According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American adult spends about 44 minutes on each grocery shopping trip. That doesn’t even include the time spent preparing and cleaning up, which the same report says can take up to an hour.
It’s no surprise that the food delivery industry has boomed in recent years, helping people avoid trips to the supermarket, save time in the kitchen, and potentially spend less money by reducing food waste.
But before you get started, check out our research to get the full scoop on our picks for the best food delivery services.
Our Top 10 Best Meal Delivery Services for 2023:
- HelloFresh – The Best Food Delivery Service
- Home Chef: Perfect for Flexible Plans
- Factor: Perfect for Dietitian-Approved Restaurant Recipes
- Martha & Marley Spoon: Perfect for Improving Your Cooking Skills
- EveryPlate: Ideal for budget-friendly family meals
- Green Chef: Ideal for organic ingredients
- Nutrisystem: Ideal for weight loss
- Fresh & Easy: Ideal for convenience foods with little or no prep
- Freshology: Ideal for serving diet and reheated meals
- Trifecta: Ideal for ready-to-eat, low-calorie meals
Our Methodology: How We Reviewed the Best Meal Delivery Services
We evaluated the most popular meal delivery services to help you decide which ones are worth your time and money. Our experienced dietitians and nutritionists ordered, selected, prepared, and tested each of these meals to rate:
- User Experience & Customer Service
- Subscription Flexibility
- Variety of Meal Plans
- Ingredient Quality
- Recipe Accuracy
- Preparation Difficulty
- Overall Taste of Meal
A Closer Look at the Top 10 Meal Delivery Services
HelloFresh
HelloFresh lets you enjoy fresh, healthy meals with minimal prep. Former Pastini executive chef Ron Stewart tried HelloFresh and was “amazed by the quality of the ingredients and the ease of making exceptional meals,” describing its recipes as “delicious, nutritious, and balanced.”
Each week, HelloFresh lets you choose from over 100 recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Each set includes simple, step-by-step recipe cards with fresh, pre-measured ingredients to help you whip up dinner in under an hour.
This service is ideal for individuals and households that don’t have strict dietary requirements, although they also offer low-carb and low-calorie meals. You can review the ingredient information for each dish individually before placing your order, including nutritional information and allergens, as well as any additional ingredients you may need.
Why we chose HelloFresh: You can easily customize or cancel meal delivery and subscriptions at any time. The menu is not overly complicated and reduces the need to buy additional ingredients beyond what is included in each recipe.
Our experience: We love that HelloFresh lets you know in advance what ingredients you need so you can prepare the dish as soon as your order arrives. It was also very convenient that their extensive menu allowed us to change the proteins.
Read HelloFresh review
PROS
- Adjust, skip, or cancel your delivery and subscription at any time
- Change, swap, or upgrade over 12 sides and proteins each week
- Competitive pricing
CONS
- No keto or paleo meal delivery plans
- Limited flexibility for people with allergies
Home Chef
Home Chef is a meal delivery service designed for cooks of all levels. Each delivery includes recipe cards with step-by-step instructions and photos. Hartman and others show that improving your cooking skills promotes healthy eating and, in turn, improves your diet. This makes Home Chef a great tool for achieving better health by teaching you new recipes and techniques.
Choose from over 20 recipes each week and modify the proteins to suit your taste. Home Chef allows you to filter and remove recipes that contain certain allergens, such as tree nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, mushrooms, fish, and shellfish. However, they cannot guarantee that their food is completely free of cross-contamination.
Why we chose Home Chef: Their pre-portioned and portioned ingredients make meal preparation and cleanup quick and easy, while eliminating food waste.
Our Experience: We found Home Chef’s recipe cards easy to follow, and the dishes nutritious enough to comfortably feed a hungry adult. We loved that we were able to save our recipe cards in a folder at any time (included with your first order).
Read the Home Chef review
PROS
- Customize the type of protein on your plate
- Filter and remove recipes with specific allergens
- Meal kits are available at Kroger supermarkets.
CONS
- Some ingredients may contain artificial colors, sulfites, or sweeteners.
- The minimum weekly order is $47.96, excluding shipping.
Factor
Factor is a chef-created, dietitian-approved meal service that offers an affordable way to heat and serve meals for a healthy diet. Marie Sabat, a registered dietitian and president of Body Designs, says it’s “worth the extra cost” and offers “a lot of options for those trying to stick to a specific diet.”
Factor provides nutritional and ingredient information so you can filter out recipes that may not meet your health goals. Their meals range from 300 to 900 calories, making it easy to lose weight based on the low-calorie foods you choose.
Why we chose Factor: In addition to microwaveable and oven-ready meals, Factor also offers nutritious add-ons like juices, smoothies, cookies, desserts, and breakfasts.
Our experience: While the recipes were often high in fat, the ingredients were clean and high-quality. We loved that we were able to design the perfect meal plan for us with a free consultation with one of their registered dietitians.
Read Factor review
PROS
- They don’t prepare, heat, or serve the food.
- Lots of diet options.
- Includes an initial 20-minute consultation with a nutritionist.
CONS
- Not family-friendly as the meals are single-serving.
- Mostly high-fat keto meals.
Martha
Martha & Marley Spoon is a personalized meal delivery service that delivers fresh, pre-portioned ingredients.
The recipes come straight from celebrity chef Martha Stewart’s kitchen, and each includes labels that indicate whether they’re dairy-free, gluten-free, or kid-friendly. They also automatically fill your box with recipes based on your tastes, but you can customize and choose your own dishes.
The food arrives fresh in a thermal box with six-step recipe cards. If you’re running low on any ingredients in your pantry, you can add them to your order through the online store. The company recommends freezing animal proteins within two days of delivery and vegetables within four days for optimal flavor, nutritional value, and freshness.
Why we chose Martha & Marley Spoon: They offer a convenient way to explore new flavors and learn new cooking techniques from a celebrity chef.
Our experience: Martha & Marley Spoon produced better-quality dishes than many of the restaurants we frequented. The preparation took a few minutes longer than other food delivery companies, but the experience was worth it.
Read the Martha & Marley Spoon review
PROS
- Variety of healthy options.
- Master new cooking techniques and explore new flavors.
- Fresh, high-quality ingredients.
CONS
- Meal plan includes only meal options.
- No completely allergen-free meal plans.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate is designed for those looking for simple and delicious meals for the whole family. Choose from 25 different recipes each week from their “Meat & Veggie,” “Vegetarian,” “Family,” “Quick & Easy,” and “Nutritious & Delicious” menus.
Frozen meals are carefully packaged in a thermal box to ensure freshness. EveryPlate does not recommend refreezing ingredients, so they should be refrigerated after opening and consumed within five days of delivery.
Since EveryPlate is focused on profitability, it is not designed for special diets, except for vegetarians. Please review the ingredients in each recipe before ordering to make sure the dishes meet your dietary needs.
Why we chose EveryPlate: Their recipes do not require special or complicated tools, which encourages new cooks to jump into the kitchen and create delicious and convenient meals in minutes.
Our experience: EveryPlate’s easy recipes make it easy to prepare meals quickly, reduce food waste, and minimize cleanup. However, we found the portions to be a bit on the small side.
Read EveryPlate review
PROS
- No special kitchen tools required.
- Most affordable prices. Simple recipes.
CONS
- Limited options for those with allergies or special diets.
- Small portions.
Green Chef
Green Chef is a chef-led, nutrient-dense meal plan made with farm-fresh organic ingredients and high-quality protein. Complete your order with sauces, desserts, and breakfast toppings.
Each plate includes pre-measured and mostly prepared ingredients, including homemade sauces and marinades, as well as a recipe card with special chef tips. Some dishes may require more preparation, such as chopping, slicing, peeling, and grating.
Green Chef is not currently suitable for those with allergies, but you can check the ingredient list for each recipe for more detailed information.
Why we chose Green Chef. Green Chef offers high-quality organic ingredients for delicious and healthy dishes, and each recipe has been tested by qualified chefs.
Our experience. We appreciated how Green Chef helped us step out of our comfort zone to try new flavors and interesting dishes. The ingredients were fresh and delicious, although the recipes took longer than expected (about 45 minutes).
Read the Green Chef review
PROS
- Certified organic, farm-fresh produce, and high-quality protein
- Fits many diets
- Eco-friendly packaging
CONS
- Requires additional cooking
- Not suitable for people with allergies.
Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem is a science-based meal delivery service designed to help you lose weight with a high-protein, low-glycemic focus. Discover the perfect balance of protein, carbs, and fat. When you sign up for Nutrisystem, you get a personalized four-week weight loss plan and guide.
There are personalized plans for men, women, couples, and people with diabetes. Depending on your gender, your health goals, and the package you choose, your order may include frozen or ready-to-eat meals. Some Nutrisystem meals require reheating, while others can be eaten straight from the box. Once you sign up, you’ll have access to information about your chosen plan, including recipe ingredients, nutritional labels, and cooking instructions. Why We Chose Nutrisystem: Nutrisystem’s four-week guide plan includes a full range of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, smoothies, and snacks to keep your weight loss on track.
Our Experience: We found the included NuMi SmartAdapt™ app helpful for knowing what and when to eat, as well as tracking our progress and activity.
Read the Nutrisystem review
PROS
- Over 135 foods to choose from
- Weight loss companion app
- Foods have a shelf life of up to 18 months
CONS
- Limited flexibility for substitutions
- Somewhat expensive upfront with monthly subscription
Fresh and Easy
Fresh and Easy is a Home Chef food delivery service that offers ready-to-eat meals. Choose from oven-ready and microwave-ready meals made with the same fresh, standard ingredients that Home Chef is known for. You can also try a 15-minute meal kit that requires quick prep from pre-portioned ingredients.
Most dishes are full-course meals, though sandwiches, salads, and side dishes are also offered. Fresh and Easy does not cater to specific dietary restrictions.
Why we chose Fresh and Easy: They offer the same quality standards as Home Chef, with less customization to offer consumers value for money.
Our experience: We found Fresh and Easy to be perfect for making healthy meals quickly, and we were surprised by how little cleanup was required. We wish they had more options for vegetarian diets.
Read the Fresh and Easy review
PROS
- Same high quality standards as Home Chef
- Oven and microwave safe.
- Pre-portioned and fully prepared meals, ready in 15 minutes or less.
CONS
- Limited customization options
- Not suitable for diets.
Freshology
Freshology offers a restaurant-quality menu for those looking to lose weight or live a healthier lifestyle. Menu options include balanced portions of dietitian-approved, heart-healthy, low-sodium, calorie-controlled, and nutritionally balanced meals.
Freshology meals contain no added preservatives, so deliveries should be refrigerated immediately to ensure maximum freshness. The food has a seven-day shelf life, although it can be frozen if necessary and should be thawed before reheating. Customers who live a certain distance from the Freshology kitchen are entitled to receive fresh, unfrozen food twice a week in refrigerated insulated boxes.
Freshology does not currently offer gluten-free meals for celiacs, kosher plans, or vegan options. However, their Keto-Carb30 menu is low-carb if you want to avoid bread. You’ll find nutritional information and individual ingredients in each recipe.
Why we chose Freshology: Freshology offers hot and cold meals that make healthy, wholesome meals more affordable. We use fresh, local ingredients to ensure delicious and satisfying meals, using organic ingredients whenever possible.
Our experience: It was nice not to have to think about what to eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We loved that the dishes were fully prepared and could be enjoyed hot or cold, just like we would with leftovers from our favorite restaurants.
Read Freshology review
PROS
- Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and condiments.
- Meal plans that you can whip up in just two or three minutes, with no prep required.
- Restaurant-quality, nutritionally balanced meals.
CONS
- Delivery fee: $19.98/week.
- Not ideal for families.
Trifecta
Trifecta is a fitness-focused meal delivery service developed by medical experts and nutritionists. Designed to burn fat and gain muscle, it’s ideal for weight loss.
When you sign up, choose how many weekly sessions you want from their Clean, Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Vegan, and/or Vegetarian plans. While you can’t choose which dishes you want, you can exclude up to two main ingredients from each order, such as beef, duck, pork, nuts, mushrooms, and fish.
They offer an app in their App Premium plan that allows you to customize your diet and use personalized macronutrient tracking features. It also includes fitness educational resources and gives you access to community tips to stay motivated.
Why we chose Trifecta: They offer fully prepared, organic meals with delicious and nutritious ingredients. Their online app is designed to remove the barriers that prevent you from reaching your weight loss goals.
Our experience: We feel good about eating ingredients from local, family-run farms. We also liked how their app helped us decide what to eat to meet our macronutrient goals.
Read Trifecta review
PROS
- Mobile app with macronutrient tracking
- Ingredients from local, family-run suppliers.
- Delivery areas include Hawaii and Alaska.
CONS
- You can’t choose which dishes you get.
- It’s not ideal for families, as it only offers one dish. As
How to Compare the Best Meal Delivery Services
Use the comparison chart below to see if your preferred meal delivery service serves your area. Then decide whether you prefer a meal kit that you can heat up and serve or one that requires prep and cooking time.
Make sure your dietary needs and health goals are met, as some companies don’t offer vegan or gluten-free options, for example. Finally, compare meal delivery services that provide you or your family with the right amount of food each week.
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How Does Meal Delivery Work?
When you choose and sign up for a meal subscription service, you’ll choose the number of meals and portions you want to receive each week. You’ll then be taken to a page of recipes curated based on your tastes and the package you’ve selected.
Browse through the dishes and find out how long each recipe takes to prepare. Unlike a traditional grocery delivery service, a meal delivery kit comes with pre-portioned ingredients and cooking instructions. “Heat and Eat” services require no prep and are ready to eat after quick and easy reheating in the oven or microwave.
What Are the Advantages of Meal Kit Delivery Services?
There are several benefits to using a meal kit delivery service, including:
- Convenience. Busy schedules can make meal prep difficult. Meal delivery services deliver all the ingredients you need for each recipe right to your door. You don’t have to leave your house or plan what to cook each week. These kits offer high-quality food and often include easy-to-follow instructions.
- Waste reduction. A LendingTree survey found that 31% of respondents “almost always” overspend, even when they have a shopping list. Meal delivery kits include everything you need to prepare a meal, allowing you to buy the exact amount of ingredients and prevent unused items from spoiling in the refrigerator.
- Variety. Meal delivery services offer an endless variety of recipes. Try a few new meals each week to keep things interesting.
- Portion control. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 30% to 40% of food in the U.S. is wasted each year. Meal kits make it easy to reduce waste by providing balanced, pre-portioned meals.
- Health. A Finder survey found that 74% of American adults spend $4,073 a year on takeout meals instead of cooking at home. Meal kits can offer an affordable way to order healthy meals on a budget.
- Special diet plans: Some meal kits can also be customized to meet dietary needs, such as low-sodium, low-calorie, or low-glycemic options. These are helpful for those trying to lose weight or who have heart disease or diabetes. Most foods in restaurants or supermarkets don’t typically include this nutritional information on the label.
- Save time. Ingredients are pre-measured, and recipes are ready in about 30 minutes. All you need is an oven or microwave to heat up the fully prepared meals in less than three minutes.
What Do You Get in a Meal Kit Delivery?
The contents of each delivery vary depending on the meal kit and plan you choose.
However, a standard package includes the following:
- Packaging: Most services ship ice packs in reusable or recyclable insulated boxes to keep ingredients fresh or slightly chilled.
- Ingredients: Each package contains all the ingredients you need to prepare your chosen meal. This can include fresh produce, proteins, spices, sauces, and marinades. Ingredients come pre-measured and sometimes even pre-cut for easy assembly and preparation.
- Recipe card: Meal delivery kits usually include a recipe card with simple instructions and pictures. You’ll get all the nutritional information about the food, as well as instructions on how to modify the recipe to suit your dietary restrictions.
Choosing the Right Meal Delivery Service for Your Needs
There are several factors to consider when choosing a meal delivery service. Consider your budget per section, your dietary needs, and whether you prefer ready-made or take-out meals. Then consider other factors like ingredient supply, sustainability, and available recipes.
Here are our top meal delivery picks across all categories.
- Best Meal Delivery Services: HelloFresh, Home Chef, Factor_
- Best Meal Delivery Services: Martha & Marley Spoon, Blue Apron
- Best Organic Meal Delivery Services: Green Chef, Fresh & Easy, Sun Basket
- Best Paleo Meal Delivery Services: Hello Chef, Fresh Carrot, Green & Purple
- Best Vegan Meal Delivery Services: EveryPlate, Freshology, Veestro
- Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Services: Purple Carrot, Blue Apron
- Best Keto Meal Delivery Services: HelloFresh, Factor_, Fresh N Lean
- Best Meal Delivery Services
Prepared Meal Services
The best prepared meal delivery services cut down on prep time by offering ready-to-eat meals delivered to your door. This makes them ideal for starting a new diet, balancing a busy schedule, or spending more time away from the kitchen.
Vegetarian Meal Services
Vegetarian meal delivery services are a great option for vegetarians or those looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet. For example, Veestro offers fresh, chef-prepared meals made with clean ingredients—no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or honey.
Vegan Meal Services
Vegan meal delivery services like Green Chef offer free-range animal products and by-products like eggs, milk, cheese, and honey. Purple Carrot is also completely vegan and made with all-plant ingredients. Vegetarian meals can include meat substitutes like tofu, or use plant-based ingredients.
Gluten-Free Meal Services
HelloFresh and Sunbasket are ideal for people with digestive issues caused by gluten. These and other gluten-free meal delivery services also help with celiac disease, a condition in which gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) damages the lining of the small intestine, causing medical complications over time.
Organic Meal Services
Organic meal delivery services like Freshology offer meal kits made with organic ingredients and clean produce. This means that the ingredients come from certified organic suppliers who undergo annual compliance inspections. They have stricter guidelines that prohibit the use of pesticides and herbicides, which can damage the immune system if used regularly.
Weight Loss Meal Services
Nutrisystem and Diet-to-Go offer weight loss meal delivery services with a variety of carbohydrate and/or calorie-restricted diets. They help you feel full without overeating, which is a major obstacle to weight loss. Diet-to-Go offers a keto package that replaces carbohydrates with fat to boost metabolism, while Nutrisystem offers high-protein, low-calorie meals.
Keto Meal Services
Ketogenic meal plans use a low-carb, high-fat diet to replace carbohydrates with healthy fats and help the body burn fat instead of sugar for energy.
Their freshness and ease make the ketogenic diet more convenient, providing nutrition for those who are watching their carbs.
Paleo Meal Services
Paleo meal delivery services are based on the idea that we should eat the same foods that early humans ate. They typically include meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits, and exclude dairy, grains, and processed foods that our ancestors didn’t have access to.
Home Chef lets you enjoy personalized Paleo meals by tailoring your protein and salad meals to these guidelines.
Diabetic Meal Services
BistroMD and Magic Kitchen are two of the best diabetic meal delivery services that can help you better control your blood sugar levels with low-sugar, low-carb meal plans.
How Much Do Meal Delivery Services Cost?
Meal delivery services range from $4 to $12 per meal, depending on the number of meals ordered per week, portion size, and source of ingredients.
Since companies offer different pricing structures that can seem complicated, the best way to compare meal plans is to see how much each portion costs.
Cheapest Meal Delivery Services
Among the most affordable meal delivery companies, EveryPlate has the lowest prices at $4.99 per portion. However, HelloFresh, one of the best meal delivery services we reviewed, charges between $7.49 and $8.99 per delivery, which is still competitive with most meal kit services.
Expensive and High-End Meal Delivery Services
For the most discerning shoppers, Green Chef offers high-end meals for $11.99 to $12.99. They offer USDA-certified organic ingredients and a wide variety of recipes. They also source the best organic produce from local farms.
Meal Delivery Shipping Cost
Most companies refuse to deliver if your order total exceeds a certain amount. For example, Plating charges $7.95 per order, but it is waived if your order total exceeds a certain amount.
How to Choose and Compare Meal Delivery Services
There are many meal delivery services, each with their own unique features. Some offer only vegan or gluten-free options, while others are more family-friendly and offer homemade dishes that everyone can enjoy.
There are a few things to consider before ordering a meal delivery kit.
- Budget: Choose a meal delivery service that fits your budget for your weekly meals.
- Dietary needs: Consider whether the service meets your dietary preferences and needs. For example, some meal kits allow you to filter recipes based on dairy, gluten, or nuts, or choose a keto or low-carb plan. Others focus solely on serving hearty meals without considering allergens or special dietary needs.
- Serving requirements: How many people will be eating with you? Consider whether you have overnight guests, travel plans, or additional dinner guests. If you need an extra portion for lunch, you can prepare two servings for dinner.
- Delivery area: Not all services are available nationwide, so check to see if your area is covered. Most meal kit services deliver to all states except Hawaii and Alaska.
- Preparation time: Consider whether you want to spend time cooking and improving your cooking skills by learning new recipes and techniques. Otherwise, opt for fully prepared meals that only require reheating.
- Nutritional information: Make sure the meal delivery service you choose meets your nutritional or health goals. For example, if you want to increase your protein intake or reduce your carbohydrate intake, check to see if these options are available.
Meal kit reviews: The reviews of the meal delivery services listed above can give you an idea of what it’s like to use the service, its reliability, and its overall quality. Read them carefully and check for patterns of complaints or praise.
Who Uses Meal Kits?
Customers may choose meal kits to simplify meal times. They may be busy families who don’t have time to cook, who want to try new flavors, or who want to learn new cooking skills. Because many meal delivery services are tailored to specific diets, consumers are more likely to follow a specific diet and improve their diet, according to a study by researchers Huichen Zhu and Ruopeng An.
More Meal Delivery Services and Companies We Reviewed
In addition to our list of meal delivery services, our registered dietitians and nutritionists have reviewed other meal kit services, including
- My Patriot Supply. Perfect for hearty camping meals
- Dinner. Perfect for a budget meal
- Splendid Spoon: Perfect for vegans and gluten-free
- Fresh N Lean: USDA’s Best Organic, Reheatable, and Ready-to-eat Meals
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- Are Meal Kits Really Cheaper Than Grocery? 10 Important Reasons to Start Meal Planning
Summary
Our top 10 meal delivery services are: HelloFresh, Home Chef, Factor, Martha & Marley Spoon, EveryPlate, Green Chef, Nutrisystem, Fresh and Easy, Freshology, and Trifecta.
How much time do you spend preparing enough nutritious meals for yourself and your family? Meal delivery services are a great way to save time and money while allowing you to do what you love. Plus, with balanced, pre-portioned meals, a meal subscription plan won’t disrupt your overall diet.
