Matilda and Cow were born in the Central Valley in California, and they probably still remember getting leftover tacos from their former owners – Cow surely charmed the taco truck cooks for scraps when she spent most of her days on the street. Cinco De Mayo felt like the perfect time to honor their past and treat them to some tiny tacos of their very own.

I don’t remember anyone in that area who actually celebrated Cinco de Mayo, but nonetheless, you’ll love this traditional staple recipe turned into a tempting dog treat.

Pinto beans and corn tortillas, the main ingredients in this dog treat recipe, are high in carbohydrates, and not particularly nutritious for dogs, so this is best served as an occasional snack. Not ideal for dogs with allergies to corn or legumes, or those with diabetes, or those that need to lose weight. For a low-carb snack, try beef jerky.

Cinco De Mayo Bean Tacos For Dogs

• 1 can low sodium pinto beans, drained. (or 1-3/4 cups cooked beans, start with 3/4 cup dried beans)
• 1/2 cup broth (we used Primalvore Beef Bone Broth)
• Garlic powder
• Dried cilantro
• Small corn tortillas

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Drain and rinse beans, then put beans in a pot with broth and seasonings. Cook over medium heat, mashing and stirring constantly. Reduce until you create a bean paste about the consistency of oatmeal. Remove from heat.
3. Warm tortillas in microwave or on stovetop until just soft and flexible.
4. Cut tortillas into circles with a circle cutter, or a mug or wine glass. Save scraps to make tortilla chips later!
5. To create mini tacos, smear bean paste on half of tortilla then fold over. You and your dog can snack on the mini tacos as-is, or you can bake them for a longer-lasting treat that can be kept out at room temperature.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, then shut off oven and, with oven door closed, let tacos continue to cool and dry out in the oven for additional 15 to 30 minutes, until tacos are completely dry and crunchy.
7. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks, or longer in the freezer. I do not recommend fridge storage, as they will get moist, soft and moldy. They can be served frozen for extra crunch!

Lindsay Pevny

Lindsay Pevny lives to help pet parents make the very best choices for their pets by providing actionable, science-based training and care tips and insightful pet product reviews.

She also uses her pet copywriting business to make sure the best pet products and services get found online through catchy copy and fun, informative blog posts.

As a dog mom to Matilda and Cow, she spends most of her days taking long walks and practicing new tricks, and most nights trying to make the best of a very modest portion of her bed.

You'll also find her baking bread and making homemade pizza, laughing, painting and shopping.