Making easy homemade dog recipes

So you’re thinking about ditching the store-bought kibble and making your dog’s food yourself? Good for you! More and more dog parents are going this route, and honestly, it makes total sense when you think about it. You wouldn’t want to eat the same processed stuff every day, so why should your furry best friend?

Why Homemade Is Actually Pretty Awesome

Here’s the thing – when you make your dog’s food yourself, you’re basically becoming their personal chef (and trust me, they’ll love you even more for it):

You’re the boss of ingredients: No more squinting at labels trying to pronounce weird chemical names. You know exactly what’s going in that bowl – fresh, good stuff that you’d probably eat yourself.

No sketchy additives: Those commercial foods? Yeah, they’re packed with preservatives and fillers that sound like they belong in a science lab, not your dog’s dinner. When you cook at home, you skip all that junk.

Custom meals for your picky eater: Got a dog with a sensitive stomach or weird allergies? Homemade lets you be super picky about what goes in. It’s like having a personalized meal plan, but for your dog.

Better ingredients without breaking the bank: You can hit up the farmer’s market or choose organic stuff when it’s on sale. Even regular grocery store ingredients beat the mystery meat in most dog foods.

Your wallet might thank you too: Sure, it takes some time, but you’ll probably save money compared to those fancy raw food brands. Plus, you can buy in bulk and freeze portions.

The Building Blocks of a Good Dog Meal

Okay, here’s where it gets a bit science-y, but stick with me. You don’t need to nail the perfect balance in every single meal – think of it like your own diet. Sometimes you eat pizza, sometimes salad, but it all evens out over time.

Talk to your vet first though! Seriously, they know your dog’s specific needs better than any internet guide (even this one).

Here’s what a good homemade raw diet looks like:

Muscle meat (about half the meal): This is the main event – the protein powerhouse. Look for meat that’s got 10-15% fat. Mix it up with chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, or if you’re feeling fancy, rabbit or venison. Grass-fed is great if you can swing it, but don’t stress if you can’t.

Organ meat (about a quarter): I know, I know – organs sound gross. But they’re like nature’s multivitamins! Liver, kidneys, heart – they’re packed with nutrients your dog needs. If you can’t find fresh ones (or can’t handle the ick factor), freeze-dried organ powders work too.

Raw bones (12-15%): Here’s the important part – ONLY raw bones! Cooked bones are dangerous because they can splinter. If you’re doing cooked meals, use bone meal powder instead.

Veggies and fruits (about 10%): Think colorful! Berries, leafy greens, carrots – all that good stuff with antioxidants and fiber. Your dog’s gut will thank you.

Healthy fats (10-20%): Balance is key here. Add some fish oil, sardines, or other omega-3 rich stuff to balance out all the omega-6s in meat. Just add these right before serving, not when you’re meal prepping.

Some Easy Recipes to Get You Started

Don’t worry – you don’t need to be Gordon Ramsay to pull these off:

Chicken and Rice (The Classic)

• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup green beans
• 1 tablespoon fish oil

Just cook everything, mix it up, let it cool, and boom – dinner’s ready!

Beef and Sweet Potato (The Hearty One)

• 2 cups lean ground beef
• 1 mashed sweet potato
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Brown the beef, cook and mash the sweet potato, lightly steam the veggies, mix, and you’re done.

Turkey Veggie Stew (The Fancy Option)

• 2 cups ground turkey
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup chopped zucchini
• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Cook the turkey, add the zucchini until it’s tender, stir in the pumpkin and quinoa. Easy peasy!

Venison and Lentils (For the Adventurous)

• 7 oz cooked venison
• 1 1/2 cups cooked lentils
• 3 teaspoons vitamin supplement
• 1 teaspoon sunflower oil

This one’s got about 698 calories – perfect for a 25-pound dog’s daily needs.

The Practical Stuff Nobody Talks About

What you’ll need: A kitchen scale (seriously, get one), some big mixing bowls, a sharp knife, and good storage containers. If you’re cooking, a slow cooker is your best friend.

Storage game: You can keep this stuff in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze portions for up to 3 months (some say a year, but I’d play it safe). Just make sure everything’s completely cool before you store it.

How much to feed: Most adult dogs need about 2-3% of their ideal body weight daily. Puppies are little eating machines and need way more – like 10% of their current weight, split into three meals until they’re about 6 months old.

The “Don’t Even Think About It” List

Some stuff is basically poison for dogs, so just don’t: chocolate (obviously), onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, avocados, and anything with xylitol (that fake sugar stuff). Oh, and remember – no cooked bones ever!

Bottom Line

Look, making your dog’s food isn’t rocket science, but it does take some commitment. The payoff though? A healthier, happier pup who’ll probably do backflips when they see you heading to the kitchen.

Just remember to check with your vet before you make the switch – they might have specific suggestions based on your dog’s health. But honestly? Once you start, you’ll probably never want to go back to the mystery kibble. Your dog’s tail won’t stop wagging, and you’ll feel pretty good knowing exactly what’s going into their body.