10 Homemade Dog Food Recipes Every Dog Parent Should Know (2024)

Published: April 23rd, 2017Last updated: July 30th, 2021by Jessi LarsonAffiliate Disclosure: We hope you love the products we've recommended! As an Amazon Associate we earn a small share from qualifying purchases.

Dogs are part of the family, and while you only want to feed your kids the very best foods, the same goes for our pups.

We’ve all read about the scary dog food recalls and some of the sketchy things that go into lower-grade dog foods. If you buy quality dog food, you’re fine. But it can be comforting to know exactly what is going into your dog’s food.That’s why some pup parents make their own dog food from scratch.

Making homemade dog food is also a good option for pups with chronic health issues, like diabetes or intestinal issues. It’s something to consider, too, if you have a dog who is overweight or older.

We bring our dog Toby to doggy daycare a few times a week, and the manager, a super sweet gal named Jen, feeds her two rescue pups homemade dog food every day. One of them was having major stomach issues, and a blander diet did wonders for her health. She’s like a new dog because of it.

Just a note: Before you make any big changes to your dog’s diet, always consult with their veterinarian. And keep an eye on your pup after feeding them the new food to see how they’re doing. Chances are they’ll be just fine, perhaps with even more pep in their step, but you just want to be sure.

To get you inspired, here are 10 easy and nutritious dog food recipes you can make at home right now.

1. Turkey & Veggie Dog Food Recipe

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Natural, human-grade ingredients like ground turkey, carrots, broccoli and zucchini make this a healthy homemade dog food recipe packed with good-for-you nutrients.

Get recipe at Skinny Ms.

2. DIY Dog Food

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Cheaper than store-bought dog food, this recipe from DamnDelicious combines ground turkey, brown rice and lots of veggies. It’s easier on your wallet and on your dog’s tummy.

Get recipe at DamnDelicious

3. Slow Cooker Dog Food

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Slow cookers make preparingmeals much easier, and dog food is no exception. All you have to do with this recipe is chop up ingredients, dump in the slow cooker and then stir to mash together. That’s it!

Get recipe at Life in Pearls and Sports Bras

4. Make-Ahead Doggie Stew

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Stews are hearty yet nutritiousdishes that fill you up, and Skinny Ms. has a version just for dogs that is packed with protein.

5. Vegan Dog Food

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Here’s an interesting twist on homemade dog food. This completely vegan version has only four ingredients– quinoa, bananas, frozen peas and sweet potatoes– creating a simple, clean dish for dogs.

Get recipe at Veg Annie

6. Homemade Dog Food in the Instant Pot

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The instant pot speeds up cooking times by 2-10x and uses up to 70 percent less energy. If you have one, use it to make this nutritioushomemade dog food recipe. And if you don’t have one, consider purchasing one –you’ll get more use out of it than you’d ever imagine!

Instant Pot Cooker

$99.95

7. Crockpot Chicken Dog Food Recipe

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If you’ve never made homemade dog food before, this is a good place to start. It’s easy and super tasty for the furbabies.

Get recipe at Dogvills

8. Homemade Dog Beef Stew

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An easy one-pot recipe, this homemade dog beef stew is straightforward and simple to make and will provide your dog with lots of healthy nutrients.

Get recipe at Life at Cloverhill

9. DIY Dog Food for Diabetic Dogs

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Unfortunately, some dogs, especially older or overweight ones, develop diabetes. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help with their health, like feed them this homemade dog food recipes developed especially for diabetic dogs.

Get recipe at My Untangled Life

10. Turkey and Rice Homemade Dog Food

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And finally, this no-frills recipe is hearty and healthy. The combination of chicken and rice is easy on their stomach, so if your dog isn’t feeling well, this is a good recipe to make.

Get recipe at All Recipes

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Jessi Larson

Jessi is a marketing strategist for Fortune 50 companies who loves to research and write about all things dog. She is the proud mom to Toby, a giant Labrador Retriever who thinks he’s a lapdog. He inspires her to be a better pet parent and to share advice with other dog owners.

Check out more articles about: Health & Nutrition

10 Homemade Dog Food Recipes Every Dog Parent Should Know (2024)

FAQs

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.

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What should be the main ingredient in homemade dog food? ›

WHAT IS THE RATIO FOR HOMEMADE DOG FOOD? Dogs are obligate carnivores, so their diet should mainly consist of meats and protein. A good recommendation is 80% meat, 10% vegetable, and 10% Know Better Pet Food Premix.

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What should top 3 ingredients be dog food? ›

What are the top 3 ingredients to look for in dog food? The top ingredients to look for in dog food are high-quality proteins (named meat sources - chicken, beef, fish, and lamb), natural carbohydrates (whole fruits and vegetables), and healthy fats (animal fats or plant-based oils).

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What not to put in homemade dog food? ›

What ingredients should you avoid in homemade dog food? There's a vast number of human foods which should never be fed to dogs. Here's a list of ingredients you should avoid in your homemade dog food recipe: Onions, garlics and chives: these can cause gastrointestinal problems and damage to red blood cells.

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Can I feed my dog chicken and rice everyday? ›

It is not healthy to give dogs their dog food mixed in with chicken and rice daily. While chicken and rice are both healthy foods for dogs, they do not contain all of the nutrients that dogs need. A diet of chicken and rice alone can lead to nutritional deficiencies, which can cause health problems in the long term.

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What are the best nutrients to add to homemade dog food? ›

Vitamins dogs require include A (carrots, pumpkin), B vitamins (liver, green vegetables, whole grains), C (fruits and vegetables, organ meat), D (liver, fish, beef), E (leafy green vegetables, liver, bran, plant oils), K (fish, leafy green vegetables, fish), and choline (liver, fish, meats, egg yolks).

What is the best meat to put in homemade dog food? ›

Ingredients: Very lean ground beef or poultry- This is the main source of protein and has to be lean since dogs have a high amino acid requirement. Compared to ground beef, ground chicken and turkey are lower in protein, iron, and zinc, so you'll need to make up for it with extra beef liver.

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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.

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What three ingredients should not be in dog food? ›

Corn Syrup - Used to sweeten your dog's food, but too much sugar leads to weight gain, diabetes, and hyperactivity. Sodium - Like in humans, too much salt can lead to high blood pressure among other health conditions. BHA/BHT - Preservatives known for causing kidney damage and directly linked to cancer.

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What are the 3 D's of dog food? ›

3D and 4D Defined

The term comes from the first letter of the description of meat from animals which are dead, diseased, dying (or downed)—that's 3D—but the animals are still alive. The 4^th “D” is destroyed (all 4 or 4D), which means that the animal is dead.

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How much homemade dog food should a dog eat a day? ›

As a general rule, the serving size for a portion of homemade dog food should equal two to three percent of an adult dog's body weight.