easy homemade dog food crockpot recipe with ground chicken

7 Homemade Crockpot Dog Food Recipes

When youre considering making dog food at home, you know it could be better for your dogs health and even save you money. But you probably have one big question: exactly how much work will this take?

If youre a busy dog owner, we have great news for you! You can learn how to make crockpot dog food! Crockpot dog food recipes are almost as easy as buying dog food at the store. Toss a few healthy ingredients in a slow cooker, turn it on, and go about your day. In 36 hours, youll have perfectly cooked homemade dog food! Sounds good, doesnt it? Scroll down to find our 7 favorite Crockpot dog food recipes, featuring all kinds of tasty and affordable ingredients:

Top 7 Crockpot Dog Food Recipes:

1. Beef & Kidney Bean Crockpot Dog Food

What could be easier than throwing nutritious ingredients in a crockpot? Come back in a few hours to a fully cooked beef and kidney bean stew that your dog is guaranteed to love.

2. Chicken Slow Cooker Dog Food

If your dog has a beef allergy or prefers chicken, youll love this crockpot dog food recipe, which incorporates low-fat ground chicken with healthy vegetables like peas, green beans, and carrots.

3. Dog-Friendly Vegetable Beef Stew

Ground beef, kidney beans, and butternut squash come together in this incredibly easy dog food recipe. Cook for three hours on high or six hours on low and youll have a dog feast!

4. Blueberry Kale Dog Food

Thats right, this dog food recipe includes unusual (but healthy!) ingredients like blueberries, apples, and kale. Top it off with a mixture of ground beef and pork to make truly irresistible dog food!

5. Allergy-Friendly Duck Dog Food

This easy Crockpot dog food recipe has very few ingredients, making it a good option if your dog has allergies. All you need is duck meat, brown rice, peas, and carrots.

6. Customizable Dog Food Recipe

This Crockpot recipe is easy to follow and doesnt require any fancy ingredients. But what we really like is all of the substitution tips, which will help you use ingredients you already have in your kitchen!

7. Beef & Barley Dog-Friendly Stew

This recipe starts with beef, sweet potatoes, carrots, and celery. Add pearl barley for the last hour of cooking to make a satisfying, filling dog food.

Conclusion

Now you know how to make the easiest homemade dog food! Crockpot dog food recipes are great because they come together with very little hands-on effort. If you choose a recipe that uses pre-cut frozen vegetables, the process is even easier! We hope you and your dog enjoy these recipes. Learning how to make crockpot dog food at home doesnt have to be hard!

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Featured Image Credit by: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

Recipe: Chicken and Vegetable Slow Cooker Dog Food

Making homemade dog food isn't very convenient, but it's a much healthier option than most commercial dog food products. It may be a lot easier to swing by the local pet store and grab a bag of food from the shelf, but research has shown that there are some pretty disgusting ingredients in commercial dog food.Making your own dog food at home is a great way to ensure that your dog is only eating healthy, natural ingredients.

This homemade dog food recipe uses chicken as the protein source. The best part of making homemade dog food is that you can substitute ingredients if you'd like. If your dog is allergic to chicken or just prefers a different meat, feel free to use something else instead.

I use apples, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes and carrots in this recipe as well. You can substitute other dog-friendly fruits and vegetables if you want to. When Im planning which homemade dog food recipe Im going to make, I try to choose fruits and vegetables that are in season. Theyre cheaper and easier to find at mostlocal markets.

Some healthy substitutions include:

• blueberries
• kale
• spinach
• squash
• peas
• broccoli

Be sure to do your research before substituting ingredients in homemade dog food. Look for reputable sources online or make a call to your veterinarian before adding in any ingredients that you're not sure about.

Most homemade dog food recipes are not nutritionally balanced, so 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.

MORE INFORMATION: Substitutions for Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Chicken and Vegetable Slow Cooker Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 lb. boneless/skinless chicken thighs
• 2 large apples (cored and chopped)
• 2 cups frozen green beans
• 2 cups frozen peas
• 1 large sweet potato (chopped)
• 2 carrots (sliced)
• 1 can kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil

Directions

If you don't have a lot of extra time to prepare meals for your dog, using a slow cooker may be helpful. Slow cooker recipes only require a little bit of prep work. There is no need to tend the food while it's cooking.

For this chicken and vegetable dinner, all you have to do is add the ingredients listed above 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. This meal should cook on low for about 8 hours.

If you work outside the home, this recipe is a great alternative to meals that you have to fix daily. You can put the ingredients in the slow cooker before you leave for work, and by the time you get home Fido's food will be ready. Plus, you can make the food in bulk so you only have to cook once a week or so.

As soon as this chicken and veggie stew has cooled, you can feed it to your pooch. You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or freeze them and theyll keep for 8-10 weeks.

The recommended serving size for this recipe is about 1/2 cup for every 20-25 pounds of body weight per serving, and it should be served twice a day. Keep in mind that more active dogs may require more calories every day, while lazier pups might not need as much.

READ NEXT: 20 Pros, Cons and Myths About Homemade Dog Foods

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Homemade Dog Food: The 7 Best Crockpot Recipes For Your Canine

Are you looking to spoil Spot with some homemade mutt meals? A crockpot can make it much easier to do so! Well try to help by sharing some of our favorite homemade dog food crockpot recipes that are sure to get your dogs tail wagging below!

So crank up your crockpot, round up your Rover-friendly ingredients, and get cookin!

Should You Feed Your Dog Homemade Food?

When it comes to a daily diet, the vast majority of dogs will thrive best on a commercial dog food, which has been designed by a canine nutritionist or veterinarian.

That said, some dogs especially those with health concerns may benefit from a custom diet made by their pupper parent. Just be sureto consult your veterinarian before switching up your dogs regular diet.And, youll likely need to purchase some kind of homemade dog food supplement or nutritional pack to ensure your dog is getting all the essential vitamins and minerals he needs to survive and thrive.

But daily diet aside, plenty of pups simply deserve an occasional homemade dinner!

As long as your pooch doesnt have any specialized dietary requirements, homemade meals (and homemade dog food toppers) make a pretty safe occasional treat for your furry friend just make sure that the recipe doesnt contain any food ingredients that may be toxic to dogs (weve already done this for you with the recipes below).

Dont Be Afraid to Swap Proteins!

Keep in mind that many of these recipes allow you to swap one great meat protein for dogs for another, or omit a vegetable or two if its not Fidos favorite. That being said, its key that these homemade recipes are primarily served as a treat, since any daily diet for your dog needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian to be safe.

Why Use a Crockpot to Make Homemade Dog Foods: The Pros and Cons

Are you considering getting a Crockpot for your canine? Here are some pros and cons to making homemade dog food in a Crockpot to take into consideration:

Crockpot Pros: Reasons to Use a Crockpot for Canine Cookin

For the most part, Crockpots are wonderful tools for cooking up some canine chow. Here are some of the main reasons why they may make a great investment for your pooch palace:

• Flavor for Fido: One of the biggest benefits of slow cooking is the unmatched flavor that comes from the process. This can be particularly helpful for canine cuisine since anything given to your furry friend should be made without added sugar or salt.
• Ease of Use: Even for the most inexperienced chefs, Crockpots are pretty easy to understand. As youll note with most of the recipes, you basically load up the ingredients into the pot, press a button or two, and wait until your meal is ready. Crockpots make it easy for busy pooch parents to whip up homemade meals with minimal effort.
• Hands-off Cooking: Crockpots are designed in such a way that you can safely cook meals while working on something else. You can prep your meals for your mutt ahead of time so by the time its doggie dinnertime, your canines cuisine is prepped and ready to go.
• Crockpots Tenderize Meat: Crockpots are known for their ability to tenderize meat, making it easy for dogs young and old to safely consume. This also means that youre able to buy cheaper cuts of meat, which is great for your wallet.
• Simple Cleanup: Since youre making everything in one pot, Crockpots are fairly easy to clean. You can even get slow cooker liners to reduce your minimal cleanup time.
• Crockpots Conserve Energy: Relative to your average oven, Crockpots use less energy, making them an eco-friendly choice for many pooch parents.
• Slow-and-Low-Temp Cooking *May* Provide Health Benefits: Though there isnt any clear evidence demonstrating such, slow cooking may be healthier than cooking quickly at high temperatures since it may help preserve some of the foods nutrients.

Crockpot Cons: Crockpot Challenges for Canine Cookin

Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks to Crockpot cooking youll want to keep in mind. This includes:

• Long Cooking Times: Slow cookers cut down on food preparation time for most owners, but it takes several hours for most recipes to come into fruition, which could be an inconvenience if not planned properly.
• There Arent Many Controls: For some chefs, the Crockpot is too simplified. A slow cooker only has a handful of controls, so it can be difficult to customize the cooking process for your pooch.
• Theres Not A Lot of Room for Error: Due to long cooking times and a lack of precise controls, its easy to make an error using a Crockpot. Unfortunately, sometimes youll have to wait several hours before knowing whether or not your mutts meal is worth salvaging. It may take a couple of tries to nail the perfect meal for your fur baby.

With that in mind, Crockpots are certainly worth trying if youre interested in making your hound some homemade meals. Thankfully, Crockpots are fairly affordable so its not a huge loss if the appliance doesnt operate in the way you expected.

A Quick Note for Our Readers

Understand that the term Crockpot is actually a branded term (usually written as CrockPot or even Crock-Pot). And while they differ from traditional slow cookers in a few minor ways, you can use any ol slow cooker or pressure cooker for most of these recipes.

7 Awesome Homemade Dog Food Crockpot Recipes

Without further ado, here are some of our favorite homemade dog food Crockpot recipes for your furry friend! Your pooch pal will love taste testing these different recipes with a variety of flavor palettes and ingredients.

1. Hound Harvest Dog Food

About: Does Spot salivate over squash? If so, youll have to check out this simple and nutritious dog food recipe from Damn Delicious, featuring butternut squash.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Brown rice
• Kidney beans
• Butternut squash
• Carrots
• Peas

Directions: Combine all ingredients and 4 cups of water into a 6 quart slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours. This dog food can be served once cooled, or stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two weeks.

2. Beef Bonanza

About: Does your best buddy love beef? If so, hes bound to enjoy this beef slow cooker recipe from Top Dog Tips that includes nutritious vegetables for dogs like zucchini and carrots.

Ingredients:

• Kidney beans
• Zucchini
• Peas
• Brown Rice
• Lean ground beef or turkey

Directions:Place all ingredients in the slow cooker along with 4 cups of water. Cook on high heat for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve once cooled or store in the freezer for up to a week.

3. Veggie Protein Power

About: If you have a particularly active furry friend, its worth checking out this protein packed slow cooker recipe from Chewy. The food also includes natural antioxidants like blueberries to keep your furry friend feeling his best.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs
• Ground turkey
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Peas
• Carrots
• Frozen blueberries

Directions:Place all ingredients into the Crockpot with the chicken thighs and ground turkey at the bottom. Cook on low for 12 hours. Cool before serving and be sure to remove any left behind bones. This recipe can be preserved in the freezer for up to a week.

4. Broccoli Blast

About: You might not find this broccoli and beef liver stew from Slow Cooker Kitchen to be the most enticing recipe, but your dog is sure to go nuts for it. This recipe can be spruced up with a little bit of dog-safe Greek yogurt after cooking as per the original chefs recommendation.

Ingredients:

• Beef liver
• Brown rice
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Coconut oil (optional)
• Greek yogurt (optional)

Directions: Combine meat, veggies, and rice in Crockpot and let it cook throughout the day or overnight on a low setting (just be careful leaving the Crockpot unattended for this long). Once cooked, stir in optional coconut oil and dog-safe Greek yogurt. Serve once cooled and store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.

5. Sweet Potato Stew For Your Sweetie

About: Sweet potato is an excellent fiber-rich vegetable and one of the star ingredients in this Crockpot dog food recipe from Fivespot Green Living . This recipe also includes other nutritious vegetables like spinach and lentils.

Ingredients:

• Brown rice
• Lentils
• Sweet potato
• Kidney beans
• Peas
• Oats
• Ground turkey

Directions: Add all ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Allow the food to cool before serving and store in an refrigerated airtight container for up to a week.

6. Tantalizing Turkey

About: Turkey is generally a leaner meat, making it perfect for mutts working on weight management. This recipe by the Produce Moms gives your furry friend plenty of flavor despite its leaner recipe, so your canine companion will love it all the same.

Ingredients:

• Ground turkey
• Brown Rice
• Kidney beans
• Sweet potato
• Carrots
• Green beans

Directions: Add all ingredients to a large slow cooker and stir. Cover and cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours. This recipe can be cooled and served immediately, or preserved in the refrigerator for up to two weeks in an airtight container.

7. Mutt Melange

About: This recipe from Dogvills highlights chicken, rice, and green beans as the star ingredients for your furry friend. The slow cooker recipe also includes fiber-rich sweet potato to support your dogs digestive system.

Ingredients:

• Green beans
• Brown rice
• Sweet potato
• Carrots
• Chicken breast

Directions:Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook until the chicken is fork tender (about 8 hours on low heat), stopping to stir the mixture every couple of hours. Serve immediately once cooled. Leftovers can be preserved in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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As you can see, there are plenty of easy Crockpot recipes for your canine to whip up from home. Remember that these recipes should primarily serve as a supplement to your dogs current diet or occasional treat, unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.

Has your dog tried any of these recipes? Which recipe was your favorite? Tell us all about it in the comments below!