Let’s face it, at some point this weekend you’re pretty sure you never want to see another bite of turkey until next Thanksgiving. Good thing for you, you always have a fuzzy someone willing to take those pesky leftovers off your hands.

Enough with the leftover turkey! Once you’ve served it in sandwiches, soups and turkey salads, it’s time to treat your dog to a nice surprise.

Thanks to Pet Lifestyle Advisor, Wendy Nan Rees, we’ve got just the tip for turning your turkey into a holiday-worthy canine feast – a recipe created especially for Woof Report!

Bird In A Pan (AKA Turkey Loaf with Stuffing) – Serves 2

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey (you can use leftover turkey, and put in blender to chop)
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup sweet potatoes
1 egg, beaten
1 cup low salt chicken broth
1 cup of your favorite stuffing (without nuts, raisins, grapes or onions, of course)
½ cup fresh celery, chopped
½ cup carrots, chopped
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped (or 3 tablespoons dried parsley, chopped)
1-1/2 tablespoons chopped garlic
3 tablespoons wheat germ

Directions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, mix rice, sweet potatoes, egg, celery, carrots, garlic and parsley.
  • In a medium bowl, blend chicken broth and stuffing.
  • Add turkey to mixture.
  • Shape into loaf pan.
  • Bake for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until done. (Toothpick inserted in center of the loaf should come out clean.)

The Scoop:

Thank you to Pet Lifestyle Advisor Wendy Nan Rees for the recipe. Wendy has 25+ years’ experience in the pet industry, and she’s the author of The Natural Pet Food Cookbook – Healthful Recipes for Dogs and Cats, with Kevin Schlanger.
www.wendynanrees.com

Thank you to Buster in Los Angeles for the photo.

Originally published November 2010; reviewed and updated November 2016.