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This Homemade Dog Food Recipe is filled with hearty ground turkey and fresh veggies – skip the kibble and try something healthy and all natural. Learn all about dog food allergies, best home food for dogs, why it’s cheaper than store-bought and how to store and serve your pups!
Please note** I am not a veterinarian, just a loving dog Mom, and I highly recommend consulting with a vet that practices homemade / human-grade dog food practices before changing your dog’s diet. This meal plan has worked wonderfully for us and I hope it does the same for you.
You can grab all the shopping items and products used for this recipe over on The Inspired Home from this post!
Our Backstory: Common Food Allergies for Dogs
After Rascal turned a year old or so, he started developing really strange eating habits. He wasn’t finishing his food, had loud intense stomachaches and frequently threw up. We went through a number of blood tests. He had been diagnosed with things like pancreatitis, anxiety and one vet even thought he had parvo. We were stressed and at a loss at how to move forward. That is until we did an allergy test.
We uncovered that Rascal was allergic to a dozen different food items, one being beef, the main ingredient in his traditional dry dog food. Our vet introduced us to an all-natural human-grade dog food company called ‘Just Food for Dogs’. The company sells premade food and teaches people how to make a homemade dog food recipe at home. Once we started this all-natural diet, the stomach aches subsided and he was the happiest we had ever seen him.
Why we love the switch!
Now, our golden retriever Rascal eats a 100% human-grade dog food diet! Jared and I always joke that we could eat Rascals food with enough sriracha. Let me preface by saying that I NEVER thought I would be the type of person that made their dog’s food homemade.
At first, the thought of homemade dog food was so daunting and just downright ‘boogie’. I can honestly say that making his food doesn’t cost much more than the prescription diet he was on beforehand.
After watching the documentary ‘Pet Fooled’ we realized just how unregulated the dog food industry was and started to feel stronger about our homemade switch.
Is homemade dog food good for dogs?
While I am not a vet, and I certainly can’t speak for all animals (pun intended), I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made the world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.
On traditional dog food, Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. He was also low in his weight class, weighing in at just 64 pounds for a full-sized male Golden Retriever.
Since the dog food switch, he has been energetic, focused, and calmer. He has also put on about 15 pounds in just one year after switching to homemade food. On a traditional diet, we’re vacuuming at least once a day but now only 1-2x a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.
Ingredients for Rascal’s homemade dog food:
- Olive oil
- Ground turkey
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Zucchini squash
- Broccoli
- All-Natural chicken stock or water
- Macaroni noodles (I love DeLallo)
Note: We add in a supplement nutrient blend from a company called ‘Just Food For Dogs’ very similar to dog vitamins as well as Omega oil to make sure he is getting enough healthy fats. I highly recommend adding both of these into your dog food so you can rest assure that they are getting proper nutrients.
DIY dog food seasoning
While dogs can’t have all of the same aromatics as humans can (skip the onions!) they can have a small variety of dried or fresh herbs and spices that contain great nutrients and help flavor their meals. Use a few teaspoons sprinkled on top or mixed into the food. These are some easily digestible herbs and spices to try:
- Basil
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Cinnamon
- Turmeric
- Ginger
Foods dogs should never eat
If you are serious about making the shift to a DIY dog food lifestyle, avoid including any of the foods mentioned below as they can be toxic and poisonous to dogs:
- Chocolate (and other sugary foods or drinks)
- Avocados
- Onions + Garlic
- Milk (or other dairy products)
- Meat with nitrates (i.e. hot dogs and bacon)
How do you make homemade dog food
- Cook turkey: In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey, begin to break it down, and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until mostly cooked through.
- Chop veggies: With a food processor, finely chop sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini and broccoli.
- Add vegetables and stock: Add in the chopped vegetables and chicken stock (or water). Cook on a strong simmer for 7-8 minutes, or until veggies are tender and cooked through.
- Stir in pasta: Mix in your cooked pasta noodles to the turkey vegetable mixture.
- Feed your pups: Portion out meals accordingly. For every 10 lbs, you need roughly 1/2 cup of food per meal. Example: If you have a 20 lb dog, they will eat 1-1.5 cups of the batch per meal (2-3 cups total per day). Rascal weighs 70 pounds and eats about 3-3.5 cups per meal (7 cups total per day).
Alternative method: Slow cooker
Add in all the ingredients and cook on high for 4 hours. This does cook down some of the nutrients as the mixture cooks longer but it can be an easier cooking method depending on your kitchen/time.
Tools needed for cooking dog food at home
- Food Processor: Before I start cooking a batch of homemade dog food, I blend up all the vegetables in my food processor. This Cuisinart food processor is my go-to. It’s a bit smaller than traditional food processors (we don’t have a lot of counter space) but works just as well as a larger model. Blending up the veggies nice and fine will speed up the cooking process.
- Dutch Oven: I make the entire batch in my large Le Creuset round Dutch oven. I love using a Dutch oven because I can ground the meat first, and then finish off the batch right in the same pot. The process is very similar to making chili… except for dogs. Ya know…Dog Chili. (Yes, you can also use a crockpot. Just add all the ingredients and set it on high for 4 hours).
- Measuring Cups: Rascal has his own set of measuring cups now because it makes measuring out food ingredients and the finished batch WAY easier.
- Meal Prep Containers: This is basically meal prepping for your dog, so you will need some great Tupperware.
Recipe variations: What natural foods can I feed my dog?
Home-cooked dog food diets can be one of the best ways to keep your best friend happy and healthy. As always, check with your vet before testing a new dog diet, but here are some of my best recommendations:
- Protein: Rascal digests ground turkey really well but you can try ground beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and Rascal’s personal favorite: venison. If you don’t have a meat grinder, you can ask your butcher to grind it for you or cut it up super fine before cooking.
- Vegetables: Spinach, butternut squash, cranberries, cauliflower, apples, green beans. Here is an entire list of AKC approved fruits and vegetables you can give your dog.
- Grains & Carbs: Rice, quinoa, barley, whole grain pasta, and potatoes can be great options. If you can believe it, Rascal is actually allergic to rice. I wish I were kidding.
Snacks to pair with home cooked dog food
- Peanut butter: Rascal has his own dedicated jar of peanut butter. He loves a traditional kong but you can also mold and freeze peanut butter in any shape for a quick frozen treat. When the jar is almost finished I break out my peanut butter spoon.
- Greek Yogurt Ice Cream: In the summer we blend up unflavored Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and peanut butter. Place a spoonful or two into a silicone cupcake pan and freeze for a few hours. These make for a great dog ‘ice cream’.
- Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes: Rascals favorite easy treat. We love bringing these over to family and friends’ houses so Rascal always has a healthy treat on hand.
How to store, reheat and freeze
This homemade dog food will last 5-7 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer. We usually make a week’s worth of food at a time and store it in the refrigerator. We store all of the meals in simple Tupperware containers and we ALWAYS save our plastic take-out containers and re-use them for Rascals Dog Food.
When eating time rolls around, simply nuke it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds and cool slightly before serving.
For freezing, I recommend freezer-safe containers or freezer zip-top bags. Thaw overnight in the fridge before feeding and reheat as directed.
Homemade dog food recipe FAQ
How much homemade dog food should my dog eat?
This will definitely vary from dog to dog and I highly recommend speaking to your vet before going homemade. Generally speaking, for every 10 lbs your dog weighs is roughly 1/2 cup of prepared food.
Rascal weighs 75 lbs and we feed him about 3-3.5 cups of food per meal (2 meals per day).
Is it cheaper to feed your dog homemade food?
Homemade dog food is more affordable than you might think. It’s very relative to how large your dog is, but I’ll break down the numbers for you (we buy the ingredients at Sprouts)…The last dry kibble dog food Rascal was prescribed was over $90 a bag. A homemade batch costs us roughly…
- 3 lbs ground turkey – $10.49
- 2 lbs sweet potatoes – $5.19
- 3 carrots – $1.04
- 2 zucchini squash – $1.32
- 1 cup broccoli – $0.49
- 2 lbs macaroni noodles – $3.34
Grand total: $21.87 per batch
Your meat/protein will be the largest cost. I always pick up ground turkey when it’s on sale and freeze it until we need it for a batch. Cheap and cheerful!
Other Rascal posts to check out!
- Top 5 Tips for Surviving Puppy Training
- Meet Rascal! – Bringing Him Home!
- Rascal Modeling in Our First Apartment
If you make this Homemade Dog Food Recipe, be sure to tag me on Pinterest and Instagram!
I seriously love seeing what you guys are making and sharing your creations with the College Housewife community!
Originally published in May 2020, updated February 2022 with updated info and recipe card.
Homemade Dog Food Recipe
★★★★★4.6 from 9 reviews
- Author: Elizabeth Van Lierde
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 meals for a 75 lb dog 1x
- Category: Paw-sta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Dog Food
Description
This Homemade Dog Food Recipe is filled with hearty ground turkey and is all-natural – skip the kibble and try something fresh and full of veggies. Learn all about dog food allergies, best home food for dogs, why it’s cheaper than store-bought and how to store and serve your pups!
Ingredients
Scale
2 tbsp olive oil
3 lbs ground turkey
3 medium sweet potatoes
3 carrots, peeled
2 zucchini squash
1 cup broccoli florets
3 cups chicken stock or water (no salt added)
20 ounces cooked macaroni noodles, such as ditalini
Instructions
- Cook turkey: In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey, begin to break it down, and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until mostly cooked through.
- Chop veggies: With a food processor, finely chop sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini and broccoli.
- Add vegetables and stock: Add in the chopped vegetables and chicken stock (or water). Cook on a strong simmer for 7-8 minutes, or until veggies are tender and cooked through.
- Stir in pasta: Mix in your cooked pasta noodles to the turkey vegetable mixture.
- Feed your pups: Portion out meals accordingly. For every 10 lbs, you need roughly 1/2 cup of food per meal. Example: If you have a 20 lb dog, they will eat 1-1.5 cups of the batch per meal (2-3 cups total per day). Rascal weighs 70 pounds and eats about 3-3.5 cups per meal (7 cups total per day).
Notes
Slow Cooker: Add in all the ingredients and cook on high for 4 hours. This does cook down some of the nutrients as the mixture cooks longer but it is can be an easier cooking method depending on your kitchen/time.
Storage: Store in an airtight container or zip-top bags for 5-7 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: Nuke it for 30-60 seconds in the microwave and cool slightly before serving.
Please note** I am not a veterinarian, just a loving dog Mom and I highly recommend consulting with your vet that practices homemade / human-grade dog food practices before changing your dog’s diet. This meal plan has worked wonderfully for us and I hope it does the same for you.
Keywords: all natural, diy, pet recipes
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