Homemade Dog Food with Beef

4.8
(19)
18 Reviews
4 Photos

My Samoyed, as he grew out of puppyhood, refused to eat kibble (and even canned food) and would go days without eating or eating very little until he lost weight. Frustrated, I did some research and started giving him this homemade dog food twice a day. He is back to a normal weight, and is very happy! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Serve without bones; give separately as a treat as desired and use caution.

Submitted by dish567
Updated on November 17, 2023
4
4
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr
Additional Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 45 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
18 cups
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 2 pounds ground beef

  • 6 cups water, or more as needed

  • 4 cups uncooked brown rice

  • 1 pound assorted beef bones (shin, shank, short ribs, or marrow bones)

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

  • 1 (15 ounce) can sliced carrots, drained

  • 1 (13.5 ounce) can spinach, drained

  • 6 eggs

  • 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

Directions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.

  2. Place 6 cups water and brown rice into a stockpot. Add browned beef, bones, and rosemary; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low or low and let simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until rice is mushy, about 45 minutes. Add water if necessary to keep mixture a little thicker than a porridge-like consistency.

  3. Meanwhile, place carrots, spinach, and eggs with their shells into an electric blender. Blend until completely pureed and no eggshells are intact.

  4. Mix pumpkin and blended egg mixture in a bowl until combined. Remove meat mixture from heat and pour egg mixture into the pot to cook the eggs in hot contents, about 5 minutes. Let cool thoroughly before feeding to your dog, about 30 minutes.

Cook’s Note

I feed my 60-pound dog 2 1/2 to 3 cups of food a day minus the bones. I will add about one bone a day to his food bowl. Feed less or more according to your dog's weight and activity level.

You can substitute other vegetables, such as peas, celery, and sweet potatoes, or add fruit, such as apples, bananas, and blueberries. You can also use frozen or fresh vegetables, just be sure to purée them with a blender. I find canned vegetables are the easiest to store and use. My dog also loves a tablespoon or so of nonfat yogurt added to the top.

You can mix in oatmeal or barley but don't use wheat, soy, or corn. You can use any cut of beef, chicken, fish, or lamb, but be sure to cut them into bite-size pieces before boiling. You can get bones from a butcher, but be sure not to use chicken bones.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

846 Calories
27g Fat
107g Carbs
43g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 846
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 27g 34%
Saturated Fat 9g 47%
Cholesterol 258mg 86%
Sodium 369mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 107g 39%
Dietary Fiber 9g 31%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 43g 87%
Vitamin C 14mg 15%
Calcium 196mg 15%
Iron 8mg 47%
Potassium 1161mg 25%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.