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Thinking about reworking your dinner routine? Dedicating a little time to finding the best meal delivery services for you can be a great way to avoid some of the stresses (and time-sucks) of home cooking, like grocery shopping, meal prepping, and recipe-finding. And depending on the brand, the benefits can even extend beyond convenience; a meal kit subscription may help broaden your taste palate or level up your kitchen skills. There’s a wide variety of meal delivery options to consider, so we broke down the best ones to try and why they’re worth it.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Home Chef
- Best for the Busy Person: Gobble
- Most Eco-Friendly: Green Chef
- Most Established: Blue Apron
- Most Customizable: Territory
- Best Value: EveryPlate
- Best for the Picky Eater: Hungryroot
- Best for Plant-Based Meals: Sunbasket
Read now:
- How SELF tests meal kits
- What is the best meal delivery service of 2024?
- All the best meal delivery services of 2024
- More meal delivery services to consider
- How to choose the right meal kit delivery service for you
How SELF tests meal kits
We spoke with registered dietitians to help guide the criteria for choosing the right meal delivery service. Then we purchased all of the meal kits listed and tested each for a full week’s worth of meals. We based our review on customization, affordability, nutrition profile, delivery process, and overall taste and satisfaction before arriving at our rating. A meal kit service that received a score of 7 or higher (out of 10) is considered SELF Certified, meaning they’re ones we definitely recommend you give a try. Ones with lower but still mid-range scores offered some advantages, along with a few drawbacks, which we outlined for each.
What is the best meal delivery service of 2024?
The best meal delivery service is Home Chef, according to our rigorous kit testing standards. Now, that comes with the caveat that everyone has different dietary needs, budgets, and plain old preferences. It can still be useful to try out a few different brands before committing to a service for regular deliveries (and, luckily, many of them offer introductory deals for new customers). So while Home Chef is our top recommendation, we highly encourage browsing (and doing lots of taste tests).
All the best meal delivery services of 2024
Read on to learn more about the best meal delivery services as tested and reviewed by SELF staffers, according to our meal kit shopping guide, as well as a few other services popular among shoppers (including Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Misfits Market, Purple Carrot, CookUnity, and HelloFresh).
SELF score: 9/10—Certified
- Pros: Delicious meals, customizable, reasonably priced
- Cons: Limited menu options for vegetarian meals
Why we like it: Every week, Home Chef allows you to choose from nearly a dozen delicious meals that cater to your needs and skill level. Its cooking difficulty ranges from easy to advanced, and its services offer the option to omit ingredients like dairy, nuts, soy, wheat, and more. You can also select recipes based on goals like eating more fresh ingredients or saving time in the kitchen. The menus are set five weeks ahead, so you can plan for dinner well in advance. When our reviewer tried Home Chef firsthand, they praised how easy and satisfying the service was to use: “I don’t have to do the shopping, ingredients are precisely measured so that I can toss them in without fuss, and when I’m done, a magazine-worthy meal is left on my plate in its sweet, savory glory.”
Dietary options: Carb-conscious, high-protein, keto-friendly, paleo-friendly, vegetarian
Meal examples: Apple and goat cheese flatbread; lemon cream and spinach sausage spaghetti; cornmeal crusted shrimp po’boy.
Cost: Meals start at $10 per serving. The weekly order minimum is $51 for a standard Home Chef plan (one to three meals, with two servings per meal), and $83 for a Family Plan (at least 10 meals, with four servings per meal). Shipping is included.
First-time customer deals: 18 free meals when you order 10 meals per week over your first five orders; free shipping on your first box; 1 free dessert item with every box | Recipe options per week: 35 meals; 18 extras | Packing materials: Reusable containers and ice packs; recyclable boxes and packaging | Availability: Nationwide
SELF score: 6/10
- Pros: Actually fast and easy recipes, minimal prep required
- Cons: Pricey for the overall quality, few options for people with major food intolerances
Why we like it: Meal plans and kits inherently solve a common problem in any busy person’s life: the lack of time to plan, shop for, and cook dinner. But Gobble takes it a step further by doing all of the prep work for you. That means each kit includes pre-portioned ingredients like already-peeled vegetables, requires minimal to no chopping, and goes from pan to plate in only about 15 minutes. It’s almost as low-effort as ordering in from a local restaurant—and often even quicker to put together. Plus we love that Gobble has family-friendly options that cater to picky eaters. In her review of Gobble for SELF, our tester noted that her recipes “tasted like something from a cozy neighborhood restaurant,” and added that they were comforting and quick. However, she thought some of the meals were a little light on veggies and protein (which means a less-balanced meal). She also found the lunch options to be limited and not super satisfying.
Dietary options: Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian
Meal examples: Mediterranean fattoush salad with green harissa dressing; Vietnamese chicken soup with rice noodles and aromatic herbs; seared steak with creamed spinach and loaded potatoes.
Cost: Two-person plans start at $68 for two meals per week; four-person plans start at $104 for two meals per week. Shipping is an additional $9.
First-time customer deals: $36 for first six boxes; free shipping and cookies with your first box | Recipe options per week: At least 10 Classic Dinner options; various quantities of sides, desserts, and breakfasts | Packing materials: Reusable ice packs; recyclable boxes and packaging | Availability: Nationwide, excluding Montana and with limited service in Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
SELF score: 6/10
- Pros: High-quality ingredients, flavorful sauces, good portions
- Cons: Recipes require lots of cooking equipment, limited vegetarian options
Why we like it: For the environmentally conscious diner, Green Chef offers USDA-certified organic meal kits, which feature sustainably-sourced organic ingredients from traceable farmers and suppliers. The brand also provides responsible disposal guides for its packaging whenever possible. The recipe cards are easy to follow and designed to take just 30 minutes to make. You’ll also find there are three meal-size options: for two, four, or six people.
In SELF’s Green Chef review, our tester wrote that this brand’s meals can definitely help you break out of a cooking rut, but had a few reservations about the ingredients and prep requirements: “My one complaint is that I wish there was a bit more creativity…. You also may need to be in a stage of life where roasting, boiling and sautéing different things at the same time to prepare one meal doesn’t make you break out in hives.” She also noted there was a lack of variety in some of the dishes—for instance, a lot of the meals she tried relied heavily on rice.
Dietary options: Carb-conscious, gluten-free, high-protein, keto, Mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, vegan, vegetarian
Meal examples: Caribbean-spiced tilapia with mango salsa; beef and sweet potato taco skillet; harvest salad with chicken and bacon.
Cost: Meals start at $13 per serving. Shipping is an additional $10.
First-time customer deals: 60% off and free shipping on your first box; 20% off for first two months | Recipe options per week: 10 meals; various quantities of add-ons | Packing materials: Reusable ice packs; partly recyclable boxes, insulation, and packaging; compostable paper packaging | Availability: Contiguous United States
SELF score: 6/10
- Pros: Fresh ingredients, easy recipes
- Cons: Limited options for special dietary needs, missing or mislabeled ingredients
Why we like it: Blue Apron’s recipes are designed to keep cooking and prep time down to an average of 45 minutes. Its Prepared & Ready meals, which are available through a separate subscription, are even easier to put together (most just need a few minutes to heat up). It also offers a monthly wine subscription service that pairs specially sized bottles with your meals. In SELF’s Blue Apron review, our tester found the recipes easy to follow but felt that at times they garnered bland results: “I found most of the recipes to be lacking in some areas. The enchiladas were dry and the pork sausage needed some extra seasoning. That being said, I plan on making these recipes again (with some modifications) because they were overall tasty.”
Dietary options: Vegetarian
Meal examples: Oven-baked Korean eggs and rice; mushroom farrotto; sweet and spicy chicken thighs.
Cost: Two-person meal kit plans start at $61 for two meals per week ($12 per serving); four-person plans start at $91 for two meals per week ($10 per serving). Prepared & Ready plans start at $53 for six meals per week. Shipping is an additional $11.
First-time customer deals: 65% off your first weekly meal order or 20% off your first Prepared & Ready subscription; free shipping on your first order; 20% off your following three orders | Recipe options per week: At least 80 meals | Packing materials: Recyclable boxes, containers, and some packaging | Availability: Contiguous United States
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SELF score: 7/10—Certified
- Pros: Easy to tailor to your dietary preferences and needs, zero prep work
- Cons: On the pricey side, limited availability
Why we like it: If you’re looking for heat-and-serve dinners with bigger portion sizes than typical prepared meal delivery services provide, Territory may be exactly what you need. The company operates across smaller geographical areas in the United States—rather than nationwide—which means it can deliver fresher and more flexible meals, albeit over a more limited swath of the country.
Territory’s menus offer a ton of customization based on your dietary preferences and restrictions, as well as your schedule. While most meal services deliver once per week, Territory allows you to get two shipments every week, which means the meals will be at their absolute freshest when they show up at your door. The meals are developed by registered dietitians and crafted by local chefs, so you can trust they’ll be flavorful and nutritious. SELF’s tester tried Territory firsthand and said, “The food was tasty, very aligned to my dietary needs, and filling. If you’re looking for a well-rounded, nutrition-packed takeout alternative, Territory is a very solid choice.”
Dietary options: Carb-conscious, dairy-free, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, keto-friendly, Mediterranean, paleo, plant-based, vegan, vegetarian, Whole30
Meal examples: Ginger curry beef with lemon rice and sautéed spinach; arrabbiata sausage and peppers with sautéed zucchini; garden baked eggs with sweet potato hash.
Cost: Most meals start at $14 each, though exact prices per meal will range depending on your location. The UPS shipping fee ranges from $10 to $18.
First-time customer deals: $75 off your first three orders with code HUNGRY75 | Recipe options per week: 35 meals; various quantities of add-ons | Packing materials: Entirely recyclable boxes and packaging | Availability: The East Coast, west Chicago, Texas, and select parts of the West Coast.
SELF score: 7/10—Certified
- Pros: Relatively affordable, good portions, tasty meals
- Cons: Confusing presentation, not suitable for major dietary restrictions
Why we like it: EveryPlate can suit a wide range of budgets and schedules with meals that clock in under $10 and take around 30 minutes to make. In addition to the range of meal options that cycle in every week (including family favorites and quick-and-easy recipes), there are also tasty add-ons like garlic bread and Caesar salad that you can include in your order. SELF’s tester described EveryPlate as a relatively “budget-friendly meal delivery service” with easy-to-follow recipes. Her main issue was with the packaging: The ingredients aren’t separated by recipe, which can make unpacking and prepping confusing.
One more thing to note is that EveryPlate doesn’t consistently offer meals for any type of special diet or allergies, so be sure to read your recipes’ ingredient lists carefully if you’re avoiding anything specific.
Dietary options: N/A
Meal examples: BBQ pineapple pork bowls; black bean and pepper jack tostadas; zesty herb-rubbed salmon.
Cost: Two-person plans start at $45 for three meals per week; four-person plans start at $70 for three meals per week. Shipping is an additional $10.
First-time customer deals: $1.49 per meal on your first box when you order a four-person, five-recipe plan | Recipe options per week: 26 meals; various quantities of add-ons | Packing materials: Recyclable boxes and packaging; partly recyclable ice packs | Availability: Contiguous United States
SELF score: 8/10—Certified
- Pros: Highly customizable, fast and easy-to-follow recipes
- Cons: Ingredients arrive disorganized, recipes are difficult to reference
Why we like it: Hungryroot is a meal kit that’s also kind of a grocery store. Your monthly subscription gives you a set amount of credits that you can use across its site on recipes, snacks, and pantry items. The recipe section is similar to most other meal kit experiences: You choose a dish, then Hungryroot provides all the necessary ingredients and a recipe guide. It also allows you to modify each meal to fit your tastes. For example, if you’d rather have Beyond meat instead of turkey in a dish, you can make that swap. This easy-to-edit approach creates a customizable experience, with the ability to fully tailor meals to your liking.
In her Hungryroot review, SELF’s tester noted that, as a meal service, it was a little confusing (unlike other kits, ingredients don’t come with any labels that note which recipe they’re intended for; and the brand’s site can be tedious to navigate if you want to pull up a recipe card). However, she loved it as a grocery delivery service: “If you’re looking to save time on grocery shopping and food preparation like me (and so many others), you still want food that tastes comforting and fresh, and you’re at all health-conscious, I definitely recommend giving Hungryroot a go.”
Dietary options: Dairy-free, gluten-free, keto-friendly, kosher, nut-free, soy-free, vegan
Meal examples: Tomatoey seared scallops and polenta; chicken dumplings and veggies with yuzu dipping sauce; cheesy Parm meatballs and garlic bread.
Cost: Plans start at $65 per delivery, plus $7 for shipping if you spend below $70 (and free above $70).
First-time customer deals: 30% off your first order over $99; free gift with every order | Recipe options per week: N/A | Packing materials: Recyclable shipping materials; partly recyclable ice packs; potentially recyclable food packaging | Availability: Contiguous United States
SELF score: 6/10
- Pros: High-quality ingredients, impressive recipe selection
- Cons: On the pricey side, smaller portions
Why we like it: The folks behind Sunbasket prioritize high-quality ingredients above all else, and it shows. The produce is organic, the meat is antibiotic-free with no added hormones, and the seafood is fresh-caught or raised sustainably. Sunbasket has a variety of dinner options to choose from, depending on your needs, and you can opt to mix and match recipes from all of these different menus in a single order. In SELF’s Sunbasket review, our tester noted that these plant-forward meals always arrived fresh and the recipes were “blissfully easy to follow.”
Sunbasket also offers sides, desserts, and standalone proteins. And for the people who are really short on time, consider the single-serving prepared meals on its Fresh & Ready menu—they arrive precooked, so you just have to reheat and serve.
Dietary options: Carb-conscious, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, Mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, vegetarian
Meal examples: Thai-style spicy yuba noodle soup with potatoes and bell pepper; spinach saag paneer with basmati rice; Black Angus steaks with brussels sprouts and chipotle-mustard vinaigrette.
Cost: Fresh & Ready meals start at $10 per serving; meal kits start at $11 per serving.
First-time customer deals: $90 off across four orders; free shipping | Recipe options per week: 24 meals; various quantities of add-ons and grocery items | Packing materials: Recyclable and reusable boxes, packaging, containers, insulation, and ice packs | Availability: Nationwide, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico.
More Meal Delivery Services to Consider
There are many more top-selling meal kits beyond those we’ve tested so far. Below, find a few of the most popular ones with an overview of each service’s offerings and availability.
- Pros: Crowd-pleasing meals, straightforward prep and cooking
- Cons: On the pricey side
Marley Spoon ships Martha Stewart-approved recipes and ingredients that can help you build some new culinary skills (and impress anyone who’s lucky enough to be your guest). The company promises that each meal takes less than 30 minutes of prep time with a max of six steps to follow.
Dietary options: Carb-conscious, dairy-free, gluten-free, keto-friendly, vegan, vegetarian
Meal examples: Coffee rubbed steak and chimichurri; Greek lemon soup with ready to heat chicken; creamy ricotta and mushroom cannelloni.
Cost: Two-person plans start at $64 for two meals per week; four-person plans start at $96 for two meals per week. Shipping is an additional $12.
First-time customer deals: Up to $235 off across your first five boxes; free shipping on your first box | Recipe options per week: At least 100 meals | Packing materials: Recyclable boxes, packaging, containers, and insulation; partly recyclable ice packs | Availability: Contiguous United States
- Pros: Relatively budget-friendly, simple recipes
- Cons: Reviewers report some quality issues with ingredients
Dinnerly bills itself as the “affordable meal kit,” with meals starting at $5. Each week, you can choose from a range of five-step recipes, many of which you can customize if you wish to make substitutions (say, swapping beef for chicken or vice versa). The company also has a “market,” so you can add additional ready-to-heat meals, snacks, desserts, and breakfast items to your box.
Dietary options: Carb-conscious, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian
Meal examples: Pan-roasted pork cutlets; miso-glazed sweet potatoes; brown butter-za'atar tilapia and orzo
Cost: Two-person plans start at $46 for three meals per week; four-person plans start at $68 for three meals per week. Shipping is an additional $12.
First-time customer deals: $140 off across your first five boxes; free shipping on your first box | Recipe options per week: At least 100 meals | Packing materials: Recyclable boxes, packaging, and containers; partly recyclable ice packs | Availability: Contiguous United States
- Pros: Free to sign up, low-waste grocery shopping
- Cons: Not a true meal kit service, doesn’t portion out ingredients for recipes
Misfits Market sources and sends boxes of seasonal produce, proteins, and dairy products passed over by stores due to their uneven appearance or because they were part of an excess supply. These items are sold for as much as 30% less than they might be at your traditional supermarket, Misfits says. The company offers a weekly grocery plan that pre-selects products for you, as well as an à la carte plan, so you can choose your own.
Dietary options: dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, vegetarian
Cost: The order minimum is $30, plus $7 for shipping.
First-time customer deals: $10 off first two orders of at least $35 | Recipe options per week: N/A | Packing materials: Recyclable boxes, packaging, and containers; returnable ice packs, liners, and insulation | Availability: Contiguous United States
- Pros: All plant-based meals
- Cons: Not suitable for anyone who regularly eats meat, very pricey
If you prefer a plant-based diet, consider Purple Carrot, which stocks veggie-heavy, high-protein dinners and breakfasts that are easy to prepare (or even come oven-ready). There are all sorts of delightful dishes and snacks for anyone who's looking to add more plants to their eating routine.
Dietary options: Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian
Meal examples: Italian butter bean stew with croutons and Parmesan kale; creamy peanut noodles with gingered green beans and lime; green veggie burgers with tzatziki and garlic fries.
Cost: Two-person plans start at $13 per serving. Four-person plans start at $11 per serving. There’s also an option for one-serving, oven-ready dishes (each meal costs $13). Shipping is an additional $10 for orders under $99.
First-time customer deals: $25 off your first four boxes with code ROUTINE100 | Recipe options per week: At least 16 meals; various quantities of add-ons and pantry items | Packing materials: Recyclable boxes, containers, packaging; partly recyclable liners and ice packs | Availability: Contiguous United States
- Pros: Gourmet offerings, zero prep work
- Cons: On the pricey side
Bring fine dining into your home with CookUnity's premade meals—all created by top chefs, including James Beard Award winners and Food Network alums. The only work you have to do is stick your dish in the oven. The company tailors entrees for all sorts of diets (like paleo, vegan, and keto).
Dietary options: Gluten-free, keto, Mediterranean, paleo, vegan, vegetarian
Meal examples: Pulled BBQ chicken with collard greens; lamb kebab with turmeric hummus and roasted sweet potatoes; seared steak with horseradish cream with oven-roasted brussels sprouts.
Cost: Plans start at $14 per meal for four meals per week.
First-time customer deals: 30% off your first order | Recipe options per week: At least 200 meals | Packing materials: Recyclable boxes, containers, liners; partly recyclable containers; returnable delivery tote bags | Availability: Nationwide (check to see if your zip code is included).
- Pros: Crowd-pleasing options
- Cons: Reviewers report small portions
Meet the something-for-everyone meal delivery service. Reviewers love HelloFresh’s wide assortment of plans and preference options, which covers quick and easy meals, family-friendly, veggie, and more. Each recipe is ranked by difficulty, so you can pick something that sharpens or matches your skill level (with easy options that avoid cooking entirely).
Dietary options: vegan, vegetarian
Meal examples: Coconut curry with chickpeas; apricot ponzu chicken; one-pan turkey stir-fry tacos.
Cost: Two-person plans start at $57 for two meals per week; four-person plans start at $91 for two meals per week. Shipping costs depend on where you live.
First-time customer deals: 16 free meals across your first nine orders; free shipping on your first order; free dessert item with every order | Recipe options per week: 40 meals | Packing materials: Recyclable bags, boxes, insulation, packaging; partly recyclable ice packs | Availability: Nationwide, including select zip codes in Honolulu and Anchorage.
- Pros: Good for on-the-go meals and snacks, zero prep work
- Cons: Reviewers report a lack of variety in meal options
Splendid Spoon’s dishes require very little effort (just a quick heat-up) to whip up a highly flavorful, enjoyable meal. The brand’s pre-made options include soups, stews, and rice and noodles—or you can choose from a variety of fruity juices and high-protein smoothies.
Dietary options: Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian
Meal examples: Red lentil dal soup with cumin and rosemary; creamy butternut squash noodles with broccoli and turmeric; hearty vegetable bolognese with wild rice and garlicky green beans.
Cost: Smoothies start at $10 per serving; soups start at $12; noodles and other dishes start at $13. Orders of 10 meals or more ship for free.
First-time customer deals: N/A | Recipe options per week: 50 meals and drinks | Packing materials: Entirely recyclable boxes and packaging | Availability: Contiguous United States
Related:
- 9 Expert-Approved Protein Powders That Actually Taste Good
- 9 Best Protein Bars in 2024, According to Dietitians and Editors
- The 12 Best Vegetarian Meal Kits
How to choose the right meal kit delivery service for you
On the most practical level, the meal kit you choose should suit your budget and schedule. Luckily, if you need a flexible subscription, the majority of services make it easy to skip and pause deliveries. Some even allow you to change the number of meals you receive every week. Other factors to consider are your dietary preferences and any potential dietary restrictions. You can find brands that spotlight vegetarian and vegan meals, filter weekly menus based on your allergies, use certain ingredients, and offer on-the-go menu items like soups, smoothies, and frozen meals. Beyond that, it’s a matter of, well, taste. You may need to try out a couple brands before you find the one that works for you.
You can also shop with your idea of healthy eating in mind: Though what this means is super individualized, it could look like prioritizing nutrient-laden ingredients, satisfying servings, or even delicious, joyful dishes. So whether you’re incredibly busy, exploring a more plant-based diet, interested in eating local, looking to find more pleasure in home-cooked meals, or some combination thereof—you can likely find a meal kit that’ll satisfy your needs.
