Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services
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Sometimes, the idea of the prep work for a meal kit can seem overwhelming. Perhaps you have young children at home, or you want to make sure an elderly parent is getting adequate nutrition, and maybe you yourself just want a few more minutes in your day. That's why a growing number of meal delivery services are offering prepared meals to customers. Your options have come a long way from TV dinners. Read on to find out why the companies listed below earn our picks as being the best in their respective categories.
Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services of 2022
Best Overall: CookUnity
Best Vegetarian: ModifyHealth
Best for Seniors: Magic Kitchen
Best Gluten-Free: Epicured
Best Splurge: Sakara Life
Best Allergy-Friendly: The Good Kitchen
Best Variety: Freshly
Best Overall: CookUnity
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11.09 per serving
Delivery Area: 47 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Our testers agreed that variety is key to avoiding boredom; in addition, it's important that your prepared meals are consistent in terms of quality. CookUnity received some of the best ratings for prepared meals because of the company's variety of meals and excellent customer service.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Focus on recyclable packaging
Website makes it easy to choose meals
Great ratings from testers on variety and taste of meals
Cons
Not as much information on nutrition standards.
Overview
CookUnity was founded with the goal of bringing chef-designed meals into your home. The company delivers on that promise with a huge range of meal options, each designed by specific chefs. It's one of the only services that not only delivers chef-crafted meals but gives you a bio of the chef who made your meal. CookUnity's global cuisine will give you access to flavorful prepared meals like chicken shawarma, beef bibimbap, and Malabar shrimp.
Pricing and Plans
CookUnity uses a basic per-meal pricing structure. Prices start at $13.49 per meal, but the cost goes down the more meals you order per week. At 16 meals per week, the price is $10.49 per meal.
Meals we Tried
Coconut lime hanger steak
Carnitas street tacos
Butternut squash ravioli
Chili roasted shrimp
Best Vegetarian: ModifyHealth
Key Specs
Starting Price: $12.95 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Many prepared meal services focus on proteins like chicken or beef as the centerpiece of a meal. ModifyHealth delivers excellent prepared meals with great reviewer scores for flavor in addition to offering excellent vegetarian options.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Excellent nutritional breakdowns
Responsive customer service
Received high scores in flavor from our testers
Cons
Packaging includes many marketing brochures that seem wasteful
Can't mix and match meal plans
Overview
ModifyHealth was founded in 2018 after the founder, GB Pratt, noticed issues with his family's health that were solved by dietary changes. The company's meals are crafted to promote health through balanced nutrition and are designed for individuals with chronic health conditions like IBS and celiac disease. The service allows you to choose from diet options such as Mediterranean or low FODMAP and has excellent vegetarian options that our testers highly rated.
Pricing and Plans
While you can get some discounts for signing up or for setting up a subscription, the ModifyHealth basic pricing structure is really straightforward: The company charges $9.95 for breakfast meals and $12.95 for entrées.
Meals We Tried
Longevity stew with black-eyed peas and kale
Best for Seniors: MagicKitchen.com
Key Specs
Starting Price: $10 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It
If you have ever acted as a caregiver for a loved one who is older, you know it can be very difficult to make sure they are getting healthy meals. Magic Kitchen is a wonderful option for seniors who need nutritious, no-prep meals delivered right to their door.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Allows flexible, à la carte ordering
Covers many dietary categories, including one dedicated to seniors
Straightforward and easy meals
Cons
Not the most sustainable packaging
Some of the flavors were a bit bland, mostly due to dietary restraints (low sodium, etc.)
Pricing and Plans
Magic Kitchen has very straightforward pricing. You can order meals à la carte or in bundles. Depending on the meal ordered, the price ranges from about $10 to $15 for some complex meals like beef bourguignon. Ordering a bundle of meals will save a few dollars
Overview
Magic Kitchen was founded with the goal of providing healthy, ready-to-eat meals to those who might not be able to make their own meals due to illness or age. The company's catalog of meals is very expansive and divided nicely by dietary restriction. Specifically, Magic Kitchen's senior meals are its most popular options and include many delicious entrées like baked tilapia, basil chicken, and balsamic glazed chicken.
Meals We Tried
Vegetable caponata with orzo and spinach
Beef and broccoli over noodles and vegetable blend
Balsamic glazed chicken with roasted potatoes and green beans
Chili with beans with carrots and broccoli florets
Best Gluten-Free: Epicured
Key Specs
Starting Price: $10.29 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
If you have gluten allergies and sensitivities, it's important to have a company that offers nutritionally balanced meals with a transparent list of ingredients. Epicured is one of the few prepared meal delivery services that works with dieticians to make sure its prepared meals are safe for individuals with gluten allergies or sensitivities.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Dietician-designed meal plans
Low FODMAP meals
Helpful customer service
Cons
Limited to four or fewer servings
Overview
Epicured founders Richard Bennett and Renee Cherkezian, RN, started their company with the notion that food is medicine. While many meal plans focused on other issues, Epicured wanted to provide healthy, gourmet meals that meet very specific dietary needs for customers so they can focus on their health at home. Each recipe and meal that Epicured sends out is guaranteed to be low-FODMAP and gluten free. Menu options for meals include upscale dishes like sesame crusted grilled salmon, as well as lighter options like vegetarian rice noodles. Epicured's meals heat up in minutes, and our testers enjoyed the unique combinations of flavors.
Pricing and Plans
Epicured allows you to purchase bundles or à la carte items. Pricing can vary considerably based on what you order. The lowest price per serving is $10.29; some pricing examples for Epicured's bundles are as follows:
Chef's Favorites: $110.21
Fiber-Fueled Bundle: $131.14
Brunch Bundle: $143.21
Meals We Tried
Vietnamese rice noodles (vegetarian)
Pad thai with chicken
Sesame crusted grilled salmon
Pulled BBQ chicken
Best Splurge: Sakara Life
Key Specs
Starting Price: $28 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
If you can splurge on higher-cost food delivery, Sakara Life offers meals that put nutrition and the environment first. The founders consider Sakara Life a wellness company, not just a meal delivery service.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Fresh and flavorful meals
Plant-based and organic
Offers supplements and snacks as add-ons
Cons
Most expensive delivery option
Few customizations and can't choose delivery dates
Overview
Sakara Life was founded with the goal of providing wellness and nutrition through delicious, plant-based foods, many of which don't even require cooking. In addition to its meals, the company offers supplements, teas, and snacks, along with a variety of focused meal plans. Sakara Life's emphasis on sustainability is very apparent in its messaging and, while more expensive than some services, the company boasts good reviews from current clients.
Pricing and Plans
Sakara Life sells most of its meals in kits, although you can buy some à la carte as well. The kits are theme based, with selections like The Gut Health Reboot ($595) or The Morning Ritual collection ($60).
Meals We Tried
Southwest Sunset soup, chipotle corn muffin
High Vibe honeydew salad, mint chlorophyll quinoa, kombucha vinaigrette
Moo shu veggie wraps with tamarind sauce
Prosperity pad thai, kelp noodles, creamy sesame dressing
Best Allergy-Friendly: The Good Kitchen
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11.50 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Choosing a meal delivery service when you have food allergies can be tricky. The Good Kitchen gets our pick in this category as it does a wonderful job of indexing its meals based on a variety of common allergens and diets, so it's easy to select what works for you.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Good info on sustainability
Meals categorized by diet and allergens
User-friendly website
Cons
Some testers reported a poor experience with calling customer service
Overview
The founder of Good Kitchen started the company with the ethos that what we put in our bodies is meant to nourish us in ways that go beyond simply satisfying hunger. That motto goes into the company's sourcing and crafting of recipes to help deliver healthy and diet-friendly meals to consumers. The Good Kitchen differentiates itself on its sourcing and puts it front and center on its site and recipes. Meals arrive ready to heat and eat, and there are many mouthwatering options like mojo pork, blackened chicken, and venison chili colorado.
Pricing and Plans
Pricing for The Good Kitchen is on a box model where you select the number of meals you want in your box, and the price per meal is adjusted accordingly. A six-meal box will cost $90, while a 12-meal box will cost $163. Once you have selected the number of meals you would like, you can select any meals from the list to customize your box before shipping.
Meals We Tried
Beef shepherd's pie
Bison and beef sloppy joe with potato leek gratin
Chicken satay with cilantro rice and broccoli
Chili lime chicken with fajita veg and cilantro cauliflower rice
Miso glazed wild boar meatballs and hibachi zucchini
Tomato, asparagus, and spinach frittata with Yukon potato hash
Best Variety: Freshly
Key Specs
Starting Price: $9.58 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
When it comes to prepared meals, Freshly is one of the larger companies that offer meals that arrive ready to eat, and the company works hard to craft a wide variety of meals that ensure you won't get bored eating the same meals on repeat.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Very easy preparation instructions
Excellent mix of prepared meal options
Price per serving comparable to takeout
Cons
Meals are precooked so sometimes not as fresh
The main way to reheat meals is to microwave them
Overview
Freshly was created to help solve the main problem families have during dinnertime: Sometimes, you just don't have the time to cook or the energy to meal plan. Freshly's answer comes in the form of fully cooked, prepared meals that are quick to reheat. You can order based on a variety of dietary preferences, including carb-conscious "Freshly Fit" and vegan- and vegetarian-friendly "Purely Plant" options. Some of these meals are intended to be full main meals, while others are more of a side dish (like mac and cheese and mashed potatoes).
Pricing and Plans
Freshly has many plan options depending on what you are looking for, with customers able to choose from four to 12 meals per week. Shipping is $9.99 per order; as you purchase more meals, the cost goes down.
4 meals per week: $12.50 per serving
5 meals per week: $12.40 per serving
6 meals per week: $11.33 per serving
7 meals per week: $10.71 per serving
8 meals per week: $10.37 per serving
9 meals per week: $10.22 per serving
10 meals per week: $10.00 per serving
11 meals per week: $9.81 per serving
12 meals per week: $9.58 per serving
Meals We Tried
Asian style chicken and noodles
Steak peppercorn
Thai green curry
Pork chile colorado
Final Verdict
Prepared meals are a growing category of meal delivery services, and with so many companies striving to deliver high-quality, prepared meals to consumers, making a choice can be difficult. CookUnity earned our pick for best overall due to its variety of dietary accommodations, easily navigable website, and diverse, delicious meals. In addition, CookUnity offers a variety of plans and a reasonable price point.
Compare the Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Are prepared meals healthy?
This depends largely on the company and the meal plan that you select. That said, many companies delivering prepared meals offer good nutritional information, and many serve up specialized options that you might not find in your grocery store freezer section.
Do prepared meals have options for dietary restrictions?
Most companies offer at least some basic customization for dietary preferences. Some companies, such as The Good Kitchen and Epicured, go above and beyond and cater to a wide variety of diets and allergens.
Can I customize which meals I receive in a meal delivery service?
Almost every company we reviewed offers the ability to customize what meals are in your delivery. This is an important component of meal delivery services that helps ensure that customers don't get bored with their selections.
Can prepared meals feed a family?
Most prepared meals consist of a single serving, but companies allow you to order multiples of any meal so you could simply order more of a meal if you intended to feed it to your family. Some also offer options for four or six servings for more family-friendly options.
Methodology
Our testers ordered from, cooked, and rated 40 different meal delivery services. We carefully scored each one based on meal selection, nutritional information, sustainability, and customer service, as well as the flavor, freshness, and quality of each meal and ingredient. Our testers wrote in-depth reviews and filled out detailed surveys about each company, which we used to assign an overall score to each one.
