We Tested Over 50 Meal Delivery Services to Find the Best Ones for Your Money (2024)

One of the first companies to popularize meal delivery kits, Blue Apron was a top performer in our tests. It provides step-by-step recipes that incorporate a variety of cooking skills and flavors, and most recipes are designed to be ready in 35 minutes or less.

How it works: Choose from over 80 menu options that rotate weekly and fit a variety of different diets and lifestyles. Start by selecting one or multiple menu preferences, which include Chef Favorites, Wellness, Family Friendly, Fast & Easy and Veggies. Premium recipes feature specialty proteins like duck, scallops and lamb and can introduce home cooks to advanced culinary techniques and flavors. For convenience, Blue Apron also sells Prepared & Ready options, which are single-serve meals that are ready in five minutes or less.

Lab results: I appreciated Blue Apron's high-quality, fresh ingredients, and our testers gave this service rave reviews, noting that they loved the variety and creativity of the recipes. Many said that the meals were delicious and inventive and that the recipe cards offered simple step-by-step instructions. Favorites included truffle and fontina burgers, shrimp and orzo with zucchini, chorizo enchiladas and hot honey-glazed chicken with roasted potatoes and green beans.

"Blue Apron is a solution for busy people who like to explore new recipes and ingredients," said one tester. "It's adventurous without being extreme. The ingredients are perfectly measured, packaged well and fresh." Another noted that the directions were easy to follow, the "ingredients were consistently fresh" and the "variety of proteins and spices used was pretty great."

I also recently tested some of the brand's specialty seasonal boxes, including ones for the holidays, that were exceptional and took the guesswork out of making a really festive meal.

Cost can be a big deterrent for many when it comes to meal delivery services, but this affordable kit from EveryPlate provides restaurant-quality meals at just $5 per serving. Even though the meals are budget-friendly, I was really impressed with the quality.

How it works: Choose from 26 recipes each week that rotate weekly. Start by selecting one or more preferences, which include Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Faves, Quick & Easy and Calorie Smart.

Lab results: For the price, I was surprised with how tasty the meals were. Our testers liked the variety of offerings and the freshness of ingredients. Multiple testers remarked on the helpful instructions, which come with pictures that made it easy to prep and plan ahead while cooking. One tester said, "Everything was awesome, from the ingredients to the completeness of the recipes provided."

Another noted, “I am a decent cook but tend to stay in my lane when it comes to meals. I really enjoyed making these meals and learning new techniques." Favorites included soy-glazed pork meatloaves, creamy coconut chickpea curry, charred zucchini and tomato melts and tomato chicken sausage cavatappi.

Some drawbacks of EveryPlate are that the selection is a bit limited and that the items aren't as carefully packaged as other kits, meaning you will have to sort through your box to figure out which ingredient is meant for each recipe. That being said, the box itself and the packaging materials are solid. “UPS was delayed one day, and the EveryPlate box sat on my porch all day in 98ºF weather," said one tester. "Yet everything was still cold and fresh when I opened it.”

RELATED: Best Affordable Meal Delivery Services

Green Chef was another top performer in our tests thanks to its high-quality ingredients, thoughtfully packaged kits and vibrant recipes. This certified organic company offers a wide variety of health-conscious meal plans, working with farmers to source sustainable ingredients.

How it works: Select from over 80 weekly menu and market options. You'll start by choosing a plan based on your dietary preferences, which can include Mediterranean, Gut & Brain Health, Calorie Smart, Quick & Easy, Plant-Based, Protein Packed, Keto, Gluten-Free and more. Regardless of which plan you choose, you'll have the option to select your recipes, upgrade or swap proteins, add extra meals and even double the portions.

Lab results: Given the delicious recipes, high-quality organic ingredients and meals curated for different dietary needs, Green Chef is definitely one of my favorite meal delivery services. You'll pay a premium, but the items come neatly packaged, organized and pre-portioned. Testers said they loved the portion sizes, saying that the meals filled them up and had great flavor. “I was so impressed with all the portions and freshness of the products," said one tester. "Every meal was super easy to prepare." Another added, "I felt that the food with this meal delivery service was fresher than other meal delivery services I have used in the past."

Favorite dishes included spicy Tunisian-style chicken, Italian beef stuffed peppers, salmon Caesar salad and Cajun blackened chicken. On the downside, some testers noted that the instructions could be a bit complex and required many pans and bowls, but that the pictures on the recipe cards were very helpful.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Is Green Chef Worth It?

This simple and affordable meal delivery service makes weeknight dinners a breeze. All Dinnerly recipes have only six ingredients, five easy steps and require minimal chopping.

How it works: Choose from over 100 dishes that change weekly and all have limited ingredients, which means less chopping and cleaning. Meal categories include Gluten-Free Friendly, Low Calorie, Low Carb, Picky Eater Approved, Quick & Easy and Vegetarian. There is also a general option for the whole menu if you don't have any specific dietary preferences.

Lab results: If you're looking for tons of options to choose from, this service is for you. Even the vegetarian offerings on the menu are robust. Our testers raved about how much easier Dinnerly was to prepare than other meal delivery services they have used in the past. They were also happy with the variety of recipes. Favorites included steak dishes, tacos, stir-fries, noodles and burgers. Testers remarked that the meals were suitable for beginner cooks, and the recipes earned top marks for flavor and fresh ingredients. “I would recommend this meal subscription because of the following: the variety of meals, portion size, easy-to-follow recipes and most importantly the wonderful taste," said one tester.

I appreciate that Dinnerly keeps costs low by cutting down on excess packaging and not printing recipe cards (the recipes are available online). Although some items come loose in the box to minimize packaging materials, one tester said, “I loved the packaging and the freezer bags they used, which kept my food ice-cold even on a hot day."

RELATED: Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Services

If you're trying to avoid cooking at all costs or just need some help with a few meals during the week, Fresh N Lean is an organic and fully prepared meal delivery service. Meals are ready in just minutes in the microwave or can be heated in the oven or on the stovetop.

How it works: Begin by selecting from over 100 menu options each week. Plans include Protein+, Keto, Whole 30-Approved, Paleo, Standard Vegan, Vegetarian, Mediterranean Diet and Bulk. There's the option to build your box à la carte too. The menu is updated weekly and nutritional information for each meal is provided on the company's website. You can also add sweet or savory snacks and proteins, including breakfast muffins and grilled salmon.

Lab results: Testers loved the convenience of these fresh-not-frozen prepared meals that simply require heating. As a dietitian, I like that the company caters to various dietary needs and preferences, like high-protein meals, keto offerings, Whole 30 meals and more. Plus, the service only uses humanely raised, grass-fed beef, cage-free poultry, free-range eggs and sustainably sourced seafood.

Among our testers, the service received top scores for portion sizes and satiety of meals. "The convenience is amazing," one tester said. "It really doesn't get much easier for those who are short on time but still want to eat a meal that fits into their diet plan." Popular dishes included slow-cooked rosemary thyme beef with root vegetables, chicken teriyaki broccoli bowls and spinach and cauliflower enchiladas with salsa verde. Since the meals are fully prepared, they can be pricey so keep this in mind.

Sunbasket offers ready-to-heat meals as well as traditional meal kits. All dishes are made with high-quality ingredients and organic produce, and every recipe is crafted by chefs and registered dietitians.

How it works: Sunbasket offers traditional meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients and recipes that can be made in 40 minutes or less. The brand's Fresh & Ready meals are already prepared and can be heated in minutes. You can filter both options for specific dietary preferences including paleo, carb-conscious, gluten-free-friendly, keto-friendly, diabetes-friendly, Mediterranean, vegetarian and pescatarian.

Lab results: I liked that Sunbasket has a plan option for pretty much any preference you might have. During testing, I found that the Fresh & Ready meals heated best in the oven, but the microwavable option was handy in a time crunch. I also appreciated that Sunbasket selects organic produce and responsibly sourced meats and seafood.

The brand's dietitians ensure that all meals are typically under 800 calories and 800 milligrams of sodium but high in protein and fiber. Sunbasket’s sustainable packaging and delivery really stood out too during our evaluations, a major effort for the brand. Favorite meals included the penne rigate with yellow squash, the sheet pan pork sausages with roasted apple and delicata squash and the different taco offerings.

Overall, our testers loved the creative and unique recipes, with 100% of testers saying the service encouraged them to try something new. The breakfast options were also a big hit. “Great quality, sustainable packaging and flavorful meals,” said one tester. The actual meal selection isn't super robust, but the service does give you the option to add standalone proteins to your box which can save you a trip to the butcher or fishmonger.

RELATED: Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services

Founded in 2011, HelloFresh was one of the first meal kit delivery services, and it offers a wide variety of curated meal plans, making it a popular pick in our tests. All ingredients are pre-portioned for each recipe.

How it works: There are over 30 meals to choose from each week. Start by selecting one or more preferences which include Meat & Veggies, Family Friendly, Under 20 Minutes, Veggie, Fit & Wholesome and Pescatarian. The menu rotates with new recipes added weekly. You'll also find 100+ seasonal and convenient grocery items that you can add to your order when needed.

Lab results: I could tell HelloFresh has been at this for a while — the instruction cards were easy to follow and the packaging proved superior to other services I tested, in terms of both performance and sustainability. Testers gave this service top overall scores for quality, saying that the food tasted great. Popular dishes included Middle Eastern chickpea bowls, pan-seared sweet soy glazed chicken and vegan coconut curry tofu lettuce wraps.

“My partner and I liked the taste and flavor," said one tester. "Every dish had something extra beyond what we would normally make. I thought the food tasted better than what we would get from takeout at a restaurant!” Another tester noted that they'd gladly use this service again because "it was easy to use and motivated me to cook rather than just order something in," and that they "loved not having to think about what meals I wanted to make and then have to buy all the ingredients." But the meal plans are only for two or four people, so it's not ideal for larger families.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Is HelloFresh Worth Trying?

Larger households will appreciate the offerings from Home Chef that include different plans for up to six people per meal. You'll find a ton of options from five-minute meals to more elaborate entrée masterpieces.

How it works: Start by taking a quiz that assesses your dietary preferences, allergies, level of interest in cooking and delivery preferences to determine which meal plan is best for you and your family. Choose from 30 different recipes each week. Meal kit options include their Classic Meal Kit, Culinary Collection, Express Meal Kits, Fast & Fresh, Family Meals, Oven-Ready Meals and Protein Packs. You'll also find six weekly recipes in Kroger grocery stores from Home Chef if you'd rather pick up the items yourself.

Lab results: Home Chef offers a wide variety of meal kits and that you can filter for calorie-conscious, carb-conscious and vegetarian options, which is something I really appreciated as a registered dietitian. You can also now customize the proteins in your meal which is a major plus. Our testers gave the service rave reviews, with top scores for portion sizes and satiety of meals, easy-to-follow recipes and freshness of ingredients. Favorites included hot honey crispy chicken, beef and poblano tamale pie, BBQ mushroom flatbread and shrimp campanelle primavera.

Testers agreed that the quality of ingredients was better than other services they had tried in the past. They thought this service was especially great for families, since the recipes were especially simple to follow and yielded delicious results. The fact that they have a section curated specifically for families is a real plus. What's more, 100% of testers said the service encouraged them to try a meal or food that they usually wouldn’t have or that was not in their regular rotation.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: I Tried Home Chef for Three Months

Let award-winning chefs craft up restaurant-quality meals for you with CookUnity. The fresh, never frozen, meals come fully prepared and delivered straight to your door. You'll find a changing menu of dozens of options from some of the most talented chefs in the country.

How it works: Start by setting any dietary preferences and then selecting four, six, eight, 12 or 16 meals per week. Menus are posted two weeks in advance, and you can choose your weekly meals or let CookUnity select for you based on your preferences. You can also filter by dietary preferences like gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, paleo, vegan and more. The meals arrive fresh and come with expiration dates as well as instructions on how to heat them.

Lab results: The service received top scores from our testers and experts for flavor, portion sizes and overall food quality. In fact, 100% of testers said they would recommend the service to a family member or friend. Favorite meals included the beef bourguignon with buttered egg noodles by Chris Ratel, chicken tikka masala by Andres Mendez, lamb kebab with turmeric hummus by Akhtar Narwab and marinated chicken shawarma over Israeli couscous by Einat Admony.

As a dietitian, I also appreciated that the brand provides a full nutrition facts panel on each meal, too. Although it does offer filters for dietary preferences, the selections can be quite limited. I personally found the service best for gourmet comfort food, but the brand also offers some health-conscious fare. "The meals were simple to prepare and absolutely delicious," one tester shared, while another said, "There is so much creativity that went into each meal that you can see and taste!" Take note that the shipping area is a bit limited but growing.

Even though many meal delivery services provide all of the ingredients and instructions, it can be hard to find the perfect cooking method every time. That's where Tovala comes in — the brand sends you neat packages of ingredients that require quick assembly. You'll then use the brand's signature smart oven to cook your food perfectly when you scan the corresponding QR code.

How it works: Start by purchasing one of the brand's smart ovens that can bake, broil, toast, reheat and even air fry. Then, select from over 35 new, chef-crafted meals each week. The meals are portioned for one and arrive fresh. Mostly pre-prepared, they require one minute or less of prep (for example, adding a prepared sauce to a salmon filet). After scanning a QR code, the oven works its magic, cooking your meal in around 20 minutes or less. When choosing meal options, you can filter for carb-conscious, gluten-free, vegetarian and calorie-smart offerings.

Lab results: While purchasing the Tovala oven means this meal delivery service has a steep start-up cost, we love that it not only prepares Tovala meals but can also scan and cook over 1,000 different foods. Plus, you can use the Tovala recipe library to make your own meals from scratch in the Wi-Fi-connected oven too. While testing this service in the Lab, I was amazed by how consistently and perfectly cooked each meal came out.

At-home testers were impressed with the high-quality ingredients and loved that cleanup was a breeze. Favorite dishes included miso-glazed salmon with broccoli, chicken parmesan with stuffed shells, crispy chicken potstickers with sweet soy noodles and Salisbury steak meatballs and mashed potatoes. “The salmon meals were very filling," one tester said. "The oven made it seamless to cook, and it came out perfectly cooked." Take note that the meals are perfectly portioned for one — which is great for singles but not as ideal for feeding families and larger crowds.

Martha Stewart's meal delivery service serves up 30-minute recipes with fresh ingredients. Marley Spoon aims to introduce home cooks to new flavors and ingredients while also teaching new cooking techniques, and each meal only requires six steps per recipe.

How it works: The menu changes weekly, and you can choose from a variety of 100+ different recipes. Options also cater to various dietary preferences including vegan, vegetarian, kid friendly, low carb, low calorie and no added gluten. The service provides you with almost everything, but you'll need to have a few basics like oil, salt and pepper.

Lab results: Our testers liked that Marley Spoon's instructions were well-written and easy to follow, even for new cooking techniques they had not tried before. I found the meals a bit more elevated and gourmet than other services I tried. Even picky eaters enjoyed the family-friendly meals too. Overall, I appreciated how thorough the kits were. One tester said, "I found this to be a high-quality kit, from the packaging of each individual ingredient to the recipe details to the final product." Although the recipes only require six steps, I did find some to be a bit complicated to pull off.

Nutritious, fully prepared meals are delivered fresh to your door and never frozen with Factor. The options cater to a variety of diets, and the meals can be conveniently heated in the oven or microwave.

How it works: Choose from 34+ dietitian-designed and chef-crafted meals each week. All subscriptions include one complimentary consultation with a registered dietitian, which is a great perk. Plan preferences include Chef's Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Flexitarian, Protein+ and Vegan & Veggie.

Lab results: Testers and I both loved the variety of meals offered by Factor, as well as the portion sizes and the simplicity of heating. Meals were delivered in great condition and ingredients tasted fresh. For those on low-carb and keto diets, the amount of compliant options on the menu was a welcome change from other services that have limited offerings. Plus, the meals were tasty, satisfying and creative, but take note that many of the keto meals are very high in fat. Favorites included the pork tenderloin with cheesy cabbage, vegan mushroom marsala and herb cream cheese salmon.

"I've always been overwhelmed by which meal delivery service to choose, but I definitely will be ordering Factor for my husband and myself," one tester said. "I really appreciate the quality of the meals and how well-balanced they were." Testers also liked that the service has add-ons including shakes, smoothies, juices, snacks, proteins and desserts.

RELATED: Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery Services

Embrace a plant-based diet with this vegan meal delivery service that features globally inspired recipes. All of Purple Carrot's meals are completely plant-forward and kits come with a weekly recipe booklet that you can keep to recreate your favorites.

How it works: Purple Carrot offers standard meal kits as well as fully prepared meals. For the meal kits, everything is already plant-based, but you can also filter recipes to choose high-protein options, meals under 600 calories, nut-free, gluten-free and soy-free offerings. You'll also have the option to add on additional plant-based grocery items, like vegan cream cheese and crackers with the brand's Plantry offerings.

Lab results: Although many meal delivery services offer vegetarian plans, I love that Purple Carrot showcases an array of tasty and nutritious vegan options for those following a plant-based lifestyle. Plus, the service has been clinically proven to help people lose weight and lower LDL cholesterol. But for a kit that doesn't include meat, it is on the pricey side per serving.

Our testers found the meals inventive and flavorful and appreciated that all of the offerings were plant-based and didn’t take very long to prepare. "I love how Purple Carrot meals are delicious and nutritious without involving complicated cooking," one tester said. "The meals feel much fancier and more complicated when eating than when cooking. It encouraged me to try new flavors and food combinations I wouldn't have thought of myself." Popular entrees include spinach artichoke grilled cheese with hot pepper mayo and oregano fries, Japanese gnocchi with miso tomato butter and bok choy and smoky portobello tacos with jalapeño cashew sauce and Spanish rice.

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Think of Hungryroot as a master meal planner — the service will generate a list of groceries for you paired with recipes for the week and ship everything straight to your door. It takes the hassle out of having to meal plan or keep your fridge restocked, and it saves you a trip to the grocery store.

How it works: Begin by taking a quiz to tell the service about your dietary needs, who you're feeding and more. Multiple dietary preferences can be met, including dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, omnivore, soy-free, nut-free, gluten-free and more. The service then creates a grocery plan and fills your cart with suggested groceries and recipes to meet your needs, but you can always edit the delivery to get exactly what you'd like. You can give feedback on your groceries and recipes so the service can improve deliveries each week.

Lab results: Testers rated Hungryroot as one of the best services in our evaluation, saying that the meals were so easy to prepare and that the portion sizes were generous. Busy families appreciated that the cart would auto-fill and generate not just groceries but also corresponding recipes, but of course, you can customize it if desired. I also liked that all of the items are free from partially hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and artificial preservatives.

Popular options included the super fresh salsa & grilled chicken bowl, air fryer sweet chili salmon & Brussels and the curry lemongrass tofu jasmine rice bowl. One tester said, "It was so fresh, the variety was amazing and everything was so quick to put together. Loved that everything came precut and prepackaged." Another tester commented, "I really enjoyed the recipes that were provided, and I liked that most of the ingredients were prepared (salsas, sauces, chopped veggies), so cooking was simple and quick. Specifically, I really enjoyed the delicious sauces!" But I did find the cost to be a bit high compared to standard groceries.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Everything You Need to Know About Hungryroot

Epicured was the first low-FODMAP and gluten-free meal delivery service designed for customers with common GI disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s, colitis, SIBO and celiac. Its Michelin-star chefs team up with physicians and dietitians to create delicious meals that accommodate complex dietary restrictions. All meals are fully prepared and require refrigeration upon arrival.

How it works: The subscription option is designed to help you maintain a low-FODMAP regimen over the course of two to eight weeks. You can also subscribe to choose your meals and have them sent on a recurring schedule or opt for a one-time order. Epicured offers over 150 menu items ranging from fully prepared bowls, entrées and soups to smoothies and energy bites. The brand uses organic ingredients whenever possible.

Lab results: Testers were pleasantly surprised by the flavorful meals, even though they were gut-friendly. “We were hesitant about whether a low-FODMAP meal would be bland, but this was surprisingly flavorful and filling,” said one tester. Another tester remarked, “This service was much better than I expected. Learning that it was gluten-free and low-FODMAP had me prepared not to like the texture or flavor. But surprisingly, it was all very good.” I appreciated the meal variety and that registered dietitians ensure each meal meets specific dietary requirements (not an easy task for low-FODMAP restrictions!).

RELATED: Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services

Our experts have evaluated over 50 different meal delivery services. First, we assess how easy it is to navigate and utilize the service's website. We look for robust menu variety, ample dietary preferences to accommodate different needs, simple instruction cards, accurate cooking times and delicious and inventive recipes.

We also evaluate the quality of ingredients upon arrival and whether or not the kit includes everything you'll need to re-create the provided recipes. We also look for packaging that keeps the food safe and incorporates sustainable features. Other major factors are cost and delivery ranges which we strongly consider in our tests.