DIY Farmer’s Dog Food Recipe That Vets Secretly Swear By

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

Creating DIY Farmer’s Dog food can be a game-changer for pet owners who want to ensure their furry friends are getting fresh and nutritious food, and not to mention save some money.

In this video, you will learn how to make homemade dog food using an Instant Pot, complete with wholesome ingredients like ground turkey, vegetables, brown rice, and a touch of turmeric.

If you’re looking for a healthier, budget-friendly alternative to store-bought dog food, this step-by-step guide is for you!

In this video, you will find the process of making DIY Farmer’s Dog food from scratch, inspired by a recipe provided by The Farmer’s Dog.

After experiencing issues with their auto-delivery service, the creator decided to take matters into their own hands and found that making dog food at home is not only cost-effective but also gives them complete control over the quality of their dog’s meals.

You’ll learn how to use an Instant Pot to prepare a double batch of nutritious dog food featuring ground turkey, beef liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, spinach, green beans, brown rice, pumpkin puree, and a sprinkle of turmeric.

Here’s the ingredients list for reference:

Vet Approved homemade dog food recipe (This makes about 22 cups)
*I used a 8qt instant pot for this recipe (I doubled this in video)

Ingredients:

• 5-6 pounds of ground turkey
• 7.5 ounces of pumpkin puree
• 2T sunflower oil
• 2 sweet potatoes chopped
• 1 1/2C brown rice or white rice
• 7oz of frozen spinach
• 4 carrots chopped
• 12oz green beans
• 12oz peas
• 1 pint of fresh blueberries
• 2C water
• 1/3C of beef liver chopped
• 1 teaspoon of finely ground eggshell powder per pound of meat (so about 5–6 teaspoons for this batch)
• Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of kelp powder for natural iodine and trace minerals (do not exceed, as too much iodine can be harmful)
• optional: 1/4t of turmeric powder & Black Pepper

The creator walks you through every step, from prepping ingredients to cooking and combining them for a balanced meal.

Discover tips for working with an Instant Pot efficiently, such as cooking in manageable batches and ensuring the food doesn’t burn.

By the end, you’ll see how easy it is to create meals your dog will love—ones that promote better energy, healthy weight management, and overall happiness.

If you’re ready to take your pet’s nutrition to the next level, this video is a must-watch!

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Servings and Portion Sizes for Different Dog Sizes

I’m adding in some of my notes for dog parents who have different size dogs or who simply don’t need to cook so much at a go:

• For a small dog (up to 20 lbs), feed about 1/2 to 3/4 cup per meal. This batch will last roughly 30 to 44 meals.
• For a medium dog (20-50 lbs), feed about 1 to 1 1/2 cups per meal. This batch will provide around 15 to 22 meals.
• For a large dog (50-90 lbs), feed about 2 to 3 cups per meal. This batch will cover about 7 to 11 meals.
• For an extra-large dog (90+ lbs), feed about 3 to 4 cups per meal. You may want to double or triple the recipe to meet their daily needs.

Adjusted Ingredient Quantities for Different Dog Sizes

• Small dog batch (makes ~10 cups):
  2.5 lbs ground turkey, 4 oz pumpkin puree, 1 tbsp sunflower oil, 1 sweet potato, 3/4 cup brown rice, 3.5 oz frozen spinach, 2 carrots, 6 oz green beans, 6 oz peas, 1/2 pint blueberries, 1 cup water, 2 oz beef liver, 2.5 tsp eggshell powder, 1/4 tsp kelp powder.
• Medium dog batch (makes ~16 cups):
  4 lbs ground turkey, 6 oz pumpkin puree, 1.5 tbsp sunflower oil, 1.5 sweet potatoes, 1 cup brown rice, 5 oz frozen spinach, 3 carrots, 9 oz green beans, 9 oz peas, 3/4 pint blueberries, 1.5 cups water, 3 oz beef liver, 4 tsp eggshell powder, 1/3 tsp kelp powder.
• Large dog batch (original recipe, ~22 cups):
  5-6 lbs ground turkey, 7.5 oz pumpkin puree, 2 tbsp sunflower oil, 2 sweet potatoes, 1.5 cups brown rice, 7 oz frozen spinach, 4 carrots, 12 oz green beans, 12 oz peas, 1 pint blueberries, 2 cups water, 1/3 cup beef liver, 5-6 tsp eggshell powder, 1/2 to 1 tsp kelp powder.

Feel free to scale the recipe up or down based on your dog’s weight, activity level, and appetite. As always, please consult your vet to ensure the portions and ingredients meet your dog’s specific dietary needs.