Honest Kitchen Dog Food Reviews 2024: Dog Food Made Real

Located in sunny California, The Honest Kitchen is one of the top dog food brands that manufacture premium-quality pet foods in the country.  It’s known as much for the quality of its products as for their unique form. 

This brand offers a wide assortment of wet, dry, and dehydrated products for pets—complete and balanced meals made with wholesome ingredients and slowly cooked over low temperatures to remove moisture, thus preserving more of the nutritional integrity of the raw ingredients.

The team is made up of loving pet parents, animal nutritionists, veterinarians, and other animal lovers who all want the best for their pets and for yours.

This company produces healthy dog food recipes that deliver real, noticeable results including higher energy levels, silkier coat and skin, improved digestion, and a healthy body weight. (I should know. Some of the brand’s products are on my pet food rotation!) 

Your dog’s diet on Honest Kitchen’s products will be just as good as your own (or better), because these are made from human-grade and certified-organic ingredients.

Allow me to break it all down in my detailed Honest Kitchen dog food reviews below.

Who Manufactures The Products?

The Honest Kitchen dog food formulas are produced and manufactured by the company itself, which was founded in 2002 by Charles and Lucy Postins who sought to create a fresh, natural diet for their dog, Mosi.

What started as a single homemade recipe turned into an entire company offering high-quality, dehydrated dog food products for pets. 

By using 100% human-grade ingredients and producing formulas in human-grade facilities, the brand ensures that all of its recipes are made of only the good stuff—wholesome, natural, and quality food that focuses on high safety standards for your dog’s health.

Are The Recipes Made In The United States?

The Honest Kitchen is headquartered in San Diego, California. The first product, the Verve recipe, hit shelves in 2002 and the first grain-free recipe (Force) was released a year later.

Since then, the brand has expanded its offerings to include over a dozen products using human-grade ingredients, both whole-grain and grain-free dog food, all of which are produced in local facilities here in the United States.

Honest Kitchen Dog Food Reviews

It is difficult to compare The Honest Kitchen’s products to those offered by other dog food brands for several reasons. For one thing, few other manufacturers offer dehydrated ingredients or foods.

Furthermore, few pet food manufacturers are as dedicated to quality as they are when it comes to sourcing their ingredients and manufacturing their recipes.

Honest Kitchen dog food recipes use nothing but the best, including real meats, whole grains, fresh fruits and colorful veggies. Each and every one of the recipes is made with the bounty of the earth—you can tell just by looking at it and by reading the ingredients list on every package.

 

1. Grain-Free Turkey Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated Turkey, Organic Flaxseed, Dehydrated Potatoes, Dehydrated Spinach, Dehydrated Carrots

Rating: 5/5

This recipe is complete and balanced for all life stages, from puppies to adult dogs and seniors. This dehydrated formula is free from glutens and grains, which makes it a great option for dogs that suffer from food allergies and sensitivities. 

It is specifically designed to support the nutrition and energy needs of more active dogs, offering a low-carb source of protein-rich nutrition that is also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

The first ingredient is turkey. Turkey is a meat-rich ingredient as well as a lean source of protein. It is supplemented by whole eggs and also gains some plant protein from the inclusion of flaxseed.

You have to consider, however, that the moisture content of this product is lower than that of regular kibble. Most kibbles are at 10% moisture, but this recipe is lower at 7.8%—that means that the true dry matter value of protein in this formula is closer to 31%.

After the main source of protein in this formula come several sources of healthy fats and carbohydrates, like organic flaxseed and potatoes.

Celery, spinach, carrots, apples, bananas, and cranberries all provide supplementary fiber and some carbohydrate energy, though they are more valuable as natural sources for key vitamins and minerals.

It is worth noting that the crude fiber content of this recipe is 6.5%, which is a bit high.  

Key Takeaways:

I highly recommend this dog food formula for puppies and adults. And of course, as I’ve mentioned at the beginning of this article, I have tried Honest Kitchen and am still using it on my own pups and on my fosters so I personally know that this recipe works.

I love, love dehydrated foods because they’re so easy to use and they last so long. It may look expensive at first glance, but after adding water to the dehydrated food, you get so much product. The longer shelf life and convenience offered by this dehydrated formula is also a big plus. 

If you love to give healthy food but can’t be bothered to make it from scratch, this is the next best thing.

However, while this says that it’s for all life stages, this is more for puppies and adult dogs. Seniors may need more supplementation, especially when it comes to joint pains and such.

Best for: Puppies and adult pups

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2. Grain-Free Base Mix

First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes, Dehydrated Peas, Dehydrated Cabbage, Dried Organic Coconut, Dried Apple

Rating: 5/5

The base mix recipe is an ideal product for dogs that suffer from food allergies or sensitivities—just mix it with any type of meat or fish that your dog can tolerate to create a complete and balanced diet. Instead of grains, the base is made up of a combination of veggies and fruits to provide much of your dog’s nutritional needs.

It can be hard to find the perfect food for pups with extreme allergies or intolerances. And trial and error can be a lengthy process. This mix helps dog owners provide their dogs with the proper amount of nutrition with very minimal risk that it may trigger an allergy flare or stomach upset. 

Much of the base mix is made up of vegetables and fruits, which are carefully selected for their high antioxidant content. The sweet potatoes provide much of the carbohydrates your dog requires for energy, while the peas provide some protein. 

Key Takeaways:

I love this one because it does all the prep work for me. I have some pups who have allergies and cared for fosters with extreme ones. This mix does all the prep work for me, leaving me more time to just bond with these dogs. 

I only have to add the meat a specific pup can tolerate, mix, and serve. Also, it lets my dogs have more of the good stuff, like veggies and fruits. 

While my mildly intolerant pups can do with canned food or kibble—provided that it doesn’t contain the meat protein they react to—I don’t want to have to go through many different products just to arrive at the right one for the extremely intolerant dogs. Because that would just prolong their suffering.

This mix lets me serve my dogs with gentle food that also includes all of their daily nutrient requirements.

Best For: Adult dogs and seniors with allergies 

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3. Chicken Whole Food Clusters

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Potatoes, Peas, Chicken Liver, Lentils

Rating: 4.5/5

These are too good to be called kibble, according to the brand. This minimally-processed dog food is made with dehydrated chicken and other fresh ingredients to help in the maintenance needs of healthy adult dogs.

Instead of the usual process of extruding dog food, these clusters are cold-pressed in small batches using a unique method called MADEHONEST™. They are then slow-roasted and dehydrated to ensure the retention of nutrients.

This lightly cooked, free-from-grain chicken recipe is made with cage-free chicken and chicken liver. As it has no other animal protein sources, this food is ideal for dogs who are allergic to proteins other than chicken.

Live probiotics are included in the clusters to help support your dog’s digestive health, because good gut health is the key to better absorption of nutrients.

Key Takeaways:

I like the convenience of kibble, but this recipe takes it even further. It’s kibble, yes, but it’s human-grade and minimally processed. If you see the ‘human-grade’ label on dog food, that is almost synonymous with premium quality.

If you’re also easily turned off by the smell of dog food, that should not be a problem here. It smells good and well, like human food.

The amount of protein in this food is just right for puppies, adults, and seniors. However, it’s not enough for active adult canines. If your pup is too playful, he may need more protein in his diet.

I’ve found the dog food to be gentle enough for even sensitive stomachs or those with gastrointestinal issues.  My dogs  with digestive issues are able to keep this down without getting tummy aches. Sometimes, I feed it as is but other times, I use it as a topper and my pups eat the kibble greedily. 

Best for: All life stages except for very active adults

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4. Whole Grain Beef Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated Beef, Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Flaxseed, Dehydrated Potatoes

Rating: 4.5/5

According to Chewy, this is actually the recipe that started it all. A little goes a long way with this human-grade dog food. A 10 lb. box of this dog food recipe yields to 40 lbs. of food when rehydrated with water.

Made with ranch-raised beef, this recipe for adult dogs provides high-quality protein to help promote healthy and strong muscles. It does, however, have a moderate protein and lower fat content compared to other The Honest Kitchen variants. This makes it ideal for senior dogs or those who are under weight management diets.

Aside from 10 lbs. of beef, it also has apples, carrots, oats, rolled oats, potatoes, and eggs. These highly nutritious whole ingredients are naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, which are all retained in the food through a dehydration process.

Grains are a fine thing to add to dog food. Aside from providing carbohydrates and fiber to a diet, grains also support heart health. And whole grains, which this brand uses, provide this food with all the important and digestible nutrients that your pup needs. 

Unless your pup is sensitive to grains, there really is no cause to stay away from it.

Key Takeaway:

We’re a team here in dogfood.guide, and some of my volunteers have tried this recipe on their pups. These are their feedback:

Most pups enjoyed the mixture of beef and veggies. It wasn’t rare to see a pup gobbling up his/her meal. Even the usually hard-to-please canines did well on this diet, many growing healthier fur even.

However, some of my researchers found the consistency of the prepared food to be too pasty. A few of the dogs in our study were not fans of the porridge-like consistency of the food once it has been rehydrated.

I also found the protein content to be too low. It is above the AAFCO recommended level, but still, it’s not at the level I would want to see in my dog’s diet. 

Best for: Adults and seniors who love beef and are not intolerant to grains

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5. Limited Ingredient Diet Fish Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated White Fish, Dried Organic Coconut, Dried Chickpeas, Dehydrated Pumpkin, Dehydrated Celery

Rating: 4.75/5

This is a dehydrated dog food with a  limited number of ingredients. In fact, it only has 6 key ingredients in it. It is specially made for dogs with food sensitivities whose foods need to be carefully monitored. 

This dehydrated food is made with 21 lbs. of wild-caught white fish, which is often an ideal animal protein alternative for dogs that have sensitive stomachs. At 34%, this dehydrated food provides all the protein an ever inquisitive and playful pup might need. 

This recipe is interesting because the second ingredient after fish is dried organic coconut. It’s not something that you often see in dog foods, and definitely not something you see right after the main protein. 

We did some research and apparently, coconut meat is just as good as coconut oil. It has major anti-inflammatory properties that helps aching joints feel better and speeds up wound healing. And since it is high in lauric acid, it can help your dog’s body to fight off viruses and treat yeast infections.

Key Takeaways:

Reviews from owners of dogs with allergies are mostly positive, from the Honest Kitchen review page to our very own volunteer pet owners. 

Many dogs are said to have finally found relief from symptoms like itchy skin, watery eyes, or constant licking when they were switched to this food. Their skin condition significantly improved and their furs have become much softer.

Pups with gastrointestinal are also doing quite well on this formula. No more gassy tummies or vomiting. Stool quality is also better, according to their owners.

As for me, I find it an excellent recipe for canines with sensitivities. There are no hidden egg or poultry products, unlike some LID diets by other brands. Poultry, especially chicken, is one of the most common triggers, and it’s always a shock to discover that what you thought was a single animal protein had this ingredient hidden in the food.

There is a downside to good quality food, and that is added expense. It’s even more glaring in this recipe, because it’s a LID formula.

Best for: Active dogs with food sensitivities

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6. Butcher Block Pate Chicken & Super Greens Pate

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Bone Broth, Chicken Liver, Broccoli, Carrots

Rating: 4.75/5

This is a wet dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition with every serving. 

Dogs who love to eat chicken dishes will be happy with the addition of chicken liver into the meal, aside from chicken. The liver gives it an extra flavorful kick, and the use of chicken bone broth just locks in all that chicken goodness. 

Chicken liver doesn’t only give it a tasty boost, it acts like a superfood in this dog food formula. Organs are richer than muscle meat. In the case of liver, it has lots of essential fatty acids, Vitamins A to C, folate, niacin, and a whole lot more. 

The Honest Kitchen Butcher Block Pate also has super greens, such as kale and spinach, that are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. It also has supplements to ensure a complete and balanced meal per serving.

Key Takeaways:

I have always found that organ meat in my dogs’ food will always make even the most picky fella clean his bowl. There’s just something about organ meat, particularly liver, that tempts them. 

This Butcher Block Pate is a hit with my pups and my friends’ pups. And I’m also super pleased that the protein content in this one is high. I often pour this as a topper for my pups’ food or to add more protein in their diet. But you can give this as a full meal, and that will be totally fine too.

It’s hard to find anything wrong with this food. The only negative thing I can think of is the packaging, which is kind of hard to reseal if you’re not going to use up the whole thing in one go. 

Best for: All ages and sizes

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7. Pumpkin Pour Overs – Salmon

First 5 ingredients: Turkey Bone Broth, Salmon, Pumpkin, Apples, Butternut Squash

Rating: 5/5

These Pour Overs contain just a total of 9 ingredients. Turkey bone broth gives the topper moisture and salmon provides the protein. But the pumpkin is easily just as significant as the salmon.

Pumpkin contains important vitamins and minerals, and is a fiber-rich food. It has a soluble fiber content that helps ease digestion by bulking your dog’s stool. It also acts as a prebiotic in the dog food by stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria in the intestines.

If your dog has an easily upset tummy or has bouts of diarrhea, pumpkin can help.

Butternut squash and apples are also very rich in fiber. In these two food ingredients, it’s a case of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber keeps your dog regular and prevents constipation. These two get things moving, so your pup doesn;t have to strain.

Aside from the five ingredients listed above, this topper also contains tapioca, cinnamon, potato, and ginger. Ginger  and cinnamon adds interesting flavors, while the tapioca and potatoes provide carbohydrates to give your pup more energy.

Key Takeaways:

I find toppers, or in this case Pour Overs, a great way to add variety to my dogs’ meals. I mean, who wants to be eating the same thing over and over again without any break? I’m not ready to change up my dogs’ regular diet after I’ve already found the perfect ones for them, but toppers can bring spice back to mealtimes.

There’s nothing I can find objectionable to this recipe. Really. It’s excellently made, and if I have to go by my team’s personal experience with this topper, I’d say this is highly recommended. 

There is the odd doggie who doesn’t like the flavor, but if we go by pup votes, majority love this.

Best for: Puppies and adults who want a little more variety in their food

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8. Bone Broth Pour Overs Turkey & Salmon Stew

First 5 ingredients: Turkey Bone Broth, Turkey, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Tapioca

Rating: 4.75/5

Specially developed for intermittent or supplemental feeding, This stew boosts the taste of your dog’s meal and its nutritional value. It is a grain- and potato-free wet meal topper so your grain or potato-sensitive canines can indulge.

Even with just 8 ingredients, this topper provides a nicely high amount of protein for canines. This is great if you need to boost the amount of protein your pup gets from his food. 

Turkey is a lean type of meat that is an excellent alternative to chicken. In fact, those two have nutrient profiles that are quite similar to each other. If your pup is sensitive to chicken, this is a good topper to use. The salmon, meanwhile, gives the dog food omega fatty acids that keep your pup’s coat looking shiny and healthy. 

The carrots, squash, and tapioca supply the vitamins, carbs, and fiber. 

As for the thyme and sage, they’re not there to just give a flavor boost. Sage is full of antioxidants, and it also possess antimicrobial properties. Thyme is well-known for alleviating digestive health issues in dogs, such as IBS, dyspepsia, and indigestion.

Key Takeaways:

I love this recipe. I used to have a foster who did not drink water much. Bone broths were the only things I could think of at the time to help hydrate her. I have been giving my dogs bone broths ever since, especially when I feel they’re not getting enough water intake. 

This recipe in particular is so nice because it isn’t just plain liquid. It has pieces of meat too, which makes my pups want to lick their bowls clean.

If you’re looking for clear liquid broth, this might not be for you. The consistency is thick and more like gravy than your typical broth. And because it contains meat pieces too, it is a little more expensive than your usual poured topper.

Best for: Puppies to adults who need more moisture in their diet

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9. Beams Ocean Chews Wolfish Skins

Only ingredient: Dehdyrated Wolffish Skins

Rating: 5/5

This dehydrated dog treats are a much healthier alternative to rawhide chews.

These fish sticks are made with only dehydrated wild-caught wolffish skins and no other ingredients. This makes the perfect chewy treat for dogs who are sensitive to other animal proteins.

The super tasty fish treats are easily digestible, yet offer extended chewing time. 

It’s low in fat (about 37kcal only per chew) and made up of 80% protein. The chewy fish skins are also naturally rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids.

The grain and gluten-free fish skins can be cut into smaller pieces if you think that your dog may swallow it whole.

Key Takeaways:

My dogs simply love the chews, which keeps the smaller ones fully occupied for over five minutes. Larger dogs tend to go through the fish skins in no time at all. 

I like these fish skin snacks, because they’re free from any additives, questionable ingredients, or potential allergens. It’s just dehydrated fish. That’s it. 

The only drawback to these is the strong fish scent of the chews, but that’s just to be expected.

Best for: Pups of all life stages who love to snack

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10. Beef Jerky Harvest Mini Bars

All ingredients: Beef, Oats, Carrots, Apples, Coconut Glycerin

Rating: 5/5

These are grain-free dog treats that are tasty as they are delicious. Made of real ranch-raised beef, this is a meaty and chewy treat that beef fans are sure to love. 

The grain-free beef recipe is made up of air-dried thin slices of beef that are free from hormones and antibiotics. These are slow-cooked to chewy perfection in small batches. 

Key Takeaways:

These jerky bars mix premium protein, whole grain oats, and nutrient-rich fruits into one tasty and healthy treat that my pups love. 

These are so easy to break into pieces, without turning to powdery dust if you break one piece too small. 

And as it is high in protein and low in carbs, you can indulge your pup in a few more pieces without worrying about weight gain. The only downside is the size is a bit too small for large breed dogs.

Best for: Dogs of all life stages who love beef treats

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Where Do They Get Its Ingredients?

The ingredients used in Honest Kitchen products are all human-grade and non-GMO. This company offers its customers what it call s“the honest difference” which not only promises 100% human-grade ingredients, but also minimally processed whole foods, health benefits you can see, and uncompromising quality and nutrition.

Not only does the brand use human-grade ingredients, but the ingredients are all mostly sourced from the United States (64% of ingredients sourced from North America).

Recall History

Even the best companies are not immune to recalls. Honest Kitchen has had a recall once. In February 2013, a recall was ordered for certain varieties of the dehydrated pet food recipes Verve, Thrive, and Zeal due to potential salmonella contamination. 

This was due to one of the brand’s suppliers for parsley issuing a recall for five lots of the veggie sold to The Honest Kitchen for possible salmonella contamination. The brand has since terminated its contract with the parsley supplier.

Is Honest Kitchen Expensive?

The average Honest Kitchen recipe is pricier than your average kibble. But you have to keep in mind that the dehydrated recipes will often produce 4 times the amount of the dry food weight once they are rehydrated. Plus, you always pay a premium for quality food.

For a 10-pound bag of a dehydrated food, you will pay between $55 and $145, depending on the recipe. The grain-free formulas are the more expensive options.

A 7-pound box of their Base Mix costs between $55 and $85. Their dog treats range from $8 to $20, depending on the recipe and the size of the package.

List of Current Products

The Honest Kitchen company is not your average pet food manufacturer. Not only does this company NOT offer kibble, but it doesn’t offer canned recipes either. What this company DOES offer is wet food packs, dehydrated regular, and grain-free meal options.

Rather than subjecting raw ingredients to punishing temperatures through the extrusion process, the company uses a slow, low-heat process to preserve the nutritional integrity and quality of its raw ingredients. The dehydrated foods must be rehydrated for feeding, but the brand’s products are difficult to match in terms of quality.

Dehydrated Products

Grain-Free Recipes:

• Love Grain-Free Beef
• Zeal Grain-Free Fish
• Force Grain-Free Chicken
• Embark Grain-Free Turkey
• Brave Grain-Free Fish & Coconut
• Marvel Grain-Free Turkey & Parsnip

Whole Grain Recipes:

• Whole Grain Turkey
• Whole Grain Beef
• Whole Grain Chicken
• Whole Grain Fish & Oat

Gourmet Grains:

• Gourmet Grain Chicken & Duck
• Gourmet Grain Turkey & Fish
• Gourmet Grain Beef & Salmon

Limited Ingredient Diet:

• Limited Ingredient Chicken

Dry Clusters

Whole Grain:

• Chicken & Oat
• Beef & Oat
• Chicken For Small Breeds
• Chicken For Puppies

Grain-Free:

• Chicken
• Beef
• Turkey
• Chicken For Small Breeds
• Chicken For Puppies

Wet Food Products

Pot Stew:

• Slow Cooked Chicken
• Tender Turkey
• Roasted Beef
• Braised Beef & Lamb
• Simmered Salmon & Chicken

Butcher Block Pate:

• Chicken & Super Greens
• Turkey & Autumn Veggies
• Turkey, Duck & Root Veggies
• Beef, Cheddar & Farm Veggies
• Beef, Lamb & Spring Veggies

Base Mixes

Base Mixes:

• Preference Grain-Free Base Mix
• Kindly Grain-Free Base Mix

Meal Toppers

Toppers and Treats:

• Beams Dried Catfish Skins
• Nice Mussels Freeze-Dried Mussels
• Smooches Chicken & Cranberry Treats
• Nuzzles Duck & Cherry Cookies
• Pecks Bite-Sized Cookies
• Quickies Dog Training Treats
• Functional Liquid Treat Bone Broth
• Wishes Pure Fish Treats
• Wonders Pure Fish Treats

Supplements & Broth

Daily Boosters:

• Goat’s Milk with Probiotics
• Beef Bone Broth with Turmeric
• Turkey Bone Broth with Turmeric

Treats

Goat’s Milk N’ Cookies:

• Blueberry & Vanilla
• Pumpkin & Cinnamon
• Peanut Butter & Honey

Bone Broth Bites:

• With Carrots
• With Pumpkin
• With Sweet Potato

Parmesan Pecks:

• Chicken & Cranberry
• Beef & Blueberry
• Duck & Cherry

Jerky Harvest Bars:

• Chicken 
• Beef

Meaty Littles:

• Chicken & Salmon
• Beef & Salmon

Liver & Cheddar Chips:

• Chicken
• Beef

Superfood Cod Crisps:

• Blueberry
• Strawberry

Ocean Chews:

• Crispy Cod Fish Skins Beams
• Hearty Wolffish Skins Beams

Purely One:

• 100% White Fish Fillets

Our Take

Whether you’ve read this whole article or skimmed it, you’d know through my ratings that I hold this brand in high regard. Even the best brands sometimes use questionable ingredients (like carrageenan, canola oil, etc.) in their food, but as far as I have seen and researched, The Honest Kitchen does not. 

It was actually hard to find any negatives with this brand’s products, although I did point out some. Most of the time, it was just about the texture of the food but I never found an issue with its ingredients.

This is a company that really takes it promise of human-grade quality and safety seriously. And that kind of thing comes with a price — a heftier price tag. But if uncompromising quality is what you’re after, then there is no question that The Honest Kitchen is it.