10 Best Limited Ingredient Dog Foods: 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Dog parents know how confusing it can be to decide on healthy dog food due to endless options. Sometimes, ingredients may show up on a dog food label and you have no idea what the ingredient even is, or if it is even necessary and healthy for your dog.

Nowadays, dog food with limited ingredients is available that formulate healthy dog food with only necessary ingredients.¹ Some dogs suffer from food allergies, and when dog food has many ingredients, it’s hard to pinpoint the culprits. In this guide, we’ll list the top 10 reviews of the best limited-ingredient dog food available on the market today. Our goal is to help you choose the right food for your dog, especially if your dog has any sensitivities or allergies.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 10 Best Limited Ingredient Dog Foods

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Food Subscription – Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog uses the freshest human-grade ingredients possible to formulate healthy dog food, and they even deliver the food right to your doorstep. When you buy from The Farmer’s Dog, you will not receive burnt brown balls, but rather fresh food that your dog deserves.

The company offers four different recipes: beef, turkey, chicken, and pork. All food is prepared in USDA kitchens and adheres to AAFCO’s nutritional standards. The food is quickly frozen for shipping and delivered to your door in pre-portioned packages. The limited ingredients come from trusted local farms and reputable food suppliers that follow USDA standards. All food is 100% complete and balanced and catered to your dog’s needs. The healthy ingredients you’ll find are carrots, broccoli, spinach, chickpeas, kale, beef liver, sweet potatoes, lentils, Brussels sprouts, and chicken liver, all depending on the recipe.

To start, you’ll answer a few questions about your dog, and they will formulate a meal plan they feel will benefit your dog the most, depending on your answers. Customer service is stellar, along with the food, making it our pick for the best overall limited-ingredient dog food. This food subscription is more expensive than regular store-bought kibble, but the quality is worth the expense.

Disclaimer: Note the term “human-grade” is not legally regulated and serves largely for marketing purposes only.

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2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice – Budget Buy

Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice has only six natural ingredients, with lamb meal being the first. Lamb meal is high in protein and has less water than fresh lamb meat, but it’s a terrific alternative for a protein source for dogs that have allergies to beef or chicken. It does contain chicken fat, which is not considered a chicken allergy due to its lack of protein.

Plenty of vitamins and minerals are added to this food, including taurine, an amino acid that promotes eye and heart health. This food is gluten-free and free from artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. This dry kibble is for adult dogs and comes in several bag sizes: a 6-pound bag, 14-pound bag, 28-pound bag, or a bundle of 2, 28-pound bags at a reasonable price compared to its competitors.

The kibble size may be too large for smaller dogs, and it may cause increased thirst in some dogs. However, with its natural limited ingredients, added vitamins and minerals, gluten-free formula, and reasonable price, this food comes in as the best limited ingredient dog food for the money.

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3. Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food Subscription

Nom Nom is a fresh dog food delivery service. The founders recruited board-certified veterinary nutritionists to formulate this healthy dog food, and the results are fresh food with limited ingredients and no fillers, artificial flavors, or by-products. After entering your dog’s info, such as weight, breed, activity level, etc., Nom Nom will create a meal plan just for your dog. All recipes have their own fresh ingredients, such as carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, and much more.

Unlike most fresh dog food delivery services, you don’t have to subscribe for your dog to enjoy this food because it’s available at certain pet food stores across the country. You can also order samples of all four recipes from the website before committing without a subscription.

It comes frozen in dry ice, and all meals come pre-portioned. All you have to do is thaw it and serve it. It is 100% complete and balanced and fortified with vitamins and minerals your dog requires on a daily basis. They offer discounts for multi-dog households, and you’ll receive perks as a subscriber, such as free surprises from time to time within deliveries, and early notifications on new recipes, treats, and supplements.

This food is expensive, but the quality ingredients make it worthwhile if it fits into your budget.

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4. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy Recipe

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy Recipe contains your puppy’s necessary ingredients to grow healthy and strong. Real chicken is the first ingredient, and the brown rice provides a sufficient amount of fiber (4%). This limited-ingredients formula only contains what your puppy needs, such as an excellent protein source, healthy grains, and no gluten.

It contains fish oil that aids in your puppy’s brain development, and it’s suitable for all breeds big and small. It’s more affordable than other dog foods on our list, and it’s available in a 4-pound bag or a 24-pound bag.

If your pup has a chicken allergy, Natural Balance offers other sources of protein, such as lamb or salmon. Some consumers reported that this food gave their puppy diarrhea, so it’s wise to monitor your pup, as the food may not work for all puppies.

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5. Castor & Pollux ORGANIX Organic Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe

Castor & Pollux ORGANIX Organic Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe is a blend of superfoods, including blueberries, organic sweet potatoes, and organic flaxseed. USDA-certified organic chicken is the first ingredient, and the chicken comes from free-range chickens with no added hormones. This food contains coconut oil and healthy grains to promote a healthy digestive system. It has a 3.5% fiber content and contains no artificial preservatives.

This USDA organic dry kibble is suitable for all breeds and sizes, and it’s crafted with non-GMO ingredients and vitamins and minerals that dogs need to live happy and healthy.

Some consumers report tummy issues with their dogs after eating this food. Oatmeal is one of the main ingredients and may not work well for all dogs. It is also expensive, but you have three bag size choices: 4-pound, 10-pound, or an 18-pound bag.

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6. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Lamb

If your dog loves the taste of lamb, Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe could be an excellent option for a limited ingredient dog food. This food works well for dogs with food allergies to grains or corn, and it contains no wheat or soy. This food has only one animal protein (lamb) and one vegetable (peas). The raw-coated kibble is freeze-dried, and it retains all of the vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. It also omits dairy, eggs, and potatoes.

Some dog parents report that this food makes their dogs vomit and have diarrhea, so it may not work for all dogs. This food is also pricey, but you have the choice between a 4-pound bang and a 20-pound bag.

Disclaimer: Grain-free diets are not ideal for every dog. Grains are beneficial to most dogs unless they have an allergy. We advise you to consult your veterinarian before switching your dog to a grain-free diet.

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7. NUTRO SO SIMPLE Adult Beef & Rice Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food

NUTRO SO SIMPLE Adult Beef & Rice Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food is just what the name states—simple. This natural adult dog food uses only a handful of non-GMO ingredients, and real beef is the first ingredient listed. It’s loaded with natural flavors, vitamins, and minerals through flaxseeds, eggs, and whole grains.

Dog parents with picky eaters report that their dog will not eat the food, but most dogs seem to enjoy the taste. It is one of the more affordable limited ingredient dog foods on the list, and you can choose either a 4-pound bag or an 11-pound bag for a reasonable price.

It does contain peas, which is a controversial ingredient due to the ongoing study of peas possibly contributing to heart disease in dogs. This study, however, has not yet been confirmed.

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8. ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains

ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food is loaded with fiber (6%) and serves doggies that need extra fiber in their diet well. It contains pumpkin, oats, butternut squash, and wholesome grains for optimal gut health, and it has no gluten or legumes for doggies with allergies to those foods. There are no artificial flavors or preservatives, and the lamb is grass-fed.

A downside is the food may look old and dried out. It is also expensive. However, if your dog is not a lamb fan, ACANA offers other flavors that may be more suitable for your canine pal.

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9. Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet with Healthy Grains Real Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe

Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet with Healthy Grains Real Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe is an excellent option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. This food is formulated to aid with digestive issues using nine key components: deboned salmon, salmon meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, sweet potatoes, sunflower oil, natural flavor, and flaxseed. It also contains plenty of vitamins and minerals to round out this nutritional yet gentle formula.

It’s a little more affordable than its competitors, and it comes in a 12-pound bag or a 22-pound bag. There are no peas, dairy, eggs, wheat, or soy in this food, so you’re good to go if your dog has allergies to these foods.

Sometimes the kibble size may be inconsistent, meaning it may be light and large one time and dark and small the next. However, there should be no change in the formula or the taste for your pooch.

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10. American Journey Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

If your dog has an allergy to grains and you need grain-free, American Journey Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food may be worth a try. Deboned salmon is the first ingredient, and it offers plenty of carbs with peas and sweet potatoes. It has sunflower oil and flaxseed that provide omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and it has no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.

Peas are a bit controversial due to the ongoing study to determine if peas cause heart disease in dogs, but this has not yet been confirmed.

The smell of this food is quite pungent due to the salmon, and it may cause soft stools in some dogs. Some dogs may produce more stools in a day than usual from eating this food.

Disclaimer: Grain-free diets are not ideal for every dog. Grains are beneficial to most dogs unless they have an allergy. We advise you to consult your veterinarian before switching your dog to a grain-free diet.

 

Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Limited Ingredient Dog Food

Now that we’ve listed our top 10 reviews for the best limited-ingredient dog food, here are some topics that may help you make a decision.

What Are Limited Ingredients Exactly?

Dog food that advertises it has “limited ingredients” means just that—the food has limited ingredients that are only necessary for a dog’s health. Limited ingredient dog food works well for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs.

The term “limited ingredient” is not regulated and is used loosely. However, there are still fewer ingredients than in other foods, focusing on animal protein and a vegetable or carbohydrates. There is no regulation on the number of ingredients, but there will be fewer than in other dog foods. The importance here is knowing what the ingredients are rather than the number of ingredients.

How to Read Food Labels

When looking at dog food labels, you’ll definitely see fewer ingredients on the list than other dog foods, but as we’ve mentioned, it’s important to know what those ingredients are and how they help your dog.

The first and main ingredient should always be an animal protein. Manufacturers are required by law to list the ingredients in order from the main ingredient and then on down to the last. The ingredient that is listed first is what the food has the most of. The ingredient listed last means the food has the least amount of that ingredient. So, look for protein as the first ingredient, such as chicken, lamb, beef, or another type of animal protein. If your dog has a chicken allergy, you’ll want to avoid that particular food. The first four ingredients are the most important, so after the protein, a vegetable or carb should follow within the first four components of the recipe.

What Are Meat Meals?

Meat meal shows up on our list as part of the ingredients and is usually the second one listed. Meat meal is comprised of many nutrients, contrary to what people may believe¹. Meat meal comes from mammal tissues of a protein source, whether it’s lamb, beef, chicken, etc. There are no hooves, hair, blood, manure, or stomach contents.

The mammal tissue goes through a rendering process that kills any disease-causing bacteria, leaving behind a high protein source². Some manufacturers will specify what source the meat meal came from. For example, lamb meal or chicken meal.

Sometimes, the manufacturer may not specify the meat source and label it just as “meat meal.” In that case, the source comes from a warm-blooded animal of unknown origin. Try to stick to a meat meal that specifies the source.

What’s the Deal With the Pea Dilemma?

The FDA is conducting ongoing research about whether or not peas in dog food cause dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM for short.³; Peas, lentils, and other legumes were added to dog food during the grain-free craze, which omitted corn, wheat, rice, and other grains in hopes of helping dogs with food allergies. Recent studies show a possible link between DCM and peas, which are often in grain-free diets. DCM is showing up in breeds that are not predisposed to DCM, which has caused red flags.

Usually, if a dog has a food allergy, it is from the protein source and not grains. While this study is still ongoing and no conclusion has been made, it’s wise to check with your vet before feeding a grain-free diet, as it may not be necessary.

 

Conclusion

For the best overall limited-ingredient dog food, The Farmer’s Dog combines fresh ingredients in pre-portioned packages for optimal health. Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice provides high protein with limited ingredients at the best value. Nom Nom is 100% complete and balanced with fresh ingredients.

We hope our reviews help with your search. Good luck and happy searching!

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Featured Image Credit: manushot, Shutterstock