Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Review, Recalls & Coupons for 2023

With a name like Nature’s Recipe you would probably expect healthy dog food products made with fresh, natural ingredients – and that is exactly what you get with this brand.

Nature’s Recipe follows the tagline, “Every ingredient counts” and they make it their goal to provide “nutritionally vibrant recipes for every pet every day”.

Simply put, Nature’s Recipe relies on quality ingredients and carefully developed formulas to provide high-quality nutrition for dogs in all life stages. Not only does Nature’s Recipe offer a good variety of products, but they offer a number of formulas designed for dogs with special dietary needs.

Whether you have a growing puppy on your hands, an active adult dog, or an aging senior dog, Nature’s Recipe has a dedicated formula that your dog is going to love. This company designs their products to ensure optimal nutrition for long-term health and wellness. It’s as simple as that.

Read on for our comprehensive Nature's Recipe Dog Food Review below.

Who Makes Nature’s Recipe Dog Food?

The Nature’s Recipe brand of dog food is produced and manufactured by Big Heart Pet Brands. Nature’s Recipe was founded 35 years ago by Jeff Bennet who was also the founder of Earth Elements, another pet food brand.

There isn’t a great deal of information available regarding the history of Nature’s Recipe, however. Big Heart Pet Brands is part of the J.M. Smucker Company which produces a variety of other pet food brands including Milk-Bone, Natural Balance, Kibbles ‘n Bits, Pup-Peroni, Gravy Train, and Milo’s Kitchen.

Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Review

When it comes to their ingredients, Nature’s Recipe uses real meats, protein-rich meat meals, wholesome grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

All of Nature’s Recipe’s dog food products are designed to be easy to digest and balanced with healthy nutrients – they will also support your dog’s healthy skin and coat as well as a healthy body weight.

Each recipe starts with a quality animal protein as the main ingredient (with the exception of a vegetarian formula), supplemented with whole grains or grain-free carbohydrates.

Nature’s Recipe uses a careful blend of omega fatty acids for energy and healthy coat, plus plenty of digestible fiber for regular digestion.

What are the Best Nature's Recipe Dog Food Recipes?

1. Nature's Recipe Salmon, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe
2. Nature's Recipe Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe
3. Nature's Recipe Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe
4. Nature's Recipe Chicken Recipe in Broth
5. Nature's Recipe Small Breed Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe
6. Nature's Recipe Easy-To-Digest Chicken, Rice & Barley Recipe

 

1. Nature’s Recipe Salmon, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin

First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Tapioca Starch, Canola Meal

Crafted for adult dogs of all breeds and sizes, the Nature’s Recipe Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe contains a healthy mix of veggies, fruits, and one of the ocean’s prized bounties — salmon.

This oily fish is excellent as a primary ingredient because it’s considered somewhat of a superfood with its nutrient-dense properties.

Rich in protective antioxidants, proteins, minerals, and vitamins, it’s easy to see why salmon is one of the most popular fish varieties.

It has got plenty of potassium, protein, vitamin B12, and selenium, but the most important and often most-praised nutrient it has is the Omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 fats are thought to reduce the risk of heart disease and are believed to contribute to healthy joints, brain function, and shiny skin and coat.

As the second ingredient in the recipe, garbanzos (or chickpeas) pack a nutritional punch. They’re the perfect accompaniment to salmon because they provide a good share of nutrients themselves.

For example, garbanzos are rich in zinc, Vitamin K, phosphorus, copper, folate, choline, iron, and more. Because of this, garbanzos can help dogs through a lot of canine illnesses, though it does have the unfortunate side effect of making some dogs gassy.

There are peas here, which along with the sweet potatoes, offer dogs a much-needed carbohydrate boost. Though carbohydrates are often vilified in diets, dogs need a healthy serving of these because carbohydrates are one of the ways dogs get energy. They form one of the three essential macronutrients for proper body function, which are carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

Menhaden fish meal is there to provide more protein to the recipe. (Menhaden fish meal are small fish that are ground up and cooked until little to no moisture remains.) Fish meals are full of protein as well as amino and fatty acids.

One of the key ingredients in this formulation is pumpkin. It’s a fiber-rich fruit that adds bulk to a dog’s stool and helps produce fatty acids that supply energy to the cells of the colon. The fiber in pumpkin also acts as a prebiotic to help the growth of good bacteria in the gut while minimizing harmful ones.

Aside from being grain-free, the recipe is also free from wheat, corn, soy, and artificial ingredients. But there are plenty of added mineral and vitamins to build a strong immune system and provide your dog with everything he needs for a complete and balanced meal.

2. Nature’s Recipe Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Tapioca Starch, Canola Meal

This Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Easy to Digest Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe is a high-energy blend that is specially designed to be easy on your dog’s stomach and digestive system. Made with high-quality chicken protein and grain-free carbohydrates, this formula is complete and balanced for all life stages.

Whether you have a growing puppy or an active adult dog, this formula will provide plenty of meat-rich protein, healthy fats, and digestible carbohydrates. It is also made with beneficial supplements to ensure nutritional balance.

The first ingredient in this formula is fresh chicken. One thing you should know is that fresh meats like chicken contain up to 80% moisture by volume. When the dog food is cooked and much of that moisture is lost, the final volume of protein contributed by that ingredient could be less.

That isn’t a problem for this recipe, however, because chicken meal is the second ingredient. Chicken meal, and other meat meals, has already been cooked to remove moisture – that makes it a highly-concentrated source of protein. In addition to these two proteins, this recipe also contains pea protein.

Unfortunately, this is a plan protein which means that it offers lower bioavailability for your dog. It is also unclear how much this ingredient contributes to the total protein content of the recipe.

For carbohydrates, this recipe relies primarily on garbanzo beans and peas – both gluten-free and grain-free carbohydrates. In addition to carbohydrate energy, these ingredients contribute dietary fiber to boost your dog’s digestion.

There are also some supplementary sources of fiber such as sweet potatoes, apples, pumpkin, tapioca starch, and tomato pomace.  The main source of fat used here is poultry fat which, though it is an animal-based fat, doesn’t come from a named source so it is difficult to judge the quality. The remaining ingredients in this formula consist of natural flavors and synthetic supplements, including chelated minerals.

Overall, this kibble is a quality source of balanced nutrition for dogs in all life stages. This recipe starts off strong with chicken and chicken meal as the top two ingredients and it continues to do well with two gluten-free and grain-free carbohydrates up next.

The fourth ingredient, however, is a little troubling – pea protein is a plant-based ingredient and offers lower bioavailability than meat-based proteins. Some pet owners may also say that the tomato pomace used as a supplementary source of fiber is a questionable ingredient.

It is also a little concerning that the main source of fat comes from an unnamed source. All in all, however, this is still a decent recipe with a little room for improvement.

3. Nature’s Recipe Original Lamb Meal & Rice

First 5 ingredients: Lamb, Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Barley, Oatmeal

Adult dogs of all sizes will find their nutrition needs met and their meaty cravings satisfied in the Nature’s Recipe Original Lamb Meal & Rice. It’s a healthy meal that supports the development of lean muscles, alertness, and metabolism in canines. There are no artificial flavors or preservatives, poultry by-product meals, corn, or wheat.

The Original line promotes digestion by using natural fiber from barley and oatmeal. There are added nutrients, vitamins, minerals, to give your adult pet a holistic, balanced meal that will sustain his daily activities.

Lamb meal takes the first spot as the main ingredient in this recipe. The ‘meal’ word usually confuses some pet owners who may think that it’s not as good quality as fresh meat.

However, lamb meal is just fresh lamb that was cooked to remove almost all or all moisture content, leaving a higher percentage of protein and calcium per volume. It can be extremely healthy depending on the quality of the lamb meat used.

Some consider lamb to be a novel protein, and it can be a very good alternative to other meats if your dog has food sensitivities to other types of meat. It certainly is a rich and savory red meat that comes packed with vitamins, minerals, dietary fats, and essential amino acids. It’s also similar to beef in that it contains a lot of iron, more than chicken or fish.

Barley comes in as the second ingredient. It’s a low cholesterol food that is high in fiber, nicely complementing a meat-based recipe. It has thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and not a few calories.

The third and fourth ingredients in the formulation are oatmeal and brewer’s rice. Oatmeal is a superb source of fiber, and it’s safe to eat for canines with wheat allergies. Meanwhile, brewer’s rice is a carbohydrate source that serves as a quick energy boost for dogs.

Every active dog needs fat to make the energy their body needs for movement and to fuel their muscles. Poultry fat is the fourth ingredient, and it plays a part in keeping dogs active and able to perform at a higher level. Fat also gives dogs a feeling of fullness after meals, helps regulate inflammation, and keeps the epidermal water barrier maintained for healthy skin and coat.

There is dried brewer’s yeast in the list, and it aids the digestive system by controlling diarrhea. It’s also notable for creating healthier skin and shinier coats and reducing the occurrence of itchy and dry skin. One thing to remember, however, is that brewer’s yeast may produce increased gassiness in pets.

While we love this recipe, it has to be noted that one of the key ingredients is barley. It’s a problematic ingredient for gluten-sensitive dogs since the food is loaded with it. There’s also brewer’s rice. While not bad for your dogs, it’s mostly a filler.

We also think it shouldn’t come as a fourth ingredient since it doesn’t contain much nutrients. However, if your dog is not allergic to any of these ingredients, this meal can be a good choice because it provides a complete nutrition due to the added vitamin and mineral supplements.

4. Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Chicken Recipe in Broth

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Canola Oil 

Designed to be easily digestible, the Grain-Free line by Nature’s Recipe will provide all the essential vitamins and minerals your dog needs without compromising on taste.

Each grain-free recipe promises no corn, wheat, artificial flavor or preservative, or poultry by-product meal in it. It’s just natural food with added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

This wet dog food starts with real nutritious chicken as the first ingredient to bring your pet a crude protein content of 11%. Chicken is a favorite dog food ingredient because of its flavorful taste and lean meat. As long as your dog is not allergic to poultry, chicken is quite a healthy meat option to feed on a regular basis.

Next to the chicken is chicken broth. This not only adds to the aroma and taste of the wet food, but the broth also ups the moisture content to 82%. Moisture is often overlooked as not important by pet owners, but it’s crucial for the body to function properly. Low fluid levels in pets can lead to health problems such as kidney stones and urinary tract infections.

The third and fourth ingredients are sweet potatoes and pumpkin. The sweet potatoes are excellent alternatives to grain for their carbohydrate content. And since they’re high in dietary fiber, they are superb at supporting a healthy digestive system. Meanwhile, pumpkin is great for indigestion, urinary health, and beautiful skin and fur.

Because fatty acids are important in a dog’s diet, Nature’s Recipe added canola oil into the mixture. In a pet’s diet, canola oil contributes oleic (Omega-9), linoleic (Omega-6), and linolenic (Omega-3) acids to the food.

The Omega-9 fatty acid is good for increasing good cholesterol while decreasing bad ones; Omega-6 fatty acids maintain bone health, regulate the metabolism, and stimulate hair growth; and Omega-3 helps in lowering the risk of heart diseases and stroke.

There’s also dried tomato puree in the formula. Tomatoes aren’t bad for animals per se as long as the leaves or unripe fruits are not eaten. The dried puree is made from the meat of the tomato, which is a good source of soluble fiber, potassium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.

The rest of the ingredients are composed mostly of supplemental vitamins and minerals to give every dog the proper nutrition he needs for his daily activities. If not for carrageenan being included, this would almost be a perfect list of ingredients.

Carrageenan is often used as a thickener and emulsifier, but it can cause inflammation and ulcerations. Thankfully, carrageenan is so far down the list, which means there is only a little amount of it mixed in.

5. Nature’s Recipe Small Breed Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Tapioca Starch, Canola Meal

Small breed dogs with sensitivity to grains need a special kind of food to help them meet their nutrition needs. Little mouths have a hard time chewing big kibbles, so the Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free food made specifically for small dogs will be just the thing they need.

This is a grain free recipe. Instead of grains, this recipe uses sweet potato & pumpkin to give the food a fiber and carbohydrate boost. Fiber, of course, keeps the digestive system healthy by speeding up elimination and bulking up stools to make it easier for them to pass. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, are converted by the body into glucose which acts as the brain’s fuel.

The star of this recipe is chicken. It heads the list of ingredients and acts as the primary source of protein. Fresh chicken is supported by chicken meal to ensure that dogs get enough nutrients to build and repair tissues, develop lean muscle mass, and make crucial body chemicals like hormones and enzymes

Next to the chicken ingredients come the garbanzo beans (chickpeas), peas, and pea starch. The trio act as plant sources of protein, but that’s not all they provide. Garbanzo beans aid in weight management, improve digestion, and lessen the risk of several canine diseases from occurring. Peas provide carbohydrates as well as several vitamins and minerals, while pea starch holds the kibble together.

Maybe you’re wondering why there’s poultry fat in the recipe. Poultry fat is actually an important ingredient in pet foods. It acts as an energy source for dogs, keeps their coats shiny and healthy, enhances the taste and aroma of the food, and shields dry kibbles to help increase their shelf lives.

As for the last key ingredient, it’s dried tomato pomace. It’s a healthy ingredient as it contains Lycopene (an antioxidant) and it is a soluble fiber. While tomatoes may be considered by some as toxic to pets, it’s really only the leaves and stems of the plant that are problematic. The ripe fruit is okay to eat.

The rest of the recipe is given over to minerals, vitamins, and a few natural preservatives. It doesn’t contain any wheat, corn, or artificial flavors.

6. Nature’s Recipe Easy-to-Digest Original Ground Chicken, Rice & Barley

First 5 ingredients: Water Sufficient for Processing, Chicken, Soybean Meal, Chicken Liver, Canola Oil

A tasty wet food for adult dogs, the Original Ground Chicken, Rice & Barley Recipe is designed to be gentle on a canine’s stomach. It’s crafted with all the savory taste your dog could possibly want and the nutrition that he definitely needs.

The recipe is crafted to be easy on the tummy, making it ideal for every dog especially those who may be ill or are recovering from illness. The gentle formula focuses on a dog’s digestive health and delivering his every energy need.

The first ingredient is water, surprisingly. Ordinarily, this would cause some concern for pet owners who would prefer a meat-first recipe. However, since it’s crafted to support sensitive stomachs, the water is actually there to aid in processing the food.

Next to water is chicken. Chicken is an excellent source of protein and lean meat. It can be a problematic ingredient for food-sensitive dogs, but a welcome treat for those without allergies to poultry. Adding more nutrients into the mixture is soybean meal, which comes at third.

It is a pure form of plant protein and extremely helpful for canines with digestive problems because of its high fiber content. Just make sure to check first if your dog is allergic to these two ingredients.

Although it may not sound good to many, chicken liver (the fourth ingredient) is a healthy source of nutrients. It contains 10 to a hundred times the nutrients of muscle meat. For example, it has large amounts of Vitamin A as well as iron, B vitamins, trace minerals, protein, and coQ10.

There are also nutritious veggies in each meal, including carrots, potatoes, peas, and barley. Barley is a food that’s high in fiber and low in cholesterol. It is also a carbohydrate, which may make your dog feel fuller and provide him a source of energy.

Carrots give off Vitamin A, fiber, and potassium. Peas contain vitamins and minerals that are good for a dog’s immune system and vision, while potatoes have iron, calcium, and Vitamin B6.

To make sure that the daily nutrition requirements of canines are met, there are added supplemental vitamins and minerals in the feed. The calorie content for each cup of this food is at a high 445 kcal/cup, supporting weight gain for dogs who may be ill or recovering.

It’s also an ideal feed for super energetic canines who may blast through a lot of calories due to their active lifestyle.

 

Is Nature’s Recipe Made in the United States?

The Nature’s Recipe brand was only acquired by Big Heart Pet Brands, part of the J.M. Smucker Company, in 2015. According to a spokesperson for the Nature’s Variety brand, all of their dry dog food and dog treats are produced in U.S. facilities. While most of their wet food products are also made in the United States, some of their grain-free canned foods are made in Thailand.

Where Does Nature’s Recipe Get Their Ingredients?

Though Nature’s Recipe is a U.S.-based company, the brand’s manufacturer (J.M. Smucker Company) has operations around the world. Most of Nature’s Recipe’s dog food products are made in the United States, so it seems likely that most of their ingredients are sourced from the U.S. as well.

The Nature’s Recipe website provides some detailed information about the quality and nutritional benefits for some of their main ingredients (like real salmon, wholesome grains, and garden quality vegetables) but they do not provide specific information about where any of these ingredients come from.

Nature’s Recipe Dog Food History

The Nature’s Recipe company follows the tagline, “Every ingredient counts” and they talk about promoting the health and wellness of pets with their products. They do not, however, provide much in the way of detailed information about their ingredients or their manufacturing processes.

It is worth noting that Big Heart Pet Brands, the company that manufactures Nature’s Recipe products, also makes some low-quality pet food brands – maybe even in the same facilities as Nature’s Recipe products. All that we know for sure is that Nature’s Recipe has only been recalled once. Here are the details of that recall:

• In October 2012, the Nature’s Recipe company issued a voluntary recall for 19-ounce pouches of Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken due to potential salmonella contamination.

What Kind of Dog Food Does Nature’s Recipe Offer?

When it comes to their dog food products, Nature’s Recipe offers a decent variety. Nature’s Variety dog foods (both wet and dry) can be divided into three categories: Life Stages, Special Needs, and Premium.

Life Stages formulas include classic recipes for puppies, adults and senior dogs as well as some size-specific formula for large- and small-breed dogs. The Special Needs category includes recipes that are specially designed to meet unique nutritional needs – there are formulas for healthy skin, easy digestion, healthy weight, and joint health as well as some breed-specific recipes.

The Premium category includes an assortment of grain-free and limited ingredient recipes. All three of these categories include both dry food and wet food products, plus there are several kinds of Nature’s Recipe dog treats.

Nature’s Recipe Dry Products

The Nature’s Recipe brand of dog food offers a wide variety of different product choices for dry dog food. There are two product lines for Nature’s Recipe dry food, though their products can really be divided into numerous categories.

The classic lineup includes life stages, special needs, and grain-free formulas. The Pure Essentials product line includes limited ingredient recipes that are grain-free. Here is a list of Nature’s Recipe dry dog food recipes:

Life Stages Dry Food Recipes:

• Puppy Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe
• Puppy Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
• Small Bites Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
• Large Breed Puppy Recipe
• Adult Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
• Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe
• Small Bites Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
• Large Breed Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe
• Senior Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe

Special Needs Dry Food Recipes:

• Healthy Skin Venison Meal & Rice Recipe
• Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe
• Easy to Digest Chicken Meal, Rice & Barley Recipe
• Easy to Digest Fish Meal & Potato Recipe
• Terrier Breed Chicken, Rice & Barley Recipe
• Toy Breed Chicken, Barley & Rice Recipe
• Healthy Weight Chicken Meal, Rice & Barley Recipe
• High Protein Chicken Meal & Lamb Meal Recipe
• Joint Health Fish Meal & Chicken Meal Recipe

Grain-Free Dry Food Recipes:

• Grain-Free Puppy Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe
• Small Breed Grain-Free Easy to Digest Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe
• Large Breed Grain-Free Easy to Digest Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe

Pure Essentials Dry Food Recipes:

• Adult Duck & Brown Rice Recipe
• Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe
• Adult Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
• Grain-Free Adult Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe

Nature’s Recipe Canned Products

Many of the same recipes that are available in dry food form also come in canned food. Nature’s Recipe offers an assortment of life stages, special needs, and grain-free options for wet food including several limited-ingredient recipes. Here is a list of Nature’s Recipe canned dog food recipes:

Life Stages Dry Food Recipes:

• Chicken Recipe in Broth
• Chicken & Wild Salmon Recipe in Broth
• Chicken & Turkey Recipe in Broth
• Adult Lamb & Rice Recipe Cuts in Gravy
• Senior Lamb & Rice Recipe Cuts in Gravy

Special Needs Dry Food Recipes:

• Easy to Digest Chicken, Rice & Barley Cuts in Gravy
• Easy to Digest Chicken, Rice & Barley Homestyle Ground
• Easy to Digest Lamb, Rice & Barley Cuts in Gravy
• Easy to Digest Lamb, Rice & Barley Homestyle Ground
• Grain-Free Easy to Digest Chicken & Duck Recipe in Broth
• Grain-Free Easy to Digest Chicken & Venison Recipe in Broth
• Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe Cuts in Gravy

Grain-Free Dry Food Recipes:

• Grain-Free Chicken & Turkey Stew
• Grain-Free Chicken & Venison Stew
• Grain-Free Chicken Recipe in Broth
• Grain-Free Ocean Fish & Tuna Recipe in Broth

Pure Essentials Dry Food Recipes:

• Grain-Free Lamb Recipe in Broth
• Grain-Free Salmon Recipe in Broth
• Grain-Free Chicken Recipe in Broth
• Venison Recipe in Broth
• Duck Recipe in Broth

Nature’s Recipe Dog Treats

In addition to an assortment of dry food and wet food options, Nature’s Recipe also offers a collection of dog treats. Here is a list of Nature’s Recipe dog treats:

Treats:

• Soft Bites Made with Real Beef & Cheese
• Soft Bites Made with Real Chicken & Cheese
• Soft Minis Made with Real Bacon
• Soft Minis Made with Real Chicken
• Soft Minis Made with Real Beef
• Soft Sticks Made with Real Bacon & Cheese
• Soft Sticks Made with Real Peanut Butter
• Grain-Free Biscuits Salmon & Potato Recipe
• Grain-Free Biscuits Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe

Is Nature's Recipe dog food good?

Overall, this is a decent brand that you can feed your dog, and they'll live a relatively healthy life. It's not the best dog food around, but it is a great dog food. Other Natures Recipe reviews agree. Consider Nature's Recipe for your next affordable dog food brand option.

Is Nature's Recipe on the recall list?

All that we know for sure is that Nature's Recipe has only been recalled once. Here are the details of that recall: In October 2012, the Nature's Recipe company issued a voluntary recall for 19-ounce pouches of Nature's Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken due to potential salmonella contamination.

How healthy is Nature's Recipe dog food?

And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food. Excluding the Vegetarian formula, Nature's Recipe is a plant-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meat meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3.5 stars among reviewers.

Is Nature's Recipe a good brand?

Overall, Nature's Recipe appears to be a good quality brand, though there are some ways in which it could be improved. The brand is very open about the kinds of ingredients they use in their products, though they don't provide specific information about where they come from.