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10 Best Grain-Free Dog Foods – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Brooke Bundy

By Brooke Bundy

Pitbull dog eating healthy and nutritious kibble

Many pet parents are switching their dogs to grain-free diets in hopes of finding a formula that relieves their digestive upset. Oftentimes, a food allergy is also suspected, so we’ve carefully taken this into consideration when rounding up this list of our favorite grain-free dog foods. Although not every recipe is free from common proteins such as chicken or beef, we’ve noted this in our reviews in case you need to be aware of these ingredients. As always, we recommend talking to your vet before switching your dog to a grain-free diet, or making any changes to their meal plan, especially because grain-free dog foods may have a link to heart disease in dogs, although studies are still ongoing.1 Here’s our list of 10 best grain-free dog foods this year, as well as what’s good about them and what could be improved.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
The Farmer's Dog Turkey Recipe The Farmer's Dog Turkey Recipe
  • Best choice for allergies and sensitive stomachs
  • Lowest calories
  • Excellent fat-to-protein ratio
  • Budget Buy
    Second place
    Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain
  • Inexpensive
  • Contains Omega 3
  • Salmon is the first ingredient
  • Third place
    Just Food For Dogs Venison and Squash Just Food For Dogs Venison and Squash
  • Good source of fiber
  • Novel protein great for allergies and sensitive stomachs
  • Balanced diet supplemented with vitamins, taurine, and fish oil
  • Best for Puppies
    ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dog Food ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dog Food
  • Good source of meat protein
  • Supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics
  • Features vegetables rich in fiber
  • Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine
  • Limited ingredients
  • Squash, spinach, and sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber
  • Nutritional supplements create a balanced diet
  • The 10 Best Grain-Free Dog Foods

    1. The Farmer’s Dog Turkey Recipe – Best Overall

    The Farmer's Dog fresh food turkey recipe in bowl being served to white dog

    Main ingredients: Turkey, chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, spinach
    Protein content: 33%
    Fat content: 19%
    Calories: 1240 kcal/kg

    Featuring turkey as the primary protein, The Farmer’s Dog Turkey Recipe is our best overall choice for grain-free dog food. The limited ingredients are more favorable for sensitive stomachs, and turkey is an allergen-friendly meat. Out of their formulas, the Turkey Recipe has the lowest number of calories and the best fat-to-protein ratio. A low fat diet can be a good thing for dogs with sensitive stomachs since fats are more difficult to process.

    The Farmer’s Dog works by customizing a recipe and meal plan for your dog’s dietary needs. The food is slowly cooked to retain nutrition and flavor, and then flash-frozen and shipped directly to your door. Of course, the downside to this service is that it comes at a higher price than conventional dog food, and is only available to purchase directly from their website.

    Pros
    • Best choice for allergies and sensitive stomachs
    • Lowest calories
    • Excellent fat-to-protein ratio
    • Fresh food delivered straight to your door
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Not available in stores


    2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain

    Main ingredients: Salmon, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potato, Turkey Meal, Pea Starch
    Protein content: 26%
    Fat content: 14%
    Calories: 3,475 kcal/kg

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-free nourishes your pup with salmon as the first ingredient and is a great choice for the best grain-free dog food for the money. Salmon provides an abundance of Omega 3s, which reduce inflammation and support their skin and coat. Fish isn’t the only meat protein source, and we wouldn’t exactly label this food as a limited ingredient diet. However, as long as your pet doesn’t have any suspected food allergies to common proteins such as chicken, our best value option is a great way to give your top dog a high quality grain-free food for a low cost.

    Pros
    • Inexpensive
    • Contains Omega 3s
    • Salmon is the first ingredient
    Cons
    • Not a safe choice for dogs with a common protein allergy

    3.  Just Food For Dogs Venison and Squash Recipe

    JUSTFOODFORDOGS Venison & Squash Recipe

    Main ingredients: Venison, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Cranberries
    Protein content: 9%
    Fat content: 2%
    Calories: 872 kcal/kg

    Allergies and skin sensitivities don’t stand a chance with our premium choice. Featuring a novel protein and fiber-packed veggies, Just Food for Dogs Venison and Squash Recipe is supplemented with vitamins, taurine, and fish oil to form a complete diet with limited ingredients. As a plus, this food is available online and in select pet stores, so there’s no need to wait for shipments. Like the other fresh food options on our list, though, it can be a little pricey.

    Pros
    • Good source of fiber
    • Novel protein great for allergies and sensitive stomachs
    • Balanced diet supplemented with vitamins, taurine, and fish oil
    • Available online and in select pet stores
    • Fresh food
    Cons
    • More expensive than dry food

    4. ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food – Best for Puppies

    Orijen Grain-free Puppy Dry Food

    Main ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Salmon, Whole Herring
    Protein content: 38%
    Fat content: 20%
    Calories: 3960 kcal/kg

    Give your pup a hearty start to life with ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food. Poultry and fish form 85% of the ingredients, which mimic a canine’s natural diet. Beans are included as a good source of fiber, and are balanced by the pumpkin supporting the digestive system. Chicory root provides prebiotics, and there is also a probiotic supplement included. These underrated bacteria are highly beneficial for building a healthy gut and immune system, which helps young puppies transition to new environments. It’s on the expensive end for a dry food, but we feel like the added nutrition and high protein content make it absolutely worth the investment.

    Pros
    • Good source of meat protein
    • Supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics
    • Features vegetables rich in fiber
    Cons
    • Expensive for a dry food

    5. Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine

    nomnom bowl chicken square

    Main ingredients: Chicken, sweet potatoes, squash, water sufficient for processing, spinach
    Protein content: 5%
    Fat content: 6%
    Calories: 1255 kcal/kg

    Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine is the grain-free equivalent of chicken and rice for humans. As a comfort food that’s easy on the stomach, this recipe takes it a step further by making it safe for dogs that have a suspected grain allergy. There are very few ingredients included in this recipe overall. Outside of the chicken and high-fiber veggies, there’s only sunflower oil, canola oil, and beneficial supplements, including fish oil and taurine. Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine is made from fresh ingredients and then shipped to your door. It’s only available for purchase on their website.

     

    Pros
    • Fresh food
    • Limited ingredients
    • Squash, spinach, and sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber
    • Nutritional supplements create a balanced diet
    Cons
    • Online only
    • Expensive

    6. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Turkey Whole Food Clusters Dry Dog Food

    The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free

    Main ingredients: Turkey, Potatoes, Peas, Lentils, Carrots, Eggs
    Protein content: 26%
    Fat content: 5%
    Calories: 3,845 kcal/kg

    The “clusters” idea by The Honest Kitchen is a compelling compromise between overly baked dry kibble and pricey fresh frozen recipes. The ingredients are mixed together, slowly roasted, and then dehydrated, which preserves the food while retaining the nutrition and flavor that’s otherwise lost in the conventional process. We like how turkey is the main ingredient since it’s an allergen-friendly protein with a lean amount of fat. Salmon oil, chia seeds, and flax seeds are an excellent source of Omega 3s to fight inflammation and nourish their coat. Pumpkin and probiotics are also included further down the list, which promote a healthy gut.

    We like how this recipe includes human-grade ingredients. However, we do feel like another vegetable such as sweet potatoes should’ve taken the place of the potatoes as the second ingredient. Potatoes aren’t bad for dogs, but contain a high percentage of carbohydrates.

    Pros
    • Human-grade ingredients
    • Clusters preserve flavor and nutrients for a less expensive price than fresh food
    • Turkey is an allergen-friendly meat
    • Great source of Omega 3s
    • Pumpkin and probiotics provide GI support
    Cons
    • Lots of carbs from the potatoes

    7. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

    Orijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Whole Herring, Chicken Liver
    Protein content: 38%
    Fat content: 18%
    Calories: 3,940 kcal/kg

    If your pup grew up on the ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Recipe, they’ll be happy to graduate to ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Food for adult dogs. Like the puppy formula, this food features a range of poultry and fish proteins, which comprise 85% of the ingredients. A bounty of fruits and veggies are included further down the ingredients list, balancing the diet. We like how this recipe includes prebiotics and probiotics.

    However, unlike most foods on our list, it doesn’t have a taurine supplement. Taurine is an amino acid that regulates heart, eye, and immune function. Canines can create their own as long as they’re eating meat, however, so the heavy amount of meat-based proteins might explain why this common supplement is strangely missing.

    Pros
    • Poultry and fish comprise 85% of the ingredients
    • Comparable to the ORIJEN grain-free puppy recipe
    • Features lots of fruits and vegetables
    • Includes prebiotics and probiotics
    Cons
    • No taurine supplement

    8. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

    Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
    Protein content: 32%
    Fat content: 18%
    Calories: 3,719 kcal/kg

    With water buffalo as the main ingredient, Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food feels like exotic cuisine for a very modest price. However, despite the novel protein, chicken meal is one of the ingredients, so this recipe isn’t appropriate if your dog has suspected protein allergies. Sweet potatoes and peas provide a hearty amount of fiber, and antioxidant-rich blueberries are included further down the list. Thankfully, this recipe doesn’t skimp on the supplements. It includes prebiotics, probiotics, and taurine, in addition to other vitamins and minerals.

    Pros
    • Features a novel protein as the main ingredient
    • Inexpensive
    • Excellent source of prebiotics, probiotics, and taurine
    Cons
    • Not a limited ingredient diet

    9. Merrick Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Chicken-Free Adult Dry Dog Food

    Merrick Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Chicken-Free Adult Dry Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Deboned Beef, Pork Meal, Salmon Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes
    Protein content: 34%
    Fat content: 15%
    Calories: 3,676 kcal/kg

    Your dog will feel like a cowboy with Merrick Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe. Most dogs love the taste of beef, and this food also includes salmon and pork for added nutrients and flavor. There’s no chicken, which is great if you suspect a chicken allergy. However, beef is another common culprit for protein allergies, so that’s something to be aware of when finding a food for sensitive stomachs.

    Pork also might not be the best choice if your dog experiences chronic inflammation or needs to lose weight since it’s relatively high in fat compared to other common proteins. Overall, though, we’d say this is a high-quality grain-free food with a decent amount of supplements, including taurine.

    Pros
    • Chicken-free
    • Includes taurine supplement
    Cons
    • Pork may not be suitable for sensitive digestive systems
    • Beef is a common protein allergen

    10. Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Lamb Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

    Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Lamb Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

    Main ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Pea Starch
    Protein content: 22%
    Fat content: 14%
    Calories: 3,587 kcal/kg

    Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Lamb Recipe Grain-Free features deboned lamb and turkey as the main two ingredients. While this is great news for dogs with sensitive stomachs, it may not suffice for dogs with a suspected protein allergy because chicken fat sneaks in further down the list. This recipe uses flaxseed as a source of Omega 3s.

    Although this food contains many supplements we look for, including prebiotics, probiotics, and taurine, we’re surprised to find that there aren’t many fruits or vegetables. In even more startling news, there’s even a toxic ingredient: garlic. This controversial bulb is labeled as toxic by the ASPCA, but it’s unlikely to harm your dog in small amounts.

    Pros
    • Lamb and turkey are excellent proteins for sensitive stomachs
    • Includes prebiotics, probiotics, and taurine
    • Flaxseed provides a good source of Omega 3s
    Cons
    • Few fruits and vegetables
    • Includes chicken fat, which isn’t good for limited protein diets
    • Contains garlic

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Grain-Free Dog Food

    While it would be nice if we could tell you what to put in your dog’s dish, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all approach that works for every pup. You’ll need to factor in variables such as their age, taste preferences, and individual dietary requirements, as well as your lifestyle. For example, if you’re often traveling with your pup, you’ll probably want to opt for a dry or dehydrated food as opposed to a fresh frozen recipe that you’ll have to store in a refrigerator or freezer. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you select the grain-free recipe that’s right for you.

    Schnauzer puppy dog eating tasty dry food from bowl
    Image Credit: Maximilian100, Shutterstock

    Age

    Not only do puppies need to chow down more than their adult counterparts, but they also need a formula that contains the proper amount of calories, protein, and fat. Feeding them a diet formulated for adults can result in a malnourished pup. Conversely, an adult dog that is consistently fed a puppy recipe may gain too much weight. As your dog approaches their senior years, their metabolism slows and they’ll likely need to switch foods again to a senior formula.

    Preferences

    Some dogs might wolf down beef but turn up their nose at chicken. If your dog has clearly communicated that they prefer one protein over another, you’re free to indulge their whims (as long as they don’t have a health problem that restricts their diet).

    white dog looking at the camera before eating
    Image Credit: M Burke, Unsplash

    Allergies

    Although dog food allergies are rare, common meat proteins such as chicken, beef, and fish are the most likely culprits. If your vet recommends a limited ingredient diet to test for allergies, it’s best to go for a prescription diet or choose one that completely relies on novel proteins such as venison, rabbit, or buffalo. Be careful to fully scan the ingredients list. Even if a food is labeled with a safe meat such as “lamb” or “turkey,” it could still contain chicken, beef, or fish further down the list.

    Individual Dietary Requirements

    It’s best to always ask your vet for advice before altering your dog’s diet. Your vet is most familiar with their physical condition and can help you with some of the particulars. For example, if your dog needs to lose weight, they’ll likely recommend a turkey recipe over pork.

    Golden Retriever dog eating from the food bowl
    Image Credit: Chendongshan, Shutterstock

    Lifestyle

    Fresh frozen foods are usually healthier than dry food because they often contain human-grade ingredients and are less processed. However, they don’t necessarily fit everyone’s schedule or budget. These meals are more expensive than your typical bag of dry food, and require advance planning to order and thaw as needed.

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    A Note About Grain-Free Dog Foods

    Many owners choose to feed their dogs a grain-free diet for two common reasons. The first is that they believe that their dogs are strictly carnivores and don’t need grains, which is not true. Dogs are actually omnivores and can actually benefit from the fiber and nutrients found in grains. The second reason is that some dogs may be allergic to grains. This is a more valid reason, and yes, some dogs are allergic to grains. However, as previously mentioned, the more common allergens in dog food are proteins, especially chicken and beef.

    With that being said, it’s best to talk to your veterinarian if your dog does have a grain allergy or if you think that grain-free dog food is better for your dog. There are studies ongoing to investigate a potential link between grain-free dog foods and heart disease in dogs. However, it’s unclear if this is due to the lack of grains or if the link has to do with the peas and other ingredients that are often used in place of grains. Your vet can provide you with more information and let you know whether your dog may benefit from a grain-free diet and can recommend some of the best options.

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    Conclusion

    As our best overall choice, The Farmer’s Dog Turkey Recipe delivers fresh grain-free ingredients right to your pup’s plate. Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-free is our budget value option for a low cost kibble that doesn’t skimp on quality. Just Food for Dogs Venison and Squash Recipe is a great grain-free formula because it’s safe from common protein allergens while still presenting a balanced diet.

    ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food equips your dog with high-quality proteins and nutrients for a long life ahead. Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine is our vet’s choice for a grain-free diet because the fresh ingredients won’t wreak havoc on your dog’s tummy. Ultimately, the best grain-free recipe for your pup depends on individual factors such as their age, health condition, and lifestyle. Although we’d generally recommend any food on our list, talk to your vet if you have questions about which formula is right for you. Thank you for taking the time to read our reviews!

    See also:


    Featured Image Credit: Roberto Cabrera Castro, Shutterstock

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