Homemade Dog Food Recipe with Chicken Breast and Pork | Fresh Diet

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This homemade meal was prepared for Louie, a 2-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, based on the nutritional standards of the kibble he had been eating previously. He continues to eat well, and his stool quality has remained stable.

Since starting homemade meals, the two principles I prioritize most are palatability and nutritional balance. Even the best-formulated food becomes nutritionally inadequate if a dog refuses to eat it. Going forward, I plan to slightly increase fat intake to raise overall calories while gradually reducing carbohydrates, monitoring stool condition closely to avoid digestive stress.

Thinking deeply about carbohydrates and grain-free diets sometimes makes homemade feeding feel overwhelming. Nothing specific has gone wrong with Louie’s meals, but these concerns tend to resurface periodically when preparing fresh food.

This recipe is grain-free, using parsnips and quinoa as carbohydrate sources.



1. Ingredients

Protein and fat sources

Chicken breast 280 g

Pork shoulder 140 g

Whole egg 28 g


Vegetables and plant ingredients

Parsnip 350 g

Quinoa 70 g

Okra 21 g

Asparagus 35 g

Shiitake mushroom 35 g

Cabbage 105 g

Spinach 35 g

Carrot 21 g


Supplement powders

Sprouted chia seed and flaxseed powder 7 g

Fermented mushroom powder 1 tsp

Broccoli sprout powder 1 tsp

Supplements

Seaweed calcium 5.6 g

Lecithin 10.50 g

Iron 0.98

Zinc 1.19

Manganese 0.21

Vitamin D3 2.8

Vitamin E 0.7

Vitamin B12 0.07

PlaqueOff 3.5 scoops



2. Nutritional Overview

At first glance, this recipe may appear well balanced in calories, but it is actually low in fat. While the minimum fat requirement is 4.29 g, this recipe provides only 6.75 g, which is still on the lower side. I will explain the reasoning behind this choice in a separate post.

The percentage of calories is approximately 35% protein / 35% carbohydrates / 30% fat, with a total energy value of 171.87 kcal. Since Louie currently needs mild weight control, this allows me to reduce treats while keeping his main meals satisfying.

Because carbohydrate content is slightly higher than usual, stool condition should be monitored carefully over the course of a week.



3. Vegetable Preparation

All vegetables are lightly blanched and then finely chopped. Carrots and parsnips are cooked until very soft. The carrots are chopped together with the other vegetables, while the parsnips are mashed separately.



4. Supplement Measuring and Cooking


Measuring supplements tends to take the most time when preparing homemade dog food. While most supplements have relatively high upper limits, extra care is taken to avoid over-supplementation.

Since the final meal is reheated in the microwave for about 40 seconds before serving, slightly higher amounts could be tolerated, but I prefer to stay within conservative ranges.

While measuring supplements, the ground pork and chicken are combined with the egg and quinoa cooking water, then cooked under high pressure in an Instant Pot.

This timing works well, as I usually finish supplement preparation just as the vegetables are ready to be mixed and distributed into ice cube trays.



5. Final Preparation

After cooking, the food is portioned, placed upright, and frozen. Once the vegetable cubes are frozen, one cube is added to each remaining space.

Because parsnips increase overall vegetable volume, this batch required two vegetable cubes per portion. The finished cubes are visually appealing, and the texture remains clear, as only the pork was fully ground while the chicken breast was lightly cooked and chopped.



Reflections

This homemade meal represents a step toward the next phase rather than a complete dietary change. Preparing food at home does not require following trends rigidly. Adjusting meals gradually based on a dog’s physical condition and daily rhythm feels like the most realistic approach.

Even when no immediate issues appear, results often surface weeks or months later. That is why I remain cautious and regularly reassess each ingredient. I also believe rotational feeding plays an important role in balancing these long-term risks.