Amazing 7-day March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

Honestly, watching my dog, Buster, get visibly excited when he knows it’s ‘home meal’ day is the main reason I keep mixing up these batches. It’s not always easy juggling everything, but I know exactly what’s going into his bowl, and that peace of mind is priceless. That’s why I developed this super simple batch recipe for March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food. It’s balanced, dogs absolutely love how rich it tastes, and the best part? You can have about a week’s worth done in under an hour total. Trust me, this recipe is a lifesaver when you need good, clean food fast. You definitely want to check out some other options before diving in, like these tried-and-true vet-approved homemade dog food recipes, but this one hits the sweet spot of speed and nutrition!

Why This March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food is a Great Choice

When you start making food at home, you want reliable recipes that truly benefit your pup, right? This isn’t just filler; it’s designed to be a solid base for your dog’s nutrition. I love this mix because it solves three problems at once: it’s easy to make, it fills them up with good energy, and it supports their digestion. It’s truly a powerhouse combination that I keep coming back to.

If you’re looking for ways to specifically boost protein and iron, learning about chicken liver protein boosts is worthwhile, and this recipe handles that perfectly.

Key Benefits of Our March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

• It’s super quick! Total prep and cook time is under 45 minutes, which is fantastic when you’re busy.
• We get the benefit of nutrient-dense chicken liver packed with essential vitamins and iron which is great for energy.
• The pumpkin we add is honestly the best thing for keeping things regular and settling sensitive tummies.
• White rice gives them easily digestible carbohydrates for steady, reliable energy throughout the day.

Essential Ingredients for March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

Okay, pulling this recipe together is really straightforward because we aren’t messing with a huge list of complicated things. We’re focusing on whole foods that work well together. If you skip the optional stuff for now, you still have a fantastic meal base. I want to make sure you know exactly what you need, especially when it comes to that pumpkin!

If you need more convincing on why pumpkin is such a hero for your dog’s gut health, check out why so many people use pumpkin in their dog food recipes.

Main Components for Your March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

• We start with 1 lb of Chicken liver. Make sure you rinse it well before you start chopping!
• For the energy base, grab 1 cup of White rice. This needs to be uncooked when you measure it out.
• You’ll need 1 cup of Pumpkin puree. Listen to me: this HAS to be plain puree—not the pumpkin pie filling with all the sugar and spices! That stuff is a big no-no.
• We use 2 cups of Water, just for cooking down that rice until it’s soft.

Optional Supplementation for March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

If you decide to add a little something extra for those great Omega-3s, you’ll only need 1 tsp of Fish oil. Now, here’s the most important part of this entire section: before you even *think* about adding any supplement, you must talk to your vet first! They know your dog’s needs best, and we never want to guess about nutritional balance.

Step-by-Step Instructions for March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

Don’t let the steps intimidate you; they are super easy, but the order matters! We want everything cooked separately so we can control the texture before we mix it all into one big happy family of food. This is the part where we get our cooking done quickly, usually about 30 minutes total heat time. If you’ve made big batches of dog food before, this process is similar to the method you might use for big batch cooking; consistency is key!

Preparing the Rice Base

First things first, get that rice going! You need 1 cup of uncooked white rice. Just cook it exactly how the package tells you to, using those 2 cups of water specified. You aren’t looking for mushy, sticky rice here, just perfectly cooked grains that can absorb the flavors later. Get it done and set that pot aside while we handle the main protein.

Cooking the Chicken Liver for March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

Now for the liver. Take your piece of chicken liver—remember to rinse it—and chop it right down into small, bite-sized pieces. You don’t want to leave big chunks, especially if you have a smaller dog! Toss the liver pieces into your large pot over medium heat. You’re going to cook this for about 10 to 15 minutes until it’s browned all over, so make sure you stir it around so nothing sticks and burns. When it’s done, take a peek at the bottom of the pot: if there’s a lot of liquid buildup from the liver cooking down, you’ll want to drain off any excess liquid before moving on. That fat is fine for dogs sometimes, but draining the excess ensures our final mixture isn’t too greasy.

Combining and Cooling the March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

This is the fun part! Add the cooked rice and your plain pumpkin puree directly into the pot with the cooked liver. Stir everything together thoroughly. You want to make sure that bright orange pumpkin gets evenly distributed through the rice and the liver pieces. If you decided to use the fish oil supplement, stir that in now while it’s still warm. Most importantly: take the pot completely off the heat source. You absolutely must let this entire mixture cool down fully. I mean *completely* cool before you even think about putting it in your dog’s bowl. Chilly food is much safer and tastier for them!

Tips for Perfect March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food Batch Cooking

Since this recipe is designed to make about a week’s worth of food—seven servings, remember?—you’re going to want to think about batch efficiency! Trust me, doing this once on a Sunday afternoon saves you so much time during the week when you’re rushing to get dinner ready for everyone, two-legged or four-legged.

If you’re planning to make double or triple batches, the cooking times for the liver don’t need to increase drastically, but you’ll need a much bigger pot! I highly recommend checking out some tips for freezer-friendly dog food recipes if you think you might want to store some for later down the line, just in case you don’t get through the full seven days’ worth.

When I double the recipe, I usually cook the rice in two separate batches because trying to cook four cups of rice in one go often results in uneven cooking—some grains are mushy and some are still hard. It’s just not worth the hassle!

For the chicken liver, though, you can usually cook a larger quantity together, but you have to space it out in a single layer as much as possible in the pot. Overcrowding traps steam, and we want to brown it, not steam it. If it looks too crowded, just cook it in two slightly smaller batches; it’s only an extra ten minutes!

Remember the cooling step? That becomes even more crucial when you are mixing a huge amount. You absolutely must ensure the entire large batch is lukewarm before you seal it up into containers. Warm food trapped in an airtight container creates condensation, and that condensation encourages bacteria growth. It’s just better for safety and quality if you spread the food out on a large, clean baking sheet for about 20 minutes to cool rapidly before portioning and sealing.

Storage and Serving Guidelines for March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

We’ve made this batch to give you about seven days of easy feeding, which is perfect for weekly meal prep! You need to follow a couple of simple rules, though, to make sure that leftover goodness stays safe and tasty for Buster throughout the entire week. If you’re making this specifically for a senior dog, make sure you review how to adjust serving sizes, as older pups sometimes need smaller portions than the standard measurements you can find in these senior dog food recipes.

The most important thing here is proper containment. I learned the hard way that putting warm food into a plastic deli container just doesn’t work—it sweats, and then you’re asking for trouble. So, whatever you use, make sure it’s airtight and has been completely cooled first!

You can absolutely keep this March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food in the refrigerator for up to seven days. Seriously, I’ve tested it, and after day six, I notice the rice seems a little drier, so aim to use it up within that window.

Here’s what I do: I use glass containers, usually the ones with the snap-on lids. They are great because they don’t hold onto smells, and they transfer super well from the fridge to the microwave if I need to warm it just a tiny bit (Luke-warm is always best, never hot!). If you portion out each dog’s daily meal into individual containers right after it cools, serving is lightning fast—just scoop and pour!

If you find yourself with more than you can safely use in seven days, you need to look into freezing options. While you can freeze this recipe, you need to portion it out into single-serving sizes *before* freezing. Thawing one big block takes forever and you risk the middle spoiling before it thaws completely. Small, flat containers work wonders for freezing flat, stackable portions!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Dog Food

When you’re making something like this March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food, the quality of what you start with absolutely matters. Since this is a meal you’re serving frequently, I always try to source the best quality liver I can find. You want fresh, vibrant chicken liver, not something that looks pale or has been sitting in the back of the meat cooler forever. Freshness really locks in those great iron and Vitamin A levels that the liver provides.

Now, let’s talk swaps, because sometimes you can’t find exactly what the recipe calls for, or maybe your dog has a slight sensitivity. If you need to make a trade, you absolutely must run it by your vet first, especially concerning protein sources. We are keeping this balanced, and changing things up can throw that balance off in a heartbeat.

If you’re curious about how swapping out the rice might change things, definitely have a look at this guide on chicken liver and brown rice dog food recipes. Brown rice is a great swap for white rice if you want a little more fiber!

The pumpkin is another area where people often ask about substitutions. If you run out of pumpkin puree halfway through your batch, you can often substitute it with an equal amount of cooked, mashed sweet potato. Sweet potato is also fantastic for digestion and fiber, but because it has a slightly different nutrient profile than pumpkin, you should always mention that swap to your veterinarian when you discuss diet adjustments.

I also get asked about using different meats, and while you certainly *can* use other organs or meats, remember this recipe is calibrated for the fat and nutritional profile of chicken liver. If you change the protein, you really need a full consultation to make sure you’re compensating correctly for things like copper or iron content elsewhere in the diet.

For the rice, if you prefer a slower-releasing energy source, sticking with the white rice is quick and easy, but brown rice, as I mentioned, adds complexity and a bit more nutritional value that many dogs thrive on. Just ensure whatever grain you use is cooked until very soft, which prevents any sharp edges from irritating your dog’s digestive tract!

Addressing Common Questions About March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

It always amazes me how many questions pop up once people start feeding their sweet pets homemade meals! That’s a great thing, because it means you care deeply about what they are eating. We have to be careful with homemade diets, especially when dealing with sensitive dogs like puppies or our older seniors. If you need specific guidance tailored for the younger crowd, you should absolutely look into tips for homemade puppy food recipes, as their needs are totally different!

Is this March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food nutritionally complete?

That is the most important question you can ask, and the answer is: sometimes, but maybe not on its own! This March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food recipe is fantastic as a highly nutritious meal base, an occasional supplement, or a great temporary food source. However, because we are using simple ingredients like rice and liver, it might be missing some key trace minerals that commercial dog food typically has added in. Seriously, never treat this as a guaranteed perfect, complete diet for long-term feeding without sitting down with your vet first. They can help you determine exactly what extra vitamins or minerals your dog needs to keep this recipe balanced!

Can I freeze the March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food?

Yes, you totally can! I mentioned this briefly before, but freezing is really the best option if you are making this big batch and don’t think you’ll get through the whole thing within seven days in the fridge. The key to success here is portion control before freezing. Don’t just dump the whole batch into one giant container. Instead, take the cooled food and scoop your dog’s standard daily serving size into individual freezer-safe bags or small containers.

I like using small Ziploc bags and laying them flat on a baking sheet in the freezer until they are solid. Once they are rock-hard and flat, I stack them up in a larger container. When you need one, you just pull out one frozen square! Thawing only takes a quick minute on the counter or a quick zap in the microwave. It keeps things sanitary and ensures you aren’t accidentally feeding your dog food that’s been sitting in the fridge for a week!

Is Rice okay for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

For most dogs, yes, plain white rice is actually the go-to bland food when their tummy is a bit upset; it’s very easy to digest! That’s one reason I kept it in this March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food recipe. The pumpkin helps bind things up if they have loose stool, and the white rice provides simple, quick energy without taxing their system unnecessarily.

However, if your dog has known sensitivities, you should always check with your vet before introducing new grains, just in case. If your senior dog has trouble with rice, you might want to try swapping it for something like oatmeal, but again, let your vet know about any changes you make! It’s always better to review feeding modifications for older pups, so checking out senior dog food recipes can give you some ideas on texture adjustments!

Estimated Nutritional Snapshot for March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food

I know a lot of you are tracking macros and making sure every bite counts for your pup’s health, and that’s totally smart! Providing delicious food is one thing, but knowing the general breakdown is another layer of responsible feeding. Here is the estimated nutritional picture for the entire batch of March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food we just made, based on the raw ingredients.

Keep in mind, these numbers are based on an educated estimate for the whole batch. The exact protein or fat content can change a tiny bit depending on how much liquid cooks off the liver or exactly what brand of pumpkin puree you grabbed off the shelf. For any truly targeted dietary planning, you really need to get professional veterinary guidance—you can see some other great ideas over at 10 healthy homemade dog food recipes, though none use this exact mix!

Here’s the snapshot for the entire 7-day batch:

• Calories: Approximately 1500 kcals
• Protein: Around 120 grams
• Fat: About 50 grams
• Carbohydrates: Roughly 150 grams
• Fiber: About 10 grams
• Sodium: Around 150 mg
• Iron: Approximately 15 mg
• Vitamin A: Estimated at 10,000 IU

Again, this is just a guide to show you the general composition of the meal. If you’re supplementing with fish oil, those Omega-3 levels will be higher! We keep coming back to this recipe because it hits those good energy levels with the rice and gives us that major iron boost from the liver without overdoing the sodium like some commercial foods can. Just remember to confirm any long-term feeding plan with your vet to make sure Rover or Fido is getting absolutely everything they need!

Share Your Experience Making This Dog Food

Well, we did it! We broke down the whole process for making that fantastic, simple March Chicken Liver, Rice & Pumpkin Dog Food. I genuinely hope you’re feeling confident enough to grab your cutting board and get started this week. Seriously, I want to hear all about it!

Did Buster give it two paws up? Did your big batch last the whole seven days, or did you have to make another one because they ate it all on day four? Don’t be shy! Head down to the comments below and tell me how this turned out for your furry family members. Did you add the fish oil, or did your vet nix it? Give this recipe a rating so other busy dog parents know it’s worth their time!

If you have any recipe quirks or substitutions that worked wonders for you—maybe you used brown rice instead of white and saw a difference—please share those helpful additions! We’re all learning here, and I love stumbling across new real-world tips from people who are actually in the kitchen doing this. If you want to see more quick batch cooking ideas and general life tips for loving your pup, make sure you check out the main recipe blog!

Happy cooking, and here’s to many happy, healthy tummies!