Chicken gizzards are the cut most dog owners walk straight past. That's a mistake. They're cheaper than chicken breast, richer in taurine and zinc, and dogs go absolutely wild for them. The butcher has known this for years. Now you do too.
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Walk into any butcher and you'll find gizzards sitting quietly at the back, usually marked down, often ignored. Priced like offcuts. They eat like a superfood.
Gizzards are the muscular stomach of the chicken — dense, lean, and loaded with nutrients that typical dog food either lacks or destroys during processing. They're high in taurine (critical for heart function), rich in zinc (essential for skin and coat), and packed with more B12 than almost any other affordable cut. And they often cost roughly half the price of chicken breast per kilogram. The butcher isn't keeping a secret from you on purpose. You just hadn't asked.
Around 20g protein per 100g with only 3g fat. Ideal for dogs that need muscle without extra calories.
Gizzards contain roughly 8× more taurine than standard chicken breast — a key amino acid for cardiac health and DCM prevention.
Often the cheapest meat by weight in the shop. Complete nutrition at a fraction of the cost of premium commercial food.
Better zinc content than regular chicken cuts — supports healthy skin, coat, immune response and wound healing.
Very low fat with high satiety protein. Good for dogs that need to lose weight or maintain a lean, athletic build.
One of the best budget sources of B12, niacin and riboflavin — supports energy metabolism and healthy nerve function.
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | ||
| Chicken gizzards | 120g | Rinsed, trimmed |
| Carbohydrates | ||
| Brown rice (dry weight) | 50g | Cook in gizzard water |
| Vegetables | ||
| Sweet potato | 55g | Steamed or boiled, no skin needed |
| Green beans | 35g | Fresh or frozen, no salt |
| Supplements — add cold only | ||
| Salmon oil | ½ tsp | COLD ONLY stir in after cooling |
| Eggshell calcium | ¼ tsp | COLD ONLY mix in well |
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | ||
| Chicken gizzards | 200g | Rinsed, trimmed |
| Carbohydrates | ||
| Brown rice (dry weight) | 90g | Cook in gizzard water |
| Vegetables | ||
| Sweet potato | 90g | Steamed or boiled |
| Green beans | 60g | Fresh or frozen, no salt |
| Supplements — add cold only | ||
| Salmon oil | 1 tsp | COLD ONLY stir in after cooling |
| Eggshell calcium | ¼ tsp | COLD ONLY mix in well |
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | ||
| Chicken gizzards | 280g | Rinsed, trimmed |
| Carbohydrates | ||
| Brown rice (dry weight) | 130g | Cook in gizzard water |
| Vegetables | ||
| Sweet potato | 130g | Steamed or boiled |
| Green beans | 85g | Fresh or frozen, no salt |
| Supplements — add cold only | ||
| Salmon oil | 1½ tsp | COLD ONLY stir in after cooling |
| Eggshell calcium | ¼ tsp | COLD ONLY mix in well |
Gizzards are high in protein, taurine and zinc — but like all poultry, they provide virtually no omega-3 DHA or EPA. That's exactly why salmon oil is in this recipe. It must go in cold, after the food has cooled completely. Add it to warm food and the heat oxidises the fatty acids, making them nutritionally useless. Half a teaspoon to a full teaspoon per serving is all it takes.
A muscular organ meat with dense protein and an impressive nutrient profile. Naturally rich in taurine, zinc, B12 and iron. Very low in fat — good for dogs prone to weight gain. Gizzards need longer cooking than regular chicken. Forty-five to sixty minutes of simmering gets them properly tender. Don't rush it; undercooked gizzards are tough and harder to digest.
A slow-digesting carbohydrate that provides steady energy without blood sugar spikes. High in beta-carotene, vitamin C and manganese. One of the best carbohydrate sources you can put in a dog bowl — inexpensive, widely available, and digestible even for sensitive stomachs. Pumpkin works just as well if you have it.
Cooked in the gizzard simmering liquid, the rice absorbs natural flavour and trace minerals from the cooking water. Brown rice adds fibre and B-vitamins on top of what the gizzards already provide. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, white rice is a fine substitute — it's more digestible and still a solid carbohydrate source.
The omega-3 element this bowl needs. Salmon oil provides DHA and EPA — the two forms of omega-3 that matter for brain function, coat condition, joint health and inflammation management. It goes in cold, every single time. Adding it to warm food destroys the fatty acids. Buy a good quality, unflavoured salmon oil and keep it in the fridge.
Run the gizzards under cold water. Look for any tough white connective tissue or silver membrane on the outer surface — it won't soften during cooking. Remove it with kitchen scissors or a small knife. Don't overthink it: a quick once-over and a trim is all you need.
Place the gizzards in a pot and cover with cold water. No salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer with the lid on. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes. Test with a fork — they should yield easily, not feel rubbery or springy. Larger gizzards take longer; give them time.
💡 Don't rush the simmer. Undercooked gizzards are chewy and harder for dogs to digest.Scoop the gizzards out once tender and set aside. Use that same cooking liquid to cook the brown rice — it picks up trace minerals and a meaty flavour the dog will love. Measure the liquid you need for your rice quantity and cook as normal.
Steam or boil the sweet potato chunks and green beans until completely soft. No salt, no oil, no butter. You can do this in a separate pot alongside the rice, or in the same pot once the rice is done — fewer dishes either way.
Finely chop or dice the cooked gizzards. For small dogs, aim for pea-sized pieces or smaller. For larger dogs a rough chop works fine. Combine gizzards, rice, sweet potato and green beans in the serving bowl and give it a gentle mix.
Both salmon oil and eggshell calcium need to go in cold. If the food is still warm, the omega-3 in the salmon oil oxidises and becomes nutritionally worthless. Let the bowl sit for 15 to 20 minutes, or place it in the fridge for 10 minutes if you're in a hurry.
Stir in salmon oil and eggshell calcium powder only when the food is at room temperature or below. Mix thoroughly so the calcium is evenly distributed. Serve immediately or refrigerate covered for up to three days.
✅ Salmon oil always goes in cold. That rule applies to every recipe on this site.The greyhound — particularly the retired racer — is one of the breeds that benefits most from this recipe. Lean, muscular and naturally very low in body fat, greyhounds need high-quality protein to maintain their physique. Racing dogs are often fed high-carbohydrate feeds that don't fully meet their amino acid needs, which means retired racers frequently arrive in new homes with nutritional gaps that take months to close.
Gizzards address this directly. The lean protein supports muscle maintenance without adding unnecessary fat, and the natural taurine content supports cardiac function — relevant for a deep-chested breed with a heart that works hard. The zinc and B12 content also helps with the skin and coat recovery that many ex-racers need after years of kennelled life on inadequate nutrition.
This bowl also works particularly well for:
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