Large Batch Homemade Dog Food (28 Cups)

If you feed homemade food every day, cooking once a month saves hours. This batch makes about 28 cups with lean beef, brown rice, sweet potato and vegetables.

Large-breed dogs eat more but need fewer calories per pound, so use the portion calculator and check their weight every two weeks. Homemade meals need a vet-approved supplement to be complete for long-term feeding.

Why your dog will love this

• One cooking session a month
• Works out cheaper per cup than most fresh brands
• Portion and freeze in one go

Ingredient notes

• Lean ground beef (90% lean) Safe

  Lean, cooked and unseasoned. Drain the fat.

• Brown rice, uncooked Safe

  Plain cooked rice is easy on the stomach.

• Sweet potatoes, diced Safe

  Serve cooked and plain. Raw sweet potato is hard to digest.

• Carrots, diced Safe

  Raw or cooked. Cut to a safe size to prevent choking.

• Frozen green beans Safe

  Plain, cooked or raw, with no salt.

• Frozen peas Safe

  Green peas, fresh or frozen. Skip canned peas with added salt.

• Eggs Safe

  Serve fully cooked.

See every ingredient in the safety guide

How to make Large Batch Homemade Dog Food

Large Batch Homemade Dog Food takes about 1 hour 15 minutes from start to finish and makes 28 cups. It takes a little more time but no special skills. You will need a 16-quart stockpot, freezer containers and kitchen scale. Read through every step once before you start, and set out all the ingredients so nothing is missed.

Ingredients and why they are here

You need 8 ingredients. Each one is checked against the ingredient safety guide for dogs.

• 5 lb lean ground beef (90% lean): Lean, cooked and unseasoned. Drain the fat.
• 3 cups brown rice, uncooked: Plain cooked rice is easy on the stomach.
• 2 lb sweet potatoes, diced: Serve cooked and plain. Raw sweet potato is hard to digest.
• 1 lb carrots, diced: Raw or cooked. Cut to a safe size to prevent choking.
• 1 lb frozen green beans: Plain, cooked or raw, with no salt.
• 2 cups frozen peas: Green peas, fresh or frozen. Skip canned peas with added salt.
• 4 large eggs: Serve fully cooked.
• 10 cups water

Step-by-step instructions

1. Brown the beef in a large stockpot and drain the fat. Allow about 15 minutes.
2. Add the rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and water. Bring to a boil.
3. Cover and simmer until the rice is soft. Allow about 30 minutes.
4. Stir in the green beans, peas and beaten eggs and cook until the eggs set. Allow about 5 minutes.
5. Spread on sheet pans to cool, then portion into containers.

Tips for success

• Use the largest pot you own and cook the rice separately if it will not fit.
• Label each container with the date so the oldest food gets used first.
• Freeze portions flat in zip bags to save space and speed up thawing.

How to store it

Let everything cool completely before you pack it away, since trapped steam causes sogginess and mold. Keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Cool quickly in shallow trays before freezing. If anything smells off or shows mold, throw it out.

How much to serve

Most adult dogs need about 1/2 cup per 10 lb per day. Large breeds often need less per pound. Use the portion calculator. Each cup has about 300 calories. Switch from your current food over 7 days, mixing in a little more of the new food each day, and weigh your dog every two weeks to adjust the amount.

Swaps and variations

No lean ground beef? Use ground turkey or chicken. Change one ingredient at a time so you can tell how each swap affects the texture.

Why dogs love it

One cooking session a month. Works out cheaper per cup than most fresh brands. Portion and freeze in one go.

Safety notes

Homemade meals fed long term need a vet-approved vitamin and mineral supplement to be complete and balanced. Never add onion, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol or salt, and check the safety guide before trying a new ingredient with your dog. This recipe is general information, not veterinary advice.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make homemade dog food cheaply?

Buy meat in family packs, use frozen vegetables and cook in big batches like this one.

Is this recipe good for large breed dogs?

Yes, with portions adjusted to weight. Large-breed puppies need a vet-formulated diet for controlled growth.

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