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ARK Kibble: Complete Recipe Guide
Kibble is the most effective taming food in ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended. Using the right ARK kibble drastically reduces taming time and maximizes taming efficiency, resulting in higher bonus levels on the tamed creature. Whether you want to tame a simple Parasaur or a formidable Giganotosaurus, this guide references all kibble recipes by quality, the necessary eggs, and the dinosaurs associated with each level in 2026.
Since the Homestead update, the ARK kibble system has been simplified: instead of recipes tied to a specific egg, there are now six quality levels based on egg size. Each creature prefers a specific kibble level but also accepts higher quality kibbles with the same efficiency.
The Kibble System in ARK
Before the Homestead overhaul, each species had its own ARK kibble recipe tied to a specific egg (e.g., a Rex egg to tame a Quetzal). This system forced players to maintain dozens of species in captivity solely for egg production. The new system simplifies everything by classifying eggs by size.
The six egg sizes correspond to six kibble qualities: extra-small (Basic), small (Simple), medium (Regular), large (Superior), extra-large (Exceptional), and special (Extraordinary). The description of each egg in your inventory indicates its nutritional category, allowing you to quickly identify which type of kibble it can produce.
A fundamental principle governs the system: a creature accepts its preferred kibble or any higher quality kibble with the same efficiency. However, a lower quality kibble will be less effective than raw meat. For example, an Argentavis (Superior) accepts both a Superior, Exceptional, or Extraordinary kibble but will effectively refuse a Regular kibble.
Kibble is also used for imprinting baby dinosaurs. During the care phase, a baby may demand a random type of kibble. Having a varied stock of kibbles is essential to maximize the imprinting rate, which influences the stat bonuses of the adult dinosaur.
To spawn kibbles via the console (useful in solo mode or for testing), check out our ARK commands guide which details all admin commands, including GFI commands for each type of kibble.
All Recipes by Quality
Each ARK kibble recipe is prepared in a Cooking Pot or an Industrial Cooker. The cooking time is 30 seconds per batch. All recipes require a water container (Waterskin, Water Jar, or Canteen) filled to at least 25%. The container is entirely consumed regardless of its capacity.
Important tip: use thatch as fuel instead of wood. Wood produces charcoal in the pot, which may turn your ingredients into dye instead of kibble.
Basic Kibble
Basic Kibble is the easiest to produce and is suitable for small early-game creatures.
Recipe: 1 extra-small egg, 1 Cooked Meat, 10 Amarberry, 10 Tintoberry, 5 Mejoberry, 5 fiber, water.
Extra-small eggs come from Dilophosaur, Dodo, Featherlight, Kairuku, Lystrosaurus, Parasaur, and Vulture. The Dodo is the most reliable egg producer due to its frequent laying and ease of breeding.
Creatures tamed with Basic Kibble: Dilophosaur, Dodo, Kairuku, Mesopithecus, Parasaur, Phiomia, and Maewing.
Simple Kibble
Simple Kibble introduces the first cultivated vegetables into the recipe and targets versatile creatures useful in early and mid-game.
Recipe: 1 small egg, 1 Cooked Fish Meat, 2 Rockarrot, 5 Mejoberry, 5 fiber, water.
Small eggs come from Archaeopteryx, Compy, Dimorphodon, Gallimimus, Glowtail, Hesperornis, Microraptor, Oviraptor, Pachycephalosaurus, Pegomastax, Pteranodon, Raptor, and Triceratops. The Raptor and Triceratops are the most accessible sources as they are common and easy to tame.
Creatures tamed with Simple Kibble: Archaeopteryx, Diplocaulus, Gallimimus, Giant Bee, Ichthyosaurus, Iguanodon, Megaloceros, Morellatops, Pachycephalosaurus, Raptor, and Triceratops.
The Pteranodon Ark lays small eggs, making it an excellent producer of Simple Kibbles while serving as a daily flying mount.
Regular Kibble
Regular Kibble is the first to require jerky and advanced vegetables. It targets a large number of mid-game creatures.
Recipe: 1 medium egg, 1 Cooked Meat Jerky, 2 Longrass, 2 Savoroot, 5 fiber, water.
Medium eggs come from Ankylosaurus, Baryonyx, Carnotaurus, Dimetrodon, Diplodocus, Ichthyornis, Iguanodon, Kaprosuchus, Kentrosaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus, Pelagornis, Pulmonoscorpius, Sarco, Stegosaurus, Terror Bird, Troodon, and Velonasaur. Ankylosaurus and Stegosaurus are popular choices as they also serve as metal and berry gatherers.
Creatures tamed with Regular Kibble: Anglerfish, Ankylosaurus, Baryonyx, Beelzebufo, Carbonemys, Carnotaurus, Dimetrodon, Doedicurus, Ichthyornis, Kaprosuchus, Kentrosaurus, Lymantria, Pelagornis, Pteranodon, Pulmonoscorpius, Purlovia, Smilodon, Sarcosuchus, Stegosaurus, Terror Bird, Thorny Dragon, Velonasaur, Diplodocus, Equus, and Gigantopithecus.
Superior Kibble
Superior Kibble is the first to require rare ingredients (sap and rare mushrooms). It targets large utility and combat creatures.
Recipe: 1 large egg, 1 Prime Meat Jerky, 2 Citronal, 1 Sap, 2 Rare Mushroom, 5 fiber, water.
Large eggs come from Allosaurus, Argentavis, Mantis, Megalania, Megalosaurus, Moschops, Snow Owl, Spinosaurus, Tapejara, Titanoboa, and Tropeognathus. Argentavis is the ideal producer: easy to mass breed and useful as a transport mount.
Creatures tamed with Superior Kibble: Allosaurus, Argentavis, Castoroides, Daeodon, Direwolf, Direbear, Dunkleosteus, Gasbags, Mammoth, Megatherium, Megalosaurus, Paraceratherium, Plesiosaurus, Megalodon, Snow Owl, Tapejara, and Woolly Rhino.
Exceptional Kibble ARK
Exceptional Kibble ARK is the second most powerful in the game. It targets the largest and most sought-after creatures, including Rex and Giganotosaurus.
Recipe: 1 extra-large egg, 1 Focal Chili (recipe: 9 Cooked Meat, 5 Citronal, 20 Amarberry, 20 Tintoberry, 20 Azulberry, 10 Mejoberry, water), 1 Rare Flower, 10 Mejoberry, 5 fiber, water.
Extra-large eggs come from Basilisk, Brontosaurus, Giganotosaurus, Quetzal, Rex, and Therizinosaurus. Brontosaurus is the easiest to mass breed due to its regular laying, but Rexes are often already present in the base for other reasons (boss breeding).
Creatures tamed with Exceptional Kibble: Basilosaurus, Brontosaurus, Giganotosaurus, Karkinos, Managarmr, Mosasaurus, Quetzal, Rex, Spinosaurus, Therizinosaurus, and Tropeognathus.
Exceptional Kibble is considered by many players as the best cost/utility ratio: it covers the most powerful creatures in the game, and its ingredients are more accessible than those of Extraordinary Kibble.
Extraordinary Kibble
Extraordinary Kibble is the highest level in the system. It works to tame absolutely any creature that accepts kibbles, regardless of its preferred level.
Recipe: 1 special egg, 1 Giant Bee Honey, 1 Lazarus Chowder (recipe: 9 Cooked Meat, 5 Savoroot, 5 Longrass, 10 Mejoberry, 2 Narcotics, water), 10 Mejoberry, 5 fiber, water.
Special eggs come from Deinonychus (ASE only, reclassified as medium egg on ASA), Hesperornis (golden egg only), Magmasaur, Rock Drake, Wyvern, and Yutyrannus. Yutyrannus is the most common choice for a stable egg farm: it breeds easily and lays regularly.
Creatures tamed with Extraordinary Kibble: Astrocetus, Ceratosaurus, Griffin, Megalania, Rock Elemental, Thylacoleo, and Yutyrannus. But remember, this kibble effectively replaces all other qualities.
Tip: on some maps like Valguero or Fjordur, wild Deinonychus eggs (ASE) are abundant in nests and require no breeding.
How to Prepare Kibble
The preparation of ARK kibbles follows an identical process for all six qualities. Here are the detailed steps.
Gather all the ingredients of the chosen recipe, including a filled water container. Place all the ingredients in the inventory of a Cooking Pot or an Industrial Cooker. For the pot, add thatch or wood as fuel (thatch is recommended to avoid charcoal). Light the fire and wait 30 seconds. The kibble appears in the cooking station's inventory.
Some practical tips to optimize production. The Cooking Pot can cook one recipe at a time, while the Industrial Cooker can process multiple batches simultaneously if all ingredients are present in sufficient quantity. For preservation, kibbles have a spoil time of 3 days in the inventory but last much longer in a Preserving Bin (about 12 days) and even more in a Refrigerator.
For an efficient egg farm on a dedicated server, a performant ARK hosting ensures your creatures lay eggs without interruption even when the server runs continuously. Place an Oviraptor on wander mode near your breeding females: its aura increases the laying frequency. Make sure to have at least one male of the same species nearby for the Mate Boost, which also increases egg production.
For advanced vegetables (Rockarrot, Longrass, Savoroot, Citronal), you will need irrigated crop plots (Medium or Large Crop Plot) with fertilizer. Plan a greenhouse with glass panels for the greenhouse effect bonus (up to 300%), which accelerates crop growth.
Which Kibble for Which Dinosaur
The table below summarizes the six kibble qualities, the required egg size, the main laying creatures, and the dinosaurs tamed by each quality. Reminder: a creature also accepts any ARK kibble of higher quality than its preference.
| Quality | Egg Size | Main Layers | Tamed Creatures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Extra-small | Dodo, Dilophosaur, Lystrosaurus, Parasaur | Dilophosaur, Dodo, Kairuku, Mesopithecus, Parasaur, Phiomia, Maewing |
| Simple | Small | Raptor, Pteranodon, Triceratops, Dimorphodon | Raptor, Triceratops, Iguanodon, Gallimimus, Ichthyosaurus, Megaloceros |
| Regular | Medium | Ankylosaurus, Stegosaurus, Carnotaurus, Baryonyx | Pteranodon, Ankylosaurus, Carnotaurus, Doedicurus, Smilodon, Sarcosuchus |
| Superior | Large | Argentavis, Allosaurus, Spinosaurus, Snow Owl | Argentavis, Mammoth, Daeodon, Megalodon, Plesiosaurus, Direwolf |
| Exceptional | Extra-large | Rex, Brontosaurus, Therizinosaurus, Quetzal | Rex, Giganotosaurus, Spinosaurus, Mosasaurus, Quetzal, Karkinos |
| Extraordinary | Special | Yutyrannus, Wyvern, Rock Drake, Magmasaur | Griffin, Thylacoleo, Yutyrannus, Megalania, Rock Elemental |
For perfect taming of high-level creatures (150), kibble is essential. Without kibble, a level 150 Rex may require over 2 hours of taming with raw meat, compared to about 30 minutes with Exceptional Kibble (at official x1 rates).
ARK Kibble FAQ
Can you use a higher quality kibble than required?
Yes. The system is backward compatible: an Extraordinary Kibble works for all creatures that accept kibbles, with the same efficiency as their preferred kibble. That's why some players focus solely on producing Extraordinary Kibbles (via Yutyrannus) to simplify the process.
What happens if you give a lower quality kibble?
The creature will accept it, but the taming efficiency will be significantly lower than with meat or berries. In practice, it's worse than not using kibble at all. A non-preferred kibble only gives one-eighth of the normal taming progress.
What is the shelf life of kibbles?
Kibbles last 3 days in a player's or dinosaur's inventory, about 12 days in a Preserving Bin, and several weeks in a Refrigerator. They stack by 100 and weigh little, making them a practical backup food for creatures left unattended for long periods.
Do kibbles work for imprinting?
Yes. Baby dinosaurs may demand a random type of kibble during the care phase. The type requested is not necessarily that of their species, so it is advisable to stock at least a few kibbles of each quality to never miss an imprinting request.
What is the best dinosaur for an Extraordinary Kibble farm?
The Yutyrannus is the most popular choice. It lays special eggs, breeds easily, and its eggs do not require extreme incubation conditions. A farm of 5 to 10 females with a male and a wandering Oviraptor produces enough eggs for all taming situations. On maps with wild Deinonychus nests (Valguero, Fjordur in ASE), nest raids offer a quick alternative without breeding.
What is the difference between ARK Survival Evolved and Ascended for kibbles?
The six-quality system is identical in both versions. The only notable difference concerns the Deinonychus egg: classified as a special egg (Extraordinary) in Survival Evolved, it has been reclassified as a medium egg (Regular) in Survival Ascended. Always check the egg description in your inventory to confirm its category.
Are there commands to spawn kibbles?
Yes. Each type of kibble has a GFI code usable via the admin console. For example, cheat gfi Kibble_Base_XSmall 1 0 0 gives a Basic Kibble and cheat gfi Kibble_Base_Special 1 0 0 gives an Extraordinary Kibble. Find the complete list in our ARK commands guide.