Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs (900 g) Lean Ground Beef (90/10 or leaner)
  • 4 cups (950 ml) Water or No-Sodium Beef/Chicken Broth
  • 2 cups (180 g) Rolled Oats (not instant or quick-cook)
  • 5 cups (225 g) Carrots, finely chopped or grated
  • 1 cup (150 g) Sweet Potato, diced small (peeled)
  • 1 cup (150 g) Frozen Green Beans
  • 1 cup (150 g) Frozen Peas
  • ½ cup (120 g) Pumpkin Puree (canned, 100% pumpkin)
  • 1 Tbsp (15 ml) Flaxseed Oil or Olive Oil
  • 2 Tbsp (30 ml) Chia Seeds or Ground Flaxseed (Optional)

Instructions:

  1. Prep the Veggies: Finely dice or grate the carrots and sweet potato. The smaller the pieces, the better they incorporate and cook down.
  2. Brown the Beef: Place the ground beef into the stockpot over medium-high heat. Break up the meat as it cooks.
  3. Crucial Step – Drain Fat: Once the beef is completely browned, drain off all residual fat. Return the drained beef to the pot.
  4. Add Liquid and Hard Vegetables: Pour in the water or no-sodium broth. Add the diced sweet potatoes and carrots. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  5. Cook Down: Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let the mixture simmer gently for 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes begin to soften slightly.
  6. Introduce Oats and Soft Veggies: Stir in the rolled oats, frozen peas, frozen green beans, and pumpkin puree.
  7. Thicken: Increase the heat slightly and cook, stirring frequently, for another 10–15 minutes. The mixture should become very thick and resemble a thick, wet oatmeal consistency.
  8. Cool Completely: Remove the pot from the heat. Transfer the mixture to large, shallow sheet pans to cool rapidly. The food must be fully cooled (at least 45 minutes) before serving or storing.
  9. Add Fats: Once cooled, stir in the flaxseed or olive oil and the optional chia/flax seeds. This preserves the beneficial properties of the oil.
  10. Portion and Store: Divide the cooled mixture into daily portion sizes suitable for your dog and freeze immediately in airtight containers or silicone muffin tins.