Out on my family’s ranch in Texas, food is as much a precious ritual for the dogs as it is for the horses…and us. Twice a day, like clockwork, Lily and Cooper — the two mini Australian shepherds who run through all 45 acres of this place with more energy than I could ever muster — hover at our feet, eyes bright, tails wagging, ready for what they know is about to go in their bowls. Feeding them has always felt like an extension of how I feed myself: thoughtful, clean, and as close to real food as possible.
We’ve been loyal to The Honest Kitchen for years now, leaning hard on the Human Grade Dehydrated Whole Grain Dog Food. It checked all my parents’ boxes: wholesome, no fillers, not just a bag of mystery kibble masquerading as nutrition.
The dogs loved it, thrived on it, and to be honest, I got a kick out of knowing I was serving them something closer to what I’d actually cook. So when The Honest Kitchen released their Essential Clusters Dog Food, billed as the first human-grade dry dog food made from whole foods, I knew we had to give it a run. It promised the same nutritional integrity we’ve come to trust, but with the ease of scoop-and-serve. And on this ranch, ease doesn’t just matter — it’s essential.
The Honest Kitchen is actually the brand that invented ‘human grade’ dog food, meaning the ingredients and facilities meet the same safety and quality standards as food made for people. Founded in 2002 by Lucy Postins, the brand was born out of frustration with overly processed, low-quality kibble dominating the market. Instead of relying on animal by-products or fillers, The Honest Kitchen builds recipes around recognizable ingredients like cage-free chicken, ranch-raised beef, wild-caught fish, oats, quinoa, and fresh produce.
They’re also known for their minimal processing. Instead of high-heat extrusion (the industry standard for kibble), The Honest Kitchen uses techniques like dehydration, cold pressing, and slow roasting to preserve nutrients and flavor. The result is food that’s clean, nutritionally dense, and easier on digestion. From their original dehydrated recipes to their newer Essential Clusters, everything is made in small batches with the highest quality standards, so you know exactly what’s going in your dog’s bowl.
Pros:
Cons:
The Honest Kitchen Essential Clusters Dog Food is crafted from human-grade ingredients like cage-free chicken, ranch-raised beef, oats, and barley. Unlike traditional extruded kibble, the clusters are cold-pressed, roasted, and gently dehydrated to preserve nutrients and flavor. It’s free of by-products, artificial preservatives, and cheap fillers and is formulated for adult dogs of all breeds and sizes.
Flavor-wise, there are three main options — Turkey & Chicken, Beef & Chicken, and Chicken — so you can rotate proteins or stick with the one your dog loves most. The result: crunchy, nutrient-dense bites that meet AAFCO standards for a complete and balanced diet, while still reading more like a shopping list than a science experiment.
The first thing I noticed about the Essential Clusters was how good they looked…and smelled. Not in the candle aisle way, but in the “I could almost toss this on top of my salad” way. There’s no synthetic stink, no greasy residue. Just actual food, compressed into neat, golden nuggets.
Lily, the pickier of the two, sniffed, circled, then dove in. Cooper, the one who considers jackrabbit manure a snack, didn’t hesitate for a second. Within minutes, bowls were licked clean and carried across the kitchen in protest of being empty. The next feeding went the same way, and the one after that. A week in, their enthusiasm hadn’t dulled — if anything, they’re now more impatient at mealtime.
From a human perspective, the convenience is unbeatable. I scoop, I pour, and I’m done. But what sealed the deal was the way they’ve been thriving. Their coats are shinier, energy levels consistent, and their digestion (always the truest test) has been smooth sailing. On a ranch where dogs clock as many miles as ranch hands, endurance matters, and I can see the difference.
There’s also the peace of mind factor. I’ve read enough labels to know that most kibble isn’t just subpar, it’s suspect. The Honest Kitchen doesn’t cut corners, and it shows. The Essential Clusters are made in small batches and minimally processed. I like that. I like that my dogs are eating food that’s prepared more like granola than some industrial extrusion experiment. And I really like that I don’t have to trade quality for convenience.
The Honest Kitchen’s Essential Clusters are everything I wanted them to be: human-grade nutrition in a form that actually works with daily life. Lily and Cooper love them, I love feeding them, and there’s no going back to generic kibble. We’ll still keep the dehydrated food on hand since I imagine it feels a little like a Sunday roast compared to a weeknight dinner, but the Clusters have earned a permanent place in the pantry. Out here on the ranch, where efficiency and quality are both non-negotiable, it’s the rare win-win.
For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.