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There’s a lot of buzz in the dog food world about grain-free diets these days. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and start to believe that grain-free is the way to go, but dogs have been eating grain-inclusive diets since they were first domesticated. While their ancestors relied on a carnivorous diet to get the nutrients they needed, our pups have evolved and adapted to allow for more diversity—including grains—at mealtime.
Dog foods with grains are often cheaper than grain-free options, offer well-rounded nutrition for the modern dog, and may even better support good heart health. Unless your pup has a specific grain intolerance or allergy, there’s not necessarily a reason to exclude grains from their diet. The key is making sure that your dog is eating the right grains—and in the right balance with other key nutrients like meat-based protein and fat.
We’ve rounded up some of the best grain-inclusive dog foods on the market, based on the guidelines set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). To make it easier to compare various types of food, we’ve also recalculated and noted their nutritional content on a dry-matter basis. This methodology adjusts for moisture content, which varies from one food type to another.
Best Budget: American Journey Active Life Formula Dry Food
American Journey is Chewy’s house brand, and the well-rounded formula sells for under $2 per pound ($.11/oz), putting it on the lower-cost end of the market—without sacrificing quality. The Active Life formula dry food features deboned chicken and chicken meal as the top two ingredients, with vegetables and wholesome grains like brown rice and oatmeal for nutritional support.
The dry kibble is indicated as good for dogs at all life stages. The key nutrition content levels (28% protein, 17% fat) agree—they align with the AAFCO guidelines for both adults and puppies. Plus, the formula includes supplemental nutrients like DHA, which is critical to support cognitive development in young dogs.
Pet parents with large breed puppies should be cautious, however: the calcium content is just under the maximum recommendation of 1.5%, and close enough to the line to warrant a conversation with your vet. The phosphorous levels in this food may also be nutritionally inappropriate for dogs with kidney or liver disease.
Nutritional Facts:
- Calories: 340 kcal/cup
- Protein: 28% min
- Fat: 17% min
- Fiber: 7% max
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): 0.06% min
- Calcium: 1.3% min
- Phosphorus: 1.1% min
- Zinc: 100 mg/kg min
- Selenium: .35 mg/kg min
- Vitamin E: 100 IU/kg min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.7% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: .6% min
- Taurine: .09% min
Best for Picky Eaters: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Beef and Brown Rice Recipe
Rice is a healthy grain for humans—and it’s a healthy grain for dogs too. This dry food from Blue Buffalo pairs rice with real beef and a variety of other high-quality whole food ingredients (including oatmeal, barley, peas, and flaxseed) to deliver a healthy dose of nutrition. Plus, it’s highly rated among picky eaters, helping to encourage your fickle pup to actually eat and get the nutrients they need.
The recipe contains 26% protein and 15% fat, right within recommended values for the average adult dog. Dogs with kidney and liver disease should be aware, however, that this food may contain too much phosphorous for their diet at 0.8%.
Nutrition Facts:
- 391 Kcals/cup
- Protein: 26% min
- Fat: 15% min
- Crude Fiber: 6% max
- Calcium: 1% min
- Phosphorous: .8% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: .6% min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.2% min
- Glucosamine: 400 mg/kg
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Best Fresh: Spot and Tango Lamb and Brown Rice Fresh Food
Packed with animal protein from fresh lamb, this fresh dog food formula provides a rich source of balanced nutrition and essential moisture for your dog. Spot and Tango sends a custom meal plan based on your dog’s specific needs to your door in regular deliveries.
One of three fresh recipe options from Spot and Tango, the Lamb and Brown Rice meal is packed with whole foods like spinach, carrots, blueberries, and peas. It’s high-protein at 39% and high-fat at 22% on a dry-matter basis, so you’ll want to discuss with your vet to determine if it’s the right food for your pup. But it’s gluten free—important for those with celiac disease who want to handle their dog’s food safely—and non-GMO, and meets AAFCO standards for all life stages.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 1,274 kcal/kg
- Protein: 39% min
- Fat: 22% min
- Fiber: 9% max
Best Dry Kibble: Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Dog Food Lamb and Barley Recipe
In addition to healthy grains like barley and oats, the Complete Health formulation from pet food brand Wellness is made from high-quality ingredients and packed with vitamins and nutrients to support your dog’s overall health. This includes essential fatty acids (for skin and coat health), pre- and probiotics (for digestive health), and vitamins A and E (to support immune function).
When it comes to AAFCO’s recommendations for adult dogs, you can’t get much more on target than this food, with 27% protein, 13% fat, and an estimated 40% carbohydrate content on a dry-matter basis. It’s an adult dog food, but pet parents with large breed puppies may want to consult with their vet (or even steer clear) as they transition their pup due to the 1.67% calcium content. Dogs with liver and kidney concerns may also want to avoid this food, as the phosphorous content well exceeds the low-phosphorous diets typically recommended.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 417 kcal ME/cup
- Protein: 27% min
- Fat: 13% min
- Fiber: 4% max
- Calcium: 1.67% min
- Phosphorus: 1.11% min
- Vitamin A: 25,000 IU/kg min
- Vitamin E: 200 IU/kg min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 3% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1.7% min
- Glucosamine: 250 mg/kg min
- Chondroitin Sulfate: 200 mg/kg min
- Taurine: .09% min
- Total Lactic Acid Microorganisms: 20,000,000 CFU/lb min
Best Dehydrated: The Honest Kitchen Food Clusters Whole Grain Chicken and Oat
The Honest Kitchen meets the FDA standards to label their food “human-grade.” This dog food is made with whole grains including oats, barley, and flaxseed. It contains no peas, lentils, potatoes, wheat, corn, or soy. The number one ingredient is cage-free chicken, and all ingredients have been minimally processed, using cold press, slow roast, and dehydration methods to preserve as many nutrients as possible.
With 27% protein and 16.5% fat content on a dry matter basis, the food is well within range of AAFCO’s guidelines for adult dogs.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 428 kcal/cup
- Protein: 27% min
- Fat: 16.5% min
- Fiber: 6% max
- Vitamin E: 60 IU/kg min
Best Organic: Jinx Chicken, Brown Rice, and Sweet Potato Dry Food
Jinx is a relative newcomer to the dog food market, having launched in 2019. This formula for dogs of all ages features fresh chicken as the primary ingredient, with brown rice and pumpkin for supplemental nutrition. It’s also enriched with 20-plus “superfoods” like sweet potato, beet pulp, pumpkin, cranberry, spinach, and turmeric.
At 30% protein content on a dry matter basis, this food falls just inside the category of high protein. It also features 1.3% calcium, so while it’s marketed as good for all life stages, pet parents with large breed puppies may want to consult their veterinarian before feeding.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 380 kcal/cup
- Protein: 30% min
- Fat: 16% min
- Fiber: 6% max
- Calcium: 1.3%
- Zinc: 110 mg/kg
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids: .9%
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids: 2.8%
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): 60 mg/kg
- Bacillus coagulans: 20M CFU/lb
Best Canned Dog Food With Grain: Purina One Beef & Barley Entree
If your dog prefers wet food, this beef and barley entree from Purina One is made with real beef. The hearty canned food features chunks of beef in a thick gravy. Plus, there’s no fillers, artificial additives, or poultry by-products. It’s a popular choice among pet parents, with top ratings for affordability, quality, and taste.
On a dry content basis, each can holds a whopping 50% protein and 15% fat content. Used as a topper or a meal supplement along with a lower-protein kibble, that may be within reason for most dogs. Served all on its own, it’s a better fit for highly active canine athletes and working dogs than couch potato pups.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 342 kcal/can
- Protein: 50% min
- Fat: 15% min
- Fiber: 7.5% min
Best High-Protein: Orijen Amazing Grains Regional Red Dry Dog Food
Many high-protein dog foods are grain-free—that’s part of how they pack so much protein into the formula. This Amazing Grains food from Orijen balances premium animal protein with wholesome grains like oats, quinoa, and chia for a well-balanced performance dog food. Orijen’s focus is on making “biologically appropriate” foods that align with a dog’s natural nutritional needs. The first five ingredients in this food are animal proteins, with beef, wild boar, lamb, pork, and fish all included in the recipe.
Even with a hearty serving of grains, this dry food still comes in at 43% protein and 20% fat content on a dry-matter basis. That makes it a high-protein, high-fat option for active and working dogs or others on a high-protein diet as approved by a veterinarian. Additionally, while the food is indicated as appropriate for all life stages, the calcium content is higher than the recommended maximum of 1.5% for large breed puppies. Pups with health concerns related to their liver and kidneys should also be wary of the 1.4% phosphorous content.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 483 kcal/8 oz cup
- Protein: 43% min
- Fat: 20% min
- Fiber: 4.5% max
- Dietary Starch: 20% max
- Sugars: 1.1% max
- DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid): 0.3% min
- EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid): 0.3% min
- Calcium: 2.1% min
- Phosphorus: 1.4% min
- Vitamin E 750 IU/kg min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 1.9% min
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 1.5% min
- Taurine: 0.1% min
- Glucosamine: 500 mg/kg min
- Total Microorganisms: 1 Million CFU/lb
Best Subscription: Ollie Fresh Food (Chicken Recipe) (Verified Review)
With a subscription starting at $2/day, Ollie foods are gently cooked, flash-frozen, and shipped right to your door. This fresh dog food formula contains plenty of real animal protein, like chicken and chicken liver. Rice, fresh fruits, and veggies provide natural sources of key nutrients. This helps to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. When our Rover reviewer tested the food with their pup, they described the portions as similar in form to human food, with recognizable ingredients mixed into the paté.
This chicken recipe shown here features a simple formula of fresh chicken and chicken liver mixed with nutritious fruits and veggies like carrots, peas, and spinach. Ollie Fresh Foods come in five different recipes, each with a different protein source. All are high in protein, ranging from 31% (chicken) to 38% (lamb) on a dry-matter basis. Fat content similarly ranges from 12% (chicken) to 27% (lamb). The higher-protein recipes may be best for active and working breeds, as well as some overweight or senior pups, with vet approval.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 1298 kcal ME/kg
- Protein: 31% min
- Fat: 12% min
- Fiber: 8% max
Best for Puppies: Nutro Max Puppy Farm-Raised Chicken Recipe
A good diet is essential for dogs of all ages. It’s especially critical at the puppy stage, when your dog’s body and brain are still developing. This dry kibble is formulated to support the growth of puppies up to one year old (and beyond, in some cases). It’s made with farm-raised chicken and supplemented with whole grain barley, rice, and variety of vegetables, vitamins, and minerals.
The AAFCO recommends a minimum of 22% protein on a dry content basis for puppies. At 29%, this puppy food is well within range to support their steady growth. It also has 18% fat content on a dry content basis, and it’s fortified with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, DHA, and natural fiber are all included to support your young pup’s overall health and wellbeing.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 380 kcal ME/cup
- Protein: 29% min
- Fat: 18% min
- Fiber: 4% max
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: .6% min
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.8% min
Best for Weight Loss: Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight
A balanced diet is critical to help get your dog to a healthy weight—and to keep them there. This veggie-powered stew is lower in calories than most canned foods and balances chicken protein with rice, carrots, green peas, spinach, and more.
With just 9% fat content on a dry matter basis, this Perfect Weight canned food is considered low fat. For humans looking to lose weight, low fat is often a no-brainer, but it’s not so simple for dogs. While Hill’s Science Diet is generally respected in the pet community for their issue-specific formulas, you’ll want to discuss your weight loss goals and options with your veterinarian. They can help ensure that your dog isn’t dipping too low in their intake of fats and other nutrients on their journey to better health.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 247 kcal/can
- Protein: 25% min
- Fat: 9% min
- Fiber: 25% max
What To Look for When Shopping for Dog Food with Grains
Our list of the best dog foods with grain is a starting point, but it’s certainly not comprehensive of all the great grain-inclusive dog foods out there. The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, AAFCO standards, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and conversations with veterinary experts. Of course, we’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
To select the best dog food with grain for your pet, you may want to do some of your own research—especially if you’re looking for a particular type of food. When reading dog food labels, grains you may see include corn, rice, oats, barley, wheat, rye, and sorghum. “These are the standard grains in dog foods,” says Dr. Leslie Brooks, veterinarian and veterinary advisor at Betterpet, an online resource promoting responsible pet ownership. “They are all fine for dogs to eat and are a good source of fiber as well.”
If you want to maximize your dog’s nutrition, however, you should look for dog foods with whole grains. Check for options like whole wheat and brown rice that haven’t been overly milled and stripped of their nutritional properties. “Whole grains . . . are particularly good as they are a source of energy, protein, vitamin E, and linoleic acid,” says Brooks. She also recommends using the AAFCO recommendations as a guide, as we’ve done here. Many dog food labels will contain an AAFCO statement; she suggests that you don’t purchase any dog food without one.
Before Switching Dog Foods, Make Sure To Talk to Your Vet
Whether you’re looking for a dog food with grains to save money, protect your dog from heart disease, or simply because you believe in grains as an essential part of their diet, we’ve introduced a lot of great options. Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, however, talk to your veterinarian. Your vet understands the full scope of your dog’s dietary needs and health history. They can give you personalized advice on the most nutritious, healthy food options for your dog.