11 Best Chicken & Rice Dog Foods – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Is your dog crazy about chicken and rice flavor, and are you trying to find the healthiest option? Or are you introducing chicken and rice for the first time and want to pick a recipe it will like? This article reviews a selection of chicken and rice dog foods to help you choose your favorite among the masses. After reading through this list, you will have a better idea of the best options available.

A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)

The 11 Best Chicken & Rice Dog Foods

1. Ollie Fresh Chicken & Rice Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

Ollie’s Chicken Dish with Carrots is our choice for the best overall chicken and rice dog foods. This recipe is packed with high-quality ingredients, providing key nutrients for your pup. It is a good foundation for a healthy diet, making it a premium choice for your pet.

The addition of carrots into the chicken and rice combination makes this formula a great option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. The carrots are also an incredible source of fiber, potassium, and necessary vitamins, supporting your dog’s eye health. The rice provides healthy carbohydrates and proteins, and the spinach and chia seeds provide additional nutrients.

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2. Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Dry Dog Food – Best Value

The best budget chicken and rice dog food is Pedigree’s Adult Complete Nutrition Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable recipe. It is affordable and beneficial for your dog, so it serves both your wallet and your pet’s health!

This formula aids in healthy digestion due to the inclusion of whole grains, and the omega-6 fatty acids maintain healthy skin and fur. The crunchy texture of the kibble is designed to promote dental hygiene, contributing to your dog’s oral health.

Again, this recipe includes peas. Be certain to consult your vet to determine if peas are necessary for your dog’s diet.

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3. Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Dry Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula is a third choice due to its unique blend of hard kibble and tender meat. The combination gives pups a meal with high protein content. The protein plus the rice provides plenty of fuel to energize your dog throughout the day.

This formula also includes probiotics. These probiotics support the digestive system and the immune system of your dog, ensuring that it gets a health boost along with the tasty meal. The inclusion of omega-fatty acids gives your dog a shiny, healthy coat and nourishes its skin. Clearly, this recipe provides some premium benefits!

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4. Purina Pro Plan Dry Puppy Food

For puppies, Purina’s Pro Plan High Protein Chicken & Rice Formula is an excellent choice. This recipe provides high protein content for young pups with tons of energy along with plenty of other benefits for growing puppies.

Glucosamine is included to support the joints, omega fatty acids contribute to a healthy coat and rejuvenated skin, and the formula is specially designed to be highly digestible.

DHA is included in the recipe, which is an excellent addition for puppies. DHA is vital to the brain development of puppies², and providing the necessary fatty acids is a great way to support your pup’s development.

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5. Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20 Dry Food

Another good option is is Purina’s Pro Plan 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula. This recipe has several benefits for your dog, including high protein content. With chicken as the first ingredient, the protein shoots up to 30%. Protein provides plenty of energy for your dog, allowing it to be active all day long. It also serves to build and sustain lean muscle and its metabolism.

As with many of Purina’s formulas, this option tends to be a bit on the pricey side. However, the high quality of the ingredients warrants such a price.

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6. Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food

For our next pick, we have Merrick’s Classic Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains. This is a healthy option, with deboned chicken as the first ingredient. The protein content is high, and the blend of grains, including brown rice, supports healthy digestion. This recipe includes omega-fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin to bolster the skin, fur, and joints.

This formula is made in the United States, ensuring the recipe was made with quality ingredients and crafting. It deliberately avoids ingredients that may disrupt your dog’s well-being, such as potatoes, lentils, and peas.

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7. Nature’s Recipe Small Bites Dry Dog Food

If you have a small dog, Nature’s Recipe Small Bites Chicken & Rice might be the formula for you. This blend is specifically crafted with small dog breeds in mind, meaning your little pup will get the nutrients they need.

The first two ingredients in this recipe are animal-based: chicken and chicken meal. This gives the meal quality proteins, providing your dog with the energy they need to keep exploring.

Nature’s Recipe has vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are key components to your dog’s health. These additions help to support digestion and the creation of strong muscles.  Plus, the kibble is designed specifically for small dog breeds, so it’s ideal for tiny mouths.

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8. Whole Earth Farms Large Breed Dry Dog Food

The Whole Earth Farms Healthy Grains Large Breed Chicken & Rice recipe is a great option for a large breed dog.

With chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients, this formula is packed with healthy proteins that support your dog’s energy and muscles. The inclusion of apples, carrots, and beets supports healthy digestion as well as overall health. Likewise, antioxidants and omega-fatty acids boost the immune system, skin, and coat.

There is l-carnitine in this recipe as well, helping your dog to reduce weight on their joints by metabolizing fat. Overall, this recipe contains plenty of health benefits for your bigger dogs.

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9. Merrick Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble Dry Dog Food

Merrick’s Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble Real Chicken + Brown Rice formula starts off strong with deboned chicken and chicken meal, then follows up with healthy rice to support digestion. Each piece of kibble is coated in a freeze-dried, raw covering that adds a tasty kick to every bite. The coating also gives a protein boost, meaning it’s not only tasty, but it’s healthy!

For all of the excellent qualities this formula has, it is only natural that it is a bit on the expensive side. So, keep that in mind when you are considering this recipe for your dog.

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10. Nutro Natural Choice Adult Dry Dog Food

The chicken and brown rice recipe from Nutro’s Natural Choice Adult formula is developed with the health of your furry friend in mind. With chicken as the first ingredient, this recipe is packed with healthy protein.

Other health benefits include antioxidants that boost the immune system, natural fibers that promote healthy digestion, and fatty acids for the coat and skin. Overall, this recipe supports your pup’s health in several ways and is an excellent choice.

Nutro Natural is also notable for what it lacks. There are no chicken by-products, no wheat, and no soy in this recipe. So, if your dog has sensitivities to any of those ingredients, this could be the option for you.

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11. Diamond Naturals All Life Stages Dry Dog Food

Diamond’s Naturals Chicken & Rice Formula All Life Stages is a great option for just about any dog. Any life stage and breed of dog can reap the benefits of this formula.

Diamond Naturals has quality proteins, the first two ingredients are animal-based. This formula also supports the bones, joints, and muscles in your dog. The kibble is large and hard, making it difficult for some dogs to chew it properly. Depending on the type of dog you have, this recipe may be a bit difficult for them to eat.

Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Chicken & Rice Dog Food

Now that you have some more information about chicken and rice recipe options, how do you decide which is right for you and your dog?

Consider the Price

Dog food can get expensive. Unfortunately, the most expensive dog foods also tend to be of the highest quality, so it isn’t always easy to get our dogs the best brand.

Still, there are plenty of affordable options with high-quality ingredients, and this list has provided a number of them. So, think about what you can regularly spend for your dog when deciding, and you can narrow down some of your options.

Look at the Ingredients

Generally speaking, meat should be the first ingredient (such as chicken). This is because the first ingredient on the label is the ingredient that is most prominent in the bag.

However, that does not mean that your dog needs only meat. In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, your dog needs a well-balanced diet. In addition to meat, the recipes should contain elements such as grains, veggies, and fruit.

Is It AAFCO Approved?

The standard set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a helpful way to determine if a particular dog food is nutritionally balanced. If a dog food formula states that they are AAFCO approved, they have met a specific nutritional requirement ensuring its food is complete and balanced. This guarantees that your dog is getting the nutrients they need.

Conclusion

This article included reviews of the best chicken and rice dog food recipes, starting with Ollie’s Chicken with Carrots Recipe for best overall. This fresh food is convenient and incredibly nutritious. The best budget option is Pedigree’s Adult Complete Nutrition, which offers good nutrition while being easy on the wallet.

While each option listed in this article is an excellent one, the deciding factor comes down to whatever is right for you and your furry friend.

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Featured Image Credit: manushot, Shutterstock