Yahoo Lifestyle These Are the Best Meal Delivery Services to Simplify Your Weekly Dinner Routine
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Choosing what to make for dinner every night—and then doing the shopping, prep, and cooking to get it on the table—can be daunting for even the most dedicated home cooks. Thankfully, just because you don't have time to start from scratch every night doesn't mean you have to pull out your stack of takeout menus. In recent years, dozens of companies have started offering a better way to eat when you're low on time or energy: meal delivery services. The best meal delivery services help you get food on the table in a fraction of the time you'd normally spend cooking. Some send kits with preportioned ingredients you put together on the stove (or in the oven), while others send fully prepared meals. The best-rated meal delivery services also offer a range of options to choose from so you can have foods that fit your dietary needs and lifestyle delivered right to your door.
So, how do you choose the service that's right for you? We've done the legwork to find the best options for a variety of different needs, from multi-serving family-friendly options to individually portioned vegan meals. Here are the best meal delivery services, whatever your needs may be.
Best Meal Delivery Services of 2022
Best Overall: HelloFresh
Best for Home Cooks: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Best Value: Dinnerly
Best Vegan: Purple Carrot
Best Heat-and-Eat: CookUnity
Best for Families: Home Chef
Best for Easy Prep: Gobble
Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth
Best Organic: Green Chef
Best for Singles: Daily Harvest
Best Overall: HelloFresh
Key Specs
Starting Price: $7.99
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
HelloFresh's weekly menus offer a wide range of delicious dishes. Its recipes are also exceptionally easy to follow with step-by-step photos, and the site lists all of the tools you'll need (plus all of the ingredients and allergens) so you can evaluate each one before ordering it.
Pros
Wide range of dishes
Lots of optional add-ons
Committed to sustainability
Cons
Can't sort by allergens or specific diets
Not good for customers who don't want to do any cooking
Overview
This service bills itself as "America's Most Popular Meal Kit," and it's no wonder that so many cooks love it. HelloFresh's meal delivery kits offer a wide range of delicious meal options from a variety of ethnic and culinary backgrounds, and you can specify whether you want meals that feed two or four people as well as how many meals you'd like per week, for maximum flexibility. What's more, you can specify the kinds of meals you want—meaty, vegetarian, family friendly, quick and easy, and more—and then see all of the ingredients in the meal (and all the cooking tools you'll need) for each dish before you order it.
Pricing and Plans
2 servings, 2 recipes per week: $60.95
2 servings, 3 recipes per week: $70.93
2 servings, 4 recipes per week: $89.31
2 servings, 5 recipes per week: $108.89
2 servings, 6 recipes per week: $128.47
4 servings, 2 recipes per week: $89.31
4 servings, 3 recipes per week: $124.87
4 servings, 4 recipes per week: $159.63
4 servings, 5 recipes per week: $196.79
4 servings, 6 recipes per week: $226.75
Meals We Tried
Crispy buffalo-spiced chicken
BBQ cheddar burgers
Tex-Mex pork with mango salsa
Pork sausage rigatoni rosa
Best for Home Cooks: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Key Specs
Starting Price: $8.69 per serving
Delivery Area: 43 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
If you enjoy cooking but don't have time to start from scratch every day, this meal kit service offers the perfect solution. Their excellent selection of delicious meals comes with clear instructions so you can have the fun (and flexibility) of cooking your own meals without the hassle or waste of grocery shopping and prepping.
Pros
Excellent quality and flavor
Wide variety of meals to choose from
Commitment to sustainability
Cons
Not good for customers who don't want to do any cooking
Can't sort by most dietary restrictions
Overview
Marley Spoon—a meal kit service designed by Martha Stewart—offers more than 100 different meals to choose from each week, including breakfasts and desserts (which many other plans skip). The ingredients come preportioned, and recipes take a maximum of six steps but still give you delicious (and beautiful) meals. The company also partners with family-owned farms and producers to source high-quality, in-season ingredients, and the packaging can be recycled.
Pricing and Plans
2 servings, 2 recipes per week: $63.95 (including shipping)
2 servings, 3 recipes per week: $77.93 (including shipping)
2 servings, 4 recipes per week: $95.91 (including shipping)
2 servings, 5 recipes per week: $111.89 (including shipping)
2 servings, 6 recipes per week: $125.87 (including shipping)
4 servings, 2 recipes per week: $95.91 (including shipping)
4 servings, 3 recipes per week: $125.87 (including shipping)
4 servings, 4 recipes per week: $155.83 (including shipping)
4 servings, 5 recipes per week: $191.79 (including shipping)
4 servings, 6 recipes per week: $220.55 (including shipping)
Meals We Tried
Greek chicken gyro with chopped salad and garlic sauce
Broccoli Reuben with Russian dressing wedge salad
Oven fried beef taquitos with tomatillo salsa and jalapeños
Gochujang turkey ragu with fresh udon, cilantro, and scallions
Best Value: Dinnerly
Key Specs
Starting Price: $4.99 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Boasting an extensive selection of meals with prices as low as $4.99 per serving, Dinnerly is an excellent choice for budget-conscious diners.
Pros
Most expensive serving price is less than $7
Over 40 meals to choose from
Family-friendly menu options
Cons
You have to supply some of your own ingredients
Digital recipe cards only
Overview
If you're looking for tasty meals at a wallet-friendly price, it's hard to beat Dinnerly. The company's rotating weekly menu comprises over 40 meals, along with add-ons like breakfast items, desserts, and appetizers. Choose from hearty comfort foods like pepper-crusted tenderloin with mashed potatoes, kid-friendly favorites like cheesy pesto chicken paninis, and everything in between. Plus, Dinnerly accommodates several different dietary preferences, including vegetarian, low-carb, and dairy free. Per-serving prices range from $4.99 to $6.39, depending on the size of your order, making Dinnerly one of the most affordable meal delivery services on the market.
Pricing and Plans
2 servings, 3 meals per week: $6.39 per serving
2 servings, 4 meals per week: $5.99 per serving
2 servings, 5 meals per week: $5.89 per serving
2 servings, 6 meals per week: $5.79 per serving
4 servings, 3 meals per week: $5.69 per serving
4 servings, 4 meals per week: $5.49 per serving
4 servings, 5 meals per week: $5.29 per serving
4 servings, 6 meals per week: $4.99 per serving
Shipping is $9.99
Meals We Tried
BBQ cheeseburger with sautéed onions and smashed potatoes
Low-cal veggie drunken noodles with broccoli, peppers, and cilantro
Grass-fed ground beef and cheddar quesadillas with corn
Caramel chicken stir-fry with snow peas and jasmine rice
Best Vegan: Purple Carrot
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11.00 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
For vegan cooks, Purple Carrot is an ideal meal service, offering both meal kits and prepared, ready-to-heat meals. Each week's menu offers a range of meals inspired by foods from across the globe, including breakfasts, dinners, and lunches as well as vegan pantry items.
Pros
Delicious, high-quality vegan meals
Wide variety of meals to choose from
Both meal kits and heat-and-eat meals
Cons
More expensive than many other (non-vegan) services
Packaging includes lots of plastics
Doesn't accommodate allergies (other than gluten)
Overview
While many meal delivery services offer some vegan options, Purple Carrot is a fully vegan service that provides a wide range of delicious, high-quality meals. The company also offers both meal kits (for those who want to do some cooking) and single-serving prepared meals (for those who don't). And while you can't order both types of meals at the same time, you can switch your preferences whenever you like, so you're not locked into just one choice. Meals are designed to be both healthy and sustainable without focusing on specific fad diets or trends.
Pricing and Plans
Meal Kits:
2 servings, 3 recipes per week: $79.50
2 servings, 4 recipes per week: $106.00
4 servings, 2 recipes per week: $88.00
4 servings, 3 recipes per week: $132.00
Prepared Meals:
6 meals per week: $78.00
8 meals per week: $104.00
10 meals per week: $130.00
Meals We Tried
Meal Kits:
Sesame orange tofu with roasted green beans and sticky rice
Curry roasted cauliflower with masala chickpeas and ginger cucumber salsa
Rajas tacos with avocado and roasted corn salsa
Prepared Meals:
Peanut noodles with gingered edamame and braised tofu
Creamy mac and cheese with peso peas and sun-dried tomatoes
Spelt risotto with summer vegetable caponata
Chilled curried chickpea salad with dates and quinoa red pepper pilaf
Tofu palak paneer with carrot biryani
Best Heat-and-Eat: CookUnity
Key Specs
Starting Price: $10.39 per serving
Delivery Area: 47 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
CookUnity offers fully prepared meals created by award-winning chefs from all across the country, bringing the widest possible range of cuisines together into one service.
Pros
Offers an extremely wide range of foods and cuisines
Accommodates a variety of dietary needs
Lots of optional add-ons
Cons
Only offers single-serving portions
Most menu items only available in specific regions
Overview
This unique meal delivery service provides a one-stop shop for a variety of different cuisines, all of which are delivered fully prepared and ready to heat and enjoy. The company partners with chefs all across the country, so customers can choose a combination of many different cuisines—ranging from Korean to Creole and Italian to Indian—in every order. The menus can also be narrowed to accommodate keto and paleo diets as well as low-calorie, low-carb, and low-sodium diets and gluten- and dairy-free diets, making the companies' dishes a far healthier and more flexible choice than similar foods from takeout restaurants.
Pricing and Plans
4 meals per week: $54.36
6 meals per week: $73.74
8 meals per week: $93.52
12 meals per week: $134.28
16 meals per week: $177.44
*Some specials include an added cost.
Meals We Tried
Coconut lime hanger steak
Carnitas street tacos
Butternut squash ravioli
Chili roasted shrimp
Best for Families: Home Chef
Key Specs
Starting Price: $7.99 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
This meal kit service tags its offerings by the amount of work you'll need to do for each meal, so you only have to do as much cooking as you wish. It also offers "family-friendly" meals that feed four and are designed to appeal to multiple generations.
Pros
Can order dishes that serve up to six people
Option to customize dishes
Flavorful dishes designed to appeal to the entire family
Cons
Few vegetarian options
Can't sort dishes by most dietary preferences
Overview
Home Chef's meal kits offer a variety of family-friendly options that are anything but boring. Most of its kits make meals that serve two to six, and there are also recipes tagged "family meal" that feed four. With comfort food favorites like turkey meatloaf and creamy sausage and corn chowder, these family meals are designed to appeal to both parents and kids alike. Other tags allow customers to sort recipes by how much cooking time they want to put in and how they like to cook; there are options for finishing the meals on a grill, in the oven, and even in a microwave.
Pricing and Plans
Costs adjust according to menu selections. Plan prices based on $9.99 per serving (the average for dinners):
2 servings, 2 meals per week: $39.96
2 servings, 3 meals per week: $59.94
2 servings, 4 meals per week: $79.92
2 servings, 5 meals per week: $99.90
2 servings, 6 meals per week: $119.88
4 servings, 2 meals per week: $79.92
4 servings, 3 meals per week: $119.88
4 servings, 4 meals per week: $159.84
4 servings, 5 meals per week: $199.80
4 servings, 6 meals per week: $239.76
6 servings, 2 meals per week: $119.88
6 servings, 3 meals per week: $179.82
6 servings, 4 meals per week: $239.76
6 servings, 5 meals per week: $299.70
6 servings, 6 meals per week: $359.64
Meals We Tried
Crispy sweet chili shrimp rice bowl
Creamy tomato and steak penne
Gnocchi and red pepper cream
Moo shu pork lettuce cups
Best for Easy Prep: Gobble
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11.99 per serving
Delivery Area: 47 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Gobble takes care of all of the prep work—including the chopping and marinating—so you can cook your own meals within 15 minutes. The menu also includes more than just standard dinners, including sides, salads, breakfasts, and desserts.
Pros
Covers multiple meals throughout the day
Some of the fastest cook times of any meal kit
Ability to personalize some meals
Cons
More expensive than many other services
Lots of packaging, much of it not easily recyclable
Overview
If you like to cook your meal (rather than reheating it) but don't have time or energy to do all the prep, Gobble is ideal. This meal kit service sends all of the ingredients prepped and ready to cook. Menus include a variety of gourmet dishes, from porcini mushroom ravioli to shrimp and broccoli Siciliana, including options that feed four, for a family-friendly meal. You can also choose side dishes to add to your meal, as well as soups, hearty salads, breakfasts, and desserts. Some meals can also be customized with your preferred proteins, and a "lean and clean" option allows customers to make sure their boxes only contain low-calorie meals.
Pricing and Plans
2 servings, 2 meals per week: $67.96
2 servings, 3 meals per week: $89.94
2 servings, 4 meals per week: $103.92
2 servings, 5 meals per week: $119.90
4 servings, 2 meals per week: $103.92
4 servings, 3 meals per week: $143.88
4 servings, 4 meals per week: $191.84
4 servings, 5 meals per week: $239.80
Meals We Tried
Scampi-style chicken with linguine in lemon garlic butter sauce
Chimichurri fish tacos with shredded cabbage
Grilled king salmon with heirloom tomato panzanella
Korean bulgogi beef lettuce cups with sweet potato noodles
Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth
Key Specs
Starting Price: $12.95 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
ModifyHealth works with registered dietitians and doctors to create weekly meal plans that are safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
Pros
Meals arrive fresh and ready to reheat
Shipping is free
Dietitian support available with full program
Cons
Reheating times aren't always accurate
Dietitian support comes with an additional fee
Overview
If you suffer from celiac disease or other gluten sensitivities, ModifyHealth is the ideal option for meal delivery. The company prides itself on offering an entirely gluten-free and low-sodium menu, which caters to both Mediterranean and low-FODMAP dietary plans. Customers can opt to order meals on an à la carte basis or sign up for the full meal program, which includes dietitian support and educational materials (although these cost extra). All meals are fully prepared and ready to heat either in the microwave, on the stove, or in the oven.
Pricing and Plans
Breakfasts: Start at $9.95 per serving
Entrées: Start at $12.95 per serving
Full meal program: Starts at $180 per week
Free shipping
Meals We Tried
Greek chicken and rice
Longevity stew with black-eyed peas and kale
Shrimp chimichurri with black beans and rice
Lemon thyme chicken with tahini cauliflower and za'atar quinoa
Blackened salmon with quinoa, broccoli, and red bell pepper
Roasted pistachio salmon with white beans and kale
Best Organic: Green Chef
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11.99 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
As the first certified organic meal kit service in the business, Green Chef has a years-long legacy of providing delicious, globally inspired meals made with organic ingredients.
Pros
Works with farmers to source organic produce and eggs
Multiple dietary styles accommodated
Rotating menu with 30 meal options each week
Cons
Some ingredients, including meat, are not organic
Shipping costs extra
Overview
Green Chef prides itself on sustainability. It was the first company in the meal delivery world to be CCOF-certified organic, and it's the only meal kit that's both plastic and carbon offset. While not all of Green Chef's ingredients are organic, all of its produce and eggs are, and its meats are raised with high animal welfare standards. The menu caters to several dietary needs and preferences, including vegan, gluten free, keto, and Mediterranean, with options ranging from lemon butter tilapia to coconut curry-glazed cauliflower. Meal kits arrive with pre-prepped and preportioned ingredients, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your dinner.
Pricing and Plans
2 servings, 3 meals per week: $13.49 per serving
2 servings, 4 meals per week: $12.99 per serving
4 servings, 2 meals per week: $12.99 per serving
4 servings, 3 meals per week: $12.49 per serving
4 servings, 4 meals per week: $11.99 per serving
6 servings, 3 meals per week: $11.99 per serving
6 servings, 4 meals per week: $11.99 per serving
Shipping is $9.99
Meals We Tried
Harissa-spiced shrimp
Sesame ginger bavette steak and shrimp
Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls
Maple glazed carrots with figs
Best for Singles: Daily Harvest
Key Specs
Starting Price: $6.79 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It
With its expansive menu of single-serve, heat-and-eat foods, Daily Harvest makes it easy to cook for one.
Pros
Menu is entirely plant-based and gluten free
Organic ingredients used whenever possible
Free shipping
Cons
All menu items arrive frozen
Order minimum of nine items
Overview
Cooking for one? Daily Harvest is here to help. Boasting a menu of over 100 single-serving, ready-to-reheat foods, the company gives its customers plenty of delicious options. Choose from soups, smoothies, grain bowls, oat bowls, flatbreads, frozen desserts, and more—all of which are gluten free, plant-based, and made with organic ingredients. While you have to order a minimum of nine items with each delivery, that just means your freezer will stay stocked with tasty meals whenever you need them.
Pricing and Plans
To place an order, you'll start by selecting a box size: Small (9 items), Medium (14 items), or Large (24 items). Then, simply fill it up with whatever you like. While pricing will depend on what you select, Daily Harvest offers volume-based discounts that can save big bucks in the long run.
Per-Item Pricing:
Lattes: $5.99
Forager Bowls: $6.79
Mylk & Bites: $7.99
Smoothies & Soups: $8.49
Scoops: $8.99
Harvest Bowls & Flatbreads: $9.79
Harvest Bake: $11.99
Volume Discounts:
9-11 items: $5 discount
12-23 items: $10 discount
24-26 items: $25 discount
Meals We Tried
Mint and cacao smoothie
Mango papaya smoothie
Hazelnut and chocolate bites
Tomatillo and pepper flatbread
Portobello and pesto flatbread
Sweet potato and wild rice hash
Brussels sprouts and tahini harvest bowl
Spinach and shiitake grits
Tomato and zucchini minestrone soup
Final Verdict
Meal delivery services can be a great resource for anyone—whether you just want some help with shopping or prep a couple of times a week or you want ready-to-eat meals pretty much every day of the week. While the best option for each customer will depend on their own specific needs, we've found that the easy meal kits from HelloFresh are the best option for most people. The company offers a wide range of foods to suit many tastes, including options for a number of specific diets, and allows customers a lot of flexibility in portion size—all while maintaining one of the most affordable plans on the market.
Compare the Best Meal Delivery Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Meal Delivery Services Provide Individual Meals?
The serving size of each meal varies from service to service. While some companies offer individually portioned heat-and-eat meals meant for one, others offer meal kits that serve a minimum of two people. Many services offer more than one option, so customers can choose either individual meals or family-friendly meals that usually serve four to six. If you're looking for meals that serve just one person, without leftovers, check out a company's sample menus and look at the serving sizes of a few items before signing up.
Are Meal Deliveries Cheaper Than Going to the Grocery Store?
Meal delivery services vary in price, but they are designed to eliminate food waste, which can help cut costs. The costs of preparing the meal or kit (and packaging and shipping it) can make each portion more expensive than buying ingredients in a grocery store. That said, eliminating waste may save you money if you often find that you are unable to use up foods (or eat all your leftovers) before they go bad.
Are Meal Deliveries Healthy?
Most meal delivery services are designed to be healthier than restaurant food or takeout. Many also offer a variety of dietary options so that customers can specifically choose low-calorie or low-carb options. Some specifically work with nutritionists to help customers adhere to specific diets, including keto and paleo. Nearly all allow customers to see the list of ingredients or nutritional values for each dish on the menu.
Do Meal Delivery Services Have Fresh Produce?
Some meal delivery services offer frozen meals, while others offer fresh ingredients—including fresh produce. All of the services and meal kits recommended above arrive fresh rather than frozen, and those that include vegetables include either fresh produce or precooked (or partially cooked) vegetables, depending on how the produce will be served and how much cooking you've opted to do in your meal plan. All meals arrive chilled and well insulated so produce and other ingredients stay fresh throughout their journey.
Methodology
In evaluating the best meal delivery services, our testers ordered, made, and tasted meals from dozens of the best-rated meal delivery services in the country. Each company was evaluated on a wide range of factors, including the number of options they offered, their ability to serve customers with a variety of dietary preferences and lifestyles, the ease of preparing the meals, and, of course, the foods' flavors and textures. We also took into account the company's sustainability metrics, including how recyclable its packaging is and where it sources its ingredients. Lastly, each company was evaluated to see how well it served specific audiences so that we could be sure we were taking each kind of customer, and their needs, into account.
