A gentle, easy-to-digest slow cooker recipe that also makes a large batch in one session. For general slow cooker guidance, see Slow Cooker and Crockpot Dog Food Recipes.
Ingredients (Makes Roughly 8 to 10 Days of Food for a 20kg Dog)
1.8kg lean pork shoulder, cubed, excess fat trimmed
900g sweet potato, peeled and cubed
4 teaspoons ground eggshell (or 4,000mg calcium carbonate supplement)
2 tablespoons fish oil
2 to 3 servings of a complete vitamin and mineral supplement formulated for homemade dog food, such as Balance IT, dosed per that product’s label for your dog’s weight and total batch size
Method
Add the pork and sweet potato to the slow cooker with enough water to just cover the ingredients.
Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the pork is fully cooked through with no pink remaining.
Mash the sweet potato slightly into the mixture once cooked, if you’d like a thicker consistency, or leave it in chunks.
Let the mixture cool, then stir in the ground eggshell or calcium supplement, fish oil, and vitamin and mineral supplement, distributing evenly throughout.
Divide into daily portions once fully cooled.
How Much to Feed
Portion needs depend on your dog’s weight, not just this recipe’s batch size. See the full weight-based feeding table in Homemade Dog Food: The Complete Guide for daily and per-meal amounts by weight.
Start with the table’s figure for your dog’s weight, then adjust based on body condition, checked every couple of weeks.
Storage
Refrigerate up to 4 days’ worth in an airtight container, and freeze the rest in daily portions for longer storage.
Variations
Ground pork can substitute for cubed pork shoulder if you prefer a smoother texture.
Pumpkin or butternut squash can replace sweet potato for a different vegetable base.
FAQ
Is pork shoulder a fatty cut for this recipe?
Trim visible fat before cooking to keep the recipe leaner, since pork shoulder naturally has more marbling than some other cuts.
Can I use a different cut of pork?
Pork loin works too and is leaner, though it can dry out slightly more over a long cook time.
Is this recipe gentle enough for a dog with a sensitive stomach?
It’s a milder option than some other recipes here, though check with your vet if your dog has ongoing digestive issues rather than an occasional sensitivity.
The Bottom Line
This pork and sweet potato recipe gives you a large, gentle batch with minimal hands-on effort. For more slow cooker recipes, head back to Slow Cooker and Crockpot Dog Food Recipes.
