Kyo's KitchenGood food. Happy dogs.

Turkey & Pumpkin Meatballs

Two ingredients plus a binder, baked through until fully cooked. No salt, no gravy, no seasoning of any kind.

Small plain cooked turkey and pumpkin meatballs on a parchment-lined baking tray, with no sauce or garnish
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
25 minutes
Total
40 minutes
Difficulty
Easy

Kyo's Kitchen recipe card

Turkey & Pumpkin Meatballs

Makes About 18 small meatballs · 40 minutes total

Ingredients

  • 500 g lean ground turkey, plain and raw (not deli turkey, not seasoned or brined mince)
  • 1/2 cup plain pumpkin puree (100% pumpkin, no spices or sweetener)
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats, blitzed to a rough flour
  • 1 large egg, if the mixture feels loose

Instructions

  1. 1Heat the oven to 190C / 375F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
  2. 2Mix the turkey, pumpkin and oats with clean hands or a spoon until just combined. Add the egg only if the mixture will not hold a ball.
  3. 3Roll small meatballs about 2 cm across and space them on the tray so they cook evenly.
  4. 4Bake 22-25 minutes until firm and cooked all the way through with no pink centre. Poultry must reach 74C / 165F internally; check the largest one with a thermometer if you have one.
  5. 5Drain any fat and let them cool completely before serving. Break one open to confirm the middle is fully cooked.

Storage

  • Fridge in an airtight container: up to 3 days. Treat them exactly like cooked poultry for people.
  • Freezer: up to 2 months. Freeze in a single layer, then bag; thaw in the fridge, never on the counter.
  • Serve within 2 hours of coming out of the fridge and refrigerate anything left over straight away.
  • Do not reheat repeatedly, and discard anything with an off smell.

Serving considerations

  • These are richer than a biscuit, so one small meatball is a treat rather than a meal component.
  • Treats should stay a small share of daily intake; the right number depends on your dog's size, weight and normal diet.
  • Cut meatballs in half for small dogs so nothing is swallowed whole, and supervise while your dog eats.
  • Turkey must be fully cooked and completely unseasoned; skip drippings, gravy and anything from a seasoned roast.
  • Ask your own vet before adding a meat-based treat if your dog needs a low-fat or prescription diet.

Ingredient safety notes

Frequently Asked Questions

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