Crockpot Dog Food with Ground Turkey and Pumpkin

Everything goes into the slow cooker raw, and six hours later you have two weeks of meals for a medium dog. Pumpkin adds fiber and makes the mix soft and easy to digest.

Homemade meals need to be nutritionally complete for long-term feeding. Ask your vet or a veterinary nutritionist about a supplement.

Why your dog will love this

• Ten minutes of prep
• Gentle on sensitive stomachs
• About 14 cups per batch

Ingredient notes

• Lean ground turkey (93% lean) Caution

  Plain, skinless, boneless meat only. Skin, gravy and fatty trimmings can trigger pancreatitis.

• Brown rice, uncooked Safe

  Plain cooked rice is easy on the stomach.

• Plain pumpkin purée (15 oz) Safe

  100% pumpkin, not pie filling.

  Plain cooked or canned pumpkin adds fiber. Avoid pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and nutmeg.

• Carrots, diced Safe

  Raw or cooked. Cut to a safe size to prevent choking.

• Green beans, chopped Safe

  Plain, cooked or raw, with no salt.

• Frozen peas Safe

  Green peas, fresh or frozen. Skip canned peas with added salt.

See every ingredient in the safety guide

How to make Crockpot Dog Food with Ground Turkey and Pumpkin

Crockpot Dog Food with Ground Turkey and Pumpkin takes about 6 hours 10 minutes from start to finish and makes 14 cups. It is an easy recipe. You will need a 7-quart slow cooker and glass meal-prep containers. Read through every step once before you start, and set out all the ingredients so nothing is missed.

Ingredients and why they are here

You need 7 ingredients. Each one is checked against the ingredient safety guide for dogs.

• 3 lb lean ground turkey (93% lean): Plain, skinless, boneless meat only. Skin, gravy and fatty trimmings can trigger pancreatitis.
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice, uncooked: Plain cooked rice is easy on the stomach.
• 1 can plain pumpkin purée (15 oz): 100% pumpkin, not pie filling. Plain cooked or canned pumpkin adds fiber. Avoid pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and nutmeg.
• 2 medium carrots, diced: Raw or cooked. Cut to a safe size to prevent choking.
• 1 cup green beans, chopped: Plain, cooked or raw, with no salt.
• 1 cup frozen peas: Green peas, fresh or frozen. Skip canned peas with added salt.
• 4 cups water

Step-by-step instructions

1. Break the raw turkey into the slow cooker.
2. Add the rice, carrots, green beans and water and stir.
3. Cook on low until the rice is soft and the turkey is cooked through. Allow about 6 hours.
4. Stir in the pumpkin and peas and cook 15 minutes more. Allow about 15 minutes.
5. Cool, break up any clumps and portion.

Tips for success

• Break the turkey into small pieces before cooking so there are no large clumps.
• Add the pumpkin at the end so it keeps its color and does not scorch.
• Stir well before portioning so every container gets the same mix of turkey and rice.

How to store it

Let everything cool completely before you pack it away, since trapped steam causes sogginess and mold. Keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Portion into daily containers before freezing. If anything smells off or shows mold, throw it out.

How much to serve

Use the portion calculator for a daily amount and switch over 7 days. Each cup has about 280 calories. Switch from your current food over 7 days, mixing in a little more of the new food each day, and weigh your dog every two weeks to adjust the amount.

Swaps and variations

No lean ground turkey? Use lean ground beef. No brown rice? Use white rice for sensitive stomachs. Change one ingredient at a time so you can tell how each swap affects the texture.

Why dogs love it

Ten minutes of prep. Gentle on sensitive stomachs. About 14 cups per batch.

Safety notes

Homemade meals fed long term need a vet-approved vitamin and mineral supplement to be complete and balanced. Turkey: Plain, skinless, boneless meat only. Skin, gravy and fatty trimmings can trigger pancreatitis. Never add onion, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol or salt, and check the safety guide before trying a new ingredient with your dog. This recipe is general information, not veterinary advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put raw ground turkey in the crockpot?

Yes. It cooks safely on low for 6 hours. Break it up first so it cooks evenly.

How much pumpkin is in each cup?

About 2 tablespoons, a good amount of fiber for most dogs.

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