If you’re a Pit Bull parent, you know how strong and muscular these dogs are. They have a lot of energy, and because of their strong physique, they need food rich in protein, carbs, and omega fatty acids. Pit Bulls are also prone to obesity, so feeding high-quality food is important to keep their weight in check.

With that said, how on earth do you go about finding high-quality food without going broke? Let’s face it—most good-quality dog food is pricey, but luckily, there are more affordable options out there. It’s important to feed your Pit a nutritious diet, and you shouldn’t sacrifice quality for cheaper alternatives. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top reviews of top-quality dog food that won’t break your bank, so pull up a chair and let’s get started.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 9 Best Affordable Dog Foods for Pit Bulls

 1. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Dog Food – Best Overall

Purina is a trusted pet food company that veterinarians and experts recommend across the globe. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice is a complete and balanced formula, making this food our best overall affordable dog food for Pit Bulls. It’s high in protein and includes plenty of omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A for healthy skin and coat, along with probiotics to support a healthy digestive system.

Real chicken is the first ingredient that provides the necessary carbohydrates for Pits to give them energy. The kibble is a mixture of a crunchy and tender consistency combined with shredded pieces for easy chewing. A terrific perk about this food is it won’t break the bank, and it’s offered in several bag sizes at a reasonable price. It meets AAFCO’s nutritional levels, and it contains glucosamine for healthy joints.

Sometimes, the bag may not be blended well, and there may be fewer chicken chunks at times.

• High in protein
• Complete and balanced formula
• Omega-6 for healthy skin and coat
• Real chicken is main ingredient
• Comes in several bag choices at a reasonable price

• Some bags may have fewer chicken chunks than others

2. Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula Dog Food – Best Value

Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula is dry kibble that is high in protein. The formula contains real chicken with the energetic and sporty dog in mind, making it perfect for a Pit Bull. It’s rich in omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and the vitamins and minerals in this food come from superfoods, such as pumpkin, blueberries, spinach, and carrots.

Diamond Naturals is family-owned and has been in business since 1970, and their food is made in the U.S.A. This company incorporates probiotics in every bag to support healthy digestion and immune system, and their formulas are always free from corn, wheat, and soy.

This food may not work well for those with sensitive stomachs, as some consumers claim this food gave their dog diarrhea. It also contains chicken meal, which can be controversial; however, chicken meal is a good source of protein, and all the ingredients are top-quality that provide excellent nutrition. This food comes in a 40-pound bag at an affordable price, which makes it our pick for the best affordable dog food for Pit Bulls for the money.

• High in protein
• Omega fatty acids
• Affordable

• Not suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs

3. Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw Grain-Free Great Plains Red Recipe – Premium Choice

Merrick Backcountry is a grain-free blend of beef, lamb, salmon, and rabbit rich in protein. Deboned beef is the first ingredient, followed by a blend of vitamins and minerals your Pit Bull needs to thrive. It includes glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints, and the freeze-dried coated kibble will give your Pit the benefits of a raw diet. It doesn’t skimp on omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and it’s made in the U.S.A. Also, it’s free from corn, wheat, or soy.

This food is expensive, but if you’re looking for premium dog food, this food is an excellent source of complete and balanced nutrition your Pit Bull needs to live its best life. If you prefer healthy grains, the manufacturer offers that option, too.

A downfall is that there may be inconsistency in the number of raw chunks in the bag, and some consumers state they have received bags with only kibble and no raw chunks.

• Deboned beef is main ingredient
• Includes glucosamine and chondroitin
• Omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat

• Expensive
• Some bags may have little to no raw chunks

4. Purina ONE Natural, High Protein + Plus Healthy Puppy Formula – Best for Puppies

If you have a Pit Bull puppy, you’ll want to start its life off right with good-quality puppy food. Purina ONE Natural, High Protein +Plus Healthy Puppy Formula includes natural protein, vitamins, and minerals for your growing Pit pup. Real chicken is the main ingredient, which supplies plenty of protein. This food also adds DHA into the mix that supports brain and eye development and calcium for strong teeth. Rice and oatmeal are also added to the formula to promote healthy digestion.

The bag doesn’t have a seal, and it may get stale. It also includes chicken by-products and whole-grain corn, so you’ll want to avoid it if your pup has a corn allergy. It comes in an 8-pound bag or a 16.5-pound bag at an affordable price.

• Real chicken is main ingredient
• Contains DHA
• Rich in protein, vitamin, and minerals
• Affordable

• No seal on bag
• Contains whole-grain corn

5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is packed with high-quality protein, with deboned chicken as the first ingredient. This formula contains Lifesource Bits, which is an added boost of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants you won’t find in other foods. Taurine is included, which supports heart health.

The formula also contains sweet potatoes and peas for healthy carbs. Veterinarians picked the all-natural ingredients for this food, and it has no chicken by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives. This grain-free formula is free from corn, wheat, and soy, and you have the choice of several bag options to fit your budget.

Even though this formula is for medium to large dogs, the kibble size may be too small for your pooch. The Lifesource Bits may overtake the kibble at times, resulting in a poor mixture for all the nutrition needed.

• Deboned chicken is main ingredient
• Includes Lifesource Bits for added nutrition
• Taurine for heart health
• Ingredients picked by veterinarians
• Several bag options to fit your budget

• Kibble may be too small for some Pits
• Inconsistent mix of Lifesource Bits and kibble

6. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food

If your Pit Bull loves fish, look no further than American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe. This grain-free recipe offers a protein-dense diet with deboned salmon as the first ingredient. Your Pit will receive high-quality ingredients, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, and flaxseed for an excellent blend of carbs, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Omega fatty acids and DHA are included in the formula, and it comes in three bag sizes to suit your budget. Sweet potatoes and chickpeas offer an excellent form of fiber, and flaxseed and salmon oil provide a tremendous source of omega fatty acids to support skin and coat. It also contains DHA for brain and eye support.

Since it contains pea protein, you should consult with your vet to ensure it’s safe for your Pit Bull if it has an allergy to peas. It also has chicken meal, so avoid if your dog has a corn allergy. This food comes in three bag sizes at an affordable price.

• Deboned salmon is main ingredient
• Omega fatty acids and DHA from high-quality ingredients’
• Comes in three bag sizes
• Plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and carbs
• Affordable

• Contains pea protein

7. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is unique in that it provides a live K9 strain of microorganisms with 80 million CFU/lb., which promotes a healthy gut with good bacteria in every serving. Water buffalo is the first ingredient, which provides 32% of high-quality protein, and dogs love the blend of roasted bison, roasted venison, lamb, and beef protein.

This formula provides antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals with sweet potatoes, blueberries, and raspberries. It’s easily digestible and adheres to AAFCO’s nutrition levels. If your Pit has a gluten allergy, this food is perfect because it lacks grains, wheat, and corn.

It’s not the cheapest food on our list, but the quality ingredients are worth the extra expense if you can swing it.

• Contains live microorganisms
• Water buffalo is main ingredient
• High in protein
• Plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
• No corn, wheat, or soy

8. VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus

Although beef meal is the first ingredient, VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus is worth a mention. Many consumers shy away from any ingredients that contain the word “meal.” Despite the controversies surrounding these ingredients, they are actually a good source of protein. Beef meal comes from cattle meat that has been fried and grounded up or rendered, meaning the fat and water in the meat is removed, leaving behind a powder packed with protein.

With that said, this food offers high protein, but it does lack fruits. However, it carries plenty of vegetables and provides amino acids and fatty acids for healthy digestion. Puppies, pregnant dogs, and lactating mother doggies can benefit from this formula, too. The VPRO Blend is specially-formulated with prebiotics, probiotics, minerals, and selenium yeast to maximize the genetic potential in any breed, especially Pit Bulls. You have a choice of four different bag sizes.

This food may not be suitable for dogs with digestive issues.

• High in protein
• VPRO Blend for maximized genetic potential
• Suitable for puppies, pregnant, or lactating dogs
• Comes in 4 bag sizes

• May cause digestive issues for dogs with sensitive stomachs

9. Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK Open Prairie Recipe with Beef, Venison & Lamb Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Last but not least, Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK Open Prairie Recipe with Beef, Venison & Lamb Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food makes our list because of its high protein and nutrient-dense formula. It has no grains, glutens, artificial flavors, preservatives, or fillers. Real beef is the main ingredient, and the added vitamins, minerals, and taurine round out this nutritious dog food. Rachael Rae is known for making tasty meals for humans with the best ingredients, and that goes for doggies, too!

This food comes at an affordable price with three bag choices: a 4-pound bag, a 12-pound bag, and a 23-pound bag. It is well-balanced with omega fatty acids and includes all the necessary vitamins and minerals for optimal health. When you buy this food, a portion of the proceeds goes to animals in need.

If you have a picky eater, you may have a hard time getting your Pit to eat this food, but many consumers state their Pits love it. It has chicken meal, so avoid if you Pit has a corn allergy.

• Beef is main ingredient
• High in protein
• Includes vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids
• Affordable
• A portion of proceeds go to animals in need

• Picky eaters may not like this food

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Food for Pit Bulls

Now that we’ve reviewed the top 10 best affordable dog food for Pit Bulls, let’s break more information down to help you further decide on what is best for you and your beloved Pit.

Dry Kibble Versus Wet Food

As you can see, all of the dog food mentioned in this guide is dry kibble. The reason is dry kibble will last longer than wet food. That’s an important factor when trying to feed a nutritious diet for your Pit without dwindling your pocketbook.

Read the Ingredients

Learning to read food labels is such an essential part of buying healthy dog food. Manufacturers are required to list the ingredients in descending order of quantity. For example, if you see that a top-quality protein is the first ingredient listed, then that food has the most of that ingredient. Most of our picks have a real protein listed as the first ingredient, such as deboned chicken, deboned salmon, and so on. Since Pit Bulls need a lot of protein, this factor is important when picking dog food.

In addition to protein, make sure the food has plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and healthy carbs, such as sweet potatoes or carrots. Omega fatty acids, such as flaxseed or salmon oil, are super ingredients that keep Pit Bulls’ skin and coat healthy and shiny.

BHA and BHT

BHA and BHT are antioxidants sometimes used in dog food to slow down the oxidation process. In short, it slows the decay of oils, fats, and vitamin A in dog food. BHA and BHT may be linked to carcinogens; however, this hasn’t been fully substantiated. California has already listed BHA as a carcinogen, so in our minds, it’s best to steer clear of buying dog food with these artificial preservatives.

Conclusion

For the best overall affordable dog food, Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice offers high protein, a complete and balanced formula, and plenty of omega-6 fatty acids, all at a reasonable price. For the best value, we recommend Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula for its high protein, top-quality ingredients, superfoods, and affordable price.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our reviews of the top 10 best affordable dog food for Pit Bulls and that it helps you make the best decision for yourself and your Pit without breaking the bank.

Featured Image Credit: Roberto Cabrera Castro, Shutterstock