Being a pet owner on a budget is tough.
Trust me, I get it.
Our family has four human members, 3 canine members, and 7 feline members.
I save every penny to stay on budget, and using this cheap dog food recipe It’s just one of the ways I save money.
We all want to provide the best quality food for our dogs, but the better the food, the more expensive it is.
Most pet owners understand that high-quality commercial dog food can cost upwards of $5 per serving.
Did you know that you can make high-quality homemade dog food for less than $3 a serving?
That’s a BIG cost savings!
When it comes to cutting the cost of homemade dog food, it’s all about the ingredients.
Some tips to follow when looking to cut costs on homemade dog food include:
- buy ingredients in bulk when possible
- try to use ingredients you already have on hand
- buy ingredients that are in season
- use leftover ingredients before they spoil
This inexpensive dog food recipe will not be nutritionally balanced for all dogs.
It is best to ask your veterinarian or canine nutritionist for approval before switching your dog to any homemade diet.
They will evaluate your dog along with this recipe and help you make substitutions or additions to ensure it is nutritionally balanced for your pet.
Low Cost Homemade Dog Food Recipe
You can stick to the recipe I share below or you can substitute other dog-friendly vegetables.
Just make sure that the ingredients you are adding are safe and healthy for your pet.
Low Cost Homemade Dog Food Recipe
The ingredients of this recipe are affordable in my region. We grow a lot of our vegetables and my husband is an avid hunter so we have a lot of game meat in the freezer most of the time.
If venison is too expensive in your region, you can substitute ground beef, chicken, or turkey. You can also substitute other fruits and vegetables that are in season or locally grown in your area. This will help keep this low cost dog food recipe as cheap as possible.
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Time to cook: 20 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
- Produce: 8 cups 1X
- Category: Cooked food
- Method: Stove
- Kitchen: Dog food
- 1 ½ cups Integral rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 pounds of ground venison
- 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
- 1 cup carrots (chopped)
- 1 zucchini (chopped)
- ½ cup celery (chopped)
Cook the rice according to the package instructions. Add the olive oil to a large skillet and cook the venison well.
I add the raw vegetables, but if you are a picky eater, you can cook the vegetables however you like. Combine all ingredients in a large skillet/bowl and mix thoroughly.
Nutrition
- Portion size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 0.6 grams
- Sodium: 14 milligrams
- Fat: 2.3 grams
- Carbohydrates: 15 grams
- Fiber: 1.1g
- Protein: 20.4g
- Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Serving Size Recommendation: You can serve this food to your dog as soon as it has cooled down.
I recommend feeding about 1/2 cup of food for every 20-25 pounds of body weight.
This recommendation is for 2 servings per day.
So a 25 pound dog would eat about 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup at night.
This is just a guide.
Some dogs, such as working dogs and very active breeds, will need more calories than this.
Lazier pets and older dogs may not need as many.
It is best to consult your vet about the proper serving size for your dog.
They will also help you evaluate the food to ensure it meets your pet’s unique nutritional needs.
If necessary, they will help you choose the best supplements and/or multivitamins to add.
How to store: You can store leftover inexpensive homemade dog food in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or freeze it and it will keep for up to 3 months.
Please note that this recipe does not include preservatives, so it will not last as long as commercial dog food.
For more information
We post many homemade dog food and treat recipes every month. For more recipes, tips and suggestions for cooking pet food, check out our “Recipes” section.
If you’re new to homemade dog food, I recommend reading more about “How Much to Feed” to understand serving sizes, “What Supplements to Use” to create well-balanced meals, and “How to Store” for tips. into simple homemade dog food that is easy to store in a refrigerator or freezer.
