homemade dog food recipes with quinoa

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 17, 2024

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Beef & Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

Published: Jun 18, 2022 Updated: May 22, 2023 by AngelaC This post may contain affiliate links

This homemade beef dog food recipe is a hearty dinner full of meat, vegetables, hemp hearts and quinoa. This quinoa dog food recipe is also gluten-free and grain free that can be great for allergies too.

We have used ground beef, beef liver and chicken giblets for the meaty protein content and added hemp hearts for their nutritious content. Cooked quinoa is a great grain free alternative to rice and has a great fiber and protein content.

For the vegetable content of this dog food recipe we have used grated zucchini, carrots and apple.

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IS BEEF LIVER GOOD FOR DOGS?

Adding organ meats to your dog food adds vitamins, minerals and vital nutrients. Beef liver is a good source of iron, vitamin A, B and D, folic acid, phosphorus, essential fatty acids, zinc, and copper.

Beef liver for dogs can be served raw, dehydrated or cooked. For this recipe we boil the liver until it is cooked through. Once cooled the liver is chopped into bite sized pieces.

Remember to go slowly when introducing new foods. And we recommend checking with your veterinarian first if your dog has any digestive issues or other health concerns.

CHICKEN GIBLETS FOR DOGS

Chicken giblets or gizzards are a great organ meat for dogs as they are low in calories, full of iron, vitamins and protein. They can also be enjoyed as a dog snack but as with any organ meat, it should not make more that 20-25% of your dogs daily intake. This will vary between breeds and sizes, so always check with your vet if you are unsure.

CAN DOGS EAT QUINOA?

We have been using quinoa for our dogs as an alternative to rice for a grain free option and it has a great natural plant protein content. Quinoa can be given to dogs but it must be cooked. It is high in potassium, amino acids, magnesium, vitamin B1 and E.

HEMP HEARTS FOR DOGS

Hemp hearts are a seed that are packed full of nutrients. Full of Omega 3 fatty acids, a complete protein and a decent amount of fiber, hemp hearts are a healthy food for your dog, not just you!

INGREDIENTS

This homemade dog food recipe is full of healthy ingredients for your dog.

If you are using frozen meat, ensure that it is thoroughly defrosted before cooking.

HOW TO MAKE BEEF QUINOA DOG FOOD RECIPE

This recipe is made with 3 pans. One to cook the quinoa, one to cook the ground beef and another to boil the chicken giblets and beef liver. To save time, cook them all at the same time.

We pan fried the ground beef rather than cooking it in a stew for this recipe as we use the juices left in the pan to cook the grated zucchini and carrot.

Boil the beef liver and chicken gizzards in a large saucepan.

Cook the ground beef with the coconut oil in a large pan or skillet.

Fry the grated zucchini and carrots.

Combine all the cooked ingredients with the grated apple and hemp hearts.

STORAGE

Store this homemade dog food in the refrigerator in a sealed container. It should last for 3-4 days.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can this be frozen?

The quantity in this recipe is for my 4 dogs or bulk cooking for 1 dog. It can easily be frozen once cooled. We would suggest that the apple and hemp hearts are not added before freezing and added after defrosting to keep the fresh nutritional benefits of them. Freeze in sealable containers or zip lock bags and this homemade dog food should last up to 3 months in the freezer. Defrost in the refrigerator and gently reheat before serving, then add the apple and hempseed.

Can I make this in smaller quantities

Halve the recipe for a smaller portion or smaller dogs.

MORE GRAIN FREE DOG FOOD RECIPES

Chicken Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

Ground Beef, Kale & Broccoli Recipe

Salmon Broccoli Dog Food Recipe

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Dog Treats Recipe

Chicken Cranberry Meatballs for Dogs

DOG FEEDING GUIDELINES

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Beef & Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

A hearty homemade dog food with ground beef, beef liver, chicken giblets, quinoa, hemp hearts and vegetables.

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dog Meals

Cuisine Homemade Dog Food

Servings 10 servings

Calories 522 kcal

Ingredients

35 oz ground beef
5 oz beef liver
8 oz chicken giblets
8 oz quinoa
11 oz carrots grated
5 oz zucchini grated
3 oz apple grated
5 oz hemp hearts

Instructions

Cook the Ground Beef

Heat the coconut oil in a large skillet or pan on a medium heat. Cook the ground beef for 10-12 minutes, stirring to ensure that it is thoroughly cooked.
Remove the cooked beef from the pan and add the shredded zucchini and carrots. Cook them for 5 minutes until soft.

Cook the Beef Liver & Chicken Giblets

Add the beef liver and chicken giblets to a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 20 - 25 minutes.
Drain the water from the pan and chop the liver and giblets into bite sized pieces.

Assemble

In a large mixing bowl, add the quinoa, beef, liver, giblets, vegetables and add the grated apple and hemp hearts. Mix well and serve.

Notes

Makes 10 servings at 9oz (225g) per servingAlways check with your veterinarian before introducing any new foods into your dogs diet.Any nutritional analysis on the website is based on an estimate, calculated by Spoonacular from the individual ingredients in each recipe. Variations may occur for various reasons, including product availability and food preparation. We make no representation or warranty of the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Beef & Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

Amount per Serving

% Daily Value*

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.

Keyword ground beef dog food recipes, quinoa dog food recipe

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Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

In the introduction of my recipes, I usually write about what I like best about the dish I just made or about an ingredient that stands out. But this time, I think Ill let the picture above do the taking. This is the first time that Oscar ran away with the photoshoot. The little bugger snuck up while I was taking pictures and ran off with one of my Beef Pupcakes! Its like I dont feed him or something. He jumped up on the chair, snatched the closest one to the edge, and took off like a bat out of hell to the safety of his bed to partake in his ill-gotten booty. I was laughing so hard, that I couldnt stop him from finishing it. He earned that pupcake. And really, the highest form of praise for any chef is an entre worth stealing for, isnt it?Beef Pupcake Dog Food RecipeMakes 24 servingsIngredients:1/2 cup brown rice1 large potato, grated1 tsp sage1 tsp parsley cup cauliflower, finely chopped2 large carrots, grated1 large celery stalks, chopped2 pounds ground beef3 eggs1 tablespoon olive oil1/2 cup regular rolled oats regular rolled oatsDirections:Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray muffin tins.Steam rice or cook in small saucepan on stove. Once cooked, remove from heat and let cool.In a large bowl, combine potato, carrots, celery, cauliflower, ground beef, celery, parsley, sage, and eggs. Mix ingredients together using your hands.Add olive oil, rolled oats, and rice, and mix well.Fill each muffin cup and pat down firm. Bake 45 minutes.Cool on a rack. Remove the meat pupcakes by turning the muffin tin upside down over or scooping out with spoon or fork. Refrigerate or freeze in sealed plastic bags.Benefits of Cauliflower for DogsWhile the pupcakes are certainly a treat that will make your dog drool and wag his tail, it includes some healthy ingredients that can improve your dogs health. Cauliflower is a perfect example of this. The vegetable is packed with valuable nutrients. Its a source of vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, choline, potassium, folate, and dietary fiber. This combination of vitamins and minerals works to improve many different areas of your dogs body including improving your dogs digestive health, reducing the risk of heart disease, boosting the immune system, strengthening muscles, and supporting the nervous system. It also contains antioxidants which can help to slow the effects of aging and slow the cognitive decline that often comes as dogs enter their golden years. Can My Dog Eat Eggs? Are you concerned about the addition of eggs in the recipe? Dogs can benefit from eating this protein-rich snack in moderation. The general rule of thumb is that your dog should have no more than one egg per day. With only 3 eggs total in the whole recipe, this isnt going to be a concern when treating your dog with a pupcake! In addition to being a great source of protein, eggs also provide vitamins A and B12, folate, iron, riboflavin, and selenium. They help to build stronger teeth and bones, support skin and coat health, boost the immune system and maintains healthy muscles. Dog owners that are also interested in the minerals found in eggshells may also wish to grind the shells and include them in the recipe. I hope your dog enjoys this Beef Pupcake Dog Food Recipe as much as Oscar did. Sneaky little dog!

Chicken Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

Published: Jun 6, 2022 Updated: Jul 22, 2022 by AngelaC This post may contain affiliate links

This grain free chicken quinoa dog food recipe is packed full of nutrition and flavor. Cooked chicken is served with kale, pumpkin, quinoa and healthy blueberries.

All the ingredients are cooked separately, then served together with the fresh blueberries. This homemade dog food is low in fat, calories and carbohydrates and full of protein.

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IS QUINOA SAFE FOR DOGS?

Technically a seeds, quinoa contains a healthy amount of amino acids, have a high fiber and protein content and is also a good source of antioxidants. It's a great alternative to rice too.

However, the quinoa needs to be washed and cooked thoroughly before serving it to your dog. Do not feed it raw to your dog.

Remember to go slowly when introducing new foods. And we recommend checking with your veterinarian first if your dog has any digestive issues or other health concerns.

INGREDIENTS

This homemade dog dinner is full of colour and texture. The quantities in this recipe are for my 4 dogs so if you are feeding a small dog you may want to reduce the amounts or half the recipe.

Chicken - we used skinless chicken breasts. You could use other cuts of chicken but remove the bones.
Kale - This can be swapped with fresh spinach.
Blueberries - Fresh are preferable to frozen
Pumpkin - Sweet potato could be substituted
Quinoa - We used a mixture of different quinoa colors.
Nutritional Yeast - a great source of protein and amino acids
Coconut Oil - Virgin coconut oil is preferable.

Remember to go slowly when introducing new foods. And we recommend checking with your veterinarian first if your dog has any digestive issues or other health concerns.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN QUINOA DOG FOOD

The ingredients are all cooked separately, then assembled together. We chose to poach the chicken breasts as it makes it easier to shred the cooked meat. If you cook all the ingredients at the same time it's a meal that can be ready in under 30 minutes.

Poach the chicken breasts

Wash and cook the quinoa in water

Boil or steam the pumpkin chunks

Cook the kale in coconut oil and add nutritional yeast

Mix all the ingredients together

Dinner is served!

RECIPE TIPS

Mash the combined food for smaller dogs so that they can digest it easily. Or blitz it in a food processor for a smoother meal.

STORAGE

Keep this food in the refrigerator in a sealed container and it should last up to 4 days.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is quinoa better than rice for dogs?

This depends upon whether has your digestive issue with grains, then quinoa is a better option than rice. If your dog has an upset stomach, white rice is often advised. Both quinoa and rice depends upon your dog.

Can you freeze this dog food?

As this is a large amount of quinoa dog food, this can be frozen. Place portions of the food once cooked and cooled into air tight container or ziplocked bags. It will freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator.

More chicken dog food recipes

Chicken and Rice Dog Food Recipe

Chicken and Sweet Potato Dog Food

Mango Chicken Breast Dog Treats

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Chicken Quinoa Dog Food Recipe

This grain free chicken dog food recipe is served with quinoa, pumpkin, kale and blueberries for a hearty and healthy dinner.

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 28 minutes mins

Total Time 43 minutes mins

Course Dog Meals

Cuisine Homemade Dog Food

Servings 16 servings

Calories 104 kcal

Ingredients

3 medium chicken breasts skinless and boneless
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
2 cups kale chopped
1 cup pumpkin cut into chunks
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon coconut oil
cup blueberries

Instructions

Cook the chicken

Place the chicken breasts in a saucepan of water, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until they are cooked through.
Drain the water, and using two forks, shed the chicken into pieces.

Notes

Makes 16 servings being cup a serving, which is about 3.6 oz or just over 100g per serving.Always check with your veterinarian before introducing any new foods into your dogs diet.Any nutritional analysis on the website is based on an estimate, calculated by Spoonacular from the individual ingredients in each recipe. Variations may occur for various reasons, including product availability and food preparation. We make no representation or warranty of the accuracy of this information.