Dog Safe Christmas Foods

There’s nothing more joyous than the family Christmas dinner with your loved ones—including your dogs! This is a special time of the year when we usually let them indulge, and that’s okay! They deserve to be spoiled, too. However, it’s important to recognize dog-safe and dog-friendly Christmas foods that we can share with them. And in this article, we’re gonna break down what’s safe to share and what you need to keep away from your dog!

Surviving winter holidays with dogs can be pretty challenging as we use lots of spices, onions, and chocolate and encounter so many choking hazards. I already wrote about toxic Christmas foods for dogs that you need to avoid, so in this article, I’ll focus more on what you can share with your dog and where you still need to be careful—though you won’t have to make an emergency trip to the vet!

Christmas main dishes that are safe for your dog

Most Christmas main dishes are safe for dogs, but they require some modifications! You will need to set aside some portions for your dog and avoid using too much salt or seasonings.

Roast turkey

Lean turkey meat is safe for dogs, and Christmas roast turkey can be safe for them, too—especially if you give your dog portions without the glaze (from the inside). If you’re following a traditional recipe with garlic and onion powder, other spices, and chicken stock for basting, just remove the turkey skin and give them lean meat from the inside.

Don’t give your dog any stuffing, as it’s made with lots of onions and garlic. And never, ever give your dog cooked turkey bones—they can splinter and cause damage, tears, or internal blockages!

This will probably be their favorite part of Christmas, other than spending time together with the whole family, as dogs can eat roast turkey and enjoy the holidays with you. Lean turkey and chicken meat are dog safe Christmas foods that you can give them without any worry!

Christmas roast chicken or Cornish hens

Traditional Christmas roast chicken or Cornish hens in the United States are usually seasoned with simple, flavorful spices like salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. People often add herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage for that classic holiday aroma. They’re stuffed with things like onion, garlic, and lemon to make them even more flavorful, then roasted with olive oil or butter for a golden, crispy finish. Some recipes even include a glaze made with honey, maple syrup, or citrus juice. To keep them juicy, they’re often basted with chicken stock or pan drippings while they roast.

The stuffing is problematic because dogs can’t eat onions and garlic. The glaze can also be hard on their stomachs since dogs shouldn’t eat maple syrup. So, if you want to share, find parts of the chicken that haven’t touched the stuffing and remove the skin!

Christmas roast beef or prime rib

A tiny piece of roast beef can be a special treat for your dog, but only if you serve it without au jus or a creamy horseradish sauce. While some types of gravies are safe for dogs, au jus sauce is full of fat, and horseradish sauce can be hard on your dog’s stomach.

When it comes to spices, some traditional recipes include seasoning the beef or prime rib with salt, black pepper, garlic, rosemary, or thyme. Garlic is the most problematic ingredient as it’s toxic to dogs, but the amount used in cooking is usually considered safe.

If you want to share, give them a piece from the inside that isn’t rubbed with all the spices.

Baked salmon

Salmon is wonderful and so easy to make! What’s really good to know is that dogs can eat salmon, and it’s considered one of the healthiest fish for dogs, with lots of protein and healthy omega-3s.

Traditional recipes call for lemon and garlic, along with some salt and pepper, but my advice would be to cut a small piece and bake it just for your dog! I do this all the time, and my dog loves it!

Honey-glazed ham

While dogs can eat ham, it’s usually not recommended since the pre-cooked ham we make for Christmas is full of salt! So, if you want to give them a piece, you definitely can, but don’t overdo it, as too much sodium can harm their health in the long run.

Traditional Christmas honey-glazed ham is made by brushing the ham with a glaze of honey, sugar, mustard, and sometimes orange juice or pineapple juice. While none of these ingredients are toxic, they aren’t ideal for your dog.

I know some people like to stuff cloves in the ham for the wonderful aroma. If you do this, make sure to remove the cloves before sharing ham with your dog! Cloves are safe for dogs in normal amounts, but I worry that small dogs may hurt their teeth or choke.

Turducken

I personally have never made or tried turducken, but it sure looks rich! Traditional Christmas turducken is made with deboned chicken, duck, or turkey, stuffed with bread and/or sausage stuffing. Then you season everything with lots of salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder, and some herbs like sage and rosemary, which go really well. The whole thing is tied together and roasted slowly in the oven.

While there’s not enough onion and garlic powder in turducken to be toxic to dogs, you still need to be careful and only give them a small piece. Dogs shouldn’t eat sausages as they are rich, high in sodium, and spicy, but they aren’t toxic, so they won’t hurt your dog in small amounts.

Christmas side dishes that are safe for your dog

Side dishes are the star of every Christmas dinner! To me, they are more fun than the main dish, and that’s maybe because I’m such a huge fan of casseroles, mashed potatoes, and glazed veggies! Most of the side dishes we traditionally eat are safe for dogs. Some of them aren’t that healthy since they have lots of butter, cream, or sugar, so you need to be careful and not let them indulge. Share a small piece if you want, and make sure they get enough protein and their regular dog food for their next meal.

Mashed potatoes

Dogs can eat mashed potatoes, and they are perfectly safe for them! Some recipes are better than others, depending on how much butter or cream they have. I sometimes make mashed potatoes with low-fat skimmed milk, and they are my go-to light dinner that I can share with my dog.

You can give them a spoonful or two, depending on how you make mashed potatoes! Don’t drench the potatoes in gravy, as gravy can be heavy on your dog’s stomach. Also, if you’re using store-bought gravy, make sure to read the label and check how much onion powder it has and what kind of sugar is used!

Roasted Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts are totally safe for dogs, but I’m not sure many dogs like them. They are rich in fiber and can cause gas, so watch out if your dog has a sensitive stomach!

If you want to share some roasted Brussels sprouts with your dog, make sure to give them some without garlic, onion powder, or other spices that you may use. These can be one of the simplest dog safe Christmas foods that you can share!

Cornbread

Cornbread is safe for dogs, but it’s not recommended. The main reason dogs shouldn’t eat cornbread is because it’s just empty calories without the nutrients they need. Cornbread has sugar and butter, which are not toxic to dogs, but they aren’t ideal.

If you want to share a piece of cornbread with your dog, you can, but don’t give them too much, and don’t let them get to it, as they might eat the whole thing!

Glazed carrots

Carrots are one of the top veggies for dogs, and they are perfectly safe in any form—raw, cooked, or grilled! Christmas glazed carrots can be safe, too, but depending on what you use to make the glaze, they might be too rich for your dog and potentially upset their stomach.

Glazed carrots are usually made with honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, and sometimes even a little bit of bourbon or whiskey, which evaporates to leave a rich, caramelized taste. Glazes with alcohol are not safe for dogs!

Green bean casserole

Everyone loves Christmas green bean casserole because it’s so rich and tasty and pairs perfectly with roasted turkey or chicken! There’s nothing toxic in green bean casserole, even though you may use some onions and garlic—the small amount in one bite won’t be harmful to dogs.

The best way to go about this is to give them a small piece if they really like it, but don’t give them your table scraps. Dogs can eat green beans, but the casserole can be too rich for them, especially if you use lots of cream or cheese on top.

Mac and cheese

The best way to think about mac and cheese is that dogs can eat mac and cheese, but they shouldn’t! If you’re making homemade macaroni and cheese with butter, cheese, and milk, you can share some with your dog. This can be their special treat, as mac and cheese isn’t a very nutritious dish for dogs. If you’re making instant mac and cheese from a box, just make sure it doesn’t have too much sodium or onion and garlic powder!

Let’s be honest: even if the store-bought version has onion powder, the amount is probably minimal per serving, so you can still give your dog a bite, but you have to be careful as onion powder is highly concentrated.

Christmas appetizers that are safe for your dog

Appetizers are always fun during Christmas, but most of them aren’t exactly made with dogs in mind. That’s probably what makes them fun—they’re full of sauces, dressings, lots of spices, and cheese! Still, you can share some Christmas appetizers with your dog if you make some modifications or give tiny portions. Just remember, appetizers are usually rich and can upset your dog’s stomach if they have too much. Turkey and lean parts of the Christmas roast are always a better option!

Shrimp cocktail

Shrimp are safe for dogs as long as they are plain and fully cooked. For the Christmas shrimp cocktail, the shrimp is usually boiled and served chilled, which makes them one of the easiest dog safe Christmas foods. The only problem here is the cocktail sauce—it’s full of salt, sugar, and sometimes spices like garlic or onion powder, which aren’t safe for dogs.

Give your dog plain shrimp (or two) if you want to share. Shrimp is high in protein and low in calories, making it a great treat in moderation.

Deviled eggs

Dogs can eat eggs! They are a fantastic source of protein and are completely safe when cooked. Deviled eggs, though, are usually mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, and sometimes spices like paprika or cayenne, which can irritate your dog’s stomach.

None of these ingredients are toxic to dogs, but deviled eggs are too rich, so if they eat too much, they may end up with an upset stomach. Dogs can eat mustard, so don’t worry about that. The same goes for mayo. It’s just that neither is recommended—in huge amounts mustard can irritate them, and mayonnaise is full of fat.

Some holiday statistics say your dog will steal a deviled egg or two, and if they do, don’t worry too much!

Pigs in a blanket

These are a Christmas favorite, but they’re not exactly ideal for dogs. However, dogs don’t care, and there’s a good chance they will grab some!

If they do, don’t worry—pigs in a blanket aren’t toxic to dogs, and your dog can actually indulge. Christmas pigs in a blanket are made by wrapping up small sausages in bacon, and it’s understandable that your dog would want some! And even though it’s high in fat and sodium, dogs can still eat bacon in tiny/small amounts!

Keep in mind that these treats are high in fat and salt, which isn’t great for dogs. If you want to let them indulge, give them a piece, and that’s it. Then give them lots of water and make sure their next meal is something light, like cooked carrots.

Sausage balls

Sausage balls are made with sausage, cheese, and biscuit mix. While none of the ingredients are immediately toxic, the high fat and sodium content can upset your dog’s stomach, and too much can lead to long-term health issues.

If your dog gets a small bite of sausage ball, they’ll be fine, but this isn’t something you should share intentionally. Instead, give them a plain piece of cooked sausage if you really want to share.

Christmas desserts that are safe for your dog

Desserts are always tempting, but they’re almost never recommended for dogs. I wouldn’t suggest sharing anything sweet with them, but I know how Christmas feels, and I understand how family members love to spoil dogs. That’s why I’m including these three desserts that are not toxic to dogs—but still not recommended!

Pumpkin pie

Pumpkin is a great superfood for dogs, but dogs shouldn’t eat pumpkin pie. The problem is the sugar! Then you have nutmeg, which isn’t toxic to dogs in the small amounts used in pumpkin pie. Even though nutmeg contains myristicin, which is toxic to dogs in large amounts, the sugar in pumpkin pie is a bigger concern.

Apple pie

Apple pie might seem harmless, but it can sometimes contain raisins, which are toxic to dogs. Like pumpkin pie, it’s also made with sugar and spices like nutmeg or cinnamon. Nutmeg is toxic to dogs in very large amounts, while cinnamon is safe for dogs. So, regular homemade apple pie is not toxic to dogs, although it’s not recommended.

If you’re confident the pie doesn’t have raisins and you want to share, give your dog a tiny piece. You can also give them a spoonful of plain, cooked apple from the filling.

Cheesecake

Cheesecake is rich, creamy, and delicious, but it’s also full of sugar and fat, which combined are bad for dogs. While plain cheesecake is not toxic to dogs, it can upset their stomach if they have too much. Be especially careful with sugar-free cheesecake, as it can contain xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Cheesecake infused with alcohol is also a big no.

If you want to share, give your dog a tiny bite of plain cheesecake that doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners or alcohol.

With a few small modifications or by setting aside plain ingredients, you can share a little festive joy with your dog—or just let them indulge a little.

Every vet will tell you to stick to dog-friendly food, but as a certified dog nutritionist and a dog parent, I know what Christmas with dogs looks like, what they can steal, and how they look at you with those puppy eyes. That’s why I wrote this guide to dog-safe Christmas foods—to help you navigate the holidays without any accidents or emergency visits to the vet! Just remember to keep portions small, avoid rich or heavily seasoned foods, and always prioritize their health over sharing your plate.

Merry Christmas

&

Love, life, and fur forever!

FAQs

What can my dog eat at Christmas?

Dogs can eat plain, cooked turkey and chicken (without stuffing) or salmon without seasoning or skin. They can also have plain vegetables like carrots, green beans, or Brussels sprouts and a small amount of mashed potatoes (before adding butter or cream). Just avoid anything with onions, garlic, or rich sauces.

What Christmas snacks are dog-friendly?

Dog-friendly Christmas snacks include plain cooked shrimp, raw or cooked carrots, plain green beans, and small bites of turkey or chicken. They can also have cooked eggs, which you can share before you make deviled eggs. Avoid anything seasoned, sugary, or rich, like candy, chocolate, or nuts.

Are pigs in blankets ok for dogs?

Pigs in blankets are not ideal for dogs because they are high in fat and salt. However, a small piece isn’t toxic and can be given occasionally.

What can dogs have from a Sunday dinner?

Dogs can have plain turkey, chicken, or beef without seasoning or bones, as well as simple side dishes like mashed potatoes and plain vegetables like carrots or green beans. Avoid gravies, stuffing, or anything with onions, garlic, or heavy cream-rich sauces.