Easy Crockpot Dog Food
DIY dog food can easily be made right in the slow cooker. It’s healthier and cheaper than store-bought, and it’s freezer-friendly!
If you didn’t know what your slow cooker is capable of, you’ll be very happy to know that you can now add dog food to the crockpot list.
Remember that DIY homemade dog food recipe I made recently? Well, this is pretty much the crockpot version, using a blend of different veggies that will hold up a little better in the slow cooker.
Now the best part about this, just like all slow cooker recipes, is that you can simply dump everything right in. That’s it! Simply set it before you go to work and then you can come home to 2 weeks worth of dog food by the time you get home.
It’s easy, it’s healthy, it’s nutritious, and you know exactly what’s going into your pup’s bowl. This recipe is also completely customizable to veggies that you have on hand – just be sure to double check what your pup can and can’t eat. You can simply do a “can my dog eat xyz” search on Google.
But as always, please consult with your pet’s veterinarian for possible allergies and when applying this information to your own dog’s diet.
Easy Crockpot Dog Food
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 ½ cups brown rice
- 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cups chopped butternut squash
- 1 ½ cups chopped carrots
- ½ cup peas, frozen or canned
Instructions
- Stir in ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, butternut squash, carrots, peas and 4 cups water into a 6-qt slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours, stirring as needed.
- Let cool completely.
Did you make this recipe?
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style=”text-align: center;”>Please consult with your pet’s veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your own dog’s diet.
I would need to replace the rice, kidney beans, and peas with something else. Do you have any suggestions? Thank You!
Debra, we use this resource here to change up the veggies and rice. Hope that helps!
With 4 Corgis I have had to double this recipe and do it in 2 crockpots. The dogs just love this. Its simple to make and I feel good giving them healthy food. I shared the recipe on Facebook and several of my doggie friends are now making it for their Corgis.
Ho10w big is your pooch and how much do you give him/her? I have a 10 year old Rotti. How much do you recommend I give her?? Your input would be greatly appreciated.
We feed our 1-yr old, 19-pound corgi one cup of food each day, supplemented by treats. This was decided after consulting our vet and a nutritionist. I recommend consulting with your own veterinarian to see what is best for your Rotti.
Dogs actually NEED more fat than humans…it’s what keeps their skin from drying out and keeps their fur soft! Please don’t feed grains/beans to cats, they are obligatory carnivores (which means they get all the nutrition they need from MEAT only!) however, unless you feed your cat a whole chicken (yes, feathers, uncooked bones and all) you will not meet their nutritional requirements. Same for dogs. This is a GREAT suggestion as a treat or on top of “regular” food, but unless you are a veterinary nutritionist, you must be VERY VERY careful about switching to “human food”. Our pets, as much as we love them, ARE NOT human and have some very different nutrition needs.
Are you suggesting oils or actual fat from chicken, beef, pork when you stated the animals need the fat to keep their skin from drying?
I totally disagree, I have a very healthy 5 year old mini poodle who I have only feed homemade food since 9 weeks old. I make a batch and freeze it. I take out portions as needed. I checked with a vet with he was little. He just recommended I give him a dog multivitamin and put 2 omega capsules(got from Costco) in his food. As for portions. I give him a full bowl divided in half, twice a dog. As for portions, if your dog gives going back to bowl and lick it after they have finished they are still hungry. Good luck people, btw, my dog is allergic to chicken.
How did I find out?( he threw up and had had diarrhea after I gave him some) JUST MAKE SURE THE WHATEVER VEGGIES YOU PUT, THAT THEY ARE
NOT TOXIC TO DOGS!
I made this yesterday..and portioned it out ..and put some in the freezer ..however this morning whin I took ot out of fridge..there was so much grease that got hard ..around the beef .and I used 90% lean beef…..way to much fat for a dog….sounded good. But not for the pups. This can cause tummy upsets and diarrhea..
Better to brown the meat first and get rid of that fat then mix in the other cooked ingredients…chicken or turkey has less fat ( WITHOUT THE SKIN )
that would be a good replacement for the crockpot meal…
Diane, yes, you can absolutely replace the ground beef with ground turkey and/or ground chicken to suit your preferences.
I don’t have a dog, but I read through this recipe hoping to catch a glimpse of Butters. 🙁 So cute!!!
Do you think a recipe like this would be good for cats? I worry about the nutrition in store bought cat food! I think this is a wonderful idea!
Unfortunately, this is not something I can answer. It may be best to consult your veterinarian.
This recipe would NOT be appropriate for cats. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they require only MEAT and meat protein. Not vegetables or fruits or grains of any kind. Of course, that also means that most store-bought food is inappropriate as well.
Cats absolutely need organ meats. They should be eating a 95-100% meat diet. Organ meats provide taurine, which is essential for a cat’s eyesight.
Cats and dogs are able to convert proteins into glucose for energy. They really don’t need rice and vegetables. Think about what they would eat in the wild. Many dogs like carrots, but they wouldn’t be digging for roots…they would be hunting for meat. Cats need starches even less than dogs do.
Your recipes are rarely discarded…I love every one and this is no exception…I do however already make a food similar to this…My dog Spice, french bulldog with sensitive tummy, LOVES this food…It’s the only thing she will eat. I make big batches and use my 1/3 c cookie scoop/ice cream scooper, make mounds on a pan and freeze, then place mounds into a zip lock bag and store in freezer. Take one out daily, pop in microwave for 30 seconds and BAM…lol I use a whole chicken, 1# of burger and 1# pork, beef or chicken liver for meat…1 large can crushed tomatoes, one can water, 1 c brown rice, 1 c oatmeal, 1 large sweet potato, 5 carrots and 1/2 bag (3 handfuls) of fresh spinach…I put the liver, potato, carrots and spinach into the food processor and process until fine, dogs can not digest some veggies the way we can, like carrots. So in order to be absorbed it needs to be finely shredded at least. And the liver once cooked don’t break up nicely, so I just process it. cook all day in slow cooker, take a potato masher and smash it up (oh remove bone from chicken too if you put bone in there…(I use whats on sale which might be boneless chicken thighs so sometimes I have no bone to remove)
My vet says absolutely no tomatoes or tomato based foods. As for the carrots, that’s my little guy’s favorite treat – raw baby carrots! Much better for him then store bought treats.
Great idea with the 1/3 C portions! I would warn against nuking the food though. The microwaves absolutely annihilate many of the nutrients in food. We don’t even use it for our own food, just for heating up a quick cup of water for tea, coffee, etc.
The assertion that microwaves kill nutrients is a myth that is not based on any science whatsoever.
https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/microwaves-and-nutrition/
Molly, you can do your own science by taking 2 of the same houseplants, water one with straight tap water the other with water that you microwave for at leas one minute, allow to cool completely before watering the plant. Do this for the next month or two every time you water and you will see the plant with microwaved water begins to yellow shrivel up and get spots, the leaves droop and prematurely fall off and soon after completely dies. Try it yourself, and maybe you will think differently. Imagine what this does to babies whose bottles are heated in the microwave. They get little to no nutrients because microwave rays kills everything that is exposed to them.
What is the percentage of fat you used for your beef??…..70, 80, 85 or 90%. whatever….. That will play a factor in how “greasy” the final product will be. Will brush up on the nutrients needed for my dog and make this as a meal/supplement for him. Thanks Chungah. PS….I have veggie broth cooking for him in the crock-pot as “we speak”……Please keep the doggie recipes coming.
I used lean ground beef (93/7).
I was going to print it ….I thought it looked soooo good….but have no dogs… it’s probably a human meal also……isn’t it?????
Yes, this is absolutely “human food” but it will be a bit bland as there is no seasoning in this recipe!
I’ve been making homemade dog food for several months now, but never in the crockpot. I will be making a batch today. I actually make it to serve as a treat. I freeze the food in 1/2 cup containers . When it’s time for the treat I run the container under warm water for a couple of seconds and the frozen food pops out….The dogs love it! I make sure they eat it on a large towel to make sure they don’t dirty the carpet.
Kathy, I bet you could put the food in ice cube trays, then once they’re frozen pop them out and transfer to a freezer bag !
The only thing I would add is perhaps some eggshell powder (from eggs youve used) and some organ meat such as kidneys or liver) calcium and rich organ meats are very important to a dogs diet
Yes, I was thinking this too. Both the calcium and the organ meats. And I think the beans are unnecessary and probably not good for the gut. Beans can actually be hard on the human gut, too.
We’ve been making something similar for our 11 lb. cockapoo, except we use chicken instead of beef. We also have mixed the vitamins into the food before freezing in the correct quantities. However, we haven’t been making it in the crockpot, so for sure I want to try it that way!
What is a serving size? I have an 80 pound GR mix. I doubt 12 cups of food will last 2 weeks. LOL!
Laura, we feed 1 cup to our 20-pound corgi (supplemented by vitamins and various treats) as directed by different research outlets and our veterinarian. Please consult your vet and/or use your best judgment for the appropriate serving size for your pup.
Hi! do you feed your dog one cup per daY? OR one cup in the morn and one cup in the p.m.?? thank you for this amazing recipe! My 70lb chocolate lab will LOVE it!!
We feed our 20-pound corgis 1 cup total per day, supplemented by vitamins and treats.
I’ve been cooking my own dog food for the past few years but just recently started doing so in the slow cooker. The crockpot is definitely the way to go! I usually cook it up on Saturdays with a very similar recipe to this one, although I’ve never tried kidney beans. Turns out like a thick soup, and when refrigerated, like a thick porridge. Keeps just fine in the fridge for days but I wouldn’t go past a week (I always use mine up before that). I throw some in a bowl, microwave for 40 seconds to about room temp, and serve it up individually to my pups on a small bed of dry dog food, since I like to offer that crunch as well. Easy, convenient, less expensive, and healthy– how can you beat that? Thanks for posting this, Chungah!
My 13 year old yorkie is having surgery tomorrow to remove some yucky teeth. She’s been on dry/crunchy food her whole life but now needs to stick to soft. I’ve already made your DIY food and have it portioned in the freezer. DEFINITELY going to use this crockpot version as well! Thanks so much, Chungah!
I love this! I used to make my dog’s food in the crockpot. I got lazy & stopped. I’m definately starting again! Thank you so much!!
Two weeks worth of dog food and can only be refrigerated for 1-2 days?
Joyce, as mentioned throughout the post, this is a freezer-friendly recipe. You should freeze most of this in serving portions and thaw as needed since 12-14 days worth of food cannot be adequately stored in the fridge without spoilage.
Joyce, I have been cooking recipes like this for my two GSD’s for a couple of years now. I leave enough of the cooked food out to feed my dogs for a couple of days, the rest I freeze in individual square freezer containers that I bought at WalMart specifically for this purpose. Each evening I take the next days feedings out of the freezer and it is ready to give to the dogs the next day. Very easy, very economical, and very healthy.
Hi Babs,
How much do you feed your GSDs. I am trying to work out how much of this te feed a 4 months old GSD cross puppy I am fostering. I will be using it in conjuntion with wet and dry dog food to make sure she doesn’t miss anything she should be having. Any advice about amounts to feed a 4 month old large breed dog?
I am really interested in making this for my girls, how much do you feed them?
I have a 100 lb , 30 lb and 10 lb dog…..
Hi everyone. I’m wondering what others are using as a guide on how much people are feeding their dogs?? I have a 90lb mastiff cross and a 60 lb husky cross. Also looking for opinions if people are strictly feeding this home cooked dog food or still using some kibble to make sure dogs are getting a well balanced diet. Thanks so much!!
I LIKE FOR MY DOGS TO HAVE DRY, CRUNCHY FOOD. ANY WAY TO TURN THIS RECIPE INTO CRUNCHY?
Linda, this really has more of a “wet food” type texture.
You could probably mix it half and half with dry biscuits? That would make the biscuits last longer too!
Leave some of the carrots raw….that’ll give it crunch
I’ve read carrots are best cooked al dente as they cannot digest them completely raw..
Probably depends on who’s post you read. I cook mine a little just to be sure.
Dry food for dogs or cats causes kidney failure that doesn’t start showing signs until after middle age. Bought dry food has less protein because it’s been rendered so many times. Every step that’s taken from raw meat to dry food takes more protein out. There’s a lot of steps to get to dry. Plus most dog food manufacturer’s use what humans don’t. Some use parts is a diseased animal.
▪️The least healthy food is dry
▪️2nd is dry food moistened but NEVDR leave in bowl of it will mold & grow other bacteria.
Third is canned food because it has lots of moisture ~ be sure MEAT is the #1 ingredient. A dog has absolutely no need for carbs, grains. How many carbs do dogs’ ancestor’s get? Wolves!
▪️Second to best is homemade with 95% bring meat. White chicken is best with a little skin or acbonrldss skinless thigh added in. Dark meat has twice the calories & fat as white meat. Any meat, cold water fish I’d acceptable. I don’t use ground beef because we have small dogs on a limited # of calories per day.
▪️ The healthiest food for your dog is raw. Raw meat, raw low calorie/high fiber vegetables. No grain or higher calorie carbs. Most people can’t handle raw & I’m one of them. You have to be extremely careful with raw meat, never leaving it down & washing bowls after every meal. We don’t leave even dry food down because dogs become grazers. They need 1 or 2 set meal times daily that are the right amount of nutrients for your dog’s weight & specific needs.
One thing I noticed with the crock pot dog food is no supplements were added after cooking. Every homemade dog food needs bone meal powder. No bones are ground up & added to the recipe. Who wants to do that or has the means to grind bones into
Pieces so soft, it’s not noticeable in food.
1 t. of human grade bone meal powder per day for a
30 lb dog is all it takes.
We add a good grade of liquid multivitamins.
We also add powdered probiotics & a squirt of Cold water fish oil (Omega 3 fatty acids) in liquid form. It’s amazing what this does for your dog’s coat & skin not to mention the health benefits.,
Raw bones from large animals ~ no cooked bones (can splinter & puncture intestines). Absolutely no poultry bonds unless ground to a pulp & added food. Your butcher has a variety of raw bones for you they would normally throw away.
W
Not all dogs can tolerate raw food. People worry about salmonella in dog treats yet they throw raw food at their dogs which is nothing more than a fad. At very least meat should be seared to remove bacteria. I nearly killed one of my dogs jumping on the raw food fad. As far as what is best, whole food of course. But I know people that have fed their dogs grocery store kibble and the dogs lived 15 and 16 years long past normal. Growing up our dogs ate whatever was left from our food. They all lived long healthy lives. The illness in dogs today is a lot more lifestyle and most importantly over vaccination. Dogs do not need to be vaccinated over and over again. Once they achieve immunity it is for life. Do your own research on this.
MY DOSG LIKE FRESH APPLE, WE PEELD AND CUBE SOME AND ADD IT INTO FOOD
This is so clever! I love the idea of having freshly made food for our dogs. Going to try this for sure!
Would have like to have seen a picture of the finished product. Is it water, or is all the water sucked up in the rice? Is it a little greasy from the meat not being cooked and drained prior?
Would like to try this recipe for my dog
The water is reduced completely by the rice, and it is not very greasy at all.
I made it with ground turkey instead of beef. Not as greasey.
How do I portion this?
Please consult with your pet’s veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your own dog’s diet.
Hi I am using your recipes for my French bulldog but I see the comments that u just put all the ingredients in with water you don’t have to cook the meat and drain the juice from the meat , I think that what I am reading . I hope my Frenchie like it .. Let you know later.. I did try the turkey carrots peas spinach squash she love it and I put coconut oil organic to give it favor everything is organic for my little lady and her fur look a lot better .. Going to the vet soon to get her tested for allgeries
I but very lean ground beef
I made this with trout (found in my freezer! I wouldn’t normally buy my beloved babies, Augie & Abrams, Scottish trout!) and used sweet potato instead of squash. They love this version. I feed out less fresh food than dry as a rule. Abe has chicken allergy so making his food works for us. Abe is 9 yo and 35 lbs, he gets about 2/3 c twice a day, still working on portion amount. May cut back a little bit more, kind of a couch potato for a dauchsund cross! Augie is 3 yo & 20 lb. He gets 1/3 c twice a day. Picky eater with dry or canned dog food but not with homemade. The boys are bright and alert, when Abrams decides he done napping you’d never guess he was 9! As active as Augie chasing each other around the garden! It takes so little cost & time to give your dogs this extra boost. TRY IT!!!