Making healthy homemade dog food is a great way to make sure your pet is getting all the nutrition they need. This easy ground turkey dog food recipe helps you feed your dog the healthiest options with no questionable ingredients.

Whether you are making homemade dog treat recipes or food, you can tailor it to your pup’s specific needs and taste buds.

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This recipe is sponsored by my friends at Idaho® Potato. I am so pleased to work with them. As always, all opinions, recipe and photos are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Pook’s Pantry.

DIY dog food

Homemade dog food is quick and easy to make. Before I started doing it, I was sure it would take me all day. It doesn’t. It is actually faster than making dinner most nights.

Ground turkey dog food recipe in red bowl.

Before you change your dog’s diet, please consult your veterinarian. A dog’s nutritional needs are not the same as a human’s needs, nor are the needs of all dogs the same.

Your vet can provide specific information based on your pet.

Ingredients for ground turkey dog food

There are so many people who want to know “how to cook dog food”. So, let’s start with the ingredient list.

This simple dog food recipe is made from 7 ingredients:

Apple – any kind that is available to you.
Hard-boiled egg – excellent source of protein.
Grated carrots – full of vitamin A. Buy pre-shredded as a time saver, if needed.
Russet potatoes – my preferred spud, they are a great source of vitamins B6 and C, plus potassium.
Coconut oil – a healthy fat
Grated zucchini – again, buy pre-shredded to save a few minutes if needed.
Ground turkey – because Sugar needs a low fat diet, we buy the leanest ground turkey.

How to make homemade dog food

Ground turkey dog food is a great place to start, because you probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen right now.

This dog food recipe is perfect for beginners, it is super simple and fast.

Brown the turkey meat in coconut oil. Once cooked, set aside.
Next, let the potatoes simmer in a bit of water to soften. This will take about 8 – 10 minutes.
Then add the apple, grated carrot and grated zucchini. Let it cook for a few minutes.
Dice hard boiled egg and add to pot, add cooked turkey meat back to the pot, then stir to combine.
Cool slightly before feed to your pup.

Our veterinarian recommended a website called balanceit.com a few years ago. This site helps you to determine whether or not all of your pup’s nutritional needs are being met.

This recipe is perfectly balanced to provide the protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, calcium and essential fatty acids that dogs need.

How to transition your dog to homemade food

Abruptly changing your dog’s diet could cause them gastrointestinal distress, if you catch my drift, and that’s not fun for anyone.

If you’re currently feeding your pup store-bought dog food, start the transition by replacing a portion of their regular food with homemade.

For example – if your dog eats 1 cup of food a day, replace 1/4 cup of that food with homemade dog food and mix it in. Do this for a few days, then up it to 1/3 or 1/2 of the food.

Dogs with sensitive bellies may require an even slower transition. Trust me on this one – you’ll thank me for it later. In the long run, it will be better for your dog’s digestion.

What do I need to make my own dog food?

Small heavy-bottomed pot – a Dutch oven is my “go-to” pot.
Half pint containers for storage – I use reusable containers instead of zip-top plastic bags, plus it’s easier to stack these in the fridge
Food scale – super helpful to make sure you have the proper portions.

How to store ground turkey dog food

These containers hold 8 ounces, or 1 cup, of food. It’s exactly what my 11 pound dog needs in a day. The recipe makes enough for 4 days, so I stack them in the fridge for the week.

To make a bigger batch, so you don’t have to cook as often, you can double or triple the recipe and freeze them.

Dog food and treat recipes

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Easy ground turkey dog food recipe

Cheryl Bennett

This easy ground turkey dog food recipe helps you feed your dog the healthiest options with no questionable ingredients.

4.39 from 18 votes

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Course Dog Food Recipes

Cuisine Dog

Servings cups

Calories 269 kcal

Equipment

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 3-Quart

Ingredients

1/2 lb. lean ground turkey
1 tbsp. coconut oil
1/2 cup water
11 ounces Idaho® Russet potatoes peeled and diced (about 2 potatoes)
1 large carrot peeled and grated
1 zucchini grated
1/2 small apple peeled and diced
1 hard-boiled egg

Instructions

Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium high heat.
Add coconut oil and brown ground turkey, breaking it up as it cooks, about 7 – 8 minutes. When cooked, remove from pot and set aside.
Add 1/2 cup water and diced Idaho® potatoes to the pot. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Let potatoes simmer for 8 – 10 minutes, until they have softened.
Uncover and add grated carrot, grated zucchini and apple. Stir to combine and cook for 2 – 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Dice hard-boiled egg and add to pot. Add cooked turkey meat back to the pot, stir to combine.
Set aside to cool slightly before feeding to your pup.

Video

Notes

Leftover food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 20gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 87mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5g

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