Snickers was sitting next to me on the kitchen floor, doing that thing where he rests his chin on my knee and stares up like he hasn’t eaten in six days. I was scrolling through Nom Nom’s website, looking at their fresh dog food meals.
Chicken, sweet potatoes, spinach. All cooked gently, portioned perfectly, shipped to your door.
Then I saw the price. For a dog Snickers’ size, we’re talking over $60 a week. Not happening.
But the ingredients? Simple stuff. Ground beef, potatoes, carrots, peas. Nothing I couldn’t grab at the grocery store for a fraction of the cost.
So I pulled up their full ingredient lists, studied the patterns across all five of their recipes, and decided to make my own version at home.
Tried it twice before I got the texture right. The first batch was too soupy (I didn’t drain the potatoes well enough), and the second was a little dry.
Third time? Snickers practically inhaled it before I could even set the bowl down properly. That’s when I knew I had something worth sharing.
What Nom Nom Actually Puts in Their Recipes
I went through every recipe on Nom Nom’s website and pulled the real ingredients. Here’s what they use across their five meals:
| Recipe | Protein | Starch | Vegetables | Grain-Free? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef Mash | Ground beef | Russet potatoes | Carrots, peas | Yes |
| Chicken Cuisine | Diced chicken | Sweet potatoes | Squash, spinach | Yes |
| Turkey Fare | Ground turkey | Brown rice | Carrots, spinach | No |
| Pork Potluck | Ground pork | Russet potatoes | Squash, green beans, kale, mushrooms | Yes |
| Lamb Pilaf | Ground lamb | Brown rice | Carrots, peas | No |
See the pattern? Every recipe follows the same structure. One protein, one starchy base, two or three veggies. They also add fish oil, a pinch of salt, eggs in some recipes, and their own vitamin/mineral blend to make it nutritionally complete.
That’s the formula we’ll copy.
One big thing Nom Nom does differently from most homemade dog food recipes: they cook each ingredient separately. Protein in one pan, potatoes in another pot, veggies steamed on their own. It takes a few extra minutes but keeps the textures better and preserves more nutrients. We’ll do the same.
Recipe 1: Homemade Beef Mash
This one’s based on Nom Nom’s bestseller. Grain-free, high protein, and every dog I’ve seen try it goes nuts for it. It’s also the recipe I make most often for Snickers.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Lean ground beef (90/10 or 85/15) | 2 lbs (900g) |
| Russet potatoes, peeled and diced | 2 large |
| Eggs | 3 large |
| Carrots, peeled and diced | 2 medium |
| Green peas (fresh or frozen) | 1 cup |
| Fish oil (salmon oil works great) | 1 tablespoon |
| Sunflower oil | 1 tablespoon |
| Salt | A tiny pinch |
| Dog vitamin/mineral supplement | Per package directions |
Instructions
Step 1: Prep Everything First
Peel and dice your potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Do the same with the carrots. If you’re using frozen peas, set them out to thaw. Get all your pots and pans ready because we’re cooking everything separately (don’t skip this part).
Step 2: Boil the Potatoes
Put the diced potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Drop the heat to a simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes. You want them fork-tender but not falling apart. Drain well and toss them into a large mixing bowl.
Step 3: Cook the Carrots and Peas
Steam or boil the carrots in a separate pot for about 8-10 minutes until they’re soft. Throw in the peas for the last 3 minutes. Steaming keeps more nutrients locked in, which is the whole point of cooking them separately. Drain and add them to the bowl.
Step 4: Brown the Beef
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Break it up with a spoon and cook for 8-10 minutes until there’s no pink left. If you’re using 90/10 beef, don’t drain the fat. Your dog needs it for energy and coat health. If you went with 80/20, drain about half. Let it cool a bit.
Step 5: Scramble the Eggs
Crack all three eggs into a small non-stick pan. No butter, no oil. Scramble over medium-low heat until fully cooked through. Chop them into small pieces once they’re done.
Step 6: Mix It All Together
Add the beef and eggs to the big bowl with everything else. Drizzle in the fish oil and sunflower oil. If you’re adding a vitamin supplement, wait until the food cools to room temperature first. Heat kills some vitamins. Mix gently until it’s all combined.
Step 7: Give It a Light Mash
Grab a fork or potato masher and give the whole bowl a few presses. You’re going for chunky, not smooth. Your dog should still be able to see and smell the different ingredients. I made the mistake of over-mashing the first time and it turned into baby food. Not the goal.
Step 8: Cool and Store
Let everything cool completely. Portion into meal-sized containers based on what your dog needs per day. Keeps in the fridge for 5 days, or freeze portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Serving Guidelines
| Dog Weight | Daily Amount (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| 10 lbs (4.5 kg) | ¾ to 1 cup |
| 25 lbs (11 kg) | 1.5 to 2 cups |
| 50 lbs (23 kg) | 3 to 3.5 cups |
| 75 lbs (34 kg) | 4 to 5 cups |
These are rough estimates. Your vet can give you exact numbers based on your dog’s age and activity level.
Now that you’ve got the beef version down, here’s a lighter option if your dog prefers chicken.
Recipe 2: Homemade Chicken Cuisine
This one’s inspired by Nom Nom’s grain-free chicken recipe. Sweet potatoes instead of white, plus squash and spinach for extra vitamins. It’s a bit lighter than the beef version, and I rotate between the two for Snickers so he doesn’t get bored.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Boneless, skinless chicken thighs | 2 lbs (900g) |
| Sweet potatoes, peeled and diced | 2 medium |
| Butternut squash, peeled and diced | 1 cup |
| Fresh spinach, roughly chopped | 2 cups |
| Fish oil (salmon oil preferred) | 1 tablespoon |
| Sunflower oil | 1 tablespoon |
| Salt | A tiny pinch |
| Dog vitamin/mineral supplement | Per package directions |
I use chicken thighs instead of breasts. More moisture, more flavor, and Snickers can tell the difference (trust me on this one).
Instructions
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients
Peel and dice the sweet potatoes and squash into ½-inch cubes. Wash and roughly chop the spinach. Pat the chicken dry. Same deal as before, everything gets its own pot or pan.
Step 2: Boil the Sweet Potatoes
Pot, cold water, bring to a boil, then simmer. Sweet potatoes cook faster than russets, about 10-12 minutes. Check them early because overcooked sweet potatoes turn to mush and you’ll end up with orange paste. Drain and add to your big mixing bowl.
Step 3: Steam the Butternut Squash
Cook the squash separately for 8-10 minutes until it’s tender. Steaming works better than boiling here because squash soaks up water like a sponge. Drain well and add to the bowl.
Step 4: Wilt the Spinach
Toss the chopped spinach into a pan with about 2 tablespoons of water over medium heat. Stir for 1-2 minutes. You want it wilted and bright green, not cooked down to nothing. Pull it off the heat and set aside.
Step 5: Cook the Chicken
This is the method I’d go with: poach it. Put the thighs in a pot, cover with water, and bring to a gentle simmer. Not a rolling boil. Cook for 20-25 minutes until the internal temp hits 165°F (74°C). Low and slow keeps the chicken tender and preserves more nutrients.
You can also bake them at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes if you prefer. Both work fine.
Once cooked, let the chicken cool for 10 minutes. Then dice it into small pieces. Size depends on your dog. For Snickers, I cut them about the size of a blueberry.
Step 6: Combine Everything
Add the diced chicken and wilted spinach to the bowl with the sweet potatoes and squash. Drizzle in both oils. Add your vitamin supplement once it’s cooled down. Toss gently.
Step 7: Check the Texture
This recipe works better on the chunkier side. The sweet potatoes naturally break down a little and coat the chicken pieces, which is perfect. If you’ve got a puppy or a senior dog with bad teeth, you can mash it down more or give it a quick pulse in a food processor.
Step 8: Cool and Store
Same as the beef recipe. Cool completely, portion out, fridge for 4-5 days, freezer for up to 3 months. Always thaw in the fridge overnight.
Serving Guidelines
| Dog Weight | Daily Amount (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| 10 lbs (4.5 kg) | ¾ to 1 cup |
| 25 lbs (11 kg) | 1.5 to 2 cups |
| 50 lbs (23 kg) | 3 to 3.5 cups |
| 75 lbs (34 kg) | 4 to 5 cups |
Chicken is leaner than beef, so you might need slightly bigger portions. Adjust based on what your vet says.
Homemade vs. Nom Nom: A Quick Comparison
| Homemade | Nom Nom | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per meal | ~$1-2 | ~$3-5+ |
| Convenience | You cook it | Delivered frozen |
| Nutritionally complete | Only with added supplement | Yes, vet-formulated |
| Freshness | Made same day | Made in Nashville, shipped |
| Customization | Total control | Pick from 5 recipes |
Both are solid options. This is the route I’d go with if you’ve got the time and don’t mind spending 30-40 minutes in the kitchen once or twice a week.
Back to the Kitchen Floor
These days, Snickers doesn’t wait by his bowl anymore. He waits by the stove. The second I start pulling out the cutting board, he’s there, tail going, doing his little spin. He knows what’s coming.
Making his food at home takes me about 30-40 minutes, twice a week. That’s it. The ingredients are cheap, the process is simple once you’ve done it once, and the look on his face when I set that bowl down? Worth every minute.
You don’t need a subscription service to feed your dog real food. You just need a couple of pots, some good ingredients, and a dog who’s ready to eat.
Snickers is always ready to eat.
I’m a passionate dog lover and kitchen experimenter, but I’m not a certified veterinarian or animal nutritionist. If you’re planning to feed homemade food long-term, run it by your vet first to make sure your pup’s getting everything they need.
Happy cooking for your furry friend!