There is something truly satisfying about making homemade dog food. I personally feel like I am devoting some special attention to my pup, especially when I make healthy food like this beef and rice casserole for dogs.
Since most of us are constantly busy, I suggest dedicating a small portion of the weekend to making sure your dog is eating healthy and making homemade dog food. It’s smart to make a larger batch and freeze the leftovers for future use.
If you think about it you are the creator of your dog’s diet, and you are also personally responsible for their health and well-being. I had to learn this the hard way after giving my dog some chilly chips and watching her develop a nasty rash. That’s when I said – no more. No more human snacks or commercial food for my girl.
Dogs do not have the same desire for forbidden food like we do so there’s no point in risking their health. Always prefer natural homemade dog food.
What is inside this beef and rice casserole?
Protein for dogs: Obviously beef, but not huge chunks of meat. Try to use only ground meat for dogs, or if you do have large chunks chop them up or blend them. Unlike humans, dogs usually swallow their food without chewing, and giving them large chunks will place a burden on their tummy. You can replace the beef with ground chicken and also add some liver to the mix. Another great idea is to add some bones while you boil the ingredients it will improve the flavor and enrich the nutrients.
Veggies and fruit for dogs are a must: You will find baby spinach, carrots, and sweet potato in this recipe and they are very important for your dog’s diet because they carry nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. So if you’re trying to maintain healthy digestion in dogs always include some veggies in their meal. The truth is that most dogs do not care about vegetables (sounds familiar?) but if you shred or blend them they will be impossible to avoid. Some dogs do like chewing on fresh carrots so feel free to give it a try.
Rice for dogs: If your dog has an upset stomach you could boil plain rice to soothe their stomach. So incorporating some rice in their regular meals is truly good for your dog. Rice is safe for dogs on a daily level but it can’t e the only food you’ll be giving them. Always make sure to balance things out with protein (meat), and fiber (veggies). To stay on the safe side give your dog ¼ cup of rice (max.) for every 20 lb.
- 12 ounces (340 gr.) of baby spinach (chopped fresh or frozen)
- 2 cups (400 gr.) carrots (shredded)
- 2 large sweet potatoes (chopped or shredded)
- 1 lb (500 gr.) lean ground beef
- 1 cup rice (long-grain, Arborio or brown rice are all good choices)
- 4 cups (350 ml) water + 1 cup if using brown rice
Step 1. Wash the vegetables; you don’t have to peel the skins.
Shred the carrots and chop up the sweet potato (you can substitute the sweet potato for pumpkin). Set aside.
Step 2. Preheat the oven to 400° F (200° C) or gas mark 6
Step 3. Place all of the ingredients in a large saucepan including the water (If you are using brown rice add another cup of water) and bring them to a quick boil, then lower the heat to medium.
Step 4. Cook the ingredients for 15 minutes, they don’t have to be fully cooked at this point since you will be baking everything. After the boiling time is up remove the pan from heat.
Step 5. Pour the contents of the pan into a large casserole dish.
Step 6. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Step 7. Remove the pan from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes then serve the food to your dog. 1 cup of this beef and rice casserole is good for single-serving a 20 lb dog.
Step 8: This beef and rice casserole will stay good in the fridge for 3 days. You could also freeze the leftovers. Store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month.
How to reheat home-made food for dogs that has been frozen?
Step1. Pop the airtight container in the fridge the night before to defrost
Step 2. Preheat oven to 325°F (165 °C) or gas mark 3
Step 3. Place the meal into a casserole dishStep 4. Reheat in the oven for 15 minutes.
Bon appétit!
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