How to Make Beef Liver for Dogs
Beef liver is one of the best superfoods you can give your dog! Get Pug John John’s homemade beef liver recipe for dogs and learn how to make beef liver for dogs with this easy tutorial.
If you’re looking for more homemade dog food recipes, check out Homemade Turkey Meatloaf for Dogs, Chicken and Pumpkin Dinner for Dogs, How to Cook Sweet Potatoes for Dogs, How to Cook Rice For Dogs, or Dog Burger Bowl (Homemade Beef Dog Food).
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: How to Make Beef Liver for Dogs
- Ready In: 15 minutes
- Makes: 8 ounces
- Main Ingredients: beef liver
- Flavor Profile: meaty
- Dietary Info: gluten free, dairy free, no seed oils
- Difficulty: Easy!
- Why You’ll Love It: A superfood for your dog, use as a food topper or treat
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 2 Ingredients: This recipe only has 2 ingredients: organic beef liver and organic coconut oil. That makes this a very simple recipe to make!
- 10 Minutes: This superfood for dogs is so easy to make! It only takes about 10 minutes, and your dog will go nuts for it.
- Healthy: Beef liver is incredibly healthy for your furry friend. It has so many beneficial nutrients and more.
- Multiple Use: You can use this homemade beef liver recipe for dogs as a food topper or as treats, just like How to Cook Ground Turkey For Dogs. Dogs go nuts for beef liver, so if your dog is unmotivated to eat try adding a bit on top. If you are training, then use this as a high reward treat. John John gets this on top of his food every day.
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If you are a fan of home cooking food for your dog, then you may be wondering how to make beef liver for dogs. Beef liver is an organ meat that is an incredibly nutritious and healthy addition to your dog’s diet! If you are serious about learning more about healthy homemade dog food, make sure to check out our course How to Cook Homemade Dog Food (Vet-Approved, Balanced and Simple).
You can use this homemade beef liver recipe for dogs as a food topper or as a high reward treat. We give this to John John on both his breakfast and his dinner each day. He eats a variation of the recipe Beef Liver Dinner for Dogs or his Chicken Dinner Recipe for Dogs with the addition of beef liver. So, let me teach you how to make beef liver for dogs so you can give your dog this amazing superfood!
And, if you cook a whole turkey during the holidays, be sure to check out How to Cook Turkey Giblets for Dogs as you can save those turkey giblets (which are also organ meats) and cook them up for your dog!
Health Benefits of Beef Liver for Dogs
Beef liver is an organ meat, just like chicken liver kidneys and heart. And organ meats are superfoods for your dog! Beef liver is high in essential vitamins like A, D, and B vitamins. It’s also loaded with minerals like iron, copper, zinc, and more! This is why it’s such a superfood for your dog! This superfood will boost your dogs immune system, provide them with lean protein, and give them essential fatty acids that can support their brain and joint health. That’s not all people, it also helps keep their coat healthy and shiny! Also, check out How to Cook Turkey Giblets for Dogs for more ways to include organ meats in your dog's diet.
How to Feed Dogs Beef Liver
Beef liver should not make up more than 10% of your dogs diet, it needs to be fed in small amounts. No matter if you have small or large dogs, it should only make up 10% of your dog's total food for the day. So, this should not be the only protein you give your dog.
Beef liver makes a great food topper in addition to your dogs meals. Add it on top of chicken dinners, duck, lamb, or beef dinner as part of a balanced diet. Or, you can also use this as a high reward treat if you are training your dog. Beef liver is low in fat and high in protein, making it a great high reward treat for weight loss too!
Think of beef liver as a supplement for your dog that will just enhance their immune function and aid in digestion. But, too much of a supplement is not good, but the right amount can do wonders! And beef liver is a superfood all pet parents should add into their best friends diet! I believe it plays a crucial role in your dog's health.
We mostly serve this as a food topper on top of other meals like Slow Cooker Beef Dog Food, Turkey Dog Food Recipe, or Salmon Dinner Recipe for Dogs.
The Biggest Mistake When Buying Beef Liver
When buying beef liver, make sure you are buying a high-quality beef liver that is organic and grass fed. My favorite and the one John John eats is Strarwalker Organic Farms and you can order it online, so even if your grocery store doesn’t have it, it’s easy to get!
The biggest mistake when buying beef liver is not buying organic. Organic beef liver will ensure you're avoiding pesticides and antibiotics. But, the liver is also a cleansing organ. So, when conventional cows are fed a diet of grains, soy, corn, and GMOs, then the liver is what is going to filter these harmful chemicals and ingredients! And, that can then transfer into the conventional beef liver that you'd then feed your dog. So, buying organic is key for getting the most nutrients and benefits out of your beef liver for both humans and dogs!
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil: I use organic coconut oil so the beef liver doesn’t stick to the pan. This is a healthy fat for dogs and they love the flavor! This is optional, you can also boil beef liver without using coconut oil.
- Beef Liver: Be sure to buy organic beef liver as I mentioned above. You can buy Starwalker Organic Beef Liver on their website.
*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, visit the recipe card below.
Tips
- You can also boil beef liver, you do not have to cook it in a pan with coconut oil. Though John John likes it better that way!
- Make sure to store in an airtight container.
- You can freeze beef liver in an a freezer safe tupperware or zip bag. Just thaw when your dog needs more!
How to Make Beef Liver for Dogs
- In a small frying pan, add the coconut toil and melt over medium heat. Add the beef liver and cover with a lid.
- Cook for about 5 minutes, then flip the liver and return the lid. Continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the liver is cook thoroughly. The beef liver will feel firm and the inside will be a light pink or light brown when fully cooked.
- Remove from the pan and cut the liver into small pieces.
- Store in an airtight container. Use as a food topper or treats.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, beef liver is an organ meat, which are superfoods for your dog! Beef liver is high in vitamin A, B, and D. It’s also loaded with iron, copper, zinc, and more!
Beef liver is high in vitamin A, B, and D. It’s also loaded with iron, copper, zinc, and more! It can also aid in digestion and boost your dog's immune sysytem.
Beef liver makes a great food topper or you can also use as high reward treats.
Yes, you can also boil beef liver in water. You’d do this just like you boil chicken. It’s not as flavorful this way, but it’s also safe for dogs.
Yes! Beef liver is a superfood for dogs and is a great ingredient to include in their daily diet. But, it should not make up more than 10% of their total food intake for the day.
Organ meats, such as beef liver, should not make up more than 10% of your dog's daily diet. So, they can have it every day, just ensure it does not make up more than 10% of their total food. John John eats it every single day!
Yes, they can eat too much which isn't good as it is very high in vitamin A which can cause toxicity in excess amounts. But, don't let this scare you because when fed in moderation beef liver is a superfood. You need to think of beef liver as a supplement for your dog. Just like if you were eat a whole bottle of supplements, you'd have an issue right? But, if you take the recommended dosage they can be very helpful. This is the same concept for beef liver for dogs.
Dog's don't need much liver daily. They should only get 10% of their daily food intake from organ meats such as beef liver. We have a simple calculator in our post How Much Homemade Food Should I Feed My Dog? to check out if you're unsure how much your dog needs for their weight. So, depending on how many ounces of food total, you can adjust the ounces of beef liver accordingly.
I believe that all meats are better for your dog if they are gently cooked. I know some people feed a raw diet, but my vet and I both believe that packaged meat you buy at the grocery store is not the same as raw meat in the wild (like how dogs evolved eating). So, I always recommend cooking your meats, even organ meats like liver for your dog.
The meat will be tender when poked and feel like the palm of your hand. Similar to how a cooked steak or pock chop would feel. The outside will be lightly browned and the center will be a light pink or light brown.
Yes, just as long as it doesn't make up more than 10% of their daily diet.
Yes, this is how I feed it to John John every day. He gets a little beef liver food topper on top of his breakfast and dinner!
Absolutely! Beef liver is also a superfood for humans too! It has a very distinct flavor, so if you can stomach it, then yes, go for it!
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can add some of the bite-sized pieces on top of your dog's food daily. If you have more than your dog will eat in a week, freeze the remaining beef liver so it doesn't go to waste.
Yes, after it's cut into small cubes you can store in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Simply refrigerate for 24 hours to thaw and then it's ready to serve to your dog for a delicious meal topper or treat.
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How to Make Beef Liver for Dogs
Equipment
- Small Frying Pan
- Cutting Board
- Sharp Knife
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 8 ounces beef liver
Instructions
- In a small frying pan, add the coconut toil and melt over medium heat.
- Add the beef liver and cover with a lid. Cook for about 5 minutes, then flip the liver and return the lid. Continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the liver is cook thoroughly. The beef liver will feel firm and the inside will be a light pink or light brown when fully cooked.
- Remove from the pan and cut the liver into small pieces. Use as a food topper or treats.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Video
Notes
- You can also boil beef liver, you do not have to cook it in a pan with coconut oil. Though John John likes it better that way!
- Make sure to store in an airtight container.
- You can freeze beef liver in an a freezer safe tupperware or zip bag. Just thaw when your dog needs more!
Nutrition
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We make this every week for John John and use it as a food topper. He loves it so much and there’s so many health benefits!