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
NutriSource Grain Free wet product range is made up of seven recipes with ratings varying from 3 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
Please note: The lower rating of the lamb and prairie recipes is due to the high fat to protein ratio. With lower fat content all of these recipes would have been 5 stars. We highly recommend the lamb and prairie recipes for working or highly active dogs. If you feed these particular formulas to pets and less active dogs, we recommend you monitor their weight regularly to ensure they remain at their ideal size.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- A variety of protein sources
- Locally sourced ingredients
Cons
- Expensive
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NutriSource Grain Free Seafood Select Recipe | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Grain Free Lamb Recipe | 3 | A |
| NutriSource Grain Free Chicken Recipe | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Grain Free Heartland Select Recipe | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Grain Free High Plains Select Recipe | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Grain Free Prairie Select Recipe | 4 | A |
| NutriSource Grain Free Woodlands Select Recipe | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
NutriSource Grain Free Chicken Formula was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
NutriSource Grain Free Chicken Formula
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, chickpeas, liquid Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, coconut glycerin, natural flavor, agar-agar, salmon oil (preserved with tocopherols), potassium chloride, choline chloride, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide), dicalcium phosphate, taurine, hydrolyzed yeast, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement), dried kelp, yucca schidigera extract, brewers dried yeast
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.2%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 11% | 8% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 44% | 32% | 17% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 32% | 56% | 12% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken 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 chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth 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 fifth ingredient is liquid Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
After natural flavor, we find ingredient is agar agar, a natural vegetable gelatin derived from the cell walls of certain species of red algae. Agar is rich in fiber and is used in wet pet foods as a gelling agent.
The eighth ingredient is coconut glycerine. Glycerine is used in the food industry as a natural sweetener and as a humectant to help preserve the moisture content of a product.
The ninth ingredient is salmon oil. Salmon 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, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
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 NutriSource product line.
With two notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
In addition, this food contains 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, NutriSource Grain Free Chicken Recipe dog food looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 43.5%, a fat level of 31.6% and estimated carbohydrates of about 16.6%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 42.8% and a mean fat level of 31.9%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 15.8% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 75%.
Which means this NutriSource product line contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other canned dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the chickpeas and brewers yeast, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing a significant amount of meat.
NutriSource Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to NutriSource through December 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of NutriSource Grain Free Wet Dog Food
NutriSource Grain Free is a canned dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein.
About
All NutriSource dog foods are produced in the United States. All the brand’s dry recipes are manufactured at its family-owned company facilities in Perham, Minnesota.
The company’s wet foods are produced at its own pet food cannery located in Delano, Minnesota.
Compare NutriSource Grain Free Dog Food
How does NutriSource Grain Free compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
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.
