Providing your dog with the best nutrition possible isn't as easy as most people think. We want to give our dogs the best, but the better a product is, the more expensive the price tag. A basic dog food recipe like this one isn't the cheapest option available, but it's a budget-friendly way to provide your pet with high quality meals that meet his needs.
Before changing your dog’s diet, always discuss the change with your veterinarian. Show them the recipe(s) that you would like to feed your dog, and get their advice on any additional supplements that may be needed. They may also have suggestions on ingredient substitutions that would make the recipe a better choice for your pup.
Remember that there is NO homemade diet for dogs that will be a perfect fit for every dog.
With that said, if you have multiple dogs you are probably going to have to make each dog their own homemade meals. Homemade recipes can sometimes be a better choice than commercial diets. However, feeding homemade food can also be detrimental to your pet's health if you're not paying attention to the nutritional content of the meals and comparing them with the nutritional requirements for canines.
Easy Basic Dog Food Recipe
While this recipe is made with relatively inexpensive ingredients and is a healthy option for most canines, it may not be a good fit for your dog. The best thing that you can do is consult your veterinarian and/or a canine nutritionist. They can help you to better understand your dog's unique nutritional needs and find recipes that will meet those needs.
Easy Basic Dog Food Recipe with Beef and Chicken Liver
The protein source in this recipe is ground beef, but you can substitute a different ingredient if your dog has trouble with beef. Chicken, turkey or venison would all be good options. You could even use fish, bison, ostrich or any other less common protein source that may be available in your region.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: about 8 cups of food 1x
- Category: Cooked Food
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Dog Food
Ingredients
- 2 cups ground beef
- 1/2 cup chicken liver
- 1 cup dry brown rice
- 1/2 cup dog-friendly vegetables
- 2 eggs with shells
- 1 tbsp. fish oil
Instructions
Layer all the ingredients in a crockpot in the above listed order with the ground beef on the bottom. Cover all of it with water and cook on low heat for 6 hours.
With higher heat, you can cook for just 4 hours, but you'll need to stir the food frequently. Once the meal is cooked, mix and stir the ingredients once again, shred the chicken and break up the ground beef.
Once the food has cooled you can serve it to your pet or prepare it for freezing. As I mentioned, you can substitute some of the ingredients. Broccoli florets, zucchini, spinach or squash can all work quite well in this slow cooker dog food recipe. You can also swap the beef for a different protein source.
The nutritional information below is based on the ingredients that I used. If you substitute ingredients, you'll have to use an online recipe nutrition calculator to get updated nutritional facts.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 118
- Sugar: .2 g
- Sodium: 32 mg
- Fat: 5.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.5 g
- Fiber: .5 g
- Protein: 8.1 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
How much to feed: I recommend feeding about 1/2 cup of food for every 20 pounds of body weight. This recommendation is for 2 servings per day. This is just a guideline. Lazier pets and senior dogs may not need as many. It is extremely important to consult your veterinarian about the best serving size for your dog.
How to store: You can store the leftovers of this basic dog food recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or freeze them and they’ll keep for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that this recipe includes no preservatives, so it won't last nearly as long as commercial dog food.
For More Information
We publish many homemade dog food and treats recipes every month. For more recipes, pet food cooking tips and advice, see our “Recipes” section. If you're new to home cooked dog food subject, I recommend you read more about “How Much To Feed” to understand serving sizes, “What Supplements To Use” to create well-balanced meals, and “How To Store” for tips on simple and easy homemade dog food storing in a fridge or a freezer.
