Feeding your dog or cat fresh, homemade food is a great way to add wholesome, minimally processed ingredients to their diet. Explore our homemade dog and cat food recipes, gently cooked meals, and fresh food toppers designed to help you put more real food in your pet’s bowl while keeping balanced nutrition in mind.
Many of the recipes on the internet do not offer a balanced diet with the appropriate nutrients (including the Balance-It website).
We have compiled a list of recipes that our holistic vets recommend.
Certified pet nutritionists are a dime a dozen on the internet. We have seen many terrible recommendations from nutritionists.
The canine nutritionist and pet health coach industry is unregulated. Find out more on nutritionists and pet coaches on our page dedicated to them. If you want to hire one check the following:
Your money would be better spent taking the nutrition classes that we recommend (see information below on this page). This knowledge will last you a lifetime!
Many pet parents feed their pets home cooked meals. Although this is healthier than feeding kibble, it is highly likely that it is lacking the nutrients your pet needs. Please utilize the recipes we offer on this website.
Making your pet’s food at home gives you greater control over what goes into their bowl. You can choose fresh, whole-food ingredients, select high-quality proteins, avoid unnecessary fillers and artificial additives, and adjust ingredients based on your pet’s preferences and nutritional needs.
Homemade feeding can also add valuable variety to your pet’s diet. Rotating appropriate proteins and fresh ingredients provides a broader range of naturally occurring nutrients while making mealtime more interesting.
The key is balance. Dogs and cats have specific nutritional requirements, and a homemade diet consisting of meat, vegetables, and a few supplements isn’t automatically complete. If homemade food will make up most or all of your pet’s diet, the recipe should be properly formulated and balanced for their species, age, and life stage.
A bowl filled with fresh meat and vegetables may look nutritious, but that alone doesn’t necessarily provide everything your dog or cat needs. A balanced homemade diet should supply the right amounts and proportions of essential nutrients over time.
Depending on the species and life stage, a properly formulated homemade diet should account for:
One of the most common mistakes with homemade feeding is assuming that variety alone creates nutritional balance. While rotating fresh foods can provide a wider range of nutrients, it doesn’t guarantee that all essential nutritional requirements are being met.
If you’re feeding homemade food as your pet’s primary diet, use a properly formulated recipe or an appropriate balancing premix rather than guessing at ingredients and supplements. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of fresh, whole-food feeding while giving your dog or cat the nutritional foundation they need to thrive.
Also, if you are making your own food using your own recipe, the Animal Diet Formulator or Dr. Conor Brady’s DBC Holistic Diet Formulator can help ensure its balanced and complete for your dog or cat.
Courses we recommend: Note: Prices are set by the individual businesses and prices are subject to change from what we have listed.
Many of the recipes on the internet do not offer a balanced diet (including those offered by many pet nutritionists and the Balance It website). We recommend you use the Animal Diet Formulator to ensure your recipe is complete and balanced.
If you decide to hire a pet nutritionist, please note that this industry is unregulated and does not require much training. Check references, and ask for their certifications before hiring.
Homemade dog food can include a variety of fresh proteins, organ meats, healthy fats, vegetables, and other whole-food ingredients. The recipes below offer different ways to incorporate fresh, minimally processed foods into your dog’s diet.
Some recipes are formulated to be fed as complete meals, while others are better suited as toppers or additions to an already balanced diet. Always check the individual recipe before using it as your dog’s primary food, since not every homemade recipe is nutritionally complete for long-term feeding.
Dr. Judy’s Original Pup Loaf
INGREDIENTS
Dr. Judy’s Original Pup Loaf
INSTRUCTIONS
Grind and mix all ingredients together. Pour into loaf, casserole, or muffin pans. Bake at 325 for 30 to 60 minutes depending on size of pan; should be lightly done, not overcooked (juicy in the center). If your pet has a beef or chicken allergy, turkey could be substituted.
Use within 3 to 5 days; freeze extra portions. Feed warmed to room temperature.
Puploaf is available for purchase at ALL PROVIDE HOLISTIC PET FOOD.
Note: Calcium for PupLoaf Recipe and Other Recipes
Four Leaf Rover Better Bone meal powder (10% coupon off full priced items: SAVING-PETS), eggshell powder, and Animal Esentials Sea-Cal seaweed calcium (20% coupon:KIM) are the most common natural calcium sources. Dr. Judy recommends 750-1000mg of calcium per pound of meat in the recipe.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Homemade Puploaf.”
This recipe was formulated in Animal Diet Formulator using the following criteria: FEDIAF 2025 standard, Atwater values, Adult-Less Active activity level, gently cooked cooking method.
DOGGIE MEATBALLS
By MonicaSegal.com
BEEF & BROCCOLI BITES
By spot•on Canine Nutrition
Home feeding made easy with a wide range of both cooked and raw recipes, including treats.
“Vet Approved Homemade Dog Food: Good for Digestive Issues” by Dr. Andrew Jones.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Homemade Dog Food Basic Recipes Bundle.”
“Raw Food Recipe For Dogs – Simple, Nutritious, Complete!” by Paws of Prey.
Cats have unique nutritional needs and require an animal-based diet rich in high-quality protein and essential nutrients. Homemade cat food can be a wonderful way to provide fresh, minimally processed ingredients while giving you greater control over what goes into your cat’s bowl.
Because cats are obligate carnivores, their diets must provide adequate taurine, essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals in the proper balance. Meat alone is not a complete diet, and vegetables or carbohydrates should never replace the animal-based nutrition cats require.
The homemade cat food recipes below provide options for incorporating fresh food into your cat’s diet. Always check whether an individual recipe is formulated as a complete meal or intended only as a topper or occasional addition.
This recipe was formulated in Animal Diet Formulator using the following criteria: FEDIAF 2025 standard, Atwater values, Adult-Indoor activity level, gently cooked cooking method.
16.67% protein, 6.26% fat, 1.92% net carbs, 37.07 kcal/oz
Makes 31.95 ounces of food.
This recipe was formulated in Animal Diet Formulator using the following criteria: FEDIAF 2021 standard, Atwater values, Adult-Indoor activity level, gently cooked cooking method.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat, or replace consulting a primary veterinarian for individualized care.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Homemade Cat Food Basic Recipe Bundle.”
Dr. Loudon’s Facebook post for chicken recipe for cats from Pet Nutritionist, Jessica Fisher.
“How I Make Homemade Raw Cat Food in 6 Easy Steps” by The Cat Butler.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Dr. Judy Morgan’s Cat Loaf Recipe.”
One of the easiest ways to take some of the guesswork out of homemade feeding is to use a nutritional premix designed to balance fresh food. Premixes typically provide vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients that may be difficult to supply consistently with meat and whole foods alone.
Depending on the product, you may simply add the premix to a specific amount of fresh meat, organ meat, vegetables, or other ingredients to create a more nutritionally complete meal. Some are formulated specifically for dogs, cats, or particular life stages, so it’s important to choose one appropriate for your pet.
When using a premix:
Premixes can be especially helpful for pet parents who want the benefits of fresh homemade food without having to formulate every vitamin and mineral individually. They can provide a practical middle ground between preparing a diet completely from scratch and feeding a commercially prepared food.
Nutrition You Can See and Smell! Paradigm is a supergreens base mix used to effortlessly create balanced, homemade meals for your dog as a whole food, ketogenic, low carb alternative to kibble. Feeding your dog a whole food, nutrient dense diet has been shown to improve digestion, increase energy, help improve itchy skin, and produce firmer, less smelly stools. (You'll thank us later!)
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Switching your cat to a raw food diet is made easy with Know Better. Our premium raw food premix uses high-quality, human-safe, whole-food ingredients to ensure optimal nutrition. These fresh, delicious, and carefully balanced formulas provide flavors cats crave, satisfying every single picky eater!
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A Quick, Easy and Affordable Solution to making Raw Cat Food. Mix with your own raw meat to make a Homemade Raw Cat Food Diet. Can be used with any meat appropriate for cat consumption (ex. Chicken, Beef, Buffalo, Turkey, etc). Once prepared, a meal that closely mimics the nutritional profile of a cats natural prey of mice and voles. A meal for the True Carnivore. Provided in a re-sealable pouch for ease of use.
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Meat Mixer makes cooked or raw meals in less than a minute. This lovingly crafted base of freeze-dried beef bones, organs and organic veggies delivers a premium, natural diet that dogs crave. Just add ground protein, mix and serve.
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Feed your dog the way nature intended. Raw Vibrance is a base mix that takes the guesswork out of creating a balanced Raw & Homemade Diet. This base mix was designed specifically to support raw feeders but is perfect for any dog's diet. Feeding your dog a whole food, nutrient-dense diet has been shown to help improve digestion, help increase energy, help improve longevity, help improve itchy skin, and produce firmer, less smelly stools. (You'll thank us later!)
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Meals are simple! Recipes are on the package. Just add your choice of 8 oz of muscle meat and 2 oz of organs – that’s raw or lightly cooked – to the package contents and Shazam! You have optimal meals for an adult dog. Finally! Fresh food is available to everyone – no matter their budget!
Makes high protein, moderate fat, low carb meals that meet or exceed ancestral levels for protein. Supports gut microbiome health, antioxidant defenses and a vibrant health span with a rainbow of low-glycemic produce.
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Homemade pet food can be served raw or gently cooked, and both approaches can focus on fresh, whole-food ingredients. The best choice depends on your pet, your comfort level with food preparation, and any individual health considerations.
Raw feeding keeps ingredients in their uncooked state and may include muscle meat, organs, raw meaty bones, eggs, and other fresh foods. If feeding raw, careful sourcing, proper nutritional balance, and safe handling and storage are especially important.
Gently cooked food is a great option for pet parents who want to feed fresh food but prefer not to feed raw. Cooking at lower temperatures can make food more appealing and digestible for some pets while still providing the benefits of a fresh-food diet.
Whichever method you choose, avoid heavily browning or charring meats, and remember that cooking can change the nutrient content of certain ingredients. Supplements included in a formulated recipe may need to be added after the food has cooled rather than cooked with the meal.
There isn’t one preparation method that’s right for every dog or cat. What matters most is using quality ingredients, providing appropriate nutritional balance, practicing safe food handling, and choosing the approach that works best for your individual pet.
See our raw feeding page to learn more about raw feeding, food calculaors, how to feed raw on a budget and much more.
Fresh homemade pet food requires the same careful handling as fresh food prepared for your family. Proper preparation and storage help preserve nutrients while reducing the risk of bacterial contamination and spoilage.
When preparing homemade food for your dog or cat:
Always check homemade food for changes in smell, color, or texture before serving. When in doubt, throw it out.
Good food safety practices are especially important when feeding raw diets and in households with young children, older adults, pregnant individuals, or anyone with a compromised immune system.
Expertly crafted recipes by Dr. Judy Morgan for cats and dogs that cater to specific needs, from allergies to leaky gut, cancer, liver support, and so much more.
Homemade pet food made with fresh, species-appropriate ingredients can provide better quality nutrition than many ultra-processed kibble diets. Many pet parents choose homemade raw or gently cooked meals to help support digestion, skin health, energy levels, and overall wellness.
Yes, homemade pet food can be fed daily when recipes are properly balanced and tailored to your pet’s individual needs. Rotating proteins and using fresh whole-food ingredients may help provide a wider variety of nutrients.
Avoid ingredients that may be harmful or difficult for pets to tolerate, including artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, excessive carbohydrates, heavily processed fillers, xylitol, onions, grapes, raisins, and highly seasoned foods. Some pets may also have sensitivities to certain proteins or ingredients. See our pet food ingredients page for more information.
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