In general, the best grain-free dry dog foods contain more protein than their grain-containing competitors.
But…
Many are made using ingredients that can upset the delicate amino acid balance of the finished food.
Which is why the best grain-free kibbles typically contain…
More Meat and Less Plant Protein
By design…
Grain-free dog foods use either potatoes or legumes (like peas, beans and lentils) to replace the cereal grains found in conventional recipes.
Yet even though both make adequate grain substitutes…
Legumes provide an additional benefit.
They’re naturally rich in protein.
But compared to meat, plant protein tends to be less complete in its essential amino acid content.
Which is why we selected the 18 grain-free kibbles below … where meat remains the primary source of protein in each recipe.
Best Grain-Free Dry Dog Foods
March 2024
Here are The Dog Food Advisor’s best grain-free dry dog food brands for March 2024.
Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Kibble
Taste of the Wild Wetlands is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Taste of the Wild dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, duck meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 9 available recipes
Taste of the Wild Wetlands derives the majority of its animal protein from duck, duck meal and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 20% fat and 36% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
A popular and impressive grain-free formula. Highly recommended.
Tender and True Salmon and Sweet Potato Grain-Free Recipe
Tender and True Salmon and Sweet Potato is one of 7 recipes included in our review of the Tender and True dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, whiting meal, dried sweet potato, tapioca starch, dried potato
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 7 available recipes
Tender and True Salmon and Sweet Potato derives most of its meat protein from salmon and whiting meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 18% fat and 41% estimated carbs… which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.
An above-average product made without grain.
Go! Carnivore Grain-Free Lamb and Wild Boar Dog Food
Go! Carnivore Lamb and Wild Boar is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Go! Carnivore dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: De-boned lamb, lamb meal, de-boned salmon, herring meal, lentils
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 5 available recipes
Go! Carnivore Lamb and Wild Boar derives the bulk of its animal protein from lamb, lamb meal, salmon meal and herring meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 18% fat and 39% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Beef with Apples
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Beef is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Nulo Freeze-Dried product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef kidneys, ground beef bone
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 5 available recipes
Nulo Freestyle Freeze-Dried Beef derives most of its animal protein from beef and beef organs. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 44% protein, 30% fat and 18% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
A great choice for an adult dog. Enthusiastically recommended.
Instinct Original Grain-Free with Real Rabbit
Instinct Original with Real Rabbit is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Instinct Original Grain-Free dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Rabbit, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, chickpeas, canola oil
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 5 available recipes
Instinct Original with Real Rabbit derives the bulk of its animal protein from rabbit, salmon meal and menhaden fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 23% fat and 29% estimated carbs… which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
An quality all life stages option. Highly recommended.
Canidae Pure Real Duck and Sweet Potato Recipe
Canidae Pure Real Duck and Sweet Potato is one of 10 recipes included in our review of the Canidae Pure dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, duck meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 10 available recipes
Canidae Pure Real Duck and Sweet Potato derives the majority of its meat protein from duck, duck meal and turkey meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 18% fat and 39% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
An excellent grain-free option for adult dogs.
Health Extension Grain-Free Buffalo and Whitefish Recipe
Health Extension Buffalo and Whitefish is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Health Extension Grain-Free dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Buffalo, deboned whitefish, buffalo meal, whitefish meal, chickpeas
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 6 available recipes
Health Extension Grain-Free Buffalo and Whitefish derives most of its animal protein from buffalo, buffalo meal, whitefish and whitefish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 28% protein, 17% fat and 48% estimated carbs… which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
A superb all life stages selection. Easily recommended.
Farmina N&D Grain-Free Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food
Farmina N&D Grain-Free Chicken Formula is one of 8 recipes included in our review of the Farmina N&D Grain-Free dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, dehydrated chicken, sweet potatoes, chicken fat, dried whole eggs
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 8 available recipes
Farmina N&D Grain-Free Chicken Formula derives most of its animal protein from chicken and dehydrated chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 20% fat and 32% estimated carbs… which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.
An excellent grain-free option for adult dogs.
Wysong Epigen Grain-Free Dog Food
Wysong Epigen is the only recipe included in our review of the Wysong Epigen dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Organic chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, potato protein, meat protein isolate
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
Wysong Epigen derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken and poultry meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 67% protein, 17% fat and 9% estimated carbs… which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 25%.
An protein-rich, grain-free option. Easily recommended.
The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Beef Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food
The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated Beef is one of 8 recipes included in our review of The Honest Kitchen dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated beef, dehydrated sweet potatoes, dehydrated potatoes, organic flaxseed, dried organic coconut
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 8 available recipes
The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Beef derives the bulk of its animal protein from dehydrated beef. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 34% protein, 15% fat and 43% estimated carbs… which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 45%.
A great option for dogs of all sizes and ages.
Orijen Regional Red Dog Food
Orijen Regional Red is one of 9 grain-free recipes included in our review of the Orijen dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned beef, deboned wild boar, deboned goat, deboned lamb, lamb liver
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 9 available recipes
Orijen Regional Red derives most of its meat protein from beef, goat, wild boar and lamb. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 20% fat and 28% estimated carbs… which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.
A biologically appropriate, all life stages recipe. Highly recommended.
Wellness Core RawRev Original Recipe
Wellness Core RawRev Grain-Free Original is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Wellness Core RawRev dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, potatoes
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 9 available recipes
Wellness Core RawRev Original derives the majority of its meat protein from poultry and poultry meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 40% protein, 18% fat and 34% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.
An exceptional, protein-rich recipe. Highly recommended.
Acana Wild Atlantic Dog Food
Acana Wild Atlantic is one of 6 recipes included in our review of the Acana Regionals dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Whole mackerel, whole herring, whole redfish, whole silver hake, mackerel meal
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 4 available recipes
Acana Wild Atlantic derives the majority of its meat protein from various types of fish and fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 19% fat and 35% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.
A superb, all life stages selection. Easily recommended.
Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Venison Formula
Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Venison Formula is one of 4 recipes included in our review of the Grandma Lucy’s Artisan dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Venison, potatoes, flax, sweet potatoes, carrots
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 4 available recipes
Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Venison derives most of its meat protein from venison. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 16% fat and 46% estimated carbs… which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 54%.
Highly recommended.
Diamond Naturals Grain-Free Skin and Coat All Life Stages Dog Food
Diamond Naturals All Life Stages Skin and Coat is one of 4 recipes included in our review of the Diamond Naturals dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, fish meal, potatoes, lentils, peas
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 4 available recipes
Diamond Naturals Skin and Coat derives the majority of its meat protein from salmon and fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 28% protein, 16% fat and 49% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
A quality, budget-friendly option. Enthusiastically recommended.