After a long day of work, cooking up a delicious meal from scratch might not be the first thing on your to-do list (if it is, please share your secrets with us). There are times when prepping ingredients, cooking them all, and serving them is just too much to do — and that’s totally fine! While we love a home-cooked meal, sometimes it’s just easier to order takeout. But, those meals add up quick, especially if you’re paying for delivery. And even the healthiest-sounding takeout is a lot less healthy than if you made it yourself.
Thankfully, meal kits offer the convenience of takeout meals at a fraction of the price. Some are ready to go after heating, others require a little more effort, but all of them are much easier to cook than a meal from scratch. There are options for just about any kind of budget, lifestyle, and diet, making it even simpler to cook for yourself, your partner, and your family any day of the week.
Whether you’re looking for something you can heat and eat, gourmet meals you can cook at home, or plant-based options that are more interesting than your usual, chances are there’s a meal kit subscription that fits your wants and needs. If you’re overwhelmed by all of the options out there, don’t worry. We’ve researched and rounded up 10 of our favorites.
Best Meal Kit and Delivery Services
Gobble
Gobble
If you ever thought that “15 minute dinners” were a scam, we’d have believed you. That was until we met Gobble, which is rated as the #1 meal kit for busy people. Right now, we secured an offer of $90 off across your first 4 boxes plus free shipping! Chicken piccata, beef bourguignon, and mirin & miso stir-fry on a casual Tuesday never sounded tastier.
Daily Harvest
Daily Harvest
If you live alone or want an option that’s single-serve friendly, Daily Harvest is a great option. It’s all gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free, and they have a ton of shopping options from curated bundles to custom subscriptions. From scrumptious oat bowls for breakfast to smoothies, harvest bowls and flatbreads for lunch, and grain bowls and soups for dinner, to ice cream and cookie-like bites for dessert, all your bases will be covered.
HelloFresh
HelloFresh
Starting at $8 per serving, HelloFresh delivers meals for anywhere between two and six people on an ongoing basis for you and your family. You can choose from plans with two to six recipes per week (meaning four to 12 servings per box), and you can skip weeks if need be. You can also set your preferences for the types of food you prefer, like meals that are quick and easy, vegetarian, pescatarian, family friendly, and more. After entering your preferences, you’ll pick from a plethora of meals and set your menu for the week. Overall, most meals take about 30 minutes or less to prep. And if you’re just cooking for yourself? Enjoy those extra servings as leftovers for another meal.
Blue Apron
Blue Apron
Looking for restaurant-worthy meals that you can easily make yourself? Blue Apron has you covered. Each kit comes with pre-measured ingredients and step-by-step instructions for creating your ideal meal. All of the ingredients are responsibly sourced and the box and ice packs are fully recyclable to reduce waste. Still not convinced? Each week you can choose from over 100 options weekly, with choices for both pre-made and quick recipe options.
Home Chef
Home Chef
If a no-prep option sounds like paradise, Home Chef is the way to go. While the company does offer pre-portioned meal kits that require some cooking, they also have heat and eat options for those with busy lifestyles. Some require being heated in the oven (and come in oven safe tins, so no cleanup required), while others can go right in the microwave for a super fast meal. If you’re not happy, no worries: There’s no commitment when you sign up, and you can pause or cancel at any time.
Factor
Factor
Factor, formerly known as Factor75, is designed to help you “eat smart and fuel your wellness goals.” Factor designs your plan based on your nutrition goals, with options like “keto-friendly,” “calorie smart” and “protein plus.” They’re also all designed to “heat and eat” in under two minutes, so are great if you’re looking to make healthier choices but are short on time. The price for this one is a bit steeper at around $14 per serving, but they offer up to 18 meals per week delivered to your door.
Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon
What if Martha Stewart could cook your meals for you? Sounds amazing, right? Marley Spoon offers meal kits with pre-measured ingredients based off the famous cook’s recipes. There are five meal categories to choose from (health and diet, vegetarian and vegan, meat and fish, under 30 minutes, and family-friendly), making it easy to choose what you want and need each week based on your preferences and dietary needs. Meals average around $12.00 per serving, with the option to have anywhere from two to six meals delivered each week.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate
Perhaps the most budget-friendly meal kit subscription is EveryPlate. Often the recipes ring in at under $6 per serving, which gets even lower if you end up buying a larger plan that feeds more people. Like most other meal kits, you can pick from categories like quick and easy, vegetarian, family friendly, and classic meals, making it easy to sift through dish options. The recipes are simple, classic meals that don’t take a lot of time or effort to cook, which is great if you aren’t an experienced chef. EveryPlate also offers meals for up to six people, so it’s a great choice for families.
Green Chef
Green Chef
If eating clean is important to you, Green Chef offers a variety of certified organic ingredients for meals that will take around 30 minutes to make. Meals are about $12 a serving, and include options for restrictive diets like gluten-free, Mediterranean, keto, and plant-based. They even have an option for foods that support gut and brain health, so you can easily match your preferences to your personal lifestyle goals.
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot
Plant-based meals get a bad rep for being bland, and Purple Carrot is here to flip the script. Each week, you’ll receive a number of meat-free meals based on your preferences (kits for you to cook or pre-made meals), all of which are full of flavor. Plans start at $13.25 per meal (including breakfast, lunch and dinner options), and can be easily tailored to your dietary needs. And even though the meals are plant based, you can still enjoy some of the flavors of meat without the animal sacrifice: Meals like general tso’s tofu and vegan herb sausages offer a taste like meat that’s still vegetarian.