Whenever you sit down to eat, your dog is looking you in the face. Those large beautiful eyes of your dog say it all, Why does she always only get kibbles out of you? You guessed it right. The time has come that you begin to cook 10 Homemade Dog Food Recipes to your dog in case you ever thought about doing so.
Why Homemade Dog Food Is Worth Your Time
When preparing dog food yourself, you are in full control of what will be in the dish of your pet. You get to know exactly all ingredients used, as well as their quality. Above all, you can modify the recipe to match the medical needs of your dog.
With this in mind, however, do not overlook consulting your veterinarian when it comes to a significant change in the diet of your dog. It is really necessary since the vet may inform you whether your pet lacks some certain minerals or cannot consume certain products.
1. Turkey & Veggie Dog Food
Key ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped
- 1 cup zucchini, diced
- 2 cups water
How to Make It
- Heat a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook until fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the diced carrots, chopped broccoli, and zucchini to the pot along with 2 cups of water.
- Stir everything together and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10–12 minutes until the vegetables are tender and most of the water has been absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let it cool completely before serving. Never serve hot food to your dog always check the temperature first.
- Portion into meals based on your dog’s size. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
2. DIY Dog Food with Ground Turkey, Brown Rice & Veggies
Key ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1½ cups brown rice
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, green beans)
- 3 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
How to Make It
- Cook the brown rice according to package instructions. Set aside.
- In a large pot over medium heat, brown the ground turkey until fully cooked. Drain fat if needed.
- Add the frozen vegetables and cooked brown rice to the pot. Pour in the broth and stir well.
- Simmer on low heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is well combined and heated through.
- Allow to cool fully before portioning. This recipe makes a large batch divide into daily portions and refrigerate or freeze what you won’t use within 4 days.
3. Slow Cooker Dog Food
Key ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey or chicken
- 1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 cup sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 3 cups water
How to Make It
- Add the raw ground meat directly into the slow cooker no need to pre-cook it.
- Toss in the brown rice, carrots, sweet potatoes, and frozen peas.
- Pour in 3 cups of water and give everything a good stir.
- Set your slow cooker to low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
- Once done, use a wooden spoon or potato masher to mash the mixture to your desired consistency chunky or smooth, depending on your dog’s preference.
- Cool completely before serving. Pro tip: Batch cook a large portion and freeze individual servings for the week.
4. Make-Ahead Doggie Stew
Key ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless chicken breast or thighs, cubed
- 1 cup potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- ½ cup green beans, chopped
- ½ cup celery, diced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (no onion or garlic)
How to Make It
- Add the chicken broth to a large pot and bring to a medium simmer.
- Add the cubed chicken pieces and cook for 8–10 minutes until cooked through.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, green beans, and celery. Stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20–25 minutes until all vegetables are soft and the stew thickens slightly.
- Remove from heat and cool fully. Ladle into glass meal-prep jars or airtight containers.
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before serving.
5. Vegan Dog Food
Key ingredients:
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 cups water
How to Make It
- Cook the quinoa using a 1:2 ratio (1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until fluffy. Set aside.
- Steam or boil the sweet potato cubes for 10–12 minutes until fork-tender. Mash them well and set aside.
- Cook the frozen peas in boiling water for 3–4 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, mashed sweet potato, peas, and mashed banana. Mix well.
- Cool completely before serving. Portion based on your dog’s weight and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
6. Homemade Dog Food in the Instant Pot
Key ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- ½ cup peas
- ½ cup green beans, chopped
- 2½ cups water
How to Make It
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add the ground meat and brown for 3–4 minutes, breaking it apart. Hit Cancel when done.
- Add the uncooked brown rice, diced carrots, peas, and green beans directly into the pot.
- Pour in 2½ cups of water and stir everything together.
- Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual/Pressure Cook on High for 15 minutes.
- Allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully do a quick release for any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid, stir well, and let the food cool completely before serving. Store portions in the fridge or freezer.
7. Crockpot Chicken Dog Food Recipe
Chickens offer some of the best digestible protein sources for dogs, which makes this an excellent choice as your first dish for making homemade dog food. Effortless but rewarding; this is all you need when just starting out.
Key ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
- 1 cup sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- ½ cup carrots, diced
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 3 cups water
How to Make It
Place the chicken breasts at the bottom of your crockpot. You do not have to chop them up at this point. Add the rice, sweet potato, carrots and frozen peas on top of the chicken breasts.
Now pour in three cups of water. Put the lid on the crockpot.
The chicken breasts and the other food will cook for six to seven hours if you use the setting or three to four hours if you use the high setting.
When the chicken breasts are done cooking take them out of the crockpot. Use two forks to pull them apart into small pieces. Then put the shredded chicken breasts back into the pot. Mix everything together.
Let the chicken breasts and the other food cool down completely before you eat it. This recipe is really easy to make. It is hard to do anything wrong which is great, for people who are just starting to cook.
8. Homemade Dog Beef Stew
Key ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef or stew beef, cubed
- 1 cup potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- ½ cup peas
- ½ cup butternut squash, cubed
- 3 cups low-sodium beef broth (no onion or garlic)
How to Make It
- In a large heavy-bottomed pot, brown the beef over medium heat until fully cooked. If using stew beef cubes, cook until sealed on all sides.
- Pour in the beef broth and bring to a gentle boil.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash. Stir to combine.
- Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the peas in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Simmer until all vegetables are soft and the stew has thickened.
- Remove from heat, cool completely, and serve. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
9. DIY Dog Food for Diabetic Dogs
Key ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1 cup green beans, chopped
- 1 cup broccoli, chopped
- ½ cup spinach, roughly chopped
- ½ cup chicken liver, chopped (optional great source of vitamins)
- 1 cup barley (low glycemic index) or lentils, cooked
- 2 cups water
How to Make It
- Cook the barley or lentils according to package instructions. These take longer, so start them first. Set aside when done.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground turkey over medium heat until fully browned. If using chicken liver, add it in the last 3 minutes of cooking.
- Add the green beans and broccoli to the skillet. Pour in 2 cups of water and stir.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender but not mushy.
- Stir in the cooked barley or lentils and the fresh spinach. Mix well and let the spinach wilt into the mixture.
- Cool completely. Portion carefully consistency in meal size is especially important for diabetic dogs to keep blood sugar levels stable. Always coordinate portions with your vet.
10. Turkey and Rice Homemade Dog Food
Key ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1½ cups white rice (uncooked)
- 3 cups water
How to Make It
- Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the white rice, stir, reduce heat, and cover. Cook for 18 minutes until fully cooked and fluffy. Set aside.
- In a separate skillet, cook the ground turkey over medium heat until fully browned with no pink remaining. Drain any fat.
- Combine the cooked turkey and rice in a large bowl. Mix gently until well combined.
- Allow to cool to room temperature before serving — this step is especially important if your dog has an upset stomach, as lukewarm food is easier to digest than hot or cold food.
- Serve plain no salt, no seasoning, no butter. The simplicity is the point. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How to Store Homemade Dog Food
Batch cooking is your best friend here. Most homemade dog food stays fresh in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. For longer storage, portion it into airtight containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Final Thoughts
Preparation of food for dogs at home is something that shows you really care about your dog. When you make food for dogs at home you are giving your dog things to eat instead of things you do not know about. This way you are, in control of the food your dog eats. You are helping your dog be healthy. You are giving your dog food for dogs and that is a very nice thing to do for your dog.
Begin with one or two food items that seem okay. Take note of your dogs reaction, to them. Then you can add more to what you have. Most dogs tend to get much better in a couple of weeks.
