Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Review
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Nature’s Recipe dog food has been around for over 35 years, according to their web site. Their foods contain no corn or wheat; no artificial flavors or preservatives; and no poultry by-product meal.
They currently make kibbles and wet and canned foods; grain-free and grain-inclusive, for dogs of various life stages and needs. Nature’s Recipe was the first company to sell lamb and rice dog food dating back to 1985.
Keep reading to find out if Nature’s Recipe dog food is right for your dog.
Nature’s Recipe Dog Food: Top 5 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type |
Protein |
kcal/Cup/Can/Tray |
| Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Salmon, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food | Dry food | 27% | 336 kcal/cup |
| Nature’s Recipe Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food | Dry food | 21% | 312 kcal/cup |
| Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Chicken and Beef Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog Food | Wet/canned food | 12% | 75 kcal/2.75-ounce tray |
| Nature’s Recipe Easy-To-Digest Chicken, Rice & Barley Recipe Homestyle Ground Canned Dog Food | Wet/canned food | 8% | 445/13.2-ounce can |
| Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Chicken & Venison Stew Canned Dog Food | Wet/canned food | 8% | 272 kcal/10-ounce can |
About Nature’s Recipe Dog Food
Nature’s Recipe, owned by Big Heart Pet Brands, is a pet food brand that uses highly digestible ingredients like lamb, venison, and sweet potatoes. The company, which was acquired by J.M. Smucker in 2015 for $5.8 billion, claims to avoid beef, corn, or wheat, which can cause food intolerance.
In 2019, Nature’s Recipe was one of 16 brands most frequently reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Nature’s Recipe, a pet food company, claims to manufacture and source most of its ingredients in the US. However, if availability becomes scarce, they may source from another country. The company uses wild-caught salmon for the diet, and when not available, farm-raised salmon from the Pacific Northwest is used.
Some of their canned foods are labeled “Product of Thailand,” which is not a problem as Thailand produces wet/canned foods for many pet food companies. The company could be more transparent about this information, as it produces wet/canned foods for many pet food companies.
Recall History
We found one recall notice for Nature’s Recipe dating from 2012. At that time, some of the company’s dog treats were recalled because of possible Salmonella contamination.
There was also a large recall way back in 1995 involving mycotoxins. It was possibly the largest recall of that kind at the time.
What Kinds of Dog Food Does Nature’s Recipe Offer?
Nature’s Recipe offers a variety of dog food options to cater to different needs and preferences. Let’s explore what they have to offer:
- Dry Dog Food:
- Nature’s Recipe provides a range of dry dog food recipes, carefully crafted with wholesome ingredients. These recipes are inspired by what dogs need, without any unnecessary fillers.
- Key Features:
- Formulated without added corn or wheat ingredients.
- No artificial preservatives or flavors.
- Available in various flavors and protein sources to suit different tastes.
- Wet Dog Food:
- Their wet dog food options are equally enticing. These recipes combine natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals.
- Benefits:
- High moisture content for hydration.
- Delicious flavors that dogs love.
- Ideal for mixing with dry kibble or serving as a standalone meal.
- Life Stage-Specific Formulas:
- Nature’s Recipe caters to different life stages:
- Puppy Formulas: Designed to support growth and development.
- Adult Formulas: Balanced nutrition for everyday maintenance.
- Senior Formulas: Tailored for older dogs’ needs.
- Nature’s Recipe caters to different life stages:
Remember, choosing the right dog food involves considering your pet’s individual requirements, so consult with your veterinarian to determine the best fit for your furry friend!
Nature’s Recipe Dog Food: Top Five Recipes Reviewed
Here’s a look at some of the bestselling Nature’s Recipe dog food recipes on Chewy.com to give you an idea of what’s popular and what other dog lovers are choosing for their dogs.
Nature's Recipe Grain-Free Salmon, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 27% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 337 kcal/cup
Here’s a look at the main ingredients in this food:
New Formula: Salmon, Garbanzo Beans, Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal, Pea Starch, Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Natural Flavor, Dried Tomato Pomace, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), Inositol, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta-Carotene, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Lactic Acid, Citric Acid (Used As A Preservative), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract.
This formula lists three pea/legume ingredients in the first five ingredients for the food, suggesting that a large amount of the food is made up of plant material. Even if you are not concerned about dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs, these are not the best ingredients for your dog since they are essentially meat substitutes.
The dry matter basis (DMB) figures for this food are: 30 percent protein, 13.3 percent fat, 4.4 percent fiber, and (approx.) 44.4 percent carbohydrates. It has 336 kcal/cup.
Nature's Recipe Adult Lamb & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 20% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Moisture: 10% Max
- Caloric Content: 3510 kcal/kg, 312 kcal/cup
Note that when there are differences between information provided by Chewy.com and the brand, we use the information from the label.
Here’s a look at the main ingredients in this food:
Lamb Meal, Barley, Oatmeal, Brewers Rice, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Dried Brewers Yeast, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbly-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), Inositol, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta-Carotene, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Lactic Acid, Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Citric Acid (Used As A Preservative), Rosemary Extract.
Nature’s Recipe Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food has 23.3 percent protein and 13.3 percent fat, according to the dry matter basis (DMB). It has 4.4 percent fiber. Our estimate of the carbohydrates is 51.1 percent. It has 312 kcal per cup.
Nature's Recipe Prime Blends Chicken and Beef Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 12% Min
- Fat: 2% Min
- Fiber: 1% Max
- Moisture: 82% Max
- Caloric Content: 960 kcals/kg, 75 kcals/cup
Here’s a look at the main ingredients in this food:
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sweet Potato, Beef, Green Beans, Canola Oil (Mixed Tocopherols Used As A Preservative), Tricalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Salt, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Beta-carotene, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Reduced Iron, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Carrageenan.
This formula has 66.7 percent protein and 11.1 percent fat, according to the dry matter basis (DMB). It has 5.6 percent fiber. Our estimate of the carbohydrates in the food was neglible. It has 75 kcals/2.75-oz tray.
Nature's Recipe Easy-To-Digest Chicken, Rice & Barley Recipe Homestyle Ground Canned Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 8% Min
- Fat: 5% Min
- Fiber: 1% Max
- Moisture: 76% Max
- Caloric Content: 1190 kcal/kg, 445 kcal/cup
Here’s a look at the main ingredients in this food:
Water Sufficient for Processing, Chicken, Soybean Meal, Chicken Liver, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewer’s Rice, Barley, Potatoes, Carrots, Peas, Vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid), Guar Gum, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Rosemary Extract.
Some people will object to the presence of soybean meal here as the third ingredient, especially in a brand that usually claims that it doesn’t use soy protein. Soy can be a problem for some dogs. It is a plant source of protein.
According to the dry matter analysis for this food, it has 33.3 percent protein, 16.7 percent fat, and 4.2 percent fiber. Our estimate of the carbohydrates in the food came out to 33.3 percent. It contains 445 per 13.2 ounce can.
Nature's Recipe Grain-Free Chicken & Venison Stew Canned Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 8% Min
- Fat: 2.5% Min
- Fiber: 1.5% Max
- Moisture: 83% Max
- Caloric Content: 956 kcal/kg, 272 kcal/cup
Here’s a look at the main ingredients in this food:
Vegetable Broth, Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Tapioca Starch, Venison, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Puree, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sugar, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Beta-Carotene), Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Ferrous Glycine Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Parsley, Taurine, Magnesium Sulfate, Rosemary Extract.
This formula has 47 percent protein and 14.7 percent fat, according to the dry matter basis (DMB). It has 8.8 percent fiber. Our estimate of the carbohydrates in the food came out to 11.8 percent DMB. It contains 272 kcal per 10 ounce can.
How Much Does Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Cost?
Nature’s Recipe diets are very affordable compared to most premium dog foods. Nature’s Recipe offers a range of dog food options, with prices varying based on product, size, and location. Dry dog food costs $11.98 for smaller bags and $49.98 for larger bags.
Wet dog food is priced between $1.63 and $3.00 per pound, with variety packs or multipacks offering better value. Life stage-specific formulas, such as puppy, adult, and senior, are available, and specialty formulas, such as grain-free or limited ingredient options, may be slightly more expensive.
What Do Customers Think Of Nature’s Recipe Dog Food?
Nature’s Recipe gets good ratings from most customers. Most customers (over 90 percent) say they would recommend various Nature’s Recipe dog foods to others. Most recipes get 4- or 5-star reviews.
Overall, Is Nature’s Recipe Dog Food A Good Choice?
Nature’s Recipe is a popular dog food brand that uses real meat as its primary ingredient and avoids artificial additives. They offer a variety of formulas, including grain-free, grain-inclusive, wet, and pre-measured trays.
Their grain-free and grain-inclusive dry kibbles provide balanced nutrition.
Despite being secretive about ingredients, Nature’s Recipe is a good option for pet owners seeking high-quality, balanced nutrition for their furry companions.
Where Is Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Sold?
You can find Nature’s Recipe dog food at Chewy.com and other online retailers. You can also buy Nature’s Recipe at some pet supply stores.
