These Frozen Stuffed Bell Pepper Dog Treats are a perfect snack for your pup, particularly on hot summer days! We make these often for Magnus as he loves ice cubes (if you follow us on IG then you know what I mean! 😂). A frozen stuffed pepper treat will keep him busy while he works at getting the center licked and chewed. The combo of the yogurt, veggies and ground beef make it a satisfying treat.
We are super passionate about making our own treats. While you can find pup-cups or frozen pup treats in most grocery and pet stores, most still contain fillers or preservatives. With making your own frozen dog treats, you control what they are ingesting which is always a good thing. These treats are simple to make with few ingredients. See below for ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients for Frozen Stuffed Pepper Dog Treats
Sweet Mini-Bell Peppers – about 8-10 sweet mini-bell peppers – any color (green, red, yellow or orange) as long they are sweet bell peppers and not hot or spicy peppers. There are different size mini bell peppers – who knew! If we can find them, we use the medium size mini-bell peppers since our dogs are Great Danes.
Greek Yogurt – 1 cup plain, no sugar-added greek yogurt.
Ground Beef – 1/2 lb. extra lean ground beef.
Carrots – about 2 finely chopped carrots to make about half of a cup.
Spinach – 1 cup baby spinach or regular spinach with leaves torn into pieces.
How to Make Frozen Stuffed Bell Pepper Dog Treats
Begin by preparing the peppers – Cut the tops off and remove all of the seeds and membranes. Be careful not to tear the peppers as you want them to be able to hold the filling.
Blanch the Peppers – Bring a large pot filled with water to a boil. Add the peppers and blanch cook them for 2 minutes. Remove the peppers from the water and place in a bowl of ice and cold water to stop the cooking process so that your peppers are slightly cooked but not mushy.
Cook the meat – Add the ground beef to a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes or until ground beef is thoroughly cooked through. Break apart the beef as it cooks so there are not big clumps. Drain and cool.
Steam the veggies – in a steamer pot or in a pot with about 2 inches of water, add the minced carrot and boil for about 2-3 minutes or until carrot is just tender. During last minute of cooking add the spinach. Drain and cool.
Combine the filling – in a medium mixing bowl, add the yogurt, cooked ground beef, carrots and spinach. Stir until combined.
Stuff the peppers and freeze – Once the peppers and filling has cooled, gently stuffed the peppers with the filling and place on pan or in a freezer safe container and place in the freezer. I place my stuffed pepper treats upright in a glass container, and then place in the freezer. Within a few hours your Stuffed Pepper Dog Treats should frozen and ready to enjoy by your furry friend!
Storage
Store frozen stuffed pepper treats in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months. Once mine have frozen upright, I will store them in a reusable ziplock bag in the freezer.
Can dogs eat bell peppers?
Sweet bell peppers can be eaten safely by your dog either raw or cooked. The outer skin of the pepper can be difficult for your dog to chew and digest which is why I like to slightly cook the peppers first before stuffing.
Hot or spicy varieties should not be given to dogs so it is important to ensure the peppers you are bell peppers not hot.
As with any new food always check with your veterinarian first.
Nutritional Benefits of Sweet Peppers
Peppers are full of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A,B, C, and E which aid in the immune system, their vision, help support the health of their skin and coat, amongst other nutritional benefits for your pup.
For more information and reference – American Kennel Club
Other Dog Treat Recipes You Might Like
Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipe with Flaxseed
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef, lean
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, plain no added sugar
- ½ cup carrot, chopped fine
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 8-10 mini sweet bell peppers
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the peppers – Cut the tops off and remove all of the seeds and membranes. Be careful not to tear the peppers as you want them to be able to hold the filling.
- Blanch the Peppers – Bring a large pot filled with water to a boil. Add the peppers and blanch cook them for 2 minutes. Remove the peppers from the water and place in a bowl of ice and cold water to stop the cooking process so that your peppers are slightly cooked but not mushy.
- Cook the meat – Add the ground beef to a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes or until ground beef is thoroughly cooked through. Break apart the beef as it cooks so there are not big clumps. Drain and cool.
- Steam the veggies – in a steamer pot or in a pot with about 2 inches of water, add the minced carrot and boil for about 2-3 minutes or until carrot is just tender. During last minute of cooking add the spinach. Drain and cool.
- Combine the filling – in a medium mixing bowl, add the yogurt, cooked ground beef, carrots and spinach. Stir until combined.
- Stuff the peppers and freeze – Once the peppers and filling has cooled, gently stuffed the peppers with the filling and place on a pan or in a freezer safe container and place in the freezer. I place my stuffed pepper treats upright in a glass container, and then place in the freezer. Within a few hours your Stuffed Pepper Dog Treats should frozen and ready to enjoy by your furry friend!
