homemade dog food ground beef sweet potato

Recipe: Ground Beef and Vegetable Homemade Dog Food

Ground beef is affordable and very easy to find in any grocery store. It's also easy to prepare, versatile (as it can be used in many different types of homemade food), and most dogs find it appetizing. I used ground beef in this meat and vegetable homemade dog food, but you can substitute with a different protein source if you'd prefer.

It's best to ask your veterinarian if this homemade dog food recipe will provide balanced nutrition for your pet. Keep in mind that virtually every homemade dog food diet will need supplements or additional ingredients to provide 100% balanced nutrition for your dog's unique nutritional needs.

Your dog's dietary requirements are ever changing, and they will vary throughout his life based on his age, weight, activity level and overall health condition. Only your veterinarian or better yet a trained canine nutritionist can tell you if this ground beef dog food recipe will be an appropriate diet for your dog.

The professional you work with will likely recommend adding additional supplements or a multivitamin to the recipe to ensure that it meets all of your pup's nutritional needs. Most recipes will require supplementation by adding commercial products or additional ingredients to boost the nutritional contents of the recipe.

Ground Beef and Vegetable Homemade Dog Food

Making homemade dog food is more time consuming than serving commercial kibble, but the benefits definitely outweigh this drawback. You can use the highest quality ingredients that you can afford. You can also cater the recipes to your dog's individual nutritional needs and taste preferences.

For example, you can substitute chicken or venison for the beef in this recipe. You could also use any other dog-friendly fruits/vegetables of your choosing. Broccoli, peas, squash or blueberries would all be good substitutes for the vegetables in this recipe.

You'll want to keep the sweet potatoes though, because they're asuperfood for your pup! They are high in fiber, which supports a healthy digestive tract. They are also high in beta carotene, Vitamins A, C and B6, iron, potassium and calcium.

Print

Recipe: Ground Beef and Vegetable Homemade Dog Food

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

You don't need to use this recipe as your dog's main source of nutrients. You could use it as a food topper to entice a picky eater or to add more nutrients to your pet's commercial kibble.

• Author: Samantha Randall
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: about 4 cups of food 1x
• Category: Cooked Food
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Dog Food

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1/3 cup brown rice
• 1 cup green beans
• 1/3 cup sweet potato (chopped)
• 1/3 cup carrots (chopped)
• 1/4 cup celery (chopped)

Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the cooked rice, green beans, sweet potato, celery and carrots to the skillet. Turn the heat to low and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to evenly distribute all of the ingredients.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/2 cup
• Calories: 148
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 47 mg
• Fat: 3.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 9.3 g
• Fiber: 1.2 g
• Protein: 18.3 g
• Cholesterol: 51 mg

How to store:You can store the leftover vegetable homemade dog food in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or freeze them and theyll keep for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that this recipe includes no preservatives, so it won't last nearly as long as commercial dog food.

For More Information

We publish many homemade dog food and treats recipes every month. For more recipes, pet food cooking tips, and advice, see our Recipes section.

If you're new to the home-cooked dog food subject, I recommend you read more about How Much To Feed to understand serving sizes, What Supplements To Use to create well-balanced meals, and How To Store for tips on simple and easy homemade dog food storing in a fridge or a freezer.

As dogs get older, they tend to become less active, and therefore should have their calories reduced.

Studies have shown thataslimmer dog will live approximately one year longerthan its overweight counterpart. In addition, slimmer dogs enjoy a higher quality of life.

Overweight dogs are at risk of developing weight related issues including obesity, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease.

These health conditions will actually cost youmorein medical expenses over time, than if you choose to make dietary changes as soon as you see your dog's weight beginning to increase.

This is especially true for large dog breeds like labradors, golden retrievers, german shepherds, huskies and pitbulls. Small dog breeds like shih tzus, chihuahuas, yorkies, dachshunds, maltese, and pugs can also become overweight from overfeeding treats or meal portion sizes.

If your senior dog needs to slim down, choose a low calorie dog food recipe like Chicken and Rice with Carrots.

Homemade Dog Food Recipe

Last Updated August 19th, 2023 at 09:37 am by Lisa

Pin

Homemade dog food can be custom-made for your dog, is healthy, fresh dog food, and a freezer meal all in one. Chock full of fresh veggies and a great way to ensure your dog's diet has a good variety.

Once every 6 weeks you can make up homemade meals in place or in addition to your pups regular food. Sassy is so happy with her own dog food, and especially loves when I warm it up.

Skip all the junk in traditional store-bought commercial dog food, your dog is going lick the bowl clean...

Pin

Your dog will absolutely love this easy homemade dog food recipe. Years ago my first Shih Tzu Lucky suffered from horrible allergies to chicken. This went on for a long time, little did I know that was his issue. He had a hard time keeping food down, wouldn't eat it, had skin issues, and I never knew why.

So when I got my second Shih Tzu Sassy, I learned about this allergy to chicken. At first, she was on dry commercial dog food and treats and had the same issues as Lucky Boy. Even expensive fancy wet food gave her issues, as there was some chicken by-product in almost every brand. So many commercial pet products contain chicken. Her health issues were getting worse. So I set out to make her the best homemade dog food I could, and even created a recipe for her very own dog biscuits with her name on them-so cute!

You & Your Dog Will Love DIY Dog Food!

• Homemade dog food vs store bought - advantages are you can control the ingredients for allergies which can cause health issues.
• Peace of mind ther are no unwanted preservatives, fillers, and shelf stabilizers.
• Packed with fresh leafy greens and colorful vegetables.
• Cooked raw meat like ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken can be used in this homemade recipe, it is going to taste better than dog foods that sit in a bag or on the shelf.
• Senior dogs lose their appetite and need soft food in small pieces as sometimes they don't have all their teeth to chew.
• You can use up ingredients you have on hand from your freezer and not throw them in the trash.

Pin

How To Make Homemade Dog Food

As pet owners, we want the best for our dogs, and yes it takes a couple of hours of home cooking to make their food. But it is worth it, the quality of our dog's life is worth it. I also think I saved a small fortune at the vets.

Join Our List

And receive a free Cookout Planner as our thank you!

After some trial and error, I learned what Sassy's favorite homemade dog food is, and she likes it finely minced with ground beef and vegetables (no chicken-not even chicken stock in the rice!). You can create your own version or try this one, and you will find it is almost the same price as dry food for small dogs.

• 3 pounds ground beef (7 cups cooked crumbled ground beef)
• 2 cups uncooked white or brown rice
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt (skip if using buillon)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 28 ounces beef stock (optional) + cup water 28 oz = 3.5 cups, add cup water for the proper ratio to make rice
• 1 cups fresh broccoli (shredded, cut finely or a 12 oz frozen bag)
• 2 cups fresh carrots (shredded, cut into small coins - 2 large carrots)
• 2 cups sweet potatoes (small cubes or shredded - 1 large sweet potato)
• 2 cups fresh spinach

Pin

Let's Make Homemade Dog Food

Make Flavored Rice

Use a ratio of 1 cup rice to 2 cups water with beef bouillon or beef stock, you can scale up or down check your rice package instructions. Feel free to swap in beef, chicken, or vegetable broth for better flavor. I also LOVE Better Than Beef Buillon to flavor the rice, it is totally Sassy approved.

Bring the stock/water to a boil, add rice and salt (skip salt if using bullion). And if you want to add a pat of butter, it makes rice taste even better. Cover the pot and simmer for 18 minutes on low and don't remove the lid. Brown rice takes 30 minutes. Check the rice, and if done turn off the heat, replace the lid, and let it rest for several minutes in the steamy pan. Use a fork to fluff it up!

Make Ground Beef and Veggies

Brown and crumble 3 lbs of ground beef in a large skillet. Place in a large bowl with the drippings.

Chop, shred, or process all the veggies. My dog is a small dog and prefers the veggies finely shredded in a food processor. You can use a knife or a box grater works too.

In a large pot (cast-iron pan or skillet), briefly saute carrots, broccoli, and sweet potato until just soft for a few minutes on medium. Place into the large bowl. In a large bowl, add the cooked ground beef, warm rice, warm sauteed veggies, and fresh spinach. Mix well with a large spatula.

Pin

Mix and Portion Homemade Food For Dogs

The best way to store fresh food for your doggie is to use freezer bags. I have a small dog, so using this recipe I calculated the calories she needs per day. Measure a few day supply based on your dogs caloric needs. And portion it into a 5 day supply, so it is food safe after it defrosts.

Pin

Simply pull out a frozen bag of new food and let it defrost in the fridge every 5 days. I give her of the baggie daily. The bags compress flat in the freezer or you can place them in an airtight container. Store in an airtight container or larger zip-top bag in the freezer.

Pin

Cost of Homemade vs. Store-Bought

$20 of ingredients made 40 individual 1 cup homemade servings or about $.50/serving. Store-bought dry food is about $.41 per serving. So yes, homemade is more expensive but has fresh nutrition and ingredients I believe are good for your dog, after all, dogs ate human leftovers and scraps way before dog food was manufactured!

This serving size is for my 11-pound dog, she is small. So you would need to calculate the number of daily calories your dog needs.

PRO TIP: This recipe for homemade dog food calculates the calories for you in 1 cup servings.

Do Your Portion Research

You will need to do some research on how many calories your dog needs per day based on your dog's activity level and your dog's weight. There are so many factors to consider that will vary due to the breed, size, age, and activity of your pet. My dog needs about 400 calories a day and is a small dog weighing just 11 pounds.

Nutritional Needs

To meet your dogs specific nutritional needs, there are so many considerations for a balanced diet for healthy dogs. You will want to talk to your vet, and each dog has unique considerations for its particular health issues, breed, activity level, and food allergies. You can supplement dogs' food with liquid vitamins or fish oil on their food with the advice of a veterinarian.

DISCLAIMER: Seek the advice of a good vet, I am a food blogger and not able to provide any medical advice or comment on your dog's health needs or situation. This recipe is not meant to be all your dog consumes in their daily diet.

PRO TIP: Puppies, adult dogs, and especially senior dogs have different needs. You can use this handy tool to check the nutrition of the dog food you create here at BalanceIt.

Pin

Fresh DIY Dog Food Tips

Dog owners do get really concerned about feeding their dogs human food and scraps. I just had a really long chat with Sassy's vet at her annual health check-up. Each dog is totally unique. Some have food sensitivities, easily get upset tummies and some have digestive issues, so regular commercial food is best for those dogs.

Sprinkle Dry Kibble

I sometimes sprinkle some dry dog food into the homemade food to stretch out my homemade dog food batch. Use high-quality commercial pet food and check the label carefully for any ingredients to avoid food allergies and reactions.

Trying New Dog Recipes

Best advice is to slowly introduce new foods to our dogs. We want to keep our pets healthy and food changes can cause issues to their digestive tract. All dogs are unique, what works for one won't work for another. Fresh dog food recipeshave ingredients your dog might be trying for the first time so go slow, with small portions. Sassy could not handle chicken stock cooked into the rice, and wouldn't eat it due to her allergies, so I used beef stock or Better Than Bouillon when I make the rice and she loves it.

Try Different Veggies

Each time I make a new batch of homemade dog food, It's a good idea to use up different veggies. If some are about to go bad or I have extra and want to use them up quickly and find this is a perfect use.

Pin

Experiment With Textures

Try different textures of veggies and see what your dog likes!

What I learned is as long as the veggies were finely grated in a food processor, Sassy ate it all! She wasn't a fan of the cubed shapes and large spinach leaves, so I finely chopped the food and that did the trick to get her to eat it all. I think she loves the brown rice mixed in with the beef stock the most. And she is also okay if I shred them in the food processor!

Pin

Use Up Extra Freezer Meat or Leftovers

The last tip I have is to use up meat that has been in the freezer a while and is not something you want for dinner but still safe for your dog. I often buy too much quantity when recipe testing ingredients, and use up extra steak meat or pork I have on hand for homemade dog food. Nothing goes to waste around here, but I don't feed her bones, fatty meats, etc.

Senior Dogs Picky Dogs

One tip I can share is you can use riced frozen vegetables. I have used packages of riced cauliflower, sweet potato, and broccoli. All work great, save time and are convenient, but they are a little more expensive. These will work great for dogs that can't chew well, are picky, don't each much food, or won't eat larger pieces of dog food.

Finely Chopped Dog Food

If your dog is picky or will only eat finely chopped dog food (like mine), you can either run the vegetables through a food processor or finely chop them on a cutting board. Hand held boxed graters work but take a lot of time. I use the shredder blade on my processor and buzz everything through. Also, try frozen riced vegetables, they are a great option and work great!

Pin

Variations For Dog Food

What Meat Proteins Can I Use?

• Beef
• Chicken (my dog is allergic, many dogs are)
• Turkey
• Lamb
• Fish
• Eggs
• Liver (organ meats)
• Duck
• Bison
• Venison

What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?

So if you have ever wondered what veggies can dogs eat safely? Let's answer that question. Again, I am a food blogger over here and not a veterinary medicine professional or nutritionist. But for thousands and thousands of years dogs have survived off the scraps of human food.

• butternut squash
• Brussels sprouts
• fennel
• peas
• zucchini
• carrots
• sweet potato
• fresh spinach
• black beans or chickpeas/garbanzo beans
• cooked potato (in moderation)
• pumpkin
• celery
• broccoli (chopped)
• frozen peas
• bell peppers
• green beans
• kale

Don't Feed Your Dog

• Onions (never feed)
• Mushroom (never feed)
• Tomatoes (never feed)
• Garlic (never feed)

Again, do your own research on what is best for your dog's diet!

Pin

Can My Dog Eat FAQ

So many readers are asking if these vegetables for dogs safe? So let's go through some of the most asked questions.

Can dogs eat bell peppers?

Yes. Bell peppers are loaded with essential vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants beneficial to a dogs health. Rich in vitamins A, E, B6, and lutein and are great sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene. Red bell peppers actually start out green and mature to red. Theypack the most nutrition because they've been on the vine longest.

Can dogs eat potatoes?

Yes. Cooked potatoes in moderation are fine. Boil, steamed, or baked without seasoning are fine. They contain a number of nutrients including vitamins A, B6, and C, as well as minerals like magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium. Raw potatoes should never be fed to your dog. Like other vegetables belonging to the nightshade family (such as tomatoes and eggplants), raw potatoes contain solanine, a compound that can betoxic to dogs.

Can dogs eat broccoli?

Yes. Broccoli is best served as an occasional treat. It is high in fiber and vitamin C and low in fat. However, Broccoli florets contain isothiocyanates, which can cause mild-to-potentially severe gastric irritation in some dogs. Furthermore, broccoli stalks have been known to cause obstruction in the esophagus. Chop up the broccoli for your pet.

Sassy girl, is happy. Okay, she didn't like the spinach and pulled it out! But loves the rice and beef.

The trick I learned was to chop it finer than seen here and she gobbled it all...

Pin

Homemade Dog Biscuits

These Dog Biscuits are super fun to make and you can even personalize them for your pup. Again, I use a lot of fresh veggies, peanut butter, pumpkin, and more in them, and Sassy just LOVES these! I also share how to order the super cute biscuit cutter in the recipe post

Homemade Dog Treats

Your doggy will love these homemade dog treats (dog biscuit recipe) packed with nutritious pumpkin, peanut butter, spinach, zucchini, carrots, and oats.

GET THE RECIPE PIN ITPin

CRAVING MORE?

Did you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you! If you make this recipe and love it, stop back, give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Delicious Table with my free newsletterand share this recipe with your friends onFacebook, Pinterest,andInstagramfor more Delicious Table recipes!

Pin Print Pin Recipe

Homemade Dog Food Recipe

A homemade dog food recipe that can be custom-made for your dog. It is healthy, freezer friendly, and chock full of veggies, meat, and rice.

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings 16 1 cup dog servings

Calories 338kcal

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground beef 7 cups cooked crumbled ground beef
• 2 cups brown rice or swap white rice
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 28 ounces beef stock (optional) + cup water 28 oz = 3.5 cups, add cup water for proper ratio to make rice
• 1 cups fresh broccoli, shred or cut finely or a 12 oz frozen bag
• 2 cups fresh carrots, shred or cut into small coins 2 large carrots
• 2 cups sweet potato, small cubes or shred 1 large sweet potato
• 2 cups fresh spinach

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Make Ground Beef and Veggies

• Brown and crumble 3 lbs of ground beef in a large skillet. Place in a large bowl.

• In a large cast iron pan or skillet, briefly saute carrots, broccoli, and sweet potato until just soft for a few minutes on medium.

Mix Dog Food

• Into the large bowl with ground beef, add warm rice, warm sauted veggies, and fresh spinach. Mix well with a large spatula.

• Portion 4-5 cups of Homemade Dog Food per zip lock back, and store in an airtight container or larger zip top bag in the freezer. Pull our one small bag per week, and reheat a serving for your dog in the microwave for 30 seconds. I sometimes sprinkle some dry dog food into the homemade food to stretch out my homemade dog food batch.

Notes

Please consult with a veterinarian and use your good judgment of what is best for your dog's diet! My dog happens to be allergic to chicken (her eyes constantly watered, were itchy, and were stained plus she threw up her store-bought food!), so that is why I use beef stock and ground beef-and oh does she love it!

Portion Homemade Food For Dogs

The best way to store fresh food for your doggie is to use freezer bags. I have a small dog, so using this recipe I calculated the calories she needs per day. Measure a few day supply based on your dogs caloric needs. And portion it into a 5 day supply, so it is food safe after it defrosts.Simply pull out a frozen bag of new food and let it defrost in the fridge every 5 days. I give her of the baggie daily. The bags compress flat in the freezer or you can place them in an airtight container. Store in an airtight container or larger zip-top bag in the freezer.

Senior Dogs Picky Dogs

One tip I can share is you can use riced frozen vegetables. I have used packages of riced cauliflower, sweet potato, and broccoli. All work great, save time and are convenient, but they are a little more expensive. These will work great for dogs that can't chew well, are picky, don't each much food, or won't eat larger pieces of dog food.

Finely Chopped Dog Food

If your dog is picky or will only eat finely chopped dog food (like mine), you can either run the vegetables through a food processor or finely chop them on a cutting board. Hand held boxed graters work but take a lot of time. I use the shredder blade on my processor and buzz everything through. Also, try frozen riced vegetables, they are a great option and work great!

Nutritional Needs

To meet your dogs specific nutritional needs, there are so many considerations for a balanced diet for healthy dogs. You will want to talk to your vet, and each dog has unique considerations for their health issues, breed, activity level, and food allergies.You can also supplement dog's food with liquid vitamins or fish oil on their food, again seek the advice of a good vet.PRO TIP: Puppies, adult dogs, and especially senior dogs have different needs. You can use this handy tool to check the nutrition of the dog food you create here at BalanceIt.

Variations For Dog Food

What Meat Proteins Can I Use?

• Beef
• Chicken (my dog is allergic, many dogs are)
• Turkey
• Lamb
• Fish
• Eggs
• Liver (organ meats)
• Duck
• Bison
• Venison

What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?

So if you have ever wondered what veggies can dogs eat safely? Let's answer that question. Again, I am a food blogger over here and not a veterinary medicine professional or nutritionist. But for thousands and thousands of years dogs have survived off the scraps of human food.

• butternut squash
• brussel sprouts
• fennel
• peas
• zucchini
• carrots
• sweet potato
• fresh spinach
• cooked potato (in moderation)
• pumpkin
• celery
• broccoli (chopped)
• frozen peas
• bell peppers
• green beans
• kale

Don't Feed Your Dog

• Onions (never feed)
• Mushroom (never feed)
• Tomatoes (never feed)
• Garlic (never feed)

Again, do your own research on what is best for your dogs' diet!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 334mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5458IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg

Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com