According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American adult spends about 44 minutes at each grocery store. That doesn’t even include the time spent on prep and cleanup, 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, read our research to be fully informed about 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 Diets
- 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
- Fresco y Fácil: Ideal for convenience foods with little or no prep
- Freshology: Ideal for serving diet and reheated meals
- Trifecta: Ideal for ready-to-eat and low-calorie meals
Our Methodology: How We Reviewed the Best Meal Delivery Services
We evaluated the most popular food delivery services to help you decide which ones are worth your time and money. Our experienced dietitians and nutritionists ordered, selected, prepared, and tasted each of these dishes to rate them:
- User Experience & Customer Service
- Subscription Flexibility
- Variety of Meal Plans
- Quality of Ingredients
- Accuracy of Recipes
- Ease of Preparation
- 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 “impressed 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 collection includes simple, step-by-step recipe cards with fresh, pre-measured ingredients so you can have dinner ready 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 view the ingredient information for each meal separately before ordering, including nutritional information and allergens, as well as any additional ingredients you may need.
Why we chose HelloFresh: You can easily customize or cancel your meal delivery and subscriptions at any time. The meals are not overly complicated and reduce 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 dishes you need so you can prepare your meal as soon as your order arrives. It was also very convenient that their extensive menu allowed us to change the protein options.
Read the HelloFresh review
PROS
- Adjust, skip, or cancel your delivery and subscription at any time
- Change, swap, or upgrade over 12 side dishes 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 encourages healthy eating habits and, therefore, improves nutrition. 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 customize the proteins to suit your taste. Home Chef allows you to filter and remove recipes with 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: Its pre-portioned and portioned ingredients make meal prep and cleanup quick and easy, while eliminating waste.
Our experience: We found Home Chef’s recipe cards easy to follow, and the portions were generous enough to comfortably feed a hungry adult. We liked that we could store our recipe cards in a folder (included with your first order) at any time.
Read the Home Chef review
PROS
- Customize your meal’s protein content
- Filter and remove recipes with specific allergens
- Meal kits are available at Kroger stores.
CONS
- Some ingredients may contain artificial colors, sulfites, and/or sweeteners.
- Weekly minimum order is $47.96, excluding shipping.
Factor
Factor is a chef-created, dietitian-approved meal delivery service that offers an affordable way to heat and serve meals for a healthy diet. Marie Sabat, RD, president of Body Designs, says that “it’s worth the extra cost” and offers “a lot of options for those trying to stick to a specific diet.”
Factor provides nutritional information 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 depending on the low-calorie foods you choose.
Why we chose Factor: In addition to microwaveable and oven-ready meals, they also offer nutritious add-ons like juices, smoothies, cookies, desserts, and breakfast items.
Our experience: While the recipes were often high in fat, the ingredients were clean and high-quality. We loved that we were able to develop a meal plan that was perfect for us with a free consultation with one of their registered dietitians.
Read the Factors Review
PROS
- No pre-prep, reheating, or serving required.
- Multiple diet options.
- Includes a 20-minute initial consultation with a nutritionist.
CONS
- Not suitable for families as meals are single-serving.
- Mostly high-fat ketogenic meals.
Martha
Martha & Marley Spoon is a personalized meal delivery service that delivers fresh, pre-portioned ingredients.
Recipes come straight from celebrity chef Martha Stewart’s kitchen, and each includes labels that indicate whether they are dairy-free, gluten-free, or kid-friendly. Your box is automatically filled with recipes based on your previous preferences, but you can customize and choose your meals.
Meals are delivered fresh, thermally packaged with six-step recipe cards. If you’re missing an ingredient from your pantry, you can add it 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 higher-quality dishes than many of the restaurants we frequent. 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 focuses on profitability, it does not offer special diets other than vegetarian. 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 any special or complicated tools, which encourages new cooks to get in the kitchen and whip up delicious and convenient meals in minutes.
Our experience: EveryPlate’s easy recipes made it easy for us to prepare meals quickly, reduce food waste, and minimize cleanup. However, we found the portions to be a bit small.
Read EveryPlate review
PROS
- No special kitchen tools required.
- More affordable prices.
- Simple recipes.
CONS
- Limited options for people with allergies or special diets.
- Small portions.
Green Chef
Green Chef is chef-driven and offers nutrient-dense meals made with fresh, organic produce and high-quality proteins. Add sauces, desserts, and breakfast sides to your order.
Each dish comes with pre-measured and mostly prepared ingredients, including homemade sauces and marinades, as well as a recipe card with specific chef tips. Some dishes may require more preparation, such as chopping, slicing, peeling, and grating.
Green Chef is not currently allergy-friendly, but you can check the ingredient list for each recipe for more information.
Why did we choose Green Chef? Green Chef serves high-quality, organic ingredients for delicious and healthy meals, 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
- Suitable for many diets
- Eco-friendly packaging
CONS
- Requires additional food preparation
- Not suitable for people with allergies
Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem is a science-based meal delivery service designed to help you lose weight by focusing on high protein and low glycemic index. Discover the perfect balance of protein, carbs, and fats. 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, 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. Information about the package you choose, including recipe ingredients, nutritional labels, and cooking instructions, will be available at the time of sign-up.
Why We Chose Nutrisystem: Nutrisystem’s four-week guide plan includes a full range of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, smoothies, and snacks to help you stay on track with your weight loss goals.
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 levels.
Read the Nutrisystem review
PROS
- Over 135 foods to choose from
- Compatible weight loss app
- Foods have a shelf life of up to 18 months.
CONS
- Limited flexibility for substitutions.
- Pricey for a monthly subscription if you pay upfront.
Fresh and Easy
Fresh and Easy is a Home Chef meal delivery service that offers ready-to-eat meals. Choose from oven- 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 of the dishes are full-course main courses, although sandwiches, salads, and side dishes are also available. 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, aiming to provide value for consumers.
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 new and simple review.
PROS
- Same high quality standards as Home Chef.
- Oven and microwave safe.
- Pre-made and pre-portioned meals are ready in 15 minutes or less.
CONS
- Limited customization options.
- Not suitable for certain diets.
Freshology
Freshology offers restaurant-quality menus for those looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. The menu options offer balanced portions of dietitian-approved, heart-healthy, low-sodium, calorie-controlled, and nutritionally balanced meals.
Freshology meals do not contain 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 within a certain distance of the Freshology kitchen are entitled to receive fresh, unfrozen food in the refrigerated compartments twice a week.
Currently, Freshology does not offer gluten-free meals for people with celiac disease, nor do they offer kosher or vegan options. However, their Keto-Carb30 menu is low-carb if you prefer to avoid bread. You’ll find nutritional information and individual ingredients for each recipe.
Why we chose Freshology: Freshology offers hot and cold dishes that make healthy and wholesome eating more affordable. We use fresh, local ingredients to provide delicious and satisfying meals, using organic ingredients whenever possible.
Our experience: It was nice not having to think about what to eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We liked that the meals were fully prepared and could be enjoyed hot or cold, just like leftovers from our favorite restaurants.
Read Freshology review
PROS
- Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and condiments.
- Meal plans are ready in just two or three minutes with no prep required.
- Restaurant-quality, nutritionally balanced meals.
CONS
- Shipping cost: $19.98/week.
- Not suitable for families.
Trifecta
Trifecta is a fitness-focused meal delivery service developed by medical professionals and nutritionists. It’s designed to burn fat and build muscle, and is ideal for weight loss.
When you sign up, you choose how many meals you want per week from their Clean, Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Vegan, and/or Vegetarian plans. While you can’t choose which meals you want, you can exclude up to two key ingredients from each order, such as beef, duck, pork, nuts, mushrooms, and fish.
They offer an app in their Premium App plan that allows you to customize your diet and use personalized macro-tracking features. It also includes fitness educational resources and gives you access to community tips to keep you motivated.
Why we chose Trifecta: They offer fully prepared, organically sourced meals with delicious and nutritious ingredients. Their online app is designed to remove the barriers that keep you from reaching your weight loss goals.
Our experience: We feel good about eating ingredients sourced from local family farms. We also liked how their app helped us decide what to eat to meet our macronutrient goals.
Read the Trifecta review
PROS
- Mobile app with macronutrient tracking
- Ingredients from local and family-owned suppliers
- Delivery areas include Hawaii and Alaska
CONS
- You can’t choose which meals you get
- Not great for families as it only offers one meal
How to Compare the Best Meal Delivery Services
Use the comparison chart below to see if your favorite meal delivery service delivers to your area. From there, decide whether you prefer a set of meals that you can heat and serve, or one that requires prep and cooking time.
Make sure you’re meeting your dietary needs and health goals, as some companies don’t offer vegan or gluten-free options, for example. Finally, compare meal delivery services to see which ones will 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 need to choose the number of meals and portions you want to receive each week. You’ll then be taken to a page of recipes based on your preferences and the package you’ve chosen.
Browse meals and see how long each recipe takes to prepare. Unlike traditional grocery delivery, a meal delivery kit includes pre-portioned ingredients and cooking instructions. Heat and eat services require no prep and are ready to enjoy after a quick and easy reheat 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. Cooking can be difficult due to busy schedules. Meal kit delivery services deliver all the ingredients you need for each recipe right to your door. You don’t have to leave the house or plan what to cook each week. These kits offer high-quality food and usually include easy-to-follow instructions.
- Reduce waste. A LendingTree survey found that 31% of respondents “almost always” overspend, even when they have a shopping list. Meal 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 kit delivery services offer an endless variety of recipes. Try a few new foods each week to keep things interesting.
- Potential control. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 30% to 40% of food in the United States is wasted each year. Meal kits make it easy to lose weight with balanced, pre-portioned meals.
Health: A Finder survey found that 74% of U.S. adults spend $4,073 a year on prepared 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 have heart conditions or diabetes. Most restaurant or grocery store menus typically don’t include this nutritional information on food labels.
- Save time: Ingredients are pre-measured, and recipes can be prepared in about 30 minutes. All you need is an oven or microwave to heat up 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 packages in ice packs, a reusable or recyclable insulated box to keep ingredients fresh or slightly chilled.
Ingredients: Each package contains all the ingredients you need to prepare the meal of your choice. These can include fresh produce, proteins, spices, sauces, and marinades. Ingredients are pre-measured and sometimes even pre-cut for easy assembly and preparation.
Recipe card: Meal delivery kits typically include a recipe card with simple instructions and pictures. You’ll get full nutritional information about the food, as well as instructions for adapting the recipe to your dietary restrictions.
Choosing the Right Meal Delivery Service for Your Needs
There are several factors to consider when choosing a food delivery service. Consider your budget per section, your dietary needs, and whether you prefer ready-made meals or takeout. Then consider other factors like ingredient supply, sustainability, and available recipes.
Here are our recommendations for great food delivery 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, Green, Purple Carrot
- 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 for Weight Loss: Nutrisystem, Trifecta, Factor
Prepared Meal Services
The best pre-prepared meal delivery services cut down on prep time by delivering meals directly to your home. This makes them ideal for starting a new diet, working around a busy schedule, or spending more time outside of the kitchen.
Vegetarian Meal Services
Vegetarian food 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 with clean ingredients—no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or honey.
Vegan Meal Services
Vegan food delivery services like Green Chef offer farm-raised foods and by-products like eggs, milk, cheese, and honey. Purple Carrot is also completely vegan and made entirely from plant-based ingredients. Vegetarian diets can include meat substitutes like tofu or other plant-based ingredients.
Gluten-Free Meal Services
HelloFresh and Sunbasket are ideal for people with gluten intolerance. These and other gluten-free meal delivery services also help with celiac disease, in which gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) damages the lining of the small intestine, leading to medical complications over time.
Organic Meal Services
Organic meal delivery services, such as Freshology, offer meal kits made with organic ingredients and clean produce. This means that the ingredients are sourced 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 low-carb and/or low-calorie diet plans. They help you feel full without overeating, a major obstacle to weight loss. Diet-to-Go offers a keto package that replaces carbs with fat to boost metabolism, while Nutrisystem offers high-protein, low-calorie meals.
Keto Meal Services
Ketogenic diets take a low-carb, high-fat dietary approach, replacing carbs with healthy fats and helping the body burn fat instead of sugar for energy.
Fresh and easy to prepare, it makes it easy to stick to a ketogenic diet, providing nutrition for those watching their carb intake.
Paleo Meal Services
Paleo meal delivery services offer meals based on the idea that we should eat the same foods that early humans ate. These typically include meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits, and exclude dairy, grains, and processed foods, which our ancestors did not have access to.
Home Chef allows you to enjoy Paleo-friendly meals by tailoring your proteins and salads to these guidelines.
Diabetic Meal Services
BistroMD and Magic Kitchen are two of the best meal delivery services for diabetics that can help you better manage your blood sugar levels with low-sugar and 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 you order per week, the size of the meal, and the origin of the ingredients.
Since companies offer different pricing structures that can seem complicated, the best way to compare meal plans is to see how much each meal costs.
Cheapest Meal Delivery Services
Among the more affordable meal delivery companies, EveryPlate has the lowest prices at $4.99 per meal. However, HelloFresh, one of the best food 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 more discerning palates, Green Chef offers high-end meals for $11.99 to $12.99. They use USDA-certified organic ingredients and a variety of recipes. They also source the best organic produce from local farms.
Meal Delivery Shipping Cost
Most companies refuse to deliver orders over a certain amount. For example, Plating charges $7.95 per order, but it’s free if your order is over $60. Home Chef offers free shipping on orders over $45.
How to Choose and Compare Meal Delivery Services
There are many food delivery services, each with their own unique offerings. Some only offer vegan or gluten-free options, while others are more family-friendly and offer home-style meals for everyone.
There are a few things to consider before ordering a meal delivery kit:
- Budget: Choose a meal delivery service that fits your weekly food budget.
- 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 whole foods without considering allergens or special dietary requirements.
- Portions required: How many people will be eating with you? Consider whether you will have overnight guests, travel plans, or additional dinner guests. If you want an extra portion for lunch, you can prepare two portions for dinner.
- Delivery area: Not all services are available nationwide, so check to see if your area is covered. Most meal delivery services deliver to all states except Hawaii and Alaska.
- Delivery area: Not all services are available nationwide, so check to see if your area is covered. Most meal delivery 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 those options are available.
Meal delivery reviews: Reviews of food delivery services, such as the ones above, can give you an idea of the service’s usability, reliability, and overall quality. Read them carefully and look for patterns of complaints or praise.
Who Uses Meal Kits?
Customers can choose home-delivered meal kits to simplify meal times. They may be busy families who don’t have time to cook, or those who want to try new flavors or learn new cooking skills. Because many meal kit delivery services cater 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 kit delivery services, our registered dietitians and nutritionists have reviewed other meal kit services, including
- My Patriot Supply: Great for hearty camping meals
- Dinner: Great for budget-friendly meals
- Splendid Spoon: Great for vegan and gluten-free meals
- Fresh N Lean: USDA’s Best Organic Reheatable Meals
We Thought You Might Find These Articles Interesting
- The 10 Most Expensive States to Buy Food in the U.S.
- 10 Sugar-Free Snack Ideas for Diabetics
- 10 High-Protein, Fat-Burning Foods Pescatarians Love
- Are Meal Kits Really Cheaper Than Grocery?
- 10 Important Reasons to Start Meal Planning
Summary
Here are our picks for the 10 best meal delivery services: 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 kit delivery services are a great way to save time and money while still allowing you to do what you love. Plus, with balanced, portioned meals, a meal subscription plan doesn’t mean cutting back on your overall diet.
