The Best Meal Kit Delivery Services for Every Kind of Cook
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Meal kit delivery services are supposed to make your life easier. And they do, once you pick one. But with the field of services expanding rapidly in recent years it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. Whether you're going vegan, cooking for a family of six, or are just looking to find your legs in the kitchen, there's probably a service that caters to your needs. Some “meal kits” send you premade meals, while others send ingredients paired with recipes, and a few more are grocery delivery services. All of them aim to make the process of planning and cooking meals more convenient, and how well they do that varies.
I've tested more than two dozen meal kit delivery services over the last few years. Few are outright bad, so picking the right one for you comes down to lifestyle. I'm an experienced home cook, and I don't have dietary restrictions, but I looked for plant-based meals along with more omnivorous options. I also had help taste-testing from lifelong vegans, finicky children, and my cat (by accident). Taking into account the recipes, ingredients, ease of use, amount of packaging waste, and the fact that every home chef has different needs, I recommend the services below.
Updated September 2024: We've added two new services, Thistle and CookUnity.
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Are Meal Kits Worth It?
PRICE: Despite any marketing claims to the contrary meal kits cost more than buying groceries. However, they usually cost less than take-out and are healthier. If you want to gauge whether the trade-off is worth it the good news is that much like mattress-in-a-box companies, meal kit companies usually have some running promotions. Most meal kit pricing models offer bulk discounts: The more meals you purchase per week, the lower each serving's price will be. We go into detail on dietary restrictions and subscription costs below. If you ever want to skip a week or cancel, you can find that information in the account section on your chosen service's website.
WIRED: Meal kits are convenient; I didn’t have to worry about planning dinner or panic-eating junk food after forgetting to eat a proper meal during the day. Learning to cook with one of these services can instill confidence and impart basic knowledge. If you're busy, or can't be bothered, meal kits may be just what you need to get cookin', and cooking at home is never a bad thing. Meal kits may be right for you if you're cooking for a small household, if you work nontraditional hours, if you hate figuring out what to make for dinner, if you want to stop ordering out all the time, or if you are trying to develop your cooking skills.
TIRED: Nothing beats learning how to cook the old-fashioned way, so be sure to try that, too. It's cheaper and you learn more if you pick out fruit yourself or break down a whole chicken for $5. You simply don't get that experience if everything arrives at your door and the chicken parts come prepackaged. Planning and shopping is an integral part of the art of cooking. Meal kits are also generally more wasteful than traditional home cooking, and often more expensive. Meal kits may be the wrong choice for you if you are on a tight budget, if you're cooking for a large household, or if you want tighter control over the specific ingredients you'll be using.
- Photograph: Blue Apron
Best Meal Kit for Most People
Blue Apron Meal KitBlue Apron has been around for more than a decade and is still the best no-fuss meal kit. The flavor and quality of each dish were great in my week of testing, even factoring in that some of the produce I received was bruised. The recipe cards are large and easy to follow. The service caters to lots of dietary lifestyles, it's not too expensive, and the weekly menus have plenty of choices. The company has partnered with How2Recycle, which teaches you how to recycle the various packaging materials found in your shipment. It's an excellent resource for anyone subscribing to meal kits, which have a reputation for being environmentally unfriendly.
This service is straightforward, meaning if you want to hone your chef skills or make impressive meals, opt for something else. My colleague Adrienne So also swears by Blue Apron.
Plan Details: The weekly menus have a heavy focus on Mediterranean-style meals, which feature lots of veggies and proteins. There are no specific plans for dietary requirements outside of vegetarian, but weekly menus feature a mix of recipes, including filters like vegetarian, carb-conscious, plant-forward, and sub-600 calories. There are also individual plant-based offerings, but no dedicated vegan meal plan.
Cost: The lowest price per serving is $8. The lowest subscription cost is $61 (including shipping) for two meals per week with two servings per meal.
- Photograph: Hello Fresh
Best for Ingredient Swappers
HelloFresh Meal KitHelloFresh (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a close second to Blue Apron overall and the best if you're one of those people who wants to swap a few ingredients. The recipes I've tried had great flavors, but the instructions may be difficult for inexperienced home cooks to follow. Read the instructions even before you start cooking, lest your food grow cold before you're plating it. I like that individual recipes have useful tips you can use in future cooking endeavors, such as putting the cut side of Brussels sprouts down on a sheet pan to ensure they get extra crispy. Ingredients for each meal are separated into paper bags upon delivery, which keeps recipe components corralled in your fridge. In my first week of testing, I had an issue with the quality of the meat, but after long-term testing the service, I believe that was a fluke as I've had no problems since. Each recipe card has a QR code to get help if there's an issue with your order.
Plan Details: Weekly menus have options for vegans and vegetarians as well as omnivores. There are also filters like higher-protein, lower-carb, and lower calorie count overall. Handy notes like Dietician Picks and 20-Minute Dinner can help you decide further when selecting your meals. Some recipes allow for customization of the included sides or protein—for example, if you're not a fan of broccoli, you may be able to swap it for potatoes.
Cost: The lowest price per serving is $10. The lowest subscription cost is $57 (including shipping) for two meals per week with two servings per meal.
- Photograph: Martha Marley Spoon
Best for Expert Cooks
Martha & Marley Spoon Meal KitThe Marley Spoon dishes I tried were indulgent, flavorful, and supremely tasty. This service was one of my favorites. The finished recipes have better flavor and aesthetics than most of the other services listed here, and I have saved some of them for future use. I was proud to present completed meals to my dinner partner.
However, be warned that these recipes are a little more advanced. Each step in a recipe has multiple steps within it, and the steps generally take longer than their estimates (as is often the case with regular recipes). Careful reading and preparation is key. There's a lot of multitasking involved. My recipe cards have pan sauce drippings splattered on them, corners bent in haste, and scribbles in the margins where I made adjustments. You'll have a lot of dirty dishes after cooking.
Plan Details: You can choose between a two-person plan and a four-person plan. The company offers more than 100 recipes from categories like Health & Diet, Vegetarian & Vegan, Meat & Fish, Under 30 Minutes, and Family-Friendly. Here's the weekly menu.
Cost: The lowest price per serving is $9. The lowest subscription cost is $64 for two meals per week with two servings per meal (including a $12 shipping fee).
- Photograph: Home Chef
Best for Beginner Cooks
Home Chef Meal KitHome Chef's detailed instructions and easier recipes make this service perfect for beginners. If you're new to the kitchen and trying to develop basic skills to feed yourself, this service can give you some culinary confidence. Recipes include reminders for things like reserving a part of an ingredient for later use or not cleaning a pan that would be used later to make a sauce. Every dish has a difficulty rating so you know what you're signing up for and can save tougher meals for nights where you have more time and energy. The meals I tried were delicious. Experienced cooks might find the recipes a slog to read through. This service also got me addicted to asiago-stuffed Roma tomatoes, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Plan Details: The customizable weekly menu lets you filter by carb-conscious, calorie-conscious, vegetarian, and under-30-minute recipes.
Cost: The lowest price per serving is $10. The lowest subscription cost is $57 for two meals per week with two servings per meal. Shipping varies by order but is free on orders over $50.
- Photograph: Dinnerly
Best Budget Meal Kit
Dinnerly Meal KitNo meal kit is as cheap as just buying groceries outright, but Dinnerly is the most affordable we tested. The meals I tried were uncomplicated and tasty, and my potatoes weren't plastic-wrapped. The “extra credit” steps give you options to tailor each recipe, such as cooking everything in the oven if you don't feel like pan-frying or making a quick side dish using staples you probably already have in your pantry. The paperless recipes are quick and easy; however, you will need a screen to read them. For novice chefs, the recipe instructions may not be detailed enough.
Plan Details: You can choose a two-person box or a four-person box. There's no option to filter things outright, aside from making your box vegetarian, but there are keywords for each weekly menu, where you'll pick your recipes. Examples include sub-30 minutes, low-calorie, dairy-free, and kid-friendly. Choices vary depending on the week.
Cost: The lowest price per portion outside of promotional pricing is $5. The lowest subscription cost is $46 for two meals per week with two servings per meal (including a $12 shipping fee).
- Photograph: Purple Carrot
Best for Adventurous Vegans
Purple Carrot Meal KitPurple Carrot is the best option of the many plant-based meal kits on the market. The instructions for each dish won't hold your hand (since vegans probably know how to dice an avocado) but there are helpful disclaimers when a recipe is spicy or requires that you divide the included ingredients. Animal-free diets are prone to dullness, but Purple Carrot's menu explodes with flavor. During my testing week the ingredients included spirulina, cacao nibs, harissa, cashew cream, bok choy, ancho chiles, and tomatillos. Sometimes this service can feel a little over the top. If you prefer less intense flavors, the selection might not appeal to you.
Plan Details: You can choose from a two-person plan or a four-person plan. Every meal on the weekly menu is vegan. There are different options within each customizable weekly menu, so you can choose from things like high-protein, soy-free, and gluten-free. You can also opt to add breakfast and lunch to your weekly plan.
Cost: The lowest price per serving is $11. The lowest subscription cost is $80 for three meals per week with two servings per meal.
- Photograph: Thistle
Another Good Veggie-Forward Option
Meal KitsAt a certain point last year, reviewer Adrienne So realized that she had to start eating more regularly, with an emphasis on vegetables, or she would develop rickets and/or scurvy. Although Thistle does offer meal choices with meat, most of the company’s meals are plant-based and local, seasonal and organic when possible. There’s minimal prep and packaging—she eats their salads straight out of the box after shaking on dressing. The portion sizes are extremely generous; she eats half a plant-based salad for lunch and the other half as a side at dinner. Every week, Thistle’s driver picks up the included cooler bag for recycling and replaces it with a new one.
Plan Details: Thistle offers a customizable weekly menu ranging from breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, juices, shots, or jarred salads. For each delivery, you need to select at least one item. Breakfast and snacks are plant-based, but there are options with meat for lunch and dinner. Note that Thistle primarily delivers to cities on the US coasts; You can check your zip code here.
Cost: The lowest-priced item that we’ve seen is a piece of dark chocolate for $2.50. A plant lunch is $14.50. Meals can cost as low as $11.50 each. Each delivery costs $7.
- Photograph: Daily Harvest
Best for Solo Eaters
Daily Harvest MealsThe frozen soups, bowls, and other items offered by Daily Harvest are vegan and easy to supplement with your own add-ins. The ingredients are clearly listed. Frozen convenience foods are typically not the healthiest, so having a stockpile of nutritious meals in the freezer was a welcome change. While they aren't “food” per se, I especially like Daily Harvest's mylk wedges, which make it easy to whip up almond milk on an as-needed basis (like when I'm out of coffee creamer and/or fridge space).
However, the items will take up a lot of room in your freezer. You'll need to supply a liquid base and/or a blender for some meals. Folks who think about the texture of food a lot might find the general mushiness of these items unappetizing.
Plan Details: All options are vegan and there are tons of filters, ranging from keto and gluten-free to likes and dislikes based purely on taste.
Cost: Plans are doled out in single-product servings, whether that's a smoothie, a latte, a soup, pasta, or something else. The lowest price per item is $7. The lowest subscription cost is $60 for nine items per week (including a $10 shipping fee.)
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- Photograph: Gobble
Best for Quick Cooking
Gobble Meal KitGobble made me feel like a TV chef. Nearly every ingredient ships prepared—think shredded cheese or pre-peeled carrots—so you won't need to worry about measuring. Recipes only take about 20 minutes and the basic instructions are beginner-friendly. You'll have fewer pans to wash after dinner than with other services. It's perfect for people who swear they have “no time” to cook at home. However, the extra ingredient preparation is reflected in Gobble's cost and additional packaging.
Plan Details: Choose the classic dinner plan or opt for a lean-and-clean dinner plan with low carbs and high protein. You'll need to choose between plans for two people or plans for four people. There are vegetarian options and allergens listed clearly below each available recipe on the weekly menu.
Cost: The lowest price per serving is $12. The lowest subscription cost is $68 for two meals per week with two servings per meal. Shipping adds $7.
- Photograph: Nurture Life
Best for Kids
Nurture Life Meal KitNurture Life's weekly meal subscription caters to different age groups. The prepared meals are fast and easy to reheat. They're also quite filling. While the various options are good for lunch or dinner, the minimal preparation and diverse menu allow for choices that work for breakfast, snack time, and after-school feeding frenzies.
Note that the hidden veggies aren't super hidden. All but the pickiest eaters should still have plenty of menu choices each week, but if your kid freaks out at the thought of a green pea, let alone the texture, Nurture Life meals might not be the best fit.
Plan Details: Mix and match finger foods, kids' meals, snacks, and smoothies. There are filters for meals that work well for picky eaters. There aren't more specific plans than that, but each item clearly lists allergens, ingredients, and other nutritional information.
Cost: The lowest price per item is $7. The lowest subscription cost is $48 for six items per week. Shipping varies per order.
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Best Prepared Meals
CookUnity Prepared MealsI've tried a few prepared meal delivery services, where you simply reheat the meals that you pick out each week. Usually I have issues with the texture, the flavor, or both. CookUnity blew me away. The meals are prepared by hand by chefs and restauranteurs. Maybe you'll get a fancy Chicago steakhouse dinner, or maybe your city's pizza prodigy will have a flatbread for you to try. Our meals included Adobo Flank Steak, Rigatoni alla Vodka, a Mission Style Chicken Burrito, and a Mediterranean Salmon and Quinoa Bowl. Every single one was delicious and easy to prepare. The instructions told you what to remove, how long to reheat (an average of 12 to 15 minutes), and what to do afterward—whether that was hand-stretching burrata cheese over your pasta or topping the salmon with a cumin-forward sauce. The meals were filling, the textures were spot-on, and the packaging is compostable and recyclable. CookUnity includes an insulated delivery bag with each order; it'll get picked up by your delivery person each week, or you can reuse it for picnics and whatnot. The meals will last in the fridge for between four and seven days. And you’d better believe, next time I'm in Chicago, I will be paying these chefs a visit to see what other dishes they can whip up.
Plan Details: There are options for Vegetarian, Vegan, Pescatarian, Paleo, Keto, and other dietary plans. There are allergen filters. Specific meal options vary by zip code, but you can scroll down this page for an example of the dishes you might be able to try.
Cost: You can choose between a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 16 meals per week. The lowest price per serving is $11.09 for a 16-meal weekly plan. The cheapest weekly plan is $74 for six meals. Shipping costs $10.
Photograph: EveryPlateMore Meal Kits We Like
Other Meal Kits We LikeGreen Chef ($12+ per serving) is another terrific option for beginners (also owned by HelloFresh), and it offers plenty of plans centered around different dietary restrictions. Nearly every ingredient is organic as well. The recipe instructions have easy-to-follow pictures accompanying the trickier steps, and unlike some other services, Green Chef's recipes don't jump around from component to component. For example, all of the produce is prepped at the same time. That's more intuitive (and time-saving) than other recipes I've tested. Here's our full review.
EveryPlate ($5+ per serving) recipe cards are concise, which helps save counter space, and there are helpful notes that offer advice or different instructions if you're doubling up a recipe. (It's also another HelloFresh brand.) Some steps require some kitchen knowledge, like slicing things on a diagonal or having an idea of when a steak is done to your preference. You'll also need more pantry ingredients, like butter, flour, and milk. If you keep your kitchen stocked, EveryPlate's costs are lower than most other subscriptions. Here's our full review.
Veestro ($10+ per serving) is another great option for vegans. The premade meals are delivered fresh; some may need to be used during the week, while others may be able to stay in the freezer. As any vegan knows, it's good to have food options in case your takeout order includes dairy-based cheese on your burger (again). The service has a lot of filters to choose from for different dietary requirements. The food itself had satisfying tastes and textures for me, an omnivore, as well as my 17-year-vegan co-tester.
Photograph: Hungry RootSpecialty Kits We Like
Other Specialty Meal Kit Services We LikeSun Basket ($11+ per serving) offers a plethora of meal plans with an emphasis on fresh and organic ingredients. There's a wide variety offered in each weekly menu, so there's something for everyone. Some of the other meal subscriptions I tried had wilted produce or subpar flavor—Sun Basket had neither. Its dinners were full of ingredients similar to the ones I'd pick out at the store, including unblemished in-season fruits and vegetables. Aside from nutritious dinners, you can also add on things like coconut yogurt, seed butter, sous vide egg bites, soups, and snacks like chocolate nuts and crickets. (If you're wondering, yes, the crickets were awesome.) Dietary filters allow for options such as Mediterranean and pescatarian, plus allergens. You can add items like jerky, dips, sauces, and sweets to your weekly shipment. For meals and groceries combined into one service, Sun Basket is a safe bet.
Splendid Spoon (prices vary) offers a plethora of plant-based smoothies, soups, bowls, and shots. Every item I tried tasted very natural—so yeah, those lemon juice shots will go down exactly as you'd expect. One very tart experience aside, I liked everything I tried, and I especially love the smoothies. The ingredients are listed too, so the Lemon Fiasco could have been avoided. All meals are plant-based and free of both gluten and GMOs. Plans include combinations of many different offerings, and deliveries can be scheduled as infrequently as once per month. Just make sure to have some space in your fridge—the products are a bit bulky.
Photograph: FactorMeal Kits We Dislike
Meal Kits to AvoidSakara Life ($28+ per serving), according to my vegan taste tester, is “for people who take their coffee black.” I agree. Doled out in fresh, prepared portions, Sakara Life offers plant-based weekly menus that aren't customizable. The food has an emphasis on hydration, and you'll find crisp greens, flavorful sauces, and textural add-ons like seeds or berries in most of the meals. If you can't deal with bitter veggies or tart fruits, it may not be the service for you. The company also offers things like detox teas and “beauty-boosting” chocolates, which are scientifically dubious. I liked the food, but the plans are egregiously expensive and designed to replace nearly all of your weekly meals, depending on which one you choose.
Factor 75 ($13+ per serving) has a bevy of prepared meals that you reheat and eat. There are keto, calorie-conscious, and Chef's Choice meal plans, and I don't recommend any of them. Every meal I tasted had the flavor and texture of airplane food. There are too many similar services on the market that are more enjoyable.
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