These Thanksgiving treats for dogs give your pup the flavors of the feast without the butter, onion and bones that make holiday food risky. You’ll find two homemade recipes, baked turkey and sweet potato “dinner bites” and no-bake frozen pumpkin pie bites, plus four zero-recipe ideas you can make while the bird roasts. Each comes with calories per treat, how many to give by weight, and storage tips.
Recipes: turkey sweet potato dinner bites, frozen pumpkin pie bites, plus 4 quick ideas • Prep: 15–20 minutes • Cook: 20 minutes (dinner bites) or 3 hours freezing (pie bites) • Yield: about 36 dinner bites or 24 pie bites • Difficulty: easy • Storage: dinner bites 4 days in the fridge or 3 months frozen; pie bites 2 months frozen
Cook all treats from plain ingredients before any seasoning, butter or onion goes into the family’s food.
Table of Contents
Why Make Homemade Thanksgiving Treats for Dogs?
Most Thanksgiving dishes are off-limits for dogs. Stuffing and gravy contain onion and garlic, turkey skin and drippings are very fatty, and pies bring sugar and spices. Homemade Thanksgiving dog treats let your dog join in with the safe parts of the menu: plain turkey, sweet potato, pumpkin, green beans and a few cranberries. For a full list of what’s OK on the table, see our guide on what Thanksgiving food dogs can eat.
Recipe 1: Turkey and Sweet Potato Dinner Bites
Turkey and Sweet Potato Thanksgiving Dog Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a tray with parchment, or grease a mini muffin tin.
- Mix all the ingredients with clean hands until evenly combined.
- Roll into about 36 tablespoon-size balls or press into mini muffin cups.
- Bake 18 to 22 minutes, until the center reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Cool completely. Cut in halves or quarters for small dogs.
Notes
The batch is about 1,150 calories, so each bite has roughly 32 calories. Because these are meaty and moist, treat them like fresh food and keep them in the fridge. Want more ways to use ground turkey? See ground turkey for dogs.
Recipe 2: No-Bake Frozen Pumpkin Pie Bites
Frozen Pumpkin Pie Dog Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Stir everything together until smooth.
- Spoon into small silicone molds or an ice cube tray, about 1 tablespoon each.
- Freeze at least 3 hours. Serve one straight from the freezer.
Notes
You’ll get about 24 bites at roughly 7 calories each. For more pumpkin recipes, try our baked pumpkin dog treats, and read can dogs eat pumpkin for portion tips.
4 Quick Thanksgiving Treat Ideas (No Recipe Needed)
- Plain turkey nibbles: before seasoning, set aside a few strips of skinless breast and dice them small. See can dogs eat turkey.
- Green bean crunchies: plain steamed or frozen green beans cut into bites.
- Sweet potato rounds: slice a plain baked sweet potato and cool. Our sweet potato dog treats show how to make chewy versions.
- Stuffed toy: fill a rubber toy with plain pumpkin and a few kibble pieces, then freeze. It keeps dogs busy while you eat.
How Many Thanksgiving Treats Per Day?
Holiday days are easy to overdo. Following the WSAVA guideline of about 10% of daily calories from treats:
| Dog’s Weight | Daily Treat Budget | Dinner Bites (32 kcal) | Pumpkin Pie Bites (7 kcal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | ~35 kcal | 1 | up to 4 |
| 25 lb (11 kg) | ~70 kcal | 2 | up to 8 |
| 50 lb (23 kg) | ~115 kcal | 3 | up to 12 |
| 75 lb (34 kg) | ~160 kcal | 5 | up to 15 |
Our estimates for healthy, neutered adult dogs. If your dog also gets plain turkey or other extras that day, cut back on treats or reduce their regular meal slightly.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
| Treat | Fridge | Freezer | Make-Ahead Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey sweet potato bites | Up to 4 days | Up to 3 months | Bake the weekend before; thaw overnight in the fridge |
| Frozen pumpkin pie bites | Not recommended | Up to 2 months | Make a double batch for Christmas too |
| Plain turkey nibbles | Up to 3 days | Up to 2 months | Freeze in small portions as training rewards |
Swaps for Allergies and Special Diets
- Poultry allergy: use plain lean ground beef or lamb if your vet approves; see our dog food allergies guide.
- Grain-free: replace oat flour with chickpea or coconut flour (use a little less coconut flour).
- Dairy-sensitive: make the pie bites with pumpkin and mashed banana instead of yogurt.
- Low-fat diet: use 99% lean ground turkey breast and skip the egg yolk.
- Cranberry lovers: stir a few chopped fresh cranberries into either recipe.
Is lean ground turkey a good base for occasional homemade treats? Yes, if it's plain, lean and cooked to 165°F.
Is a small amount of cinnamon OK in dog treats? Small amounts of ground cinnamon are generally safe. Avoid nutmeg.
— Dr. Sarah Miller, DVM
Thanksgiving Dog Treats: Quick Serving Guide
✓ Do
- Use plain turkey, pumpkin and sweet potato
- Cook turkey bites to 165°F
- Keep meaty treats in the fridge
- Count treats in the day’s calories
✕ Don’t
- Add onion, garlic or nutmeg
- Use turkey skin, bones or drippings
- Swap in pumpkin pie filling
- Feed treats from the dinner table
Dogs with pancreatitis, allergies or a sensitive stomach should get a vet’s OK before holiday treats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I give my dog for Thanksgiving?
Plain, skinless turkey breast, plain sweet potato, pumpkin puree, green beans, carrots and a few cranberries, or one of the treats above.
Can I use leftover turkey for dog treats?
Only plain meat with no skin, seasoning, butter or gravy. Most leftover turkey has been seasoned, so it’s safer to set some aside before cooking.
Can dogs have pumpkin pie?
No. Pie is sugary and spiced. The frozen pumpkin pie bites above give a similar look with dog-safe ingredients.
Can I give these treats to my puppy?
Yes, in small pieces once they’re on solid food. Puppies have smaller treat budgets, so break bites into quarters.
Are Thanksgiving dog treats good as gifts?
The frozen bites and meaty dinner bites need refrigeration, so they’re best for your own dog. Baked cranberry dog treats travel better.
Can dogs eat Thanksgiving treats every day?
They can have them as part of their normal treat allowance, as long as the total stays around 10% of daily calories.
Find your next bake in our homemade dog treats guide, sorted into baked, frozen, meaty and holiday recipes.
The Bottom Line
These Thanksgiving treats for dogs, turkey and sweet potato dinner bites and frozen pumpkin pie bites, let your dog enjoy the holiday safely. Use plain ingredients, skip onion, garlic, nutmeg and skin, and keep treats within the daily budget. Browse more recipes in our Homemade Treats collection. This article is general information, not veterinary advice; see our Veterinary Disclaimer.
References & Sources
Written by CPD Nutrition Desk using the sources below. We are not affiliated with these organizations, and this guide is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
- WSAVA — Feeding treats to your dog v2
- ASPCA — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center