DIY homemade stovetop dog food is an easy way to add fresh ingredients to your dog’s mealtime. Made with ground chicken, sweet potato, egg, rice and frozen vegetables, home cooked dog food is an easy way to serve up healthy dog food to your favorite four-legged friend.

DIY Homemade Dog Food

When it comes to our furry friends, they deserve the very best life we can give them and that starts with what they eat. Store bought processed kibble does not need to be the only answer and cooking for dogs takes no more time than cooking for your family.. A lot of the same foods, too.

The opportunity to feed your dog a healthier diet has never been easier and doesn’t need to break the bank. Simply grab a few pantry staples and you can serve your pups up a home cooked dog food recipe they will be begging for!

WHAT’S IN STOVETOP DOG FOOD

Ground chicken – Chicken is a lean protein and helps dogs maintain strong muscles. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin, so chicken can also help with joint mobility and reduce the risk of arthritis.
Sweet potato – Healthy addition to any meal, chocked full of vitamins and antioxidants. Promotes good health and reduces inflammation.
Eggs – Eggs are a great source of protein, which helps build and maintain muscles and provides energy.
Brown Rice – Excellent source of fiber and vitamins and helps regulate weight and the carbohydrates give your pup tons of energy.
Mixed vegetables – Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that support bone health, vision, and immune function and they are low in calories and fat.
Tumeric (optional) – Turmeric is a great addition for reducing inflammation, improving digestion, and supporting joint health. My oldest dog is 15 years old and I add it into her food to help her old-lady joints walk a little bit better.

Home Cooked Stovetop Dog Food

Bring a large pot of water to boil and add your rice to cook following the rice package instructions. Once fully cooked, set aside.

cooked rice in a large pots with a wooden spoon

While your rice is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium/high heat and add the olive oil. Add the ground chicken and sweet potato. Break up the meat as your go with a large cooking spoon or spatula and cook your ground chicken until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Do not drain any of the leftover juices.

chopped sweet potato and ground chicken cooking in a large skillet making home cooked dog food

While your chicken and sweet potato are cooking, add in raw eggs. Stir them into the chicken potato mixture to cook. Stir the tumeric into the chicken and continue to cook for another minute. The tumeric will turn your chicken yellow, don’t worry.. it’s fine 🙂

fresh home cooked dog food with tumeric added

Add the chicken mixture to the pot of cooked rice and pour in the mixed vegetables. Mix well to combine. Let your cooked dog food cool down a bit and serve.

boiled rice, ground chicken and mixed veggies in a large pot making diy homemade dog food

Expert Tips and Tricks

Chicken can be shredded, chunked or ground .. any way you have it on hand is fine.
Chicken can be swapped out for turkey, ground beef or even organ meat when you are cooking for your dogs.
Add your sweet potato to a mini-food processor for smaller bites.
I use a big bag of frozen mixed vegetables from my grocery store but feel free to use canned or fresh veggies instead.
White rice is great for when your pups tummy is upset and it can be used in this recipe too .. I normally use brown rice or parboiled rice.. any of these are fine.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

To store your cooked DIY homemade dog food, you should let it cool completely before moving your DIY dog food to the refrigerator. Food can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days in an airtight container.

This recipe makes ALOT! Feel free to half the recipe for smaller households. I have five dogs and most of them are big so it definitely makes a ton of food. Any leftovers can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Portions can be added to quart sized freezer bags and frozen so you only pull out what you need for the week.

spoonfull of fresh homemade dog food for the pups

DIY Homemade Dog Food

DIY homemade dog food is an easy way to add fresh ingredients to your dog's mealtime. Made with ground chicken, sweet potato, egg, rice and frozen vegetables, home cooked dog food is an easy way to serve up healthy dog food to your favorite four-legged friend.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 29

Total Time 39

Serving Size 30

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds ground chicken or turkey
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped/cubed
4 large eggs
4 cups cooked rice brown, white or parboiled rice
4 cups mixed vegetables frozen, fresh or canned
2 teaspoons ground tumeric optional

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to boil and add your rice to cook following the rice package instructions. Once fully cooked, set aside.
While your rice is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium/high heat and add the olive oil. Add the ground chicken and sweet potato. Break up the meat as your go with a large cooking spoon or spatula and cook your ground chicken until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Do not drain any of the leftover juices.
While your chicken and sweet potato are cooking, add in raw eggs. Stir them into the chicken potato mixture to cook.
Stir the tumeric into the chicken and continue to cook for another minute. The tumeric will turn your chicken yellow, don't worry.. it's fine 🙂
Add the chicken mixture to the pot of cooked rice and pour in the mixed vegetables. Mix well to combine. Let your cooked dog food cool down a bit and serve.

Notes

Expert Tips and Tricks

Chicken can be shredded, chunked or ground .. any way you have it on hand is fine.
Chicken can be swapped out for turkey, ground beef or even organ meat.
Add your sweet potato to a mini-food processor for smaller bites.
I use a big bag of frozen mixed vegetables from my grocery store but feel free to use canned or fresh veggies instead.
White rice is great for when your pups tummy is upset and it can be used in this recipe too .. I normally use brown rice or parboiled rice.. any of these are fine.