Making homemade dog food isn't the most convenient option, but it's a much healthier alternative to commercial dog food products. Preparing simple slow cooker dog food recipe options is an easy way to make healthy meals for your pup.
Homemade meals may not be as easy, but they can be catered to your pet's exact nutritional needs. You can make ingredient substitutions or add vitamin and mineral supplements to give your dog the necessary nutrients.
Sadly, recent research has shown that there are some pretty dangerous ingredients in commercial dog food. Making your pet's food is the only way to know exactly what goes into each meal and how it is prepared.
Many owners don't have the extra time to prepare homemade dog food for their pets. Of course, there is still a bit of prep work, but using a slow cooker makes it possible for even the busiest dog owner to feed their dog a homemade diet.
You can start this simple slow cooker dog food recipe in the morning, leave for work, and your pup will have a delicious, fresh meal by the time you come home. This recipe uses human-grade, whole food ingredients, so you could even eat yourself or share it with your human family members!
Simple Slow Cooker Dog Food Recipe
I love sharing the dog food recipes that I create, but I often get comments from readers and viewers who say that they don't have the time to make homemade meals for their dogs. With a little bit of water and some of the best healthy ingredients, your slow cooker will prepare food for your dog when you're away at work.
I like preparing meals for dogs in advance and freezing them. That way I can make enough food for a month in just a few days. If you'd prefer to feed your dog a fresh meal every day, you can make a different dog food recipe every few days.
This slow cooker dog food recipe uses ground turkey, but you could substitute a different protein source if necessary. You could also use different vegetables than I chose, depending on your dog's needs and what veggies are in season in your area.
PrintRecipe: Simple Slow Cooker Dog Food Recipe
Most homemade dog food recipes are not nutritionally balanced. Be sure to consult a canine nutritionist if you're planning to switch to a homemade diet.
This recipe won't provide balanced nutrition for all dogs, so it's likely that your vet may recommend adding supplements to this food.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: about 18 cups of food 1x
- Category: Cooked Food
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Dog Food
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. ground chicken
- 1 cup chopped zucchini
- 1 cup peas
- 1 cup green beans
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1.5 cups uncooked brown rice
- 4 cups water
Instructions
For this slow cooker dog food, all you have to do is add the ingredients to the slow cooker and turn it on. Most slow cookers are programmable, but if yours isn't you'll have to keep an eye on the time.
First, add the meat and water to the crock pot. Cook on low for 3 hours.
After 3 hours, use a utensil to break the turkey into bite-size pieces. Add the vegetables and rice. Continue to cook on low for 1 more hour.
You can serve this food to your dog as soon as it has cooled.
It's best to consult your veterinarian about the appropriate serving size for you dog. They will also help you evaluate 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.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 106
- Sugar: .5 g
- Sodium: 36 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.2 g
- Fiber: .7 g
- Protein: 11.9 g
- Cholesterol: 34 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 low-cost homemade dog food 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 that 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.
