A month of nutritious, tail-wagging meals for Franny & Ghost
🐾 Why I Love This Recipe
Franny and Ghost—our two beloved Yorkies—deserve the best, and that means real food made with real love. At 7.5 and 5.5 pounds, they don’t eat much, but they eat well. This recipe is affordable, easy to prep in batches, and uses simple ingredients from Walmart. It’s balanced, flavorful (even for picky pups), and keeps well in the freezer. You’ll feel better knowing your pups are eating clean. Franny is the older dog by four years and ate this recipe long before Ghost joined the family and the “double batch” became our standard monthly prep.
🛒 Ingredients (Double Batch – for Two Small Dogs)
Halve this recipe for one small dog.
Proteins
- 1 large tray of chicken breasts (8–10 breasts)
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 cans dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Grains
- 1 box instant Minute Brown Rice (prepare according to box instructions)
Fruits & Veggies
- 4 red delicious apples, cubed into small pieces
- 2 bags frozen sweet potatoes
- 2 bags frozen green beans
- 2 bags frozen peas & carrots
Add-Ins
- 4–6 tablespoons olive oil
🍲 How to Make It
Use a large Instant Pot and a handled strainer for best results.
Batch 1: Chicken & Beans
- Place chicken breasts, green beans, and kidney beans in the Instant Pot.
- Add 2½ to 3 cups of water.
- Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes.
- Strain the contents using a handled strainer, reserving the cooking liquid.
- Shred the chicken with forks, then finely chop using kitchen scissors.
- Set aside shredded chicken, green beans, and beans separately.
Batch 2: Vegetables & Fruit
- Add sweet potatoes, peas & carrots, and diced apples to the Instant Pot.
- Use reserved liquid from Batch 1 for added flavor.
- Pressure cook on high for 7 minutes.
- Strain and set aside.
Batch 3: Brown Rice
- Add brown rice to the Instant Pot.
- Use remaining reserved cooking liquid to add extra flavor.
- Cook rice per box instructions.
Ground Beef
- While Batch 2 is cooking, brown the ground beef in a skillet.
- Strain and set aside.
🌀 Final Assembly
- In a very large mixing bowl, combine:
- Shredded chicken
- Cooked ground beef
- Cooked rice
- All vegetables and fruit
- 4–6 tablespoons of olive oil
- Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly incorporated.
🧊 Storage Tips 🧑🏾🍳 How I Do It
- I keep four containers in the fridge ready for the next day.
- Each night at feeding time, I move four more containers from the freezer into the fridge to thaw.
- This ensures their meals are always fresh, not frozen solid.
Note: This system works beautifully—but it does take up a lot of freezer space. If you’re short on storage, consider halving the recipe or cooking every two weeks.
❤️ Franny & Ghost Approved
Every time I open the container, their tails start wagging like crazy. This isn’t just food—it’s love in every bite. Try it for your own pups and watch the joy in their eyes (and the sparkle in their coats).
