Homemade Chicken and Rice Dog Food makes about 8 cups of soft chicken, white rice, carrots, and green beans. You cook the rice and chicken at the same time, then mix everything in one bowl.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 2 1/2 cups water, for the rice
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup chopped green beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Yield: About 8 cups. Prep: 15 minutes · Cook: 35 minutes · Cool: 30 minutes.
Instructions
1. Cook the Rice
Put 1 cup uncooked white rice and 2 1/2 cups water in a saucepan. Bring the water to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes while the chicken cooks.
When you lift the lid, the rice should look soft and fluffy, with no pool of water at the bottom.
2. Poach the Chicken
Place 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast in a pot and add enough plain water to cover it. Bring the water to a gentle simmer, then poach the chicken for 20 minutes.
The water should bubble lightly around the edges, and the thickest part of each breast should look opaque when cut.
3. Shred the Chicken
Lift the chicken from the pot after its 20-minute poach and set it on a cutting board. Pull apart all 1 1/2 pounds with two forks, breaking the meat into small shreds.
Work through the thicker pieces as well as the edges. When you are done, you should have an even pile of chicken with no large chunks.
4. Cook the Carrots and Green Beans
Add 1 cup diced carrots and 1 cup chopped green beans to the simmering poaching water. Cook for 10 minutes, then drain the vegetables well.
The carrot pieces should yield when pressed with a fork, and the green beans should look bright and tender. Shake off excess water before adding the vegetables to the bowl.
5. Combine Everything in a Large Bowl
Add the cooked rice from 1 cup uncooked rice, the shredded chicken, and the drained carrots and green beans to a large bowl. Pour in 1 tablespoon olive oil and stir for about 1 minute.
Keep folding the mixture until the oil is spread through it and you can see vegetables and chicken throughout the rice.
6. Cool Completely
Spread the mixture across the bowl to help it cool for 30 minutes. Stir it once during that time, bringing the warmer food from the center to the outside.
By the end of the 30 minutes, no steam should rise when you turn the mixture, and the center should feel cool.
7. Portion and Store
Once the 30-minute cooling period is complete, divide the about 8 cups of food into portions that fit your dog’s feeding plan. Spoon each portion into a covered container, then place the containers in the refrigerator or freezer.
The mixture should look evenly mixed in each container, with chicken and vegetables visible among the rice.
How Much to Feed
Use this recipe as a small addition to your dog’s regular food. The right portion depends on your dog’s size, daily calorie needs, and what else you feed.
For a full homemade diet, your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist can set portions and balance the nutrients; chicken and rice alone do not provide a complete diet.
If your dog leaves food behind, keep track of the full day’s intake before changing portions. A dog that does not eat all its food at once may still finish it later.
Substitutions and Safety
You can use finely chopped peas in place of the green beans, though that changes the fixed recipe above. Keep the food plain: onions, garlic, seasoning blends, and cooked chicken bones do not belong in your dog’s bowl.
Check the thickest part of the chicken with a food thermometer; it must reach 165°F. Refrigerate the cooled food promptly, freeze any portions you will not use soon, and thaw frozen portions in the refrigerator.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach or suspected food allergies, ask your veterinarian before changing ingredients or feeding this mixture.
