How to Cook Chicken & Beef for a Puppy

You may enjoy salted and seasoned meat, but it is not good for your puppy.
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If you are looking to make your own homemade puppy food or just want to supplement real meat, how you cook the meat is important. Raw or undercooked meat can contain bacteria. In addition, unlike your seasoned meals, when cooking for a puppy, or even an older dog, bland is always better. While you may be tempted to add a little salt, keep the shaker away as even simple salt can be toxic to your puppy.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the whole chicken or chicken pieces in the baking pan and cover loosely with foil. Place the pan in the oven. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Place skillet pan on stove burner and lightly coat the bottom with about a tablespoon olive oil. When pan is heated, add lean ground beef and cook until browned.

Cook lean beef pieces similar to the ground beef. Brown meat on one side and flip. Cook the meat to at least medium, or an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Create a complete meal by cooking all the ingredients in a slow cooker. Start with 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water. Add a medium, skinned sweet potato cut into pieces. Add three sliced carrots. Place two boneless, skinless chicken breasts on top. Cover and cook on the high setting for about five hours. When complete, the rice and veggies will be cooked and the chicken should be tender and easy to break into small pieces. Mix all ingredients together and place into a covered container. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Tips

  • If making a homemade diet for your puppy, cooking a slow cooker meal reduces prep time and allows the flavors of all the food to blend. If you find it difficult to get your puppy to eat rice, this may be the trick.

Warnings

  • Before changing your puppy's diet, talk with your veterinarian about recommended serving sizes and the need for possible vitamin supplementation.

Warnings

  • Before changing your puppy's diet, talk with your veterinarian about recommended serving sizes and the need for possible vitamin supplementation.

Tips

  • If making a homemade diet for your puppy, cooking a slow cooker meal reduces prep time and allows the flavors of all the food to blend. If you find it difficult to get your puppy to eat rice, this may be the trick.

Items You Will Need

  • Whole chicken or quality cuts of chicken meat
  • Lean pieces of beef or ground beef
  • Olive oil
  • Foil
  • Baking pan
  • Skillet pan
  • Meat thermometer
  • Slow cooker (optional)
  • White or brown rice, not instant (optional)
  • Vegetables like green beans, carrots or sweet potatoes (optional)