Homemade Dog Food Recipe with Bison & Beef Heart

This homemade dog food recipe uses ground bison, beef heart, vegetables, and simple carbohydrates to create a practical, real-life meal we feed Layla.

This is not meant to be a perfectly balanced, standalone meal. Instead, it shows how we actually prepare food using whole ingredients, while relying on supplements and variety over time to support overall balance.



If you’re trying to understand what homemade dog feeding really looks like day-to-day, this is exactly that.

Important Note on Homemade Dog Food

Homemade dog food can be a great option, but dogs have specific nutritional requirements.



Before making major changes to your dog’s diet, it’s a good idea to consult with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist—especially for puppies, large breeds, or dogs with health conditions.

What This Recipe Includes

This homemade dog food recipe includes:

• Ground bison (primary protein)
• Beef heart (nutrient-dense muscle meat)
• Kale, peas, and garbanzo beans
• Russet potato (carbohydrate source)
• Supplements to help support overall balance

This batch follows our general structure of:

• Mostly protein
• Moderate vegetables and carbs
• Added supplementation

If you want a full breakdown of how we structure meals, see What Layla Eats.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground bison
• 0.25 pound beef heart
• 1 russet potato
• ½ can garbanzo beans
• 1 cup frozen kale
• ¼ cup frozen peas

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Potato

• Place the russet potato in a rice cooker with about 1 cup of water.
• Cook on the white rice setting twice until soft.
• Once cooked, dice into small pieces and set aside.

Step 2: Cook the Meat

In a pan, sauté:

• Ground bison
• Prepped beef heart

Cook until fully done and no longer pink.

Step 3: Add Vegetables and Beans

Add:

• Kale
• Peas
• Garbanzo beans

Cook everything together until heated through.

We do not add oil.

Step 4: Combine

Add the diced potato back into the pan and mix everything together.

Step 5: Add Supplements

Once the food has slightly cooled, mix in supplements (listed below).

Step 6: Store and Serve

Transfer to a container and store in the fridge.

We serve this homemade dog food over multiple meals, typically feeding twice per day.

Approximate Breakdown

We do not aim for perfect precision in every meal, but we stay within general ranges.

This batch is approximately:

• 75–80% meat (bison + beef heart)
• ~5–7% beef heart (included within meat, but more nutrient-dense)
• 20–25% vegetables and carbs

This aligns with how we approach homemade dog food:

• Mostly protein, with smaller amounts of carbs and vegetables

Unlike many homemade dog food recipes that aim to perfectly balance every meal, we focus on variety over time and consistent supplementation.

Why We Included Beef Heart

We do not use beef heart in every batch, but we include it when available.

It is a nutrient-dense muscle meat that adds variety and additional micronutrients.

We keep it at a lower percentage because:

• It is rich
• Too much can cause digestive issues

If you are new to using it, see our full guide on Beef Heart for Dogs.

Supplements We Added

This is one of the most important parts of homemade feeding.

The ingredients alone are not fully balanced, which is why we include supplements.

For this homemade dog food batch, we added:

• Sea-Cal by Animal Essentials (calcium source)
• Badlands Ranch Super20 Canine
• Fera Cardiac Support
• Proviable Probiotic
• Sea Dent (Animal Essentials)

Most homemade dog food diets are naturally low in key nutrients like calcium without supplementation.

If you are learning about this, see our guide on Supplements for Homemade Dog Food.

Why We Don’t Try to Balance Every Meal

One of the biggest misconceptions with homemade dog food is that every meal needs to be perfectly balanced.

For us, that approach is not sustainable.

Instead, we focus on:

• Variety across meals
• Rotating ingredients
• Consistent use of supplements

This approach has worked better for us long-term.

You can read more about this in Why We Don’t Balance Every Meal.

What Layla Eats Outside of Meals

n addition to her meals, Layla also gets snacks throughout the day.

We rotate things like:

• Boiled eggs
• Banana
• Carrots

Not all at once, but depending on what we have available.

This helps add variety without overcomplicating homemade feeding.

Who This Type of Meal Works For

This type of homemade dog food approach works best for:



• Dog owners feeding homemade meals regularly
• Those comfortable using supplements
• People focused on long-term balance rather than perfection
• If you are just getting started, it is important to first understand the basics of homemade feeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

This is a real example of how we feed Layla—not a perfect recipe.

It is built around:

• Whole ingredients
• Practical preparation
• Sustainable habits

For us, that is what makes homemade dog food work long-term.