But compared with buying groceries and cooking meals at home, meal delivery services tend to be more expensive. Meal delivery services can range quite a bit in price, making it challenging for people on a budget to find suitable options.

But several cost-effective services are available, many of which offer options to fit some dietary restrictions and food preferences. When deciding which meal delivery service is right for you, consider factors such as variety, quality, cost, availability, and ingredients.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY. These Black-owned companies check all the marks for freshness, flavor, and elevating Blackness in the food industry.

Dinnerly is an affordable meal kit service that provides quick recipes and the ingredients you need to prepare them. We put Dinnerly to the test to…. While they're not typically able to prescribe, nutritionists can still benefits your overall health.

Let's look at benefits, limitations, and more. A new study found that healthy lifestyle choices — including being physically active, eating well, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption —…. Carb counting is complicated.

Take the quiz and test your knowledge! Together with her husband, Kansas City Chiefs MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mohomes shares how she parents two children with severe food….

While there are many FDA-approved emulsifiers, European associations have marked them as being of possible concern. Let's look deeper:. Researchers have found that a daily multivitamin supplement was linked with slowed cognitive aging and improved memory.

Dietitians can help you create a more balanced diet or a specialized one for a variety of conditions. We look at their benefits and limitations. Liquid collagen supplements might be able to reduce some effects of aging, but research is ongoing and and there may be side effects.

A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based The 6 Cheapest Meal Delivery Services. Medically reviewed by Alissa Palladino, MS, RDN, LD, CPT , Nutrition , Personal Training — By Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD — Updated on November 28, On this page Our picks Comparison table How we tested How to choose FAQ Bottom line.

How we vet brands and products Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site.

To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?

Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence? Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices? We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process. Was this helpful? Share on Pinterest. Comparison of the best cheap meal delivery services. How we test meal delivery services. Each service in this article: is in compliance with U. Department of Agriculture USDA and Food and Drug Administration FDA food safety and manufacturing regulations uses a trusted shipper to handle its food products lists all ingredients, allergens, and nutrition facts on its website or product packaging promotes a healthy approach to well-being does not make unsupported health claims on its website or marketing materials.

How to choose an affordable meal delivery service. Frequently asked questions. Which meal delivery service is cheapest? Here we've outlined all the best cheap meal delivery services for Our list of the healthiest meal delivery services for is a good place to find all the most nutritious options.

Lastly, you'll want to hone in on exactly how much food you'll want sent to you per week. Most services allow you to change the number of meals or servings in your plan even after you've started.

With nearly every service, the more meals your order per delivery, the cheaper it is per meal. All the meal delivery services may look delicious in their website glamour shots, but that's certainly not enough to convince me. To settle on this list of the best meal delivery service I tried as many as we could get our hands on, noting everything about them from freshness and flavor to ordering, packaging and delivery.

Testing meal kits for CNET means rolling up our sleeves and cooking at least one week's worth of meals from each service, often more.

How each meal kit tastes, how easy it was to prepare and the portion sizes are all considered. We also evaluate the website and how easy it is to navigate along with determining how easy it is to pause, cancel or change your order at any given time.

To learn more, we have an in-depth look at how we test meal kits here at CNET. To test each meal delivery service, we tried at least five and sometimes as many as 10 meals from any given service. I choose a range of meals from the various menu and meal plan offerings and took note of the ordering process, recipe variety and information available.

I reheated meals according to the instructions. If there were none, I heated them the way I would if left to my own devices. Often that meant warming gently in a nonstick skillet or reheating in my air fryer.

Many of the meal delivery services offer a microwave heating option, but I almost always found that produced worse results than my trusted methods, even if they typically take a few seconds longer.

Not all meal kits are created equally. Some services are much better depending on your dietary preferences, budget and culinary skill level. If you're looking to cut some of the legwork out of dinner, meal kits and prepared meal services are definitely worth it.

The most budget-friendly services cost about the same as buying all the groceries you'd need to make the same meal, with the convenience of having all the ingredients or a box of fully prepared meals sent to your home each week. That's definitely cheaper than eating out or getting restaurant food delivered, and about the same cost as buying the groceries needed to make the same meals.

In a previous story, we crunched the numbers to find out how much meal kits cost versus buying the same groceries. In reviews and best lists, Blue Apron and HelloFresh are two of the most popular meal kit services for Fresh N Lean and Factor are some of the most popular options for prepared meal subscriptions.

Wellness Nutrition. Best Meal Delivery Services of We've tested and reviewed more than two dozen meal delivery services. Written by David Watsky. 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.

Best Meal Delivery Services of What's the best meal delivery service? Best meal delivery services of Home Chef. Meal delivery services compared. Factors to consider when choosing a meal delivery service. How we tested meal kit services. Other meal delivery services we tested.

Meal delivery service FAQs. See at Blue Apron. Best for meal kits. See at Fresh N' Lean. Best prepared meal delivery service. See at Pete's Paleo.

Best for gluten-free meal delivery service. See at CookUnity. Best meal delivery with a variety of recipes. See at Mosaic Foods.

Best for prepared plant-based meal delivery. See at HelloFresh. Best meal delivery service for families. See at Factor. Best meal delivery service for weight loss. See at Purple Carrot. Best plant-based meal kit service. See at Green Chef. Best for organic meal kits.

See at EveryPlate. Cheapest meal kit service. See at Home Chef. Best meal kits for eating keto. FILTER BY all Meal Kit Prepared Meal. Showing 11 of 11 Results. Show less. Pros Steak and seafood options are included in a standard meal plan Affordable if you choose more than two recipes per week.

Cons Fewer recipe options than other services Doesn't allow for much customization. Type Meal kit. Recipes per week Good for Vegetarian, pescatarian, diabetes-friendly, low-calorie, picky eaters, quick meals.

Diet types: Vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, wellness, family-friendly, fast and easy. See at Blue Apron Best for meal kits Blue Apron.

Show expert take Show less. Editors' choice. Pros Most of the food we tried was good or great Healthy options to service many eating plans. Cons On the pricey side of average No family-sized meals making it expensive to feed a crew. Type Prepared meal. Meal options per week Good for Keto, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free, Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, high-protein.

Full Review Read full review. See at Fresh N' Lean Best prepared meal delivery service Fresh N Lean. Pros Quality ingredients including mostly organic meats and produce Great for those avoiding gluten or empty carbs No subscription required.

Cons No real discount for ordering a larger volume of meals The website isn't the best. Good for Healthy, paleo, keto, low-calorie, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, Whole30, high protein. See at Pete's Paleo Best for gluten-free meal delivery service Pete's Real Food. Pros Tons of healthy menu options per week Healthy food to service most diets and nutrition plans.

Cons Expensive if you only choose a few meals per week Quality was somewhat inconsistent. Good for Gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, paleo, vegan, low calorie, low carb, plant-based. See at CookUnity Best meal delivery with a variety of recipes CookUnity. Pros Nearly all the meals I tried were good or better Interesting use of global recipes and flavors Affordable, especially for the family plan.

Good for Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie. See at Mosaic Foods Best for prepared plant-based meal delivery Mosaic Foods. Pros More than 50 weekly recipes Good for keeping to specific diets or eating plans. Good for Vegan, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, low-calorie, Whole30, families, picky eaters.

See at HelloFresh Best meal delivery service for families HelloFresh. Good for Healthy, low-calorie, pescatarian, vegetarian, keto, paleo, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, Whole See at Factor Best meal delivery service for weight loss Factor.

Pros Interesting and filling vegan recipes Extremely fresh and high-quality ingredients. Cons Limited to eight recipes per week Expensive. Recipes per week 8. Good for Vegan, vegetarian. See at Purple Carrot Best plant-based meal kit service Purple Carrot.

Pros Healthy recipes and mostly organic ingredients Allows you to swap the protein in certain recipes. Cons On the expensive side Premium recipes incur major upcharges. Good for Organic, healthy, low-calorie, pescatarian, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, Whole30, gourmet. See at Green Chef Best for organic meal kits Green Chef.

Pros The most affordable meal kit service Most recipes were either good or better Not a ton of plastic waste. Cons Some produce was past its prime Recipes are somewhat basic Very little customization allowed.

Good for Healthy, family-friendly, comfort food, picky eaters, quick and easy. See at EveryPlate Cheapest meal kit service EveryPlate. Pros Good selection of keto-friendly meal kits Recipes are simple and fast Budget-friendly if you choose a larger plan.

Cons Some recipes were clunky and bland Too much plastic used in packaging. Good for Keto, low-carb, healthy, families, picky eaters, low-calorie, vegetarian.

See at Home Chef Best meal kits for eating keto Home Chef. Meal kit versus 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 that are ready to heat and eat.

I would suggest you can try Blue Apron because this is one of the best meal delivery services at an affordable price in the market fair-wind.club › eat › affordable-meal-delivery Discover affordable meal delivery with EveryPlate. Enjoy high-quality ingredients and incredible dinners for less than $5. America's Best Value Meal Kit

From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of Founded in , HelloFresh was one of the first meal kit delivery services, and it offers a wide variety of curated meal plans, making it a WE PROVIDE INCREDIBLE DINNERS FOR ONE FOR LESS THAN $5. How did we become America's Best Value Meal Kit? By offering one of the best and most affordable: Affordable meal packages

Overall, Affordable catering packages Affofdable has great reviews from customers, although many say that Affordable meal packages of their produce mmeal regularly arrive in Affordable meal packages condition. Most all diets, vegetarian, carb-conscious, calorie-conscious. Cons: Not a ton Free sample promotions options on Affprdable weekly menu, especially for larger plans Some meals have smaller portion sizes. 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. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Miami University of Ohio and a master's degree in clinical nutrition from NYU. Meal kit versus prepared meal delivery. What's the cheapest meal delivery service?	The kit bags and cool-pouches are made from compostable materials. Dieting Program Guides Best Weight Loss Programs Optavia Diet Review Noom Diet Review Nutrisystem Diet Review Weight Watchers Diet Review Noom vs. Good for Keto, low-carb, healthy, families, picky eaters, low-calorie, vegetarian. Our Other Meal Options. 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.	I would suggest you can try Blue Apron because this is one of the best meal delivery services at an affordable price in the market fair-wind.club › eat › affordable-meal-delivery Discover affordable meal delivery with EveryPlate. Enjoy high-quality ingredients and incredible dinners for less than $5. America's Best Value Meal Kit	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 Discover affordable meal delivery with EveryPlate. Enjoy high-quality ingredients and incredible dinners for less than $5. America's Best Value Meal Kit 6 Best Cheap Meal Delivery Services, Tested and Reviewed · Our top picks: · Dinnerly · Dinnerly · EveryPlate · EveryPlate · Blue Apron Blue Apron	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 Comparison of the best cheap meal delivery services ; $+ · $+ · $+ · $+ ; $ · $ · $ · free for boxes with 12 or 18 items Blue Apron is an affordable meal kit delivery service with prices that start at just $ per serving. They top our list because of their
We Affordable meal packages packags that you may Sample sharing website to have Affordable catering packages staples Affordable meal packages hand before your package Affordable meal packages delivered, Afflrdable fresh garlic Affordable catering packages apple packahes vinegar. The Product samples giveaway is made out of recyclable materials and is Affordable meal packages. Packagse is an avid CrossFitter and Afffordable Affordable catering packages home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family. 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. Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that promote immune health, improve vision, and support strong bones and a healthy metabolism. Fresh N Lean has five meal plans to help keep folks on track with their specific nutrition goals including low-carb, vegan, paleo and protein-plus options.	My Smashed Sonoma Chickpea Snack Plate was delicious! In addition to solid meal kits, Blue Apron is the most eco-friendly service of the major players, according to a recent study. Thankfully, you can still save big by sticking to the no-frills weekly plan. Jan 27 38 photos. However, with organic ingredients that are non-GMO, this is a great meal service for kids. reptile belongs to the largest freshwater turtle species in the world and has jaws that "can snap through bone. 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.	I would suggest you can try Blue Apron because this is one of the best meal delivery services at an affordable price in the market fair-wind.club › eat › affordable-meal-delivery Discover affordable meal delivery with EveryPlate. Enjoy high-quality ingredients and incredible dinners for less than $5. America's Best Value Meal Kit	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 When we tested, most meals were $ per serving regardless of frequency, with $ for shipping on all boxes. Different plans are available Best Overall Meal Delivery on a Budget: Dinnerly; Best Organic Meal Delivery on a Budget: Fresh N' Lean; Best Meal Delivery on a Budget for	I would suggest you can try Blue Apron because this is one of the best meal delivery services at an affordable price in the market fair-wind.club › eat › affordable-meal-delivery Discover affordable meal delivery with EveryPlate. Enjoy high-quality ingredients and incredible dinners for less than $5. America's Best Value Meal Kit
Afforddable takes out a lot of the hassle of Free furniture samples for selection to find the right Affordable meal packages for your exact needs. Meal plans include options Affordable specific diets, like keto, mediterranean, plant-based, or Affordable catering packages packaages diets. Revive Superfoods offers three meal kit plans each week with an option for 9, 12, or 24 meals a week in each delivery. com, Discover, LifeLock, Quick Sprout, Money Geek and many more! with the day you should eat it. Some options, like Dinnerly, have robust vegetarian menus, for example, whereas other services may offer only a handful of vegetarian meals to choose from each week.	Our experts like that full nutrition information and entire recipes are available on the site so you can get a preview before you commit to a particular meal. The meals arrive fresh and come with expiration dates as well as instructions on how to heat them. Navigate Advertise Editorial Guidelines Press Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Disclaimer. Meals also need to be chosen and ordered in advance. Many of the menu options for the meal delivery services we've listed include nutritious plant-based food or high-protein recipes with lots of veggies and lean meats. There are no contracts, and you can cancel your subscription at any time. We found the service best for gourmet comfort food, but the brand also offers some health-conscious fare.	I would suggest you can try Blue Apron because this is one of the best meal delivery services at an affordable price in the market fair-wind.club › eat › affordable-meal-delivery Discover affordable meal delivery with EveryPlate. Enjoy high-quality ingredients and incredible dinners for less than $5. America's Best Value Meal Kit	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 Blue Apron is an affordable meal kit delivery service with prices that start at just $ per serving. They top our list because of their Best Overall: Dinnerly, from $/meal Dinnerly markets itself as “The Affordable Meal Kit,” and we'd say it deserves the title. The meal	6 Best Cheap Meal Delivery Services, Tested and Reviewed · Our top picks: · Dinnerly · Dinnerly · EveryPlate · EveryPlate · Blue Apron Blue Apron From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of Best Overall Meal Delivery on a Budget: Dinnerly; Best Organic Meal Delivery on a Budget: Fresh N' Lean; Best Meal Delivery on a Budget for

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Affordable meal packages - Blue Apron is an affordable meal kit delivery service with prices that start at just $ per serving. They top our list because of their I would suggest you can try Blue Apron because this is one of the best meal delivery services at an affordable price in the market fair-wind.club › eat › affordable-meal-delivery Discover affordable meal delivery with EveryPlate. Enjoy high-quality ingredients and incredible dinners for less than $5. America's Best Value Meal Kit

How it works: Begin by selecting from over menu options each week. 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. Our experts like that the company caters to various dietary needs and preferences, like high-protein meals, keto offerings, Whole 30 meals and more.

And our dietitians point out that 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.

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 offerings are made from high-quality ingredients and organic produce , with every recipe 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.

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: Our experts love that Sunbasket has a plan option for pretty much any preference you might have. We also liked that Sunbasket selects organic produce and responsibly sourced meats and seafood.

The brand's dietitians ensure that all meals are typically under calories and mg of sodium but high in protein and fiber.

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. The breakfast options were also a big hit. 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 , 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:.

The menu rotates with new recipes added weekly. Lab results: We could tell HelloFresh has been at this for a while — our experts found the instruction cards easy to follow and the packaging proved superior to other services we 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. I thought the food tasted better than what we would get from takeout at a restaurant!

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:. 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: Our registered dietitians appreciate that Home Chef offers a wide variety of meal kits and that you can filter for calorie-conscious, carb-conscious and vegetarian options. 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: I Tried the 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 beyond.

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 Nutrition Lab experts for flavor, portion sizes and overall food quality.

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. Our nutritionists also appreciated that the brand provides a full nutrition facts panel on each meal, too.

Although the brand does offer filters for dietary preferences, the selections can be quite limited. We found the service best for gourmet comfort food, but the brand also offers some health-conscious fare.

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 30 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 meals, gluten-free options, vegetarian offerings and calorie-smart picks. 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, 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, we were 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.

Martha Stewart's meal delivery service serves up minute recipes with fresh ingredients. The kit 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. Options also cater to various dietary preferences including vegan, vegetarian, fast, healthy, family-friendly, low carb 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.

Picky eaters enjoyed the family-friendly meals too. Overall, our experts and testers 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. 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. All subscriptions include one complimentary consultation with a registered dietitian, which is a great perk.

Plan preferences include:. Lab results: Testers and experts 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. 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 the meals are completely plant-forward and kits come with a weekly recipe booklet that you can keep to re-create 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 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, our nutritionists 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. It encouraged me to try new flavors and food combinations I wouldn't have thought of myself.

RELATED: Best Vegan Meal Delivery Services. 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.

Add on individual grocery items like snacks, breakfast foods, fruit and more if desired. 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.

Our registered dietitians note that all of the items are free from partially hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and artificial preservatives. 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. Specifically, I really enjoyed the delicious sauces! 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 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. 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. RELATED: Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services. At the Good Housekeeping Institute , our food and nutrition experts test and review all different types of food products and services. From healthy snacks and supplements to food subscription boxes and meal delivery services, we are committed to bringing you the best of the best when it comes to quality, performance, flavor, nutrition and more.

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.

We've looked at everything from traditional kits that come with pre-measured ingredients to fully prepared heat-and-eat options. What we've found is that there is really a service for every level of home cook and practically any dietary need or preference.

Whether you love to cook or prefer to stay away from the kitchen, there is a meal delivery option for all different walks of life. Real-life feedback from home cooks of all levels is an incredibly value component of our evaluation process.

Testers comment on how easy the kits were to follow, their thoughts on the variety and quality of recipes, the condition of the food upon arrival, packaging and more.

We made our selections based on expert evaluations and tester feedback in the categories of overall satisfaction, food quality, cost, recycling efforts and availability. Our top picks cater to a wide variety of dietary preferences including gluten-free, low-carb, high-protein and more.

Although taste is subjective, we ultimately chose companies that scored well overall with testers. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living.

She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family. How to Cook Rice in a Rice Cooker.

Dinner Ideas Your Kids Will Love. Skip to Content Product Reviews Life Health Food Beauty. sign in. Best Flower Delivery V-Day Gifts For Kids V-Day Gifts For Women V-Day Gifts For Men Amazon Valentine's Gifts. Our top picks: 1. Best Overall Meal Delivery Service Blue Apron ORDER AT BLUEAPRON.

ORDER AT BLUEAPRON. Best Organic Meal Delivery Service Green Chef ORDER AT GREENCHEF. ORDER AT GREENCHEF. Best Meal Delivery Service for Beginners Dinnerly ORDER AT DINNERLY. ORDER AT DINNERLY. Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service Fresh N Lean ORDER AT FRESH N LEAN.

ORDER AT FRESH N LEAN. Best Semi-Prepared Meal Delivery Service Sunbasket ORDER AT SUNBASKET. ORDER AT SUNBASKET. Best Meal Delivery Service for Families Home Chef ORDER AT HOMECHEF. ORDER AT HOMECHEF. Best Chef Crafted Meal Delivery Service CookUnity ORDER AT COOKUNITY. ORDER AT COOKUNITY.

Best Meal Delivery Service for One Tovala ORDER AT TOVALA. ORDER AT TOVALA. Pros Great for all cooking levels Wide variety of plans, including pre-prepped options Fresh ingredients and inventive recipes Seasonal boxes available for special occasions.

Favorite meal: Sesame-ginger tofu poke bowl. Cost: Visit CookUnity for updated pricing. Despite the success of its competition, the original meal kit service still has some fight left in them. Time and experience has allowed Blue Apron to keep prices low, perfect time estimates on recipes, and offer fun wine-pairing and gift options.

When we originally tested this service, we had problems with flavors and ratios being off. Oregano overpowered orecchiette , jalapeño overwhelmed peach salsa, and my polenta was in desperate need of salt, spice, or anything to make it more than a bland mush.

But when we tested it again in , we found that the menu offered much more variety. Flavorful meals like Mexican-spiced shrimp bake and shawarma chicken and currant rice had us enjoying every last bite.

A few details continue to fall short, though, like disorganized packaging and inaccurate time estimates. There's also a lack of vegan offerings with this meal kit. But if you're someone looking for dietician-approved meals, tasty recipes, and options for wine and breakfast, you might be very satisfied with this kit.

Read the full Blue Apron review. Favorite meal: Crispy skin salmon with salsa verde and farro salad. Cost: Visit Blue Apron for updated pricing. Different plans are available. Each dish we tested, from hibachi-style steak and rice bowls to apricot dijon chicken legs, was quick and easy to prepare and used high-quality ingredients.

While we were disappointed by the recipe for creamy peppercorn chicken with roasted potatoes and carrots chicken breast can easily dry out when baked, and the sauce was overwhelmingly peppery , we found the other meals satisfying.

However, EveryPlate is focused on affordability and not specific diet plans, which means its recipes may not suit everyone.

But if you're looking to subscribe to a meal kit on a budget, EveryPlate just might do. Read the full EveryPlate review. Favorite meal: Apricot dijon chicken legs with roasted carrots and lemon garlic couscous.

Cost: Visit EveryPlate for updated pricing. Meals like chipotle-spiced steak with potato salad were simple, sophisticated, and downright American, just like the homemaking queen. 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.

Since we originally posted our review, Martha and Marley Spoon has added more vegetarian and low-carb options, but we haven't tested them yet. The service did score points with us for its eco-friendly packaging, made almost entirely from biodegradable materials.

Most of its recipes were also easy to follow for new cooks. Want to learn more? Read our full Martha and Marley Spoon review. Favorite meal: Chipotle-spiced steak with potato salad and charred snap peas.

Like Sunbasket, Green Chef promises organic ingredients and a variety of different diet-based meal plans think keto, paleo, and vegan at different price points, with about eight options to choose from per week.

What sets Green Chef apart from other services is its commitment to organic and ethically sourced ingredients. The company is USDA-certified organic, meaning that customers are buying certified ingredients from suppliers that follow strict standards.

When we tore open our bags for dishes like red-miso steak stir-fry and chicken with harissa apricot sauce, we were surprised to see that many of the ingredients were pre-prepped. The carrots and cabbage were already chopped, the miso sauce was already prepared, and there was a baggie of finely minced garlic and ginger that was almost a paste.

All these pre-prepped ingredients made preparing our food very speedy and simple. Most were plated and ready to eat in 30 minutes, and we only dirtied a handful of prep bowls, one pan, one pot, and a cutting board.

However, convenience has its drawbacks. Many of the pre-chopped veggies were brown or wilting by the time we went to cook with them. But otherwise, we quite enjoyed Green Chef. Read the full Green Chef Review.

Favorite meal: Red-miso steak stir-fry with udon noodles, carrots, edamame, pickled ginger and carrots. Cost: Visit Green Chef for updated pricing.

This meal delivery service offers a wide variety of recipes that will satisfy omnivores and vegan customers alike with its certified organic produce. Fresh pappardelle verde with sweet pea pistou and sugar snap peas and crispy tempeh tenders with barbecue sauce and lemon-shallot green beans were among its standout offerings when we tested.

We were impressed by how easily our Sunbasket dinners came together, relying on just a few key ingredients and spice blends to do most of the heavy lifting. That meant spending less time cooking and more time enjoying the food. We particularly loved the flavorful veggies and non-meat protein options, making Sunbasket perfect for people who avoid eating meat.

You can easily skip weeks, adjust delivery frequency, pause your account, or cancel your subscription entirely by easily navigating the Sunbasket website. Favorite meal: Fresh pappardelle verde with sweet pea pistou and sugar snap peas.

Cost: Visit Sunbasket for updated pricing. There are several options to choose from when it comes to buying a meal delivery kit. To help make your selection a little easier, here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind before you subscribe to a delivery service:. As with any subscription service, the price is one detail that should not be overlooked, especially since you'll be paying for the delivery on a weekly or monthly basis.

As a rule of thumb, stick to the basics when you first start out with a meal delivery service. See what it has to offer at a price point that matches your budget, and then weigh your options if you decide you want to switch things up.

Not everyone is a connoisseur in the kitchen, and some folks may want their dinner to be prepared more quickly or easily than others. Certain recipes can take longer to prepare, while some may be less labor intensive. Before ordering your meal kit, check to see how long each recipe is intended to take, as well as how much additional chopping, cutting, or prepping you may have to perform.

If you find yourself having little to no time to cook, then a pre-made meal kit like CookUnity could be your best option. Meal delivery services tend to offer a variety of options to meet a wide range of dietary needs, whether it be low calorie, vegan, or gluten-free dishes.

There's also the benefit of customization, which allows consumers to change some of the ingredients within the meal kit to suit their needs.

This is particularly useful when it comes to protein options or excluding a particular ingredient due to an allergy or taste preference. Before you select your meal kit delivery service, check to see what delivery days or times it offers.

Some may vary based on your location, but you'll typically be able to select a delivery date for Monday-Friday, with some services offering weekend availability. This is important to keep in mind as you sign up for your first delivery to ensure you are receiving your meals at the most convenient time for you.

For each service, we ordered at least one box of three or four meals worth two to four servings each. 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.

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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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Parenting All Parenting Baby Monitors Strollers. Accessibility All Accessibility. 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.