Lifestyle Kitchen Best Meal Delivery Services 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 December 21, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Photo: Unsplash / Chaewon Lee 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've rounded up a wide variety of our favorite meal delivery services so you can discover the best meal kit and plan for your family. Read on to explore our picks. Best Meal Delivery Services of 2022 Best Overall: Sunbasket Best Value: Dinnerly Best Vegan: Green Chef Best for Foodies: Blue Apron Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth Best Variety: HelloFresh Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity Best Organic: bistroMD Best Eco-Friendly: Hungryroot Best Overall: Sunbasket Courtesy of Sunbasket Sign Up Now Key SpecsStarting Price: $9.99 per servingDelivery Area: 46 statesProducts Arrive: FreshWhy 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 & Cons Pros Protein customization options availableEthical sourcing and certified USDA organic ingredients when possibleUnique meals and add-on options Cons Some recipe instructions may be confusingShipping is only free for your first order 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. Pricing and Plans Fresh & Ready meals start at $9.99 a servingMeal kits start at $11.49 a serving Shipping is $7.99 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 Value: Dinnerly Dinnerly Sign Up Now Key SpecsStarting 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 & Cons Pros Appealing price pointComfort food favorites in various serving sizesGrocery items available Cons Shipping costs extraDigital-only recipe cardSome customers report chatbot issues 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. Pricing and Plans 3 meals with 2 servings each: $6.39 per serving4 meals with 2 servings each: $5.99 per serving5 meals with 2 servings each: $5.89 per serving6 meals with 2 servings each: $5.79 per serving3 meals with 4 servings each: $5.69 per serving4 meals with 4 servings each: $5.49 per serving5 meals with 4 servings each: $5.29 per serving6 meals with 4 servings each: $4.99 per servingShipping is $9.99 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 Best Vegan: Green Chef Green Chef Sign Up Now Key SpecsStarting 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 & Cons Pros Organic ingredientsIdeal for families or larger householdsDiverse, interesting meals Cons Add-ons not available Mostly dinner entree choices 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. Pricing and Plans 3 meals with 2 servings each: $13.49 per serving4 meals with 2 servings each: $12.99 per serving2 meals with 4 servings each: $12.99 per serving3 meals with 4 servings each: $12.49 per serving4 meals with 4 servings each: $11.99 per serving3 meals with 6 servings each: $11.99 per serving4 meals with 6 servings each: $11.99 per servingShipping is $9.99 Meals We Tried Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls Maple glazed carrots with figs Best for Foodies: Blue Apron Blue Apron Sign Up Now Key SpecsStarting Price: $7.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: FreshWhy 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 & Cons Pros Gourmet meal options and at a wallet-friendly price pointBoth meal kits and prepared meals availableCommunicative customer service Cons Some customers reported shipping issuesShipping is not free 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. Pricing and Plans 2 meals with 2 servings each: $11.99 per serving3 meals with 2 servings each: $9.99 per serving4 meals with 2 servings each: $9.49 per serving2 meals with 4 servings each: $9.49 per serving3 meals with 4 servings each: $8.49 per serving4 meals with 4 servings each: $7.99 per servingShiping is $9.99 Meals We Tried Meal Kits Togarashi shrimp and vegetable fried rice Space Ranger chicken enchiladas One-pan white bean and poblano shakshuka Baked meatballs and romesco mayo Heat and Eat Sweet and spicy beef bowl with rice, peppers, and edamame Chicken alfredo pasta with peas Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth Modify Health Sign Up Now Key SpecsStarting Price: $11.75 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 & Cons Pros Dietitian-created meals with organic ingredients Free shippingIdeal for gluten-free and inflammation-sensitive diets Cons Must order minimum of six mealsCan't mix and match diet plans 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. Pricing and Plans Breakfasts start at $9.95 a servingEntrees start at $12.95 a servingFood program packages start at $180 a week, which includes 14 entrees or 21 breakfasts and entreesShipping is free 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 Variety: HelloFresh Hello Fresh Sign Up Now Key SpecsStarting Price: $7.99 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 & Cons Pros Large selection of family-friendly mealsView meal menu up to six weeks outNew customization options Cons Not ideal for customers with strict dietary needsLots of single-use plastics and packaging 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. Pricing and Plans 6 meals with 4 servings each: $7.99 per serving6 meals with 2 servings each: $8.49 per serving4 meals with 4 servings each: $7.99 per serving4 meals with 2 servings each: $9.49 per serving2 meals with 4 servings each: $9.49 per serving2 meals with 2 servings each: $11.99 per servingShipping is $8.99 Meals We Tried Crispy buffalo-spiced chicken BBQ cheddar burgers Tex-Mex pork with mango salsa Pork sausage rigatoni rosa Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity Cook Unity Sign Up Now Key SpecsStarting Price: $10.39 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 & Cons Pros Chef-crafted meals covering multiple dietary needsOrder up to 16 meals each weekSustainable packaging Cons Single-serving options only 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. Pricing and Plans 16 meals a week: $10.39 per meal 12 meals a week: $10.49 per meal8 meals a week: $10.89 per meal6 meals a week: $11.39 per meal4 meals a week: $12.69 per meal Shipping is free Meals We Tried Coconut lime hanger steak Carnitas street tacos Butternut squash ravioli Chili roasted shrimp Best Organic: bistroMD Bistro MD Sign Up Now Key SpecsStarting Price: $10.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: FrozenWhy 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 & Cons Pros Custom meals based on dietary needsAccess to member portalInformative FAQ section Cons Shipping is priceySingle-serving portions onlyLots of single-use plastic 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. Pricing and Plans 5 days of lunch and dinner: starting at $164.857 days of lunch and dinner: starting at $141.65Shipping is $19.95 Meals We Tried Chicken, rice and cheddar casserole Salmon with dill mustard sauce Turkey breast with cranberry apple chutney Oven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauce Baked pasta marinara with chicken sausage Meatloaf with honey bourbon glaze Mojo pork with black beans and rice Chicken pad thai Grilled salmon with creamy pesto Lasagna with garden marinara Best Eco-Friendly: Hungryroot Hungryroot Sign Up Now Use promo code FOOD&WINE30 to receive 30% off + free gift in every box. Key SpecsStarting Price: $9.69 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: FreshWhy 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 & Cons Pros Most meals ready in 10 minutes or lessCompany has strong sustainability missionAccess to 2,000+ recipes across various dietary preferences Cons Credit-based ordering system can be complicatedMay not appeal to more advanced home cooks 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. Pricing and Plans Meals start at $9.69; plan on a minimum of $70 an order per week to obtain free shippingFor orders less than $70, shipping is $6.99 Meals We Tried Spinach artichoke and mushroom tortelloni Roasted salmon and sweet potato on Brussels Southwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacos Thai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry Final Verdict Sunbasket is our top choice for the best overall meal delivery service. With a company mission dedicated to sustainability and farm-fresh ingredients, we love the varied meals and entrees Sunbasket offers. Select from traditional meal kits or fresh-and-ready prepared meals with options for protein customizations and add-ons. With a diverse variety of globally-inspired meals and flavors, Sunbasket makes it fun and exciting to try new favorites each week. Compare the Best Meal Delivery Services Company Starting Price Delivery Area Products Arrive Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? Free Shipping? Sunbasket Best Overall $9.99 per serving 47 states Fresh Yes No Dinnerly Best Value $4.99 per serving 47 states Fresh Yes No Green Chef Best Vegan $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 ModifyHealth Best for Gluten-Free $11.75 per serving 48 states Fresh No Yes HelloFresh Best Variety $7.99 per serving 48 states Fresh No No CookUnity Best Prepared Meals $10.39 per serving 47 states Fresh Yes Yes BistroMD Best Organic $10.99 per serving 48 states Frozen No No Hungryroot Best Eco-Friendly $9.69 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes Yes 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. 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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