Beef Stew for Dogs
Tails will wag when you serve this beef stew for dogs as a tasty dinner. Chunks of stewing beef are cooked with carrots, sweet potato and broccoli. Serve by itself or with a side of cooked quinoa or kibble for a hearty dinner.
Whether you’re trying to feed your dog a whole-food diet or just want to serve an occasional homemade meal, or use a recipe as a topper, this stew is both delicious and easy to make.
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Why Make Beef Stew for Dogs at Home?
Homemade beef stew allows you to:
- Use high-quality, human-grade ingredients
- Avoid artificial preservatives and fillers
- Control sodium and fat levels
- Customize for your dog’s preferences or allergies
Your dog gets a delicious and wholesome meal made with love.
The Ingredients
This stew for dogs is made with simple ingredients.
This recipe provides:
Calcium from the eggshell.
Protein from beef, liver and egg.
Healthy fats from coconut, olive or salmon oil. We use coconut oil but olive oil can be substituted. Salmon oil can be added to the stew once cooked.
Complex carbohydrates & fiber from sweet potato, carrot and broccoli.
Micronutrients from veggies, liver and turmeric.
How To Make Beef Stew For Dogs
This dog food recipe is very similar to a humans in that the beef is seared, then added to vegetables and boiled in a pot. This recipe could be cooked in an instant pot or slow cooker too.
The biggest difference in this homemade dog food recipe to a human beef stew is that there is no stock and the seasoning is kept dog friendly.
Cook the beef chunks and liver in a large saucepan.
Add the vegetables, turmeric and rosemary.
Add the egg with the egg shell.
Add water, bring to the boil, cover and simmer.
Recipe Tips
1. Don’t overdo the liver
Liver is a superfood for dogs, but too much can lead to vitamin A toxicity. Stick to about 5% of the total meat content—around 1–2 oz per pound of other meat.
2. Choose lean ground beef
Opt for 90% lean or higher to avoid excess fat, which can cause digestive upset or contribute to obesity over time.
3. Chop veggies small
Cut vegetables into small, bite-sized pieces or lightly mash them. Dogs digest cooked, finely chopped vegetables better, maximizing the nutritional value.
4. Add calcium if not using eggshell
Homemade meals need a source of calcium to stay balanced. If you skip the ground eggshells, use a dog-safe calcium supplement as recommended by your vet.
5. Use dog-safe oils
A splash of coconut oil or olive oil adds healthy fats, but for a boost of omega-3s, use salmon oil or flaxseed oil instead. These support skin, coat and joint health.
6. Skip the seasonings
Avoid using onions, garlic, salt, or seasonings intended for human dishes. Even small amounts can be harmful to dogs.
Storage & Freezing Tips for Dog Beef Stew
Refrigerator Storage:
Let the stew cool completely before storing. Place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Use clean utensils when serving to avoid contamination.
Freezer Storage:
This stew freezes beautifully, making it perfect for batch cooking. Here are two easy ways to freeze:
- Portion & Freeze:
Spoon cooled stew into silicone molds, ice cube trays or freezer-safe containers in single-serving portions. Once frozen, transfer to a labeled freezer bag for easy access. - Meal Prep Containers:
Freeze larger portions in BPA-free containers with tight-fitting lids. Label with the name and date.
Shelf Life in Freezer:
Stored properly, the stew will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Thawing:
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or defrost gently in the microwave. Make sure it’s lukewarm or room temperature before serving—never serve straight from the fridge or too hot.
Pro Tip:
If your dog is sensitive to changes in temperature or texture, mash the stew slightly before serving and mix in a splash of warm water or low-sodium bone broth to rehydrate and entice picky eaters.
If your dog enjoys a stew for dinner, try our lamb stew recipe for another hearty meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Divide into portions and freeze in silicone molds or airtight containers. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
Ground beef, stewing beef, or any lean cut works well. Avoid fatty cuts or heavily marbled meat.
Generally yes, but check with your vet. You may need to modify portion sizes or ingredients for very young puppies.
Watch How to Make Beef Stew for Dogs
See exactly how to prepare this beef stew in our easy step-by-step video.
Beef Stew for Dogs
Need Metric Measurements?
Use the button options below to toggle between US cups and Metric grams.
Ingredients
- 1 lb stewing beef chunks
- 1 oz beef liver, cut into small chunks
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 5 oz sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 2 oz carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 oz broccoli, finely chopped
- 2 cup s water
- 1 large egg, including egg shell
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric with a pinch of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
Instructions
- In a large saucepan or pot, heat the coconut oil on a medium heat and brown the ground beef. Once almost fully cooked, add chopped liver and continue cooking until liver is fully browned.
- Add the chopped vegetables, turmeric with black pepper, dried rosemary the meat mixture. Crack in the egg and stir well, crushing the eggshell. Stir in the turmeric and rosemary.
- Add the water and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Let it cool completely before serving to your dog. Store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge or freezer.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
even without making this yet, i know it will be a 5star bc i follow your human recipes & they’ve never failed me. always “divalicious”! I’ve read thru all of them & forgive me if i’m overlooking my answer, but how much is a serving amt? (other than the treats) i see some make 10 servings or 6 med servings, but does that equal to 1 & 1/2 c or less? i’m new to this but so hate the dry dog food that causes such tummy problems for our “pack”. thank you for all the time and effort you put into your work & again forgive me if i’m overlooking something so obvious
Linda, you made my day with your kind comments! I serving is a cup. I meant to put it into the recipe card but forget. I really must stop posting late at night! I’ll update the card! Thanks for posting too!
Oh my gosh, thank you for responding so quickly. I so get late night thinking, or actually, lack thereof. That info helps so much. My plan is to try them all as soon as i figure out their calorie intake amt this week. i promise to comment bc i so love learning from others when they have constructive helpful comments & suggestions. Again, thanks.
My pleasure! Hope your dog enjoys the recipes!
My dog loves this as a food topper!!! I just double the water, because I add water to his food anyways. Thank you so much for the awesome recipe♥️
Delighted he enjoys it!
Hello,
Thank you for the recipe, i made this and my dog and he LOVED IT! I do have a question, in the recipe you call for one broccoli, is that one crown of broccoli? i wasn’t sure so i substituted some peas in place.
Hi Derrick! Delighted your dog loved it! The broccoli was one head/crown. About a medium sized one.
Absolutely wonderful and a godsend for my Lily. She was suffering from a Vestibular like complaint, hadn’t eaten any dog food for 5 weeks, and was barely taking enough chicken to have her medicine.
Very easy to make. We followed this recipe, and hand served at tepid temperature, and couldn’t believe it when she not only ate the beef, but the veg as well. Have made it three times, and she’s putting the 2kgs back on that she lost (and she was only 8kg to begin with) . Have swapped broccoli with peas and beans, and sweet and normal potatoes. Will now try a few other recipes to increase the variety for her, and thanks for the recipe!
Lily has made my day! So happy to hear she loves the recipe and putting on weight! Wishing her all the best in her recovery!
Can you freeze your recipes? I have a chi and like to fix her food but recipes make alot more than she eats. We were cooking ground turkey and rice and freezing in portions for the week. Than you
Hi, yes the recipes can be frozen. Hope she enjoys them!
Can you be a little more specific with the amounts of each of the broccoli and sweet potato? Does 1 sweet potato mean 1 large, 1 medium, 1 oz, 1 pound? Same for the broccoli–1 large head, 1oz, 1pound? I’m making my dog homemade dog food and he absolutely loves ALL of what I’ve made. Looking for variety even though I know they don’t care about it! Thanks
Hi, I have updated the recipe card and it has a button for metric measurements too. I love that you look for variety for your dog too! Although mine eat dinner at a record speed some recipes have them licking their mouth more than others! Hope your dog enjoys this recipe!
Should there be any needed supplements added? Sardines, fish oil?
We will top with sardines, crushed egg shells and a doggie supplement for a complete meal