The Honest Kitchen

Our Verdict

The Honest Kitchen is a standout in the pet food industry thanks to its commitment to human-grade, minimally processed ingredients. It’s an ideal choice for pet owners who want full transparency and premium quality without unnecessary fillers or artificial additives. With a wide range of recipes—dehydrated, wet, dry clusters, and toppers—it caters to dogs and cats of all life stages and dietary needs.

It’s not the cheapest option on the market, and picky eaters may need time to adjust to the textures, especially with dehydrated meals. But if you’re looking for ethically sourced, nutritionally sound pet food that’s as close to homemade as it gets, The Honest Kitchen delivers.

Pros

High-quality, protein-rich dry food tailored to your dog
All ingredients are made and sourced in the USA
Flexible subscription with the ability to pause, skip, or cancel anyti...
Includes supplements and treats
Free shipping and generous first-order promotions

Cons

No wet food options currently available
Pricing is less transparent until after quiz completion

Products & Pricing

The Honest Kitchen’s human-grade offerings come in different formats — dehydrated meals, whole food clusters, toppers, wet food, and treats — all priced to reflect quality and nutrition. While prices vary by product type, here’s a general breakdown:

Dehydrated Meals: Approximately $7.80 per pound. These concentrates rehydrate into full meals — e.g., a 10 lb box yields about 40 lbs of fresh food.
Limited Ingredient Dehydrated Options: Around $11–$15 per pound, costlier due to premium sourcing and allergen-friendly recipes.
Daily Cost Estimate: For a 30-pound dog, dehydrated meals average about $2.62 per day or roughly $78/month, making them notably cheaper than homemade fresh diets, which can cost $141–$166/month.

Value Snapshot:

Starts around $7–8 per pound for standard dehydrated recipes
$11–15 per pound for specialty or limited-ingredient options
~$2.60/day for a 30-lb dog — more affordable than fresh or raw food alternatives

Dehydrated Meals

$7.80~ /per pound

Limited Ingredient Dehydrated Option...

$11~ /per pound

In-depth review

How Does It Work

Ordering from The Honest Kitchen is simple. You start by choosing the type of food — dehydrated, dry clusters, wet food, or meal enhancers — based on your pet’s age, breed, and dietary needs. The brand doesn’t require a subscription, but you can subscribe for auto-shipments to save time and money. You can purchase directly from their website or through major retailers like Chewy and Amazon.

Dehydrated meals are a standout option. Add warm water, stir, and let it sit for about 3 minutes. For those who prefer less prep, the dry clusters (which look like kibble but are made differently) are ready to serve.

Products come in various sizes, from trial boxes to large bags, allowing you to test what works best for your dog without committing too soon.

Recipes & Nutritional Quality

The Honest Kitchen is known for its human-grade dog food — meaning every ingredient is safe enough for people to eat and processed in a human food facility. That’s rare in the pet food industry.

Their recipe lineup includes:

Dehydrated Whole Grain Turkey
Grain-Free Beef
Chicken Clusters (Dry)
Puppy Blend with Chicken & Oats
Limited Ingredient Fish Recipe
Stews, Pour Overs, and Bone Broths for picky eaters or supplemental nutrition

All meals are free from by-products, fillers, artificial preservatives, and GMOs. Recipes are AAFCO-compliant and formulated by veterinary nutritionists to support different life stages and dietary sensitivities.

Ease of Use

The Honest Kitchen strikes a balance between fresh food quality and convenience. While dehydrated meals take an extra minute or two to prepare (compared to dry food), they offer better nutrition without the freezer space or shorter shelf life of raw food.

If convenience is your priority, the dry clusters are as easy to use as kibble but are cold-pressed and minimally processed. The website is easy to navigate, and subscription options are flexible — you can pause, skip, or adjust deliveries as needed.

Most products have clear feeding guidelines printed on the box and even offer a feeding calculator online.

Special Features & Extras

One of Honest Kitchen’s biggest differentiators is its 100% human-grade certification — not just for ingredients but also for processing facilities.

Other standout features include:

Eco-conscious packaging
Veterinarian-developed recipes
Frequent buyer programs and discounts for auto-ship
Products for both dogs and cats
Special lines for puppies, seniors, and sensitive stomachs

They also offer treats, probiotic boosters, and toppers to round out your pet’s diet or encourage picky eaters.

Customer Service

The Honest Kitchen offers multiple ways to get assistance, whether you have a question about a product, an order, or feeding guidelines. Their business hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM PST. Additionally, the Honest Kitchen has a detailed FAQ page that covers everything from feeding tips and ingredient sourcing to subscription and shipping info. Overall, support is reliable, well-organized, and backed by a team that prioritizes transparency and pet wellness.