients:
- 8 oz bag of firm but moist and crumbly dog treats
- 6 oz. container of plain goat yogurt
- 1-3 tbs. Sweet potato and cranberry powder (Firm Up! Pumpkin + Cranberry) from Diggin Your Dog.
- Water as needed
Note: you can substitute canned pumpkin – make sure you don’t accidentally get the kind for pie.
Making the Kong stuffing:
If the dog treats are smaller than pea sized (small enough to pass through the opening in the Kong), you can use them as-is right out of the bag.
If not, put the dog treats into a food processor and grind them up into smaller pieces or a grainy powder.
Add the container of yogurt to the treats and mix until most of the “treat meal” is moist.
Add the sweet potato and cranberry powder.
The mixture may be the correct consistency at this point but if it’s too dry, add more water until the mixture forms a paste that is on the slightly runny side.
Note: If you use pumpkin puree instead of the powder, you may not need to add as much water… or any.
Filling the Kong
To cut down on the mess, and make the Kongs easier to fill, I use an icing bag with.
The bags come with no hole in the end so that you can fill the bag without the mixture leaking out.
Use a spoon to fill the icing bag. You may need to “stab” at it with a spoon inside the bag to remove air bubbles and make more room.
Don’t fill the icing bag to the top because you will need to fold the top over a couple times so the mixture only comes out the end you want it to.
Once the bag is full, cut the tip of the bag off so that it is not larger than the opening in the Kong but large enough to let the food/treat chunks to pass through (this is why you ground them up in the food processor).
Then insert the end of the bag into the Kong opening and squeeze until the Kong is filled to the desired level.
If you still have some of the mixture left over, and still have Kongs to fill, you can fill the icing bag again.
However, because you already cut the end off, you will want to use a binder clip or rubber band to hold it closed while filling the bag.
If you have stuffing left over you can put it into the icing bag, rubber band both ends so it doesn’t leak, and throw it in the freezer for next time.
The final step
While you can give one of the stuffed Kongs to your dog immediately, the filling will be so soft that it may leak out and it won’t take your dog to finish it.
Instead, make throw the filled Kongs into the freezer until you are ready to use them.
Once the filling is frozen, it won’t leak out and it will occupy your dog for a longer period of time.
Final Thoughts
I prefer to use homemade Kong stuffing if I can.
It really doesn’t take much more time than using commercially produced Kong stuffing and making it myself allows me to control the calories and nutrition value.
The whole Kong filling process outlined in this article from beginning to end, including cleanup, took me 15 to 20 minutes.
I have several Kongs, and other treat toys I can stuff, so I only have to fill them 2-3 times a month and keep them in the freezer until they are ready to use.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Jessica. I’ve been studying the Dachshund breed since 2007, owned 3 of my own, and shared in the lives of thousands of others through their owner’s stories. When I’m not sharing what I know on this blog, you can find me hiking, camping, and traveling with my adventurous wiener dogs.
Good article … I need to “step up” when it comes to filling Sparkles kong obviously. Can’t wait to see her reaction when I give her something a little more special than the norm! Thanks!
I used to buy the Kong brand stuffing but then I looked at the ingredients and they were a little iffy. Then I used straight peanut butter for a long time but found that was too many calories. Although I admire pretty, homemade dog treats I never make them. Kong stuffing is a way for me to get creative that way while putting in as little effort at possible 🙂
This is awesome. I might try it! I often put plain yogurt in the kongs and freeze them. That is nice in summer.
I used to put just one ingredient at a time in the Kongs but I like the idea of “surprise tasty morsels” so I try to mix a few things together for the stuffing.
Great suggestion. I love quick and easy. I’ll have to make some frozen Kong treats for Kilo. They are good for keeping him happy and busy. I just recommended them to Aria for her new family member Beau (rescue puppy 6 mos old and getting used to crate and separation). XS
Gretel used to have SO MUCH separation anxiety. She totally busted up a plastic kennel once and broke two mails on a metal one and bled everywhere. Giving her the Kong when we leave totally solved the problem! It may not work for every dog but I highly suggest trying that method. I hope it works out for Beau.
We’ve been getting a lot of fruit and yogurt mix Kongs with a few tiny treats tossed in. Your recipe sounds pretty good, though!
I’m really lazy when it comes to Kong stuffing too and I’ll just put ground beef or raw food or canned food in it. Someone declines to eat vegetables.
Oh, Mr. N. you picky little devil you 🙂
That sounds like a really yummy treat! I hope that you and Gretel have a great time on your trip. You have a great plan for taking care of the boys while you are away. 🙂
Thanks. We were supposed to leave for the trip tonight but plans changed last minute and we are going to leave in the morning instead. I like to make it real easy for hubby to take care of Chester but he always goes above and beyond for our little old man 🙂
This post has really inspired me to get some kong stuffing recipes happening! It’s Spring here and as the weather is warming up I know my dogs would LOVE the frozen stuffing you made here. My two are really fast eaters so anything I can do to slow them down a bit is also a bonus 🙂
I’ve heard of some people putting their dog’s whole meal in a Kong to slow them down. Chester and Gretel wouldn’t stand for that – that food must be in a dish or it’s not a meal 🙂 Frozen Kongs are definitely great when the weather is warm.
I’ll have to try this recipe! I’ve heard some good things about Lindy & Company.
We need to share this with Grandma Faye because her dog Bandit loves to eat peanut butter from his Kong.
totally pawesome recipe- we’re going to try dis over da weekend!
I absolutely LOVE Kong toys that can be stuffed w/ all kinds of goodies – they have saved me & my dogs many times! A stuffed Kong always gets them to focus. I don’t usually use yogurt, but I know they really like it so I’m going to add that ingredient. I normally put pieces of their favorite treats in the bottom of the kong, then on top of that I add peanut butter mixed w/ something like sweet potato, pumpkin, or mashed banana. Stuffed Kongs are a serious crowd pleaser in our house!
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Goat yogurt is easier to digest than cow if that matters to you. I only know that because I had a milk allergy when I was a kid so my Mom had to give me goats milk and yogurt. Taste-wise, I think dogs like any yogurt though.
Thanks for sharing this!
Quick and simple! I like it! I had to use a Kong for Cairo’s separation anxiety as well! Now I stuff them for all 4 to keep them busy while I’m working during the day. Thanks for sharing!
I should totally try this! I give Rooney a Kong every day and I think he would appreciate a creative recipe!
So the Kong’s don’t show any wear from being frozen and re-frozen? I’d love to get a set and leave them in the freezer for the work week!!
No, KONGs, and other toys made of similar rubber, are really tough. I’ve had a couple of the toys for years. As with any chew toy though, your experience may vary depending on how tough of a chewer your dog is though. Dachshunds can be voracious chewers but Chester and Gretel spend more time trying to lick the stuff out of the treat toy rather than chomping on it (although Gretel does have a system for getting the stuff out that involves chewing).