Ground beef is affordable and very easy to find in any grocery store. It's also easy to prepare, versatile (as it can be used in many different types of homemade food), and most dogs find it appetizing. I used ground beef in this meat and vegetable homemade dog food, but you can substitute with a different protein source if you'd prefer.
It's best to ask your veterinarian if this homemade dog food recipe will provide balanced nutrition for your pet. Keep in mind that virtually every homemade dog food diet will need supplements or additional ingredients to provide 100% balanced nutrition for your dog's unique nutritional needs.
Your dog's dietary requirements are ever changing, and they will vary throughout his life based on his age, weight, activity level and overall health condition. Only your veterinarian – or better yet a trained canine nutritionist – can tell you if this ground beef dog food recipe will be an appropriate diet for your dog.
The professional you work with will likely recommend adding additional supplements or a multivitamin to the recipe to ensure that it meets all of your pup's nutritional needs. Most recipes will require supplementation by adding commercial products or additional ingredients to boost the nutritional contents of the recipe.
Ground Beef and Vegetable Homemade Dog Food
Making homemade dog food is more time consuming than serving commercial kibble, but the benefits definitely outweigh this drawback. You can use the highest quality ingredients that you can afford. You can also cater the recipes to your dog's individual nutritional needs and taste preferences.
For example, you can substitute chicken or venison for the beef in this recipe. You could also use any other dog-friendly fruits/vegetables of your choosing. Broccoli, peas, squash or blueberries would all be good substitutes for the vegetables in this recipe.
You'll want to keep the sweet potatoes though, because they're a superfood for your pup! They are high in fiber, which supports a healthy digestive tract. They are also high in beta carotene, Vitamins A, C and B6, iron, potassium and calcium.
PrintRecipe: Ground Beef and Vegetable Homemade Dog Food
You don't need to use this recipe as your dog's main source of nutrients. You could use it as a food topper to entice a picky eater or to add more nutrients to your pet's commercial kibble.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: about 4 cups of food 1x
- Category: Cooked Food
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Dog Food
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup brown rice
- 1 cup green beans
- 1/3 cup sweet potato (chopped)
- 1/3 cup carrots (chopped)
- 1/4 cup celery (chopped)
Instructions
Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the cooked rice, green beans, sweet potato, celery and carrots to the skillet. Turn the heat to low and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to evenly distribute all of the ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 148
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 47 mg
- Fat: 3.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.3 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 18.3 g
- Cholesterol: 51 mg
How to store: You can store the leftover vegetable homemade dog food 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 the 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.
