Nutrish Large Breed Real Chicken, Pea, Brown Rice & Carrot R

The Verdict

If you’ve got a 90-pound Labrador who acts like a hoover, you already know the drill: large-breed food isn’t just about portion size. It’s about kibble geometry, protein quality, and whether your dog actually digests what you’re paying for. The Nutrish Large Breed Real Chicken recipe claims to hit those marks without the boutique price tag. Here’s what I found after digging through the ingredient panel, buyer feedback, and the fine print.

What’s actually in the bag

This is a 30-pound bag of grain-inclusive kibble (the “R” in the title stands for Recipe, and it’s sold in various sizes, so check the listing for your best cost-per-pound). The first ingredient is deboned chicken — that’s real muscle meat, not the “chicken meal” or “poultry by-product” you’ll find in the cheaper stuff. Brown rice and peas round out the carbohydrate load, with carrots, sweet potatoes, and a vitamin/mineral pack in the tail end of the list.

The kibble itself is noticeably larger and chunkier than standard adult formulas. That’s a deliberate design choice — big dogs who inhale food need to chew, and this shape forces a bit more jaw work. As one buyer put it, “My German Shepherd used to scarf down his old food so fast he’d throw up. With this, he actually chews. Worth the switch alone.”

Real-world performance

The 4.6-star average across 229 ratings tells a consistent story: dogs eat it, dogs keep it down, and coats look better within a few weeks. Multiple reviews mention the “no stinky gas” factor, which is code for “this food doesn’t ferment into a biohazard in my living room.” That’s a meaningful data point for a grain-inclusive formula — some cheaper grains cause exactly that problem.

One thing I want to flag clearly: this is not a “large breed” formula in the veterinary sense. It doesn’t have the added glucosamine and chondroitin you’d find in, say, Purina Pro Plan Large Breed or Hill’s Science Diet. The “large breed” label here mostly means kibble size and calorie density. If your vet wants joint support for a growing giant-breed puppy, this isn’t that food. For maintaining an adult large dog, it’s fine.

Where it falls short

The peas. They’re the third ingredient, and while peas are a decent protein/carb source, they’ve been linked to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) concerns in grain-free diets — and even some grain-inclusive ones when legumes are prominent. If your dog has a known sensitivity to legumes, this isn’t the food for you. If not, it’s likely fine, but I’d rather see lentils or chickpeas used more sparingly.

Also, the price. It’s competitive with mid-tier brands, but you’re not getting a bargain-basement price. You’re paying for the Rachael Ray brand premium, which is really about the marketing, not the nutrition. The ingredient quality justifies the cost, but don’t expect a steal.

Who should buy this

• The practical large-dog owner who wants real chicken and recognizable grains without a $90-per-bag boutique price.
• The switch-away-from-grain-free owner looking for a safe transition food after the DCM scares.
• The owner of a picky eater — the chicken-and-rice base is palatable enough that most dogs take to it quickly.

Skip it if your dog has confirmed legume allergies, if you need veterinary-grade joint support in the kibble, or if you’re on a strict budget — there are cheaper large-breed formulas that hit the basics.

FAQ

Q: Is this food good for puppies of large breeds?
A: No. This is an adult maintenance formula. Large-breed puppies need controlled calcium and phosphorus levels and specific calorie ratios. Talk to your vet about a puppy-specific large-breed food.

Q: How much should I feed my 70-pound dog?
A: The bag suggests about 3.5 to 4.5 cups daily for a 60–80 pound adult dog, split into two meals. Adjust based on activity level and body condition — if you can’t feel ribs easily, cut back 10%.

Q: Does this contain chicken meal or by-products?
A: No chicken meal, no by-product meal. It’s deboned chicken first, then chicken meal as the second ingredient (which is a concentrated protein source, not a filler). No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

The Verdict

Buy it if you want a solid, grain-inclusive large-breed food with real chicken as the lead ingredient and you’re okay with the legume content. Skip it if you need joint supplements built in or your dog has pea sensitivities.

The Nutrish Large Breed Real Chicken recipe earns its 4.6 stars. It’s not the most advanced formula on the shelf, but it’s honest food at a fair price — and your big dog will probably love it.

Rating: 4.6/5

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.