Copycat The Farmer’s Dog Food Recipes for Less

You ever stare at another delivery of pricey pouches and think, “There has to be a cheaper way to feed my dog this well”? That was me last year. Max, my Lab, was thriving on The Farmer’s Dog, but my wallet was crying. So I started cooking DIY copycat versions right in my kitchen. Real meat, real veggies, gentle cooking—the whole vibe without the subscription price tag.

These six recipes pull straight from The Farmer’s Dog lineup: the beef, chicken, turkey, pork, and a couple grain-inclusive twists. They’re approachable, batch-friendly, and smell so good your dog will camp by the stove. Fair warning—these are inspired copies, not exact replicas. The real stuff uses a precise nutrient blend. For everyday rotation or to stretch your budget, they work great. For long-term exclusive feeding, add a balanced dog multivitamin or The Farmer’s Dog DIY Nutrient Mix and check with your vet. Ready to reclaim your fridge space and your bank account? Let’s cook.

1. Copycat Beef & Sweet Potato Bowl

This is the one that started it all for me. It mirrors The Farmer’s Dog beef recipe with that hearty, slightly earthy flavor from the lentils and kale. Max treats it like a special occasion every single time.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced small
• ½ cup cooked lentils
• 1 large carrot, diced
• ½ cup chopped kale (stems removed)
• 2 oz beef liver, finely chopped (optional but closer to the original)
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp salmon oil
• Dog-safe multivitamin or Farmer’s Dog DIY Nutrient Mix (follow package amounts)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat the sunflower oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the ground beef and liver. Break everything up and cook until no pink remains.
3. Stir in the sweet potato and carrot. Cook 8–10 minutes until the veggies soften.
4. Add the lentils and kale. Stir for 2–3 minutes until the kale wilts.
5. Remove the pan from heat, drizzle the salmon oil, and mix well.
6. Cool completely, then stir in the nutrient mix. Portion into containers and refrigerate up to four days.

Why You’ll Love It

I once left out the liver on a busy night and Max still cleaned the bowl, but the full version tastes richer and closer to the real Farmer’s Dog bags. The sweet potato keeps everything moist without turning soggy. This is my Sunday batch-cook hero.

2. Chicken Veggie Power Bowl

Lean, bright, and packed with those cruciferous veggies The Farmer’s Dog loves in their chicken recipe. It cooks fast and looks almost identical to the commercial version.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground chicken or finely chopped chicken breast
• 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped small
• 1 cup cauliflower florets, chopped small
• ½ cup Brussels sprouts, halved and sliced thin
• 2 oz chicken liver, chopped (optional)
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp salmon oil
• Dog-safe multivitamin or DIY Nutrient Mix

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a wide pan over medium heat.
2. Add the ground chicken and liver. Cook until fully browned and no longer pink.
3. Toss in the broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Cover and cook 6–8 minutes until tender-crisp.
4. Sprinkle the chia seeds and drizzle the salmon oil. Mix thoroughly.
5. Take the pan off the heat and let it cool.
6. Stir in the nutrient mix, portion, and store in the fridge.

Why You’ll Love It

This is the recipe that finally proved I could copy The Farmer’s Dog at home without fancy equipment. The first batch looked so close I almost laughed. Max’s energy stayed high and his coat stayed soft. Some people skip the liver—I keep it because the flavor gets deeper that way.

3. Turkey Chickpea Delight

Lighter and a little brighter than the beef version. This one follows The Farmer’s Dog turkey recipe with chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, and spinach for a gentle, balanced meal.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground turkey
• ¾ cup cooked chickpeas (rinsed if canned)
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped
• ½ cup chopped spinach
• 1 small parsnip, peeled and diced (or extra carrot)
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp salmon oil
• Dog-safe multivitamin or DIY Nutrient Mix

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the ground turkey and cook until fully browned.
3. Stir in the carrot, parsnip, and broccoli. Cook 7–9 minutes until soft.
4. Add the chickpeas and spinach. Cook just until the spinach wilts.
5. Remove from heat, add the salmon oil, and mix.
6. Cool, stir in the nutrient mix, and portion for the week.

Why You’ll Love It

I reached for this after Max had a mildly sensitive stomach and needed something easier. He still licked the bowl clean. The chickpeas give it that satisfying texture you get in the real turkey recipe. FYI, this one freezes better than the others in my experience.

4. Pork & Potato Comfort Meal

This feels like a cozy dinner. The Farmer’s Dog pork recipe leans on sweet potato, regular potato, green beans, and cauliflower, and this copycat nails that hearty comfort vibe.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground pork (or lean pork, finely chopped)
• 1 medium sweet potato, diced
• 1 small white potato, diced
• ¾ cup green beans, chopped
• ¾ cup cauliflower florets, chopped
• 2 oz pork or chicken liver, chopped (optional)
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp salmon oil
• Dog-safe multivitamin or DIY Nutrient Mix

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a heavy pan over medium heat.
2. Brown the ground pork and liver thoroughly.
3. Add both potatoes and cook 8–10 minutes, stirring often, until they start to soften.
4. Stir in the green beans and cauliflower. Cover and cook another 5–6 minutes.
5. Take the pan off the heat, drizzle the salmon oil, and mix well.
6. Cool completely before adding the nutrient mix. Store in airtight containers.

Why You’ll Love It

The first time I made this, Max did a little happy spin before diving in. The double-potato combo makes it taste richer than the poultry versions. Just don’t overcook the green beans or they go sad and mushy—learned that the hard way.

5. Chicken & Oats Grain-Inclusive Style

The Farmer’s Dog also does grain-inclusive recipes. This one uses oats, chicken, collards, and carrots for a slightly heartier, more traditional feel that still stays fresh.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground chicken
• ¾ cup cooked plain oats
• 1 cup chopped collard greens or kale
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 2 oz chicken liver, chopped
• 1 tbsp coconut oil or sunflower oil
• 1 tsp salmon oil
• Dog-safe multivitamin or DIY Nutrient Mix

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Melt the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Cook the ground chicken and liver until fully done.
3. Add the carrot and cook 5 minutes until it softens.
4. Stir in the collard greens and cooked oats. Mix until the greens wilt and everything combines.
5. Remove from heat, add the salmon oil, and let cool.
6. Stir in the nutrient mix, portion, and refrigerate.

Why You’ll Love It

This is the recipe I reach for when I want something that feels a little more “classic” but still fresh. The oats soak up the chicken juices beautifully. Max seems to prefer this one on cooler days. Some people swap oats for rice—I stick with oats because it stays closer to the grain versions.

6. Beef, Egg & Veggie DIY Classic

This one pulls directly from The Farmer’s Dog own DIY-style recipes. Beef, sweet potato, carrots, spinach, and eggs. Simple, satisfying, and easy to scale up.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs 90% lean ground beef
• 1 large sweet potato, diced or shredded
• 2 cups diced carrots
• 2–3 cups fresh spinach, chopped (or ¾ cup frozen)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp salmon oil
• 1 packet Farmer’s Dog DIY Nutrient Mix (or equivalent balanced supplement)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat the sunflower oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the ground beef. Break it up and cook until no pink remains.
3. Stir in the sweet potato and carrots. Cook 10–12 minutes until the sweet potato is soft.
4. Add the spinach and cook until wilted.
5. Crack the eggs into the pan, break the yolks, and stir until the eggs are fully cooked and firm.
6. Remove from heat, drizzle the salmon oil, cool slightly, then sprinkle and mix in the nutrient packet thoroughly.

Related Articles:

• The Farmer’s Dog Recipes: DIY Copycat Meals
• Salmon Dog Food Recipes for a Shiny Coat
• Delicious Ground Beef Dog Food Recipes for Picky Eaters

Why You’ll Love It

This is the closest I’ve gotten to the official DIY instructions, and it shows. The eggs add a silky texture that Max goes nuts for. I once tried skipping the eggs and the batch felt drier—never again. This is my “I actually feel like a responsible dog parent” recipe. 🙂

These six DIY copycat meals give you the spirit of The Farmer’s Dog without the monthly sticker shock. They’re fresh, recognizable, and easy enough to batch-cook on a Sunday afternoon. Just remember: long-term homemade feeding needs proper balancing, so lean on a good nutrient mix and check in with your vet. Your dog gets the good stuff, your wallet gets a break, and you get to feel like a kitchen rockstar. Win-win-win.