What to Buy Food Food & Meal Delivery Tested: The Best Meal Delivery Services for Easy Planning These services can help save time and energy in the kitchen By Marisa Olsen Marisa Olsen Marisa is a food writer with a background in marketing and communications for the arts and restaurant industries. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 18, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Our shrimp dish from Green Chef came together nicely. Photo: Food & Wine / Eric Kleinberg Let's face it: Putting dinner on the table every night can be challenging, no matter how big your household is. Between work life and home life, it can be difficult to find the time to plan meals, buy groceries, and cook. That's where meal delivery kits come in. The ease and convenience of a meal delivery service can save time and alleviate the extra stress when it comes to meal planning and cooking. Skip the grocery store and enjoy the ease of ingredients (and groceries, in some cases) delivered straight to your door. Whether you desire a gourmet, worldly meal with minimal prep or you prefer to stockpile single-serving frozen meals that can be ready in minutes, there is a meal plan for you. To help you choose, we researched, tested, and evaluated more than 40 meal delivery services and rated them on several criteria, including cost, menus, and even packaging. Read on for our top picks. Best Meal Delivery Services of 2023 Best Meal Kits: Green Chef Best for Foodies: Blue Apron Best Variety: HelloFresh Best Eco-Friendly: Hungryroot Best for Weight Loss: bistroMD Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity Best Plant-Based: Daily Harvest Best Organic: Sunbasket Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth Best for Kids: Nurture Life Best for Families: Home Chef Best Value: Dinnerly We opened our Home Chef box to discover that the ingredients were wrapped in insulation to keep them fresh. Food & Wine / Maxwell Cozzi Best Meal Kits: Green Chef Green Chef Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $11.99 per servingDelivery Area: 47 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Green Chef crafts ever-changing weekly menus using USDA certified organic ingredients, with vegan options available every week. Pros and Cons Pros Organic ingredients Ideal for families or larger households Diverse, interesting meals Cons Add-ons not available Mostly dinner entree choices Overview Using certified-USDA organic produce, Green Chef curates a rotating weekly selection of 24 gourmet, chef-inspired meals. Choose from a variety of dietary preferences, such as vegan, gluten-free, and keto, with an option to mix and match. Meals are available in servings of two, four, and six, and you can order two, three, or four meals per week. Additionally, Green Chef's menu is available online up to three weeks out, so you can peruse future options with ease. Meals We Tried Harissa-spiced shrimp Sesame ginger bavette steak and shrimp Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls Maple glazed carrots with figs Best for Foodies: Blue Apron Blue Apron Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $7.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Featuring both meal kits and ready-to-heat prepared meals, Blue Apron provides a gourmet culinary experience for all types of cooks. Pros and Cons Pros Gourmet meal options and at a wallet-friendly price point Both meal kits and prepared meals available Communicative customer service Cons Some customers reported shipping issues Shipping is not free Overview With dozens of flavorful menu choices each week, Blue Apron is the ultimate service for gourmet food lovers. Customers can select from traditional meal kits with pre-measured ingredients or Heat & Eat prepared meals. Choose from multiple meal preferences, including chef favorites, family-friendly, and vegetarian, with options for two or four servings and two to four meals per week. Weekly menu selections range from togarashi tilapia to pasta bolognese to duck with thyme butter sauce. And, in select areas, customers can add on marketplace items, such as pantry essentials, kitchen tools, and even wine. Meals We Tried Meal Kits Togarashi shrimp and vegetable fried riceSpace Ranger chicken enchiladasOne-pan white bean and poblano shakshukaBaked meatballs and romesco mayo Heat and Eat Sweet and spicy beef bowl with rice, peppers, and edamameChicken alfredo pasta with peas Best Variety: HelloFresh Hello Fresh Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $8.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It With its wide selection of tasty, flavorful meals that accommodate multiple eating styles, HelloFresh is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Pros and Cons Pros Large selection of family-friendly meals View meal menu up to six weeks out New customization options Cons Not ideal for customers with strict dietary needs Lots of single-use plastics and packaging Overview Each week, HelloFresh rolls out a menu of over 30 fresh meal kits featuring vegetarian, meat and veggies, pescaratian, fit and wholesome, quick and easy, and family-friendly style meals. Meals are designed for two or four servings, with an option for two to six meals a week. Customers also have the ability to customize up to 12 sides or proteins each week to create their ideal meal. Plates tend to be more on the filling side, with a focus on comfort foods like burgers, rice bowls, pastas, tacos, and sandwiches. Meals We Tried Crispy buffalo-spiced chickenBBQ cheddar burgersTex-Mex pork with mango salsaPork sausage rigatoni rosa Best Eco-Friendly: Hungryroot Hungryroot Sign Up Now Use promo code FOOD&WINE30 to receive 30% off + free gift in every box. Key Specs Starting Price: $9.69 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Operating as a meal delivery and grocery service all in one, Hungryroot boasts a wide variety of meal options with recyclable packaging and a zero-waste sourcing strategy. Pros and Cons Pros Most meals ready in 10 minutes or less Company has strong sustainability mission Access to 2,000+ recipes across various dietary preferences Cons Credit-based ordering system can be complicated May not appeal to more advanced home cooks Overview Hungryroot is a meal planning service and grocery ordering site all in one. New customers complete a detailed food preference quiz, and Hungryoot's algorithm creates a tailored meal plan with an accompanying list of groceries and pre-portioned ingredients to make meals in 10 minutes or less. With an archive of thousands of recipes and tons of search filters, you can mix and match to create nutritious and healthful meals, including salads, rice bowls, soups, pantry items, snacks, beverages, and even ready-to-eat foods. In addition, Hungryroot focuses on sustainable packaging, with recyclable boxes, biodegradable ice packs, and recipes designed to curb food waste. Meals We Tried Spinach artichoke and mushroom tortelloniRoasted salmon and sweet potato on BrusselsSouthwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacosThai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry Best for Weight Loss: bistroMD Bistro MD Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $10.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It Specializing in meal plans that help with weight management, bistroMD works with registered dietitians to craft meals using responsibly-sourced ingredients. Pros and Cons Pros Custom meals based on dietary needs Access to member portal Informative FAQ section Cons Shipping is pricey Single-serving portions only Lots of single-use plastic Overview BistroMD teamed up with dietitians and doctors to create custom meal plans based on your specific food preferences or health needs. Dietary plans include gluten-free, diabetic-friendly, heart-healthy, and menopause-friendly, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options available. There's also an online bistroMD portal, which gives you full access to your meals and custom diet plan. All meals are crafted with responsibly-sourced ingredients, and while not all meals are certified organic, bistroMD prioritizes using hormone-free meats and partnering with local farms whenever possible. Meals arrive frozen and ready to heat in five minutes or less. Meals We Tried Chicken, rice and cheddar casseroleSalmon with dill mustard sauceTurkey breast with cranberry apple chutneyOven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauceBaked pasta marinara with chicken sausageMeatloaf with honey bourbon glazeMojo pork with black beans and riceChicken pad thaiGrilled salmon with creamy pestoLasagna with garden marinara Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity Cook Unity Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $11.09 per servingDelivery Area: 47 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Want to enjoy chef-prepared, restaurant quality meals with little to no effort? Enter CookUnity, which partners with award-winning chefs to bring their ready-to-heat creations right to you. Pros and Cons Pros Chef-crafted meals covering multiple dietary needs Order up to 16 meals each week Sustainable packaging Cons Single-serving options only Overview CookUnity offers an extensive selection of fresh, small-batch chef-to-consumer meals that are ready to heat and eat in minutes. With east coast, west coast, Texas, and midwest hubs, you can select from a rotating menu of meals created by award-winning chefs, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Esther Choi. The menu caters to all sorts of dietary preferences, including dairy-free, vegan, low calorie, low sodium, and keto. Culinary and global delights feature bibimbap, Thai curries, barbeque, udon soups, pizza, tacos, and mezze platters. Meals are all single-serving, and you can order up to 16 entrees a week. Meals We Tried Coconut lime hanger steakCarnitas street tacosButternut squash ravioliChili roasted shrimp Best Plant-Based: Daily Harvest Daily Harvest Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $6.79 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It With its menu of over 100 meals, snacks, and smoothies, all of which are completely plant-based and gluten free, you’d be hard pressed to find something you don’t enjoy with Daily Harvest. Pros and Cons Pros Entire menu is plant-based Organic ingredients used whenever possible Volume-based discounts for added savings Cons Everything comes frozen Must order a minimum of nine items with each delivery Overview Since 2015, Daily Harvest has been providing plant-based eaters nationwide with top-notch meals that are chock-full of nutrients. Everything on the menu is both plant-based and gluten free, with a strong focus on using organic ingredients. You can choose from over 100 dishes, from sweet potato and wild rice bowls to artichoke and spinach flatbread to purple corn and tomatillo soup. While all items arrive frozen, that just means you can keep your freezer stocked with tasty meals whenever you need them. Meals We Tried Mint and cacao smoothieMango papaya smoothieHazelnut and chocolate bitesTomatillo and pepper flatbreadPortobello and pesto flatbreadSweet potato and wild rice hashBrussels sprouts and tahini harvest bowlSpinach and shiitake gritsTomato and zucchini minestrone soup Best Organic: Sunbasket Courtesy of Sunbasket Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9.99 per servingDelivery Area: 46 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It With its variety of menu options, add-on items, and protein customizations, plus a strong focus on organic ingredients and recyclable packaging, Sunbasket tops our list for meal delivery services. Pros and Cons Pros Protein customization options available Ethical sourcing and certified USDA organic ingredients when possible Unique meals and add-on options Cons Some recipe instructions may be confusing Shipping is only free for your first order Overview Sunbasket takes pride in ethical sourcing and using certified USDA-organic ingredients whenever possible from a plethora of U.S. purveyors and farmers. The service offers healthful and nutritious meals, with an option for a traditional meal kit with pre-portioned ingredients or fresh-and-ready prepared meals that can be heated up in minutes. Meals are available for two or four servings and many of the meals offer protein customization alternatives, plus options to add on breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. From Persian salmon to chimichurri steaks to chop suey, Sunbasket creates enticing and globally-inspired meals. Meals We Tried Meal Kits: Sea scallops over fresh fettuccine with sun-dried tomatoes and spinachSnapper with romesco, vegetables, and almondsBurmese chicken and sweet potato currySirloin strip tacos with zucchini scallion salsa Prepared Meals: Broccoli mac and cheeseChicken chow mein with broccoli, mushroom, and toasted garlicBeef donburi rice bowl with edamame and kimchi-lime vegetablesBurrito bowl al pastor with plant-based Impossible Beef Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth Modify Health Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $12.95 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Featuring an entirely gluten-free menu with meals designed by actual dietitians, ModifyHealth is an excellent option for those with gluten sensitivities. Pros and Cons Pros Dietitian-created meals with organic ingredients Free shipping Ideal for gluten-free and inflammation-sensitive diets Cons Must order minimum of six meals Can't mix and match diet plans Overview ModifyHealth was created to support people who suffer from chronic gut-related illnesses, particularly IBS, IBD, and other digestive issues. All meals are gluten-free, and they come fully-prepared, so all you have to do is heat them up to enjoy. ModifyHealth's meals are nutritionally designed by a dietitian and chef-crafted with organic ingredients whenever possible. Select from either a low-FODMAP or Mediterranean meal plan, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options available. There's also an option for additional dietitian support and counseling, so ModifyHealth can help create a food plan that's tailored to your specific needs. Meals We Tried Greek chicken and riceLongevity stew with black-eyed peas and kaleShrimp chimichurri with black beans and riceLemon thyme chicken with tahini cauliflower and za'atar quinoaBlackened salmon with quinoa, broccoli, and red bell pepperRoasted pistachio salmon with white beans and kale Best for Kids: Nurture Life Nurture Life Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $7.49 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Featuring a menu created by chefs and dietitians, Nurture Life helps kids get their daily doses of nutrition in the most delicious way possible. Pros and Cons Pros Meals can be heated in one minute Convenient menu filters for various dietary needs Organic ingredients Cons Limited options for children under 10 months old Overview Nurture Life offers tasty and healthy kids’ meals with a gourmet factor to boot. Featuring dishes like butter chicken, pesto ravioli, and chicken dumplings with edamame, kids can try various cuisines while still getting their daily servings of veggies. (In fact, Nurture Life states that veggies are included in every meal!) The food arrives fresh and ready to reheat, and you can have a yummy dinner on the table in as little as one minute. Meals We Tried White mac and cheese Chicken and mac Beef taco pockets Tortellini Bolognese Chicken dumplings Pesto and cheese ravioli Best for Families: Home Chef Home Chef Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $7.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Feeding a crowd? Home Chef’s comfort food-centric meals are sure to please everyone at the table. Pros and Cons Pros Meals serve up to six people each Easily customizable dishes at an affordable price point Easy Prep meals available to save time Cons Limited dietary accommodations Overview Home Chef’s array of tasty, crowd-pleasing meals is a boon for busy families. The company’s menu boasts three dozen meals each week, and its line of Easy Prep meals can majorly cut down on cooking time. There’s even an Oven Ready category that hardly requires any prep work at all — just assemble a few pre-prepped ingredients in a complimentary tray, pop it in the oven, and enjoy. Choose from mouthwatering, comfort food-leaning options like Tuscan-style shrimp penne, crispy shallot beef burgers, and mushroom and black bean chili, each of which can feed up to six people. 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 Value: Dinnerly Dinnerly Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $4.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Dinnerly boasts an ever-changing weekly menu of flavorful and filling family-friendly meals, all at an affordable price point. Pros and Cons Pros Appealing price point Comfort food favorites in various serving sizes Grocery items available Cons Shipping costs extra Digital-only recipe card Some customers report chatbot issues Overview With a starting price at a modest $4.99 a serving, Dinnerly is a solid option for budget-minded folks. Meals can be ordered with either two or four servings, with an option of three to six meals a week. Dinnerly's rotating weekly menu focuses on family-friendly comfort foods like steak and potatoes, quesadillas, and rice bowls. Customers can also incorporate grocery items into their shipments using the new online Market by Dinnerly. With pre-portioned items and only a handful of ingredients, meals are quick to prepare and delicious to eat. Meals We Tried BBQ cheeseburger with sautéed onions and smashed potatoesLow-cal veggie drunken noodles with broccoli, peppers, and cilantroGrass-fed ground beef and cheddar quesadillas with cornCaramel chicken stir-fry with snow peas and jasmine rice Compare the Best Meal Delivery Services Company Starting Price Delivery Area Products Arrive Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? Free Shipping? Green Chef Best Meal Kits $11.99 per serving 47 states Fresh Yes No Blue Apron Best for Foodies $7.99 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes Yes, with minimum order HelloFresh Best Variety $8.99 per serving 48 states Fresh No No Hungryroot Best Eco-Friendly $9.69 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes Yes BistroMD Best for Weight Loss $10.99 per serving 48 states Frozen No No CookUnity Best Prepared Meals $11.09 per serving 47 states Fresh Yes Yes Daily Harvest Best Plant-Based $6.79 per serving 48 states Frozen Yes Yes Sunbasket Best Organic $9.99 per serving 47 states Fresh Yes No ModifyHealth Best Gluten-Free $12.95 per serving 48 states Fresh No Yes Nurture Life Best for Kids $7.49 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes No Home Chef Best for Families $7.99 per serving 48 states Fresh No No Dinnerly Best Value $4.99 per serving 47 states Fresh Yes No Frequently Asked Questions Are meal delivery services healthy? Each meal delivery service is unique and may offer a variety of health benefits. For instance, if you follow a strict diet, such as vegan, gluten-free, or keto, there are specific meal kits that focus on these dietary needs. For those looking to lose weight, there are dietitian-designed services that cater to customers who want extra support. If you are looking to add more organic produce or vegetables into your diet, many meal services offer a vegetarian meal plan or work with local farms to procure and produce healthful meals.While each meal delivery service is distinctive in its offerings, most of the meal companies share nutrition facts for each meal and may even offer filters or tags to help you find the ideal meal. If you have any specific health ailments or issues, speaking to a doctor or registered dietitian may be advised to help select the right meal delivery plan for you. Do meal services have good options for people with food allergies? Fortunately, for those who suffer from food allergies and restrictions, there are plenty of options when it comes to meal delivery. Many services cater to a variety of food allergies and dietary needs, and some meal services are created by physicians and registered dietitians to offer custom meal plans. A variety of services offer a selection of diets, such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-, nut-, and dairy-free. It's important to note that, despite offering diet-specific meals, many companies process foods in facilities that may not uphold strict allergen standards. For this reason, consider reaching out to customer service to learn more about each service's processing and facility practices. What type of meal delivery service is best for me? With so many meal kit plans available, there are several factors to consider when selecting a meal delivery service. Who is the plan for? How big is the household? Some services are geared towards single-serving meals, while other services offer multiple serving sizes, which may appeal to families or homes that love to have a fridge stocked with leftovers.Time commitment may also be an important factor. Which deliveries will work best with your schedule? Are you looking to microwave a complete meal in a few minutes, or do you enjoy the process of cooking a gourmet meal some evenings? Additionally, it's important to consider diet, food restrictions, and food allergies when selecting the best meal plan for your household. Is it easy to cancel a meal delivery service? Most meal delivery services make it quite easy to cancel, update, skip, or even pause your service. Many companies let customers make changes and updates to their account in the online profile or mobile app. Depending on the service, you may need to answer a few questions before fully canceling your subscription. Other services may even require contacting a customer service agent to cancel a subscription. If you have any hesitations or questions, check the FAQ section of the company website or reach out to customer service for assistance. Our HelloFresh ingredients were packaged for easy organization. Food & Wine / Abbey Littlejohn Methodology Our team of researchers independently reviewed 40 online meal delivery services. They looked at myriad factors, including the variety of meal delivery offerings, cooking times, pricing, sustainability initiatives, shipping fees and timelines, delivery areas, and customer service. After careful review, researchers identified which meal delivery services were appropriate for a variety of categories. How We Test and Rank Meal Delivery Services Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Related Articles Best Kids Meal Delivery Services The Best Meal Delivery Services for Busy Families Cheapest Meal Delivery Services The Best Dairy-Free Meal Delivery Services To Make Mealtime Easy Best Vegan Meal Delivery Services Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Services Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services Best Organic Meal Delivery Services Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Services Best Pescatarian Meal Delivery Services Best Kosher Meal Delivery Services Best Oven-Ready Meal Delivery Services The Best Vegan Subscription Boxes for Easy Plant-Based Meals The Best Food Subscription Boxes for Every Kind of Culinary Savant Best Smoothie Delivery Services Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies