homemade dog food recipes vet approved chicken
10 Homemade Chicken Dog Food Recipes
If youve decided to take it upon yourself to start making your own dog food, you should first get your vets approval and advice. This is particularly important if your dog has any allergies or intolerances.
If you already have the go-ahead and are ready to dive into cooking wholesome and nutritious dog food, youll need good recipes. If your dog loves chicken, youve come to the right place!
Here are 10 dog food recipes that feature chicken that shouldnt be too challenging to make and that your dog should love!
The 10 Homemade Chicken Dog Food Recipes
1. Easy Homemade Dog Food Crockpot Recipe by A Forks Tale
This crockpot (slow cooker)recipe features ground chickenin addition to other healthy ingredients, including rice, veggies, and beans.
The beauty of this recipe is that you can swap out ingredients and fine-tune it to your dogs preference. You just throw everything into the slow cooker in the morning, turn it on, and its ready in time for your dogs dinner!
2. DIY Homemade Dog Food by Damn Delicious
This recipeis quite similar to the first one, except you dont need a slow cooker just a large pot and a bit of time. While this recipe does call for ground turkey, you can swap it out with ground chicken.
Prep is super easy: Cook the chicken with a small amount of olive oil, throw in the vegetables, cook for about 5 minutes, and its done! You just need to let it cool before serving.
3. Stovetop Chicken Dog Food by Southern Bytes
Southern Bytesoffers a ground chicken recipe that you cook on your stovetop. Frozen vegetables will save you time and effort. Also included are steel-cut oats, bone broth, and coconut oil. Its easy to prep, and you can make the samerecipe in an instant potif you have one.
4. Chicken & Rice Dog Food Recipe by Pawsome Recipes
When your dog has an upset stomach, your vet will likely tell you to put them on a bland diet. This usually involves plain, cooked chicken and white rice.
Thisrecipe gives similar instructions but with the option of adding vegetables if your dog is in good health.
5. Easy Rice & Chicken Dog Food Recipe by All Recipes
The author states that their vet approved this recipe for their dogs, and it doesnt call for any oil. Place chicken, water, and vegetables into a large pot, bring it to a boil, and simmer for about 25 minutes.
6. Chicken Burgers for Dogs by Wag the Dog UK
Most of the ingredients for this recipe are similar to the previous recipes, but you get chicken burgers instead!
Theres also fruit in addition to the veggies, ground chicken, and brown rice. These burgers are baked in the oven, or you can grill them in the summer. The author mentions that you can make these into a meatloaf instead.
7. Easy Crockpot Chicken Dog Food Recipe by DogVills
Thiscrockpot recipehas chicken breasts, brown rice, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, and water.
Cut everything up, throw it in the crockpot, cook for 5 to 8 hours (depending on if youre cooking it on low or high), stir it up, and youre done!
8. Homemade Meatballs for Dogs by House That Barks
This recipe formeatballsis something that dogs will love! The recipe calls for ground beef, which you can replace with ground chicken.
The recipe also calls for eggs, unsweetened applesauce, yogurt, and almond flour. The meatballs can be baked or fried (but baking is healthier) and can even be used as pill pockets.
9. Chicken Jerky for Dogs by Proud Dog Mom
Thischicken jerky recipeis more of a treat than a meal, but your dog will love it! You only need to thinly slice chicken breasts, grease a wire rack, and bake them at low heat for 2 to 3 hours.
This process slowly dries out the chicken, and they come out chewy and crispy. These are easy and healthy treats for your dog!
10. Chicken Biscuits for Dogs by Two Healthy Kitchens
Thischicken biscuit recipeis simple to make, and your dog will love them! You can use leftover cooked chicken (as long as its unseasoned, deboned, and skinless) and mix it with flour, yogurt, water, and an egg.
Dont worry about using cookie cutters and turning them into adorable nugget shapes. Your dog only cares about how they taste, and it will save you time.
![]()
Talk to Your Vet
Consult with your vet about the recipes that youre interested in trying, so you can be sure they are good for your dog. You should also discuss how much you should feed your dog and how often.
Its vital that you have a conversation about your dogs diet if youre planning on changing it or adding something new. Dogs dont always react well to new food, particularly if they have a sensitive stomach.
Food Allergies
Another reason that you should be careful when introducing new foods to your dog is that they can have food intolerances and allergies. The most commonfood allergy triggersare proteins, with chicken and beef at the top of the list.
If your dog develops skin issues, frequent ear infections, or stomach upset (vomiting and diarrhea), it might be due to a food intolerance or an allergy. Speak to your vet!
Final Thoughts
Now you have many options for delicious homemade chicken recipes for your dog. Each recipe is quite easy, particularly if youre already a decent cook.
That said, you must discuss any recipes that youre interested in with your vet. If you plan to make all your dogs food yourself, know that they need a specific balance of proteins, fats, carbs, and nutrients to stay healthy, and your vet should help you with this.
Once the essentials are taken care of, these recipes should be fun to make, and your dog will love them!
Featured Image Credit: Sophie Louise Davis, Shutterstock
9 Vet-Approved Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Want to try your hand and learn how to make homemade dog food? The classic proportions are 50% protein (including meat or eggs), 25% vegetables, and 25% carbohydrates (like rice or oats). But which ingredients should you use, and how can you make sure your dog food recipe is healthy?
To help you find the best recipes, weve put together this list of 10 healthy dog food recipes to try today. Making dog food at home can save you money and give you more control over what your dog eats. Scroll down to try one of our favorite homemade dog food recipes! And if you have questions, take a look at our recipe tips at the end.
Top 9 Healthy Dog Food Recipes
1. Beef, Herb, and Egg Dog Food Recipe
This recipe is so easy, it only has one step: combine the ingredients! Your pup will love the mixture of ground beef, protein-packed eggs, and dog-friendly herbs like parsley.
2. Turkey and Rosemary Dog Food Recipe
This is another incredibly simple recipe. You probably already have these ingredients in your kitchen! All you need is a package of frozen vegetables, ground turkey, rosemary, and rice.
If you want to feed your dog human-grade food without the hassle of having to prepare the meals yourself, you need to try Spot & Tango.
Their pre-packaged meals full of human-grade ingredients get delivered right to your door, so all you need to do is pop them into your dogs dish!
Ready to get started? Right now, you can save 50% on Spot & Tango HUMAN-GRADE premium dog food by clicking here!
3. Simple Chicken and Vegetable
Heres another healthy dog food recipe so beautiful we want to try it! This recipe from Damn Delicious combines vegetables like spinach, zucchini, and peas with lean ground chicken. Its a beautiful and nutrient-packed mixture.
4. Instant Pot Dog Food Recipe
If you have an Instant Pot, youll love this simple recipe! You can cook everything in your pot, including rice or oats, lean ground meat, and vegetables of your choice.
5. Non-Allergenic Dog Food
If your pup has food allergies, this recipe might be just what youre looking for. Nikki at Wheres the Frenchie? was inspired by her French Bulldogs newly discovered allergies to create this straightforward recipe, which includes whole grains, pumpkin puree, and ground turkey.
7. Chicken and Bean Dog Food
Heres another incredibly easy Crock-Pot recipe that you could eat for dinner yourself! This delicious-sounding dog food recipe features chicken, kidney beans, butternut squash, and peas. Plus, Katie Crenshaw of A Forks Tale offers great suggestions for supplements and substitutions! Did you know that you could add eggshells or chicken livers to your dogs food?
8. Turkey Macaroni Dog Food
Brought to you by The College Housewife, this dog food recipe substitutes macaroni noodles for the usual rice or oats but still includes plenty of healthy protein and vegetables. Cook up your ground turkey, broccoli, and sweet potatoes, and youll have a delicious, human-grade dog entree.
9. Doggie Meatball Recipe
These meatballs may look mouthwatering, but they are intended for your dog! Best of all, you can use them to get your pup to take medications. Whip some up, sneak in a pill, and youll be the best dog parent ever.
Dog Food Recipe Tips
Trying new foods is fun for humans, but it can be hard on our pets stomachs. The most important thing to remember is to change your dogs diet slowly. Veterinarians recommend mixing new foods with your dogs previous food. Start with about 25% new food and 75% old food. Then gradually increase the amount of new food until you reach 100%. If you notice any changes in your dogs digestion, you may want to stop the transition and talk to your veterinarian.
Like people, dogs can have food allergies. Common dog allergies include wheat, eggs, chicken, and beef. Keep in mind that some ingredients may be particularly toxic to dogs, like grapes, onions, and garlic. If you notice symptoms like gastrointestinal issues, youll probably want to consult your veterinarian about your dogs ideal diet.
Storing Your Homemade Dog Food
These recipes are really simple, but you probably dont have time to cook a full meal for yourself and your dog every night. An easy solution? Make a big batch and divide it into individual portions. Put each meal in a Ziploc bag in the freezer and pull it out at dinner time!
Making Your Own Dog Food: The Bottom Line
Now that youve learned how to make homemade dog food quickly and easily. We hope youve found your new favorite healthy dog food recipe. Cater to your furballs specific dietary needs, learn a new cooking skill, and maybe even save a little money. Your dogs will love their upgraded diets!
Looking for more dog recipes?
Featured image credit: stockcreations, Shutterstock
Vet-Approved Homemade Chicken Dog Food Recipes
Dog Food Nutrition & Recipes Recipes
Vet-Approved Homemade Chicken Dog Food Recipes
Theres nothing quite like eating a home-cooked meal to have you feeling your best, and your dog feels the same way!
While its completely fine to feed your dog a store-bought diet, many dog owners like the idea of making homemade dog food themselves. Homemade dog food gives you more control over exactly what your pup is eating and is even recommended by some vets for dogs with specific dietary needs.
In this guide, were sharing four fantastic homemade chicken dog food recipes that are actually vet-approved! Thats righteach of these recipes was either formulated by a vet or adapted from the vet-formulated recipe. Balanced nutrition is super important, and vets know the needs of our dogs best.
On that note, disclaimer: You should not switch your dog to a homemade diet without first consulting with their vet. Homemade dog foods can sometimes be lacking in vital nutrients, and youll need to talk to your vet to make sure your dog is getting everything they need.
Now, without further ado, lets take a look at the best homemade chicken dog food recipes plus some tips for safe handling, nutrient balancing, and recipe building.
1. Basic Homemade Chicken Dog Food Recipe Starter
If youre looking for easy dog food recipes with chicken that you can easily make your own, this is a good place to start. Created by Claudia Kawczynska, this recipe is an adapted version of a recipe published by veterinarian Greg Martinez in his book Dr. Gregs Dog Dish Diet: Sensible Nutrition for Your Dogs Health.
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to adapt to your dogs needs. For example, you can increase or decrease the carbohydrate percentage by removing or adding more protein. You could also use a different protein altogether if your dog cant eat chicken.
We also love that this recipe is made entirely in a slow cooker which helps to preserve nutrients and makes the cooking process so easy.
Nutritional Information:
- Quantity: Makes 7-8 cups of chicken dog food
- Protein: 1015%
- Fat: 57%
- Carbohydrates: 57%
- Moisture: 70%
Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast or thighs cubed (or a mixture of the two)
- 23 oz. chicken liver, heart, gizzard, or a combination
- 2 eggs (minus the shell)
- 8 oz. uncooked white rice
- 1 lb green beans
- 1 tsp bone meal (check out this bone meal powder from UPCo)
- Water
- The One all-in-one daily supplement
Instructions
- Add chicken, chicken liver, eggs, rice, green beans, and bone meal to your slow cooker.
- Add enough to almost cover the ingredients without fully submerging them. Give everything a stir to distribute the ingredients evenly before cooking.
- Cover and set your slow cooker to low. Allow to cook for 48 hours, or until the chicken is tender and falling apart, stirring occasionally.
- Drain excess water if necessary and transfer the finished dog food to air-tight containers to cool before serving.
- To serve, add a portion to your dogs bowl and top with a serving of The One daily supplement.
Important Notes
If you cant source chicken liver, heart, or kidneys, beef liver is a good substitute.
2. Homemade Whole Chicken Dog Food Recipe
If you havent already guessed, in this homemade dog food recipe, chicken is very much for dinner! Developed by Dr. Michael Foxa veterinarian with more than 50 years of experiencethis recipe makes use of a whole chicken, brown rice, and a handful of ingredients you might not expect. Designed to be customizable, Dr. Fox offers lots of recommendations for ingredient substitutes, which well also share below.
Nutritional Information: 1 cup of this food is approximately 1 serving for a 30 lb dog, or one meals worth of food.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 4 cups cooked whole-grain brown rice
- Pinch of salt
- 1 TBSP wheat germ
- 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp brewers yeast
- 1 TBSP bone meal (check out this bone meal powder from UPCo)
- 1 TBSP shredded, unsweetened coconut
- Water
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup grated broccoli
- 1 TBSP vegetable oil
- 1 TBSP coconut oil
- 2 TBSP kefir
- 1 tsp spirulina
- 1 tsp powdered ginger
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- The One all-in-one daily supplement
Instructions
- Add chicken, cooked brown rice, salt, wheat germ, apple cider vinegar, brewers yeast, bone meal, and shredded coconut to a large pot. Cover ingredients with water and put on medium-high heat to bring to a simmer. Keep simmering lightly for 2030 minutes, or until the chicken is lightly poached.
- Remove the chicken and debone, being careful to also remove any excess fat and skin.
- Drain excess moisture from the pot and return the chicken to it, mixing everything well.
- While still warm, add the blueberries and broccoli and stir to combine. The texture should be thick.
- Once cooled, add the vegetable oil, coconut oil, kefir, spirulina, powdered ginger, and turmeric powder. Form the dough into patties and freeze for long-term storage or keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To serve, break a patty apart in your dogs dish and top with a serving of The One daily supplement.
Important Notes
Ingredient substitutions
- Chicken: stewing beef, mutton, lamb, or turkey
- Brown rice: quinoa, barley, or rolled oats
- Bone meal: calcium citrate or lactate
- Blueberries: chopped apple
- Broccoli: cabbage, collard greens, carrots, or sweet potato
3. Holistic Ground Chicken Dog Food Recipe
Can you guess the main ingredient in this homemade dog food recipe? Chicken, duh!
This homemade chicken recipe for dogs was developed by holistic veterinarian Dr. Donna Kelleher who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Originally made with ground turkey, this also works as a chicken mince dog food recipe, or with any protein you choose.
With just a few super-simple steps, this is easily one of the fastest homemade chicken dog food recipes on our list.
Nutritional Information: This recipe is designed to be a single-serving for a 20 lb dog. Scale up to prepare this recipe for homemade dog food with chicken ahead and store it in the freezer for easy meal times.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. ground chicken
- 2 TBSP ground organ meat (chicken liver, kidney, heart, etc.)
- cup finely grated blanched broccoli
- 1 tsp ground raw sunflower seeds
- tsp coconut oil
- tsp salmon oil
- 500 mg calcium citrate (or bone meal)
- The One all-in-one daily supplement
Instructions
- Gently cook the ground chicken and organ meat in a frying pan over medium-low heat until just cooked through.
- Once the meat has cooled, add blanched broccoli, sunflower seeds, coconut oil, salmon oil, calcium citrate, and one serving of The One daily supplement for dogs. Mix well and serve!
Important Notes
Using gentle heat to blanch the veggies and cook the chicken will help to preserve nutrients. High heat can degrade the nutritional value of the ingredients, so do your best to cook everything lightly.
4. Vet-Formulated Chicken Oatmeal Dog Food Recipe
Our last homemade dog food recipe with chicken was developed by vets at MSPCA-Angell. This recipe makes using whatever ingredients you have on hand super easy. For example, if you dont have oatmeal in the house, rice or sweet potato can be used as a carbohydrate substitute. Because this recipe calls for pre-cooked ingredients, this is another of our fantastically easy and healthy homemade chicken dog food recipes.
Nutritional Information: This recipe makes two servings (or one days worth of food) for a 15 lb dog. Scale the recipe up to prep ahead or make portions for a larger dog.
Ingredients
- 3 oz. chicken thigh, lightly cooked
- 1 cups cooked oats
- 1 TBSP dog-safe mixed veggies
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- The One all-in-one daily supplement
Instructions
- Chop or shred chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine chicken, cooked oats, vegetables, and vegetable oil in a bowl and mix well.
- To serve, top the meal with a serving of The One daily canine supplement.
Important Notes
The vets at MSPCA-Angell have a fabulous tip for anyone making dog food at home: weigh out your ingredients! Weighing ingredients is much more accurate than measuring by volume or eyeballing your recipes. Accurate measurements help to ensure your dog is getting the right balance of nutrients.
Does Your Dog Food Recipe Need To Be Vet-Approved?
Long story short, yes!
Long story long: unless you are a veterinarian or a canine nutritionist, its important to consult a vet about your dogs diet, no matter what youre feeding them. Homemade dog foods can be fantastic, but they need to be appropriately balanced so that your dog isnt lacking in any nutritional area.
The vet-approved homemade dog food chicken recipes were sharing here were created by veterinarians, and are already nutritionally balanced. That said, you should still chat with your vet about the recipe you choose, and follow their recommendations for added ingredients, formula changes, or alternative options.
Your vet knows whats best for your pup. Dont be afraid to ask questions, their goal is always to help you keep your pooch healthy.
Benefits of Feeding Your Dog a Chicken-Based Diet
Chicken is one of the most common proteins found in commercial dog food and one of the easiest proteins for dog owners to prepare for their pups. Its no wonder homemade dog food with chicken recipes are exceedingly popular!
High in protein but low in fat, chicken is an excellent lean meat that works well for all dogs, including those that need to be on a low-calorie diet. Thanks to the lean protein, chicken works well for helping dogs develop muscle, retain energy and strength, and avoid unwanted weight gain. Chicken is also high in essential nutrients like B vitamins, zinc, and a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
While chicken is a fantastic option for most dogs, its also one of the most common canine allergies. Symptoms of a chicken allergy in dogs include itching, licking, skin irritation or rash, hot spots, ear infections, eye discharge, loose stool or GI upset, and more.
If you notice your dog exhibiting any of these symptoms, the best option is to switch them to a novel-protein diet as soon as possible.
Homemade vs. Store-Bought Dog Food: Whats the Difference?
Compared to commercial dog food, homemade dog food typically features fresher ingredients, providing better-quality nutrition for your furry friend. By using all-natural ingredients, homemade dog food recipes contain fewer preservatives and offer a wider range of protein options. These fresh recipes can also provide a variety of flavors and textures to keep your dogs diet interesting and support their overall well-being.
Of course, theres always the financial side of things to consider. Unfortunately, making homemade dog food chicken recipes at home will often be more expensive than buying commercial or store-bought dog food. However, if you are buying and preparing homemade dog food in bulk, it may be the same price or slightly less expensive than store-bought options.
Tips for Making Nutritionally Balanced Homemade Dog Food
The key challenge with homemade dog food is achieving nutritional balance. Designing a nutritionally complete homemade dog food diet can be difficult without a strong understanding of canine nutrition. Poor planning and inadequate knowledge can cause nutrient deficiencies.
Similarly, its important not to trust every recipe you find on the internet. Here, were highlighting recipes specifically formulated by vets and canine nutritionists, but there are plenty of unqualified people posting their dog food recipes online, too.
If youre struggling to calculate on your own or create recipes based on your dogs specific needs, try using a recipe builder to generate nutritionally complete homemade dog food recipes with chicken or any other protein.
Should You Add a Multivitamin To Homemade Dog Food?
Because homemade dog foods can sometimes be lacking in nutrients, we always recommend including a daily multi-purpose supplement with your dogs meals. One of our favorites is The One from Front of the Pack.
Formulated with 12 vital ingredients, The One is designed to be a daily supplement, appropriate for dogs ages 12 weeks and up. Heres a quick breakdown of the amazing natural ingredients used in this formula:
- Ashwagandha immune support & blood sugar regulation
- Chondroitin joint health
- Curcumin anti-inflammatory antioxidant
- Glucosamine joint health
- Green Tea Extract antibacterial antioxidant
- Krill rich in omega-3s
- L-Carnitine for energy
- L-Theanine neurological & emotional health
- MSM anti-inflammatory & pain relieving
- Postbiotic supports gut health
- Prebiotic supports gut health
- Taurine heart-supporting antioxidant
Worried your dog wont take their medicine? Dont worry! The One is made to taste like a savory bone broth, so it wont offend your dogs palette.
How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
Dogs need a certain amount of calories every day based on a variety of factors, starting with calculating their resting energy requirements (RER). The formula for finding your dogs RER might look intimidating, but we promise its not as complicated as it appears! To do this, youll need to know your dogs weight.
Once youve calculated your dogs RER, youll multiply that number by coefficients that correspond to life-stage and body condition. DVM360 lays all these steps out beautifully in this blog.
Remember, you should always consult with a veterinarian before committing to a homemade dog food formula. They will be able to help you make safe, healthy choices for your pup.
Safe Food Handling Tips When Making Dog Food
Remember, cleanliness and organization are just as important for your dog as they are for you! Your canine friend is susceptible to food-borne bacteria and illness just like a human, so its very important to follow safe handling instructions when preparing their food.
- Wash your hands. Before you start, while you work, and once everything is completed.
- Disinfect surfaces. Because youre making dog food, youll probably be working with raw meat. Making sure to disinfect surfaces after youve finished cooking will prevent the spread of germs.
- Keep human and dog food separate. Avoid using the same containers, utensils, or areas of the fridge/freezer for dog food and human food. Keeping them separate is best for your health and the health of your dog.
- Wash dog bowls after use. Use hot, soapy water to clean your pups bowl after every meal.
- Freeze extra meals. Rather than keeping your extra homemade dog food in the fridge, try pre-portioning and freezing it. Dog food will keep much longer in the freezer, and will just need around 12 hours to thaw in the fridge before serving.
Is your pup allergic to chicken? Try making homemade salmon dog food instead!
