What’s the Best Grain-Free Dog Food?
The best grain free dog foods typically contain more protein than conventional recipes.
Unfortunately…
Many are made with ingredients that can lower the nutrient balance of the finished recipe.
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 can be acceptable grain substitutes…
Legumes are also rich in protein.
However, unlike animal protein…
Plant-based protein ingredients (like legumes) tend to be deficient in certain essential amino acids.
Which is why we recommend the 20 grain-free dog foods below… where meat remains the dominant source of protein in their recipes.
Best Grain-Free Dog Foods
October 2019
Here are The Dog Food Advisor’s top 20 best grain-free dog food brands for October 2019:
Go! Carnivore Grain-Free Salmon and Cod Recipe
Go! Carnivore Salmon and Cod is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Go! Carnivore dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: De-boned salmon, de-boned cod, salmon meal, turkey meal, lentils
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 5 available recipes
Go! Carnivore Salmon and Cod derives the majority of its animal protein from fish, fish meal, and turkey meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 18% fat and 36% estimated carbs… which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.
An excellent all life stages formula. Highly recommended.
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Health Extension Grain-Free Chicken and Turkey
Health Extension Grain-Free Chicken and Turkey is one of 6 recipes included in our review of the Health Extension dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Organic deboned chicken, chicken meal, deboned turkey, turkey meal, potatoes
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 6 available recipes
Health Extension Chicken and Turkey derives the majority of its animal protein from poultry and poultry meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 20% fat and 42% estimated carbs… creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
An excellent all life stages option.
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Wellness Core Grain-Free Ocean Formula
Wellness Core Ocean Formula is one of 12 recipes included in our review of the Wellness Core Grain-Free product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Whitefish, herring meal, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, peas
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 12 available recipes
Wellness Core Ocean Formula derives most of its meat protein from fish and fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 17% fat and 38% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.
An exceptional protein-rich option for adult dogs.
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Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dog Food
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Taste of the Wild dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 9 available recipes
Taste of the Wild High Prairie derives most of its meat protein from buffalo, lamb meal and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 20% fat and 36% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
A superior choice for your adult dog. Readily recommended.
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Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Salmon and Peas
Nulo Freestyle Adult Salmon and Peas is one of 8 recipes included in our review of the Nulo Freestyle dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned salmon, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, whole peas, sweet potato
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 8 available recipes
Nulo Freestyle Adult Salmon and Peas derives the bulk of its meat protein from salmon, turkey meal and menhaden fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 18% fat and 41% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.
Enthusiastically recommended.
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Victor Grain-Free Ultra Pro Dog Food
Victor Grain-Free Ultra Pro is one of 6 recipes included in our review of the Victor Purpose dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, beef meal, chicken fat, peas, blood meal
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 6 available recipes
Victor Ultra Pro derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken and beef meals. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 46% protein, 24% fat and 22% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.
Highly recommended.
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Canidae Pure Real Lamb and Pea Recipe
Canidae Pure Real Lamb and Pea Recipe is one of 11 recipes included in our review of the Canidae Pure dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Lamb, turkey meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 11 available recipes
Canidae Pure Real Lamb and Pea Recipe derives the majority of its animal protein from lamb and poultry meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 20% fat and 36% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
A superb selection free of grains.
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Merrick Grain-Free Real Salmon with Sweet Potato
Merrick Grain-Free Real Salmon with Sweet Potato is one of 14 recipes included in our review of the Merrick Grain-Free dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned salmon, salmon meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 14 available recipes
Merrick Grain-Free Real Duck with Sweet Potato derives the bulk of its animal protein from salmon and salmon meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 16% fat and 38% estimated carbs… creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 41%.
An all life stages top pick.
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Farmina N&D Wild Boar Grain-Free Formula
Farmina N&D Wild Boar Grain-Free Formula is one of 10 recipes included in our review of the Farmina N&D Grain-Free dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Boar, dehydrated boar, sweet potatoes, deboned chicken, dehydrated chicken
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 10 available recipes
Farmina N&D Wild Boar Grain-Free Formula derives most of its meat protein from boar and dehydrated boar. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 20% fat and 32% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.
An excellent grain-free high-protein option.
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Weruva Funky Chunky Chicken Soup with Pumpkin
Weruva Funky Chunky Chicken Grain and Gluten-Free is one of 14 recipes included in our review of the Weruva canned product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, water, pumpkin, carrot, green pea/li>
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 14 available recipes
Weruva Funky Chunky Chicken derives most of its animal protein from chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 64% protein, 10% fat and 18% estimated carbs… which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 15%.
An exceptional canned food selection.
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Holistic Select Grain-Free Adult and Puppy Health
Holistic Select Grain-Free Adult and Puppy Health is one of 11 recipes included in our review of the Holistic Select dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, anchovy and sardine meal, potatoes, peas, menhaden fish meal
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 11 available recipes
Holistic Select Adult and Puppy Health derives most of its meat protein from salmon, as well as anchovy and sardine meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 16% fat and 44% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 48%.
A terrific all life stages option. Highly recommended.
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Orijen Six Fish Dog Food
Orijen Six Fish is one of 8 recipes included in our review of the Orijen dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Whole Atlantic mackerel, whole Atlantic herring, monkfish, Acadian redfish, flounder
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 8 available recipes
Orijen Six Fish derives the bulk of its animal protein from whole Atlantic mackerel and herring, as well as monkfish and redfish. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 21% fat and 28% estimated carbs… creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.
Enthusiastically recommended.
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Dr. Tim’s Salmon and Pork RPM Grain-Free Formula
Dr. Tim’s Salmon and Pork RPM is one of 2 recipes included in our review of the Dr. Tim’s dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon meal, pork meal, dried white potatoes, dried field peas, tapioca
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See both available recipes
Dr. Tim’s Salmon and Pork RPM derives the majority of its animal protein from salmon and pork meals. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 20% fat and 36% estimated carbs… which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
A quality, grain-free recipe. Heartily recommended.
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Wysong Epigen 90 Dog Food
Wysong Epigen 90 is the only recipe included in our review of the Wysong Epigen 90 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 90 derives the bulk of its meat protein from both chicken meal and organic chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 70% protein, 18% fat and 4% estimated carbs… creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 25%.
Recommended with confidence.
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Instinct Original Grain-Free Real Beef and Venison
Instinct Original Grain-Free Real Beef and Venison is one of 8 recipes included in our review of the Instinct Original wet product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, venison, beef broth, beef liver, ground flaxseed
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 8 available recipes
Instinct Original Real Beef and Venison derives most of its animal protein from beef and venison. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 55% protein, 34% fat and 3% estimated carbs… which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.
An excellent canned food option.
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The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Turkey Recipe Dehydrated
The Honest Kitchen Turkey Recipe is one of 8 recipes included in our review of the The Honest Kitchen dehydrated product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated turkey, organic flaxseed, dehydrated potatoes, dehydrated spinach, dehydrated carrots
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 8 available recipes
The Honest Kitchen Turkey Recipe derives the majority of its animal protein from dehydrated turkey. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 20% fat and 41% estimated carbs… which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.
An exceptional dehydrated option. Highly recommended.
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Tender and True Ocean Whitefish and Potato
Tender and True Ocean Whitefish and Potato is one of 4 recipes included in our review of the Tender and True dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Whitefish, chicken meal, whitefish meal, dried potato, tapioca starch
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Adults + small or medium breed puppies
- See all 4 available recipes
Tender and True Ocean Whitefish and Potato derives most of its animal protein from whitefish and whitefish meal, as well as chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 19% fat and 40% estimated carbs… which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
An above-average product. Enthusiastically recommended.
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Instinct Ultimate Protein Duck Recipe
Instinct Ultimate Protein Duck is one of 3 recipes included in our review of the Instinct Ultimate Protein dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, chicken, chicken eggs, tapioca, ground flaxseed
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adults only (not for puppies)
- See all 3 available recipes
Instinct Ultimate Protein Duck derives the bulk of its meat protein from duck and chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 52% protein, 19% fat and 21% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 36%.
A protein-rich recipe. Confidently recommended.
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Whole Earth Farms Chicken and Turkey Recipe
Whole Earth Farms Chicken and Turkey is one of 15 recipes included in our review of the Whole Earth Farms wet product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, turkey, chicken liver, peas
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See all 15 available recipes
Whole Earth Farms Chicken and Turkey derives the majority of its animal protein from chicken and turkey. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 27% fat and 22% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.
An affordable high-protein recipe. A top pick.
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RAWZ Meal Free Salmon, Dehydrated Chicken and Whitefish
RAWZ Meal Free Salmon, Dehydrated Chicken and Whitefish is one of 2 recipes included in our review of the RAWZ dehydrated dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, dehydrated deboned chicken, dehydrated chicken, whitefish, turkey
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All adults + puppies
- See both available recipes
RAWZ Meal Free Salmon, Dehydrated Chicken and Whitefish derives the bulk of its meat protein from salmon and dehydrated chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 44% protein, 13% fat and 34% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 30%.
By the way, RAWZ donates 100% of its profits to improving the lives of people living with life altering disabilities.
A superb company on a great mission. A top grain-free selection.
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