9 Easy Home Made Crockpot Dog Food Recipes

A crockpot is a really handy kitchen appliance when it comes to preparing homemade food for your pooch. This post lists down some of the most nutritious easy home made crockpot dog food recipes that will suit your pet’s tummy as well as taste palate. You can add all the ingredients early during the day, go to work, and your fur friend can enjoy a fresh and delicious meal by the time you come back home. The internet is flooded with several crockpot dog food recipes as different pet parents play around with different ingredients for their dogs.

However, you need not worry about searching for the best one for your pooch as we have done most of the leg work for you.

1. Chicken with Vegetables – Crockpot Dog Food Recipe

This chicken and vegetable stew includes most of the nutrients both young and adult dogs need. It is rich in protein and minerals like folate, iron, and phosphorous that your pet requires to stay healthy and active. Its high fiber content is ideal for weight management as it helps your dog feel full while keeping their calorie count in check.

What You Need

• 1 ½ cup brown rice
• ¾ lbs green beans (broken into segments)
• 1 medium-sized sweet potato (chopped)
• 3 medium-sized carrots (chopped)
• 3 chicken breasts (boneless, with or without skin)
• 3 cups water

Directions

• Layer all the ingredients in a crockpot (do not mix) and pour water on top.
• Cover the pot properly and cook on low heat for 7 to 8 hours or on high heat for 4 to 5 hours.
• When the stew is ready, roughly shred the chicken by smashing it with a wooden spoon or spatula (it will be quite soft and hence, break into smaller pieces easily).
• Let cool before serving.

Note: If using the high heat setting, make sure to stir the contents at regular intervals. The stew can be prepared unattended at low heat. This generally applies to all the crockpot dog food recipes discussed here.

2. Beef Bonanza – Crockpot Dog Food Recipe

High in proteins and fiber, this dog food recipe packs a punch to keep your fur friend energized all day. If you are worried about your pet gaining too much weight, try to use lean beef as it has a lower fat content. You can even substitute beef for chicken or turkey if you want. However, it’s usually best to go for beef as it is a more balanced meat option as compared to other animal-based proteins.

What You Need

• 2 ½ lbs ground beef
• 1 ½ cup brown rice
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 ½ cup butternut squash (chopped)
• 1 ½ cup carrots (chopped)
• ½ cup peas (fresh, canned, or frozen)
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Put the meat, rice, kidney beans, and butternut squash in the crockpot and mix.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients and stir once.
3. Cover the pot and cook for around 5 hours on low heat.
4. Alternatively, you can have the meal ready in about 2 hours by using the high heat setting.

3. Tangy Meat Feast – Crockpot Dog Food Recipe

Like all crockpot dog food recipes, this one is also exceptionally easy to prepare. But what’s incredible about this doggie stew is that it is likely to please even the pickiest palate. If your fur friend has a sweet tooth or finds their plain, bland meals somewhat repelling, this flavorful stew is sure to make their day.

What You Need

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 2 lbs boneless chicken
• 1 lb ground pork (optional)
• 2 cups water
• 1 ½ cup brown rice
• ¾ cup blueberries
• 1 large apple (peeled and cubed)
• ¾ cup kale (chopped)
• 1 medium-sized sweet potato (cubed, with or without peel)
• 2 medium-sized carrots (chopped)

Directions

1. Add all the vegetables and fruits into the crockpot and stir.
2. Next, add in meat and water and combine well.
3. Cover the pot and let it stew for 7 hours on low heat or 4 hours on high heat. If you are using frozen meat, add in an hour to each of the two options.
4. Let the meal cool and mix well once again before serving. You can refrigerate the extra portions in an airtight container for up to 5 days. For long-term storage, freeze the contents instead.

4. Liver-Loaded Veggie Stew – Crockpot Dog Food Recipe

The high fat content of chicken liver makes it a good dietary choice, particularly for young and growing dogs. This recipe combines the health benefits of livers with essential minerals and vitamins like A, K, and C from the vegetables. However, take note that the liver should not be a part of the daily diet for dogs. Therefore, feed your pooch this stew only once in a while.

What You Need

• ¼ cup chicken liver
• 3 lbs boneless chicken thighs (preferably skinless)
• 1 large or 3 small apples (seeded and cut into pieces)
• 2 medium-sized carrots (chopped)
• 1 cup green beans
• 1 cup peas
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 to 2 cups water

Directions

1. Put the liver, chicken thighs, apples, carrots, and beans into the cooker.
2. Add a few cups of water, just enough to completely submerge all the contents of the pot.
3. Cover the crockpot and let it cook for about 7 to 8 hours on low heat or approximately 3 hours on high heat.
4. About 10 minutes before removing the stew from the pot, add in the peas and parsley. Additionally, drizzle the olive oil on top.
5. Mix everything well before feeding the stew to your pet.
6. The extra portion can be kept in the freezer for up to a month.

5. Green Goodness

Wondering what the best way is to feed your fur friend all their greens? This nutrition-loaded vegetable stew is the ultimate way to go about it. It is low in fat yet high in fiber, vitamin A, B, C, and K, and even minerals like potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Serve this dog meal as a power-booster after a tiring trip outdoors. Or you can also use smaller portions as a healthy homemade snack for dogs that feel hungry between meals. Pet parents love this recipe because it includes celery which helps freshen dog breath.

What You Need

• ½ cup Brussels sprouts
• 1 cup broccoli
• ½ cup celery (chopped)
• 1 cup green beans
• 1 cup peas (canned or frozen)
• ½ cup spinach
• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 to 2 cups water
• 2 lbs of meat of your choice (chicken, beef, or turkey)

Directions

1. Toss all the vegetables in the slow cooker.
2. Add a few cups of water just enough to soak all the veggies.
3. Add the rice and meat to the pot and cover the crockpot properly.
4. Let it simmer for 6 to 7 hours on low heat (preferably 8 hours if using frozen peas). Or cook on high heat for about 4 hours at least.
5. Once done, mash the contents with a large spatula to puree any over-sized vegetable chunks and ensure a smooth consistency.
6. Your delicious homemade dog stew with green veggie goodness is ready to serve.

6. Gluten-Free Stew – Crockpot Dog Food Recipe

If you are looking for the best homemade crockpot dog food recipes to control obesity in dogs, this gluten-free stew is a good choice to consider. It uses beef liver, brown rice, eggs, and Greek yogurt all of which are naturally devoid of excess fats. This recipe is perfect for preparing dog food in advance as you can store the stew in the refrigerator for over a month. The eggs and yogurt may separate if you freeze the meal. But besides giving it a bit odd texture, this will not affect the nutritional value of the stew.

What You Need

• 2 lbs beef liver
• 2 medium-sized carrots (chopped)
• 2 cups broccoli
• 1 cup brown rice
• 4 eggs
• 4 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 3 cups water

Directions

1. Toss the meat, vegetables, and rice into the slow cooker and mix.
2. Pour water into the pot and cover it properly.
3. Let the food cook for about 8 hours on low heat or 3 hours on high heat.
4. Now, there are two ways to proceed.
5. You can add in the remaining ingredients while the stew is still hot. Remember to let it cool down before serving it to your pet.
6. Alternatively, you can freeze the stew once cooled and add in the remaining ingredients whenever you warm it to feed your pet later. Your pooch will love it either way!

7. Mix Vegetable Organic Stew for Dogs – Crockpot Dog Food Recipe

Share the goodness of homemade organic food with your loyal canine companion with this mix vegetable stew. Not only is this a nutritious treat for your pooch but it also smells delicious and is packed with flavor. It combines all the health benefits of sweet potatoes and other vegetables for dogs. This homemade doggie meal doesn’t involve a lot of prep work because you can just use a bag of frozen vegetable mix instead. Ideally, the vegetable mix should include peas, corns, green beans, and carrots. Prepare one batch and it can suffice for almost a week (with one serving a day for one adult dog).

What You Need

• 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed)
• 3 lbs frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 cup brown rice
• 3 large chicken breasts (skinless and cut into 4 pieces each)
• 2 ½ cups water

Directions

1. Pour water in the slow cooker and add in the frozen mixed vegetables and meat.
2. Combine well before adding the two remaining ingredients.
3. Seal the crockpot tightly and let it cook for 8 hours on low heat. Or use the high heat setting and let it stew for 5 hours if you want to prepare the meal faster.
4. Once done, remove from the pot and slightly mash the chicken with the back of a fork or a large spatula.
5. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving it to your dog.
6. You can store the leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. Or divide the extra stew into single-serve portions and freeze for later use.

8. Turkey and Zucchini Treat – Crockpot Dog Food Recipe

Give your fur friend nothing but the best with this well-balanced home-cooked turkey and mix vegetables stew. This dish combines the proteins from meat with a range of essential nutrients from different vegetables and grains. Zucchini makes this stew rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folate which helps keep your pooch physically fit and active. Folate is known to stimulate cognitive function in dogs.

What You Need

• 3 lbs ground turkey
• 1 medium-sized zucchini (peeled and thinly sliced or shredded)
• 2 cups baby spinach (chopped)
• ½ cup peas (canned or frozen)
• 2 medium-sized carrots (chopped)
• 1 ½ cup brown rice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Layer the rice, carrots, peas, zucchini, and spinach in the crockpot in the specified order and then add water.
2. Spread the meat on top and close the slow cooker, ensuring the lid is placed in its correct position.
3. Turn the heat to low and let it simmer for about 7 hours. If your dog is too eager to have their meal, switch to the high heat setting. The food will be ready in around 3 hours instead.
4. Before serving the stew, drizzle olive oil on top and mix well to evenly distribute the contents.
5. You can keep any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days. If making a large batch, store in single-serve bags or airtight containers and freeze the extra portions until needed.

9. Quinoa and Fruit Mix – Crockpot Dog Food Recipe

Perfect for a quick homemade treat, this sweet and scrumptious fruit stew is a healthy alternative to many commercially available dry food kibbles. It can be ready in under 20 minutes and is ideal for dogs that love a dessert with their meals. You can prepare this sweet stew with a variety of fresh fruits depending on your dog’s dietary needs. Apples, blueberries, and pumpkin are usually a good choice to consider. Note that this recipe uses quinoa as the main ingredient. Some dogs may have difficulty digesting these edible seeds. So, if your dog never had quinoa before, try giving them a small amount to make sure it won’t cause any tummy issues.  

What You Need

• 1 cup quinoa (preferably red quinoa)
• 1 cup fruits of your (pooch’s) preference
• 1 cup peas (defrost beforehand if using frozen peas)

Directions

1. Put all the ingredients in a crockpot.
2. Cook on low heat for about 20 minutes or on high heat for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Let cool before serving.

10. Crockpot Dog Food Recipes: Important Considerations

• Take note that some crockpot dog food recipes mentioned above include broccoli. Broccoli can cause gastric irritation in certain dogs. So, check for any unwanted side effects by giving them a small amount first.
• Peas are one of the best vegetables for dogs, which is why they are often included in commercial as well as homemade dog foods. But you should generally avoid canned peas as they are high in sodium. Prolonged consumption of high sodium foods can be harmful to your pet’s health. If you don’t have fresh or frozen peas available at hand, you can occasionally use canned peas instead. However, always wash and drain them multiple times to get rid of the added sodium from the brine.
• When using vegetables like broccoli and celery in a stew, always ensure they are cooked all the way through. Break down any large pieces with the back of a spoon so your dog can eat it easily. 
• Unlike regular meat, the smell of liver as it gets cooked can be rather off-putting for many pet parents. If you find it hard to tolerate the pungent smell, add a pinch or two of rosemary to the crockpot dog food recipes that use liver as an ingredient.
• It’s a good practice to mention the preparation date on any dog food containers or bags that you freeze for later use. This helps you keep track of freshness of its contents so you can avoid feeding Fido food that is too old. Generally, you should use frozen meals within 1 to 2 months.
• To make meal time completely hassle-free, defrost the required serving of frozen stew in the fridge overnight. When it’s time to serve, all you need to do is microwave it for 15 to 30 seconds.

11. Ending Note

Paying special attention to your pet’s diet is a significant factor to lengthen their life. If you are eager to substitute store-bought dog foods with their healthier, homemade alternatives, these self-prepared stews are a good choice to consider. However, while these crockpot dog food recipes are suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds, we recommend talking to a veterinarian as well. Your vet can guide you on which meal can provide optimum nutrition for your pet. Moreover, they can advise you whether or not your dog requires supplements for a more well-balanced diet.