Treat your furry friend this Thanksgiving! These homemade Thanksgiving dog treats are made with leftover turkey, sweet potatoes, and green beans. A festive and healthy feast for your pup’s taste buds! These DIY doggie treats are a great way to share the holiday food and fun with your canine companion.
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- Why You'll Love This Thanksgiving Dog Treats Recipe
- Ingredients
- Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Equipment Needed
- How to Make Thanksgiving Treats for Dogs
- Serving Size
- How to Store the Treats
- How Long Do Homemade Thanksgiving Dog Treats Last?
- Can Humans Eat These Thanksgiving Dog Treats?
- More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
- Thanksgiving Dog Treats
Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Dog Treats Recipe
It’s so much fun to share a homemade treat with your pup as part of their Thanksgiving dinner. This easy recipe is made with just five simple ingredients. Since it’s made with whole foods, it’s a healthy treat. But perhaps the best part about them is that you don’t need fancy gadgets – just a cookie sheet and your favorite cookie cutter.
Here are some more reasons you and your fur baby will love these delicious Thanksgiving treats.
- Wholesome Ingredients: Made with food like real turkey, sweet potatoes, and green beans, these treats prioritize your dog’s health and well-being.
- No Added Fillers: Say goodbye to commercial treats with mysterious ingredients. Know exactly what you’re giving your pet with simple ingredients.
- Perfect Use of Leftovers: Instead of wasting or trying to repurpose your Thanksgiving leftovers, turn them into delicious treats your dog will love.
- Economical & Sustainable: Save money by using what you have on hand and be eco-friendly by reducing food waste.
- Simple & Quick: No complicated steps – just mix, roll, cut, and bake!
- Tail-Wagging Flavor: Your dog won’t be able to resist the savory taste of turkey combined with the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes.
- Flexible Recipe: You can easily adjust the treat size for small pups or big hounds.
- A Thoughtful Gift: Homemade dog treats make wonderful gifts for fellow dog lovers during the holiday season.
- Strengthen the Bond: Baking for your dog is a gesture of love, further strengthening the bond between you and your furry companion.
Whether you’re a pet parent who believes in natural feeding or someone looking for a unique way to utilize holiday leftovers, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household.
Ingredients
The full recipe with exact ingredient amounts and step-by-step directions is in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. First, I want to share some information about the ingredients.
- Turkey – Leftover white or dark turkey meat.
- Sweet Potato – Plain cooked sweet potato.
- Green Beans – Cooked green beans without seasonings.
- Egg – Binds the dough and is a great source of essential fatty acids.
- Brown Rice Flour – Nutrient-rich and easily digestible for most dogs.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
There are a few ways that you can change up these homemade treats. Here are a few of the easiest ways to change the ingredients around.
- Use raw green beans instead of cooked ones. If the beans were cooked with seasoning, rinse them thoroughly before using them in the treats.
- Substitute the sweet potato with plain pumpkin puree. Do not use pumpkin pie mix or filling because it may contain spices toxic to dogs.
- Substitute the green beans with other dog-friendly cooked or fresh vegetables like carrots.
- Make brown rice flour by placing dry, uncooked brown rice in a blender or food processor and blending until it reaches the consistency of flour.
- Substitute brown rice flour with oat flour or all-purpose flour. Whole wheat flour is denser and if you want to use it, substitute half of the rice flour with it.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make the treats. You can use cookie cutters of your choice, but cute cookie cutters, dog cookie cutters, or ones shaped like dog bones give them a fun look.
If you don’t have cookie cutters, you can use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into squares or rectangles.
How to Make Thanksgiving Treats for Dogs
These are the recipe steps and some photos of making the treats. I hope they help you make this healthy dog treats recipe! Note there’s a printable recipe card below.
- Cut the green beans into small pieces, about ¼-inch.
- Place the shredded turkey, sweet potato, and egg in a food processor.
- Process until the mixture is smooth.
- Place the turkey mixture in a large bowl.
- Add the chopped green beans to the mixing bowl and stir them in.
- Add the flour.
- Stir in the flour until it forms a thick dough that’s rollable and cutable.
- Roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter to cut out the treats.
- Place the cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake the treats at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
- Transfer the baked treats to cool on a wire rack.
Serving Size
How many homemade Thanksgiving dog treats should you give your pup at once? That depends on the amount of food you gave your pet to eat that day and the size of your dog. Large dogs can consume more than smaller dogs.
Even though the main ingredient in these treats is turkey and sweet potatoes, they are still treats, and they should be included when you consider your dog’s daily caloric intake. Make sure you don’t exceed the recommended amount for your dog. That amount changes per dog breed, size, and activity level.
Dogs shouldn’t have too many treats, including these yummy ones that taste like a Thanksgiving feast. For this reason, I suggest only giving your spoiled hound one treat per day.
However, you can use your own judgment regarding how many treats are right for your dog.
Keep in mind that when adding new foods to your dog’s diet, start with small amounts to ensure your dog has no adverse or allergic reactions.
How to Store the Treats
These baked dog treats should be stored in an airtight container or plastic zip-top bag in the refrigerator or freezer.
How Long Do Homemade Thanksgiving Dog Treats Last?
Thanksgiving dog treats in a sealed container will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator. They will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
It is best to freeze these treats because they may become moldy due to the turkey and green beans. Just take a few out of the freezer at a time. Your dog may enjoy the frozen treat, or you can thaw them in the fridge overnight.
Can Humans Eat These Thanksgiving Dog Treats?
Yes, people can eat these treats. All the ingredients are safe for human consumption. However, I doubt folks would enjoy them.
More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Do you want to make some other tasty treats for your dog? Here are some popular ones:
- Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats
- Banana Pumpkin Dog Treats
- Chicken Pot Pie for Dogs
- Christmas Dog Treats
- Cranberry Dog Treats
- Ground Turkey Dog Treats
- Jerky Treats
Find more easy dog treat recipes here on Spoiled Hounds!
Thanksgiving Dog Treats
Ingredients
- ½ cup Cooked Green Beans
- 1 cup Cooked and Shredded Turkey
- ½ cup Cooked and Mashed Sweet Potato
- 1 Egg
- ¾ cup Brown Rice Flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper or silicone mat.
- Cut green beans into ¼-inch pieces.
- In a food processor, combine shredded turkey, mashed sweet potato and egg.
- Place mixture from the processor in a medium bowl.
- Fold in cut green beans.
- Add brown rice flour a little at a time and combine until a rollable dough has formed.
- Place the dough on a flat surface and roll out the dough until it is ¼ to ½-inch thick.
- Using a cookie cutter of your choice, cut out shapes and place the cutouts on the baking sheet. Re-roll and cut dough as needed.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Transfer the baked treats to a wire rack to cool.
Nice Food for my dog.
Knowing my whippet Tuco, he and I both are going to love these. I cannot wait to make them…..Apple & peanut butter cookies, also the banana pumpkin cookies.
Thank you kindly for all the knowledge you give us.
Tuco & Tami
Amazing ideas for Thanksgiving canine treats! Our pets must be able to celebrate the season with us. Dog Treats Some of these recipes sound perfect for the Thanksgiving meal I’ll be cooking for my dog.