Homemade Dog Food Recipe for a Happy, Healthy Pup: Sadie’s Hearty Freezer Meal Plan Recipe
This Homemade Dog Food Recipe provides a nutritious, well-balanced meal for your furry friend, featuring a hearty blend of ground beef, ground turkey, quinoa, a variety of vegetables, and bone broth. It’s designed to be made in large batches, easily portioned, and frozen for convenient feeding, ensuring your pup enjoys a happy, healthy diet.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes plus 30-60 minutes resting time
- Yield: Approximately 14-16 quart-size bags (3 cups each) 1x
- Category: Dog Food
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Pet Nutrition
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 6 lbs ground beef (drain fat)
- 5 lbs ground turkey (not drained)
Grains
- 1 cup quinoa
Vegetables
- 12 oz bag frozen spinach
- 12 oz bag frozen broccoli/cauliflower mix
- 12 oz bag frozen cut green beans
- 10 oz fresh shredded carrots
- 2 medium yellow squash, chopped
- 2 medium zucchini, chopped
Liquids & Oils
- 2 cups beef bone broth (homemade)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
Supplements & Spices
- 2 tbsp ground eggshells
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 4 shakes black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water. In a saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until all the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside uncovered.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large stock pot, lightly cook the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the fat from the pot once cooked.
- Add and Cook Turkey: Add the ground turkey to the same pot with the beef and cook thoroughly, making sure not to drain the fat from the turkey.
- Combine Meats: Return the drained beef back into the pot with the cooked turkey. Stir well to combine the meats evenly.
- Add Bone Broth: Pour in 2 cups of homemade beef bone broth to the meat mixture for added flavor and nutrition.
- Incorporate Quinoa: Add the cooked quinoa to the pot and stir to blend it into the meat and broth mix.
- Add Vegetables: Add all the vegetables to the pot, including frozen spinach, frozen broccoli/cauliflower, frozen green beans, shredded carrots, chopped yellow squash, and chopped zucchini.
- Mix in Supplements and Spices: Stir in ground eggshells, ground turmeric, black pepper, and melted coconut oil evenly throughout the mixture.
- Combine Thoroughly: Stir thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated and evenly distributed.
- Simmer: Cover the pot and let the mixture simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
- Rest: Turn off the heat and keep the pot covered. Let the mixture sit for 30 to 60 minutes to cool down slightly and allow flavors to meld.
- Cool Stirring: Remove the lid and stir occasionally while the mixture cools to room temperature.
- Portion: Measure 3 cups of the cooled dog food per quart-size zip-lock bag. Flatten the bags and seal them tightly for storage.
- Storage: Store two days’ worth of portions in the refrigerator for easy access. Freeze the remaining bags to maintain freshness and extend shelf life.
Notes
- Ground eggshells provide a natural source of calcium; ensure eggshells are finely ground to avoid large pieces.
- Bone broth adds flavor and nutrients but can be substituted with low-sodium broth if preferred.
- Make sure to fully cook all meats to ensure food safety for your dog.
- Portioned bags can be thawed overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- Adjust portion sizes according to your dog’s size, breed, and activity level with your veterinarian’s guidance.
- If introducing new foods to your pet, do so gradually to prevent digestive upset.
Keywords: homemade dog food, dog food recipe, healthy dog meals, freezer dog food, nutritious dog food, ground beef dog food, ground turkey dog food, quinoa dog food, dog food with vegetables
