The Honest Kitchen Protein Plus Clusters Dog Food Review (Dry) 

The Honest Kitchen Protein Plus Clusters product range consists of two recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 5 stars.

Protein-rich recipes crafted with whole muscle and organ meats, with nutrient-dense pumpkin & probiotics to support healthy digestion.

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.

Recipe and Label Analysis

The Honest Kitchen Protein Plus+ Clusters Grain Free Beef and Chicken was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.¹

The second ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.²

These first two ingredients are naturally rich in all 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

 The third ingredient is potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The next two ingredients are lentils and peas. Both are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, they contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The seventh ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label – a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The eighth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The ninth ingredient is whey protein concentrate. Whey is a by-product of the cheese industry. This particular type of whey is high in protein (80%) and moderate in the milk sugar, lactose (10%).

Concentrates of this nature can notably boost the total protein reported on the label – a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

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 four notable exceptions.

First we find fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high-quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.

We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.

Next, taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.

Lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, The Honest Kitchen Protein Plus+ Clusters Grain Free Beef and Chicken looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36.4%, a fat level of 19.6% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 31.2%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 36.4% and a mean fat level of 19.6%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 31.2% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 54%.

This means The Honest Kitchen Protein Plus Clusters range contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and above-average fat, when compared to typical dry dog food.

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to The Honest Kitchen through July 2026.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of The Honest Kitchen Protein Plus Clusters Dog Food

Though The Honest Kitchen Protein Plus range has only two recipes, they are certainly worthy of the 5 stars they have earned in our review. 

The brand is marketed as the world’s first human-grade pet food company. It produces high-quality foods and formulates all its recipes with the assistance of veterinary nutritionists.

Highly Recommended

About

Lucy Postins is the founder of The Honest Kitchen, a pet food company that specializes in human-grade food. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California. All the products are manufactured in the U.S. using ingredients sourced from around the world.

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