9 Homemade Dog Food Recipes (Vet-Approved)
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Want to try your hand and learn how to make homemade dog food? The classic proportions are 50% protein (including meat or eggs), 25% vegetables, and 25% carbohydrates (like rice or oats). But which ingredients should you use, and how can you make sure your dog food recipe is healthy?
To help you find the best recipes, we’ve put together this list of healthy homemade dog food recipes to try today. Making dog food at home can save you money and give you more control over what your dog eats. Scroll down to try one of our favorite homemade dog food recipes! And if you have questions, take a look at our recipe tips at the end.
The 9 Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes
1. Beef, Herb, and Egg Dog Food Recipe
Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups cooked organic brown rice (3 cups uncooked rice)
- 2 pounds ground lean beef, cooked through, fat drained
- 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and diced small
- 3 medium sized carrots, shredded or thinly sliced
- ¼ cup minced curly parsley
- 3 tablespoons of olive or safflower oil
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients together in a large container and stir to combine completely.
- Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator in-between feedings.
Notes
2. Turkey and Rosemary Dog Food Recipe
This is another incredibly simple recipe. You probably already have these ingredients in your kitchen! All you need is a package of frozen vegetables, ground turkey, rosemary, and rice.
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 6 cups water
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ (16 ounce) package frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combination
- Place ground turkey, water, rice, and rosemary into a large Dutch oven. Stir until ground turkey is broken up and evenly distributed throughout the mixture; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add frozen vegetables, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate until using.
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3. Simple Turkey and Vegetable
Here’s another healthy dog food recipe so great we want to try it! This recipe from Damn Delicious combines vegetables like spinach, zucchini, and peas with lean ground chicken. It’s a beautiful and nutrient-packed mixture.
- 1 ½ cups brown rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 pounds ground turkey
- 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
- 2 carrots, shredded
- 1 zucchini, shredded
- ½ cup peas, canned or frozen
- In a large saucepan of 3 cups water, cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the turkey as it cooks.
- Stir in spinach, carrots, zucchini, peas and brown rice until the spinach has wilted and the mixture is heated through, about 3-5 minutes.
- Let cool completely.
4. Instant Pot Dog Food Recipe
If you have an Instant Pot, you’ll love this simple recipe! You can cook everything in your pot, including rice or oats, lean ground meat, and vegetables of your choice.
- 2 – 3 lbs ground beef or: ground chicken, turkey, or fresh fish – shredded chicken breasts work well too.
- 24 ounce frozen vegetables peas, green beans, carrot, and corn
- 1 cup frozen fruit I like to use blueberries and strawberries. (Optional)
- 1 – 2 cups leftover cooked rice or oats
- 2 cups bone broth
- 2 – 3 tbsp coconut oil refined or unrefined – whatever you have
- ¼ cup plain yogurt optional for serving
- Cook 2 1/2 to 3 pounds of your choice of ground meat in your Instant Pot on the saute setting or in a frying pan on the stove.
- Drain off the cooking grease and return the meat to the Instant Pot.
- First, add the leftover rice. If using oats, quinoa, barley, or potatoes skip this step.
- Next, add bone broth and coconut oil and be sure to scrape the little bits off the bottom of the pan – this is how to “deglaze” the Instant Pot.
- Now, add oats and frozen vegetables. Mix well to combine everything.
- Put the lid back on the Instant Pot and set it to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode. Cook for 7 minutes on “High Pressure.”
- Let the pressure release naturally and open only when the pin drops. Stir everything up and add fruit if using.
- Let the mixture cool and divide into two portions – one for the next few days and one to freeze. (You can also portion the food into single servings if you feel so motivated.)
-
Use a food processor to grind up food if you have a small or elderly dog with no teeth.
Serve topped with yogurt or kefir and desired supplements.
5. Non-Allergenic Dog Food
If your pup has food allergies, this recipe might be just what you’re looking for. Nikki at Where’s the Frenchie? was inspired by her French Bulldog’s newly discovered allergies to create this straightforward recipe, which includes whole grains, pumpkin puree, and ground turkey.
- 3 lbs ground beef (or any protein)
- 1 cup uncooked millet (or any other whole greain: quinoa, rice, pasta)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 carrot shredded
- half of a squash, shredded
- 1 apple, finely diced
- 1 tbsp calcium powder
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
- Bring 1 cup of hole grain to boil in a pot of water.
- While that’s boiling, shred/chop the veggies.
- Cook ground beef with olive oil. Drain excess juices.
- Mix everything together! No need to cook the veggies.
7. Chicken and Bean Dog Food
Here’s another incredibly easy Crock-Pot recipe that you could eat for dinner yourself! This delicious-sounding dog food recipe features chicken, kidney beans, butternut squash, and peas. Plus, Katie Crenshaw of A Fork’s Tale offers great suggestions for supplements and substitutions! Did you know that you could add eggshells or chicken livers to your dog’s food?
- 3 pounds lean ground chicken
- 1 cup butternut squash
- 15 ounces can kidney beans
- 1 cup peas
- 1 cup beans
- 1 cup carrots
- 1 1/2 cup uncooked rice
- 4 cups of water
- Add ground chicken, butternut squash, drained can of kidney beans, peas, green beans, sliced carrots, uncooked white rice, and water to a crock pot or slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate until using.
8. Turkey Macaroni Dog Food
Brought to you by Clean and Delicious, this dog food recipe includes plenty of healthy protein and vegetables. Cook up your ground turkey, zucchini, and carrots, and you’ll have a delicious, human-grade dog entree.
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 large zucchini shredded
- 1 cup baby spinach finely chopped
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 egg
- 3 cups cooked rice
- Brown the turkey. Heat a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Add in the coconut oil and turkey and sauté until it is browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Add the veggies. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the zucchini, spinach, carrots and turmeric. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
- Mix in the egg. Turn off the heat and and crack in the egg. Let the egg cook in the hot food, mix it around to ensure it mixed through and cooked through.
- Stir in the rice. Add the rice and stir it in with the other ingredients until everything is well combined. Cool and serve!
9. Doggie Meatball Recipe
These meatballs may look mouthwatering, but they are intended for your dog! Best of all, you can use them to get your pup to take medications. Whip some up, sneak in a pill, and you’ll be the best dog parent ever.
- Ground Beef
- Eggs or unsweetened applesauce
- Chopped Parsley
- Yogurt
- Almond Flour
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat mat.
- Mix ground beef into a large mixing bowl.
- Chop parsley or add dried parsley.
- Add all remaining ingredients, mixing well.
- Form into mini meatballs and place onto the baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 – 30 minutes.
- Freeze for later.
Dog Food Recipe Tips
Trying new foods is fun for humans, but it can be hard on our pets’ stomachs. The most important thing to remember is to change your dog’s diet slowly. Veterinarians recommend mixing new foods with your dog’s previous food. Start with about 25% new food and 75% old food. Then gradually increase the amount of new food until you reach 100%. If you notice any changes in your dog’s digestion, you may want to stop the transition and talk to your veterinarian.
Like people, dogs can have food allergies. Common dog allergies include wheat, eggs, chicken, and beef. Keep in mind that some ingredients may be particularly toxic to dogs, like grapes, onions, and garlic. If you notice symptoms like gastrointestinal issues, you’ll probably want to consult your veterinarian about your dog’s ideal diet.
Storing Your Homemade Dog Food
These recipes are really simple, but you probably don’t have time to cook a full meal for yourself and your dog every night. An easy solution? Make a big batch and divide it into individual portions. Put each meal in a Ziploc bag in the freezer and pull it out at dinner time!
Making Your Own Dog Food: The Bottom Line
Now that you’ve learned how to make homemade dog food quickly and easily. We hope you’ve found your new favorite healthy dog food recipe. Cater to your furball’s specific dietary needs, learn a new cooking skill, and maybe even save a little money. Your dogs will love their upgraded diets!
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Featured image credit: stockcreations, Shutterstock
