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A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett

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homemade dog food

Easy ground turkey dog food recipe

January 26, 2022

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.

Ground turkey dog food in red bowl.

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.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

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:

DIY dog food recipe 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.
  • Idaho® 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.

Turkey and potato dog food.

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

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

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.

DIY dog food recipe.

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.

Storing homemade pet food.

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

  • How to make oatmeal for dogs
  • Peanut butter banana dog treats
  • Banana pumpkin dog treats
  • Soft pumpkin dog treats
  • Potato and cheese dog treats

Please share

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

Image for Pinterest

I hope your pup loves this homemade ground turkey dog food recipe! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Yield: 4 cups

Easy ground turkey dog food recipe

ground turkey dog food

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

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

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

  1. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium high heat.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Uncover and add grated carrot, grated zucchini and apple. Stir to combine and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
  5. Dice hard-boiled egg and add to pot. Add cooked turkey meat back to the pot, stir to combine.
  6. Set aside to cool slightly before feeding to your pup.

Notes

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

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 3-Quart
    Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 3-Quart

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 cup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 269Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 87mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 20g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Cheryl Bennett
Cuisine: Dog / Category: Dog Food

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!

Filed Under: Dog Food Tagged With: homemade dog food

How to make homemade dog food

January 15, 2022

Home » homemade dog food

Making homemade dog food is a great, healthy option for your pup. Knowing exactly what you are feeding your pet, from food to homemade dog treat recipes, helps to give them the healthiest options with no questionable ingredients. Plus, you can tailor it to your pup’s specific needs and taste buds.

Homemade dog food in small red bowl.

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.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Homemade dog food

If your pup has some health issues, or you just want to be in control of what your dog is eating, making your own dog food is the way to go.

Before I started doing this for Sugar a few years ago, I didn’t know how to make my own dog food. Turns out, it’s pretty simple.

Salmon and potato dog food in pet 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

There are so many people who want to know “how to cook dog food”. I get emails almost every week from readers (thank you!) asking about it.

So, let’s start with the ingredient list.

Ingredients for salmon dog food.

My homemade dog food recipe is made from 7 simple ingredients:

  • Spinach – everyone needs leafy greens, even your dog.
  • Pumpkin – great source of fiber, make sure it is 100% pure pumpkin.
  • Egg whites – excellent source of protein, low in fat.
  • Idaho® potatoes – these spuds are a great source of vitamins B6 and C, plus potassium.
  • Salmon – nutrient dense protein, full of omega-3s, B6 and vitamin D. Use fresh or canned.
  • Coconut oil – a healthy fat.
  • Carrots – full of vitamin A.

How to make dog food

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 was approved and met all the criteria, so let’s get to it.

How to make homemade dog food.

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

  1. First, let the Idaho® potatoes simmer in a bit of water to soften. This will take about 8 – 10 minutes.
  2. Then add the grated carrot and coconut oil, let it cook for a few minutes, then move it to one side of the pot.
  3. Add in the egg white, breaking it up as it cooks.
  4. Add spinach and salmon, mix to combine and cover. Cook for 7 – 8 minutes, until salmon is cooked through.
  5. Remove from heat, stir in pumpkin purée.
Homemade salmon dog food.

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

Sugar loves salmon, so this is our go-to recipe for her. When she gets tired of the same thing, like we all do, I switch it a ground turkey dog food.

How to transition your dog to homemade dog 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.

Salmon dog food.

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 this salmon dog food recipe?

  • 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.
Homemade dog food in containers.

Dog food and treat recipes

  • How to make oatmeal for dogs
  • Peanut butter banana dog treats
  • Banana pumpkin dog treats
  • Soft pumpkin dog treats
  • Potato and cheese dog treats

Please share

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

Image for Pinterest.

I hope your pup loves this homemade dog food recipe! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Yield: 4 cups

Homemade dog food

Homemade dog food

If your pup has some health issues, or you just want to be in control of what your dog is eating, homemade dog food is the way to go.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 11 ounces Idaho® Russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 2 potatoes)
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and grated
  • 1 tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup egg whites
  • 1 cup chopped spinach, packed
  • 8 ounces salmon, raw or canned
  • 1/3 cup canned pumpkin

Instructions

  1. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.
  2. Add 1/2 cup water and diced Idaho® potatoes. Cover pot and let potatoes simmer for 8 - 10 minutes, until they have softened.
  3. Uncover and add grated carrot and coconut oil. Stir to combine and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Move potatoes and carrots to one side of the pot.
  4. Add egg whites and let them cook for 4 - 5 minutes until set. Use a wooden spoon to break them up into small pieces, then stir to combine with potatoes and carrots.
  5. Add spinach and salmon and stir to combine. Cover the pot and cook for an additional 7 - 8 minutes until salmon is cooked.
  6. Stir in canned pumpkin and remove from heat. Set aside to cool slightly before feeding to your pup.

Notes

Leftover food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 3-Quart
    Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 3-Quart

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 cup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 260Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 136mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 20g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Cheryl Bennett
Cuisine: Dog / Category: Dog Food

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!

Filed Under: Dog Food Tagged With: homemade dog food

How to make oatmeal for dogs

October 12, 2020

Oatmeal can be a great source of nutrition for dogs with gastrointestinal issues, especially senior dogs. Making oatmeal for dogs with sensitive bellies can help if they are on a hypoallergenic diet. These peanut butter banana dog treats are made with oatmeal and they are a great option for homemade biscuits.

oatmeal for dogs in red pot

I am not a veterinarian, or a nutritionist, but with the guidance of my dog’s vet, this is what I do for her.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

…

Read More

Filed Under: Dog Food Tagged With: homemade dog food, oatmeal for dogs

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Hi there and thanks for stopping by!  I'm Cheryl, Chef by day and Blogger by night!

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