Stella & Chewy’s Dog Food Reviews: Our Firsthand Experience

With so many high-quality dog food options, it can be incredibly difficult to find the ideal diet for your precious pup. If you’re considering Stella & Chewy’s dog food, you may be wondering if this brand is the healthiest choice. We’ve researched hundreds of dog food brands and formulas, so you’re in the right place. We’ll let you know about this popular brand’s reputation, company practices, food quality, recipes offered, and much more to help you make an informed decision.

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Stella & Chewy's Dog Food Review

Product Name: Stella & Chewy's

Product Description: Stella & Chewy's offers all-natural dog and cat food.

Summary

Stella & Chewy’s has a faithful following for its premium freeze-dried raw dog food, raw-coated kibble, and many other offerings. They’ve been producing high-quality pet food for over 20 years. Even if you’re wary of freeze-dried raw dog food, they offer some excellent human-grade wet food. 

Our team rates dog food based on several factors, including variety, nutritional value, pricing, customer support, and more.

Overall Score

4.3

Pros

• Wide variety of freeze-dried raw dog food, kibble, wet food, treats, and more
• All-natural with no artificial preservatives or ingredients
• All meats are responsibly sourced
• All fruits and vegetables are certified organic
• Committed to strict food safety practices
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Limited puppy-specific recipes and no senior formulas
• High-fat content in freeze-dried products, which is unhealthy for some dogs 

Key Features

• All frozen and freeze-dried raw products go through high-pressure processing (HPP) to naturally destroy harmful bacteria while retaining the nutritional value
• Formulas meet AAFCO’S nutritional guidelines for complete and balanced dog food
• Ability to look up the certificate of analysis for food safety testing on their website for every batch of food
• Accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a more sustainable pet industry
• The company donates meals to pet shelters and sponsors adoption fees for adult and senior dogs and cats

Stella & Chewy’s Dog Food Ingredients

Is Stella & Chewy’s a good brand? Yes, Stella & Chewy’s is a well-respected brand in the pet food industry. This company uses only all-natural ingredients in all of its food products and follows strict food safety practices. Stella & Chewy’s is also transparent about all ingredients included in their food products. Ingredient highlights include:

• Animal proteins are always grass-fed, cage-free, wild-caught, or farm-raised (and contain no added hormones or antibiotics).
• They source all ingredients from trusted suppliers, and all meats come from USDA-inspected facilities (or similar inspection agencies outside the United States).
• The fruits and vegetables in all formulas are certified organic.
• Many formulas contain organ meats, which are an excellent source of premium quality protein and fat as well as vitamins A, B, D, and E, copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc.

Has Stella & Chewy’s Dog Food Been Recalled?

Yes, the company issued two voluntary recalls several years ago. In July 2015, Stella and Chewy’s recalled some of its products after a routine test found Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of its chicken freeze-dried dinner patties for dogs. In December 2015, another positive Listeria test in one batch of their Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs prompted yet another recall of some products. The company has had no other recalls since that time.

Products & Price

Stella & Chewy’s offers too many pet food products to feature here in our article, so we’ve included reviews of their most popular dog food offerings. They also have an extensive line of cat food and treats.

Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Patties Review

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One of their bestselling products, Stella and Chewy freeze-dried raw patties are crafted with 90-95% responsibly sourced meat, organs, and bones. They’re available in the usual protein options, such as beef, chicken, and turkey. However, if your pup has animal protein allergies, these patties also come in an assortment of novel proteins, including lamb, duck, surf n’ turf, venison, rabbit, and more. Each features a single-source animal protein, another plus for dogs with food sensitivities.

On top of the high-protein content, all patty varieties contain pumpkin seeds and organic superfoods, such as spinach, blueberries, carrots, cranberries, etc. All food ingredients are also fortified with probiotics, taurine, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for whole-body health. They’re also free grains, gluten, peas, lentils, and potatoes.

Price: starts at $15.99 ($2.91 / oz) (5.5-oz bag)

Stella & Chewy’s Raw-Coated Kibble Dog Food Reviews

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Stella and Chewy Raw-Coated Kibble formulas are another top pick for pup parents looking for high-quality, high-protein, and tasty dog chow. This dry dog food comes in red meat, prairie, and ocean recipes, and each is available in grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas. They also have a couple of raw-coated kibble puppy formulas.

All feature real meat as the first ingredient, organ meats, a wealth of superfood fruits and veggies, omega fatty acids, taurine for heart health, glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, and probiotics for digestive health. The grain-inclusive formulas contain easy-to-digest whole grains like oatmeal and barley.

Other Stella & Chewy’s kibble options include a line of grain-inclusive SuperBlends and a line of grain-free Wild Red raw blends.

Price: starts at $21.99 ($6.28 / lb) (3.5-lb bag)

Stella & Chewy Meal Mixers Review

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A top-seller, Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers’ ingredients are quite similar to their freeze-dried raw patties, just in morsel form. Many owners of picky eaters use these toppers religiously to successfully get their pups to eat. They’re also a fantastic (and cost-effective) way to give your furry friend a super healthy boost of protein and other nutrients along with his traditional kibble.

Meal Mixers come in beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, duck, salmon & cod, and beef & fish formulas. All recipes are free from grains, gluten, peas, soy, and corn.

Price: starts at Check Amazon for availability (3.5-oz bag)

Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Stew Review

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Not into freeze-dried raw dog food? Check out Stella & Chewy’s human-grade, grain-free stews that come in three recipes: chicken & turkey, chicken & beef, and chicken & lamb. All feature real chicken as the first ingredient and include chicken broth, pumpkin, carrots, flaxseed oil, and sunflower oil. They’re fortified with all of the essential vitamins and minerals your pup needs for a complete and balanced diet. You can also use them as a kibble topper for a boost of flavor and nutrients.

Price: starts at $17.94 ($4.78 / lb) (10-oz can, pack of 6)

Stella & Chewy’s Lil’ Bites For Small Breeds Review

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Many owners of pint-sized furballs love Stella & Chewy’s Lil’ Bites line, which includes two main products: freeze-dried raw food and savory stews (both are grain-free). All are formulated specifically for the nutritional needs of small-breed dogs. The Lil’ Bites freeze-dried food comes in beef, chicken, lamb, and duck recipes and contains the same nutritious food ingredients as Stella & Chewy’s patties and meal mixers.

The Lil’ Bites stews feature real protein as the first ingredient and include nutritious bone broth, sunflower and salmon oil for skin and coat health, taurine for heart health, and turmeric for anti-inflammatory support. They’re available in six recipes, all of which contain chicken.

Price

• Lil’ Bites Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food: $22.99 ($3.28 / oz) (7-oz bag)
• Lil’ Bites Savory Stews: Check Amazon for availability (2.7-oz cups, pack of 12)

Stella & Chewy’s Solutions Review

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We love that this brand also carries a line of dog food that addresses several common health conditions that many of our pups face. Stella & Chewy’s Solutions grain-free formulas are freeze-dried raw morsels you can feed your furry friend as a whole meal or as a food topper. Solutions recipes include Digestive (beef), Hip & Joint (chicken), Skin & Coat (lamb and salmon), Immune Support (lamb), and Heart Health (chicken).

Each formula is fortified with special ingredients to address each health issue. For example, omega-3 fatty acids are included in the skin, coat, and joint health-related recipes. And natural sources of fiber like flaxseed, natural enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics are included in the digestive formula.

Price: Starting at $9.99 ($2.35 / oz) (4.25-oz bag)

Other Stella & Chewy Dog Food Products

Here are several other Stella & Chewy’s products you may want to consider to add a healthy boost to your pup’s regular dog food.

• Freeze-Dried Raw Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust (extremely popular food topper)
• Freeze-Dried Raw Carnivore Crunch Dog Treats
• Wild Red Jerky Nuggets
• Raw-Coated Biscuits
• Bone Broth
• Frozen raw dinner patties and morsels (available at select pet stores nationwide)
• Gently cooked fresh-frozen meals (available at select pet stores nationwide)

Our Personal Experience

My Poodle Beagle mix, Falkor, loves Stella & Chewy’s wet stews. He generally eats kibble throughout the day with wet food mixed in at dinnertimes. I tried Stella & Chewy’s because they make the Lil’ Bites Savory Stews recipes. He is a smaller dog, just about 18 pounds, and I prefer to stick with small-breed food if I can. He tried the Lil’ Bites Savory Stews Chicken & Chicken Liver Dinner in Broth. 

Lil’ Bites has no wheat, soy, or meat by-products, which are things I look for in his food. I try to pick food that names the animal protein, and this recipe starts with chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver. Falkor likes the taste and gobbles it up quickly. I often mix in some kibble or rice to make him feel fuller. 

We have also tried the canned stews. Falkor likes those as well. I prefer the Lil’ Bites for him as they are formulated for small breeds. My larger dog, a Pitbull Lab mix, likes the canned stews a lot. I use these as a topper for her kibble as the stew alone is not filling enough for her, though it is thick.

– Danielle DeGroot, Rescue Dog Parent

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions dog owners often ask about Stella & Chewy’s and freeze-dried dog food. Don’t see yours here? Ask us in our comments.

Is freeze-dried raw food good for dogs?

There’s some controversy over the safety of freeze-dried pet food and treats. Raw diets are a growing trend in the dog food industry, but the concern is that raw foods, especially meats, can be contaminated with bacteria, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. And the freeze-drying process doesn’t normally involve cooking meat before freeze-drying it.

However, the best freeze-dried dog food and treat manufacturers, like Stella & Chewy’s, use high-pressure processing (HPP). This pasteurization process eliminates bacteria before the freeze-drying process. Still, the FDA and major veterinary organizations advocate strongly against raw food diets for dogs, so we suggest you speak with your vet before feeding your dog raw or freeze-dried food.

How do I feed freeze-dried food?

You can feed Stella & Chewy’s freeze-dried raw patties and meal mixers dry or rehydrated with some cool or warm water or bone broth for a super tasty kick. If fed dry, this food can sit out for up to 12 hours, but if you rehydrate it, it’s only good for up to 2 hours.

Is Stella & Chewy’s dog food human-grade?

The company’s raw and kibble diets don’t qualify as human-grade for a few reasons. First, they include ground bone and organs, which are not human-grade ingredients. Also, their non-wet products are manufactured in pet food facilities — this means they cannot be considered human-grade. However, their cat and dog wet foods and broth toppers are human-grade. They contain only human-grade ingredients and are made in a human-grade facility in Wisconsin.

See One Way Stella & Chewy’s Helps Pets In Need (Video)

This heart-warming video demonstrates just one of many ways Stella & Chewy’s is committed to the welfare of animals.

What’s Our Final Verdict?

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We give Stella & Chewy’s our seal of approval as a trustworthy, high-quality, and reasonably priced pet food brand. We love the company’s responsible sourcing, food safety practices, and commitment to animal welfare. However, we encourage you to speak to your vet before making the switch over to Stella & Chewy’s. Why? Some of their formulas are very high in fat, which can lead to health problems (pancreatitis, obesity, diabetes, etc.). Your vet can give you advice on how to feed this food safely. You also may want to speak to your vet about the safety of freeze-dried raw food products.

Have You Considered Fresh And Human-Grade Dog Food?

If you’re on the fence about Stella & Chewy’s, you may want to check out some other highly nutritious, minimally processed dog chow. See our reviews of the best fresh dog food delivery services and the best human-grade dog foods for other options.

Our Methodology

We analyze hundreds of dog food brands and individual formulas to provide our recommendations for the best nutrition. Each of the following elements helps us determine the best dog food for any dietary need. Our in-depth research includes:

• Scrutinizing all ingredients included in every formula
• Having firsthand experience with our dogs for many of the foods we recommend
• Assessing the guaranteed analysis for every formula, including protein, fat, fiber, and caloric content
• Investigating the latest scientific studies on dogs’ nutritional needs and benefits of ingredients
• Researching the specific dietary needs for breed sizes and health conditions
• Reading hundreds of customer reviews
• Staying informed on every dog food recall
• Diving into every pet food brand’s history and reputation
• Keeping on top of pet food trends

Unlike many other review sites, we give unbiased reviews based on countless hours of research. Our goal is to provide our readers with the healthiest options for their pups.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Sally has researched and reviewed hundreds of different dog food brands and specific formulas. She’s an expert at analyzing dog food ingredients based on current nutritional guidelines and scientific studies for the healthiest food for our pups. She’s part of a team of dog specialists at Canine Journal who have over a decade of experience in researching, testing, and writing about everything you need to know to keep your pup healthy and happy.