Yes. When you compare homemade dog food to other fresh, minimally processed options, homemade dog food is cheaper than other options. Making it the most affordable way to feed your dog an evolutionary appropriate diet.
The Healthiest Choice:
Homemade dog food is the least adulterated option available. It's what dogs evolved to eat—real meat, fresh vegetables, and whole food ingredients—without the extreme processing that strips away nutrients and creates biologically inappropriate meals.
Every step away from fresh, whole foods means more processing, more additives, and less nutritional integrity. Homemade with Azestfor keeps your dog's diet as close to nature intended as possible.
Cost Comparison for a 30-pound dog:
vs. ultra-processed options:
The Real Savings:
Homemade sits in the mid-range of all dog food prices—more than heavily processed kibble, but far less than other fresh, premium options. And unlike ultra-processed foods made with corn, meat by-products, and synthetic additives, you're feeding an evolutionary appropriate diet that supports your dog's health the way nature intended.
Long-Term Value:
The biggest savings aren't on your grocery receipt—they're at the vet's office. Feeding the least adulterated, most species-appropriate diet means:
When you choose homemade with Azestfor, you're investing in prevention. The cheapest fresh dog food today means the healthiest dog—and the lowest vet bills—tomorrow.
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Compare costs using $/1,000 kcal for fair comparison across brands. Organized from least to most adulterated.
💡 Use the calculator to see how Azestfor recipes compare based on your local ingredient prices.
We get it - having a pet is not cheap. Still, you want them to have the best health possible. Consider our tips for cheap and healthy dog food:
Making affordable homemade dog food while maintaining nutritional quality is definitely possible with smart shopping and planning. Buy protein in bulk when it's on sale – chicken thighs, ground turkey, and beef are often more economical than premium cuts, and they're perfectly nutritious for dogs. Eggs are another excellent, budget-friendly protein source.
For carbohydrates, buy grains like brown rice, oats, and sweet potatoes in bulk, which significantly reduces the per-meal cost. Frozen vegetables are often cheaper than fresh and retain their nutrients well.
Prepare meals in large batches and freeze individual portions to save time and reduce waste. Use our dog food calculator above to calculate the cost per serving to compare with commercially prepared dog food – many people find homemade options are comparable or even cheaper, especially when it helps avoid costly vet bills from food-related health issues. Shop at discount grocery stores or farmers' markets near closing time for better deals. The key is planning ahead, buying in bulk, and using seasonal ingredients to keep costs down while still providing complete, balanced nutrition for your dog.
Informational only — consider your dog’s size and sensitivities; consult your vet for personalized advice.
| Food | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fruits | ||
🍎Apple | Safe | Remove core & seeds. |
🍌Banana | Safe | Small portions due to sugar. |
🍈Cantaloupe | Safe | Remove rind & seeds. |
🍈Honeydew | Safe | Hydrating; seedless pieces. |
🍐Pear | Safe | Remove core & seeds. |
🍑Peach (pitted) | Safe | Remove pit; chop small. |
🥝Kiwi | Safe | Peel & dice; small amounts. |
🥭Mango (pitted) | Safe | Peel & remove pit; moderate due to sugar. |
🍑Nectarine (pitted) | Safe | Stone fruit; remove pit. |
🍑Plum (pitted) | Safe | Remove pit; tiny portions. |
🍉Watermelon (seedless) | Safe | Flesh only; no rind. |
🍑Apricot (pitted) | Safe | Remove pit; chop small. |
🫐Blueberries | Safe | Antioxidant-rich. |
🍓Strawberries | Safe | Serve chopped. |
🫐Blackberries | Safe | Moderate due to sugar. |
🍇Raspberries | Safe | A few at a time. |
🍒Cranberries (unsweetened) | Safe | Avoid sugary sauces. |
| Vegetables | ||
🥕Carrots | Safe | Raw or cooked. |
🫛Peas | Safe | Plain only. |
🟩String/Green beans | Safe | Low-cal snack. |
🥒Cucumber | Safe | Hydrating. |
🥒Zucchini | Safe | Cooked or finely chopped. |
🎃Pumpkin | Safe | Plain cooked or purée. |
🍠Sweet potatoes (cooked) | Safe | Cook/mashed; no butter/salt. |
🥔Potatoes (cooked) | Safe | Avoid green/sprouted; never raw. |
🎃Squash (winter types, cooked) | Safe | Peel/seed; cook soft. |
🥦Brussels sprouts (cooked) | Safe | Small amounts; can cause gas. |
🥦Broccoli | Safe | Small amounts. |
🥦Cauliflower | Safe | Modest portions. |
🥒Summer squash | Safe | Cook or finely chop. |
🍠Turnips | Safe | Cook & dice. |
🌱Bean sprouts | Safe | Rinse well. |
🌱Alfalfa sprouts | Safe | Rinse well. |
🍆Eggplant | Safe | Cooked & chopped. |
🍄Mushrooms (store-bought) | Safe | Never wild types. |
🌶️Bell peppers | Safe | Mild peppers only. |
🥬Kale | Safe | Cooked/chopped; small portions. |
🍅Tomatoes (ripe flesh) | Safe | Avoid green parts/stems. |
🌿Celery | Safe | Cut to short lengths. |
🥬Spinach | Safe | Offer cooked; small portions. |
🥬Lettuce | Safe | Hydrating; chop finely. |
🌿Watercress | Safe | Chop finely. |
| Grains & Cereals | ||
🍚Rice (cooked) | Safe | Gentle carb. |
🌾Barley (cooked) | Safe | Serve plain. |
🌾Oats / Oatmeal | Safe | Cook in water, not milk; plain only. |
🌽Cornmeal | Safe | Fully cooked; plain. |
🍝Pasta (plain) | Safe | No sauces or butter. |
🍚Couscous (plain, cooked) | Safe | Plain only; no onion/garlic. |
🧂Cornstarch | Safe | Small thickener amounts. |
🌮Tapioca (cooked) | Safe | Cooked only. |
🍿Popcorn (air-popped) | Safe | Plain; no oil/salt. |
| Breads (plain) | ||
🍞White bread | Sometimes | Empty calories; tiny pieces. |
🌾Whole wheat bread | Sometimes | Still sparingly. |
🥖Breadsticks | Sometimes | Check for onion/garlic. |
🌾Rye bread | Sometimes | Avoid seeded/onion loaves. |
🥯Bagel | Sometimes | Dense; tiny pieces; no toppings. |
🧇English muffin | Sometimes | Avoid butter/jam. |
🍔Buns & rolls | Sometimes | Watch portions. |
🫓Pita | Sometimes | Small pieces. |
🌯Tortilla | Sometimes | Corn or flour; avoid oils/salt. |
| Beans & Legumes (cooked) | ||
🫘White beans | Safe | No added salt. |
🫘Red beans | Safe | Cook thoroughly. |
🫘Lima beans | Safe | Serve soft. |
🫘Black beans | Safe | Mash/chop to aid digestion. |
🫘Broad beans | Safe | Cook well; modest portions. |
🫘Soybeans | Safe | Plain, cooked. |
🧆Chickpeas / Garbanzo | Safe | Avoid salted canned. |
🫘Pinto beans | Safe | Cook soft; serve plain. |
🫘Kidney beans | Safe | Thoroughly cooked. |
| Meat & Poultry | ||
🥩Beef (lean, cooked) | Safe | Unseasoned. |
🐮Veal / baby beef | Safe | Cook fully. |
🐑Lamb (lean, cooked) | Safe | Lean cuts; fully cooked. |
🍔Ground beef (90%+) | Safe | Cook through; drain fat. |
🐄Tripe (cooked) | Safe | From beef stomach; rinse & cook. |
🐖Pork (leg, tenderloin) | Safe | Fully cooked; no seasoning. |
🍗Chicken (skinless) | Safe | Remove skin/fat/bones. |
🦃Turkey (skinless) | Safe | No seasoning/gravy. |
🦆Duck (skinless) | Safe | Rich; remove skin & excess fat; small portions. |
🦌Venison | Safe | Cook thoroughly. |
🫎Elk (lean, cooked) | Safe | Rich protein; no seasoning. |
🦘Kangaroo (lean, cooked) | Safe | Fully cooked; introduce gradually. |
🐦Ostrich (lean, cooked) | Safe | Very lean; fully cooked. |
🐇Rabbit | Safe | Debone & cook. |
🐿️Squirrel | Safe | Cook thoroughly; plain. |
🐦Pheasant | Safe | Fully cooked, deboned. |
🪿Goose (trim fat) | Safe | Trim fat; moderate portions. |
| Fish | ||
🐟Salmon (cooked) | Safe | Plain; boneless; avoid smoked/salted. |
🐟Catfish (cooked) | Safe | Fully cooked; deboned. |
🐟Whitefish (cooked) | Safe | Mild; deboned; plain. |
| Shellfish (cooked) | ||
🦑Calamari / Squid | Sometimes | Fully cooked, plain; small pieces. |
🦐Shrimp | Sometimes | Allergy risk; small amounts. |
🦪Clams | Sometimes | Cooked; watch sodium. |
🦀Crab | Sometimes | Plain; avoid imitation additives. |
🦞Lobster | Sometimes | Rich; tiny portions. |
🦪Oysters | Sometimes | Cooked; small amounts. |
🦪Scallops | Sometimes | Plain & fully cooked. |
| Eggs | ||
🥚Eggs (raw or cooked) | Safe | Complete protein; fresh & plain. |
| Dairy | ||
🥣Cottage cheese (low-fat) | Safe | Small portions. |
🥛Kefir (plain, unsweetened) | Safe | Probiotic; small servings. |
🧀Ricotta | Sometimes | Plain; small amounts. |
🧀Cheddar | Sometimes | Higher fat/salt; tiny cubes. |
🧀Mozzarella | Sometimes | Milder; moderate portions. |
🧀Cream cheese | Sometimes | Very small smear; no flavors. |
| Seeds & Nuts (tiny amounts) | ||
🌱Chia seeds | Sometimes | Tiny sprinkle; add water to avoid gel clumps. |
🌱Flax seeds (ground) | Sometimes | Ground is gentler; tiny amounts. |
🌱Sesame seeds (black/white) | Sometimes | Unseasoned; very small amounts. |
🌱Hemp hearts | Sometimes | Rich; start very small. |
🌱Black cumin seeds | Sometimes | Use sparingly; vet guidance preferred. |
🌻Sunflower seeds (unsalted) | Sometimes | Plain, shelled; tiny portions. |
🎃Pumpkin seeds (unsalted) | Sometimes | Plain, shelled; tiny portions. |
| Enticers (for pills/training; use sparingly) | ||
🥜Peanut butter (xylitol-free) | Sometimes | Check labels; calorie-dense—tiny smear. |
🥜Almond butter (xylitol-free) | Sometimes | Unsalted; introduce slowly. |
🥜Cashew butter (xylitol-free) | Sometimes | Unsalted; small amounts (avoid macadamias entirely). |
🥣Bone/low-sodium broth | Sometimes | On food; no onion/garlic; low sodium only. |
🥪Luncheon meat (≤3g fat, low sodium) | Sometimes | Rare treat; avoid garlic/onion seasonings. |
🥓Ham & Canadian bacon | Sometimes | Often salty/preserved; very small pieces. |
| Never | ||
🍇Grapes & raisins | Never | Risk of kidney failure. |
🍫Chocolate | Never | Theobromine toxicity; darker = worse. |
🧅Onion & garlic (all forms) | Never | Damages red blood cells. |
🧪Xylitol (sweetener) | Never | Severe hypoglycemia/liver failure. |
🍺Alcohol | Never | Dangerous even in small amounts. |
🌰Macadamia nuts | Never | Can cause weakness, tremors, fever. |
🥗Tabbouleh (typical) | Never | Usually contains onion/garlic; avoid. |
Dogs are omnivores — cooked grains and a balanced variety of proteins/veggies/fruits can be part of a healthy diet.
Puppies as soon as they are weaned off their mothers can eat homemade dog food. Homemade dog food can be an excellent and cost-effective option for puppies.
… is homemade. Making your own dog food is not only cheaper than many commercial options, but it also gives you complete control over your dog's nutrition and health. With smart shopping strategies like buying in bulk, choosing budget-friendly proteins, and batch cooking, you can provide high-quality DIY dog food without breaking the bank.
While the upfront time investment may seem significant, the long-term benefits make homemade the best and cheap dog food: including savings on vet bills and the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly what your dog is eating.