According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American adult spends about 44 minutes on each trip to the grocery store. That doesn’t include prep and cleanup time, 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 save money by reducing food waste.
But before you make a decision, read our research to be fully informed about what our recommended food delivery services have to offer.
Our Top 10 Best Meal Delivery Services for 2023:
- HelloFresh: The Best Food Delivery Service
- Home Chef: Ideal for Flexible Meal Plans
- Factor: Excellent for Restaurant-Quality, Dietitian-Approved Recipes
- Martha & Marley Spoon: Ideal for Improving Your Cooking Skills
- EveryPlate: Ideal for budget-friendly family meals
- Green Chef: Ideal for organic ingredients
- Nutrisystem: Best 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 serving prepared and 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 tasted each of these meals to rate:
- User experience and customer service.
- Subscription Flexibility
- Variety of Meal Plans
- Quality of Ingredients
- Accuracy of Recipes
- Level of Preparation Difficulty
- Overall Taste of Food
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,” calling their recipes “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 so you can have dinner ready in under an hour.
This service is ideal for individuals and families who don’t have strict dietary requirements, although they also offer low-carb and low-calorie options. You can view the ingredient information for each meal 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 subscription at any time. Meals are simple 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 which ingredients you need so you can prepare your meal as soon as your order arrives. We also found it very convenient that their extensive menu allowed us to change up our 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 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 swap out the proteins to your liking. 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 partially prepared ingredients make meal prep and cleanup quick and easy, while eliminating food waste.
Our experience: We found Home Chef’s recipe cards easy to follow, and the portions are large enough to comfortably feed a healthy adult. We liked that we could keep our recipe cards in a folder (included with your first order) at all times.
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, nutritionist-approved meal service that offers an affordable way to heat and serve meals for a healthy diet. Marie Sabat, a nutritionist and president of Body Designs, says Factor is a great value and offers a variety of options for those who want to follow a specific diet.
Factor provides transparent nutritional and ingredient information so you can eliminate recipes that don’t meet your health goals. Their meals range from 300 to 900 calories, making it easy to lose weight, depending on the low-calorie options you choose.
Why did we choose Factor? In addition to microwaveable and oven-ready meals, Factor also offers nutritious supplements like juices, smoothies, cookies, desserts, and breakfast items.
Our experience: While the recipes were often high in fat, the ingredients were natural 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 Factor review
PROS
- No pre-preparation, reheating, or serving required.
- Multiple diet options.
- Includes a 20-minute initial consultation with a nutritionist.
CONS
- Not suitable for families as the meals are disposable.
- Mostly high-fat ketogenic meals.
Martha
Martha & Marley Spoon is a personalized meal delivery service that offers fresh, pre-portioned ingredients.
Recipes come straight from celebrity chef Martha Stewart’s kitchen and include labels that indicate whether they’re 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 own meals.
The food arrives fresh in an insulated box with six-step recipe cards. If an ingredient is missing, you can add it to your order via the online platform. The company recommends freezing animal proteins two days after delivery and vegetables four days after delivery 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 with 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
- The meal plan only includes meal options.
- There are 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 insulated boxes to ensure freshness. EveryPlate does not recommend refreezing ingredients, so they should be refrigerated after opening and consumed within five days of delivery.
Because EveryPlate focuses on profitability, it does not offer special diet options, except for vegetarian. Please review the ingredients in each recipe before ordering to make sure the dishes meet your dietary needs.
Why did we choose EveryPlate? Their recipes don’t require any special equipment, which encourages novice cooks to get in the kitchen and whip up delicious, convenient meals in minutes.
Our experience: EveryPlate’s easy recipes allowed us to prepare meals quickly, reduce food waste, and minimize cleanup. However, we found the portions to be a bit on the small side.
Read the EveryPlate review
PROS
- No special kitchen tools required.
- More affordable prices.
- recipes
CONS
- Limited options for those with allergies or special diets.
- Small portions
Green Chef
Green Chef is a chef-run restaurant that offers nutritious meals made with fresh, organic farm-raised produce and high-quality protein. Complete your order with breakfast sauces, desserts, and side dishes.
Each dish includes pre-measured and mostly prepared ingredients, including homemade sauces and marinades, as well as a recipe card and special chef tips. Some dishes may require more preparation, such as slicing, dicing, peeling, and grating.
Green Chef is currently not suitable for people with allergies, but you can check the ingredient list for each recipe for more detailed information.
Why we chose Green Chef: Green Chef uses high-quality organic ingredients to create delicious and healthy dishes, and each recipe has been tested by qualified chefs.
Our experience: We loved that Green Chef encouraged us 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 ingredients, and high-quality protein
- Adaptable to a variety of diets
- Eco-friendly packaging
CONS
- Requires additional 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. Forget guessing how to find the perfect balance of protein, carbs, and fat. When you sign up for Nutrisystem, you’ll receive a personalized four-week weight loss plan and guidance.
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 container. When you subscribe, you will have access to information about your chosen package, including recipe ingredients, nutritional value, and cooking instructions.
Why we chose Nutrisystem: The Nutrisystem four-week plan includes a wide variety of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, smoothies, and snacks to help you reach your weight loss goals.
Our experience: We found the NuMi SmartAdapt™ app to be very helpful in knowing what and when to eat, as well as tracking our progress and activity.
Read the Nutrisystem review
PROS
- Over 135 meals to choose from
- Compatible weight loss app
- Meals last up to 18 months.
CONS
- Limited flexibility for substitutions
- High initial monthly subscription fee
Fresh and Easy
Fresh & Easy is Home Chef’s meal delivery service that offers ready-to-eat meals. Choose from oven- and microwave-ready meals made with the same fresh, high-quality ingredients that Home Chef is known for. You can also try a 15-minute meal kit, which requires a quick assembly of pre-portioned ingredients.
Most of the dishes are complete main courses, although they also offer sandwiches, salads, and side dishes. 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 fewer customization options and a better value.
Our experience: We found Fresh and Easy to be perfect for quickly preparing healthy meals, and we were surprised at how easy it was to clean up. 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-made, single-serving meals are ready in 15 minutes or less
CONS
- Limited customization options
- suitable for special diets
Freshology
Freshology offers a restaurant-quality menu for those looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. The menu options offer balanced portions of nutritionist-approved, heart-healthy, low-sodium, calorie-controlled, and nutritionally balanced meals.
Freshology meals contain no added preservatives, so they should be refrigerated immediately for maximum freshness. The food will keep for seven days, although it can be frozen if necessary and should be thawed before reheating. Customers who live within a certain distance of the Freshology kitchen are entitled to receive fresh, unfrozen food delivered to them twice a week in insulated boxes.
Currently, Freshology does not offer gluten-free options for people with celiac disease, nor does it offer kosher or vegan options. However, their Keto-Carb30 menu is low-carb if you want to avoid bread. Nutritional values and individual ingredients are listed for each recipe.
Why choose Freshology? Freshology offers both hot and cold meals, making healthy, nutritious meals more affordable. They use fresh, local ingredients to provide delicious and satisfying meals, with organic ingredients being preferred whenever possible.
Our experience: It was great not having to worry about what to eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We loved that the meals were prepared and that we could enjoy them hot or cold, just like leftovers from our favorite restaurants.
Read Freshology review
PROS
- Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and condiments.
- Ready-to-eat meal plans in just two or three minutes, with no prep required.
- Nutritionally balanced, restaurant-quality meals.
CONS
- Delivery costs $19.98 per week.
- Not ideal for families.
Trifecta
Trifecta is a fitness-focused meal delivery service developed by medical and nutrition experts. Designed to burn fat and build muscle, it’s 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 the meals yourself, 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 Premium App plan that allows you to customize your diet and use personalized macro tracking features. It also includes educational fitness resources and gives you access to community tips to keep you motivated.
Why We Chose Trifecta: They offer fully prepared, organic meals with delicious and nutritious ingredients. Their online app is designed to make it easy to reach your weight loss goals.
Our Experience: We felt good about using ingredients from local family 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 sourced from local and family-owned suppliers.
- Delivery areas include Hawaii and Alaska.
CONS
- You can’t choose which meals you get.
- Not suitable 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 preferred meal delivery service covers your area. From there, decide whether you prefer a ready-to-heat and serve meal kit or one that requires prep 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 to see which ones 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 subscribe to a meal delivery service, you’ll choose the amount of food you want to receive each week and the serving sizes. You’ll then be taken to a page with recipes curated based on your preferences and the package you selected.
Browse through the dishes and see the cooking times for each recipe. Unlike traditional grocery delivery, a meal delivery kit includes pre-portioned ingredients and cooking instructions. “Heat and Eat” services require no preparation and are ready to enjoy after a 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. Cooking can be a hassle when you’re short on time. Meal delivery services deliver all the ingredients you need for each recipe right to your door. You don’t have to leave the house every week or plan what you’re going to cook. These kits offer high-quality food and often include easy-to-follow instructions.
- Reduced 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 you need and preventing leftovers from going bad in the fridge.
- Variety. Meal delivery services bring endless recipes to life. Try a few new meals each week to keep things varied.
- Waste 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 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 specific dietary needs, such as low-sodium, low-calorie, or low-glycemic options. These are helpful for those looking to lose weight,
What Do You Get in a Meal Kit Delivery?
The contents of each delivery vary depending on the kit and plan you choose.
However, a standard kit includes the following:
Packaging: Most services provide kits with ice packs in a reusable or recyclable insulated box to keep ingredients fresh or slightly chilled.
Ingredients: Each kit contains all the ingredients you need to prepare the dish of your choice. This can include fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins, spices, sauces, and marinades. The ingredients are pre-measured and sometimes even pre-cut for easier assembly and preparation.
Recipe card: Meal delivery kits usually include a recipe card with simple instructions and images. You’ll find all the nutritional information for the ingredients, as well as instructions for adapting the recipe to suit different 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 portion, your dietary needs, and whether you prefer ready-made meals or takeaways. Then consider other factors like ingredient availability, shelf life, and accessible recipes.
Here’s a roundup of our picks for the best food delivery services 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 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 Weight Loss Meal Delivery Services: Nutrisystem, Trifecta, Factor
Prepared Meal Services
The best meal delivery services can cut down on meal prep time by having your food delivered to your door. This makes them ideal for those starting a new diet, those with busy schedules, or those who want to spend more time enjoying life 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 using natural ingredients—no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or honey.
Vegan Meal Services
Vegan food delivery services like Green Chef offer free-range animal products and by-products, such as eggs, milk, cheese, and honey. Purple Carrot is also completely vegan and made with only plant-based ingredients. Vegetarian diets can include meat substitutes like tofu or use 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 people with celiac disease, a condition 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 natural products. This means that the ingredients are sourced from certified organic suppliers who undergo annual compliance inspections. They have stricter regulations that prohibit the use of pesticides and herbicides, which can harm 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 satisfied without overeating, which is a major obstacle to weight loss. Diet-to-Go has a keto package that replaces carbs with fat to boost metabolism, while Nutrisystem offers high-protein, low-calorie meals.
Keto Meal Services
The ketogenic diet uses a low-carb, high-fat approach to replacing carbohydrates with healthy fats, helping the body burn fat instead of sugar for energy.
Fresh and Easy makes it easy to follow a ketogenic diet by providing nutrients for those who are watching their carbohydrate intake.
Paleo Meal Services
Paleo meal delivery services offer meals based on the idea that we should eat the same types of foods that early humans ate. They typically include meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits, and exclude dairy, grains, and processed foods that our ancestors did not have access to.
Home Chef lets you enjoy Paleo meals by adjusting the proteins and salads in your 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 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 ordered per week, the portion size, 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 look at the price per meal.
Cheapest Meal Delivery Services
Among the more affordable meal delivery companies, EveryPlate offers the lowest prices at $4.99 per meal, in all cases. 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 those with more refined tastes, Green Chef offers high-quality meals starting at $11.99 to $12.99. They use 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 don’t offer delivery if your total order is over a certain amount. For example, Plating charges $7.95 per order, but it’s free for orders over $60. Home Chef offers free delivery for orders over $45.
How to Choose and Compare Meal Delivery Services
There are many meal delivery services, each with their own unique offerings. Some only offer vegan or gluten-free options, while others are more family-friendly and offer homemade dishes that everyone can enjoy.
Before you order a meal kit for delivery, there are a few things to consider:
- 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 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 requirements.
- Portions needed: How many people will be eating with you? Consider whether you will have overnight guests, travel plans, or extra dinners. 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 kits ship 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 value: 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: Reviews of meal delivery services like the ones above can give you an idea of what it’s like to use the service, its reliability, and overall quality. Read them carefully and look 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, those who want to experiment with new flavors, or those who want to learn new cooking skills. Since many meal delivery packages are designed to 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 delivery services, our registered dietitians and nutritionists have reviewed other services, including:
- My Patriot Supply: Perfect for big meals on camping trips
- Dinner: The best option for budget-friendly meals
- Splendid Spoon: The best option for vegan and gluten-free meals
- Fresh N Lean: The best USDA-certified organic, ready-to-heat meals
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- Are Meal Kits Really Cheaper Than Buying Food at the Grocery Store? 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 kit delivery services are a great way to save time and money while still allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods. Plus, with balanced, portion-controlled meals, a meal subscription plan won’t compromise your overall diet.
