With scary pet food recalls in the news, one has to wonder if the food is safe at all. While most is edible, and many commercial brands are even high quality, the benefits of making homemade pet food can’t be ignored. Do you want to be able to select the freshest, healthiest ingredients that are geared to your pet’s dietary preferences? Do you want to incorporate vitamins and/or supplements? If so, I’d encourage you to try it (whether it’s done daily or only once in a while, I think making pet food can be fun, too, for anyone who enjoys cooking).
After lots of experimentation, these recipes have proven to be winners with both cats and dogs. Each recipe is very easy and fluid; there’s no measuring, weighing, or exact ingredients needed. Remember to take your individual pet’s needs into account: breed, age, weight, activity and overall health.
1. Chicken Delight
Mix shredded Rotisserie chicken and diced Brussels sprouts. Add coconut oil, flax oil, powered fiber, and enough water to dissolve fiber. (I use a mix of both dark & white meat and leave the skin on, but that’s optional.)
2. Sausage Scramble
Mix turkey sausage, shaved turkey deli meat, diced hard-boiled egg whites, and spinach and broccoli (that’s been blended/mushed by hand).
Add coconut oil, flax oil, powered fiber, and enough water to dissolve fiber.
3. Beef & Broccoli Medley
Take a package of beef breakfast sausage that’s been cut lengthwise and place it flat side down on a microwavable plat. Heat for 10-15 seconds. Combine with steamed, chopped broccoli. Add coconut oil, flax oil, powered fiber, and enough water to dissolve fiber. (This recipe is a kitty favorite!)
4. Pot Roast & Carrots
I made this with dinner leftovers and the dogs devoured it! Just combine shredded pot roast with steamed carrots.Add coconut oil, flax oil, powered fiber, and enough water to dissolve fiber.
All of these recipes can be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge for 1-2 days, or bulk cooked and frozen for later. My animals don’t complain either way.
Have you ever made pet food?
I have not made pet food before, Thank you for these ideas and information.
I have never made homemade pet food and don’t know that I would start, but my mom probably would be interested in doing it! Will have to pass your great info on to her!
I have never made homemade food for my dog before. He will literally eat anything, so I don’t think he’d appreciate the effort.
Besides table scraps I’ve never thought about giving my dog ‘real’ food. i guess even animals appreciate a home cooked meal!
I dont have a dog but love this idea. My neighbor had to make her cat food because her cats digestive tract was messed up and needed a special diet. Will have to look up some recipes for my kitties. Ive tried one recipe before and they wanted none of it.
I haven’t ever made pet food, but I *have* made pet treats. Once. One was a bad breath banisher for dogs (it didn’t last very long, didn’t seem worth the effort), and the other was a cheesy cat treat (my cats didn’t like them). Since then, we’ve gone with pet store treats… although if my toddler were interested in making some special treats once in a while, I might be open to that. Pet food, though? we’re just sticking with the dry food the vet recommended…it’s easier for when we have to leave on vacation.
This looks like some great dog food. I have never made homemade before.
Thank you for these suggestions. My mom has been thinking about doing this, I will show her these!
Thanks for sharing this. Our dogs love everything except their store bought dog food. A lot of people will say that giving dogs table food is bad but I think if you plan it well, just like what you have here, they will have a healthy diet even with homemade food.
I’ve made homemade food for my dog when she was sick one day. It actually wasn’t bad and she loved it.
When I was preparing baby food for my kids I made extras for my dog, because the food was bland and had very healthy ingredients in it!
I’ve never made my own pet food before, and I didn’t know how to do it either. Thanks for sharing this idea, will have to try it!
Well, I’d say someone has some spoiled pets! haha. I love that you make your pets their own food. It’s good to actually KNOW what is going into their food rather than just buying whatever is on sale that week. Thank you for sharing!
Oh wow, I never ever thought to make my own pet food! I guess I was always scared it would upset their tummy.
I have yet to make any dog food or dog treats from scratch. I am seeing quite a few posts lately on this topic.
What a fun way to make the pets happy. Even better you know exactly what’s going into what they eat this way.
These homemade pet food recipes are awesome! I have two pups that I serve gluten free and grain free food too so I am considering trying these!
These are some awesome recipes!! When I had my doggies I use to make them homemade food once in awhile!!! So much better than most of the foods you buy in a store.
Those are amazing recipes. We try to cook pet food as much as we can. It is healthier
These are great! All these pet food recalls have been so scary. We have four dogs and they truly are a part of our family. I may consider stating this, at least for our three little guys.
I never thought about making homemade pet food. It sounds like a good idea! Thanks for sharing.
I don’t have any pets, but at the same time, I wouldn’t of think of something like this. This would def be an awesome idea though.
Commercial rotisseries chicken has too much salt and additive, so we use boiled chicken at the advice of our vet. Boiling all the fat off is better than baking.
We have made our dog, Dexter, peanut butter dog treats and he loved them. I felt better about what he was eating…real food vs. god knows what. It is scary to read the ingredients list on most pet food products!
I am sure my Bella would love to much on any of these great dishes =)
Your pet is very fortunate! I will be forwarding your post to my neighbor who owns a dog 🙂
We do actually. I make jellied pigs trotters for my two as it prevents joints problems
I would love to make homemade dog food! My pups eat so much is so hard to keep up with them, making it myself would be great!