These 10 Meal Kits Will Save You Time and Money Without Sacrificing Flavor

If you ever thought that the concept of “15-minute dinners” are a scam, we get it. We felt the same way until we met Gobble, rated as the #1 meal kit for busy people. And we secured an offer to sweeten the deal: Take $90 off across your first four boxes, plus free shipping. Options like chicken piccata, beef bourguignon, and mirin & miso stir-fry — all of which you can serve up on a casual Tuesday — sound incredible.

If you live alone or want a kit that’s single-serve friendly, Daily Harvest is a great pick. The brand’s offerings are entirely gluten, dairy, and refined sugar-free, and they’ve got a ton of ways to shop — from curated bundles to custom subscriptions. From scrumptious oat bowls for breakfast, to harvest bowls and flatbreads for lunch, to grain bowls and soups for dinner, to ice cream and cookie-like bites for dessert, all your taste bases will be covered.

Starting at $8 per serving, HelloFresh delivers meals for anywhere between two and six people, on an ongoing basis. You can choose from plans with 2 to 6 recipes per week (meaning 4 to 12 servings per box), and you can skip weeks if need be. You can also choose the genres 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; most 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.

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 lunch or dinner. All the ingredients are responsibly sourced and the box and ice packs they arrive in 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.

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 disposable tins, so there’s no cleanup required), while others can go right in the microwave for a super fast meal. If you’re not thrilled, no worries: There’s no commitment when you sign up, and you can pause or cancel at any time.

Factor, formerly known as Factor75, is designed to help you “eat smart and fuel your wellness goals.” Factor designs your meal 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 they’re 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.

What if Martha Stewart could cook your meals for you? Marley Spoon offers the next best thing: 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.

Perhaps the most budget-friendly meal kit subscription is EveryPlate: Many recipes ring in at under $6 per serving, which gets even lower if you buy a larger-volume plan that feeds more people. As with most other meal kit services, 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 excellent if you aren’t an experienced chef. EveryPlate also offers meals for up to six people, so it’s a great choice for families.

If eating clean is important to you, Green Chef is a winner, offering a variety of certified organic ingredients for meals that 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 dinners to your lifestyle goals. (An improved microbiome, anyone?)

Plant-based meals get a bad rep for being bland, but 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 versions), all of which are chock-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 though the meals are plant based, you can still enjoy some of the flavors of meat, sans animal products: Meals like General Tso’s tofu and vegan herb sausages offer hearty tastes that are still thoroughly vegetarian.