It’s a proven fact that feeding your furry friend meals made with 100% human-grade ingredients is not only easy and cost-effective, but also a healthier option than a store-bought doggie diet of processed kibble! My simple homemade dog food recipe is packed with a perfect balance of lean protein, wholesome grains, and fresh veggies–everything your pup needs to stay fueled, without any artificial additives or fillers.
Benefits of Homemade Dog Food
Homemade dog food gives you full control over what goes into your pet’s body, providing a more nutritious and personalized approach to their diet. When you make your own meals from scratch, you know exactly what you are placing in the pet bowl; it’s pure wholesome human food that’s fit for canine consumption.
Whether you’re a new pet parent or have a senior dog with special dietary needs, this chicken and rice recipe for dogs contains an appropriate proportion of protein, complex-carbs, fiber, and fat, plus vitamins and minerals, to fuel your pup and support their well-being!
And while you may be thinking that making additional meals won’t fit into your busy day, this recipe takes only 5 minutes to prepare and the simple cooking steps are as basic as boiling rice and combining it with a cooked chicken veggie mixture. Dogs deserve a dinner made with real ingredients that are not only nutritious, but also taste delicious!
My dog LOVES this food! And it’s so easy to make! I freeze several weeks’ worth to have on hand for later. Thank you!
Essential Ingredients for Homemade Dog Food
- Brown rice: Brown rice helps a dog digest because of its fiber. It also provides the necessary vitamin D and B. (SOURCE.) White rice can also be fed to dogs, but keep in mind that it only takes about 20 minutes to cook, so plan accordingly if you make the swap.
- Lean ground chicken: This is a great source of protein and Omega 6 fatty acids that dogs need. (SOURCE.)
- Spinach: The vitamins A, B, C, and K from spinach are great for your dog. There are also some great digestive benefits from spinach. (SOURCE.) Feel free to replace this with any type of lettuce.
- Carrot: Carrots can help keep the teeth of dogs healthy by providing a healthy chew toy. They can also deliver beta-carotene and vitamin A to your dog and improve bowel movements. Carrots must be cooked slightly for dogs to be able to metabolize their nutrients. (SOURCE.)
- Zucchini: Zucchini includes great nutrients and vitamins that help your dog, including vitamin C, potassium, and calcium. (SOURCE.) Any other type of squash plant can also be substituted here.
Just like humans, every dog is different, so this is not meant to be a one-pup-fits-all recipe. Check with your vet before adding any new food to your dog’s diet.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Homemade Dog Food Recipe: Step-by-Step Guide
- Boil The Brown Rice: In a large pot or saucepan, bring the water and brown rice to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cover.
- Simmer In The Saucepan: Lower the heat to a simmer, and cover, and cook the rice for 45 minutes or until soft and the water is absorbed.
- Brown The Beef: Brown the ground chicken in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook The Veggies: Add the spinach, carrot, and zucchini to the skillet with the chicken. Cook until the spinach wilts, and the other vegetables are tender. Remove the mixture from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Combine The Contents: Stir together the rice and ground chicken mixture.
- Serve Or Store: Cool completely before serving or storing.
Simple Chicken and Rice Dog Food Recipes
Chicken and rice is one of the most popular homemade dog food recipes, and for good reason! It’s simple, gentle on the stomach, and easy to digest, making it a great option for dogs with tummy troubles or digestive issues. Chicken provides lean protein that supports muscle health, while rice is a bland carbohydrate that helps firm up stools. The combination of these ingredients offers a balanced meal that’s easy on your dog’s digestive system.
It’s a simple, no-fuss meal that can be made in batches and stored in the fridge or freezer for later. Just be sure to avoid adding any seasoning as they are toxic to dogs. The meal should be as plain and simple as possible (and unlike humans, dogs don’t know the difference!).
Homemade Dog Food Variations with Chicken
- Vary The Veggies: Feel free to use a frozen veggie blends that contain peas, corn, carrots, and green beans. Cooked sweet potatoes are also a great addition to bulk up their meals, just make sure never feed your dog raw sweet potatoes.
- Pick Your Protein: Lean ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey, and ground pork are all great protein options. Be sure to check that any meat you feed your animals is free of seasonings.
- Go With Grass-Fed: Grass-fed beef is typically leaner and lower in overall fat content compared to its grain-fed counterpart. It also contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, has higher levels of vitamins, and may have anti-inflammatory and health-promoting properties. Plus, its raised without hormones or antibiotics, making it a cleaner option for cooking.
- Other Great Grains: Other whole grains like oats, quinoa, barley, potatoes, and even whole grain pasta are also easily digestible and can be added to homemade dog food.
- Flavor Factor: Fresh and dried herbs are safe for dogs and are loaded with health benefits. Try parsley, cilantro, thyme, or basil to increase the flavor factor.
Storing and Serving Homemade Dog Food
- In the Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container outside the fridge for no longer than 2 hours after cooking; however, they will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If your dog doesn’t finish the food by then, freeze it for longer-term storage (up to 6 months).
- In The Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the dog food in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
More Dog Friendly Recipes
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Homemade Dog Food
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown rice
- 2 pounds lean ground chicken
- 2 cups spinach chopped
- 1 large carrot shredded (about 1 cup)
- 1 small zucchini shredded (about 1 cup)
Instructions
- In a large pot or saucepan, combine 4 cups of water and brown rice. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer (medium low to low heat) and cover.
- Cook rice for 45 minutes or until rice is completely soft and cooked through and all the water is absorbed.
- While the rice is cooking, cook the ground chicken on a large skillet over medium high heat until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add the spinach, carrot, and zucchini to the skillet with the chicken. Cook until the spinach wilts, and the other vegetables soften, about 3-4 minutes.
- Take the chicken and vegetable mixture off the heat and set aside to cool.
- When the rice is finished cooking, stir together the rice and ground chicken mixture.
- Let cool completely before serving to your dog or storing for later.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator no more than 2 hours after cooking the food. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days after that.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the dog food in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
- It’s not usually advised to abruptly change your dog’s diet. Start transitioning your pet to homemade food by mixing some of this homemade dog food in with their regular food for a few days until they are used to the new food. And again, always consult your vet before feeding your pet something new.
- To give your dog a variety of different nutrients, you can use different meats, carbs, and vegetables to customize your dog’s food.
- Be sure to find a dog food recipe that is complete and well-balanced. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to feed an incomplete or imbalanced diet to your dog.
My furbaby loves this recipe and the best part if her poopy s solid for the first time ever.
We have two senior dogs 10 years. Both are about 65 pounds and and in pretty good health. One has Cushings desease and on Veterol. That will not change. One has bladder crystals (not stones). She is on a urinary dry dogfood. We would like to change to a healthier option. I have discussed this recipe with our vet and he said to give it a try. We willneed to have blood work at 60 days to see if it affects the bladder issue. Normally they eat 1 1/2 cups of dry food twice a day. What are your recommendations on quantity with this recipe? Also how long should we mix with the dry food before completely transitioning? Thank you.
I would recommend talking with your vet. They are the experts. This is a very general recipe meant for healthy dogs. I would always get specific feeding instructions directly from your vet.
My pup loves this. She would so much rather eat people food anyway, so this was a fantastic find for us!!!