11 Best Beef Dog Foods in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

There are different aspects to consider when looking at food for your dog. There is your dog’s specific daily nutrition needs to consider, which are all determined by its breed, age, and any ailments it may be suffering from.

When looking at dog foods, it’s important to create criteria in order to nail down the best pick. Common factors include brand trustworthiness, nutritional label details, and customer reviews. It also helps to take a look at the amount and type of protein and fat, and whether the meal additives may irritate your dog’s stomach.

Common additives include things like corn, soy, wheat, grain, and gluten. Lean beef is not only safe for dogs to eat, but it’s an excellent source of protein and also provides a number of different vitamins and minerals that the dog needs for optimal health. Let’s take a look at the best beef dog foods currently available.

A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024 Update)

The 11 Best Beef Dog Foods

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

Our best overall beef dog food pick goes to The Farmer’s Dog beef dog food. With food that is so nutritious, fresh, and USDA-approved that pet owners themselves could eat it, The Farmer’s Dog beef dog food towers above the competition. It contains only human-grade beef and vegetables. This food is not only fresh but contains no preservatives or fillers.

The Farmer’s Dog ships for free in 48 states, and their meals are formulated by veterinary nutritionists. The beef dog food is not your average commercial offering. It is fresh food made with beef and veggies such as lentils, sweet potatoes, bok choy, kale, and broccoli.

All meals are pre-portioned to fit your dog’s particular needs. This is decided by your dog’s breed, weight, age, and activity level when you sign up for the subscription service. Once you sign up, the food will be delivered to your door, and you can pause or cancel anytime without a problem.

The only drawback we could see to The Farmer’s Dog Beef dog food is that it takes up quite a bit of space in your freezer and fridge because it has to be stored, then thawed. However, it is well worth it when your dog gobbles the food up every time and begs for more.

If you’re a pet owner who enjoys feeding your dog home-cooked, human-grade meals but don’t have the time or energy to do it yourself, The Farmer’s Dog beef dog food is a great substitute, and your dog will love it.

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2. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Wet Dog Food – Best Value

This high-protein meal from Purina Pro Plan is our pick for the best beef dog food for the money due to its affordable price and nutritional profile. This meal is made with real beef and seems to receive excellent feedback from owners as a chosen pick by their pups.

It has a pate texture and is great for dogs who prefer wet food over dry meal options. The recipe is complete with 23 essential vitamins and nutrients and offers dogs a well-balanced source of daily nutrition. The downside is that wet dog food is more perishable than dry dog food, especially once opened.

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3. Hill’s Science Diet Savory Beef Stew Dog Food

The Adult 7+ Savory Stew by Hill’s Science is another tasty beef meal that’s made with real beef. It includes brown rice and a number of different vegetables that are smothered in a flavorful brown gravy. The recipe contains all the minerals and vitamins needed for mature dogs and is also formulated to help support its digestive system. So, if your dog has issues with regularity or simply loves the taste of beef, this meal is definitely the one to check out.  The downside is that it’s not suitable for pups and is perishable once opened.

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4. Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Beef & Rice Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs

This shredded beef and rice meal from Purina Pro Plan is another good beef dog food. It’s perfect for all dog breeds and is formulated specifically for adult dogs. It’s not only tender but it also has a wide spectrum of nutrients and vitamins. For example, it’s complete with vitamin A, and omega-6 fatty acids to help dogs maintain a healthy coat and skin.

It also comes fortified with live probiotics and prebiotic fiber for immune health and digestive support, something that older dogs may need. If you’re looking for a well-balanced beef recipe for your dog, here is one to consider. Purina is a dependable brand and the price for this meal is comparable to other brands’ dry beef meals.

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5. Stella & Chewy’s Perfectly Puppy Patties

Here is a high-protein meal from Stella & Chewy’s that will give your pup all of the protein that it needs for the day. This formula is made with a number of different minerals and vitamins, including vitamins A, C, and B, all of which can help build up your dog’s immune system.

And because puppies can sometimes have sensitive stomachs, the meal is free of antibiotics, hormones, and additives. It also includes chia seeds for healthy skin and coat and green mussels for joint support. The downside is that this food is perishable and more expensive than other options.

• Related Read: Primal vs Stella & Chewy Dog Food: Our Comparison

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6. Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Beef & Rice for Senior Dogs

Here is a meal for senior dogs that’s part of the 7+ Complete Essentials series by Purina. It simply doesn’t get any better when it comes to beef-based dry food recipes. This meal plan includes real beef that helps support heart health and the kibble is tender enough for older dogs that may have bite issues.

It’s also full of omega fatty acids for mobility and joint health. Not to mention it has prebiotic fibers to support a healthy gut microbe. The downside is that it’s not for puppies or adult dogs under age 7 and some dogs may not like the flavor.

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7. Castor & Pollux PRISTINE Grain-Free Small Breed Canned Dog Food

Some dogs are sensitive to grains. And if this is your dog, this organic beef-based meal may be the perfect fit. It’s made with free-range, grass-fed beef and contains no hormones or antibiotics. It also includes organic produce such as peas, carrots, and spinach.

This meal is completely free of artificial preservatives, gluten and wheat, and it contains no corn or soy products. If you’re looking for an organic, sustainable meal for a small breed dog, this meal may be worth a try. However, it is perishable and pricey and not suitable for large breeds.

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8. Purina Pro Plan Sport High Protein Wet Dog Food

 

Made with real beef, this satiating meal by Purina seems to be a pup favorite. Beef is first on its list of ingredients, and it also contains chicken, rice, and a few different vegetables. This formula is made to support cognitive development and it’s perfect for growing puppies.

The recipe also has 23 essential vitamins and minerals to support daily nutrition and it’s free of flavors, artificial colors, and preservatives. If you have an active puppy or adult dog that loves wet food, be sure to take a closer look at this recipe.

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9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wolf Creek Beef Stew Grain-Free

This beef stew recipe by Blue Buffalo is one of the brand’s most popular meals. It’s great for all breeds and ideal for adult dogs. It can be combined with dry food, or you can use it as a single meal. This wet food meal is free of any gluten, wheat, soy, and artificial flavors. It contains enough protein for daily supplementation and is a wholesome option for healthy dogs and those recovering from illness.

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10. True Acre Foods Grain-Free Beef & Vegetable Dry Dog Food

The beef and veggie dry meal by True Acre makes our list due to its quality ingredients and moderate price point. This meal is made with US-raised beef and includes farm-grown veggies such as carrots and peas. It offers a complete and well-balanced nutritional profile, and the kibble is small enough for puppies.

The formula is also full of antioxidants and contains natural fibers to support easy digestion. It has a simple formula, omega fatty acids, and protein, and is free of artificial colors and flavors. It also contains no corn, wheat, or grain products.

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11. Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Dry Dog Food

This beef dry dog food by Rachael Ray is a surprise for pet owners and a favorite of their pups. It’s a complete nutritional powerhouse and helps support lean muscle mass and healthy cognitive functions. It’s made without artificial preservatives, fillers, or gluten and it contains no by-products.

This dry food is a high-protein formula that’s perfect for high-energy dogs. The meal is also full of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and it contains brown rice and peas to supply enough fiber for regularity.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Beef Dog Food

If you’ve decided that you want to purchase beef dog food for your dog, you’ve already made one of the easiest decisions in deciding what flavor you want the food to be or what flavor your dog seems to like most. However, there are some other important factors to consider.

Other Ingredients

It’s important to keep in mind that there are tons of ingredients in dog food besides just the main protein source. So if your dog just prefers beef-flavored foods over other foods, you really don’t have too many other ingredients to worry about. But if your dog has any allergies or sensitivities, it is important to consider what other ingredients are in the dog food.

For example, some dog foods may also contain chicken protein even if beef is the main ingredient. Chicken is a common protein allergen in dogs, so even if the food only has a small amount of chicken, it can still make dogs sick. Other common allergens for dogs include dairy and soy, so if your dog is allergic to anything, it is important to carefully scan the ingredients.

If your dog is allergic to anything, it is recommended to speak to a veterinarian to help you choose dog food.

Life Stage

You should also think about your dog’s life stage. For example, puppies benefit most from a puppy recipe, adult dogs from a maintenance diet, and senior dogs from a senior dog food. Puppy foods are usually appropriate for dogs up to 1 year of age, maintenance diets for dogs aged 1–7 on average, and senior foods for dogs older than 7 (usually).

The reason that you want to choose a dog based on your dog’s life stage is that different foods have different nutritional components depending on where your dog is in their growth, development, and aging. Puppy foods usually have ingredients such as DHA for cognitive development and are higher in calories since puppies metabolize food faster than adult and senior dogs. Senior dog foods tend to have more nutrients for joint health and fewer calories to support a slower metabolism. Adult maintenance diets have everything your adult dog needs to stay healthy.

Budget

You also want to consider your budget, especially if you have a larger dog. Large dogs eat more food than small dogs, so you just want to make sure that you can afford to keep buying the food your dog likes. Most dogs tend to love subscription diets, but these can be pricey especially for large dogs and due to the quality of the food.

There are plenty of high-quality dog foods out there that won’t break the bank. Just make sure that the food has real meat as the first ingredient and that it has the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) label, to make sure that the food is nutritionally balanced and complete.

Wrapping Up

So that sums up our best beef dog food picks. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Beef Dog Food is our number one pick for its nutrients and price. Our budget pick is Purina Pro Plan High Protein Pate, Beef & Rice which is a popular wet food high-protein meal that dogs seem to love.

Third, we have Adult 7+ Savory Stew with Beef & Vegetable wet food by Hill’s Science, which is a high-quality wet food option for all adult and senior breeds.

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Featured Image Credit: Switlana Sonyashna, Shutterstock