PawBench · Best Picks

Best Fresh & Raw Dog Food

Q: What is the best fresh & raw dog food?

Based on our research, The Farmer's Dog Fresh Food Subscription is our top pick. The Farmer's Dog is what happens when you apply the meal-kit model to dog food — USDA-quality ingredients, portioned to your dog's exact caloric needs, delivered to your door. Most owners report visible coat improvements within weeks, and the dogs absolutely lose their minds at mealtime. The only real barrier is the price.

Fresh-delivered and freeze-dried raw options for minimally processed feeding.

Spec	#1💰 Best Budget The Farmer's Dog Fresh Food Subscription 4.8	#2⭐ Best Value Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties 4.6	#3💰 Best Budget Primal Pet Foods Freeze-Dried Nuggets 4.5 USDA organic
Buy	Buy on Amazon · $6.50/day	Buy on Amazon · $42.99	Buy on Amazon · $38.99
PawBench Scoremethodology →	88A Nutrition 87 Ingredients 87 Palatability 78 Value 89 Owner Satisfaction 94	78B+ Nutrition 77 Ingredients 83 Palatability 74 Value 77 Owner Satisfaction 78	78B+ Nutrition 75 Ingredients 81 Palatability 72 Value 87 Owner Satisfaction 74
Buyer sentiment	—	Pet Consumption Pickiness Healthiness Nutrition Value for money Hardness Buyers praise pet consumption, pickiness, healthiness and nutrition. Mixed feedback on digestibility and durability. Some flag value for money and hardness. Based on 780 user mentions	—
Serving Format	Pre-portioned fresh packs	—	—
Protein Source	Beef, Chicken, Turkey, or Pork (varies by plan)	Grass-Fed Beef	Duck (single-source)
Life Stage	All Life Stages	Adult	All Life Stages
Grain-Free	Grain-free and grain-inclusive options	Yes	Yes
Special Feature	Personalized portions, USDA human-grade kitchen	Freeze-dried raw, 95% meat/organ/bone, just add water	Single-source protein, certified organic produce, nugget format
Bag Size	—	25 oz	14 oz

* Prices are approximate and may vary. Please check the latest price on Amazon.

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Find the right pick in 5 seconds

Life Stage:

Budget:

Top Pick

The Farmer's Dog Fresh Food Subscription

💰 Best Budget

4.8

The Farmer's Dog is what happens when you apply the meal-kit model to dog food — USDA-quality ingredients, portioned to your dog's exact caloric needs, delivered to your door. Most owners report visible coat improvements within weeks, and the dogs absolutely lose their minds at mealtime. The only real barrier is the price.

Compare vs #2 →

Pros

✓USDA-quality human-grade ingredients
✓Personalized portions based on your dog's profile
✓Pre-portioned packs eliminate guesswork
✓Dramatic coat and energy improvements reported by owners
✓Vet-developed recipes with balanced nutrition

Cons

✗Most expensive feeding option at $6-12/day
✗Requires refrigerator/freezer space for storage

88APawBench
Score

Nutrition

Ingredients

Palatability

Value

Owner Satisfaction

How we score →

Serving Format

Pre-portioned fresh packs

Protein Source

Beef, Chicken, Turkey, or Pork (varies by plan)

Life Stage

All Life Stages

Grain-Free

Grain-free and grain-inclusive options

Special Feature

Personalized portions, USDA human-grade kitchen

Runner Up

Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties

⭐ Best Value

4.6

Stella & Chewy's solved the biggest problem with raw feeding — the mess and the food-safety anxiety. These freeze-dried patties deliver 95% meat, organ, and bone nutrition that rehydrates in minutes, and they work brilliantly as either a complete meal or a kibble topper that makes dogs think they won the lottery.

Compare vs #3 →

Pros

✓Raw nutrition without the mess or safety concerns
✓95% grass-fed meat, organs, and bone
✓Just add water to rehydrate — incredibly convenient
✓Organic fruits and vegetables round out the formula
✓Can be used as a complete meal or kibble topper

Cons

✗Expensive when used as a sole diet for larger dogs
✗Rehydrated texture can be unappealing to some owners

78B+PawBench
Score

Nutrition

Ingredients

Palatability

Value

Owner Satisfaction

How we score →

Bag Size

25 oz

Protein Source

Grass-Fed Beef

Life Stage

Adult

Grain-Free

Yes

Special Feature

Freeze-dried raw, 95% meat/organ/bone, just add water

Great Value

Primal Pet Foods Freeze-Dried Nuggets

💰 Best Budget

4.5

Primal Nuggets are the best on-ramp into raw feeding for skeptical owners — the single-source protein makes elimination diets easy, and the nugget format takes the intimidation out of portioning. The certified organic produce and antibiotic-free meats justify the price for owners who want to go raw without going all-in on a subscription.

Pros

✓Single-source protein with organ meats included
✓Certified organic produce in every formula
✓Antibiotic-free and steroid-free meats
✓Easy nugget format for precise portion control
✓Great entry point for owners new to raw feeding

Cons

✗Smaller bag size means higher cost per ounce
✗Limited protein variety compared to competitors

78B+PawBench
Score

Nutrition

Ingredients

Palatability

Value

Owner Satisfaction

How we score →

Bag Size

14 oz

Protein Source

Duck (single-source)

Life Stage

All Life Stages

Grain-Free

Yes

Special Feature

Single-source protein, certified organic produce, nugget format

How to Pick the Right One

Fresh and raw dog foods have exploded in popularity, and for good reason: they use whole, recognizable ingredients with minimal processing. Fresh foods (like The Farmer's Dog and Nom Nom) arrive refrigerated and pre-portioned. Freeze-dried raw (like Stella & Chewy's) offers similar benefits with shelf-stable convenience.

The tradeoff is cost. Fresh food delivery services typically run $5-12 per day depending on your dog's size, compared to $1-3 per day for premium kibble. Freeze-dried raw is a middle ground — it's shelf-stable and can be used as a full meal or mixed into kibble as a topper.

Safety note: raw diets carry a small risk of bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli). This matters most in households with young children, elderly people, or immunocompromised family members. Freeze-dried and gently cooked options reduce this risk significantly compared to truly raw feeding.

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