Homemade Dog Food (Ground Chicken and Rice Recipe)

Name: Homemade Dog Food
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 cups brown rice; 2 pounds lean ground chicken; 2 cups spinach (chopped); 1 large carrot (shredded (about 1 cup)); 1 small zucchini (shredded (about 1 cup))

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This homemade dog food is the meal my dog now waits by the stove for, made with ground chicken, brown rice, and real vegetables. It smells like a plain chicken and rice dinner while it cooks, and he starts circling the kitchen the second the chicken hits the pan. Everything goes into one bowl warm, chicken and rice flecked with green, orange, and gold from the vegetables.

Homemade dog food with ground chicken rice, carrots, and spinach in a white bowl on a wooden tray.

I make a big batch on the weekend and portion it out for the week, which is the only way I keep up with how fast he goes through it. It takes about the same effort as cooking a pot of rice and browning chicken for myself. The lean ground chicken keeps it from getting greasy, so there is nothing to drain.

This is the version I reach for when I want to make his food myself without turning it into a project. It is five simple ingredients I already keep in the kitchen, cooked in one pot and one skillet, with no powders or supplements to track down.

I cannot stress this enough. Before you introduce your dog to any type of new food, you should always check with your vet.

My Dog’s Favorite

Why I Finally Started Making My Dog’s Food Myself

I never made my own dog food until my dog started having tummy troubles and I wanted more control over what went in his bowl. The first time I set this down, he cleaned it and looked up for more, and I have not seen him that happy about a meal since. That reaction is why I keep making it.

The One Thing I Always Tell People

Before you switch your dog over, mix this in with their current food and move to it slowly over about a week.

A sudden change from one food to another is the fastest way to upset a dog’s stomach. Start with a small amount of the homemade food stirred into what they already eat, then add a little more each day.

Talk to your vet before you introduce any new food to your dog. Your vet should also be the one to tell you how much and how often to feed this based on your dog’s weight, age, and health. If anything seems off as you make the switch, slow down and call your vet.

Key Ingredients

Below is a quick rundown of the main ingredients used in this recipe. Full measurements are listed in the recipe card.

Lean ground chicken: Use lean ground chicken so the food does not turn greasy. There is no pool of fat to drain off, and it keeps in the fridge and freezer without going oily. Regular ground chicken works, but you may need to drain it.

Brown rice: The rice gives the meal its bulk and holds everything together. It takes longer to cook than white rice, so I start it first and let it go while I handle the chicken and vegetables.

Spinach, carrot, and zucchini: These add color, moisture, and texture my dog actually eats instead of pushing to the side of the bowl. Shred the carrot and zucchini so the pieces are small, and chop the spinach so there are no big leaves to pick out.

Just like humans, every dog is different, so this is not meant to be a one-pup-fits-all recipe.

Always check with your veterinarian before introducing new foods into your dog’s diet.

Dog eating homemade dog food from a white bowl.

How to Make Homemade Dog Food

Step 1: Cook the Brown Rice Combine the brown rice and 4 cups of water in a large pot. Bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook about 45 minutes until the rice is soft and the water is absorbed.

Step 2: Brown the Ground Chicken Cook the ground chicken in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it is no longer pink, about 6 to 8 minutes. Break it up as it cooks so it mixes in evenly later.
cook the chicken in a pot.

Step 3: Add the Vegetables Stir in the chopped spinach, shredded carrot, and shredded zucchini. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, until the spinach wilts and the vegetables soften.
mix the vegetables and rice.

Step 4: Cool the Chicken Mixture Take the skillet off the heat and let the chicken and vegetables cool down.
Step 5: Combine With the Rice Once the rice is done, stir it into the chicken and vegetables until everything is evenly mixed.
Step 6: Cool Completely Before Serving Let the food cool all the way before you serve it or pack it up. Warm food can burn a dog’s mouth, and it needs to be cool before it goes in the fridge or freezer.

What I’ve Learned Making This

Leave the seasoning out. No salt, onion, or garlic. Those are for my food, not his, and onion and garlic are not safe for dogs.

If your dog picks the vegetables out at first, mix them in more finely or start with a little less and work up. Mine got used to them within a few days.

For hot afternoons and training, I keep a batch of homemade peanut butter dog treats and frozen dog treats in the freezer to go alongside his meals.

Easy Ways to Switch It Up

Ground turkey stands in for the ground chicken with no other changes, and I have made it both ways. White rice works in place of brown rice and cooks faster, and green beans or peas fill in for the zucchini or carrot.

Any time you give your dog an ingredient they have not had before, introduce it slowly and check with your vet.

Wooden spoon scooping homemade dog food with rice, turkey, and vegetables.

Make Ahead and Storage

Store the cooled dog food in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To keep it longer, freeze it in meal-size portions for up to 6 months, then thaw a portion in the fridge overnight before serving. Let it come back to a safe, cool temperature before it goes in the bowl, and never serve it hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a complete and balanced diet for my dog?

No. On its own this is a meal of real ingredients, not a full replacement for a balanced diet. Talk to your vet about whether your dog needs it rounded out with supplements or fed alongside their regular food.

Can puppies eat this?

Check with your vet first. Puppies have different needs than adult dogs, and your vet can tell you if and how much of this to feed a growing puppy.

Can I eat this too?

There is nothing in it that would hurt you, but I make it plain for my dog with no salt or seasoning, so it is pretty bland for a person.

Skillet of homemade dog food with turkey, rice, and vegetables.

More Dog Recipes

You can find the rest of my dog treat recipes in one place.

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