Butternut Box Review (2025) - Honest Dog & Owner Dog Food Verdict After Taste Testing With Charlie
- We Walk Woofs
- 1 day ago
- 11 min read
Updated: 38 minutes ago
Reviewed & taste tasted by Charlie & Dave - 4th August 2025 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Can fresh dog food really make a difference? We set out to find out with our own pup, Charlie, a food-loving eleven-year-old Wheaten Terrier. When we first heard about Butternut Box, a UK-based fresh new food subscription that’s "putting the food back into dog food", and offering a different way to feed your dog, we had to try it. In this review, we will cover the fresh meals, ordering, Charlie’s taste test and everything you need to know about Butternut Box (the good, the bad, and the drool-worthy!)
Dog food home deliveries have been available for the last decade or so, and have increased in quality, variety and availability during that time. One of the earliest offerings came from one of today's biggest dog food subscription providers, Butternut Box. Established back in 2016, they were pioneers in dog food subscription services and have been at the forefront of a movement that has revolutionised canine health ever since. Consistently delivering high-quality, home-delivered dog food made with the very best fresh ingredients to UK owners, in this review, we take a closer look at the Butternut Box range of dog food.
But is Butternut Box the right choice for your dog? And what are the real pros and cons? Read on to discover the tasty and owner-friendly world of Butternut Box subscriptions.
🐶 Spoiler Alert! Charlie loved Butternut Box & we loved the ease of ordering and the pre-portioned meals. The food is high quality, wholesome & incredibly tasty, and, as it uses high-quality ingredients, it's not the cheapest, but it's easily one of the best and most convenient dog food services in the UK. Try Butternut Box with your dog with 50% off two boxes with code WEWALKWOOFS50 |
We Walk Woofs are proud ambassadors for Butternut Box so, if you read our review and then subsequently decide to purchase through some of the links on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission, but, please be assured that this in no way affects our choices when it comes to looking for the very best food for your animals. Read more here.
Table Of Contents
Butternut Box Review 2025
Pros
✅ High-quality ingredients
✅ Tailored to your dog
✅ Flexible delivery
✅ Eco friendly packaging
Cons
❌ Premium pricing
❌ Pouches aren’t recyclable
❌ Requires freezer space
So, What Is Butternut Box Dog Food?
Butternut Box is a UK-based fresh dog food subscription service founded in 2016 that delivers freshly prepared, gently cooked meals made with human-quality ingredients straight to your door. The meals are carefully developed by their in-house canine nutritionists & provide nutritionally complete meals designed to appeal to even picky or fussy dogs. Every meal is tailored to your dog’s age, weight, breed, and activity level, and is delivered to your door in portioned, easy-to-serve food pouches ready for your dog to enjoy at mealtimes. With a range of recipes and flexible delivery, Butternut Box is a convenient dog food delivery service that makes it easy for many dog owners to provide their dogs with highly digestible, nutritious, and tasty meals.
Why Butternut Box?
Two words. Quality and ease. We found the recipes tasty, ordering & delivery straightforward & storage and feeding simple and intuitive. We answered questions about Charlie, chose the recipes that we wanted and our Butternut Box was delivered to our door. You couldn't make it any simpler.
Butternut Box Review - Ingredients and Recipes
Butternut Box meals are made with ingredients that are human-quality, contain 60% meat, wholesome vegetables and no additives. All of the different recipes are expertly made with veterinary input, gently cooked like you would at home and tailored specifically for your dog. We tried the whole variety of recipes that are available and have to say that Charlie loved every one of them. They all look and smell fantastic, and when we did a human taste test, the recipes were really tasty! There is something for every tummy, even for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and current recipes include:
Beef It Up
Chicken You Out
Gobble Gobble Turkey
Wham Bam Lamb
Pork This Way
Duo of Duck & Chicken
Ready Steady Veggie
Salmon to Love
You've Got Game
Pork of the Town
Tuck in Chicken
Butternut Box Ordering & Butternut Box Delivery Service Review
Ordering from Butternut Box couldn't be simpler. We started by filling in a simple online questionnaire where we entered details about Charlie's breed, age, weight, and dietary needs. Butternut Box then create a personalised meal plan for Charlie with tailored portion sizes. Once ordered, Charlie's food was delivered to our door on the date specified. Delivery is usually twice a month, but you can adjust this. We found the delivery service to be flexible and reliable, and we were able to easily adjust Charlie's plan, skip a box, or cancel your subscription at any time via the website. Charlie's food arrived frozen in an insulated package and packed into pre-portioned pouches. We simply stored them in the freezer, and the ones that you want to use can be defrosted in your fridge. Butternut’s attention to convenience and care made ordering and delivery smooth for us and exciting for Charlie.
Butternut Box Review - Packaging
Butternut Box packaging is designed with ease, freshness and sustainability in mind. Orders arrive in sturdy cardboard boxes lined with wool insulation that keep meals cool during transit. Charlie's food was packed in sealed, easy-to-open pouches, which were portioned based on his personalised meal plan. Ice packs are included to ensure meals stay chilled or frozen until you can store them. While the food pouches themselves are not recyclable due to food safety materials, the cardboard, wool liner, and ice packs can all be recycled or reused. Butternut Box offers a free return scheme for their insulation liners, so they can be professionally cleaned and reused on future orders. Butternut Box is committed to reducing food waste and environmental impact, and their packaging reflects that. Everything was packed with care, so Charlie's meals arrived safely, still frozen, and ready for the freezer drawer. The packaging and recyclability got a big thumbs up from us.
First Impressions
First impressions were good. Even while still packaged, the food looked tasty and was obviously made with high-quality ingredients. Unlike many other dog foods, each Butternut Box recipe looked distinctly different, and you could clearly see the premium ingredients. Once opened, the food looks even better and smells good enough to eat.
Butternut Box Review – The Food
Butternut Box food is what truly sets it apart. Each of Charlie's meals was made using human-quality meat and vegetables, gently cooked to preserve nutrients and flavour and sent ready to eat. You can tell by the look, feel and smell of the food that it is high quality and has been prepared with care and attention. All of Charlie's recipes included simple, natural ingredients like chicken, beef, lamb, lentils, and herbs, all specially selected to support Charlie's health and digestion.
The food looks visibly healthy! As soon as the first pouch was opened, Charlie's nose started twitching, and he became very inquisitive! When the food was put down, he ate it without coming up for air. Of all of the recipes that we ordered, there were none that Charlie refused to eat and ploughed through every one of them with gusto, and it's always nice when your dog enjoys their meals.
Feeding Guidelines
Butternut Box took the guesswork out of portion control for Charlie. When we signed up, we provided Charlie's age, weight, breed and activity level. Butternut then calculated a tailored meal plan with correct portion sizes for Charlie. Meals were then delivered in perfectly portioned pouches, and we simply opened and served without needing to measure portions. This approach makes it ideal for owners of dogs who are underweight or overweight, or have specific dietary goals. We received feeding instructions and were able to adjust Charlie's plan if his needs change. If you have questions, the Butternut Box team and in-house nurse can advise on any changes to your dog’s feeding routine. Whether feeding a puppy, a large breed, or a senior dog, the personalised approach makes it easy to feed your dog exactly what they need.
The Charlie Taste Test! Was It Puppy Love?
Did Charlie like Butternut Box? Yes! As we opened the first pouch, it smelled appetising, and Charlie sat patiently by our side as we served up.
As soon as the bowl went down (it was Wham Bam Lamb, by the way), Charlie dived in headfirst. Now, Charlie isn’t a fussy eater and enjoys his food, but we can always tell when our dog loves something by the speed he eats. He finished his bowl of food very, very quickly, and it was the same with the other recipes we tried over the next week.
The only one he wasn't as taken with was Ready Steady Veggie, but he still ate it, just not as enthusiastically as the meatier offerings. A definite paws up from Charlie.
The Human Taste Test - Was It Yummy In Our Tummy!
Yes, it's true, we taste test our dog's food as well! It's only fair that we feed Charlie food that we would eat, so always grab a spoon and tuck in! Unlike some foods that we have sampled over the years, Butternut Box is tasty. Very tasty! Our favourite? Wham Bam Lamb!
Butternut Box Review - Pricing
Butternut Box pricing is based on your dog’s individual needs, such as age, weight, breed, and activity. Smaller dogs may cost as little as £1.50 per day, while larger breeds like a German Shepherd might cost between £3/£5 per day. Meals are delivered twice monthly with pre-measured portions to reduce food waste and overfeeding. Each meal contains human-grade ingredients created with the right balance of nutrients, which means you are not just buying dog food; you are investing in your dog’s ongoing health. Although expensive compared to supermarket dry food or other brands, owners say that the quality, freshness, and health benefits make it worthwhile. New customers can get discounted trial boxes, and ongoing subscription plans can be paused, changed, or cancelled at any time online.
Butternut Box Dog Food Review - Is This One Of The Best Dog Foods & Would We Recommend Butternut Box? - Our Final Verdict
So, what are our final thoughts on Butternut Box?
We love it! Butternut Box is a market-leading, top-quality fresh dog food subscription and rightly so. It consistently impresses us and other owners thanks to its high-quality, UK-sourced ingredients, gently cooked meals, and exceptional convenience. From improved digestion & shinier coats to wagging tails and empty bowls, the health benefits and convenience of ordering speak for themselves. While not the cheapest dog food subscription service, especially for owners of multiple or large dogs, the quality of the food, the pre-portioned pouches and excellent customer service help justify the cost. If you’re seriously looking to improve your dog’s nutrition with minimal hassle and maximum reward, Butternut Box is a dog food worth trying and gets a huge claws up from Charlie & us.
Butternut Box FAQ's
Is Butternut Box good for your dog?
Yes. Butternut Box offers fresh, high-quality dog food that is vet-approved, great for health & easy to digest.
Is Butternut Box a complete dog food?
Yes. Each recipe is formulated to be complete and balanced, with all the nutrients that your dog needs, including proteins, fats, vitamins, and fibre.
Is Butternut Box raw or cooked?
No, it is not raw as meals are gently cooked using steam at low temperatures, then frozen to lock in freshness and nutrients.
What do vets say about Butternut Box?
Many vets support fresh food diets like Butternut Box, especially for dogs with digestive issues. All meals are vet-approved and meet nutritional standards.
Can I mix Butternut Box with kibble?
Yes. Mixing with dry food is common and can lower costs or help with the transition. Just make sure portions match your dog’s daily calorie needs.
Can puppies eat Butternut Box?
Yes. Butternut Box is suitable for all life stages, including puppies. The plan adjusts portion sizes as your puppy grows.
How do I transition my dog to Butternut Box?
Over 7 to 10 days. Start with a small amount mixed with your dog’s current food and gradually increase the Butternut portion.
How much does a Butternut Box cost per month?
Costs range from £44 to £175 per month, depending on your dog’s size and needs. Small dogs cost around £1.60 per day, large breeds up to £6. Mixing with kibble can reduce the cost.
Can you buy Butternut boxes in shops in the UK?
Yes, some Butternut meals are now stocked in select Pets at Home stores, but the full range is only available online.
Are there cheaper alternatives to Butternut Box?
Yes. There are other fresh food delivery services that can work out cheaper, but look at the quality of ingredients before ordering.
What if my dog doesn’t like the food?
Butternut Box offers many recipes, so if your dog turns up their nose at one meal, try another recipe (for example, some dogs that dislike fish might love the beef). In practice, refusals are rare because the food is so tasty.
How long can I keep Butternut Box meals?
In the freezer, meals keep for several months. In the fridge, once defrosted, a pouch stays fresh for 5-7 days. It’s recommended to store defrosted portions in the fridge for no more than a week. Always serve it fresh (you can warm it to room temp, but don’t cook it further).
How Do You Defrost Butternut Box?
The easiest way is to move a pouch from the freezer to the fridge 24 hours before use. It defrosts slowly and safely this way. Never microwave or refreeze once thawed.
How does delivery work if I’m not home?
Butternut Box is delivered in insulated packaging that keeps the food frozen. No signature is required, so the box can be left at your door so If you’re not home, the food should still be frozen (or at least fridge-cold) when you return.
How do you cancel Butternut Box?
You can cancel your Butternut Box subscription anytime through your online account. Simply log in, go to “Subscription,” and select “Cancel Plan.”
Is Different Dog better than a Butternut Box?
Different Dog offers higher-end, legume-free meals ideal for sensitive dogs but at a higher cost, while Butternut Box is more affordable and convenient but still very high quality. Choose Different Dog for premium nutrition, or Butternut Box for high quality and great value.
Butternut Box Dog Food Delivery Service Alternatives & Discount Codes
Butternut Box is a popular choice for fresh dog food, but several other fresh dog food brands on the market offer similar services. Companies like Different Dog (you can get 40% off with code WALKIESCC40), Tuggs (get 50% off your first order with code WEWALKWOOFS), Naturaw, Pure Pet Food & Forthglade also provide subscription-based meal plans with fresh dog food options tailored to your dog’s needs. These alternatives vary in their approach; some focus on air-dried or freeze-dried meals, others offer home-cooked recipes similar to Butternut. For owners looking for cheaper options, traditional dog food and brands like Royal Canin, Hills Science, or even traditional kibble, dry food and canned food may be more affordable, though they often lack the freshness and personalised nutrition that Butternut provides. It is important to compare not just price, but also ingredient quality, convenience, and customer feedback. While no single brand is perfect for every dog, many owners find that using Butternut Box offers a better balance of health benefits, taste, and convenience. If you're unsure or are thinking of trying it, starting with 50% off your first two boxes with code WEWALKWOOFS50 can be a helpful way to see how your dog responds before committing.
Related:
Different Dog discount code - 40% off
