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Our Verdict
Evolve Grain Free dry product range consists of six recipes with ratings varying from 3 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
A grain-free sub brand from Evolve, enriched with prebiotics, probiotics and sweet potato to support digestive health.
Pros
- First listed ingredient is real meat or fish
- No corn, soy or wheat
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
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.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Evolve Grain Free Deboned Salmon and Sweet Potato | 5 | A |
| Evolve Grain Free Deboned Turkey and Sweet Potato | 5 | A |
| Evolve Grain Free Chicken, Cranberry, and Carrot | 5 | A |
| Evolve Grain Free Duck, Sweet Potato and Venison | 5 | M |
| Evolve Grain Free Deboned Chicken, Sweet Potato and Berry Puppy | 5 | A |
| Evolve Grain Free Deboned Chicken, Sweet Potato and Berry Senior | 3 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Evolve Grain Free Deboned Salmon and Sweet Potato was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Evolve Grain Free Deboned Salmon and Sweet Potato
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned salmon, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, peas, turkey meal, pea starch, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tapioca starch, ground flaxseed, dried plain beet pulp, dried apples, natural chicken flavor, salt, menhaden fish oil, dried chicory root, yucca schidigera extract, calcium carbonate, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, dried carrots, parsley, papaya, spinach, kale powder, potassium chloride, taurine, dl- methionine, minerals (copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, iron sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate, folic acid), dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 25% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 28% | 17% | 48% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 35% | 41% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is deboned 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 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 fourth ingredient includes garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas. Like peas, beans and lentils, the chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (pulse) family of vegetables.
However, garbanzo beans contain about 22% protein, something which must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The fifth ingredient is 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 sixth ingredient is turkey meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The seventh ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The eighth 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.
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 Evolve 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, taurine is 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.
Next, chicory root. Chicory is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
We also find menhaden oil. Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. Their oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids, two high quality fats boasting the highest bio-availability to both dogs and humans.
What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not as likely to be exposed to mercury contamination as is typical with deep water species.
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Evolve Grain Free Deboned Salmon and Sweet Potato looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28.8%, a fat level of 17.4% and estimated carbohydrates of about 42.6%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29.9% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 39.9% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
Near-average protein. Near-average fat and below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the garbanzo beans, peas and flaxseed, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
Evolve Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Evolve through February 2026.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Evolve Dry Dog Food
Evolve 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.
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