Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs
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Your dog deserves to indulge this Thanksgiving too! Try this recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs and treat your dog to a homemade feast they will love.
If you love cooking for your dog as much as I do, be sure to check out some of John John’s other favorite recipes like my Chicken Dinner for Dogs, Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Cookies, or my Apple Crisp for Dogs.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
If you are a crazy AF dog mom (like me) then you are probably thinking that your dog should be indulging this Thanksgiving just like everyone else, amiright?! This easy recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs combines dog friendly ingredients with traditional Thanksgiving foods to give your dog a healthy and special dinner.
I start by using Organic Prairie Turkey Breast. My pug, John John, loves this turkey breast, especially when I brush it with coconut oil! I bake this in the oven so it’s incredibly easy to do. I boil sweet potatoes and green beans and add chopped apples for a little sweetness.
Ingredients & Health Benefits
Turkey Breast
Turkey breast is a lean and healthy meat for dogs. It’s easier to digest than more fatty meats like beef or pork. Plus, turkey is loaded with protein and rich in essential amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s also delicious when brushed with coconut oil (John John’s fave!).
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a great carb for dogs. They are John John’s favorite, and he eats them daily! Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene and they can help keep your dog’s heart healthy by reducing the risk of heart disease. They are also soft and delicious with a little sweetness!
Green Beans
Green beans are a great vegetable option for your dog! They have protein, iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamins B6, A, C, and K. If your dog is new to green beans, give them in moderation as vegetables high in fiber could upset a stomach, so start off slow.
Apples
Apples are a great fruit to give your dog! They are not only a sweet treat, but they provide vitamin A, C, and fiber. They also provide a way to keep your dog’s teeth clean and can help freshen their breath. Dessert and toothbrushing all in one, haha! Just be sure to remove the core and seeds completely, as dogs cannot eat those parts. But, the skins are fine to leave on so long as you cut into small bites. You can use any variety of apples that you like, but John John prefers the little bit sweeter ones like Gala, Fuji, Sweetie, or Pink Lady.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a superfood for your dog! You can buy organic pumpkin puree and just mix it into food. John John eats his Pumpkin Granola for Dogs daily, so I don't usually mix pumpkin into food as well as he likes it better in the granola versus in his meals. But, pumpkin is a superfood that your dog can eat every single day. Mixing it into food is a great way to give them pumpkin if they like it! This ingredient can help with digestion and more.
Tools Needed
- Small Pot: You'll need two small pots to cook the sweet potatoes and also the green beans. I use a 3-quart pot for the potatoes and a 1.75-quart pot for the green beans.
- Baking Dish: You'll need a baking dish to cook the turkey breast. If you don't have a baking dish, you can cook on a baking sheet too. If you use a baking sheet, you may need less time in the oven than with a ceramic dish.
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How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Step 2
In a shallow baking dish, add the turkey breast and brush the top with coconut oil. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165°F.
Step 3
Peel the sweet potato, it’s very important to peel it well, as dogs cannot have the skin. Slice into medallions that are about ½-inch thick.
Step 4
Add to a small pot and fill three-quarters with water. Put over medium/high heat and bring to a boil. Allow the potatoes to boil until they are soft when poked with a fork, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and strain the water.
Step 5
Cut potatoes into small cubes, depending on the size of your dog.
Step 6
Trim the ends off the green beans. Fill a small pot three-quarters full with water and add the green beans. Bring to a boil and allow green beans to boil until cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain the water.
Step 7
Cut the green beans into small cubes, depending on the size of your dog.
Step 8
Slice the apple into small cubes, depending on the size of your dog.
Step 9
Slice the turkey into small cubes, depending on the size of your dog.
Step 10
Add turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, and apples to your dogs bowl and serve immediately. If you want to mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of pumpkin (depending on the size of your dog) you can mix it into this meal!
FAQ's
This all depends on your dog’s size, current weight, and activity level. Always check with your vet to make sure you are feeding your dog the appropriate amount of food for their size and age.
But a general rule is you should be feeding your dog 2% to 5% of their body weight in fresh food. And small dogs weighing about 20 pounds or less can even get up to 10%! I have an entire article dedicated to How Much Homemade Dog Food Should I Feed My Dog? with a formula you can use for your dog's weight.
Yes, other veggies that would be good for dogs would be carrots, bell peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, peas, broccoli, and beets to name a few more that may be on your Thanksgiving menu! Feel free to change it up to accommodate your dogs likes.
Dogs can have both fresh or dried cranberries. But they may not like them as they may be too tart! So, see if your dog likes them before adding into foods. Also, beware of dried cranberries that contain added sugars, as you should avoid those for your dog.
Yes! Dogs can have pumpkin and it is rich in fiber, vitamin A, C, E as well as potassium and iron! Pumpkin is a great addition to your dogs food and can also help with digestion. If you want mix in 1 to 2 tablespoon of pumpkin to this meal, your dog will love that.
To make all John John's meals complete, I always add two additional things — organ meat and bone powder. John John will get organic beef liver as a food topper (or if it's around Thanksgiving, then I cook up the turkey giblets for him!). Just be sure organ meat is organic and does not make up more than 10% of the meal. Then I add in bone powder and stir it up.
Craving More?
Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pound turkey breast
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 sweet potato
- 1 cup green beans
- 1 apple
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a shallow baking dish, add the turkey breast and brush the top with coconut oil. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165°F.
- Peel the sweet potato, it’s very important to peel it well, as dogs cannot have the skin. Slice into medallions that are about ½-inch thick.
- Add to a small pot and fill three-quarters with water. Put over medium/high heat and bring to a boil. Allow the potatoes to boil until they are soft when poked with a fork, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and strain the water.
- Cut potatoes into small cubes, depending on the size of your dog.
- Trim the ends off the green beans. Fill a small pot three-quarters full with water and add the green beans. Bring to a boil and allow green beans to boil until cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain the water.
- Cut the green beans into small cubes, depending on the size of your dog.
- Slice the apple into small cubes, depending on the size of your dog.
- Slice the turkey into small cubes, depending on the size of your dog.
- Add turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, and apples to your dogs bowl and serve immediately. If you want to mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of pumpkin (depending on the size of your dog) you can mix it into this meal!
- Store extra food in the fridge for up to 5 days and reheat for your dogs meals.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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