Prime Blends is a four-recipe kibble line from Nature's Recipe. Each recipe mixes two or three animal proteins, and all four are made for adult dogs of all breed sizes. Every recipe in the line is now discontinued.
On the label the recipes barely differ. Each lists 30% protein, 13% fat, 4% fiber and 37% estimated starch, as fed, with 340 to 350 kcal per cup. Chicken appears in three recipes and beef in two, while venison, lamb, turkey and fish each appear once. Two recipes are grain free, with peas, garbanzo beans and pea protein high on the list. The other two lead with barley, oatmeal and brown rice. All four contain peas or lentils and potato.
Compared with the 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, Prime Blends is higher on protein (30% versus 26.9%), about even on estimated starch (37% versus 37.4%) and lower on calories (340 to 350 versus 395 kcal per cup). The trade-off is that the recipes offer little real choice: they differ in protein source and grain use, not in their guaranteed analysis.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Beef, Barley & Venison Recipe | 30% | 13% | 37% | 340 | Beef, Beef Meal (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Barley |
| Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Grain-Free Beef, Lamb, and Potato Recipe | 30% | 13% | 37% | 350 | Beef, Lamb Meal, Peas |
| Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey, and Butternut Squash Recipe | 30% | 13% | 37% | 350 | Chicken Breast, Chicken Meal, Garbanzo Beans |
| Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Salmon, Barley & Chicken Recipe | 30% | 13% | 37% | 340 | Salmon, Chicken Meal (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Barley |
| Line average | 30% | 13% | 37% | 345 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
30% protein · 13% fat · 37% starch · 340 kcal/cup · Adult
The only Prime Blends recipe with venison, it leads with beef and beef meal, then barley, oatmeal and brown rice, and it also contains chicken. At 340 kcal per cup, it suits owners who want a red meat kibble made with grain for an adult dog.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Beef, Barley & Venison Recipe30% protein · 13% fat · 37% starch · 350 kcal/cup · Adult
The only recipe in the line with lamb, it pairs beef with lamb meal, and those are the only animal proteins in our ingredient read. It is grain free, with peas, garbanzo beans and pea protein next, at 350 kcal per cup, for owners avoiding poultry.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Grain-Free Beef, Lamb, and Potato Recipe30% protein · 13% fat · 37% starch · 350 kcal/cup · Adult
The only Prime Blends recipe with turkey, it opens with chicken breast and chicken meal and uses no red meat. It is grain free, with garbanzo beans, peas and pea protein close behind, at 350 kcal per cup, for owners who prefer a poultry-only recipe.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey, and Butternut Squash Recipe30% protein · 13% fat · 37% starch · 340 kcal/cup · Adult
The only recipe in the line with fish, it lists salmon first, followed by chicken meal, barley, oatmeal and brown rice. At 340 kcal per cup, it suits owners who want a kibble made with grain that leads with fish rather than red meat.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Salmon, Barley & Chicken RecipeTwo of the four recipes are grain free: Grain-Free Beef, Lamb, and Potato and Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey, and Butternut Squash. Beef, Barley & Venison and Salmon, Barley & Chicken include barley, oatmeal and brown rice.
All four recipes list the same 30% protein on the label. They differ in calories: the two grain free recipes have 350 kcal per cup, and the two barley recipes have 340.
Yes. All four Prime Blends recipes are discontinued: Beef, Barley & Venison; Salmon, Barley & Chicken; Grain-Free Beef, Lamb, and Potato; and Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey, and Butternut Squash.
Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (33.3% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
50% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Beef, Barley & Venison Recipe Dry Dog Food
33.3% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Salmon, Barley & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food
37% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey, and Butternut Squash Recipe Dry Dog Food
350 kcal per cup
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
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