Last updated Apr 14, 2023
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
We’ve rated Made by Nacho on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Made by Nacho cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Made by Nacho on What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 7/10
- Product Variety – 8/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7.6/10
In total, we give Made by Nacho cat food a 46 out of 60 rating or an B+ grade.
As part of our review process, we’ve submitted samples to an independent lab. You can see the full report here.
In addition to performing our own qualitative analysis of the brands reviewed here, we submitted samples for analysis at an ISO 17025 certified food testing and analysis lab.
Also Read: Why We Lab Test Cat Food and How to Interpret the Reports
We bought the products at full retail price, and the entire testing process was funded by Cats.com without direct input or influence from the companies involved.
Analytical testing in a food chemistry lab gives us the exact macronutrient and micronutrient content of each recipe. The tests also look at microbial content, yeast, mold, and heavy metals, helping you ensure that you’re only putting the best in your cat’s bowl.
To access the lab reports for each food reviewed here, click the “view lab report” link in the product review.
About Made By Nacho
American celebrity chef and reality television personality Bobby Flay is the mastermind behind this cat food brand, though the face of the brand is his cat, Nacho. As a talented chef and restauranteur, Bobby Flay understands the important of high-quality, flavorful ingredients. That’s why Made by Nacho cat food uses only the best ingredients to support your cat’s health.
Made by Nacho is cat-crafted cat food. Working alongside Nacho, veterinarian Dr. Katja Lang aims to ensure every product is full of premium ingredients that supply the essential nutrients cats need to thrive. Nacho’s recipes are chef-inspired and veterinarian-approved, designed to deliver the nutrition cats need with the flavors they crave.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Made by Nacho cat food is made in the USA from globally sourced ingredients. Though the company states their ingredients are sourced from around the world, they don’t provide any specific details.
Each recipe starts with a source of real animal protein such as cage-free chicken, sustainably caught salmon, and grass-fed beef. This cat food also utilizes grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Made by Nacho cat food never contains corn, wheat, or soy and their products are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Recall History
To the best of our knowledge, Made by Nacho cat food has never had a product recalled. Keep in mind, however, that the brand is still very new, so its recall history should be taken with a grain of salt.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Made By Nacho Offer?
Made by Nacho currently offers a selection of dry foods, wet foods, and freeze-dried treats. There are three recipes each for dry food and wet food with five options for freeze-dried treats.
All of Made by Nacho’s wet food formulas are made with bone broth and prepared with a flavorful gravy. These recipes contain real animal protein as the first ingredient, paired with supplementary protein sources as well as grains, fruits and veggies, omega fatty acids, and prebiotics.
Made by Nacho’s dry food formulas are high in protein and infused with freeze-dried pieces of raw chicken liver. These recipes also contain bone broth for added flavor and nutrition.
In addition to their wet and dry food selections, Made by Nacho recently released a line of bone broth food toppers. Available in three flavors (chicken, turkey, and beef), these bone broths are sold in resealable 8.4-ounce cartons.
Made by Nacho’s bone broth provides a concentrated source of hydration and flavor, made with just a handful of natural ingredients. In addition to boosting your cat’s moisture intake, bone broths like these have the potential to support healthy digestion, relieve inflammation, and boost immunity.
What Do Customers Think of Made by Nacho Cat Food?
Because Made by Nacho is a fairly new brand, we weren’t able to find many reviews online outside of the brand’s website. Some of the recipes had over 100 customer reviews, but we couldn’t find many below 4 out of 5 stars. There are also a few reviews on PetSmart but, again, all 5-star ratings. Without many negative reviews for context, it’s difficult to get a big-picture view of the brand.
Most customers seemed pleased with the quality of the ingredients and many commented that the recipes were a hit with even picky eaters. In terms of negative comments, a few customers noted that their cats simply didn’t seem to like the food, and some found the dry food was more popular than the wet food. There were also a few comments about the fish flavors having a very strong odor.
Let’s take a look at a few customer reviews for popular recipes from Made by Nacho.
Positive Reviews
“Sambo and Scooter love the salmon as much as they love the chicken. It makes my heart glad to know they are getting the nutrition they need in food that they love to eat. Thank you Bobby and Nacho!”- Brenda P. reviewing Made by Nacho Sustainably Caught Salmon Recipe
“So far my cat seems to really like the food! Picks out the Nacho food from her old food. Only wish there were more flavor options such as a tuna or ocean white fish kind. My cat is a picky eater and usually will get 3/4 of the way through a bag of food then decides she doesn’t want it suddenly and I have to switch flavors. Also like the 2lb bag option.”- Courtney A. reviewing Made by Nacho Grass-Fed Beef, Rabbit & Pumpkin Recipe
Negative Reviews
“While all four cats loved the dry food, not so much on the wet. And the treats stink so bad all the cats actually ran away from them. Have my sister try. Two out of three cats also ran away. The only one who loved them was her cat who grew up eating raw fish. Will buy more dry food to mix with the one I use.”- Kathy F. reviewing Made by Nacho Cage-Free Chicken Cuts in Gravy
“JB wasn’t as fond of the wet/chicken like he was of the wet/beef. Seriously, you need to lower your price on this product- it is more expensive than a can of tuna fish or crab meat.”- Susan S. reviewing Made by Nacho Cage-Free Chicken, Duck & Quail Recipe
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Overall, my cats seemed to really enjoy Made by Nacho food. The food had a strong aroma that seemed to appeal to their senses, and they devoured the food eagerly.
Personally, I loved the packaging and the quality of the ingredients. Made by Nacho’s dry food is packaged in a bag that sits upright on its own and the resealable closure is located on the back of the bag. Their wet foods came in handy pouches that were easy to tear open.
I also loved the quality of the ingredients and how much protein each recipe contained. I was also pleased by the addition of freeze-dried chicken livers in the dry food formulas.
Bagel loves fish-flavored food and Made by Nacho’s salmon and whitefish flavor was a big hit! Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Made by Nacho Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Grass-Fed Beef, Rabbit & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Cat Food | Dry | Beef | 438 kcal/cup | $0.34 per oz | B+ |
| Salmon, Whitefish & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Cat Food | Dry | Salmon | 455 kcal/cup | $0.34 per oz | B+ |
| Cage-Free Chicken Cuts in Gravy Recipe Wet Food | Wet | Chicken | 71 kcal/pouch | $0.49 per oz | A- |
#1 Grass-Fed Beef, Rabbit & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Cat Food
This dry food formula starts off strong with two high-quality sources of animal protein. Unfortunately, the next two on the list are grains which generally don’t belong in cat food. In addition to these grains, this recipe contains a number of other added carbohydrates including dried fruit.
The estimated carbohydrate content of this formula is fairly high, over 25%. In addition to being high in carbohydrates, this recipe is low in the moisture your cat needs. It’s also worth noting that the first source of added fat is plant-based (sunflower oil), though salmon oil appears later on the list.
Overall, this appears to be a fairly high protein recipe with moderate fat content and high carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Beef, Chicken Meal, Millet, Brown Rice, Dried Eggs, Turkey Meal, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Freeze Dried Chicken Livers, Beef Liver, Rabbit, Chicken Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Oat Groats, Salmon Oil, Miscanthus Grass, Salt, Dried Apples, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, DL-Methionine, Pomegranate Powder, Inulin, Taurine, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamin Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin ), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Methionine Complex, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Ethylene Diamine Dihydroiodide), Dried Parsley, Rosemary Extract.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Beef
Chicken Meal Dried Eggs Turkey Meal Freeze Dried Chicken Liver Beef Liver Rabbit Chicken Bone Broth Salmon Oil |
Millet
Brown Rice Sunflower Oil Pumpkin Oat Groats |
Beef
Chicken |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Cats seem to enjoy the flavor of this recipe
- Contains numerous sources of high-quality animal protein
- No artificial additives, fillers, or by-products
- Rich in omega fatty acids and supplemented with prebiotics
Cons
- Contains several sources of added carbohydrate
- First source of added fat is plant-based
- Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
#2 Salmon, Whitefish & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Cat Food
Like the previous recipe, this formula starts out with two quality sources of animal protein followed by two carbohydrates: millet and brown rice. I appreciate the inclusion of several supplementary proteins, but there are also a number of other added carbohydrates including grains, vegetables, and dried fruit.
Again, sunflower oil is the primary source of added fat, though salmon oil appears later on the list. I appreciate the idea behind the addition of probiotics as well, though it’s hard to say whether they actually survive the cooking process.
Overall, this seems to be a fairly high-protein formula with moderate fat content, but it is low in moisture and relatively high in carbohydrates.
Ingredients
Salmon, Salmon Meal, Millet, Brown Rice, Dried Eggs, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with mixed tocopherols), Whitefish, Freeze Dried Chicken Livers, Chicken Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Natural Flavor, Oat Groats, Salmon Oil, Miscanthus Grass, Salt, Dried Apples, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Pomegranate Powder, Inulin, Choline Chloride, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamin Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin ), Minerals (Zinc Methionine Complex, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Ethylene Diamine Dihydroiodide), Dried Parsley, Rosemary Extract.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Salmon
Salmon Meal Dried Eggs Whitefish Freeze-Dried Chicken Livers Chicken Bone Broth Salmon Oil |
Millet
Brown Rice Sunflower Oil Pumpkin Oat Groats |
Fish
Chicken |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Rich in high-quality animal protein
- Free from fillers, by-products, and artificial additives
- Infused with freeze-dried raw chicken liver
Cons
- Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
- Contains several sources of added carbohydrate
- First source of added fat is plant-based
#3 Cage-Free Chicken Cuts in Gravy Recipe Wet Food
Compared to the previous dry food formulas, this wet food is much higher in moisture and lower in carbohydrates. Five out of the first seven ingredients are sources of animal protein and the remaining two are bone broths (chicken and turkey).
This recipe only contains three sources of added carbohydrate as well as some guar gum which serves as a thickener. The estimated carbohydrate content for this formula is under 5%.
Overall, this appears to be a protein- and moisture-rich formula with moderate fat content and very low carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Bone Broth, Turkey Bone Broth, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg Whites, Turkey, Duck, Pumpkin, Organic Oats, Cranberries, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Salmon Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Potassium Chloride, Minerals (Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Vitamins (Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Inulin, Taurine, Sunflower Oil, Dried Kale.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Chicken
Chicken Bone Broth Turkey Bone Broth Chicken Liver Dried Egg Whites Turkey Duck |
Pumpkin
Organic Oats
|
Chicken |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Packed with multiple sources of real animal protein
- Rich in the moisture your cat needs
- Low estimated carbohydrate content (under 5%)
- Free from fillers, by-products, and artificial additives
Cons
- Contains a few sources of added carbohydrate
- Made with some thickener (guar gum)
How Much Does Made By Nacho Cat Food Cost?
Made by Nacho cat food is formulated with high-quality sources of animal-based protein including cage-free chicken, sustainably caught fish, and grass-fed beef. This being the case, it is a fairly high-quality brand and therefore falls at the higher end of the price spectrum.
The brand’s dry foods average about $0.34 per ounce while their wet foods are closer to $0.50 per ounce. For the average cat who eats about 2 to 2.5 ounces of food per day, that equates to a daily cost between $0.70 and $1.25.
Overall, Is Made By Nacho Cat Food a Good Choice?
For the most part, Made by Nacho seems to be a fairly high-quality brand. We love that they use cage-free chicken, sustainably caught fish, and grass-fed beef, and the fact that every recipe starts with one or two of these high-quality animal-based proteins.
Where Made by Nacho could be improved is in the carbohydrate content of their recipes – especially their dry foods. The recipes I’ve reviewed here contain around 25% carbohydrate content which comes from a significant number of plant-based ingredients. The wet food formulas, however, are much closer to what we like to see in cat food, under 5% carbohydrate.
Customers seem to be pleased with Made by Nacho cat food and my test cats certainly seemed to like it. It is a little pricey and we’re a little concerned about the lack of specificity about ingredient sourcing, but the food seems to be of decent quality.
Other Premium Cat Food Brands We’ve Recently Reviewed:
Where Is Made By Nacho Cat Food Sold?
There are two places you can find Made by Nacho cat food. The first is the brand’s website where you can purchase any of their recipes and receive free shipping on orders over $35. The second option is to shop through PetSmart, either in-store or online.
Also Read: The 10 Best Healthy Canned, Soft & Wet Cat Foods For 2021
I want to inform the maker of the Nacho Cat Food. I have 2 cats and try to feed them the best food I can. They are both patients of Dr Potter with The Hillside Veterinary Hospital on Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX. I am not trying to creat any kind of social media hysteria but I tried the Nacho wet cat food and was trying to see if my finicky eaters would like it. They did but left a lot of the large chunks of turkey so as I was going to pick up the leftovers I was startled and very upset when I found a shredded piece of what looked like a grocery store plastic bag that had gone through a shredder. I took a picture of the pouch and will send the picture but I didn’t retain the plastic and won’t use any of the Nacho food left. I decided to just let you know what I found so you might conduct a quality control audit on your manufacture.
I’m not trying to get anything nor any remuneration for the remainder of the food but I felt it wouldn’t be fair to our cats not to let you know. I hope this is not posted on any readable internet postings. I’m very sorry for your product but that can really be harmful or even deadly on a cat if ingested. I will monitor mine for the next several days just in case they ate some.
Hi James, thank you so much for sharing your experience—that’s very concerning. I would recommend also emailing the Made by Nacho team at [email protected].
I think that part of the problem is that the cat food brands get their meat from the kill floor, category 4, which means what’s left after anything deemed for human consumption has been used. What’s not sellable for humans, such as diseased animals, junk from the slaughterhouse, ends up in the large majority of cat food, even pricey ones. The only way to insure a high quality diet is to either make your own – There are plenty of recipes online, prepare once a week or once a month, freeze it, and take out as you need. Remember to add the amino acid Taurine_ or buy from manufacturers where you can see the actual ingredients ingredients. Cat food is so easy to make! The problem with buying pet food, is that there is no supervision, no control on what’s actually in the can/dry food. They have a review on this site for “Just Food For Cats”, even if they have only one flavor so far, it’s better than any canned/dry food out there. They also teach you how to make your own food, and they are not the only ones. Thanks Mallory for an interesting article!
I thought that was where I was contacting. I’m just going let it go. Don’t want get too involved. Thank you for responding. If possible could just forward my comment.
Speaking as a human, the grain-free minced pollock & salmon is extremely disgusting. But my cat absolutely loves it! He wasn’t eating his regular wet food, so I tried this and it’s a HUGE hit!
Cat in emergency (Lenity, San Mateo, CA) for diarrhea now.. symptoms showed up right after having her first Nacho (Salmon) I bought today.
Concerning…. won’t recommend this brand.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Wilford. Hope all is well.
I started going to petco and searching for all the grain free for my cats diet. I usually got tiki cat and when it was on clearance at petco could get it for very inexpensive. This started being on sale for around 1-1.89 for a 6 oz carton of grain free. It was enough to split between my cats and only have to use one instead of multiple. And let me tell you my cats are very picky but they go crazy for this stuff ! I haven’t had any issues and usually get it for a bargain if going into my local petco. I don’t feed my cats dry food since my one is diabetic and needs shots and don’t want him eating it. 😅
We started with nacho and our cast loved it, however we felt it was lacking in a few areas. We have since switched to CATPERSON and our kitties love it. They love the shreds in broth, and the kibble that has chunks of freeze-dried meat in it.
my cat is pretty picky. She gets bored fast with foods. Previously she enjoyed tiki cat but stopped eating the shreds and only licked the broth. She tried made by nacho and licked it clean! Im a little worried about seeing the guar gum thickness review and bc its so new but tbh it helped her runny poops and she loves the chicken one!