6 Traditional Easter Foods for Dogs
This post shows you the 6 Traditional Easter Foods to Share with Your Dog.
I love Easter, as it marks the beginning of spring! There’s nothing more joyous than egg decorating and all-you-can-eat chocolate! Cooking for Easter is also super fun, as you can finally include seasonal veggies! Our dogs love Easter, too, as they can get their paws on traditional ham and lots of boiled eggs.
But that’s the thing—dogs shouldn’t eat all Easter foods, as many of them are too strong and heavy on their stomachs! But they can still get some special treats and enjoy this holiday with you. In this post, I’ll share vet-approved Easter foods for dogs so you can treat your pup this spring!
1 Cooked Ham
Now, Easter cooked ham is glazed, well-seasoned, and incredibly delicious, so no wonder dogs absolutely love it! But to make it safe for your dog, it’s best to give them plain cooked ham in small, moderate amounts.
The main problem with glazed ham is the salt. Dogs can’t handle salt the way we can, and too much will put a strain on their kidneys and make them super thirsty.
In addition, glazed ham can be too sweet and too heavy for their stomach, so they can end up with runny poop.
Ideally, you would cook ham just for your dog, but let’s be honest—we never do that. So the best way to share cooked ham with your dog is to cut them a piece from the center and let them enjoy it!
Maybe you’re not making ham—a lot of families do Easter brunch instead with things like pancakes, waffles, quiches, and fruit salads. Every family has its own traditions, and the menu can look totally different depending on where you live.
Whatever you’re serving, just keep it simple. Lean protein, plain veggies, and no added sugar—that way, your dog can enjoy Easter too! If you’re looking for Easter foods for dogs, focus on natural, unseasoned protein options that are easy on their stomach.
2 Hard-boiled Eggs
You’re probably making deviled eggs for Easter with lots of garlic, mayo, mustard, and chives. Honestly, along with chocolate, deviled eggs are my favorite part of the Easter feast!
Luckily, dogs can eat eggs, and hard-boiled eggs are actually very healthy for them! Small dogs can have a maximum of one egg, while larger dogs can have more.
Eggs are one of the safest Easter foods for dogs, but only if you share them plain, without any seasonings. That means your dog will have to keep its paws off the deviled eggs!
3 Roasted Carrots
Glazed and roasted carrots are an amazing side dish that we love to have for Easter—and our dog gets some too!
We usually make them on a sheet pan and drizzle them with olive oil, garlic powder, and some honey (at the very end). Then, we top it all with coarse sea salt.
As a safe alternative, we set aside a few carrots in the corner of the sheet pan without any seasonings or oil and share those with our dog! He loves them and usually eats them with chicken or ham.
4 Scalloped Potatoes or Mashed Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes and mashed potatoes are Easter classics, but they are not dog-friendly!
Scalloped potatoes are usually made by layering thin potato slices and drenching them in a rich, cheesy, and garlicky sauce. None of these ingredients are safe for dogs.
Mashed potatoes, on the other hand, have lots of butter, which isn’t necessarily unsafe, but it can be hard on your dog’s stomach.
While these seem harmless, lots of cream, cheese, butter, and garlic are not good for your dog’s digestion. Even though the amount of garlic in scalloped potatoes isn’t enough to cause toxicity, it’s best to skip these side dishes.
Of course, there’s a way to turn these into safe Easter foods for dogs!
When you prepare mashed potatoes, set aside some plain boiled potatoes. Mash them or cut them into small cubes and serve them with cooked meat or ham.
If you want an even healthier option, you can do the same with sweet potatoes! They are one of the best foods for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and they’re full of nourishing nutrients that are great for dogs.
5 Green Beans (Steamed, No Seasoning)
Green beans are a light, healthy Easter side, and the good news is dogs can eat them—as long as they’re plain! We like to steam a few with no seasoning and set them aside before making the main dish. They’re crunchy, low in calories, and a super easy way to let dogs join in on the Easter fun. If you’re looking for simple Easter foods for dogs, plain green beans are a great choice!
But green bean casserole? That’s a different story. We usually make ours with canned green beans, creamy mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions baked on top. It’s rich, salty, and loaded with dairy—not great for dogs. The sauce, onions, and seasonings can mess with their stomachs, and onions are actually toxic to dogs.
So, instead of sharing the casserole, we keep it simple. A few steamed green beans on the side, maybe mixed with plain mashed potatoes or a little cooked meat, and your dog will be just as happy! Keeping it simple is key when choosing Easter foods for dogs.
6 Small Amounts of Fruit, Like Berries or Apples
While traditional Easter desserts like carrot cake, bunny-shaped chocolate, lemon pie, and coconut cakes aren’t really safe for dogs (they won’t harm them, but they aren’t considered safe either), you can make some dog-friendly treats with rolled oats, peanut butter, and shredded apples!
Or, you can give them a small serving of fruit, like a handful of blueberries or strawberries. Berries are low in sugar and easy to digest! If you’re putting together a plate of Easter foods for dogs, fresh fruit can be a nice, natural option.
Also, just to explain a bit further—while chocolate is toxic to dogs, milk chocolate is less dangerous than baking chocolate or dark chocolate. So, even if your dog grabs that chocolate Easter bunny, they will probably be fine, but you still need to watch them for symptoms.
Easter is all about family, fun, and, of course—great food! Not every Easter dish is safe for dogs, but with a few easy swaps, you can still include them in the celebration.
Which of these traditional Easter foods do you think your dog will love most? Let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget to pin this post so you’ll always have these tips handy!
Love, life, and fur forever!
This post showed you the 6 Traditional Easter Foods to Share with Your Dog.
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