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LINE VS LINE · MERRICK KIBBLE

Merrick Lil' Plates vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts

Merrick Lil' Plates vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Merrick Lil' Plates against Merrick Kitchen Comforts, measured across 9 and 10 kibble recipes: 30.7% vs 26.3% protein and 33% vs 30% starch, as fed.

9 kibble recipes reviewed 10 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Lil' Plates averages 30.7% protein as fed while Kitchen Comforts averages 26.3%; Lil' Plates recipes are 89% grain-free compared with 0% for Kitchen Comforts.
  • Lil' Plates averages 444 kcal per cup and an estimated starch of 33%, while Kitchen Comforts averages 414 kcal per cup and an estimated starch of 30%.
  • Fat levels are close: Lil' Plates averages 15.3% fat as fed and Kitchen Comforts averages 15.0%.
  • Lil' Plates has 9 recipes, all listed for Small Breed and All Breeds, with one covering All Life Stages; Kitchen Comforts has 10 recipes, 8 of them for Adult and only 2 for Small Breed.
  • The estimated price per pound is $3.50 for Lil' Plates and $2.92 for Kitchen Comforts.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Kitchen Comforts Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 9 10 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 30.7%27.0% to 32.0% 26.3%25.0% to 28.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 15.3%12.0% to 18.0% 15.0%9.0% to 16.0% 14.3%
Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. 33%31% to 38% 30%25% to 39% 37%
Calories per cup 444393 to 488 414381 to 467 398
Grain-free recipes 89% 0%
Life stages Adult 6, Senior 1, Puppy 1, All Life Stages 1 Adult 8, Senior 1, Puppy 1
Breed sizes All Breeds 9, Small Breed 9 All Breeds 9, Small Breed 2
Price per pound, estimate $3.50/lbEstimate, median of 7 of 9 recipesRecipes run $3.05 to $4.30Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 $2.92/lbEstimate, median of 10 of 10 recipesRecipes run $2.41 to $3.75Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026
FDA recalls, last 5 years None None

Line figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that line, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Wet food, toppers and prescription diets are left out so the numbers compare like with like. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead. Why we use as fed. The price per pound is an estimate: the median of each recipe's lowest price per pound across the bag sizes and US retailers our price checks found, so a single bag can cost more or less. Shelf prices change often.

WHERE TO START

Top Recipes in Each Line

Merrick Lil' Plates

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato with Raw Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 32.0% as fed Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato with Raw Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 32% Fat 15% Starch 33% 449 kcal/cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Puppy Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 31% Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Puppy Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 30% Fat 18% Starch 31% 488 kcal/cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 440 kcal per cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 32% Fat 16% Starch 32% 440 kcal/cup

Merrick Kitchen Comforts

Merrick Kitchen Comforts Small Breed Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 27.0% as fed Merrick Kitchen Comforts Small Breed Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 27% Fat 16% Starch 25% 467 kcal/cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Beef & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 25% Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Beef & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 26% Fat 16% Starch 25% 386 kcal/cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 420 kcal per cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 26% Fat 15% Starch 27% 420 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Lil' Plates

  • Small breed puppy owners, since the Puppy recipe is made for Small Breed and All Breeds.
  • Owners wanting grain-free kibble, since 89% of Lil' Plates recipes are grain-free.
  • Owners wanting higher protein, since Lil' Plates averages 30.7% protein as fed.
A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Kitchen Comforts

  • Owners preferring grain-inclusive kibble, since Kitchen Comforts has a 0% grain-free share.
  • Owners of adult dogs, since 8 of Kitchen Comforts' 10 recipes are for Adult.
  • Owners wanting a lower estimated price, at $2.92 per pound versus $3.50 for Lil' Plates.
THE WHOLE RANGE

Every Merrick Line

Line Kibble recipes Protein Fat Starch Kcal / cup Grain-free Price / lb, est.
Grain Free 14 31.3% 15.1% 33% 406 100% $3.32
Backcountry 13 33.8% 16.5% 29% 433 77% $4.25
Kitchen Comforts 10 26.3% 15.0% 30% 414 0% $2.92
Lil' Plates 9 30.7% 15.3% 33% 444 89% $3.50
Full Source 6 31.7% 16.3% 32% 386 33% $3.64
Limited Ingredient Diet 5 23.8% 14.0% 41% 427 60% $3.45
Backcountry Raw Infused 1 32.0% 16.0% 32% 395 100% $4.25

Averages over each line's kibble we review, as fed. Lines with only a few recipes swing more on one bag. Price per pound is the same estimate as above.

KEEP COMPARING

More Merrick Line Comparisons

Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Grain Free Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts

The Merrick Lines

All Merrick food Merrick Grain Free Merrick Backcountry Merrick Kitchen Comforts Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Full Source Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused

Merrick Against Other Brands

Merrick vs Blue Buffalo Merrick vs Wellness Merrick vs Taste of the Wild Canidae vs Merrick Merrick vs Fromm

How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brand's own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. The written comparison is drafted from these figures, and every number in it is checked against them. Figures refreshed October 25, 2026.

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