When it comes to nutrition requirements, dogs and humans are very similar. They require a high protein and low carbohydrate foods. The issue is that they sometimes eat poorly. Many dogs suffer from obesity due to poor food choices.
You can easily prepare delicious, nutritious meals for your dog using ingredients that you already have at home. All you need is some creativity and a little bit of patience.
Let’s look at the eight nutrition-based dog meals you can prepare at home:
Meatballs
Dogs adore meatballs, and this recipe is quite simple. As with any meatball recipe, the secret is to carefully combine all of the ingredients to ensure that the taste and texture of your meatballs are both well-balanced.
Using almond flour gives dogs with sensitive stomachs a gluten and grain-free choice, while the parsley gives the meatballs in this dish a freshening effect on dogs’ breath.
Some dogs can’t eat chicken eggs, so we have used quail eggs as the best alternative. Quail eggs are highly nutritious, and dogs love to eat quail eggs.
Ingredients:
- 10 lbs beef
- 2 cups of oat bran
- 4 carrots mashed
- 4 quail eggs
- Flour
- 3 cans of pumpkin puree
- Some salt
- 3 slices of small bread cubed
- Leaves of 4 kale stalk chopped
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Then make an inch or two-sized meatballs.
- Lightly coat the balls in flour, brushing off any excess flour will help.
- Make sure they are done by baking them at 400 degrees. Depending on the size of your balls, bake time will vary. Typically, it requires approximately 25 minutes.
Easy Crockpot
If your dog is fussy about his food or has food allergies, here is a homemade crockpot recipe that works for most dogs. Easy and quick to prepare, this recipe is perfect for busy people. Some ground beef, kidney beans, and a few other ingredients are all you need to make this dish.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 pounds of ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
- 1 can of kidney beans
- 1 1/2 cups chopped butternut squash
- 1 1/2 cups brown rice
Directions:
- A 6-qt slow cooker should be filled with the following ingredients: ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, butternut squash, carrots, and peas.
- Stir occasionally as the food cooks for 5 to 6 hours on low heat or 2 to 3 hours on high heat with the lid on.
- Allow to cool completely before serving.
Scooby’s Stew
Most dog owners dislike giving their dogs commercial, store-bought dog food. This could be due to cost or simply unknown contents of the food.
For those who pay close care to their dogs, a Crockpot is a healthier and less expensive solution.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 cup brown rice
- 2 cups sweet potato cube
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into 6 pieces each
- 2 pounds frozen mixed veggies
Directions:
- Put all of the ingredients into the slow cooker, covering the chicken fully with water.
- Cook for 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low heat.
- Stir the dish until it’s equally mixed with all the ingredients.
- Pack into several single servings and refrigerate for up to 10 days.
- You can also add bone broth to the dish which is healthy for dogs and they love it.
Turkey and Veggie
If you want to feed your dog a healthy meal, then this one is perfect for you. It’s made with ground turkey, vegetables, and rice. Zinc, iron, and vitamin B12 are among the essential nutrients found in this complete protein source. A homemade dog food recipe would not be complete without it.
Dogs digest turkey quite well since it has high levels of selenium. Furthermore, turkey is regarded as packing the biggest protein punch per calorie.
This dish is the gold standard for homemade dog food recipes. It comprises protein, vegetables, and grains, as well as the necessary elements.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup carrots
- 6 cups water
- 1/4 cup broccoli
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 1/4 cup cauliflower
- 1 tbsp. coconut oil
- 1 capsule of fish oil
Instructions:
- Cut broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
- In a large pot, combine six cups of water and coconut oil with the ground turkey and cook until tender.
- Add veggies and cook until the veggies are cooked properly, then add the fish oil and continue to cook until the vegetables are tender.
- The rice should be cooked separately and then combined with the turkey and vegetables.
- Cool it down before serving, and also you can freeze it for a later meal.
Slow Cooker Chicken, Rice, and Veggie Meal
Dogs love to eat. They are omnivores who enjoy a variety of foods, including meat, vegetables, fruits, grains, and dairy. A balanced diet is also essential for the health of dogs. If you want to give your dog the best meal possible, you should consider feeding them a slow cooker meal.
This is a delicious chicken rice and vegetable meal that will make your dog feel full and satisfied. It’s also very easy to prepare. You can cook delicious meals for your dog using slow cooker recipes. Compared to other cooking methods, these recipes are simple and quick to prepare.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown rice
- 2 cup water
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 carrots (cubbed)
- 1/2 pound green beans
- 1 medium sweet potato (cubed)
- 1 bag frozen spinach
Instructions:
Fill the crockpot halfway with water, just enough to cover the meat. Then combine everything in the pot.
- Adding frozen spinach and cooking an additional 30 minutes after adding the broth to the slow cooker will enhance the flavor of the soup.
- Mash or process until smooth after draining the excess liquid and add olive oil.
- Scoop daily amounts into individual zip-lock bags and freeze once cold. Place one bag in the refrigerator to defrost overnight.
Meatloaf
Given that dogs have more nutritional restrictions than people, the meatloaf recipe you choose may differ slightly from what you are familiar with. Here’s how to prepare a meatloaf dinner for your dog:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 ½ cups grated mixed vegetables (use your dog’s favorite veggies: broccoli, carrots, and apple)
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
Instructions:
- Set oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a bowl, manually stir the ingredients until well blended. Place into a loaf pan evenly.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
- Serve chilled or frozen in slices.
Crunchy Kibble
If your dog makes a mess while eating, then crunchy kibble is a good choice. Create a crunchy meal for your dog by combining a basic dough with their favorite ingredients.
Making dog kibble at home is easy. Freshly prepared dry food is much less expensive than buying commercial brands, and it is better for his health because it contains no unhealthy additives or preservatives.
Ingredients:
- 6 cups of flour
- 2 mixing bowls
- 1 cup of powdered milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup baking oil
- 2-1/2 cups of milk
- 2 wooden spoons
Directions:
- Turn on the oven to 350 degrees. Put a cookie sheet aside after lightly spraying it with baking spray.
- Pour a mixing dish halfway with flour and powdered milk. Using a wooden spoon, stir all the ingredients together.
- In the second mixing bowl, thoroughly mix the eggs, baking oil, and milk with a wooden spoon.
- Mix the dry and wet ingredients to make a thick, moist mixture similar to bread dough. Add any extra ingredients you want to include, such as cheese, shredded meat, pureed fruits, or vegetables. To get a smooth consistency, add more liquid if the dough is too dry; more flour if it is too soggy.
- On the cookie sheet that has been oiled, spread the kibble dough with the wooden spoon until it is about a half-inch thick. Put the tray in the oven.
- After 45 minutes of baking, it should be brown and hard to the touch. Turn off the oven and remove the cookie sheet.
- Take the baked “cookie” off the baking sheet and break it up into bite-size pieces. Refrigerate the crunchy dog food in a container that is airtight.
Happy Dog Vegan Bowl
There are a lot of healthy ingredients in this recipe, and it is very easy to prepare. Providing your pet with highly nutritious, mineral-filled, fiber-rich, and protein-rich dog food is sure to delight them. The recipe is extremely easy to follow and takes very little time to prepare.
Ingredients:
- 1 large sweet potato
- 2/3 cups uncooked brown rice
- 1 can black beans
- 7 kale leaves
Directions:
- To prepare the oven, heat it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wrap aluminum foil around a baking pan.
- Prick the sweet potato repeatedly with a fork.
- Bake for an hour after placing it on the baking sheet.
- In a stockpot, boil rice and water while the sweet potato bakes. Cook for 45 minutes on low heat with the lid on.
- Sweet potatoes should be chopped into small pieces as soon as they have cooled.
- Divide the rice, beans, sweet potatoes, and kale stems into three equal portions.
- Serve this tasty and nutritious dish to your dog and see how much they enjoy it!
Conclusion
While feeding your pet is essential, it’s not always convenient to feed them processed meals. That’s why you should consider cooking their favorite foods at home.
You can cook healthy and delicious dog food recipes using ingredients from your pantry. They are a healthy choice, and dogs enjoy eating home-cooked foods.
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