My Nesco dehydrator came with a recipe for Thanksgiving themed pet treats made from turkey, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and cranberries. These are a huge hit around our house all year long!
Chop sweet potato into roughly even pieces and add to a pot of boiling water, enough to cover potatoes. Boil for about about 10 minutes, until pieces are soft
Cook turkey on medium heat to slightly brown, chopping into smaller pieces as you go, about 10 minutes. Do not season the meat, these are for your pets so they should be 'bland'!
Add 1 cup of fresh water and 1 lb. cooked ground turkey to a Vitamix or other blender and blend until all chunks are gone
Add 1 cup of cooked sweet potato and 1 Tbsp molasses to Vitamix and puree until you have a paste
Transfer puree into a bowl and combine with 1.5 cups of dry oatmeal. The mixture should not be overly wet or runny. Add more oatmeal to get close to a dough-like consistency
Using a small disher or teaspoon, spoon the treats onto the dehydrator racks and securely press a cranberry on top. Dehydrate at 160 degrees for 4-5 hours until dried but not crispy
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Thank you. My dog actually ate this. He’s really picky. I thought I would have to throw these on the smoker for a few mins, but nope. Thank you for the recipe!
I’m so glad it worked out, these are very popular treats around our house!
I have made these for years but totally forgot about them! I made them today for the pups and what a hit!
Love it!!!!
Since I’m lazy and have canned pumpkin in hand do you think I could sub the water and sweet potato for canned pumpkin?
Yes, totally! Just make sure to check the canned pumpkin to make sure it doesn’t have anything bad for pets!
How long do these treats last?
It really depends on how you store them – I’ve had great success using a clear, air-tight canister on the counter, but you can also store them in the refrigerator for a longer shelf-life. However, I vacuum-sealed a batch in a foil pouch and sent some to my sister, and within the few days of traveling they were moldy by the time they got there.
The best treats. My dog and 4 granddogs love these. They love them frozen.