Highly Recommended
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Our Verdict
Chewy (formerly American Journey) Complete Nutrition Grain Free dry product range is made up of six recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.
The recipes in this product line don’t contain any grains, corn, wheat, or soy, so they’re designed to suit dogs with food sensitivities.
Pros
- No poultry by-product meals, or artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Real meat or fish as the first ingredient
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Does not support hydration
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
Chewy Complete Nutrition Grain Free Salmon and Sweet Potato was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Chewy Complete Nutrition Grain Free Salmon and Sweet Potato
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned salmon, chicken meal (a source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), turkey meal, dried peas, dried sweet potatoes, dried chickpeas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried plain beet pulp, natural flavor, flaxseed, pea starch, salt, fish oil, dried blueberries, dried carrots, monosodium phosphate, dried kelp, fructooligosaccharides, citric acid (preservative), mixed tocopherols (preservative), l-threonine, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, iron proteinate, taurine, yucca schidigera extract, choline chloride, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate, niacin supplement, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, d-calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 32% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 36% | 16% | 41% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 33% | 36% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is salmon. Although it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, raw salmon contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is turkey meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The fourth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The next ingredient includes chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, beans and lentils, chickpeas are a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.
However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.
But realistically, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this American Journey product.
With six notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
Next, this recipe contains fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener1 probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.
Additionally, this food includes 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.
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
We also find 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.
We also note the addition of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
We view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Chewy Complete Nutrition Grain Free Salmon and Sweet Potato looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36.4%, a fat level of 16.3% and estimated carbohydrates of about 33.9%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 34.2% and a mean fat level of 16.5%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 35.9% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.
Which means this American Journey product line contains…
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, chickpeas, pea protein and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a dry product containing a significant amount of meat.
Chewy Own Brand Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Chewy Own Brand through September 2026.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Chewy Complete Nutrition Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Chewy Complete Nutrition Grain Free is a dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
About
Chewy, Inc is an American online retailer of pet food and other related products, founded in 2011 by Ryan Cohen and Michael Day.
Compare Chewy Complete Nutrition Grain Free Dog Food
How does Chewy Complete Nutrition Grain Free compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
- Best Dog Foods
- Best Puppy Foods
- Best Dry Dog Food
- Best Wet Dog Foods
- Best Senior Dog Food
- Best Dog Foods for Dogs With Allergies 2026
- Best Grain-Free Dog Foods
- Best Dog Food With Grain
- Best Dog Food for Small Dogs 2026
- Best Budget-Friendly Dog Foods 2026
- Best Dog Food for Shih Tzus
- Best Dog Food for Picky Eaters 2026
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
