Homemade Grain-Free Dog Food

My dog is getting older and his health has become more of a priority. I worry about how many nutrients kibble may lose through the cooking process. So, I developed this homemade dog food recipe to include all of the vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that my dog needs. It took me a bit of research to figure out what foods in what proportions to use. The protein ingredients include liver and poultry (dark meat poultry is best), sunflower oil for linoleic acid, and 10 other essential amino acids that dogs must get in their diet.


Recipes · Everyday Cooking · More Meal Ideas · Pet Food Recipes


Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Servings: 10
Total Time: 50 mins
Yield: 10 cups

Ingredients

Ingredients List

  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

  • 2 apples - peeled, cored and chopped

  • ΒΌ cup water

  • 6 eggs

  • 3 pounds ground chicken

  • 6 ounces chicken livers, chopped

  • 3 tablespoons sunflower seed oil

  • 4 cups baby spinach leaves


Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  2. Place carrots, apples, and water into a pot. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until soft, 10 to 15 minutes.

  3. Crack eggs and whisk together in a bowl; place eggshells onto a baking sheet.

  4. Bake eggshells in the preheated oven until dry, 5 to 7 minutes.

  5. Remove eggshells from the oven and pulverize using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder.

  6. Place ground chicken, chicken livers, eggs, ground eggshells, and sunflower oil into a large skillet. Heat over medium heat, mixing occasionally, until ground chicken is browned and crumbly and livers are no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes.

  7. Place spinach on top of meat mixture in the skillet and cover with a lid to steam until soft, about 5 minutes.

  8. Mash softened carrots and apples using a potato masher and add to meat mixture; mix together.

Cook's Notes:

Use organic apples to avoid pesticides and be sure to remove all apple seeds. They are toxic to dogs.

Store 3 days' worth in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Freeze extra in 3-day portions and defrost in the refrigerator on the first day of use. Heat each cup for 45 seconds in the microwave and let cool before serving.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrition Facts
291 Calories
12g Fat
7g Carbs
37g Protein


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