Last Updated October 7th, 2026 at 06:39 pm by Lisa
Homemade dog food recipes are fresh, nutritious, and can be custom-made! Skip expensive store-bought commercial pet food. Let's create one of the best home cooked dog food recipes perfect for your furry friend with these 30+ ideas. And watch them lick the bowl clean...
Why Make Your Own Dog Food?
Both of my Shih Tzus, Lucky and Sassy suffered from allergies to chicken from dry commercial dog food, expensive fancy wet food, and treats.
I began to think, is it worth it to make your own dog food and treats? So I set out to make the best homemade dog food and quality shih tzu food for them.
Let's discuss ingredients and recipes for homemade dog food vet approved that will possibly help picky or senior dogs that won't eat with sensitive stomachs and or skin allergies!
You Will Love Home-Cooked Dog Meals!
Are there any benefits to feeding your dog homemade pet food? And why should I feed my dog homemade food?
- Homemade Cooked Dog Food vs Store Bought: There are advantages as you control the ingredients for allergies which can cause issues for your pet. Avoid unwanted preservatives, fillers, and shelf stabilizers in yucky canned adult dog food. And also by making homemade puppy food, you start them off right!
- Protein Choices: Always use cooked raw meat like ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken in food for dogs homemade. It is going to taste better than dog foods that sit in a bag or on the shelf. NOTE: You need at least 1 gram of protein per pound weight of your dog. First, try using different proteins! Ground beef dog food recipes were the answer for my dog and approved by my vet.
- Best Senior Dog Food: Senior dogs lose their appetite and need soft food in small pieces as sometimes they don't have all their teeth to chew. Another great reason to try recipes for home cooked dog food!
- Economical: You can use up ingredients you have on hand from your freezer and not throw them in the trash. So is it cheaper to feed your dog homemade food? The answer it may be depending on the quantities you make and the ingredients you use. Homemade dog food recipes for small dogs are usually quite cost effective vs. expensive delivery or chilled fresh pet products.
Oh and since then, I've also created a recipe for her very own super clean Dog Biscuits with her name, on them-so cute so check those out!
How To Make Homemade Food For Dogs
Your dog will absolutely love this easy homemade dog food recipe.
As pet owners, we want the best for our dogs, and yes it takes a couple of hours of home cooking to make their food every couple of months. But it is worth it in my opinion. The quality of our dog's life is worth it. I also think I saved a small fortune at the vets' office!
You can create your own custom version or try this one to start. And will find it is almost the same price as dry food for small dogs!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground beef (7 cups cooked crumbled ground beef)
- 2 cups uncooked white or brown rice
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt (skip if using bouillon)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 28 ounces beef stock (optional) + ½ cup water 28 oz = 3.5 cups, add ½ cup water for the proper ratio to make rice
- 1 ½ cups fresh broccoli (shredded, cut finely or in a 12 oz frozen bag)
- 2 cups fresh carrots (shredded, cut into small coins - 2 large carrots)
- 2 cups sweet potatoes (small cubes or shredded - 1 large sweet potato)
- 2 cups fresh spinach
Step 1: Make Flavored Rice
Use a ratio of 1 cup rice to 2 cups water with beef bouillon or beef stock, you can scale up or down check your rice package instructions. Feel free to swap in beef, chicken, or vegetable broth for better flavor. I also LOVE Better Than Beef Buillon or a box of beef stock to flavor the rice. Both options are totally Sassy approved.
Bring the stock/water to a boil, add rice and salt (skip salt if using bullion). And if you want to add a pat of butter, it makes rice taste even better. Cover the pot and simmer for 18 minutes on low and don't remove the lid. Brown rice takes 30 minutes. Check the rice, and if done turn off the heat, replace the lid, and let it rest for several minutes in the steamy pan. Use a fork to fluff it up!
Step 2: Cook Meat Protein and Veggies
Brown and crumble 3 lbs of ground beef in a large skillet. Place in a large bowl with the fat drippings. Dogs need some fat. You can also use ground turkey or other protein suggestions.
PRO TIP: Chop, shred, or process all the veggies. My dog is a small dog and prefers the veggies finely shredded in a food processor. You can also use a knife or a box grater to chop it even finer.
In a large pot (cast-iron pan or skillet), briefly saute carrots, broccoli, and sweet potato until just soft for a few minutes on medium heat.
After cooking, place the dog food mix into the largest bowl you have. Add the cooked ground beef, warm rice, warm sauteed veggies, and fresh spinach. Mix well with a large spatula.
After some trial and error, I learned Sassy's favorite recipes for home cooked dog food have finely minced ground beef (and sometimes ground turkey) with a wide variety of fine grated vegetables, and beef broth to cook the rice!
Step 3: Mix and Portion Homemade Cooked Dog Food
When making home cooked food for dogs, how much do you feed them?
I have a small dog, so using this recipe I calculated the calories she needs per day. You will need to research this number. Measure a few days supply based on your dog's caloric needs. Then, portion it into a 5-day supply for your dog so it is food-safe after it defrosts in the fridge.
The best way to store fresh pet food for your doggie is to freeze it using use freezer bags!
Step 4: Can Fresh Dog Food Be Frozen?
Yes! Simply pull out a freezer bag of new food and let it defrost in the fridge every 5 days. I give her ⅕ of the baggie daily in correct calorie portions per the weight of my dog.
The bags compress flat in the freezer or you can place them in an airtight container. Store in an airtight container or larger zip-top bag in the freezer.
Cost Effective: Is making your own dog food cheaper than buying it?
So, will it be cheaper to buy dog food or make your own? What is the Cost of Homemade vs. Store-Bought food? The ingredients and portions will make a difference. Here is the math I came up with.
$20 of ingredients made 40 individual 1 cup homemade servings or about $.50/serving. Store-bought dry food is about $.41 per serving. So yes, homemade is a tiny bit more expensive, but the fresh nutrition and ingredients I believe are good for your dog, after all, dogs ate human leftovers and scraps way before dog food was manufactured!
This serving size is for my 11-pound dog, she is small. So you would need to calculate the number of daily calories your dog needs.
You will need to do some research on how many calories your dog needs per day based on your dog's activity level and your dog's weight. There are so many factors to consider that will vary due to the breed, size, age, and activity of your pet. My dog needs about 400 calories a day and is a small dog weighing just 11 pounds.
PRO TIP: You can use this handy homemade dog food calculator to check the nutrition of the dog food you create here at BalanceIt. Puppies, adult dogs, and especially senior dogs have different needs.
Do Vets Approve Homemade Dog Food For Nutritional Needs?
So, do vets recommend homemade dog food? Well, mine does. And always asks what I feed her and says she looks great at 13! Making dog food at home has been very good for Sassy.
There needs to be a proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. Supplementing a dogs' food with liquid vitamins or fish oil is also a good idea.
To conclude, be sure to talk with your vet. Use good ingredients and quality proteins that are safe for them to consume.
You may need a referral to a veterinary nutritionist if your dog has unique conditions or seek out a vet that focuses on canine nutrition. They might have specific vet approved homemade dog food recipes for your pets unique situation.
- Main Protein (use high quality meat, seafood, dairy or eggs)
- Fat (from animal or organ meat, fish, fish oil)
- Carbohydrates (grains, legumes, or vegetables)
- Vitamins & Minerals like calcium
- Essential fatty acids (egg yolks or oatmeal)
DISCLAIMER: Seek the advice of a good vet, I am a food blogger and not able to provide any medical advice or comment on your dog's needs or situation. This recipe is not meant to be all your dog consumes in their daily diet. You have to choose what are the pros and cons of making your own dog food!
Deciding To Make DIY Dog Food Recipe
Dog owners can be concerned about feeding their dogs human food and scraps. I had a long chat with Sassy's vet at her annual check-up. The truth is , each dog is totally unique. Some have food sensitivities, easily get upset tummies and some have digestive issues, so regular commercial food might be best for those dogs. Other dogs can eat most anything without a problem.
Care In Trying New Dog Recipes
The best advice is to slowly introduce new foods to our dogs. Food changes can cause issues to their digestive tract. What works for one won't work for another. Fresh dog food recipes have ingredients your dog might be trying for the first time so go slow, with small portions. Sassy could not handle chicken stock cooked into the rice, due to her allergies. So I use beef stock when I cook the rice, and she loves it.
Cost Effective Optional Additions
Sprinkle some dry dog food or beans like drained canned black beans or garbanzo beans into the homemade food to stretch out a homemade dog food batch. Use high-quality commercial pet food and check the label carefully for any ingredients to avoid food allergies and reactions.
Use Up Extra Freezer Meat or Leftovers
Food safe meat in the freezer is great option. Never feed your dog spoiled or rotten food! And it's fine to use up extra steak meat or pork on hand in meals for dogs. As a result, nothing will go to waste. Never feed bones or super fatty meats.
Try Different Veggies
It's a good idea to use different veggies and vary them in each batch. If some are about to go bad or I have extra and want to use them up quickly and find this is a perfect use!
How To Get A Dog To Eat Their Food
Try different textures of veggies and see what your dog likes!
What I learned, is to finely grate the veggies. A food processor works great, then chop them more with a butchers knife, Sassy ate it all! She wasn't a fan of the cubed shapes and large spinach leaves.
The tiny pieces of chopped vegetables did the trick to get her to eat it all. I think she loves the brown rice mixed in with the beef stock the most.
Feeding Senior Dogs & Picky Dogs
If your dog is picky or or older and has a hard time chewing, use finely chopped dog food. Run the vegetables through a food processor and or finely chop them on a cutting board. A hand held boxed grater will work. But takes more time. I use the shredder blade on my processor and buzz everything through.
For convenience, try riced frozen vegetables! I have used packages of frozen riced cauliflower, sweet potato, and broccoli. The downside is, they are a little more expensive. And alternatively, are great for senior dogs that can't chew well, are picky or won't eat larger pieces of dog food.
Ingredients For Home Cooked Dog Food Recipes
What are the best ingredients for homemade dog food? The first step is to choose a quality protein. It's a good idea to mix a couple of proteins like ground beef and ground turkey as an example. Plan on 1 gram of protein per pound of your dog. Example: An 11-pound dog needs 11 grams of protein a day minimum. One cup of the recipe below has 18 grams of protein.
First Choice, What Meat & Plant Proteins Can I Use?
- Ground Beef
- Ground Chicken (my dog is allergic, many dogs are)
- Ground Turkey
- Ground Lamb
- Fish
- Eggs
- Beef Liver (organ meats)
- Duck
- Ground Bison
- Venison
- Cooked Lentils
- Cooked Rice
- Canned Garbanzo Beans
- Canned Black Beans
Next, What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
Are you wondering what veggies can dogs eat safely? Let's answer that question. Again, I am a food blogger over here and not a veterinary medicine professional or nutritionist. For thousands of years, dogs have survived off the scraps of human food. What are the best ingredients to put in homemade dog food? Here are the ones I use often, and I mix it up differently in every batch!
Please be sure to do your own research on what is best for your dog's diet! Be sure to see my infographic down by the recipe card for more tips and ideas on ingredients.
- butternut squash
- Brussels sprouts
- fennel
- peas
- zucchini
- carrots
- sweet potato
- fresh spinach
- cooked potato (in moderation)
- pumpkin
- celery
- broccoli (chopped)
- frozen peas
- bell peppers
- green beans
- kale
What Not To Put In Dog Food?
- Onions (never feed)
- Mushroom (never feed)
- Tomatoes (never feed)
- Garlic (never feed)
- Raw Meat (always cook it!)
So what is your dog's favorite recipes for home cooked dog food? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ comment down by the recipe card with your Doggies favorite flavor combination!
Sassy girl, is happy. Okay, she didn't like the spinach and pulled it out! But loves the rice and beef. The trick I learned was to chop it finer than seen here and she gobbled it all...
FAQ: What Veggies Can My Dog Eat?
Yes. Bell peppers are loaded with essential vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants and are beneficial. Rich in vitamins A, E, B6, and lutein and are great sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene. Red bell peppers actually start out green and mature to red. Packing in high nutrition because they've been on the vine longest.
Yes. Cooked potatoes in moderation are fine. Boil, steamed, or baked without seasoning are fine. They contain a number of nutrients. These include vitamins A, B6, and C, and minerals like magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium.
Raw potatoes should never be fed to your dog. Raw potatoes contain solanine. A compound that can be toxic to dogs.
Yes. Broccoli is best served as an occasional treat. It is high in fiber and vitamin C and low in fat. Broccoli florets contain isothiocyanates, which can cause mild-to-potentially severe gastric irritation in some dogs. Additionally, large broccoli stalks can cause choking. So be sure to chop them up the broccoli for your pet!
Homemade Dog Food Infographic
Homemade Biscuit Dog Recipes
These Dog Biscuits are one of my other go-to homemade dog food recipes. Super fun to make, and you can even personalize them for your pup. Again, I use a lot of fresh veggies, peanut butter, pumpkin, and more in them, and Sassy just LOVES these! And I share how to order the super cute biscuit cutter in the recipe post 🐶🐾
Did you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you! If you make this recipe and love it, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Delicious Table with my free newsletter and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Homemade Dog Food Recipes (30+ Ideas!)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground beef 7 cups cooked crumbled ground beef
- 2 cups brown rice or swap white rice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 28 ounces beef stock (optional) + ½ cup water 28 oz = 3.5 cups, add ½ cup water for proper ratio to make rice
- 1 ½ cups fresh broccoli, shred or cut finely or a 12 oz frozen bag
- 2 cups fresh carrots, shred or cut into small coins 2 large carrots
- 2 cups sweet potato, small cubes or shred 1 large sweet potato
- 2 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
Make Rice
- Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer for about 30 seconds under cold water. It removes starches that makes rice sticky. Use a ratio of 1 cup rice to 2 cups water, which you can scale up or down. (check your rice package instructions.) Feel free to swap in beef, chicken, or vegetable broth for better flavor. You can also use a good buillon to water for extra flavor. Bring the broth stock/water to a boil, add rice and salt (skip salt if using buillon). And if you want to add a tab of butter, too, go for it — your rice will taste 10x better. Cover the pot and simmer for 18 minutes on low and don't remove the lid! Brown rice takes 30 minutes.Check the rice, and if done turn off the heat, replace the lid, and let it rest for several minutes in the steamy saucepan. Use a fork to fluff it up!
- Chop, shread, or process in a food processor all the veggies. My dog is a small dog and prefers the veggies finely shredded in a food processor.
Make Ground Beef and Veggies
- Brown and crumble 3 lbs of ground beef in a large skillet. Place in a large bowl.
- In a large cast iron pan or skillet, briefly saute carrots, broccoli, and sweet potato until just soft for a few minutes on medium.
Mix Dog Food
- Into the large bowl with ground beef, add warm rice, warm sauted veggies, and fresh spinach. Mix well with a large spatula.
- Portion 4-5 cups of Homemade Dog Food per zip lock back, and store in an airtight container or larger zip top bag in the freezer. Pull our one small bag per week, and reheat a serving for your dog in the microwave for 30 seconds. I sometimes sprinkle some dry dog food into the homemade food to stretch out my homemade dog food batch.
Annye (almost 3) since she was a pup has shown little interest in eating and can go days eating very little. She has been checked out by the vet, tests have been run and everything is fine. He said she is just very picky! She loves this recipe and is finally eating twice daily! Thank you so much!
Every, single, time, I get these comments I am so happy Kristina! I do vary the proteins for my dog. Like ground turkey, pork, and beef. My dog has a chicken allergy. Although I am not a vet, and so glad you ran it by yours, I think a varied diet of real food helps their overall health. Sassy is 13, and has so much dang energy for her age still! All the very best to you and your pup!
Hi, my GSD has horrible food allergies and this seems to be working and she loves it!! But was wondering how long you can keep this in the freezer? Thank you so much
Hey Wendy, That is so great to hear! Well I make about a 6-8 week supply in freezer bags (or use individual freezer safe containers). And then make a new batch. I would say to keep it nutritionally at its best, use it up within a couple months. I take out a 5 day portion at a time and have it in the fridge for the week.
Hi Lisa,
Very keen to try this recipe for home cooked dog food and treats but you quote the ingredients in "cups" but this isn't a measure we have in the UK so could you advise the amount in ounces or grams please?
Many thanks
Yes Christine! So glad you are going to try these dog food recipes. In the printable recipe card, it converts to metric measurements for you with one click! Enjoy....Cheers!
I have been making fresh food for my Chiweenie, Sophie for some time. She is very picky. So we are giving this a shot. I spoon the freshly made food into a muffin tin, cover with plastic and freeze. Once frozen, I remove the portioned pieces from the muffin tin and place them in a large freezer bag. It works great.
What a great idea Julie! I am going to do this next time I make my batch! Welcome to picky dog world...LOL my Sassy eat very on and off. So I never worry, but this will help portion it out better and keep it frozen. Wonderful idea!And thank you for your comment and rating, it helps us so much.....
Great recipe, easy to make, and my dog is eating again. I will try some of the variations you suggest, but so far it is a winner!
My dog was off her food. I switched her dog food several times and even started adding moist but to no avail. Then I tried this recipe and she wolfed it down. Now she looks forward to mealtime. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Hey Lucy, that is wonderful to hear!
I find that mixing up the diet for my dog works well. And sometimes helps me use up extra ingredients I have on hand. So glad your dog gobbled it up! And really appreciate you leaving a comment and rating too. : )