Our dogs are part of our families, so it's expected that we want to share the holidays with them. Pet owners celebrate their pup's birthdays, buy them gifts at Christmas and even dress them up for Halloween. Why wouldn't we want to share a Thanksgiving dinner for dogs recipe with our furry family members?
It's important for you to know that you can't share your traditional Thanksgiving dinner for humans with your pets. Some ingredients in your meal, like onions, chocolate and raisins are toxic to dogs. While others may not be toxic, they could really upset your pup's stomach.
The centerpiece of a Thanksgiving table is the turkey, of course. You can certainly use leftovers to make this recipe, or you could use lean ground turkey instead. Turkey skin is very high in fat, which could upset your pooch's tummy and cause diarrhea. If you choose to use leftovers from your Thanksgiving dinner, make sure to use white meat (which is lower in fat than dark meat) and remove the skin.
Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs Recipe with Leftovers
Most of the fruits and vegetables that you're serving your human guests are safe for your pet too. You can stick closely to the recipe that I'm sharing below or you can substitute other dog-friendly veggies instead. Just be sure that the ingredients you're adding are safe and healthy for your pet.
PrintThanksgiving Dinner for Dogs Recipe with Leftovers
This Thanksgiving dinner for dogs recipe uses ingredients that you may have leftover from your family's holiday feast. You could also substitute some ingredients that you have on hand or use fresh ingredients to make this homemade meal for your pup anytime.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: about 10 cups 1x
- Category: Cooked Food
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Dog Food
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh or ground turkey
- 1/2 cup brown rice
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 3 celery stalks (chopped)
- 3 carrots (chopped)
- 1 large sweet potato (chopped)
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Add all of the ingredients into the crockpot in the order listed above. As I mention in the video guide above, you can add the peas after the rest of the food has cooked if you want.
If you add them to the recipe from the beginning, they'll be pretty mushy. If our dogs are anything like mine, they won't care about the texture at all.
Cook the recipe on low heat for 4 hours. Once it's completely cooled, you can serve it to your pup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 93
- Sugar: 1.3 g
- Sodium: 116 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.8 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 7.7 g
- Cholesterol: 23 mg
Serving Size Recommendation: You can serve this food to your dog as soon as it has cooled. I recommend feeding about 1/2 cup of food for every 20-25 pounds of body weight. This recommendation is for 2 servings per day. So, a 25-pound dog would eat about 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup in the evening.
This is just a guideline. Some dogs, like working dogs and very active breeds, will need more calories than this. Lazier pets and senior dogs may not need as many.
It's best to consult your veterinarian about the appropriate serving size for you dog. They will also help you evaluate the meal to make sure it will meet your pet's unique nutritional needs. If necessary, they will assist you in choosing the best supplements and/or multivitamins to add.
How to store: You can store the leftover Thanksgiving dinner for dogs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or freeze them, and they’ll keep for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that this recipe includes no preservatives so it won't last nearly as long as commercial dog food.
For More Information
We publish many homemade dog food and treat recipes every month. For more recipes, pet food cooking tips, and advice, see our “Recipes” section. If you're new to home-cooked dog food subject, I recommend you read more about “How Much To Feed” to understand serving sizes, “What Supplements To Use” to create well-balanced meals, and “How To Store” for tips on simple and easy homemade dog food storing in a fridge or a freezer.
