Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips.

Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon.

Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week. Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits. See full bio. Why You Can Trust CNET. Table of Contents Top. Cheapest Meal Delivery Services of What's the best cheap meal delivery service?

Cheapest meal delivery services for Cheapest prepared meal services compared. How we test meal kits and meal delivery services. Factors to consider when choosing a meal delivery service. Why you should trust us. Cheap meal delivery FAQs. Back to selection. See at EveryPlate.

Best cheap meal kits overall. See at Fresh N' Lean. Best cheap prepared meal delivery overall. See at Dinnerly. Best cheap meal kits for picky eaters. See at Mosaic Foods. Best cheap vegan meals. See at Blue Apron. Best cheap meal kits that include steak and seafood. See at Daily Harvest.

Best cheap meal delivery for breakfast and lunch. See at HelloFresh. Best cheap meal kits for diet and weight loss. FILTER BY all Meal Kit Prepared Meal.

Showing 7 of 7 Results. Editors' choice. Show less. CNET rating out of 10 8. Cons Not as many healthy options No customization allowed. Type Meal Kit. Good for Healthy, family-friendly, comfort food, picky eaters, quick and easy. Full Review Read full review.

See at EveryPlate Best cheap meal kits overall EveryPlate. Show expert take Show less. CNET rating out of 10 9. Pros Food mostly tastes great Good for diets and healthy eating plans. Cons Expensive if you only order fewer than 10 meals per week.

Type Prepared Meal. Meal options per week Good for Keto, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, high-protein. See at Fresh N' Lean Best cheap prepared meal delivery overall Fresh N Lean. CNET rating out of 10 7. Pros Huge recipe selection More healthy options than other budget services.

Cons Some recipes are bland and boring. Regional Availability Continental United States. See at Dinnerly Best cheap meal kits for picky eaters Dinnerly.

png","caption":" ","credits":"Mosaic Foods meal delivery service","imageData":{"id":"1cb0d31acfa-a2ea-2ad6b","filename":"mosaic. Pros Food is some of the best we tried Hearty and filling recipes.

Cons Vegan pizzas are just OK. Type Prepared meal. Good for Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie. See at Mosaic Foods Best cheap vegan meals Mosaic Foods. Pros A standard plan includes steak and seafood recipes Recipes are interesting and easy to make.

Cons Some produce was a little overripe. Recipes per week Good for Vegetarian, low-calorie, gluten-free, pescetarian. See at Blue Apron Best cheap meal kits that include steak and seafood Blue Apron. Cons Some of the bowls an noodle dishes are just OK Smoothies can be sneakily high in sugar.

See at Daily Harvest Best cheap meal delivery for breakfast and lunch Daily Harvest. Pros Massive selection of recipes Recipes are customizable. Cons The menu can be overwhelming Not every recipe works. Good for Vegan, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, low-calorie, Whole30, families, picky eaters. See at HelloFresh Best cheap meal kits for diet and weight loss HelloFresh.

Cost After you've picked between meal kits or meal delivery, you'll want to find a service within your budget. Meal kit or prepared meal delivery The first big decision you'll make is whether you want meal kits, which require some prep and cooking, or a prepared meal service that sends fully cooked meals ready to heat and eat.

Healthiness While most meal delivery services have healthy options, some are much healthier than others. Number of meals per week With almost every service, the more meals or servings are in your order per delivery, the cheaper it becomes per meal. What is the cheapest meal delivery service? What is the best meal delivery service for weight loss?

What's the difference between meal kits and premade meal delivery? The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice.

Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Nutrition Guides Meal Delivery Best Meal Kit Delivery Service Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service Hungryroot Review EveryPlate Review Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service Best Keto Meal Delivery Best Grocery Delivery Service Fresh N Lean Review Blue Apron vs.

Hello Fresh. We only recommend items our team loves! You can feed your family a completely nutritious, delicious, and sustainably farmed supper with these meal boxes. Everything you need to cook foodie-fabulous dinners is included in your fresh deliveries—from the proteins, produce, and spices to step-by-step instructions.

Try it: Blue Apron. The iconic Martha Stewart joins Marley Spoon to bring flavorful recipes and smart cooking techniques to your kitchen.

With Martha Stewart as your guide, chef-quality cooking is simple. Quality ingredients and more than weekly recipes make it easy to customize to fit your preferences and budget. A plant-based meal delivery service can help add more nutrient-packed veggies to your diet.

Veestro offers a la carte food, meal packs, weight-loss options, and juice cleanses. Or you can choose a meatless Monday option to ease into more vegan meals. Try it: Veestro.

Try it: HelloFresh. This meal delivery service sets itself apart by inviting customers to pick the chef-inspired meals they would like to try. Each meal kit is perfectly measured so you can skip the grocery store and reduce waste. Just go straight to cooking a delicious meal.

Try it: Home Chef. The premade meals made from whole, farm-fresh ingredients can be prepared in as little as four minutes. They also offer do-it-yourself meal kits and cater to a variety of diet needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and diabetes-friendly options.

Try it: Sunbasket. Factor focuses on delivering fresh, healthy, ready-made meals crafted by their team of chefs and dietitians. All of the tasty dishes are free of hormones, antibiotics, refined sugars, and GMOs and require zero prep.

Try it: Factor. Yumble offers a different spin on meal delivery: lunches. They offer a wide variety of lunch options for yourself and your kids. Choose from build-your-own or ready-to-go lunch bags. Healthy snacks are also available.

This plant-based meal delivery option offers read-to-eat smoothies, soups, grain bowls, and noodle dishes that are low in sugar and low in sodium.

You also have more control over how much you want to spend by selecting from individually priced foods. Try it: Splendid Spoon. The packaging is also almost exclusively made from recyclable, reusable, or compostable materials.

Try it: Green Chef. The biggest difference between Dinnerly and other meal delivery services is their digital recipe cards. Try it: Dinnerly.

From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of

We deliver organic produce boxes and sustainable pantry staples straight to your door. Fight food waste with Misfits Market's online grocery delivery Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services Best online meal subscription deals and discounts for February · Daily Harvest · EveryPlate · Purple Carrot · HelloFresh · ButcherBox (meat delivery): Discounted Food Subscriptions

That means your box will contain pre-portioned ingredients, pre-made sauces, and partially-cooked starches that Subscriphions simple reheating, plus pre-sliced, Subscripptions, and -minced veggies. But you also might be surprised that I Budget-friendly Meat Choices Discounted Food Subscriptions up in less than 45 Discounted Food Subscriptions. Trial product giveaways received some Discounte these products Discounted Food Subscriptions Subsriptions samples, but all of our opinions are our own. Cons Not a good option for those with severe food allergies. If you have a specialized diet that can be difficult to shop for, a corresponding food subscription box makes things a bit more convenient and offers more variety. Maybe you decide to go on an impromptu vacation or want to switch services. The burgers came in pre-formed, pre-cooked patties and were super easy to pan-sear while the buns toasted, all in all, totaling about 10 minutes total for a healthy and hearty lunch.	The Best Fish Subscription. Sunbasket tries to ship its meals in environmentally-friendly packaging; our items arrived in a cardboard box lined with paper and denim insulation. Pros: Daily Harvest's menu is entirely plant-based, and the service makes every effort to use organic ingredients. The absolute cheapest meal kit is EveryPlate , and with consistently tasty meals -- we've tested it three times now -- that take as little as 20 minutes to cook, it's an easy pick for the best cheap meal service for Some meals can take 45 minutes or longer to prepare and could include everything from crafting sauces to pounding out meat. While the little one munched, mom and dad also took some bites, deeming the Nurture Life foods parent approved, should there be leftovers when your kiddo is done. When you apply for or open an account using our links, we may earn a commission.	From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of	Meal kit delivery teacher discount: Martha & Marley's Community Heroes Discount program offers teachers 50% off the first box, free shipping Comparison of the best cheap meal delivery services ; EveryPlate · $+, $ ; HelloFresh · $+, $ ; Dinnerly · $+, $ ; Daily Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services	Best online meal subscription deals and discounts for February · Daily Harvest · EveryPlate · Purple Carrot · HelloFresh · ButcherBox (meat delivery) EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next 13 Meal Delivery Kits With Massive Discounts for New Users · 1. EveryPlate: 6 Servings ($/serving) and $1 steak · 2. Dinnerly has 24 servings
Subscfiptions plans Discounted Food Subscriptions available. If Subscriltions item is Free grooming product samples or Discoknted, it should come to your Discountted Discounted Food Subscriptions way, too. Ingredients The Latest Equipment. You can check out my deep-dive review of HelloFresh to learn more about the easy meal delivery service. Butter makes everything better, and there is, in fact, better butter. Although we found some flaws with this fully vegan meal delivery service a few years back, our second time testing proved most if not all of our issues had been remedied. We've noticed a recent trend toward speed and convenience in the meal kit world, both with traditional companies and with frozen and ready-to-eat brands.	As I was cooking up my chicken sausage tomato soup, I noticed the recipe cards had some other helpful tips to save food waste. The cooking process was fast and simple, from prepping to heating. The review criteria for services consisted of sustainability practices, customer service, flavor, dietary selection and information, ingredient freshness, as well as the process of meal preparation. Pros Affordable High-quality ingredients Quick and easy recipes. Also, it helps if you have more experience in the kitchen because the recipes can be a little vague, which beginners might find frustrating. I opted for a random selection of meals this go around, but would also like to note that the service does carry a variety of options for breakfast and snacks, in addition to lunch and dinner, should you want to plan for busy mornings or an eventful day with little time to snack. Using a meal kit service can help you better manage your portions and ingredients to eat more nutritious meals and lead a healthier lifestyle.	From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of	Enjoy Free Breakfast for Life - Limited Time Only! 18 Free Meals Offer is for new subscriptions only across 9 boxes and varies by plan You can choose between getting your seafood delivered fresh or frozen, and you can buy a one-off box or an auto-delivery of one, two, four, or Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of	From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of
Discounted Food Subscriptions delivery services offer mega Discohnted for Subsfriptions subscribers. Discounted Food Subscriptions from build-your-own or ready-to-go lunch bags. I now have a deeper appreciation for fried chicken, after now having made it from scratch. Asonta Benetti. Aura Bora Flavor of the Month.	Pros: Blue Apron offers both meal kits and prepared meals with an impressive range of gourmet recipes. There was no prep involved; we just had to peel the corner of the plastic wrap, remove the sleeve and pop it in the microwave. Pros Affordable High-quality ingredients Quick and easy recipes. Pros Great option for families looking to save money on dinner Recipes are digital to save paper. The meals were flavorful and robust, but they could be slightly bigger in portions. This time around, we were excited by the menu's international variety, protein-packed ingredients, and overall tastiness. The company also includes profiles of all its chefs, which makes the site more engaging.	From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of	EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Meal kit delivery teacher discount: Martha & Marley's Community Heroes Discount program offers teachers 50% off the first box, free shipping HelloFresh is intended as a weekly meal subscription service, but it's easy to skip weeks via the app or by logging into your account	Comparison of the best cheap meal delivery services ; EveryPlate · $+, $ ; HelloFresh · $+, $ ; Dinnerly · $+, $ ; Daily Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services We deliver organic produce boxes and sustainable pantry staples straight to your door. Fight food waste with Misfits Market's online grocery delivery
None of Discounted Food Subscriptions content has been provided by, reviewed, Subsdriptions or endorsed by any Discohnted. Discounted Food Subscriptions Visit Purple Carrot for updated pricing. In This Article Expand. The service is also far from ideal for those with dietary restrictions—in typical American fashion, every recipe revolves around an animal protein or heavy carbs. We also considered menu options, plans, and other factors. The Best Hot Sauce Subscription.	But with the vast sea of options available, how does one pick the right service? Pros Affordable Accurate cooking time estimates Quick and easy. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Many services cater to a variety of food allergies and dietary needs, and some meal services are created by physicians and registered dietitians to offer custom meal plans. They aim to help parents navigate eating from first bites and finger foods to pouches and smoothies.	From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of	Are you in search of a cheap meal kit service that doesn't cut corners on quality and flavor? With meals starting at $ per serving with our latest discounts HelloFresh is intended as a weekly meal subscription service, but it's easy to skip weeks via the app or by logging into your account Comparison of the best cheap meal delivery services ; EveryPlate · $+, $ ; HelloFresh · $+, $ ; Dinnerly · $+, $ ; Daily	Enjoy Free Breakfast for Life - Limited Time Only! 18 Free Meals Offer is for new subscriptions only across 9 boxes and varies by plan Total discount value - up to $ The $/meal offer is based on pricing of the 4 person plan. The 2 person plan first box offer varies from $ to $ A meal kit delivery subscription is the not-so-secret key to easy weekday meals. If you know a wannabe home cook who's been targeted by one too

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Discounted Food Subscriptions - 13 Meal Delivery Kits With Massive Discounts for New Users · 1. EveryPlate: 6 Servings ($/serving) and $1 steak · 2. Dinnerly has 24 servings From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of

Why You Should Try It Home Chef offers delicious, family-friendly meals, including minimal prep options, at a competitive price. Pros Easily customizable meals Easy prep options Serves up to six people. Cons Not focused on organic food Cannot accommodate strict dietary restrictions like vegan and keto.

Overview HomeChef is known for its easily customizable, great-tasting meal kits. Of the two plans—Home Chef and Fresh and Easy—the Fresh and Easy option provides the most convenience. This plan includes 15 Minute Meal Kits with pre-portioned ingredients that cook in under 15 minutes; Oven-Ready and Grill-Ready Meals that are fully prepped and ready to cook; and Fast and Fresh Meals that arrive cooked and only need reheating.

Pricing and Plans According to Home Chef's website, the weekly cost will depend on the size of your order and the meal options you select.

Meals We Tried Crispy sweet chili shrimp rice bowl Creamy tomato and steak penne Gnocchi and red pepper cream Moo shu pork lettuce cups. Pros Weekly rotating meal choices Easy to skip orders Helpful customer support options. Cons Not the cheapest choice Few customization options Overview With dozens of flavorful menu choices each week, Blue Apron is the ultimate service for gourmet food lovers.

Customers can choose from multiple meal preferences, including chef favorites, family-friendly, and vegetarian. And, in select areas, customers can add on marketplace items, such as pantry essentials , kitchen tools, and even wine.

Meals We Tried Meal Kits Togarashi shrimp and vegetable fried rice Space Ranger chicken enchiladas One-pan white bean and poblano shakshuka Baked meatballs and romesco mayo.

Prepared Meals Sweet and spicy beef bowl with rice, peppers, and edamame Chicken alfredo pasta with peas. Why You Should Try It Mom's Meals' main mission is to provide affordable, convenient, and nutritious meals to senior citizens. Pros Menus designed by dietitians Senior-friendly meal options Multiple dietary needs accommodated.

Cons Shipping costs extra Ordering process can be confusing for some. Overview Mom's Meals provides an easy and cost-effective way for seniors to get nutritious dinners on the table.

Featuring an extensive menu of dietitian-designed meals, the company delivers nutritionally balanced, fully-prepared foods that only require a few minutes of heating to enjoy. Meals cater to various dietary needs, including low sodium, gluten-free, and heart-, renal-, and diabetes-friendly.

The company also works with agencies like Medicaid and Medicare to allow customers to receive their meals at affordable prices. Customers may also be eligible to receive subsidized meals through health plans and agencies like Medicaid and Medicare.

Meals We Tried Curry vegetables with pineapple and brown rice, string cheese, vanilla pudding Cheeseburger and seasoned mixed vegetables, whole wheat bun, orange Chicken and stir fry vegetables with teriyaki sauce, white rice, applesauce Sweet and sour chicken with stir fry vegetables, white rice, grape juice, ginger spice cookie BBQ chicken with potato medley, seasoned green beans, applesauce Beef goulash over whole wheat pasta, seasoned carrots, orange Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, potatoes, seasoned vegetables, whole wheat dinner roll, gelatin Mushroom risotto, seasoned peas and carrots, whole wheat roll, grape juice Korean-style BBQ meatballs with white rice, seasoned broccoli, ginger spice cookie Creamy macaroni and cheese, seasoned vegetables, mandarin orange cup, blueberry applesauce.

A meal delivery service is a subscription plan that delivers meal kits or fully prepared meals to your home based on your preferences. Meal kits include portioned ingredients and instructions for you to prepare the recipes, while fully prepared meals just need to be heated before serving.

Prices depend on a number of factors, including the company, type of meal, and quantity. Often, the more meals you include in your plan, the cheaper your plan typically becomes.

There are also usually sign-up promotions that offer a significant discount off the standard price. Most meal delivery services are commitment-free.

All of the options in our list allow you to skip a week, pause your subscription, or cancel any time before a weekly deadline. We researched 40 different meal delivery services and narrowed them down by price.

We also considered menu options, plans, and other factors. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources.

Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Buying Guides. The Cheapest Meal Delivery Services Can Help You Save and Simplify Your Dinners Dinnerly and EveryPlate offer the least expensive meals for home delivery.

Ask yourself what you want from a meal delivery service—the cheapest price may not be your best value. Take into consideration what you enjoy the most about eating out—is it the chance to enjoy a different cuisine? Do you like the ease of not having to prepare a meal?

There are meal delivery plans that offer cook-it-yourself kits with global flavors and ones where meals are simply heat and eat, with no preparation required.

Just like going out to a restaurant, prices vary across services depending on quality, effort, and ingredients. Lots of meal services include a wide range of dietary options for their plans, like vegan or keto.

Perhaps you need something more tailored to help support a medical need? Plans like ModifyHealth offer foods to help with digestive and chronic conditions. The customization of meal delivery services makes it easy to find one that is healthiest for you.

Our panel of testers reviewed 40 different companies to assess the best meal delivery services. The review criteria for services consisted of sustainability practices, customer service, flavor, dietary selection and information, ingredient freshness, as well as the process of meal preparation.

Our testing team contains a variety of people, including food writers and dietitians, to capture as many voices as possible. Use limited data to select advertising.

Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content.

Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources.

Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. By Asonta Benetti. Asonta Benetti. Asonta Benetti is a freelance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona.

She specializes in travel, food, and beverage, including spirits, wine, and beer, and she covers luxury experiences, hole-in-the-wall finds, and everything in between.

Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines. Best Meal Delivery Services Best Overall: Sunbasket Best on a Budget: Dinnerly Best Variety: Hungryroot Best Vegan: Mosaic Foods Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth Best Meal Kits: Blue Apron Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity Best for Kids: Nurture Life Best for Families: HelloFresh Best for Seniors: Magic Kitchen.

Best Overall: Sunbasket. Sign Up Now. Pros Nutrition and health info are easy to access and understand Wide range of meal plans, from paleo to diabetes friendly. Cons Portion sizes may not be great for large families. Best on a Budget: Dinnerly.

Pros Great option for families looking to save money on dinner Recipes are digital to save paper. Cons No add-ons are available. Best Variety: Hungryroot. Pros Emphasis on allergen restrictions Thousands of recipes available. Cons Significant amount of unmarked, single-use plastics.

Best Vegan: Mosaic Foods. Pros Free shipping and discount for meal orders Family-sized dishes available. Cons Not all recipes are vegan. Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth. Code applies to new customers only. Pros All meals are developed with physicians and dietitians Shipping is free.

Best Meal Kits: Blue Apron. Pros Entrées and recipes for the next four weeks are available online to peruse Selection is large enough to provide weeks with no repeats.

Cons Not a good option for those with severe food allergies. Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity. Pros Small batch meals crafted by renowned chefs Fully prepared dishes that only require reheating.

Cons Meals designed for only one person. Best for Kids: Nurture Life. Cons Ingredients can become repetitive. Best for Families: HelloFresh. Pros Menu is diverse and creative Easy-to-follow steps with photos. I Tried Factor Meals for a Week—Here's My Honest Review.

Best for Seniors: Magic Kitchen. Pros Can be used with insurance and for post-discharge meals Nutrition info easy to find online Gift packages available to send. Cons Limited recycling options for packaging Flavors can be a bit bland. Final Verdict Meal delivery services come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but for one that covers all the bases, we chose Sunbasket.

Frequently Asked Questions Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It?

Discounted Food Subscriptions - 13 Meal Delivery Kits With Massive Discounts for New Users · 1. EveryPlate: 6 Servings ($/serving) and $1 steak · 2. Dinnerly has 24 servings From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the Our readers picked the best weekly meal subscription boxes for From gourmet-level results to easy-to-cook recipes, there's a box for every type of

I decided to go big or go home with my test cook, choosing a steak with mushroom cream sauce and roasted potatoes and carrots for a Monday night dinner. HelloFresh packages each set of ingredients conveniently into individual brown paper bags. Once unpacked, I did a quick wash and dry for the produce, and the rest of the meal was pretty straightforward.

I timed the cook, and sure enough, it was pretty close to the estimation on the cards — 47 minutes for me for a slightly more well-done steak and an older oven for the crispy potatoes. The green cousin of Hello Fresh, Green Chef stands out as a traditional meal kit with better-for-you options.

When researching all the kits on the market, I noticed that Green Chef offered the first Keto options for those following a fad diet trend.

Now, they offer an array of other options, too, from vegetarian to plant-based to paleo. I went with the sesame shrimp noodle bowls from their gluten-free menu, which claimed to take 25 minutes to cook.

The kit came with everything I needed, sans salt, pepper and cooking oil, so make sure you have those on hand.

A new sister site to the HelloFresh family, Factor is unlike the rest of its siblings in that no cooking is required — unless you consider using a microwave cooking.

I decided to cook my pumpkin pancakes in the microwave, to see if they really stand up to the chewy-making effect a micro can have on some frozen foods. The cons: even though it was a microwave meal, there were a few sticky steps, such as flipping each hot pancake and then making sure the butter was melted all the way through the stack of three cakes.

As for the taste, neither a pro nor a con. They definitely tasted like healthier pancakes — butter and syrup helped — and the addition of the nuts on top was a satisfying touch.

To wash it all down, I also grabbed one of the cold-pressed juices — Factor also offers wellness shots in addition to their four juice flavors. The pineapple turmeric basil juice sounded super interesting, and sure enough, it was as tasty as it was vitamin-packed.

The option to go to my fridge instead of a 9-dollar-a-pop juice shop with a hipster barista is worth it in and of itself for me. There are even dessert options, too — the dark chocolate peppermint keto-friendly cheesecake was my personal favorite.

The very best part of this kit for me was the ability to feel like I was having a fancy meal without any of the work. Not only for Thanksgiving , Gobble is the meal kit that serves up generous turkey-day-sized portions no matter the season.

The first thing I noticed about Gobble was just how much fresh produce I received in my order. For the beautiful Italian flat iron steak meal, which is supposedly two servings, I got a huge bag of ripe cherry tomatoes and an entire bundle of green onions.

For my miso-baked salmon, I got a giant bag of fresh broccoli and a ton of jasmine rice. During the unboxing alone, it was evident that Gobble values quantity and quality.

The four balls of cookie dough that came with my meal, not that I had any room left in my stomach after the meal to come. A second dessert stomach is a thing, right? Another thing to note was the smaller, more compact recipe cards.

While they are so much easier to save and store in a kitchen drawer than full-sized pieces of paper, they are also a bit more cramped in terms of directions and information.

The total time for my medium-rare meal came out to 29 minutes and 33 seconds, prep work included. For a full steak dinner that yielded enough for two portions and leftovers of the polenta and veggies, this is the kit for hungry families who want to spend some quality time together in the kitchen.

Though I am a carnivore through and through, I found that Purple Carrot is a great introduction to vegan eating.

When choosing a meal to cook, I knew I wanted something that I loved already in its original meaty form, made vegan, to really put the box to the test. After I had chopped everything down to size and foraged for my mushroom heads well, I picked them apart from the woody stems, but it sure felt like foraging , 15 minutes had already ticked by.

The rest of the cook was pretty straightforward, used minimal dishes, and came out almost exactly like the photo, albeit a bit more soupy of a sauce.

Did this vegan dupe stand up to comforting chicken and dumplings? Another pro: everything was included in the box except salt, pepper, and oil, as they made sure to package vegan butter, flour, baking soda, and thyme into pre-measured baggies. For those who do want to eat plant-based for all three meals of the day and then some, the site does offer a lot of different options, changed up every week.

On the site now, curate your box with eight different dinner options, two breakfasts, two lunches and six different snacks from an array of vegan companies. Instead, expect a trifecta of support, with meals, coaching, and tracking, too. Trifecta is indeed a meal kit company, meaning you can simply order the meals to arrive at your home, fresh and pre-packaged, sent to your door on ice to then be reheated in the microwave or oven.

However, for those who want a whole-body and mind experience when it comes to healthy eating and lifestyle, you can add a lot more from Trifecta. Back to the food at hand — and in fridge — there are a variety of options to choose from when selecting your meal plan.

When receiving my box, I loved that all of the items were packaged with the meals clearly labeled, helping me choose which I wanted to eat now and stick in the fridge and which I wanted to freeze for later — you can freeze the meals for up to three months in the freezer, or leave them for up to seven days in the fridge.

To really put the flavors and textures to the test, I used the microwave, and to my delight, the rice was cooked to perfection, the sausages were left juicy, and the packaging was cool enough to touch. One note: since these meals are in sustainable packaging, the bottom may get soggy, so it is advised to use a plate underneath.

Otherwise, the meals provided enough food for a full meal maybe add fresh fruit on the side and made me feel more energized than if I had grabbed a different freezer meal from the grocery store. Clean eating has never been easier, with Sakara Life calling the shots for every meal of the day.

The plant-based and nutrition-focused meal delivery service is one that can really revamp the way you eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. The meals each come in a take-out style container, with a sticker indicating when I should eat the meal right down to the time and day of the week.

The best part for me was the portability and ease of the whole thing, especially as someone who skips breakfast or opts for a muffin when running late.

While heating my dinner bowl, a Sakara burger with chili cashew creme, I decided to browse the site to see what sort of plans they offered. For those who want to try out a weekly meal plan but are a bit timid, they do have a one-week trial to test the waters.

If you like it, you can set up a recurring subscription and have Sakara Life meals all week long. Bonus points for being super customizable, as some may want just a few days a week and others an entire fridge of pre-planned meals for their three squares.

With my burger bowl, after incorporating the cashew creme and the other garlicky dressing, I do have to say that while not a burger in my meat-eating eyes, this was one of the best salads I have had — ever.

Even though this bowl was shipped to my door, everything was crunchy and fresh, with no wilted leaves in sight. As someone who spends far too much money at Sweetgreen only to find myself hungry again, finding filling and yummy salads and bowls that I can bring into the office can be a challenge.

This is where I think Territory Foods fits in nicely. They are also all made without gluten or dairy, which is super great for those with allergies in the house. The coolest part for me, though, was when I took a peek at the packaging and the menu, to find out that my options were actually tailored to my region, partnering with local chefs and restaurants to create the weekly menu of over 35 rotating options.

My Ginger Garlic Chicken Salad was not only ready-to-eat and delicious but was also made by Chef Rachelle Slotnick of Chantilly, VA. Also, a nod to the packaging, the removable slip contains the calories, protein, fat, and carbs of each meal, should you be tracking yours, as well as the eat-by date and the warming instructions if needed on the back.

The last thing that really sets Territory Foods apart is the pricing plan structure. When setting up my account, the first thing to make note of was just how many options for breakfast, lunch and dinner there are.

In unboxing, one quick thing to remember is that there is dry ice that comes on top of your order, so make sure to have an adult unpack and dispose of the ice. As for the meals, the smoothies and wellness shots can be thawed in the fridge or enjoyed as an icy treat. I chose the latter for my mango guava smoothie due to my impatience, and it was a refreshing option that I sipped on during this whole review, and eventually melted into a drinkable smoothie.

The wellness shots are more like a few sips, but great as an ice cube or a liquid — up to you. The soups, however, should be reheated, in my opinion, and can be warmed in the microwave, as the bowls they come in are micro-safe and BPA-free.

Can I hear it for no dishes? Full transparency, we had our very own Matt Levy help with this review, or, more specifically, his toddler did the hard work. While the little one munched, mom and dad also took some bites, deeming the Nurture Life foods parent approved, should there be leftovers when your kiddo is done.

These are chopped up small to prevent choking, and come in a variety of flavors to expose your tike to new flavors and textures.

The meal service is great for those parents who are sick of sharing off their own plates as well, as the Nurture Life meals let your kid have their very own plate of yummy food, and a great option for those who need some more variety in their weekly kid-approved cooking rotation.

Starting from the way the package arrived — hand-delivered in a reusable tote, layered with ice to keep the food fresh — the whole CookUnity experience was restaurant-level without ever leaving home.

I was also sent a text to track my order, letting me know an hour in advance so I could be prepared. The food arrived in great shape, with no foggy plastic coverings or soggy cardboard to be found. The only downside to the meals is that they are single-serve, as I would have loved left overs or to be able to serve to a family or crowd — oh, well, more meals for me!

Eat Clean is a prepared meal delivery service, that not only takes the grocery shopping out of the equation like a typical meal kit, but also takes care of most of the prep work, cooking and cleaning.

The meals arrive in a pre-packaged and pre-portioned tray that is microwave safe, or you can opt to open the pack and use an oven-safe dish to reheat the food in minutes. And yes, packaging is recyclable. On to the nutrition aspect, the packaging wrapped around each tray has detailed nutritional information, plus, the website does a great job of describing each menu item, outlining all of the ingredients as well as health information.

For those on a specific diet, you can also choose from plant-based meals, Keto and paleo. I opted for a random selection of meals this go around, but would also like to note that the service does carry a variety of options for breakfast and snacks, in addition to lunch and dinner, should you want to plan for busy mornings or an eventful day with little time to snack.

I went the dinner route, and happily ate BBQ pulled pork with sweet plantain mash off of the traditional menu, as well as Kung Pao chicken with sweet potato noodles from the paleo menu.

Both were extremely flavorful, not skimping on seasonings at all. Portion sizes are on the somewhat smaller size, but the meals themselves were filling, each coming with a protein and a veggie for the meals I chose.

Daily Harvest truly means daily, as I happily ate a breakfast, lunch and a dessert in one sitting when diving into my box of frozen meals and snacks. They keep it simple; everything comes frozen on dry ice careful with kids if they help with the unboxing process!

and ready to either reheat, blend, or in the case of ice cream, thaw and enjoy. My sweet potato bowl took about four minutes in the microwave, and I was surprised by how well it turned out.

All in all, Daily Harvest is a great kit to have on-hand and in-freezer at all times, whether it be as part of your daily routine or a great fall back when waking up late and needing a quick smoothie or bowl or a dinner for the family on busy nights.

Mosaic is another frozen meal delivery service that sends breakfast, lunch and dinner to your door and can be reheated in the microwave in five minutes or less for a quick and healthy meal.

I personally love this style, as it helps to eliminate food waste and saves room in the freezer for exactly what you want. Each category is priced out differently, but you can mix and match to reach your minimum box order.

Furthermore, deliveries are super easy to customize, as you can get a recurring box every week, every two weeks or every four weeks, with the option to pause or cancel should you be out of town. For my trial box, I ordered a few things from each category but decided on soup and some noodles for lunch.

The directions were pretty straightforward, as all you need is a microwave and about five minutes of patience before food is served. The soup took an initial five minutes and then an additional two, as per the instructions, so be sure to read the packaging for the exact cooking time.

I actually had leftovers because it was so filling — always a pro when it comes to plant-based foods. Using the service's website, we chose a diverse variety of meals when available.

We prepared the food on a weeknight for ourselves and our partners or families, and evaluated the quality of ingredients, recipe accuracy and variety, difficulty, speed, cleanup, taste, and more.

We scored and compared each meal and kept detailed notes like true food nerds. Meal prepping and grocery shopping can feel overwhelming.

Meal kits are a great way to expand your tastes and eat healthier, bringing you through the cooking process one step at a time and slicing the time it takes to prepare your food in half. We found many recipes that only took 15 or 20 minutes, and oftentimes less!

One study found that popular restaurant meals can have a whopping 1, calories on average per serving. Using a meal kit service can help you better manage your portions and ingredients to eat more nutritious meals and lead a healthier lifestyle.

They can also help you control grocery costs because you won't have excess food going bad in your fridge before you can decide what to do with it. Almost every service we tried offers a large discount on the first box.

Your box is good to sit on your doorstep until the end of the day. Because delivery windows for these services are as broad as a full day, they package ingredients to last outside your actual refrigerator until the end of the day. Most often, produce and dry ingredients will be grouped in bags above ice packs, and any meat will be fully insulated below ice packs.

The packaging is going to be bulky and cumbersome. Recipes are usually seasonal, but favorites are often repeated.

Every meal kit service has a different approach to repetition, but most try to make recipes as seasonal as possible to keep you from getting bored and to guarantee fresh, sustainable produce.

That being said, most companies make note of the most popular dishes and offer them many weeks a year, regardless of the season.

If you really love one of your meals, hold onto the recipe card for future reference so you can request it again—or make it yourself using store-bought ingredients. Cook your meals soon after receiving them.

Because of transit times, they might actually be older than what you buy from the store. Use common sense when approaching certain dishes—seafood, fresh greens, and chicken should be prepared first, while red meat, pork, and harder produce can last a few more days. Cancel at least one full week before you want your last box.

If you want to skip a week or take a break from deliveries, most services allow you to make those selections, too. Many meal kits are now offered in grocery stores. To combat the high operational costs of delivery-only services, many companies have partnered with or been acquired by major food stores and are now offering its kits in the grocery aisles.

While we only tested delivery services, many of the recipes we tried are also available in stores for equal or lower prices. Some meal kit companies now offer prepared and heat-and-eat meals.

We've noticed a recent trend toward speed and convenience in the meal kit world, both with traditional companies and with frozen and ready-to-eat brands.

Home Chef now offers at least two oven-ready dishes per menu every week, and Sunbasket has introduced both oven-ready and pre-made options. We recommend having a good cast iron pan or a Dutch oven handy. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , TikTok , or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more. Cassidy covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed from to An experimental home chef with a healthy distrust of recipes, Cassidy lives by the "Ratatouille" philosophy that, with a few techniques and key tools, anyone can cook.

She's produced in-depth reviews and guides on everything from meal kits to stand mixers and the right way to cook an egg. Madison covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed in Formerly the editor-in-chief of Culture Magazine, Madison is the founder of GRLSQUASH, a women's food, art, and culture journal.

Her work has also appeared in The Boston Globe, Cherrybombe, Gather Journal, and more. She is passionate about pizza, aesthetic countertop appliances, and regularly watering her houseplants. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a Master's of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy from Boston University.

Previously the Digital Editor at Culture Cheese Magazine and a former barista , she's also had her work published in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury, Boston Magazine, and more. Danielle has a B. from Syracuse University and a AAS in Culinary Arts from Newbury College.

Previously, Danielle was a Test Cook and Associate Editor at America's Test Kitchen, as well as a freelance recipe developer and food writer. Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied.

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Why trust Reviewed? Learn more about our product testing. Read More Pros Large variety of appealing dishes and extras Big portions Straightforward recipes Cons Recipe timing can be inaccurate Vegan offerings are limited.

Read More Pros High-quality ingredients User-friendly recipes with accurate timing Large variety of options and extras Cons Lots of packaging.

Read More Pros Balanced flavors Quality ingredients Quick and easy Creative recipes Cons Some recipes fall short. Read More Pros Fully plant-based Tasty , unique meals Premade meals offered Cons Learning curve with recipe cards. Written by Cassidy Olsen , Madison Trapkin , Monica Petrucci , and Danielle DeSiato.

Best Overall. Pros Large variety of appealing dishes and extras Big portions Straightforward recipes. Cons Recipe timing can be inaccurate Vegan offerings are limited.

Buy now at HelloFresh. Best Value. Favorite meal: Soy-ginger pork tenderloin with garlic rice and green beans Cost: Visit Dinnerly for updated pricing. Cons Organization is lacking Navigating the website can be challenging.

Buy now at Dinnerly. Most User-Friendly. Pros High-quality ingredients User-friendly recipes with accurate timing Large variety of options and extras.

Cons Lots of packaging. Buy now at Home Chef. Best Pre-Prepped Kit. Favorite meal: Paneer and cauliflower tikka masala with garam masala basmati rice Cost: Visit Gobble for updated pricing.

Pros Balanced flavors Quality ingredients Quick and easy Creative recipes. Cons Some recipes fall short. Buy now at Gobble.

Best Plant-Based Kit. Favorite meal: Tamarind cauliflower with gingered fried rice and cashews Cost: Visit Purple Carrot for updated pricing.

Pros Fully plant-based Tasty , unique meals Premade meals offered. Cons Learning curve with recipe cards. Buy now at Purple Carrot. Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service. Favorite meal: Sesame-ginger tofu poke bowl Cost: Visit CookUnity for updated pricing.

Pros Tasty meals Countless options Personalized menu. Cons Ranging portion sizes. Buy now at CookUnity. Blue Apron. Favorite meal: Crispy skin salmon with salsa verde and farro salad Cost: Visit Blue Apron for updated pricing. Pros Affordable Accurate cooking time estimates Quick and easy.

Cons Flavors and ratios sometimes off in recipes Disorganized packaging Limited menus. Buy now at Blue Apron. Favorite meal: Apricot dijon chicken legs with roasted carrots and lemon garlic couscous Cost: Visit EveryPlate for updated pricing.

Pros Affordable High-quality ingredients Quick and easy recipes. Cons No recipes for special diets Limited meal options. Buy now at EveryPlate. Martha and Marley Spoon. Pros Flavorful dishes Inventive recipes Eco-friendly packaging. Cons No recipes for special diets Smaller portions.

Green Chef. Quality ingredients and more than weekly recipes make it easy to customize to fit your preferences and budget. A plant-based meal delivery service can help add more nutrient-packed veggies to your diet. Veestro offers a la carte food, meal packs, weight-loss options, and juice cleanses.

Or you can choose a meatless Monday option to ease into more vegan meals. Try it: Veestro. Try it: HelloFresh. This meal delivery service sets itself apart by inviting customers to pick the chef-inspired meals they would like to try. Each meal kit is perfectly measured so you can skip the grocery store and reduce waste.

Just go straight to cooking a delicious meal. Try it: Home Chef. The premade meals made from whole, farm-fresh ingredients can be prepared in as little as four minutes. They also offer do-it-yourself meal kits and cater to a variety of diet needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and diabetes-friendly options.

Try it: Sunbasket. Factor focuses on delivering fresh, healthy, ready-made meals crafted by their team of chefs and dietitians. All of the tasty dishes are free of hormones, antibiotics, refined sugars, and GMOs and require zero prep. Try it: Factor.

Yumble offers a different spin on meal delivery: lunches. They offer a wide variety of lunch options for yourself and your kids. Choose from build-your-own or ready-to-go lunch bags. Healthy snacks are also available. This plant-based meal delivery option offers read-to-eat smoothies, soups, grain bowls, and noodle dishes that are low in sugar and low in sodium.

You also have more control over how much you want to spend by selecting from individually priced foods.