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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Raw dog food is on the rise, with proponents suggesting raw diets retain more nutrients than dry and help digestion, coat health, energy, and body weight. Science hasn’t weighed in—but enthusiasm is growing, both for frozen and freeze-dried raw options.
You’ll find frozen raw dog food in nuggets, patties, or rolls that can be fed as-is after thawing. Freeze-dried raw food—where moisture has been removed at low pressure to create a shelf-stable kibble—typically needs to be rehydrated with water when serving.
Raw dog food isn’t for every pup, especially some puppies, seniors, and immunocompromised dogs. If you’re interested in giving it a try, talk with your veterinarian to get the green light, and introduce the change of food slowly. It’s also important to prioritize high-quality ingredients and nutritionally complete formulas.
To help you find a good fit, we’ve rounded up the best raw dog food brands on the market, plus their ingredients and processing methods.
Instinct Frozen Raw Bites Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
The most affordable frozen raw option on our list, this food gets solid ratings from consumers, combining quality and price.
Our picks
Best Freeze-Dried for Puppies
Stella & Chewy’s Perfectly Puppy Beef & Salmon Freeze-Dried Raw Patties Read our reviewBest Transparent Freeze-Dried
Best Freeze-Dried for Picky Eaters
Steve’s Real Food Turducken Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets Read our reviewBest Freeze-Dried for Weight Loss
Halo Meal Bites Whitefish Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog FoodRead our reviewBest Freeze-Dried Topper
Wellness CORE Bowl Boosters Bare Turkey Freeze-Dried Dog Food MixerRead our reviewBest Frozen Budget: Instinct Frozen Raw Bites Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
Priced at around $0.40 per ounce, Instinct Frozen Raw Bites offer a more economical option for raw feeding. The nugget-like bites may also thaw faster than the brand’s frozen patties, providing the same nutrient makeup but in a more convenient feeding form. Instinct’s raw frozen dog food is available in a variety of single-protein formulas, including chicken, beef, lamb, and Alaskan pollock. This brand also offers a puppy-specific recipe.
This cage-free chicken recipe primarily consists of chicken muscle meat, chicken organs, and ground chicken bones. Measured as dry matter, the food contains 40% protein and 30% fat. A short list of fruits and vegetables provides essential nutrients and dietary fiber to support gut health.
Key Nutrients:
- 1,596 kcal/kg
- Protein: 40%
- Fat: 30%
- Fiber: 10%
- Moisture: 70%
Ingredients: Chicken (including Ground Chicken Bone), Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Carrots, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash, Ground Miscanthus Grass, Montmorillonite Clay, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate), DL-Methionine, Blueberries, Spinach
Best Frozen Rolls: BARF World Raw Frozen Chubs for Dogs
BARF World Meat Eater Diet Raw Frozen Chubs
Made with 20% produce and 80% meat, organs, and bone, this biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) comes in 2-pound rolls in a variety of flavors.
Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, or BARF, is a nutritional concept this company pioneered. It was one of the first commercial raw foods for dogs and remains a popular choice. BARF offers an array of flavors, all primarily consisting of muscle meat, organ meat, and raw bones.
Sold in 2-pound frozen rolls called “chubs,” BARF raw dog food is formulated to meet the minimum nutrient levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for dogs. These recipes are appropriate for puppies as well as adult dogs. You can purchase the chubs by the case in 12-, 24-, or 48-pound quantities.
As with any raw food, dog parents should follow safe food handling procedures when using BARF raw dog food, which should also be kept frozen.
Key Nutrients (for Meat Eater Diet recipe):
- 1,756 kcal/kg
- Protein: 41.4%
- Fat: 34.5%
- Fiber: 6.9%
- Moisture: 71%
Ingredients: Chicken, Beef Kidney, Chicken Necks, Beef Liver, Beef Ribs, Broccoli, Egg, Flax Seed, Alfalfa, Carrot, Apples, Blueberries, Limestone, Salt, Fish Oil, Garlic, MonoCalcium Dicalcium Phosphate, Mannon Oligosaccharide, D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Form of Natural Vitamin E Supplement), Zinc Oxide, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Beta Carotene, Manganese Oxide, Copper Amino Acid Complex.
Best Frozen Patties: Viva Ground or Chunk Patties for Dogs
Viva Ground or Chunk Patties for Dogs
These frozen patties come ground-up for dogs new to eating raw or in chunks for experienced raw eaters who enjoy more texture.
Free of antibiotics and hormones, Viva’s single-protein raw dog food patties feature USDA-inspected and humanely raised meat. Starting at $0.50 an ounce, protein options include chicken, turkey, beef, duck, rabbit, and bison (a seasonal choice). These single-protein recipes meet the AAFCO nutritional levels for adult dogs, and all follow the same formula: 90% meat, 8% non-GMO fruits and veggies, and 2% natural supplements. They also come ground-up or in chunks, with chunk sizes more suitable for hand-feeding or dogs who prefer more texture. The frozen patties can be bought individually or as part of a subscription plan.
If you have a puppy, Viva also makes a ground beef and turkey puppy blend with 90% humanely raised meat, 5% non-GMO fruits and veggies, and 5% natural supplements.
Key Nutrients (for Ground Chicken recipe):
- 1,232 kcal/kg
- Protein: 62.6%
- Fat: 28.2%
- Fiber: 1.7%
- Moisture: 77%
Ingredients: Chicken with Ground Bone, Chicken Heart, Chicken Gizzard, Chicken Liver, Organic Carrots, Organic Cranberries, Organic Broccoli, Organic Green Beans, Organic Flaxseed Oil, Organic Ginger, Organic Icelandic Kelp, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Wheatgrass, Vitamin E (Tocopherols), Organic Shiitake Mushrooms, New Zealand Green Mussels
Best Frozen Bulk: We Feed Raw Patty Recipes
We Feed Raw Patty Recipes
We Feed Raw offers raw frozen patties in bulk to reduce your shipping costs and carbon footprint.
We Feed Raw is another popular option for frozen raw patties. Formulated by a Ph.D. animal nutritionist with over 30 years of experience in animal nutrition, each recipe features meaty meat (muscle meat, connective tissue, and fat), organ meat, and bone. Free of fillers, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors, this raw dog food contains a vitamin and mineral premix for boosted nutrition.
Protein options include beef, chicken, duck, turkey, venison, and lamb. Choose from individual proteins in 5-pound units or a mix of beef, lamb, and turkey in differently-sized bulk boxes. The small box is ideal for smaller pups and includes 24 (6-ounce) raw patties. If you have medium or large dogs, the classic box features 18 (16-ounce) raw patties, and the big box features 27 (16-ounce) patties.
When buying in bulk, your food will cold-ship for free. You’ll also get 20% off your first box when you sign up for a subscription plan.
Key Nutrients (for Beef recipe):
- 1,800 kcal/kg
- Protein: 38.1%
- Fat: 31.3%
- Fiber: 3.2%
- Moisture: 68%
Ingredients: Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Necks (with bone), WFR vitamin + mineral mix [Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid]
Easiest Frozen to Feed: Maev Raw Dog Food
Maev Raw Dog Food
Flash-frozen in individual bite sizes, this raw dog food is one of the easiest to feed, with no thawing needed.
Like the Instinct Frozen Bites above, Maev offers flash-frozen raw bites that require no prepping or thawing—simply pour the food into your dog’s bowl, and it’s ready to serve. Available in beef or chicken or a mix of both, each protein-rich formula features lean meat (plus liver, gizzards, and sweetbreads), fresh produce, and functional supplements.
Supplements include chicory root to help encourage gut restoration and smooth digestion, fish oils for skin and coat support, and elderberry and turmeric for hip and joint health. Each formula is AAFCO-compliant and recommended for dogs one year and up.
Maev also offers a flexible subscription plan and vet-recommended portion sizes customized for your individual dog.
Key Nutrients (for Beef recipe):
- 3,500 kcal/kg
- Protein: 43.5%
- Fat: 18.8%
- Fiber: 6.5 %
- Moisture: 77%
Ingredients: USDA-Beef, USDA-Beef Liver, USDA-Beef Sweetbreads, Potato, Green Beans, Zucchini, Blueberries, Kale, Peanut Butter, Flaxseed Oil, Fish Oil, Mineral Blend, Supplement Blend, Fish Oil
Best Freeze-Dried Nuggets: Primal Beef Formula Raw Freeze-Dried Nuggets
Featuring a biologically appropriate blend of beef muscle meat, beef livers, and ground beef bone, this Primal freeze-dried formula is designed to be easily digestible for dogs. Organic fruits and vegetables deliver whole-food sources of essential nutrients and dietary fiber.
Measured as dry matter, this recipe contains 50% protein and 31.5% fat. Each freeze-dried nugget contains about 44 calories. Overall, it’s a protein-rich, energy-dense choice formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult dogs. When feeding your dog Primal’s recipes, you’ll want to rehydrate it with water, like most freeze-dried raw food.
Because this beef recipe contains a single protein source, it may be a good option for dogs with allergies to chicken or other common proteins. Primal offers other single-protein recipes in chicken, duck, lamb, pork, rabbit, and venison flavors.
Key Nutrients:
- 5,069 kcal/kg
- Protein: 50%
- Fat: 31.5%
- Fiber: 4.3%
- Moisture: 8%
Ingredients: Beef (with Ground Bone), Beef Livers, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Kale, Organic Apples, Organic Parsley, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Blueberries, Organic Cranberries, Organic Broccoli, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Cod Liver Oil, Montmorillonite Clay, Fish Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Dried Yeast, Vitamin E Supplement, Organic Ground Alfalfa, Dried Organic Kelp, Liquid Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Liquid Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Liquid Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product, Liquid Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Taurine, Organic Rosemary Extract
Best Freeze-Dried for Puppies: Stella & Chewy’s Perfectly Puppy Beef & Salmon Freeze-Dried Raw Patties
Featuring beef muscle meat, whole salmon, and beef organs, this freeze-dried Stella & Chewy’s recipe meets AAFCO nutrient requirements for puppies. In addition to delivering over 48% dry matter protein, it’s rich in DHA to help support puppy brain development.
In contrast with some of Stella & Chewy’s other freeze-dried dog foods, this puppy formula is enhanced with probiotics. Combined with its meat-based formula, the recipe is a highly digestible choice for dogs. Dog guardians also report that dogs find it very appealing—even picky eaters.
While formulated with puppies’ unique nutritional needs in mind, this freeze-dried recipe is appropriate for dogs of all life stages. This means you don’t necessarily need to change your puppy’s diet when they stop growing. Stella & Chewy’s also makes a chicken and salmon blend for puppies if you want to add variation to your pup’s mealtimes.
Key Nutrients:
- 4,828 kcal/kg
- Protein: 48.4%
- Fat: 35.8%
- Fiber: 5.3%
- Moisture: 5%
Ingredients: Beef, Salmon with Ground Bone, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Tripe, Pumpkin Seed, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Blueberries, Sunflower Oil, Chia Seed, New Zealand Green Mussel, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Sodium Phosphate, Mixed Tocopherol (Preservative), L-Carnitine, Turmeric, Sea Salt, Dried Pediococcus acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium longum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid.
Best Transparent Freeze-Dried: Open Farm Harvest Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Patties
Ingredient safety is essential with any diet—especially with raw food. Not only does Open Farm adhere to high standards for quality, but all ingredients are humanely raised and sustainably sourced. Open Farm is committed to transparency, so all ingredients are 100% traceable as well.
This freeze-dried recipe from Open Farm features chicken as the sole source of animal protein, including chicken muscle meat as well as organs and ground bone. Coconut oil is the main source of added fat, though salmon oil appears later on the ingredients list as an animal-derived source of omega-3s.
Measured as dry matter, this recipe contains 43.2% protein and 40% fat. This makes it an energy-dense choice, offering about 64 calories per patty or 141 calories per ounce. Follow your veterinarian’s feeding recommendations carefully to avoid accidentally overfeeding your dog.
Key Nutrients:
- 4,928 kcal/kg
- Protein: 43.2%
- Fat: 40%
- Fiber: 5.3%
- Moisture: 5%
Ingredients: Chicken with Ground Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Neck, Organic Butternut Squash, Organic Carrots, Organic Cranberries, Organic Blueberries, Montmorillonite Clay, Coconut Oil, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid), Organic Spinach, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Kale, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Calcium Iodate), Salmon Oil, Dried Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols (A Preservative), Magnesium Sulfate, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Rosemary Extract
Best Freeze-Dried for Picky Eaters: Steve’s Real Food Turducken Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets
Steve’s Real Food Turducken Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets
Protein-rich chicken, turkey, and duck make this freeze-dried recipe from Steve’s Real Food an appealing choice for even the finickiest of dogs.
If your dog has grown tired of their usual food, a multi-protein raw formula might appeal to them. This freeze-dried recipe from Steve’s Real Food combines turkey, chicken, and duck in a simple, easy-to-digest formula. It’s a little higher in protein than the single-recipe chicken and duck formulas from this brand.
This recipe follows the same formulation as the BARF frozen rolls above, consisting of 80% meat, organ, and bone and 20% produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables contribute essential nutrients while salmon oil acts as the food’s main source of added fat. It’s enriched with raw goat’s milk, which may support healthy digestion.
Made primarily with animal-derived ingredients, this raw food is high in protein and relatively low in carbohydrates. It contains about 53.7% dry matter protein and is energy-dense at about 140 calories per ounce.
Key Nutrients:
- 4,938 kcal/kg
- Protein: 53.7%
- Fat: 35.1%
- Fiber: 1.7%
- Moisture: 6%
Ingredients: Ground Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Ground Chicken, Broccoli, Ground Duck, Chicken Liver, Apples, Romaine Lettuce, Celery, Goat’s Milk, Sesame Seed, Chia Seed, Coconut Oil, New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel, Taurine, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Dried Kelp, Inulin, Ground Eggshell
Best Freeze-Dried for Weight Loss: Halo Meal Bites Whitefish Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
Combined with hydration and proper exercise, a calorie-restricted diet may help your dog lose weight. This freeze-dried Halo raw food is relatively low in calories but still provides plenty of protein to help your dog maintain lean mass. It consists only of whitefish, herring oil, and nutrient supplements, so it’s also highly digestible.
Measured as dry matter, the food contains 63% protein. This whitefish formula is significantly lower in fat than Halo’s beef and turducken recipes. Of the four flavors available, it also has the lowest calorie density at about 114 calories per ounce.
Key Nutrients:
- 4,005 kcal/kg
- Protein: 63%
- Fat: 21.7%
- Fiber: 2.2%
- Moisture: 8%
Ingredients: Whitefish, Herring Oil (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Mixed Tocopherols (preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Iron Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex.
Best Freeze-Dried For Weight Gain: Orijen Tundra Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Dogs with low body condition scores can often benefit from a calorie-dense diet, which is often achieved through increased levels of fat. Protein is important, however, to ensure that muscle mass accounts for the majority of the dog’s weight gain.
This Tundra freeze-dried raw formula from Orijen contains about 142 calories per ounce. Measured as dry matter, it offers about 38.5% protein and 35.4% fat. The protein-to-fat ratio is much closer than Orijen’s original freeze-dried recipes, which may help support healthy weight gain.
Made with 90% animal ingredients, this recipe is highly digestible for dogs. It contains a biologically appropriate blend of muscle meat, organs, and bones with prebiotic fiber for digestive support.
Key Nutrients:
- 4,980 kcal/kg
- Protein: 38.5%
- Fat: 35.4%
- Fiber: 5.2%
- Moisture: 4%
Ingredients: Chicken Ground With Bone, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Whole Herring, Eggs, Pea Fiber, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Flounder, Chicken Heart, Whole Pumpkin, Collard Greens, Carrots, Whole Apples, Salt, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Potassium Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement
Best Freeze-Dried Topper: Wellness CORE Bowl Boosters Bare Turkey Freeze-Dried Dog Food Mixer
An all-raw diet can be expensive, so if you’re looking for an economical way to improve the quality of your dog’s diet, a freeze-dried food topper might be a good start. Wellness offers two freeze-dried toppers: beef and turkey.
This recipe is made primarily with freeze-dried turkey hearts. It contains 65.2% protein and 21.7% fat, both measured as dry matter. Being an extremely limited-ingredient product, it’s highly digestible for dogs.
Because this product is calorie-dense but not nutritionally complete, be sure to balance the addition against the calorie content of your dog’s staple diet.
Key Nutrients:
- 4,400 kcal/kg
- Protein: 65.2%
- Fat: 21.7%
- Fiber: 1.6%
- Moisture: 8%
Ingredients: Turkey Hearts, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract
How We Chose
The products featured here are based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, comprehensive analysis of customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We selected raw dog food formulated according to AAFCO’s nutrient profiles for dogs, prioritizing recipes that highlight animal-derived proteins and fats with minimal to moderate carbohydrate content. Our picks are also influenced by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.