How To Make Fresh Dog Food (3 Easy Homemade Recipes)

Quick Summary

• When making fresh dog food at home, make sure it is composed of high-quality protein, carbs, and vegetables in appropriate proportions.
• The best proteins you can cook for your dog are turkey, chicken breast, and beef.
• Fresh dog food is a good way to have variety in your dog’s diet while making sure that he gets his nutritional requirements.

Here’s how to make fresh dog food, simply cook 3 cups water,  ½ pounds ground turkey,  ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 cup uncooked brown rice, and 8 ounces frozen veggies (package of  carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower) in a dutch oven. Once done, cool the dog food and serve it to your dog.

Are you considering a homemade diet for your dogs? I suggest that you go for it! Cooking dog food at home is one of the best ways to show your love for your pet. Imagine that you have only one food on your menu. How would it feel to eat that same food every day for the rest of your life? That is what many dog owners make their dogs go through.

Commercially produced pet food may contain all the nutrients that a dog’s body needs, but the lack of variety is boring and unfair too. The worst part is that kibble or dry dog food have been proven to negatively impact a dog’s health in the long run. That is why I have compiled this concise guide to teach pet parents how to make fresh dog food at home.

Starter Tips for Making Homemade Dog Food

Two things should be on your mind while planning foods for your dog: nutrition, taste, and variety. Anyone can come up with a variety of foods, but do you know what dogs need for good health and proper development? Do you know what tastes nice in dogs’ mouths?

A veterinary nutritionist is trained in giving canines a healthy diet and meeting a dog’s specific nutritional needs. Most of the best fresh dog food brands today produce human-grade recipes created by vet nutritionists. These experts know the foods that meet the standards of nutrition and taste for a dog. Armed with this knowledge, they prepare a variety of recipes and meal plans with a wealth of health benefits. For fur parents that do not have time to cook, the best dog food delivery service platforms today offer custom meal plans brought straight to your home.

In any case, if you are curious how to make fresh dog food, we have consulted with several experts to put together our findings in this post.

Homemade Dog Food Recipes Recommended by Experts

We have compiled three pet food recipes that dogs love. These three recipes are expert-approved. Veterinary nutritionists have verified that they are both tasty and nutritious for dogs. The recipes also offer variety for pet owners who want to love up on their dogs with fresh foods and a balanced dog diet.

Low-Calorie Dog Food Recipe: Turkey and Rice With Veggie Mix

This low-calorie [1] recipe is the perfect choice for dogs that need to shed some pounds. It contains protein, carbs, and vegetables in appropriate proportions. This homemade dog food recipe will give you 6 cups (48 fluid ounces) of homemade dog food that can stay fresh in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Ingredients

• Water – 3 cups
• Ground turkey (chicken breasts are a good alternative) – ½ pounds
• Dried rosemary – ½ teaspoon
• Uncooked rice (preferably, brown rice) – 1 cup
• Frozen veggies (package of  carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower) – 8 ounces

Nutritional Information for a Serving of 1 Cup

• 97 Calories
• 11g Protein
• 4.5g Fat
• 4.7g Carbs
• Minerals: Iron, Potassium

Recipe Instructions

• Place the ground turkey, brown rice, rosemary, and water in a large Dutch oven
• Stir the mix to break up the turkey until it is evenly distributed 
• Set the oven on high heat and allow the mix to cook.
• Once the mix starts boiling, change the heat setting to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Pour the frozen veggies and cook for another 5 minutes
• Remove from the oven and let it cool

Easy Slow-Cooker Meal: Beef and Rice

This basic recipe has great nutritional value, and you can finish your preparations in 10 minutes. It will give you 24 cups (176 fluid ounces) of self-made pet food that you can store in the freezer for a long time.

Ingredients

• Water – 8 cups
• Frozen peas – 1 cup
• Diced carrots – 3 cups
• Ground beef – 5 pounds
• Brown rice (uncooked) – 3 cups
• Chopped butternut squash – 3 cups
• Kidney beans (drained & rinsed) – 2 (15-ounce) cans

Nutritional Information for a Serving of 1 Cup

• 400 Calories
• 39.1g Protein
• 7g Fat
• 44.2g Carbs
• Minerals: Iron, Potassium, Calcium

Recipe Instructions

• Place all the ingredients in a slow cooker and stir.
• Cover the cooker, put it on high heat, and cook the mix for 2-3 hours.
• Let it cool.

Beef Stew, Dog Version

This recipe contains a burst of fresh protein and iron for your dog’s diet. You will get 8 cups (64 fluid ounces) of self-made pet food that you can store in the fridge for up to a week. You can also store it in the freezer for as long as you like.

Ingredients

• Flour – 1 cup
• Water – 1 cup
• Diced carrots – 1 cup
• Beef stew meat – 2 pounds
• Green beans (diced) – 1 cup
• Sweet potato – 1 (small size)
• Vegetable oil – 2 tablespoons

Nutritional Information for a Serving of 1 Cup

• 301 Calories
• 36.7g Protein
• 8.4g Fat
• 17.4g Carbs
• Minerals: Calcium, Iron, Potassium
• Vitamins: Vitamin D

Recipe Instructions

• Place sweet potatoes in the microwave and cook for 5-8 minutes.
• Dice the cooked sweet potatoes and set them aside
• Slice your beef into nickel-sized small chunks—you can use a food processor for this. 
• Using medium heat, cook the sliced beef pieces in 2 tablespoons of oil for 10-15 minutes.
• Remove the chunks and reserve the drippings on the pan.
• While on medium-low heat, carefully add water and flour to the drippings. Whisk until it thickens to form a gravy.
• Add the carrots, green bean, meat, and sweet potato to the gravy
• Stir gently and cook for 10 minutes to make the carrots tender — about 10 minutes.
• Let the food cool.

We hope you find these recipes helpful in your quest to make fresh food for your canine companion. Please, make sure you follow the recipe just as instructed in your cooking process. Some people like to add organ meat like liver, heart, etc. but you will have to adjust the other protein base. Fish oils, olive oil, and coconut oil are also some of the add-ons to make this new food you are making extra healthier. Also, please cook all starchy veggies, grains, and beans well. Raw food can sometimes trigger food allergies in dogs. If you are wondering how much fresh food to feed a dog, remember that it depends on how much the dog weighs, breed, activity levels, and health condition.

FAQs

Is homemade food better for dogs?

Homemade foods are better for dogs when they are a complete and well balanced diet. Vets are, however, worried that people may sometimes forget to add essential nutrients to their dog’s DIY food. There are no such health concerns with commercial pet foods.

Is it cheaper to make your own dog food?

Yes, making your dog’s food is cheaper than buying commercial foods. Adding the costs of supplemental vitamins and minerals still doesn’t match up to the cost of buying commercial pet foods. Some experts say that you can save about $3 or more daily by switching to homemade pet food. 

How to cook ground beef for dogs?

Experts advise pet owners to break the beef before cooking it for their dogs. Boil the meat until the pink color disappears. What’s more, you can drain the excess fat before the meat cools if you are watching your dog’s weight. Add cooked rice to make it a more nutritious food.

What to feed dogs when out of dog food?

If you’re out of pet food, you can serve your dog chicken with cooked rice. You can also serve veggies, pumpkin pie filling, and canned food, but please rinse and drain the meat to get rid of excess sodium.