Do you want to start making your own delicious, nutritious grain-free recipes for your pup with allergies? Or have you just come to realize that certain grains are more harmful than good and want to exclude them from your dog’s diet altogether? Either way, we’ve tracked down three grain-free pet food recipes that are healthy and homemade that your pup is guaranteed to love.
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Why give your dog grain-free food?
You may have noticed the influx of grain-free dog foods popping up over the years and wondered why grain has become such a common food to avoid when it comes to your dog’s diet. One of the main reasons why grain-free dog foods were developed is due to allergies. It is common for dogs to develop an allergy to gluten-containing grains such as corn and wheat, which are commonly eliminated in a grain-free diet. These particular grains are difficult for your dog to digest. They can remain undigested in your pup’s body, relying primarily on fermentation to break them down. This leads not only to allergies over time but also to food sensitivity, bowel inflammatory disorders, and obesity, among other things. Therefore, giving your pup grain-free food, whether or not they currently have an allergy, is a great idea.
1. Chicken Liver Meaty Rounds
These aren’t exactly your traditional meatballs, but your pup sure will love them. This DIY grain-free dog food not only contains meat but also an entire meal all packed into one recipe. It makes 36 two-inch meatballs total. Including prep time, this easy to make recipe takes just under an hour and your pup will absolutely love you for it.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb. chicken liver
- 1 green pepper (chopped)
- 1 to ½ cups spinach (chopped)
- 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup parsley
- 1 egg
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground eggshell
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup coconut flour
Directions
Begin by heating the olive oil in a medium-size pan and sautéing the spinach and green pepper over medium-low heat. After rinsing and patting dry the chicken livers, add them to the pan and cook until the outsides are light brown in color. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Then, puree the cooked mixture in a blender or a food processor and pour the pureed mixture into a large bowl. Add the remainder of the ingredients and combine thoroughly. If necessary, add more flour to get the right texture to form the small meatballs, keeping in mind that coconut flour absorbs moisture faster than regular flour so add sparingly. Place the meatballs on a lined baking sheet and put in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. The meatballs should be crispy and browned. Allow to cool completely before serving to your pup. You can keep these meatballs in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
2. Chicken, Apple, and Sweet Potato Feast
This is a fairly basic grain-free recipe but one that would get even the pickiest dog licking its bowl. This recipe can be made without a crockpot but it is meant to be slowly cooked in one throughout the day, leaving you with a fresh, grain-free, homemade meal to serve to your pup when you get home from work.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
- 1 ½ cups sweet potato (chopped)
- 1 large apple (chopped, peeled and cored)
- 2 large carrots (chopped)
- 1 can kidney beans (drained)
- 2 cups frozen or fresh peas
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Directions
First, place the raw chicken in the bottom of the crockpot, adding enough water to cover it – this is an important step when cooking raw meat in a slow cooker. Add the sweet potato, apple, carrots, and kidney beans. You can cook this recipe on low in the crockpot for eight hours or on high for five to six hours. Approximately half an hour before your grain-free dog food is finished cooking, add both the olive oil and the peas and mix thoroughly. Continue cooking for the remaining 30 minutes. Then, allow it to cool completely before serving it to your pup. This recipe can be kept for up to seven days in an airtight container in your fridge, or up to three months in the freezer.
3. Raw Food or Nothing Grain-Free Recipe
Looking for a DIY grain-free recipe that is also raw and veterinary approved? Look no further. Any of these ingredients can be cooked if you prefer but this veterinarian-approved recipe calls for all raw when it comes to its ingredients list.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw lamb (chopped)
- 1 cup raw carrots (chopped)
- 1 cup raw apple (chopped)
- ¼ cup defrosted frozen or fresh peas
- 1½ cups chopped pumpkin
- ⅔ cup brown rice
- 4 teaspoons sunflower oil
- 1 tsp. fish oil
Directions
There’s really not a whole lot of preparation for this dry dog food. Cook the rice and the pumpkin and allow to cool before mixing in the raw ingredients. Combine the remaining ingredients and you are ready to serve to your anxiously awaiting pup. This recipe can only be refrigerated for up to three days but can be frozen for two weeks.
When it comes to homemade recipes, it’s not hard to make them grain-free. These three healthy, homemade, grain-free recipes focus on quality, well-balanced ingredients but keep in mind that you should always consult a veterinarian or a dog nutritionist before committing to feeding your dog homemade food on a daily basis. Although homemade food can be incredible for your pup’s health, it is essential to make sure you aren’t missing any necessary nutrients in their diet and that they’re maintaining a healthy weight.
