French Bulldog Food Recipes

While dry dog food is a safe and convenient option for French Bulldogs, preparing homemade food is an excellent alternative. If you’re a Frenchie parent, you might find it hard to figure out how exactly you should cook for your fur baby to make sure they are receiving all the nutrients they need.

This article is about how to prepare healthy, homemade food for French Bulldogs, explaining the benefits, essential ingredients, and two simple recipes you can easily try at home. At TomKings, we believe that well-balanced homemade meals can be a healthy alternative to commercial food, as long as they’re made with care and proper nutrition in mind.

Key Takeaways

• Homemade meals let you control every ingredient your Frenchie eats.

• Avoid chicken, grains, and processed additives to reduce allergy risk.

• Include lean meats, veggies, and healthy carbs like brown rice or sweet potatoes.

• Always introduce new foods gradually and consult your vet about nutritional balance.

The problem with most commercial dog foods

Before we start cooking, let’s see what the biggest problem is with most dog foods you can find on the market. Simply put, commercial dog foods often contain preservatives, flavor enhancers, and other additives. Instead of real meat, they may contain animal by-products or meat meal, which is the dried and ground remains of low-quality animal parts.

Health issues like allergies, chronic inflammatory diseases, obesity and diabetes are becoming more and more common in the canine world as well. You’ve probably already guessed that most of these are linked to low-quality foods and poor nutrition. The good news is that a proper diet can not only prevent diseases in dogs but can also reverse them!

Probably the most common issues that French Bulldogs may experience are food allergies. Frenchies are among the more sensitive dog breeds who often have allergic reactions to chicken or grains like wheat, corn, and sorghum. Symptoms include scratching, paw licking, frequent and recurring ear and eye problems, skin issues and swelling. If you notice any of these, changing your dog’s diet should always be the first step.

Another common issue is soft stool or chronic diarrhea. In many cases, this can be improved by switching to homemade food.

Why homemade dog food is a great option for Frenchies

So why is it recommended to cook for your Frenchie? It’s actually quite simple: you will know exactly what goes into their bowl! Freshly cooked food contains real nutrients and vitamins that support your Frenchie’s vitality, skin, and coat. They can even help prevent common illnesses and allergic symptoms.

All of these will contribute to extending your French Bulldog’s lifespan. Homemade food is also an excellent choice for picky dogs and your Frenchie may even experience less farting. Big bonus!

Here’s what Helen, a TomKings Frenchie parent has shared:

“Dog food Chef! I have been very frustrated by Lola’s skin issues. I did a home food intolerance test (5 Strands iff Amazon). There were so many things I was feeding her that were probably causing her skin issues. A vet visit and an elimination diet. I have been cooking her customized food and the sheen is back to her coat, the lesions are gone, the biting her paws has stopped, no more flaky skin. Her BM’s have less volume and she loves the food. I cook it batched, 1x a week. It is less pricey than any of the fresh services like Farmer’s dog. She is getting quality ingrediants and no overcooked kibble. Not for everybody but working for this girl. We are 4 weeks into the elimination diet.”

Many dog parents are reluctant to cook for their fur babies as it seems too much work. It’s actually easier than you might think and has a few practical advantages as well. For example, you can prepare larger portions and freeze them for later. This allows you to serve homemade meals over several days or even weeks.

The ingredients you’ll use are suitable for human consumption too. So, you can prepare your Frenchie’s food alongside your own and store it in the same fridge. Another huge advantage of homemade food is affordability: you’ll save a lot of money by cooking for your Frenchie!

This is exactly what Marissa, another TomKings parent does, here’s what she shared:

“Meal prep is done! I think I overestimated a bit 🤣 chicken, turkey, beef, and bison! Also with a tsp of cottage cheese! The veggie/grain mix includes brown rice, butternut squash, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, spinach, carrots, and kale. I think each small container would last for about a weeks worth of dinners.. Minnie loves it any way! 💖”

Delicious French Bulldog Food Recipes by the TomKings Family

How should you prepare homemade food for your Frenchie?

What ingredients to include

When cooking for French Bulldogs, always include high-quality protein sources in their diet. This can come from meats such as turkey, duck, rabbit, lamb, beef or salmon. Organ meats like liver, kidney and heart can also be included in smaller amounts as they are a good source of nutrients. 

However, it’s important to avoid feeding your Frenchie cooked bones as they can be a choking hazard and can cause digestive problems. Read our article about foods that French Bulldog cannot eat.

Regarding carbohydrates, it is important to choose slow- absorbing ones. Instead of white rice, brown rice is a great option, while sweet potatoes, cooked buckwheat and quinoa are also excellent choices.

Vegetables such as pumpkin, carrots, broccoli, celery, turnips, spinach and others are highly recommended as well as fruits like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries or apples. For more info, read our articles about the top edible and toxic vegetables and fruits.

When it comes to seasoning, some spices in minimal quantities and ground form have a beneficial effect on the dog’s digestive system, such as rosemary, turmeric or ginger. Usually, the recommended salt amount for dogs is 0,25g-1,5g/100g, in our experience it is about 0.5g/100g.

Finally, you should also always keep in mind to provide fresh water for your Frenchie continuously.

A few additional things to consider

We cannot emphasize enough that every Frenchie is different: what works for one may not work for the other. So, it’s always worth experimenting with the ingredients.

The list we provided above is not complete, it only contains the most important recommended ingredients. In terms of portion sizes, it’s important to feed your French Bulldog based on their age, weight and activity level. As a general rule, they should be fed 2-3 meals a day, with the total daily amount of food ranging from 1/2 to 1 1/2 cups, depending on their individual needs.

For dogs with sensitive stomachs, it’s essential to switch to homemade food gradually. Always follow these guidelines to make sure not to upset your Frenchie’s stomach more:

• 1-3 days: ¼ cooked food and ¾ old food
• 4-6 days: ½ cooked food and ½ old food
• 7-10 days: ¾ cooked food and ¼ old food

Whether you cook your Frenchie’s food or follow the B.A.R.F. diet, food safety is key. Always prevent the growth of harmful bacteria by handling food properly. This includes washing your hands before and after handling food, using clean utensils and equipment, and storing leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer.

Two bowl-licking French Bulldog food recipes

Turkey thigh with chia seeds for your Frenchie

This meal can be prepared using leftovers after family dinners or holidays. Obviously make sure that everything is still fresh and is not expiring. Frenchies have sensitive stomachs, so they shouldn’t be fed with just any leftovers.

Ingredients (Two-day portion for a Frenchie weighing approximately 22 lbs)

• Ground turkey thigh or turkey trimmings (500 gr)
• Root vegetables (butternut squash, parsnips but NO potato), finely diced (200 gr)
• Sage (1 tsp)
• Turmeric paste (½ tsp)
• Chia seeds
• Olive oil

Preparation:

1. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan on medium heat and add the turkey mince. Cook until brown.
2. Add the diced vegetables and fry for 5 minutes.
3. Add sage and stir well.
4. Take off the heat and stir in Turmeric paste and Chia seeds
5. Serve warm and watch your pup lick their bowl clean!

Beef and Veggie Crockpot for your Frenchie

It’s a brilliant recipe for the lazy cook: you simply throw in the ingredients into the slow cooker, and while you play with your Frenchie, the meal is being cooked. 

Ingredients (Two-day portion for a Frenchie weighing approximately 22 lbs)

• Ground beef (500 gr)
• Chopped butternut squash and carrots (200 gr)
• Peas, frozen or canned (½ cup)
• Brown rice (1 ½ cups)

Preparation

1. Stir in ground beef, brown rice, butternut squash, carrots, peas, and 4 cups water into a slow cooker. 
2. Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours, stirring as needed. 
3. Let it cool a bit and serve fresh (or freeze for later use when cool.)

One of our TomKings Frenchie Family Members, Donna had prepared this recipe for her baby Sophia and she loved it! Here’s what she posted in the Facebook group:

Would you like to learn more about Frenchies? Join our TomKings Frenchie Family Facebook group to read our Frenchie parents’ food recommendations!

What should you never feed your French Bulldog?

TomKings Sandra‘s tips about the DON’Ts: 

• Don’t give your Frenchie potato, it’s not good for their stomach.
• Don’t give them bones, it can hurt their throat.
• Don’t use spices when cooking for your pup.
• Don’t use sugar to sweeten the meal, but you can use natural sweeteners, like fruit.

FAQs

Can French Bulldogs eat homemade food every day?
Yes, as long as the meals are balanced, contain the right nutrients, and are approved by your vet.

Which ingredients should I avoid when cooking for my Frenchie?
Never feed onions, garlic, chocolate, grapes, or cooked bones as these can be toxic.

How should I switch my Frenchie to homemade food?
Gradually mix homemade meals with their old food over 7–10 days to prevent stomach upset.

Can I freeze homemade Frenchie food?
Yes, it can be stored in the freezer for up to 2–3 months in airtight containers.

The article was written based on the experience of the TomKings Puppies Team. TomKings Puppies have been breeding French Bulldogs for more than 10 years on their farms. Check their available puppies here, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.