Nextrition chicken, beef, lamb or salmon: which recipe to pick
Compare Nextrition's four cold-pressed dog food recipes by first ingredients, protein and fat, calories per cup, shared allergens, price per cup and what a month costs by dog weight, then pick the trial pack or bag that fits.
If you have already decided Nextrition is worth a try, the next question is which of the four recipes to buy: Chicken, Beef, Lamb or Salmon. They share the same feeding chart and bag sizes, so the real differences are the protein source, a few label numbers, what else is in the ingredient list, and price. This guide puts those side by side so you can pick one recipe instead of guessing.
Checked: October 6, 2026, on the Nextrition US product pages. Prices, labels and subscribe offers can change. Confirm the current product page and the bag label before ordering.
New to Nextrition? Start with our Nextrition cold-pressed dog food guide for who should switch at all.
The short answer
- Pick Chicken if your dog already does well on chicken and you want the lowest price. It was the cheapest recipe at every bag size.
- Pick Salmon if you want a fish-first recipe or the highest listed omega-3 minimum (1.3%). It was only about $1 more than Chicken per 4.5 lb bag. It also lists New Zealand green mussels, a shellfish.
- Pick Lamb if you want to rotate away from chicken and beef and your dog tolerates eggs. It had the highest listed protein and fat minimums and the highest price.
- Pick Beef if your dog already does well on beef and eggs. It had the lowest calories per cup of the four.
- Not sure? Buy the $9.99 trial variety pack with all four recipes and let your dog vote first.
If your dog has a diagnosed food allergy or is on a vet-prescribed diet, read the shared-ingredient section below and ask your vet before picking any recipe.
Buy the Nextrition trial variety pack.
Side-by-side label comparison
Figures are copied from each product page's guaranteed analysis and calorie statement. "Min" and "max" are label guarantees, not lab results.
| Chicken | Beef | Lamb | Salmon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First three ingredients | Chicken, rice, sweet potato | Beef, ground grain sorghum, sweet potato | Lamb, pearled barley, lamb meal | Salmon, millet, sweet potato |
| Crude protein (min) | 28% | 26% | 30% | 28% |
| Crude fat (min) | 10% | 10% | 12% | 10% |
| Crude fiber (max) | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Moisture (max) | 14% | 15% | 14% | 14% |
| Total omega-3 (min) | 0.35% | 0.3% | 0.35% | 1.3% |
| Calories per cup | 504.8 kcal | 479.5 kcal | 494 kcal | 504.6 kcal |
| Calories per kg | 3,215 kcal | 3,319 kcal | 3,409 kcal | 3,480 kcal |
| Life stage on label | All life stages, including large-breed growth | Same | Same | Same |
All four state they are formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, including growth of large-size dogs (70 lb or more as adults). If you are feeding a growing large-breed puppy, still confirm the switch with your vet.
The protein and fat differences are small. For most healthy adult dogs, the deciding factors are which protein your dog tolerates, what else is in the bag, and price.
Shared ingredients to check before you pick
Swapping the headline protein does not make these recipes "single protein." When checked, the ingredient lists showed:
| Ingredient | Chicken | Beef | Lamb | Salmon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skim milk powder (dairy) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Salmon oil (fish) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dried eggs | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Chicken bone broth | Yes | No | No | No |
| Beef liver | No | Yes | No | No |
| New Zealand green mussels (shellfish) | No | No | No | Yes |
| "Natural flavor" (source not stated) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grains | Rice, oats | Sorghum, oats, millet | Barley, millet | Millet, barley, sorghum |
What that means in practice:
- None of the four is grain-free, and none is dairy-free or fish-free.
- If your vet has told you to avoid chicken, the Beef, Lamb and Salmon recipes do not list chicken, but each lists "natural flavor" without naming its source. Ask Nextrition what it is made from before relying on any recipe for a strict elimination diet.
- If your dog reacts to eggs, Chicken and Salmon are the two recipes without dried eggs listed.
- A diagnosed food allergy is a vet decision. Do not use a retail food as an elimination diet without your vet's plan.
Price per bag and per cup
Nextrition says each 4.5 lb bag holds about 12 cups, and its larger options are multiples of that bag, so we used 12 cups per 4.5 lb to work out the price per cup. These are one-time prices; per-cup figures are our arithmetic, rounded.
| Recipe | 4.5 lb bag | 18 lb (4 bags) | Per cup, 4.5 lb | Per cup, 18 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | $54.98 | $202.38 | ~$4.58 | ~$4.22 |
| Salmon | $55.98 | $206.08 | ~$4.67 | ~$4.29 |
| Beef | $58.48 | $215.28 | ~$4.87 | ~$4.49 |
| Lamb | $61.48 | $226.28 | ~$5.12 | ~$4.71 |
The 9 lb and 13.5 lb sizes sit in between. The product pages also advertised subscribe savings ("Subscribe to Save 10% Off (and More!)" and "save up to 17%"). We did not use a subscribe price here because the exact discount depends on what you pick at checkout.
Buy Nextrition Chicken Recipe.
What a month costs by dog weight
The feeding chart is the same for all four recipes. Below are Nextrition's adult cups-per-day ranges, how long one 4.5 lb bag lasts at that rate, and a 30-day food cost for the cheapest path (Chicken bought as 18 lb) and the priciest path (Lamb bought as 4.5 lb bags). Our arithmetic, rounded, before tax and any subscribe discount.
| Adult dog weight | Cups per day (label) | One 4.5 lb bag lasts | 30 days, Chicken 18 lb | 30 days, Lamb 4.5 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5–10 lb | 1/2 to 2/3 | ~18–24 days | ~$63–$84 | ~$77–$102 |
| 10–15 lb | 2/3 to 7/8 | ~14–18 days | ~$84–$111 | ~$102–$134 |
| 15–20 lb | 7/8 to 1 | ~12–14 days | ~$111–$126 | ~$134–$154 |
| 20–30 lb | 1 to 1 1/2 | ~8–12 days | ~$126–$190 | ~$154–$231 |
| 30–50 lb | 1 1/2 to 2 | ~6–8 days | ~$190–$253 | ~$231–$307 |
| 50–75 lb | 2 to 2 3/4 | ~4–6 days | ~$253–$348 | ~$307–$423 |
| 75–100 lb | 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 | ~3–4 days | ~$348–$443 | ~$423–$538 |
Puppies eat more per pound than adults on the label chart, so expect a higher monthly cost while they grow. Nextrition says to adjust portions for age, energy and activity, and markets that dogs need about 30% less of its food than kibble. That is the seller's claim; your dog's weight and body condition are the real test, so weigh portions and check in with your vet if weight drifts.
For a small dog, a full-time switch is a modest monthly cost. For a 50 lb-plus dog, it is a real budget line. Some owners use a cold-pressed food as a topper over a cheaper base food instead; if you do that, ask your vet so total calories stay on track.
Which bag to buy first
| Your situation | Buy first |
|---|---|
| You do not know which protein your dog prefers | Trial variety pack, $9.99 for all four recipes (4 × 0.25 lb) |
| You know the protein your dog does well on | That recipe's single trial pack, $9.99 (chicken, beef, lamb, salmon) |
| Your dog liked a trial and stools stayed normal | A 4.5 lb bag of that recipe for the full transition |
| Your dog is fully switched and doing well | Larger bags or a subscription at the interval your dog actually uses |
The trial packs are a taste test, not enough food for a full switch. Nextrition recommends transitioning over about 7 days, or 10 to 14 days for dogs with sensitivities. Change one thing at a time, and stop and call your vet if you see vomiting, diarrhea that lasts more than a day or two, blood in the stool, lethargy or refusal to eat.
Can you rotate recipes?
Nextrition's subscription messaging says you can change flavors. Because the four recipes share a feeding chart and similar calories per cup, rotating is mostly a question of your dog's stomach. If you rotate, transition between recipes gradually the same way you would between brands, and avoid rotating at all during a vet-led diet trial.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nextrition recipe is cheapest?
Chicken, at $54.98 for 4.5 lb and $202.38 for 18 lb one-time when checked. Salmon was close behind; Lamb was the most expensive.
Which recipe has the most protein?
Lamb listed the highest minimums: 30% crude protein and 12% crude fat. Chicken and Salmon listed 28% protein; Beef listed 26%.
Is any Nextrition recipe grain-free or dairy-free?
No. All four listed grains and skim milk powder when checked.
Is the Salmon recipe fish-only?
It does not list chicken, beef or lamb, but it lists New Zealand green mussels and kelp, and every recipe lists "natural flavor" without naming the source. Ask Nextrition and your vet if you need a strict single-protein diet.
How long does a 4.5 lb bag last?
About 12 cups per bag. For an adult dog that is roughly 18–24 days at 5–10 lb, 8–12 days at 20–30 lb, and 6–8 days at 30–50 lb using the label chart.
Will BarkOnTrack earn a commission if I buy?
Yes, if you use our shop links. That does not change the price you see at checkout. See our affiliate disclosure for the current merchant list.
Sources and review notes
- Nextrition Chicken Recipe, Beef Recipe, Lamb Recipe and Salmon Recipe product pages for ingredients, guaranteed analysis, calorie content, AAFCO statement, feeding chart, cups per bag, transition advice, bag sizes and one-time prices.
- Nextrition Trial Variety Pack for trial contents and price.
- Per-cup, days-per-bag and 30-day figures are BarkOnTrack's arithmetic from those published numbers.
This is an editorial buying guide based on Nextrition's published product pages. We have not fed or tested the food, and we have not verified ingredient assays, digestibility, health outcomes, shipping speed or customer-service quality. For diet and medical decisions, ask a licensed veterinarian.