Rachael Ray is not only a well-respected TV personality, celebrity chef, author, and businesswoman. She’s also a loving pet parent to her equally loving pit bull terrier, Isaboo, which has inspired her to work with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to bring to the world of dog lovers a signature brand of delicious and nutritionally-balanced meals especially formulated for modern-day canines. Inspired by the delectable recipes straight from Rachael Ray’s kitchen, the Nutrish line of super-premium dog foods is just what every dog needs. We’ve searched the net, consulted our vets and editors, and asked our avid pet-lover friends and acquaintances about what they think are the 5 best Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Foods. Here are the results.

A Quick Overview of Our Favorites

Product NameFirst 5 IngredientsPriceRating
Rachael Ray Nutrish Dry Dog FoodChicken, Chicken Meal, Soybean Meal, Grain Sorghum, Dried PeasBuy on Amazon4.7
Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Dry Dog FoodLamb Meal, Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat Buy on Amazon4.5
Rachael Ray Nutrish Wet Dog FoodChicken Broth, Beef, Chicken, Dried Egg Product, Egg WhiteBuy on Amazon4.8
Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK Natural Dry Dog FoodBeef, Chicken Meal, Whole Dried Potato, Natural Pork Flavor, TapiocaBuy on Amazon4.6
Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Dry Dog FoodChicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Dried Peas, Whole Dried PotatoesBuy on Amazon4.5
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change

The 5 Top Rated Rachael Ray Dog Food

1 Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Chicken & Veggies Recipe

Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Chicken & Veggies Recipe
Key features:
  • Brand: Rachael Ray Nutrish
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Soybean Meal, Grain Sorghum, Dried Peas
  • Primary Proteins: Chicken
  • Calories: 340 kcal/cup
  • Flavor: Chicken & Veggies
  • Life Stage: Adult

Utilizing only farm-raised chicken in its formulation, the Real Chicken & Veggies Recipe is a great choice for pet parents who are not worried about giving their pets whole grain corn, soybean meal, and dried alfalfa. The good news is that the formulation provides the right amounts of nutrients including essential fatty acids and prebiotics for healthier coat and skin, improved immune system, and healthier digestion.

It has just the right amounts of calories necessary for supporting your pet’s energy levels without causing it to gain weight. Its moderate protein and fat content also helps in maintaining lean muscle mass while supporting cellular integrity.

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Soybean Meal, Grain Sorghum, Dried Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Whole Corn, Corn Protein Concentrate, Barley, Brown Rice, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Carrots, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Malted Barley Flour, Inulin, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Citric Acid (preservative), Sodium Selenite, Annatto Extract (Color), Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

What others say about it:
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When I switched to Nutrish there was a noticeable difference in my dog’s fur— thicker, softer and less shedding. They love it, too!

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2 Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice

Rachael Ray Nutrish Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
Key features:
  • Brand: Rachael Ray Nutrish
  • First 5 Ingredients: Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
  • Primary Proteins: Lamb
  • Calories: 325 kcal/cup
  • Flavor: Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
  • Life Stage: Adult

With only 6 ingredients forming the core of this Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food, the Limited Ingredients Recipe is ideal for hounds that may require an elimination diet to help identify the trigger in food allergies. The use of lamb meal as its primary protein also helps in this regard since it is widely-accepted as a novel protein.

There are no allergenic glutens, too. Instead, the new Limited Ingredient formula contains brown and brewers rice and plain beet pulp to provide the energy your dog needs without triggering allergic reactions. Limited Ingredient Lamb Meal & Brown Rice also contains glucosamine to support the healthier functioning of your dog’s joints.

Ingredients:

Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Pork Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Dl- Methionine, Ascorbic Acid (source Of Vitamin C), Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

What others say about it:
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My dog has an allergy to corn. It took me almost a year to discover the cause of his scratching. I switched his foods once I was sure it was not fleas, mites, or parasites. Once I found this 6 ingredient food, his hair began growing back, his coat smoothed out, the scratching stopped, and his hot spots healed and went away. I have been happy with this food for the last year and a half. I ordered this here since the stores near me have been out for some time. It arrived extremely fast. I am beyond pleased. The price was right as well!

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3 Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Hearty Beef Stew

Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Hearty Beef Stew
Key features:
  • Brand: Rachael Ray Nutrish
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Broth, Beef, Chicken, Dried Egg Product, Egg White
  • Primary Proteins: Beef & Chicken
  • Calories: 252 kcal/8 oz tub
  • Flavor: Beef Stew
  • Life Stage: Adult

They’re highly palatable and very rich in protein. That’s what the Nutrish Natural Variety Super Premium Wet Food for Dogs provides. Available in 3 delicious variants, this pack of 6 should give your pet a taste of what gourmet dog food is all about. The Hearty Beef Stew contains more fat than the Chicken Paw Pie and the Savory Lamb Stew, however. The interesting thing is that the Natural Variety doesn’t include corn, soy, or wheat in its formulation, making it a great topper for your dog’s kibbles or as a delectable meal in itself.

Ingredients:

Chicken Broth, Beef, Chicken, Dried Egg Product, Egg White, Pea Protein, Natural Flavor, Potato, Carrots, Green Pea, Ground Tapioca, Dicalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Caramel (color), Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Fish Oil, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Magnesium Sulfate, Celery Powder, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Iodate, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of vitamin K activity).

What others say about it:
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My little Chiweenie loves these Rachael Ray meals. She gobbles them up. What I like about them is that they look and smell like “human” food. Also they are healthier than some dog foods. I get 2 meals out of each container because my dog is small and eats less than bigger dogs.

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4 Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK Open Prairie Recipe

Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK Open Prairie Recipe
Key features:
  • Brand: Rachael Ray Nutrish
  • First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Chicken Meal, Whole Dried Potato, Natural Pork Flavor, Tapioca
  • Primary Proteins: Beef
  • Calories: 338 kcal/cup
  • Flavor: Beef, Venison & Lamb
  • Life Stage: Adult

There’s a reason why the PEAK is called as such. Containing a minimum of 30% premium-quality proteins utilizing only the best US farm-raised beef and added with real venison and lamb meals, the PEAK Open Range Recipe is perfect for treating dogs to a meal that somehow closely resembles their ancestral diet in the wild, albeit in a kibble formulation.

While it is easy to say that it would have been better to make the formulation as canned dog food to really optimize the benefits of putting all these high-quality animal proteins in the dog’s diet, you can find consolation in the fact that there is no gluten, fillers, and grains included in the PEAK Open Range Recipe. The inclusion of chondroitin and glucosamine is welcome news, too.

Take a look at our guide on High Protein Dog Food.

Ingredients:

Beef, Chicken Meal, Whole Dried Potato, Natural Pork Flavor, Tapioca, Dried Peas, Pea Starch, Sunflower Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Beef and Bone Meal, Whole Flaxseed, Pea Protein, Venison, Lamb, Menhaden Fish Meal, Natural Flavor, Salt, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate), Zinc Sulfate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract.

What others say about it:
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I have been feeding this to my dog for years and it seems to be the best thing for her. It sits well with her and she actually likes the taste of it. I only buy the 4lb bags since she is a small dog and that way the bags stay fresh and sealed until she needs them.

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5 Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Chicken & Sweet Potato

Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Chicken & Sweet Potato
Key features:
  • Brand: Rachael Ray Nutrish
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Dried Peas, Whole Dried Potatoes
  • Primary Proteins: Chicken
  • Calories: 355 kcal/cup
  • Flavor: Chicken & Sweet Potato
  • Life Stage: Adult

For those who really don’t like to give their dogs any grain, then Rachael Ray’s Nutrish Zero Grain Grain-Free Food for Dogs is a great option. It boasts of having real US turkey and turkey meal in addition to chicken meal as its 3 principal ingredients. Peas and potatoes are added to help provide energy for your pet, making sure it has enough for playtime and exercise. Glucosamine and chondroitin are included in the formulation, too, ensuring optimum mobility through the enhancement of joint function.

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Dried Peas, Whole Dried Potatoes, Pea Protein, Pea Starch, Tapioca, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Whole Flaxseed, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Fish Meal, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Turkey Meal, Dried Cranberries, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Choline Chloride, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Niacin, D-calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.

What others say about it:
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Trixie is a rescue and she was itching. Her skin didn’t look as good. I switched her from Rachel Rays regular dry food to the Grain Free. I noticed that her itching has decreased a lot. Her appetite ,as well improved.

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Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food: Buying Guide

Company Information

Hungry labrador retriever is feeding at home

Rachael Ray’s Nutrish line of premium-quality dog foods and canine treats is a collaboration with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, one of the industry’s leading experts in pet food. The beautiful relationship began in 2008 when the management of Ainsworth saw the Ray couple speak so passionately about animals, especially their American pit bull terrier Boo who passed away 4 years earlier. The pet food company reached out to Rachael Ray and her husband and talked about formulating a brand of dog foods that would be inspired by the celebrity chef’s own recipes. The rest, as everyone knows, is history.

Ainsworth Pet Nutrition is not new in the business of formulating and producing high-quality pet foods for dogs and cats, having been established in 1933 in Meadville, Pennsylvania. It has additional facilities in Greenville, PA and Frontenac, KS. With more than 85 years of unwavering commitment to the vision of its founder, George Ainsworth Lang, Ainsworth Pet Nutrition hopes to continue the splendid performance of the Nutrish dog food line when the company formalizes its acquisition by the equally 5th-generation family company, The J. M. Smucker Company. More importantly, the soon-to-be-acquired Ainsworth hopes that its Nutrish and other products will continue to be instrumental in the growth and development of modern-day dogs everywhere.

In addition to the Rachael Ray Nutrish line, Ainsworth Pet Nutrition – and soon The J. M. Smucker Company – also produces Dad’s Pet Foods and retailer-specific Super Premium pet food products. The company has evolved from its small humble beginnings to become one of North America’s most trusted organizations when it comes to premium and high-quality pet nutrition. They are mostly recognized for their insistence on using only the best and highest-quality food ingredients, putting emphasis on the wholesomeness of the resulting dog food product instead of using commercially-available fillers that do nothing to improve the nutrient profile of the dog food.

The original vision of Ainsworth Pet Nutrition is to make the safest and healthiest pet nutrition and treats, a vision that the company still holds to this very day. This is despite the fact that the needs of pet parents today are vastly different from what pet parents considered a must several decades ago. With these ever-changing needs, Ainsworth innovates but never loses sight of their inherent need to fulfill the founder’s vision for the company and for all the pets in the world.

Why Choose this Brand?

Hungry pug dog with food bowl ready to eat

There are a number of reasons why the Rachael Ray Nutrish line of dog food products has been doing exceptionally well since the brand started hitting food bowls in 2008. Here are some of the more important reasons why you may want to give this brand of dog food to your pet.

Reputation for using only the highest-quality, safest, and real ingredients

This is perhaps one of the most significant differences that Rachael Ray’s Nutrish dog foods have over other brands. The company’s reputation for using only real ingredients from real chicken to real salmon, turkey, beef, venison, lamb, and many more is well-known. These extend well into their choice of including real vegetables, fruits, and wholesome grains like carrots, peas, rice, potatoes, and many more. The brand also doesn’t use commercially-available, nutrient-deficient fillers. It only utilizes easily-digestible real starches mostly from potatoes, rice, and/or sweet potatoes, among others. Rachael Ray Nutrish doesn’t contain artificial coloring or flavor enhancers. It is basically like getting one of the celebrity chef’s signature recipes, modifying it a bit, and giving it to your dog.

Insistence on using premium-quality animal proteins as the first ingredient of their formulations

There are some dog food manufacturers that do not use animal proteins as their principal ingredient. Experts say that a good dog food should always have an animal protein as its primary ingredient. That is why if you look at the 1st five ingredients in any Rachael Ray Nutrish product you will see that the very first ingredient is always an animal protein. While not to downplay the importance of plant food ingredients, the amino acids contained in these food ingredients are incomplete. Animal-sourced amino acids are complete so your dog will not be missing out on very important nutrients necessary for optimum development and growth as well as for ensuring optimum health.

Specialty Diet Formulations for Special Breeds and Types of Dogs

Rachael Ray Nutrish is also known for its specialty recipes designed specifically for certain types of dogs such as those that have food allergies requiring an elimination diet to help identify potential allergenic sources in its food. There are also those that use only novel proteins to help minimize food allergies as well as whole-ingredient recipes for those who may want to give their hounds meals that closely resemble their own food at the dinner table. There are also high-protein and nutrient-dense formulations for dogs that require such nutrient proportions like puppies and lactating and pregnant dogs.

Check out our review of the Best Dog Food for Pregnant Dogs.

Philanthropy for shelter pets

Whenever you buy a Rachael Ray Nutrish product, a portion of the sale goes to The Rachael Ray Foundation which, in turn, provides the funding for Rachael’s Rescue, channeling the funds to various pet charities as well as other organizations that have displayed exemplary care and attention to pets everywhere. Rachael’s Rescue provided food, treatments, and medical supplies, among others to animals that are in need of such resources. If you want to make a difference in the lives of millions of shelter pets, then getting a Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food is one great way to do it.

Rachael Ray’s Nutrish line of dog foods is a great choice for pet parents who want their dogs to munch on premium-quality dog food inspired from the recipes of a celebrity chef and a well-known champion of the rights of shelter animals. It may be pricier than other dog foods, but with the knowledge that you’re actually contributing to the welfare of shelter animals everywhere, it really is a small price to pay to ensure optimum nutrition for your pet while making a difference in the lives of other dogs.

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