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Dogs: Beef and Mac (With Just a Bit of Cheese)

Source of Recipe

From "Feed Your Best Friend Better" by Rick Woodford ("The Dog Food Dude")


Recipe Introduction

"The secret to the macaroni and cheese that I serve at the dinner table is roasted butternut squash; I dice it, toss it with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, and roast it at 400°F for 25 minutes. The squash adds creaminess to the macaroni and cheese, which allows me to cut down the cheese by about one-third. Try this tip in your own macaroni and cheese recipe and you can utilize many of the same ingredients and most of the leftover produce to make a meal for your dog."

List of Ingredients

• 8 cups water
• 1 pound ground beef (85% lean)
• 3 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash (1-inch cubes)
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• 1 pound dried macaroni
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs
• ½ cup lightly packed grated Cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley


Recipe

Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Add the ground beef, butternut squash, and garlic powder and allow the pot to return to a boil.

Add the macaroni, decrease the heat, and continue simmering for 16 minutes, or until the pasta and squash are both soft. (Pasta should be cooked for at least 2 to 3 minutes longer than the package directions when preparing it for your pet.) Drain the contents of the pot. (The reserved cooking liquid can be used in place of other stocks in cookie recipes. Store cooking liquids in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.)

Return the drained ingredients to the pot over medium heat. Add the bread crumbs, cheese, and parsley and toss all the ingredients to combine. Remove from the heat and allow the macaroni and cheese to cool prior to mixing in any supplements.

Makes 14 cups; 260 calories per cup


Daily Portion:

Divide into two meals, or serve one-half the daily portion per day with one-half the normal amount of dry food.

• 10-pound dog: 1 to 1â…“ cups
• 20-pound dog: 1â…” to 2â…“ cups
• 40-pound dog: 3 to 3¾ cups
• 60-pound dog: 4 to 5¼ cups
• 80-pound dog: 5 to 6â…“ cups