Best Dog Food with Grains: Wholesome Choices for Balanced Nutrition

Grain-free dog food or grain-free diets have been all the rage these past several years. With the discovery that kibbles filled with cheap grains such as corn or wheat have been contributing to many health conditions in dogs, pet food companies have shifted the focus to providing more and more grain-free options. 

However, not all dogs do well on a grain-free diet. In fact, some of the best dog food for dogs available include grains. Find more information on the best dog food with grain in our in-depth review.

Grain-free Foods vs Grain-inclusive Foods

Grain-free Dog Foods: These diets were created to help dogs with allergies and food intolerances by excluding grains like wheat, corn, and soy. Instead, they use ingredients such as legumes and potatoes. Grain-free foods can be beneficial for dogs with specific grain allergies and may help with weight management due to ingredients like peas, which offer fiber and other nutrients.

Grain-inclusive Dog Foods: These contain grains like brown rice, oats, and barley, providing essential nutrients, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Whole grains are generally less processed, highly digestible, and less likely to cause allergic reactions compared to corn, wheat, or soy. These types of grains are not bad for dogs.

Choosing the Best Dog Food with Grain: Which is good for dogs? The best choice depends on your dog's specific needs and health conditions. If your dog has no grain allergies, a grain-inclusive diet can offer balanced nutrition. For dogs with specific dietary needs, a grain-free diet might be better. Always consult your veterinarian before making any dietary changes to ensure it meets your dog's nutritional requirements.

 

Our Best Dog Food with Grain List

To help save you some time in searching for the best dog foods with grains, we have narrowed down your search by collating the best dry, wet, fresh, and raw dehydrated dog foods with grains on the market.

If you are not able to find the right combination of ingredients for your picky pooch, you’ll be pleased to know that these brands make the same grain-inclusive recipes in a variety of flavors. You can easily find chicken meal, fish, or even pork meal based versions of the featured products.

1. Nom Nom Turkey Fare Gently Cooked Dog Food

Nom Nom is one of the top dog food brands that offers gently cooked meals, delivered frozen. These gourmet meals are pre-portioned to perfection, making them suitable for dogs of all breeds, sizes, and life stages.

If you have a picky pup that prefers gently cooked food (or even human food), Nom Nom is an excellent choice. The company customizes meals based on your dog’s age, weight, and activity level.

The conveniently packed meals are easy to prepare—just defrost and serve. This saves pet owners the time and effort needed to cook a healthy, home-cooked meal for their dogs.

Meeting your dog’s nutritional requirements can be challenging when making homemade meals, unless you’re a vet or pet nutritionist.

Formulated by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists, Nom Nom ensures that this Turkey Fare is nutritionally balanced and complete.

Turkey serves as an easy-to-digest protein source ideal for sensitive dogs. Eggs are also included as an additional source of amino acids.

Brown rice provides carbohydrates and fiber, along with carrots and spinach to promote overall good health. Fish oil is added as a source of omega 3 fatty acids to promote good skin, coat, and brain health.

Nom Nom fans are loving the positive results that this premium dog food is able to deliver to their pups. The dogs’ coats are shinier, have better stool quality, and show more energy. Not to mention, they lick their bowls clean when served this fancy turkey dinner. Consumers highly recommend this food. 

---

2. ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains LID Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe

This is a premium grain-inclusive dry dog food that is made of carefully selected high-quality ingredients. It ticks all the boxes for many dogs, even the sensitive ones. This recipe is ideal for dogs of breeds and ages except for large breed puppies. 

Not only does it have only 2 wholesome grains as its main carb and fiber source (oat groats and whole grain sorghum), but it also has one of the best plant-based ingredients you can include in your dog’s diet – pumpkin.

Pumpkin is rich in soluble and insoluble fibers that can help with gut health as well as weight management. It is loaded with vitamins A, Bs, C, E  and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and copper.

A high-protein recipe at 27%, its first 2 ingredients are sourced from grass-fed lamb. Aside from deboned lamb and lamb meal, it also has lamb tripe which is another superfood that benefits dogs’ digestion.

Aside from being rich in omega fatty acids from fish oil and lamb fat, this recipe is enriched with glucosamine for joint health, taurine for eye and heart support, and probiotics to boost your pup’s gut health and help her absorb more nutrients. Its crude fat content is 17%.

This dog food with grain has garnered rave reviews from numerous dog owners online. Many of them bought this limited ingredient formula dry dog food to help their sensitive pups.

A lot of them are quite happy with the results it delivered. No more loose stools, upset stomachs, with a few dogs now off their prescription food.

While all pet owners were generally impressed with its ingredient quality, not all furkids were. A few picky pups (mostly oodles) seem to have turned their noses up on this Acana dog food.

Other buyers thought it was understandably pricey due to its ingredient quality. There were also a few who found the pieces too big for their small breed dogs.

---

3. Farmina N&D Chicken & Ancestral Low-Grain Mini Breed Formula

This is the perfect grain-inclusive dog food for small dogs who require a low glycemic, grain-inclusive diet. This highly digestible kibble is high in protein to help little dogs build a lean and strong muscle mass. 

It has ancient whole grains such as spelt and oats. This recipe has none of the nasty stuff such as artificial additives and overly processed ingredients.

According to Farmina, their Ancient Grains kibble are 60% high-quality animal ingredients, 20% organic spelt and organic oats, and 20% vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and minerals. All ingredients that go into this recipe are non-GMO.

This food features deboned chicken meat as the most plentiful ingredient, you can be assured that your little pup can easily digest this food while getting all the amino acid that she needs for good overall health. At 30% protein and 18% fat, this low-carb, grain-inclusive food can sustain even the high energy requirements of active dogs.

This dual-protein dog food also has herring as an additional source of protein. It also adds more flavor and omega 3 fatty acids to this grain-inclusive diet. 

Instead of chicken meal which commonly follows fresh chicken in the ingredient list, dehydrated chicken takes the spot next to deboned chicken.

Chicken fat and salmon and herring oil blend provide the majority of the essential fatty acids your dog needs for healthy skin, coat, and brain.

This is another dog food from Farmina that has earned the trust of so many pet owners. Many of them noticed improvements in their dogs’ stool quality, skin, coat, and even their energy levels. 

This chicken + fish dog food seems to be popular among little dogs as well. The kibbles are not too hard and are just the right size for toy and small breed adult dogs.

While most of the commenters love this low-grain recipe, some find the food too smelly. There were also a few dogs who were not fans of this chicken kibble.

---

4. Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream with Ancient Grains

This is a dry kibble that has been gaining popularity since the brand launched its grain-inclusive line. This fish-based recipe is suitable for dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages. Quite handy if you have multiple dogs in your home.

Formulated to be highly digestible and suitable for sensitive dogs, this high protein recipe has fresh salmon, salmon meal, and ocean fish meal. This fishy meal is perfect for pets who are allergic to chicken.

These high-quality protein sources are naturally packed with omega 3 fatty acids that support dogs’ skin and coat health. At 30% protein, dry food can help pups build lean and strong muscle mass, as well as sustain high energy levels.

Instead of cheap fillers, it has ancient grains like grain sorghum, whole grain millet, and quinoa which are highly nutritious and rich in fiber. These grains help improve digestion, stool quality, and help dogs feel fuller for longer.

Formulated in the US, this kibble has K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics which the brand developed specifically for dogs and added after the cooking process to ensure viability. According to them, a pound of this recipe provides 80 million live, active cultures that support dogs’ digestive systems and overall health.

This smoked salmon recipe seems to be a hit among dogs of all ages. Numerous dogs are happy to have these high-protein fish kibbles for their meals.

Their owners are quite impressed with the ingredient quality as well. Some of them have stated that they bought this food on their vet’s recommendation to add ancient grains to their pups’ diets.

The high protein and above-average fat content make it great even for working dogs. According to owners of such dogs, they are in great shape and are thriving on this Taste of the Wild dry dog food.

However, a few dogs seemed to have loose stools with this recipe. Their owners suspect that their dogs’ tummies simply don’t agree with some of the ancient grains in this food.

Another possible cause is that the fat content (15%) may be higher than what their dogs used to eat. Other naysayers find this recipe is quite pricey.

---

5. CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, and Fish Meal Formula

This is a multi-protein dry food formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition to dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages.

We especially like this formula for senior pups as it has a moderate protein level at 24% and fairly low fat content at 10%. It is also great for multi-dog households as puppies and adults of all sizes can enjoy this meal.

Unlike other dry recipes in this list, this product uses both wholesome grains and carb/fiber sources typically found in grain-free foods.

Along with fiber-rich oatmeal, barley, and whole grain sorghum, this recipe has peas and lentils as well. These not only have fiber, but also protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, if you are staying away from grain-free foods because of lentils, this may not be the right product for you.

This vet-formulated recipe from Canidae has high-quality protein from chicken meal, turkey meal, and lamb meal, making each kibble packed with rich, meaty flavors. Chicken fat and salmon oil are the main sources of essential fatty acids in this recipe. They support dogs, skin, coat, and cognitive health.

Aside from the benefits that the digestive system can get from the fiber from whole grains, this Canidae formula also has probiotics.

Probiotics help improve intestinal flora and aid nutrient absorption. This dog food also has glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to support joint health, especially of senior and large breed dogs.

Multiple packs of pups young and old seem to enjoy having this multi-protein recipe for their meals. Some even find the kibbles tasty enough to be training treats. Majority of buyers are quite pleased with its popularity among their dogs as well as the good overall health it was able to deliver.

Most dogs seem to be thriving on this lamb, chicken and turkey meal, with many of them having improved digestion and skin quality. Several have noticed that their itchy dogs are no longer scratching after being switched to this formula. 

While most are pleased, with some saying that the food is pricey but worth all the benefits, the naysayers mostly complained about food dust.

According to a few buyers, the kibbles were quite crumbly and there was a good amount of food dust left at the bottom of the bag. However, some stated that the bags they received did not have this issue.

---

6. Jiminy's Cravin' Cricket

This unique meal offers a sustainable, nutritious choice for pet owners who want to feed their dogs responsibly while supporting the environment.

Made with cricket protein, a novel and eco-friendly protein source, this dry dog food is packed with essential nutrients like amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and B12 vitamins.

Cricket protein is not only highly digestible, making it gentle on dogs’ stomachs, but also uses significantly less water and land than traditional livestock farming, reducing the overall carbon footprint.

Formulated to meet AAFCO standards, it also includes wholesome ingredients like oats, quinoa, sweet potatoes and flaxseed, providing a balanced mix of fiber, carbohydrates and antioxidants to support digestive health, energy levels and a shiny coat.

Free from corn, soy and wheat, this grain-inclusive formula is suitable for dogs with common protein or grain allergies. This cricket kibble brings together quality, eco-consciousness and flavor that dogs love, making it a standout choice for health-conscious and environmentally-minded pet owners.

7. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Turkey Meatloaf Dinner with Garden Vegetables

This is a soft pate wet food that is formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs of all breeds and sizes. Its texture and high digestibility make it ideal for even for seniors, sensitive dogs, or those with dental issues.

This recipe contains  high quality animal sources like turkey and turkey liver. Instead of cheap fillers, it has healthy grains oatmeal, flaxseed and brown rice.

Along with high-fiber grains, superfoods like barley, sweet potatoes, blueberries and carrots. These are high in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants that support a dog’s immune system and overall health.

This recipe is perfect for anyone looking for wet food that is soy, wheat or corn-free that has zero artificial additives or coloring.

It has received high ratings from buyers. Many have complimented it on its high quality, saying that it actually smells good and does not smell like most commercially available wet dog food. Needless to say, dogs love this turkey pate. They slurp the broth and lick their bowls clean.

While the dogs are fans of the hydrating broth, some pet owners feel that there is a recipe change since their pets turned up their noses even after eating it prior.

---

8. Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe

This is another high-quality dog food that we love. It is suitable for adult pups of all breeds and sizes. This limited ingredient formula from Merrick is easy to digest and is recommended for sensitive dogs.

It is made with real turkey. Deboned turkey makes up most of this recipe, followed by turkey broth to make it a tasty and hydrating complete meal. Turkey liver gives the pate a smooth and rich texture. It also boosts the flavor of the meal.

Only oatmeal and brown rice are included as carb and fiber sources. So if you are looking for a wet recipe that is not loaded with veggies, this may be the one for your pooch. It is a simple, straightforward recipe, yet packed with nutrition.

According to comments from dog parents, this turkey pate seems to be a hit among numerous pooches from adults to older dogs. They absolutely love this meaty turkey dinner.

The pet owners find that it smells quite appetizing, so it is no surprise that dogs come running when they hear the can being opened.

This has been keeping many dogs with sensitive tummies quite happy. It does not upset their stomachs and the grains seem to be helping their stool quality. 

There were very few naysayers, with a couple saying their pups did not like it, and another that complained about dented cans.

---

9. The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Beef Recipe

This is a dehydrated dog food that rehydrates to 4x its weight.

Made with high quality ingredients, this recipe has nutrient-dense ingredients that are visibly real and natural. The gentle dehydration process helps the food retain most of its nutritional value while killing harmful bacteria at the same time.

This shelf-stable food for adult dogs of all breeds and sizes makes high-quality fresh food convenient for dog owners.

Preparation is so easy. Simply pour warm water, stir and serve after 3 minutes. You can adjust the texture according to your pooch’s preference by increasing or decreasing the amount of water.

Instead of beef meal, dehydrated fresh ranch-raised beef is the most plentiful ingredient in this recipe. Many dogs find the savory red meat flavor of beef to be quite irresistible.

It is a good source of amino acids that dogs need for healthy muscle development and organ function. Eggs are also included as an additional source of protein.

The grains used are non-GMO organic oats and barley. These carefully selected grains reduce the risk of triggering allergies in sensitive dogs.

Immune system boosting antioxidants are provided by superfoods such as cranberries, apples, spinach, parsley, and carrots. Organic flaxseed is added as an additional source of omega fatty acids.

Based on the feedback from pet parents, many of them purchased this beef recipe for their dogs who either had a very sensitive stomach or are allergic to certain ingredients.

The majority is pleased at how the food seemed to have helped resolve the various health issues the dogs had. Those with skin issues have had their skin quality improve and their fur grow back. While the pooches with gut or stool problems have also seen satisfactory results.

There were a few who were not too pleased with this product. Some pet parents did not like that it has barely any odor, while some actually appreciated that it doesn’t smell bad.

For the former, they feel that it is the reason why the food did not appeal to their pups. A handful stated that they did not like the sticky, goopy texture of the rehydrated food, while another claims the recipe yields less than 4x its weight when rehydrated.

---

10. Charlee Bear Bearnola Bites Cranberry Cobbler Flavor Treats

This is a grain-inclusive dog treat that is great for dogs who love to munch on crunchy snacks.

These flavorful granola clusters are great for dogs of all ages. They are high in fiber from oats and oat flour, which help improve digestion and stool quality. 

These treats have cranberries, which are loaded in antioxidants and nutrients that help decrease inflammation in dogs. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties can help improve bladder health as well as oral health. The many benefits of cranberries also include immune system boost and cancer prevention.

Coconut oil is another superfood included in this bag of treats. It is high in essential fatty acids that not only support coat and skin health, but also cognitive function. It can also increase energy levels in dogs, not to mention it is very tasty. A cluster or two can certainly help perk your dog up.

According to feedback from buyers, dogs go nuts for these baked Bearnola Bites. Some of them were pleasantly surprised at how these meat-free treats excite their pooches. The perfectly sized clusters make them great for any size of dog. They can even be used as training rewards.

Some customers complained that the bags they received had more granola bits than actual clusters. A few commented that it smelled too strongly of cinnamon, which prompted one pet parent to try a piece.

To their surprise, it is actually bland and does not taste very cinnamon-y. Overall, it is a surprise hit among many, many dogs.

---

What to look for in Dog Foods with Grains

1. High-Quality And Natural Ingredients

Providing your dog with a high-quality, nutritious diet helps maintain their health and can reduce vet expenses.

Choose food that avoids artificial additives like colors, flavors, and preservatives. Opt for products that feature high-quality animal proteins and nutrient-rich whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, rather than cheap fillers like wheat, corn, and soy.

2. High-Quality Animal Proteins

For most dogs, especially if not on a vet-prescribed diet, the best food features a high-quality animal protein as the first ingredient. Opt for options with named animal sources like chicken meal, pork meal, or menhaden fish meal, which are concentrated protein sources.

Avoid foods with unnamed animal ingredients such as poultry by-product meal or generic animal fats, as these can be lower quality.

If your dog has food sensitivities, carefully read ingredient lists to ensure there are no unwanted or ambiguous meat sources. Multi-protein recipes are acceptable as long as they do not include allergens specific to your dog.

3. Wholesome Grains

Grain-inclusive dog food offers many health advantages. With the right grains, such meals can give your pup their daily dietary fiber, vitamins, and mineral requirements. Choose recipes that contain grains such as oats, rice bran, grain sorghum, barley, rye, or brown rice. 

These wholesome grains are mostly unprocessed and are less likely to trigger food intolerances in dogs. 

4. Guaranteed Analysis

Now that you know which grains are best for your dog, it’s time to select the right food based on their specific needs and preferences. Focus on the overall nutritional value of the food, not just the ingredient list. The guaranteed analysis can help you assess whether the food meets your dog’s health needs, activity level, and age.

Generally, a high-protein diet is ideal for most dogs unless advised otherwise by your vet. However, less active dogs may require lower protein and fat levels compared to more active ones.

Additionally, check the guaranteed analysis for added features like glucosamine for joint support, taurine for heart health, or probiotics for digestion.

To ensure the food provides a complete and balanced diet, look for the AAFCO nutrient profile on the label. This will indicate whether the food meets AAFCO’s standards for adult maintenance or puppy growth. 

Related article: 10 Best Grains for Dogs

Quick-look: Best Ingredients to Include in Your Dog’s Diet

Protein source

✔ Fresh, deboned, or dehydrated 

• Beef
• Fish (salmon, menhaden fish, ocean fish, pollock, etc.)
• Chicken
• Pork
• Turkey
• Lamb
• Game meats (venison, bison, etc.)

✔ Named meat meals, organs: 

• Chicken meal
• Menhaden fish meal
• Salmon meal
• Turkey meal
• Ocean fish meal
• Beef meal
• Chicken liver
• Lamb tripe
• Turkey giblets
• Beef kidney

✘  Unnamed animal ingredients and by-products

• Chicken by product meal
• Animal fat
• Poultry by product meal
• Liver

Carb/ Fiber Source

✔ Ancient grains or high-quality grains

• Oats
• Whole brown rice/ ground brown rice
• Brewers rice
• Sorghum
• Millet
• Pearled/ ground barley
• Quinoa
• White rice/ ground white rice
• Nutritious vegetables and fruits

✘  Cheap grains

• Corn
• Wheat/ whole grain wheat
• Soy

In a nutshell

Grains have so many health benefits for our canine friends. We just need to be more discerning on the quality of the food we pick for them, especially if they have food sensitivities.

There are so many healthy grains that we are happy to see are now being used more by dog food manufacturers in place of the cheap fillers that have long dominated the diet of our pets.

To find the best food for your dog, it's important to evaluate the various foods on the market and carefully read food labels. Brands that meet the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards ensure that they provide complete and balanced nutrition. 

If your furkid has certain health conditions, we highly recommend consulting your vet regarding the best grain-inclusive or grain-free food for her.

That being said, there are so many high-quality products in the market that you can try as long as you start with small amounts and transition gradually.

There is no question that good nutrition helps to keep dogs happy and away from the vet, so trying a good product from time to time is definitely worth doing.

It helps us determine which diet brings out the best in our dogs. This is why a lot of pet owners find that while high-quality food can be pricey, it saves their dogs from illness and their wallets from vet bills.