Blue Buffalo's slogan is "Love them like family. Feed them like family." That slogan rings true in many respects — Blue Buffalo's foods include ingredients you'd enjoy at the dinner table, from lamb to sweet potatoes to pumpkin.With whole-food ingredients and antioxidant blends formulated at low temps to sustain their vitamin content, it's a high-quality dog food on paper. 

But is Blue Buffalo good dog food? And is it worth its price tag? Scroll on for our full Blue Buffalo dog food review, where we closely examine its product ranges, pros, cons, FAQs, and more!

Blue Buffalo has an impressive line of products and flavors, with wet and dry foods for every life stage. The ingredients in Blue Buffalo dry dog food differ by flavor and line, but each formula has a healthy mix of real meat, fruit, veggies, healthy carbs, and whole grains (excluding the grain-free lines).

All of Blue Buffalo's foods include a blend of veggies like carrots, peas, green beans, broccoli, beets, and spinach. Antioxidant-rich fruits are also a top ingredient in Blue Buffalo for dogs, with flavorful additions of blueberries, blackberries, apples, cranberries, and pomegranate. 

No matter which recipe you select, Blue Buffalo formulates all their food for dogs without artificial flavors, preservatives, corn, wheat, and soy.

Let's take a closer look at each of Blue Buffalo's product ranges.

Blue Buffalo formulates this line of 20 dry foods and 30 wet foods with an antioxidant blend to help support your pet's immune system. It includes recipes for small and large breed puppies and adults and weight management formulas.  

Blue Life Protection Formula wet dog foods line has several sub-ranges, including Blue Homestyle, Blues Stews, Family Favorites, and Blue Delights. There's also a line of food toppers.

Blue Life Protection wet dog foods are of a high standard — they're made primarily with real cuts of meat, broth, and added water to prevent dehydration. Other common top five ingredients include nutritious produce like carrots, peas, and sweet potatoes.

The main grain in these recipes is brown rice, one of the best grains you'll find in dog foods. Brown rice is loaded with fiber, as well as B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese. Potatoes and potato starch replace grains in grain-free recipes, which are a source of fiber, antioxidants, and potassium. 

We highly rate these dog foods — especially the Homestyle range, which we included in our guide to the best wet puppy food!

Blue Life Protection Formula dog kibbles are also above-average quality. They list real meat as the top ingredient, occasionally followed by a meat meal for a protein boost.

Brown rice and oatmeal are the main grains in each grain-inclusive recipe, and you'll find nutrient-rich produce like flaxseed, blueberries, and cranberries further down the list. One downside is that these recipes include some lower-quality ingredients, like dried tomato pomace, which is a manufacturing by-product.

We rated Blue Buffalo Life Protection dry food formulas as one of the best overall dry foods for dogs. Check out some of our best dog food round-ups that feature the Life Protection range:

Blue Wilderness is one of Blue Buffalo's top-selling, premium dog food lines, with 22 wet dog foods for your canine companion to savor. Some products - like Blue Wilderness Adult Healthy Weight and the Small Bites recipes - cater to dogs with specific dietary needs, like weight management and dental issues.

One of its big selling points is its high protein content. For example, Blue Wilderness Turkey and Chicken with Grains contains 45.4% protein as dry matter, compared to Blue Buffalo Homestyle Chicken Dinner, which has just 38.6% protein as dry matter.

These recipes tend to include more cuts of meat than Life Protection but fewer fruits and veggies as a natural nutrient source. Barley and oats are commonly used in grain-inclusive recipes, while grain-free options include potatoes as an alternative.

Overall, these high-quality recipes feature fewer main ingredients than Life Protection Formulas, meaning they better suit pooches with food allergies.  

You'll find 28 dry Blue Wilderness dog food on the market, with grain-free and grain-inclusive options available. This range includes options for dogs of all ages and sizes, including puppies, adults, seniors, small breeds, and large breeds.

Like Blue Wilderness wet foods, they're a high-protein option — Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken contains above-average protein (37.7% as dry matter) compared to standard kibble.

They're pretty similar to Life Protection recipes, with real meat as the top ingredient, followed by meat meals, oatmeal, and brown rice, with some healthy produce like carrots and sweet potatoes further down the list. Peas and pea protein replaces grains in the grain-free options.

The Blue Wilderness range also includes dog treats and chews, which are perfect for pups who love the taste of their Blue Wilderness dog food.

If your pup has digestive issues or food allergies, Blue Basics might just be the right choice. Blue Basics is a limited-ingredient line of 13 dry foods and eight wet foods made without grains, dairy, corn, wheat, soy, beef, chicken, or egg. 

You also won't find any preservatives, artificial flavors, or meat by-product meals in the ingredients list. Each food features a single source of protein, which is ideal for dogs with protein allergies.

The Blue True Solutions line includes seven dry foods and seven wet foods to help with health issues like dull coats and digestive issues.

Blue True Solutions recipes cater to specific health needs including:

Blue Buffalo's premiere puppy food line includes dry and wet foods formulated with the vitamins and nutrients growing puppies need for optimal health and development. These include DHA fatty acids and the lesser-known ARA fatty acids, which occur naturally in mother's milk.

Real meat, meat broth, and organ meat comprise the top three to four ingredients of Baby Blue's wet foods, which means your pup will enjoy a healthy dose of protein in every bite.

In addition to the standard bags of kibble and cans of wet food, this range also includes Pup Cups. These single-serve trays are great for picky eaters, small breeds, and pet parents who want to give Baby Blue a try before they buy. Finally, this range also includes soft training treats — pawfect for teething puppies!

Blue Freedom is a line of grain- and gluten-free wet and dry dog foods that come in adult, senior, small, and large breed formulations. Instead of rice, barley, oats, and other grains this range features carrots, potatoes, peas, and sweet potatoes, which are packed with essential nutrients like vitamin E and vitamin C. 

This line comes in eight dry flavors and six canned wet food options. The overall quality is similar to Blue Buffalo's Life Protection and Wilderness ranges. 

Please consult with your vet before switching to a grain-free food if your dog isn't allergic to grains. "For most dogs, these diets are just fine," explains Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS, veterinary surgeon and one of Wag!'s veterinary consultants. "For some dogs, however, grain-free diets could be damaging. There's some evidence of an increased risk of heart disease in a subsection of the population fed grain-free diets. Researchers are looking into why this is and theorize it may be the increased legume consumption."

Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet is a special, prescription-only dog food range catering to specific health needs. For example, the Natural Veterinary Diet HF Hydrolyzed recipes feature hydrolyzed proteins to aid digestion and prevent reactions due to protein sensitivities. This range also includes recipes for digestive health, kidney support, and mobility.

These foods don't necessarily meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for dogs. 

Nudges are Blue Buffalo's most expansive treat line with several subranges, including BBQ-inspired grillers, jerky, and homestyle treats. This line even has portable options for active pups with on-the-go treat containers, which are great for sticking in your hiking pack or purse.

Blue Bits are this brand's signature training treats, with soft bite-size morsels available in 4 different flavors. These treats are pawfect for rewarding your dog and will keep them engaged during training and prevent them from getting full too fast. These are sometimes offered in fun shapes for holidays as well.

The Baby Blue treat line has three tasty offerings, including soft, savory chicken training treats, crunchy biscuits, and soft-baked biscuits, all fortified with the DHA pups need for those growing brains.

The Blue Wilderness Trail treat range is a high-protein, grain-free line that offers 7 different treat formulations, with dental chews, soft chews, training treats, food toppers, and 3 different types of biscuits.

Sizzlers are bacon-style dog treats that come in two flavors: cheddar and original. We love that pork is the first ingredient in these treats! These treats come in at just 33 calories per strip but keep in mind these have added sugar and molasses, so you might want to limit them.

True Chews are soft meat-based treats with a jerky-like shape. These treats were formerly produced by Tyson Foods but were rebranded as a Blue Buffalo product after General Mills (the company that now owns Blue Buffalo) acquired them. There are several sub-lines within this range, including Premium Jerky Cuts, Premium Grillers and homestyle recipes like chicken pot pie and chicken apple sausage. This line also comes in a smaller version called True Chew Morsels, which make great training treats.

Blue Stix are pepperoni stick-style treats that come in meaty flavors like beef, chicken, bacon, and lamb. We love that real meat is the first ingredient in each of these treats and that they use natural preservatives like rosemary and vitamin E.

Blue Buffalo Bones are similar to milk bones, a classic crunchy grain-based dog biscuit with natural meat flavor. We like that these contain oat flour as the main ingredient rather than wheat (like some competitors use) since oats are higher in protein and dietary fiber. These treats come in various sizes to suit any snout, from mini to large.

Blue Buffalo Dental Bones are rawhide-free dental chews to help your pup freshen their breath and clean their teeth. These bones are made primarily with potatoes and cellulose, which do not pose the same digestive risks as rawhide chews. These dental chews also come in a range of sizes for mouths of every size.

Blue Buffalo Health Bars are their signature dog biscuit made with oats and barley. These come in two different sizes and 5 different flavors with both sweet and savory options, including banana & yogurt and bacon, egg, and cheese. These treats have around 60 - 70 calories each, so you might want to give these in moderation if you're monitoring your dog's calorie intake.

Benebars are another of Blue's popular biscuit options, and they come in three recipes: Immune Support Chicken & Mixed Berry Flavor, Digestive Support, Chicken & Apple Natural Dog Treats, and Skin & Coat Support with Chicken & Coconut. Unlike some of Blue's other dog biscuits, these are soft-baked and have real meat (chicken) as the first ingredient.

Blue Basics skin & stomach care crunchy dog biscuits are limited-ingredient recipes geared toward dogs with food sensitivities. These are currently available in two flavors: salmon & potato and turkey & potato.

Blue Dental Chews are honeycomb-shaped chews formulated with meat flavor and mint to encourage chewing and freshen breath. They are primarily made of rice and pea flour, gelatin, and vitamins and minerals.

Top Chews is a Cosco-exclusive Blue Buffalo recipe with two yummy flavors, including flame-grilled burger-inspired treats and jerky cuts with chicken. 

Bits Plus has the same flavor and texture dogs love about the Bits recipes but has added ingredients to support different health concerns. Options include:

Blue Buffalo often releases limited-time special treat formulations for holidays, like their Valentine's Blue Bits, a heart-shaped version of their original chicken bits recipe. They also have special releases for Christmas, like their Santa Snacks, which come in fun holiday shapes like Christmas trees and snowmen.

Here are a few reasons why we give Blue Buffalo 4 paws up!

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, veterinarian, pet nutrition expert, and one of Wag!’s licensed veterinary consultants, personally recommends Blue Buffalo's products to her own clients. Here's what she has to say about Blue Buffalo:

“Blue Buffalo dog food products cater to different life stages, sizes, and breeds of dogs. They offer formulations containing limited ingredients, which may be beneficial for dogs with certain dietary sensitivities.”

The brand gets bonus points since they work with a team of veterinarians and animal nutritionists. At the time of writing, we were unable to find information on who comprises Blue Buffalo's veterinary team, what their credentials are, and what their role is with the company. 

We like that Blue Buffalo prioritizes real meat as the first ingredient in all their recipes and never uses low-quality fillers like corn, wheat, and soy.

We love the variety and inclusivity of Blue Buffalo's food lines, with options available for those with allergies, sensitive stomachs, and health concerns like aging joints, digestion problems, and obesity.

Let's face it, dog food gets expensive, especially if you have a large breed, which is why we love that Blue Buffalo dog food has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don't love it, you can return the uneaten product with your receipt for a full refund. 

While Blue Buffalo is generally considered a solid food choice, there are some things to consider before committing to this brand.

Blue Buffalo is on the more expensive side of dry pet foods, averaging between $70 and $80 for a 34 lb bag.

Customers should be aware that the brand has undergone several voluntary recalls for quality control issues like aluminum and Salmonella contamination, excessive thyroid hormone levels in their meat sources, and faulty packaging.

Tomato pomace and carrageenan are two controversial ingredients present in some Blue Buffalo products. However, neither ingredient is present in the top 5 ingredients of any of Blue Buffalo's products and are unlikely to cause any harm or problems for your dog.

"Three years ago I adopted a a rescue American Staffordshire Terrier. The person I got him from said he only ate table food and that was wrong in my book. Once in a while is fine but, every meal is just wrong. Well, I tried to start weaning him off and it was not easy. I bought every kind of dog food there was to be bought. Then I saw Blue Buffalo Wilderness dog food advertised on TV and I bought it. I bought the dry and the canned. I brought it home and I put it in his bowl and I opened the canned and I couldn't get it in his bowl fast enough. He was eating it out of the can. I definitely made the right choice and we will definitely be staying with Blue Buffalo Wilderness! I love it and so does Charlie!"

"I adopted a Golden Retriever a couple of years ago. He had major allergy issues. Tried every food I could possibly find that was "advertised" as healthy and specific to allergy issues. Spent hundreds of dollars on vet bills. A friend recommended Blue Buffalo Grain Free. I bought it immediately. After about 2 bags, his constant scratching stopped. I've been feeding it for about 2 years and I wouldn't feed anything else. I will say you have to figure out the correct amount for your pet. Because Blue is made with real meat, you need to feed less."

"My dog can't get enough of Blue Buffalo. He dives right into his food. He enjoys it so much I have ask my husband has he eaten yet. Food never sits in bowl at all anymore. His skin looks better too."

Read more reviews on ConsumerAffairs.

Blue Buffalo got its start in 2002 when founder Bill Bishop decided he was fed up with the lack of transparency and poor ingredient quality in commercial dog food at that time. The idea for Blue Buffalo came to him after his beloved Airedale Terrier, Blue, received a cancer diagnosis.

Bishop wanted to give his dog the best shot at recovery by feeding him high-quality food, but at that time, pet foods weren't up to the same standards they are today. With no luck finding quality kibble on the supermarket shelves, Bishop set out to create his own recipe for Blue, and thus Blue Buffalo was born.

The brand was sold to the General Mills Corporation in 2018 for $8 billion.

Blue Buffalo has had six recalls since 2009. The three most recent recalls date back to 2017:

Other recalls include:

All product images sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company Ltd.