10 Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes and Organic Treats

More and more dogs are becoming susceptible to the ingredients that you find in modern commercial dog foods.

If you do not carefully consider the type of dog food you buy, your dog may end up developing heat rashes and dry skin – one of the tell-tale sign of food induced allergies. (There are other reasons for scratching of course, namely ticks and fleas.)

The reason for this is that many commercial dog foods contain meat byproducts, fillers, and other low cost ingredients that are not very healthy.

As the adage goes, ‘you are what you eat’. The same goes for your dog, only they do not get a say in the matter.

Switching to organic dog food brands is obviously a really good move to make. There are also many organic dog treats available. However, all of this can become expensive.

That’s where this list of 10 Healthy Organic Dog Food Recipes comes in.

With homemade recipes you can save money by making your dog’s meals and snacks yourself. More importantly you know exactly what your dog is eating.

Furthermore, most homemade dog treats keep for a week or more, and you can freeze homemade dog food, so you always have some cheap, healthy alternatives on hand for your pooch.

But I have rambled enough – “get on with the list of recipes already” I hear you cry. So here they are…

Healthy Dog Food Recipes

1. Turkey and Vegetable Dinner

A basic dog food recipe that is packed with turkey protein goodness and vegetables for added vitamins and minerals. Turkey contains less fat than beef, making this an ideal recipe if you feel your pup could do with losing a few pounds.

Ingredients 4 cups of water

1 pound of ground up turkey

2 cups of brown rice, (far healthier than white rice).

rice, (far healthier than white rice). 1 cup of carrots, chopped

1 cup of green beans, chopped

1 tablespoon of fish oil (optional)

Preparation You need to make sure that the ground turkey is cooked in a non-stick skillet. Set the oven to a medium heat, and leave until the meat is cooked right through. Add the brown rice, turkey, and water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook an additional 15 minutes, or until the rice is soft and tender. Add the carrots and green beans and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Allow to cool before serving. You can store extra dinners in the fridge for up to five days.

CDET Tip: Do not use heavy oil to brown the turkey. Such oil contains high fat content and it could upset your dog’s stomach.

2. Beef Stew

This version of beef stew is absolutely ideal for dogs and includes meat for protein, vegetables for vitamins, and gravy for flavor. You can see this as a great healthy alternative to wet commercial dog food.

Ingredients 1 pound of beef stew meat

1 small sweet potato

1/2 cup of carrots, diced

1/2 cup of green beans, diced

1/2 cup of flour

1/2 cup of water or organic vegetable oil, plus 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for frying

Preparation Cook the sweet potato in a microwave for 5 to 8 minutes until firm but tender. Set aside. No matter the size of your pooch, you should ensure that the stew pieces are sliced into small manageable chunks, about the size of a nickel. Cook the stew pieces in a tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until well-done. Remove the beef chunks from the pan. Keep hold of the drippings. Dice up the sweet potato. Heat the drippings over medium-low heat. Slowly add flour and water into the dripping while whisking to create a thick gravy, (I don’t know about you but my mouth is watering) Add the meat, sweet potato, carrots, and green beans into the gravy and stir to coat. Cook until the carrots are tender – about 10 minutes. Stand the dish aside to cool before serving to your dog. You can store the remaining stew in the fridge for up to five days.

CDET TIP: To save prep time you can always purchase pre-made gravy at your local health food store.

3. Chicken Casserole

Good old chicken. Dogs love it and it is a good source of healthy protein. This recipe also contains lots of vegetables for essential nutrients. Green beans are a flavoursome addition to the mix and help promote a healthy intestinal tract.

Ingredients 4 chicken breasts

1/2 cup of green beans, chopped

1/2 cup of carrots, chopped

1/2 cup of broccoli, chopped

1/2 cup rolled oats.

4 cups of low-salt chicken broth

Preparation Try to remove the excess fatty part from the chicken breasts, before cutting the chicken into small nickel-sized chunks. Cook the breasts in a non-stick skillet on a medium heat until they show no signs of pinkness. Add the chicken, vegetables, rolled oats, and chicken broth to a large pot and cook over medium heat until the carrots are tender – about 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving. Store leftover casserole portions in the fridge for up to five days.

CDET TIP: A small amount of olive oil will be a tasty addition to the chicken if you are having trouble keeping the breasts from sticking to the pan while frying.

4. Doggie Multi Bean Mix

Dogs need large amounts of protein to keep them healthy and active. For the most part your beloved pooch will obtain this protein through the meat that he eats. However, you shouldn’t ignore beans as a healthy alternative source of protein.

This delicious recipe blends chicken, beans, and vegetables to create a healthy and tasty mix.

Ingredients 4 chicken breasts

1 cup of kidney beans, drained

1 cup of black beans, drained

1 cup of carrots, diced

1/2 cup of tomato paste

4 cups of chicken broth

Preparation As with the other chicken recipes, aim to remove the excess fat from the meat and dice the chicken into nickel-sized pieces. Cook the breasts in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Add the chicken, beans, carrots, tomato paste, and chicken broth into a large pot and cook over medium heat until heated through – about 10 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool before serving. You can store the leftover doggie bean mix in the fridge for up to five days.

CDET TIP: Add a 1/2 tablespoon of fish oil to this recipe. The flavor of the bean mix is strong enough to disguise the added healthy ingredient.

5. Fruit Salad Sensation

Every dog deserves a nice dose of sweetness with a healthy dessert once in a while. This fruit salad mixes low fat dairy and fruit. The result? Your pup enjoys a tasty treat containing healthy vitamins and a small amount of protein.

Ingredients 1/2 cup plain, non-fat yogurt

1/2 cup of strawberries, diced

1/2 cup of blueberries, diced

1/2 cup of applesauce

Preparation Blend all ingredients in a medium size bowl until the yogurt is smooth and the fruit is well blended. Serve in small amounts. Store in the fridge for up to seven days.

CDET TIP: On days you plan to serve the fruit salad as a doggie desert, reduce the amount of regular food by one half to one cup to keep from over-feeding.

Organic Dog Treat Recipes

The following healthy organic dog treats are made from a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and meat that your dog will be sure to love. By purchasing organic ingredients, and sticking to low-sugar and low-fat options, you can keep your dog healthy as well.

6. Chicken Jerky

Homemade chicken jerky treats are a great alternative to store-bought raw hides. Not only are you in control of the source of the meat, (go for organic farm reared chicken if you can), prepared the right way your dog will have tasty jerky that is sufficiently tough and chewy enough to keep them happy and occupied.

Ingredients 2 to 4 chicken breasts

Preparation Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove any excess fat from the chicken. Turn the chicken breast on its side and use a paring knife to slice the chicken breast into 1/8 inch thick strips. Set the strips on a baking sheet. Bake for 2 hours. Check the chicken before removing from the oven. It should be dry and hard, not soft or chewy. Allow the chicken to cool completely before serving. Store the jerky in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

CDET TIP: You can also substitute sweet potatoes for the chicken in this recipe. Sweet potatoes make a healthy, vegetarian alternative.

7. Peanut Butter Cookies

Most dogs love the taste of peanut butter. The strong flavour also means that a peanut butter based dish is ideal for sneaking in some fish oil into your dog’s diet. Fish oil improves your dog’s coat, making it shiny, soft, and healthier.

Look for organic peanut butter at your grocery store. The problem with more mainstream commercial brands of peanut butter is that they have unhealthy amounts of hydrogenated oils and additives.

Ingredients 2 cups of flour (white or wheat, if your pup has no wheat allergies)

1 cup of rolled oats

1/3 cup of smooth peanut butter

1 tablespoon of honey

1/2 tablespoon of fish oil

1 1/2 cups of water

Preparation Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the flour and oats together in a large mixing bowl. Pour in one cup of water and blend until smooth. Add in the peanut butter, honey, and fish oil and mix until all the ingredients are well blended. Slowly add the water until the mixture has a thick and doughy consistency. Lightly flour a cooking surface. Roll the dough onto the cooking surface to create a 1/4 inch thick sheet. Use a cookie cutter to create shapes. Place the cookies onto a baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes. Allow to cool completely before feeding.

CDET TIP: If the dough is too sticky to roll, slowly pad more flour onto the dough ball.

8. Fruit and Vegetable Strips

This strip recipe is a great (and cheaper) alternative to the organic chewy treats sold in pet stores. They also break apart easily making them ideal as training rewards. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C, which can help boost your dog’s immune system.

Ingredients 1 small sweet potato

1 medium banana

1 cup carrots, minced

1/2 cup unsweetened organic applesauce

2 cups of whole wheat flour (white if your dog has allergies)

1 cup of rolled oats

1/3 cup of water

Preparation Cook the sweet potato in the microwave for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the insides are soft. Set aside and allow to cool. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mash the banana and sweet potato in a large mixing bowl with a hand masher until smooth. Add in the carrots, flour, and oats. Slowly add in the applesauce and water while mixing. The ingredients will form a soft dough. Roll the dough on to a lightly floured surface until the dough is 1/8 inch thick. Cut the dough into strips. Cook on a baking sheet for 25 minutes. Store leftover strips in the fridge for up to two weeks.

CDET TIP: Do not worry about overcooking the sweet potato. Softer potatoes will mash easier.

9. Beef and Vegetable Balls

If your dog prefers a savoury treat rather than sweet, this recipe provides a meaty flavor that they will really enjoy.

Ingredients 2 6-ounce jars of organic beef and vegetable baby food

1 cup of whole-wheat flour (or white substitute)

2 cups of dry milk

1 cup of water

Preparation Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Drop the mixture onto a baking sheet in large spoonfuls. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to the treats to cool completely. Store leftover beef and vegetable balls in the fridge for up to five days.

CDET TIP: Being meat based. these treats do not keep as well as others. If you only have one dog, you might want to cut the ingredient amount in half.

10. Frozen Yogurt Pops for Dogs

Some dogs love a frozen treat for the way it feels in their mouth. If this is your dog, then they will definitely dig this little recipe. Made from human grade ingredients that include fruit juice and carrots, these frozen yogurt pops will give your dog a healthy vitamin boost. The low fat yogurt contains calcium and protein which also has added health benefits.

Ingredients 6 oz. container of plain, non-fat frozen yogurt

1 cup of no-sugar added fruit juice

1/2 cup of carrots, minced

Preparation Add the yogurt, fruit juice, and carrots into a medium-sized bowl. Stir until the ingredients are smooth and well-blended. Drop the mixture into the ice cube trays by spoonful. Freeze until the ingredients are solid.

CDET TIP: Use hard plastic trays instead of the softer rubber ones to make the treats. The treats are easier to remove from a hard tray.

Final Thoughts

While most dogs can handle a variety of different treats fed in small doses, some might get an upset stomach if you switch foods too quickly or too often.

Before you start making your own homemade dog food, it can be a good idea to consult your vet regarding ingredients you wish to use, as some breeds may be more prone to food allergies than others.

After getting your vet’s approval, switch your dog’s food over gradually, slowing mixing in a homemade dish with your regular food over the course of several days.

Have you made homemade dog treats or organic dog food before? What have the results been like? We would love to hear about your experiences so go ahead and leave your comments below.