If you’re a dog parent who wants to give your pup the best nutrition possible, you may have considered ditching commercial kibble. That’s exactly what led me to create this Homemade Dog Food in the Crockpot recipe—a simple, budget-friendly way to serve healthy, real food to my dogs without the mystery ingredients.

And the best part? It’s incredibly easy. You toss everything in your slow cooker, walk away, and let it do the work. My two pugs absolutely love it, and I love knowing exactly what’s in their bowls.

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🐶 Why I Started Making My Own Dog Food

Like many pet owners, I only want the best for my fur babies. After doing some research, I found that many dog food delivery subscriptions offered excellent human-grade ingredients—but at a steep price. That got me thinking: Could I make my own version at home for a fraction of the cost?

Turns out, I could. And it’s now part of my weekly routine.

🛒 Ingredients I Use for Homemade Dog Food

Always consult with your veterinarian before making dietary changes for your dog. Nutritional needs vary based on breed, age, and health conditions.

Here’s what I typically include in a batch:

Ground Turkey – A lean, easily digestible protein.
Frozen Peas & Carrots – Packed with fiber, vitamins, and natural sweetness.
Frozen Sweet Potatoes – A great source of beta-carotene and healthy carbs.
Frozen Spinach – Rich in iron and antioxidants.
Organic Brown Rice – A wholesome grain that’s easy on sensitive stomachs.

You can customize your mix depending on your dog’s dietary needs. For dogs with allergies or sensitivities, consider alternatives like ground chicken, quinoa, or pumpkin.

💧 What Liquid to Add

Once everything is in the crockpot, you’ll need to add liquid for cooking.

Water is the standard and works perfectly.
Optional: I sometimes use low-sodium or no-salt chicken broth to enhance flavor—just make sure it’s free from onion, garlic, or added sodium.

👉 Never use regular chicken stock with salt or seasonings.

🍲 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Load the Crockpot

Add all your ingredients (veggies, rice, and ground meat) to the crockpot.

Step 2: Add Liquid

Pour enough water (or no-salt broth) to just cover the ingredients. For me, that’s about 3–4 cups depending on batch size.

Step 3: Break Up the Turkey

As the food starts to cook, I use a mix-and-chop tool or wooden spoon to break up the ground turkey and stir everything evenly.

Step 4: Cook

On High: 3–4 hours
On Low: 5–6 hours

Stir occasionally. You’ll know it’s done when the meat is fully cooked, and the rice is soft.

❄️ Storing and Serving

Once the food has fully cooled:

Refrigerate: Store in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Divide into single-serving portions in freezer bags. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating

Thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat gently in the microwave and let cool before serving.

I typically mix the homemade food with a little kibble to ease the transition or stretch the batch longer.

🐾 What My Dogs Think

Honestly? They’re obsessed. Their tails wag as soon as I open the container. Not only do they devour every bite, but I’ve noticed more energy, healthier coats, and leaner body weight since making the switch.

It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made for their health—and my peace of mind.

🐕 Tips & Reminders

✅ Always consult your vet before switching to homemade food.
✅ Don’t add salt, garlic, onion, or seasoning.
✅ Use fresh or frozen ingredients—never canned with preservatives.
✅ If your pup has allergies, sensitivities, or health issues, tailor the recipe accordingly.
✅ Keep portions consistent to avoid overfeeding.

🔁 Customize Based on Your Dog’s Needs

Here are some optional swaps to personalize the recipe:

If You Want…	Try This Instead
Grain-free	Substitute rice with quinoa
Lower-fat protein	Use ground chicken or lean beef
Boosted nutrition	Add a spoonful of canned pumpkin
More variety	Rotate in green beans or apples

📌 Final Thoughts

Making Homemade Dog Food in the Crockpot has been a game-changer for me and my pups. It’s simple, nourishing, and totally adaptable. I no longer wonder what’s really in their food—and they no longer leave a single crumb in their bowls.

If you’re looking to feed your dog with intention, save money, and maybe even extend their health span, this is an easy place to start.

Pup-approved. Vet-consulted. Crockpot easy.
Try it once—and you might never go back to kibble.

Recipe Card

Homemade Dog Food in the Crockpot

We only want the best for our pets, don’t we? My two pugs are a big part of our family and I want them to be around as long as possible. I looked into human-grade dog food from some online companies because after some research I knew this was a much better option than kibble. After learning the cost of the dog food subscription services, I quickly decided I could make my own and save money.

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Prep Time 30

Cook Time 3

Servings: 14 Cups

Cuisine: Dog Food Recipes

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

3 lbs. ground turkey 85% lean 15% fat
1 1/4 cups frozen sweet potatoes 10oz. bag frozen
1 1/2 cups mixed frozen peas and carrots 12oz bag frozen
1 cup frozen spinach
1 1/2 cup brown rice uncooked or white rice
4 cups water

Equipment

Crockpot or Slow Cooker

Method

Add ground turkey, frozen pea & carrots, frozen sweet potaotes, frozen spinach, brown rice and water in slow cooker.
Break up ground turkey and mix well with other ingredients.
Cover with lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on Low for 6 hours or until meat is cooked. Stiring occasionally. NOTE: I cooked mine on High and it was ready in 3 1/2 hours.
Let cool completly before serving.
Store in refrigerator in an air tight container or freeze.

Bite & Bliss

Easy Homemade Dog Food in the Crockpot