Top 10 DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipes (2024)

As a Golden Retriever owner, we know this dog breed can be a picky eater and likely to have skin allergies due to a bad diet.

I’ve to carefully take good care of her diet. I started making homemade dog food to avoid intestinal issues, sensitive stomach.

Most importantly, is to observe how your pups doing before making any total change of their diet or consult a veterinarian.

Here are the Top 10 DIY homemade dog food recipes and you can easily make it at home.

1. Make-Ahead Doggie Stew Recipe

Top 10 DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipes (1)

Your pups deserve a nutrient-rich meal. This stew recipe is made with rich protein ingredients, without additives, coloring, sodium.

Recommend to add cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash into these recipes as vegetables are work for antioxidants.

Ingredients
  • 3poundsboneless and skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/4cupchicken livers
  • 2carrotspeeled and sliced
  • 1cupfrozen green beans
  • 1applecored, seeds removes, and cut into quarters
  • 2 to 3cupswater
  • 1cupfrozen peas
  • 1/3cupfresh parsleychopped
  • 1tablespoonolive oil
Instructions
  1. Slow cooker method: Add all ingredients, except peas, parsley, and olive oil, to the slow cooker. Use just enough water to cover ingredients. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours or high 4 to 5 hours. About 15 minutes before turning off the slow cooker, add peas and parsley.
  2. Stove top method: Add all ingredients, except peas, parsley, and olive oil, in a large pot. Use enough water to cover ingredients. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook on low 1 hour or until carrots are tender and chicken cook through. About 15 minutes before turning off, add peas and parsley,
  3. Allow ingredients to cool slightly. Using a slotted spoon, add ingredients, and olive oil to a mixing bowl and either, mash with a fork, potato masher, or use a food processor, depending on the consistency preferred. I like to use a food processor and pulse about 3 to 4 times so that it's the consistency of canned dog food. Allow to cool completely before dividing into freezer safe ziplock bags or containers.
  4. MAKE-AHEAD: The dog food mixture can be divided up and stored in individual freezer safe ziplock bags. Frozen baggies should be defrosted in the fridge overnight. The serving size will depend on the size and breed of your dog. If you're unsure of how much to feed your dog, check with your vet first.

Get the recipe atSkinny Ms.

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2. Store-Bought Ingredients Homemade Dog Food

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This recipe's ingredients can be easily store-bought. It using Balance IT chart to plan for any dog's nutrition needs.

This recipe has a balance of 50% protein (ground turkey), 25% veggies (peas, zucchini, carrots, and spinach), and 25% grains (brown rice).

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups brown rice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 pounds ground turkey
  • 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
  • 2 carrots, shredded
  • 1 zucchini, shredded
  • 1/2 cup peas, canned or frozen
Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan of 3 cups water, cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.
  2. 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.
  3. Stir in spinach, carrots, zucchini, peas, and brown rice until the spinach has wilted and the mixture is heated through about 3-5 minutes.

Get the recipe atDamnDelicious.

3. Turkey & Veggie Dog Food Recipe

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This recipe is made with 100% natural, human-grade ingredients with ground turkey, carrots, broccoli, and zucchini without any preservatives.

Ingredients
  • 2poundslean ground turkey
  • 2tablespoonschicken liverfinely diced
  • 2medium carrotscoarsely chopped
  • 1cupgreen beansdiced
  • 1cupcauliflower florets
  • 2tablespoonsolive oil
Instructions
  1. Add 1 1/2 cups water to a double boiler, place vegetables in a steam basket over the pot and cover. Heat until boiling, reduce heat to a low-boil, and steam until veggies are tender, about 10 minutes.
  2. In the meantime, add the turkey and liver to a large skillet and cook on medium-high heat until done. Drain off any fat and discard. Chop veggies or pulse in a food processor. Add veggies to cooked turkey.
  3. Add the olive oil and toss with turkey & veggie mixture. Allow cooling before dividing into freezer-safe containers.

Get the recipe atSkinny Ms.

4. Ground Turkey Homemade Dog Food Pasta

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I personally recommend this recipe as all nutrition that needed for a dog to consume are all been cater.

It uses ground turkey protein, whole grain pasta, pumpkin, coconut oil that follow the guideline of feeding a dog

Ingredients
  • 3 lbs ground turkey (or any protein)
  • 1 cup uncooked millet (or any other whole grain: quinoa, rice, pasta)
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 1 carrot, shredded
  • 1 zucchini, shredded
  • 1 squash, shredded
  • 1 apple, chopped
  • 1 tbs calcium powder
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes or coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
Instructions
  1. Bring 1 cup of whole-grain to boil in a pot of water. I overcook it so that it’s soft and easily digestible. Drain.
  2. While that’s boiling, shred/chop the veggies.
  3. Cook ground turkey with olive oil and drain excess juices.
  4. Mix everything together! No need to cook the veggies. The cooked turkey and whole grain will warm them up a bit.

Get the recipe atWheresthefrenchie

5. Vegan Dog Food

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This Recipe for dog food is completely vegan. The ingredients that use are bananas, peas, sweet potato, and quinoa. A Meat-only diet will affect your pup's health. Try this homemade vegan dog food

Get the recipe atVeganie

6. Homemade Dog Food In Instant Pot

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This instant pot recipe is carefully crafted the used ingredients for dogs easily absorb healthy fat with coconut oil, white basmati rice, apple cider vinegar, ground meat, beef liver, veggies, and bananas.

Ingredients
  • 3cupswhite basmati rice
  • 3cups pure water
  • 3tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar or Whey
  • 3poundsground meatbeef, chicken, turkey, venison, or bison
  • 1poundpastured beef liversor chicken livers (optional, but preferred)
  • 36ouncesveggiesvarious fresh, can use frozen
  • 1 1/2cupsbananasor blueberries (optional)
  • 6tablespoonscoconut oil
  • 6tablespoonsground flax seed
Instructions
  1. Soak the rice in water with whey or apple cider vinegar for several hours
  2. Strain, measuring the amount of water left after soaking.
  3. Press the Saute button on the Instant Pot.
  4. Add the ground meat and break it up and the liver, if using.
  5. Cook the meat and liver until they are about half-way browned. You don't want them to brown completely because you still have to cook the rice and veggies in the Instant Pot, and the meat will burn if fully cooked.
  6. Once the meat and liver are half-way browned, add the soaked rice and water, according to the directions in this post.
  7. Stir the meat, rice, and cooking water together.
  8. Add the veggies on top, but do not mix in.
  9. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, making sure it is locked and the vent is sealed.
  10. Change the setting to Manual and adjust the time to 12 minutes.
  11. When the Instant Pot beeps, carefully turn the vent to release the pressure. You may want to place a towel over the steam to protect yourself and your kitchen from any sputtering steam.
  12. Open the Instant Pot and add the fruit (if using) and the coconut oil.
  13. Stir everything together, mixing completely.
  14. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 3 months.

Get the recipe atGNOWFGLINS

7. Homemade Dog Food

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This recipe uses a lot of veggies and fruits like apples, carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries. Yes, you hear me right blueberries! Who doesn't like it?

Ingredients
  • 2 lbs ground pork
  • 2-2.5lbs ground beef
  • 1 large sweet potato
  • 1 large apple, cored
  • 2 carrots (or 8 baby carrots)
  • 1 c. kale
  • 1/2 c. blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 c. rice
  • 1 1/2 c. water
Instructions
  1. Put the ground meats in a 4-6 quart crockpot.
  2. Peel and chop the potato, apple, and carrots into 1″ pieces. Chop the kale.
  3. Add all of the fruits and veggies to the crockpot and mix with the meat.
  4. Cook on HI for 3-5 hours or on LOW for 5-7 hours until the meat is browned.
  5. When the meat mixture is close to being done, cook up the rice with the water on the stovetop
  6. When the rice is done, mix into the meat mixture.

Get the recipe atEMILYLITTLEHOMESTEAD

8. Homemade Dog Beef Stew

Top 10 DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipes (9)

This recipe is very straightforward to make and provide rich nutrients with ingredients ground beef, chicken, turkey, sweet potato, diced, carrot, and peas.

Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef, chicken or turkey
  • 1 large potato or sweet potato, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • water
Instructions
  1. Saute the meat in a large pot until no longer pink. Don't drain the fat because that's a good fat for your pooch! If you choose leaner meat like chicken or turkey, add in a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil for some fats.
  2. Add in the potatoes and carrots.
  3. Pour in just enough water to cover the vegetables. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked.
  4. Stir in the frozen peas. I also add a little bit of sea salt into it for some flavor.
  5. Allow cooling before serving. Refrigerate or freeze extra portions.

Get the recipe atLifeAtCloverHill

9. Easy Crockpot Dog Food

Top 10 DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipes (10)

This dog food is easy to prepare where to put every ingredient like ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, drained, butternut squash, carrot inside the slow cooker, and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours.

Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 1/2 cups brown rice
  • 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped butternut squash
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
  • 1/2 cup peas, frozen or canned
Instructions
  1. Stir in ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, butternut squash, carrots, peas and 4 cups water into a 6-qt slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours, stirring as needed.

Get the recipe atDamnDelicious

10. Crockpot Chicken Homemade Dog Food

Top 10 DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipes (11)

Thinking of making homemade dog food? This is a good place to start. It has clear instructions and the ingredients can just sit inside the slow cooker and cook under low heat.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 lb. green beans, broken into segments
  • 1 medium sweet potato, raw, cut into medium-sized chunks (leave skin on)
  • 3 carrots, sliced into about 1″ thick rounds
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts (with or without skin)
Instructions
  1. Put all ingredients into the crockpot in the order given (layer, don’t mix).
  2. Cook on low for about 8 hours, on high for about 5 hours.
  3. When done, stir, breaking up the chicken into small pieces. Everything will be quite soft.
  4. Let cool and serve
  5. Refrigerate unused portions and keeps up to three days.

Get the recipe atDogVills

Which Top 10 DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipes are your favorite choice? Let me know and share your thought in the comment below.

Top 10 DIY Homemade Dog Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the best ingredients to put in homemade dog food? ›

DIY Homemade Dog Food
  • High-quality protein (meat, seafood, dairy or eggs)
  • Fat (meat or oil)
  • Carbohydrates (grains or vegetables)
  • Calcium (dairy)
  • Essential fatty acids (egg yolks or oatmeal)
Apr 27, 2015

What should be the number 1 ingredient in dog food? ›

The best dog foods will always have meat as the top ingredient, and you should look for recipes that emphasize real animal proteins, rather than just meat meals. Because your dog's food should have more meat than any other ingredient, it's vital to choose a meat source that will benefit your dog's health.

How do I make sure my homemade dog food has enough nutrients? ›

Use a variety of human-grade ingredients.

Dogs need a balance of protein, veggies, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. To ensure that your dog is getting everything they need, use a variety of ingredients in your recipes.

What homemade food can dogs eat everyday? ›

7 Foods to Cook For Your Dog
  • Chicken. Cooked chicken is a good source of protein for dogs. ...
  • Lean Ground Turkey. Lean ground turkey is a safe food to cook for your dog. ...
  • Eggs. Cooked eggs are a safe, healthy food with lots of minerals and vitamins. ...
  • Raw or Steamed Vegetables. ...
  • Fresh Fruits. ...
  • Boiled Potatoes. ...
  • Peanut Butter. ...
  • Yogurt.
Sep 12, 2023

What not to put in homemade dog food? ›

There is a wide variety of unhealthy and unsafe foods to avoid when preparing meals for your dog. Potentially toxic ingredients are of special concern, including chocolate, xylitol, avocado, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and macadamia nuts.

What three ingredients should not be in dog food? ›

Corn, wheat, and soy are cheap, commonly used fillers in many commercial dog foods. While they may provide some nutritional value, they are also some of the most common allergens in dogs. Many dogs have trouble digesting these ingredients, which can manifest as skin irritations and other health issues.

What is the 95 rule for dog food? ›

The 95% Rule

At least 95% of the product must be the named ingredient, for example, “Chicken for Dogs,” or “Salmon Dog Food,” must include at least 95% of chicken or salmon, respectively. In addition, this main product must be at least 70% of the total product when counting the added water.

What percentage of ingredients should be in homemade dog food? ›

Most nutritionally sound commercial diets include protein, carbohydrates, fats, and other minerals and vitamins in specific proportions. Your dog food should take into consideration the following ratio of 40% protein, 50% vegetables, and 10% starch.

What are the best carbs to put in homemade dog food? ›

Grains are an essential source of carbohydrates for dogs. Try cooked whole grains like wheat berries or barley. If your dog requires a gluten-free diet, they may tolerate brown rice, oatmeal, or grain-free quinoa.

What nutrients are missing in homemade dog food? ›

5 Nutrients That May Be Missing in Homemade Dog Food
  • Calcium.
  • Choline.
  • Vitamin B12.
  • Magnesium.
  • Niacin.

How many cups of homemade food should I feed my dog? ›

Food Calculator
DOG'S WEIGHTAMOUNT TO FEED
10 LB1 CUP PER DAY
15 LB1 1/4 CUP PER DAY
20 LB1 1/2 CUP PER DAY
25 LB1 3/4 CUP PER DAY
3 more rows

Can I feed my dog chicken and rice every day? ›

The reason your dog shouldn't eat chicken and rice long-term is because it isn't a balanced diet.

Do vets recommend homemade dog food? ›

“Homemade food is a great option for many pets, but we recommend that owners avoid general recipes from books and the Internet and instead consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist,” Larsen said.

What are the top 5 ingredients in dog food? ›

Here's the 5 most important dog food ingredients to look for:
  • Proteins. Proteins should be the first ingredient to look for in dog food. ...
  • Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates play a critical role in a dog's diet. ...
  • Fats and Oils. Fats and oils play a critical role in a balanced canine diet. ...
  • Fiber. ...
  • Vitamins and Minerals.
Sep 28, 2023

What are the ingredient ratios for homemade dog food? ›

The general rule of thumb for a home-made diet for a healthy canine patient is 75% meat/15%vegetables/10% carbohydrate. Variety is the key to a healthy diet so be sure to vary your meat, carbohydrate and vegetable sources from time to time.

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