How to Cook Chicken Livers for Dogs

Co-authored by Beatrice Tavakoli and Madeleine Criglow

Last Updated: July 14, 2024 Fact Checked

Interested in cooking a tasty treat for your dog? Chicken livers are a nutritious and scrumptious delicacy for dogs, and they're actually very easy to prepare at home. To learn the best and simplest way to cook chicken livers for your pup, read on. We'll also cover helpful info like serving size and storing instructions so that you have everything you need to know.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Boiling Chicken Livers

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1
Wash the chicken livers in water. First, remove the chicken livers from the packaging. Then, place them in a bowl and run them under cool water to clean them. After letting the chicken livers soak in water for about 10-15 minutes, drain the water from the bowl and dry each liver with a paper towel. ^{[1]
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- If you bought the chicken livers frozen, thaw them in the fridge before proceeding with the cooking process.
Place the pot on the stove and throw in the freshly cleaned livers. Avoid adding any seasoning like butter or salt. This may upset your pup's stomach, and the livers will be tasty enough on their own. ^{[2]
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Pour enough water so that there is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water above the chicken livers. Then, wait for the water to come to a boil. ^{[3]
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4
Turn the heat on low and allow the livers to simmer for 10-15 minutes. After the water comes to a boil, immediately turn down the heat. Let the livers simmer uncovered until they are tender (this should take about 10-15 minutes). ^{[4]
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- Though 10-15 minutes should be enough time, make sure to cook the chicken livers until they are no longer pink in the middle.
5
Take the pot off of the stove and drain the water. Once the chicken livers are fully-cooked, drain the pot using a colander. Be sure to use a potholder or oven mitts when you hold the pot to avoid burning your hands. ^{[5]
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- If you'd like, save the water as a yummy treat for your dog. Simply drain the remaining water into an ice cube tray and stick it in the freezer.
Wait until they're warm or room temperature before prepping them to be served. ^{[6]
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Dr. Marty Goldstein, Integrative Veterinarian and Bestselling Author

Chicken livers are like nature’s multivitamin for dogs. Just a small serving 2-3 times a week provides high-quality protein, iron, vitamin A, copper, and other vital nutrients essential for your dog’s health and happiness.