Blue Buffalo Basics Grain-Free Dog Food Review (Wet)

Blue Buffalo Basics Grain-Free wet product range is made up of 7 recipes with ratings varying from 2.5 to 4 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 3 stars.

These limited-ingredient wet recipes feature a single source of protein, which is ideal for dogs with protein allergies.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Blue Basics Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey and Potato Cup was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.¹

Turkey is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is turkey broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common addition component in many canned products.

The third ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The next ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The sixth ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.

The seventh ingredient is fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.

The next item is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Blue Buffalo product.

With one notable exception.

Chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Blue Basics Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey and Potato Cup looks like an above-average, limited-ingredient wet product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36.5%, a fat level of 26.9% and estimated carbohydrates of about 25%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 34.1% and a mean fat level of 28.3%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 26.1% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 83%.

Which means this Blue Buffalo product line contains…

Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other wet dog foods.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed and pea protein, this looks like the profile of a wet containing just a moderate amount of meat.

However, with 56% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 23% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for pets on a low fat diet.

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Blue Buffalo through April 2026.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Blue Buffalo Basics Grain Free Wet Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Basics Grain-Free is a wet dog food using a moderate amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3 stars.

Please note certain recipes are sometimes given a higher or lower rating based upon our estimate of their total meat content and (when appropriate) their fat-to-protein ratios.

Recommended with Reservations

About

Blue Buffalo was officially launched in 2003 by Bill Bishop, who became frustrated with the lack of transparency and poor ingredient quality in commercial dog food at the time. His inspiration came after his beloved Airedale Terrier, Blue, was diagnosed with cancer. Determined to create a better recipe for his dog, Bishop developed his own formula, and thus Blue Buffalo was born.

In 2018, the brand was sold to General Mills Corporation for $8 billion.

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