Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
smallbatch Lightly Cooked product range is made up of five recipes with ratings varying from 3 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.
These formulas use premium whole food ingredients and are prepared at low temperatures, resulting in pasteurization, which makes them gentler on sensitive stomachs.
Pros
- Organic ingredients
- Quality USA-sourced proteins
- Ethically & humanely sourced
Cons
- Pricey
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| smallbatch Lightly Cooked Chicken Recipe Sliders | 5 | A |
| smallbatch Lightly Cooked Beef Recipe Sliders | 3.5 | A |
| smallbatch Lightly Cooked Turkey Recipe Sliders | 4.5 | A |
| smallbatch Lightly Cooked Pork Recipe Sliders | 5 | A |
| smallbatch Lightly Cooked Lamb Recipe Sliders | 3 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
smallbatch Lightly Cooked Chicken Recipe Sliders was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
smallbatch Lightly Cooked Chicken Recipe Sliders
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken (with ground bone), chicken, chicken gizzards, chicken hearts, chicken livers, organic carrots, organic sweet potatoes, organic broccoli, organic zucchini, organic apple cider vinegar, organic kale, cod liver oil, organic blueberries, organic kelp, organic parsley, organic chia seeds, organic collard greens, organic wheatgrass, vitamin E supplement, organic basil, organic rosemary, zinc amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 14% | 9% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 48% | 32% | 11% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 35% | 57% | 8% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first two ingredients are ground chicken and bone and chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life. The ground bone is an excellent source of natural calcium.
The third ingredient is chicken gizzards. The gizzard is a low-fat, meaty organ found in the digestive tract of birds and assists in grinding up a consumed food. This item is considered a canine dietary delicacy.
The fourth ingredient is chicken heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle – all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The fifth ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The sixth ingredient is organic carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient is organic sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The eighth ingredient is organic broccoli. Broccoli is a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. It’s notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.
The ninth ingredient is zucchini, a type of squash high in complex carbohydrates.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
This recipe has two notable exceptions.
Firstly, since this recipe contains a number of organic ingredients, we feel compelled to grant this line a more favorable status as we consider its final rating.
That’s because organic ingredients must comply with notably more stringent government standards – standards which significantly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.
Next, we find cod liver oil, a fish oil known to be rich in both EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamins A and D.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, smallbatch Lightly Cooked Chicken Recipe Sliders looks like an above-average fresh product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47%, a fat level of 31.5% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 15.5%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 46.2% and a mean fat level of 36.2%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 11.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 79%.
This means this smallbatch product line contains above-average protein, average carbohydrate, and above-average fat, when compared to typical fresh dog food.
smallbatch Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to smallbatch through July 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of smallbatch Lightly Cooked Dog Food
smallbatch uses a generous amount of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein, however some recipes in this range have received lower ratings due to their high fat-to-protein ratios, consequently bringing down the overall rating to 4 stars. However, this brand uses high-quality ingredients and incorporates organic produce, making it a very good quality choice.
About
smallbatch is a family-owned company founded in 2005 in San Francisco, CA. Inspired by the wonderful local and sustainable sources around them, they set out to create a unique type of raw pet food.
Compare smallbatch Lightly Cooked Dog Food
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A Final Word
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