There are a lot of things we gave up when we started traveling in our van.
But small comforts? Those stayed.
And for us, that includes making simple, real food — not just for us, but for our dog too.
These three-ingredient homemade dog treats have become one of those little routines that make life on the road feel… normal.
Why This Works So Well for Van Life
When you’re cooking in a van, everything has to earn its place:
- Few ingredients
- No complicated tools
- Easy cleanup
- Works in a small appliance
This recipe from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken checks every box.
And it works great in the Ninja Foodi Flip, which enables us to cook oven meals on the road.
What You Need (That You Probably Already Have)
Just three ingredients:
- Oats
- Peanut butter
- Banana
That’s it!
Quick Safety Note
Make sure your peanut butter does not contain xylitol — it’s toxic for dogs.
This is non-negotiable, especially when you’re grabbing groceries in new places on the road.
How We Make These in the Van
This is exactly how we do it in a small space:
- Blend oats into a flour (we use a small blender)
- Mash the banana + mix with the peanut butter.
- Combine into a dough.
- Roll it out (or just press it flat)
- Cut into small pieces or shapes. I used a dog bone cookie cutter.
Then bake in the Ninja Foodi Flip:
- 300°F
- About 20–30 minutes, depending on thickness
In a van, thinner = faster + less power use.
Storage on the Road
- Short term: sealed container (a few days)
- Longer: fridge, if you have one
- Best option: freeze and pull out as needed
Why I Love Making These
It’s not really about the treats but about making him happy, especially when his routine is interrupted while we travel.
This recipe was inspired by It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken. You can find the original version here.