What’s the Best
Grain-Free Dog Food?
As a rule, the best grain free dog foods typically contain more protein than their grain-based counterparts.
However…
Not all grain-free dog foods are created equal.
Truth is…
Many are made with ingredients that can negatively affect the nutrient balance of the finished product.
Why Some Grain-Free Brands
Are Better Than Others
The 2 most common ingredients used to replace the corn, rice and other cereal grains found in conventional dog foods include…
- Potatoes (white or sweet)
- Legumes (peas, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, etc.)
Although both are acceptable grain substitutes…
Legumes provide an extra benefit…
They’re naturally rich in protein.
Which (of course) is a good thing.
However…
Unlike animal protein…
Plant-based protein ingredients (like legumes) tend to be deficient in some essential amino acids.
Which can disturb the delicate nutrient balance of any dog food.
And…
Why we recommend grain-free brands where meat remains the dominant source of protein in their recipes.
The Dog Food Advisor’s
Top-Rated Grain-Free Brands
The following list includes The Dog Food Advisor’s safest and most recommended grain-free dog food brands.
Each boasts above-average amounts of meat-based protein…
And sensible amounts of vegetable protein.
In addition, the ingredients list of every selection contains…
- No cancer-causing chemical preservatives
- No anonymous meat ingredients
- No high risk coloring agents
- No generic animal fat
- Above-average meat content
- Favorable fat-to-protein ratio
- Modest carbohydrate content
Best Grain-Free Dog Foods
December 2018
Here are the top 25 best grain-free dog food brands for December 2018:
Earthborn Holistic Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating: 
- Example: Earthborn Holistic Grain-Free Great Plains Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Bison meal, peas, pea protein, tapioca, dried egg
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 36%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 36%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Acana Heritage Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Acana Heritage Red Meat Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned beef, deboned pork, beef meal, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 33%, a fat level of 19% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 40%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Nulo Freestyle Salmon and Peas Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned salmon, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, whole peas, sweet potato
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 33%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 41%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Merrick Grain-Free Real Duck and Sweet Potato
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned duck, turkey meal, salmon meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 43%, a fat level of 19% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 30%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
I and Love and You Nude Super Food
Rating:
- Example: I and Love and You Nude Super Food Red Meat Medley
- First 5 ingredients: Pork, lamb meal, herring meal, dried yellow peas, garbanzo beans
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 38%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 38%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Weruva Grain-Free Wet Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Weruva Bed and Breakfast with Chicken, Egg, and Pumpkin
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, water sufficient for processing, egg, pumpkin, sweet potato
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 60%, a fat level of 12% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 20%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Taste of the Wild Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, peas, garbanzo beans, lamb meal, canola oil
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 32%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 43%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Wellness Core Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Wellness Core Large Breed Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, potatoes, peas
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 38%, a fat level of 13% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 41%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Zignature Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Zignature Trout and Salmon Meal Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Trout, salmon meal, peas, chickpeas, pea flour
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 33%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 43%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Lamb, Chickpea, and Tomato
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned lamb, lamb meal, pork meal, chickpeas, dried potatoes
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 32%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 42%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Instinct Original Dry Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Instinct Original with Real Duck
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, chicken eggs
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 42%, a fat level of 22% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 29%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Farmina Natural and Delicious Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Farmina Natural and Delicious Grain-Free Chicken Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Fresh free range boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, potato, chicken fat, dried whole eggs
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 41%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 32%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Holistic Select Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Holistic Select Grain-Free Turkey and Lentils
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, peas, lentils, chickpeas
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 36%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 41%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Salmon
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned salmon, chicken meal, pea protein, peas, tapioca starch
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 36%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 41%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Annamaet Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Annamaet Grain-free Manitok Red Meat Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned lamb, lamb meal, lentils, field peas, herring meal
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 33%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 41%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Canidae Grain-Free Pure Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Canidae Grain-Free Pure Fields Small Breed Adult
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, menhaden fish meal, peas, lentils, potatoes
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 33%, a fat level of 13% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 45%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Horizon Legacy Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Horizon Legacy Adult Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, pea, pea starch, turkey meal
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 38%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 38%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Wet Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Whole Earth Farms Chicken and Turkey
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, turkey, chicken liver, peas
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 43%, a fat level of 27% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 22%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Victor Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Victor Grain-Free Active Dog and Puppy
- First 5 ingredients: Beef meal, sweet potato, chicken meal, peas, chicken fat
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 36%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 38%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Solid Gold Barking at the Moon High Protein Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Solid Gold Barking at the Moon with Beef, Eggs, and Peas
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, ocean fish meal, pea protein, potatoes, dried eggs
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 46%, a fat level of 22% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 24%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Orijen Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Orijen Original Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, atlantic flounder, whole eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 43%, a fat level of 21% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 28%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Wild Frontier Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Wild Frontier with Beef and Wild Boar
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, split peas, pork meal, chicken meal, dried potatoes
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 36%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 39%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Nutrisca Grain-Free Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, peas, chickpeas, chicken fat
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 36%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 36%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Chicken and Venison
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, vegetable broth, sweet potato, chicken fat, venison
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 61%, a fat level of 11% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 20%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog food
Rating:
- Example: The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated Turkey Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey, organic flaxseed, potatoes, spinach, carrots
- Note: Other recipes available
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 32%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 41%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Highly recommended.
