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One of the constant struggles of adulthood? Figuring out what’s for dinner, especially when you’re balancing school, work, and other life responsibilities. Meal kits can feel like a lifesaver. Between classes, kitchen time, and studying, you may not always want to take the time for your own menu planning and grocery shopping. A meal kit can provide a quick, well-balanced meal without resorting to takeout.
And you can use these chef-designed recipes to practice your techniques and plating skills. These services are something future chefs should know about—research shows Americans like eating at home, and meal kit services continue to gain popularity, projected to reach 8.8 million users in the U.S. by 2029.
These companies are helping shape how people cook at home and providing new career opportunities for culinary professionals. Whether you’re looking for a time-saving meal option or insights into the ever-changing food industry, meal kits are worth exploring.
We’re going to cover seven of the best meal kit delivery services so you can find one that fits your palate, your budget, and your lifestyle and maybe even spark some ideas for your future in the culinary world.
7 Best Meal Kit Delivery Services
No two meal kit companies are the same. Some focus on affordability, while others feature recipes that focus on a specific lifestyle, such as plant-based. Some include simple recipes with few ingredients, and others provide options that can help expose you to new ingredients and techniques.
Here are seven of the best meal kit delivery services to help you find the right one for your lifestyle.
Meal kit deliveries can provide fresh, pre-portioned ingredients to make home-cooked meals easier and more convenient.
1. Blue Apron
Blue Apron allows you to try new cuisines without breaking the bank. They offer a rotating selection of signature, vegetarian, and wellness meals. Each category includes inventive meals such as Turkey and Mushroom Lettuce Cups, Glazed Jerk Chicken, and Creamy Garlic Gnocchi.
Compared to other well-rounded kits, Blue Apron’s instructions are a bit more advanced. So, while their step-by-step instructions can help you refine your culinary skills, don’t be surprised if you find yourself researching a specified cooking technique.
One unique aspect of Blue Apron is its wine-pairing program. They offer 500 mL bottles of wine that include pairing tips, which can be helpful if you’re new to the world of wine.
Prices start around $8.00/serving*
*Prices may vary. Please check the company website for current information.
2. HelloFresh
If you’re looking for a wide variety of recipes to suit every kind of eater, HelloFresh is a great choice. Each week, you’ll be able to choose from 50 different recipes, including kid-friendly, vegetarian, and low-calorie options.
HelloFresh does a good job offering budget-friendly, tried-and-true favorites as well as a few meals that may give you the opportunity to expand your palate. You can order two to six recipes per week, so it’s easy to create a plan that fits your needs.
There are a wide variety of recipes that can help you try out global cuisine and new ingredient pairings. Dish options include things like Firecracker Meatballs with Roasted Carrots and Jasmine Rice, Crispy Cheddar Chicken with Loaded Bacon Mashed Potatoes, and Vegan Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tostada with Guacamole.
Recipe developers have also kept time-starved home cooks in mind, with the option for weekly meals ready in 20 minutes or less.
Prices start around $10.00/serving*
*Prices may vary. Please check the company website for current information.
3. Home Chef
Home Chef is one of the best kits if you’re new to cooking or pressed for time. Their recipe cards are easy to follow and include helpful hints that will improve your kitchen skills. Plus, they claim to offer numerous kits that have your meal ready in 15 minutes or less. This can be helpful when you have a busy schedule.
While the recipes are simple to make, they involve more steps than reheating a frozen meal. By spending half an hour cooking, you’ll end up with meals like Umami Avocado and Tofu Sushi Rice Bowl, One-Pot Primavera Tomato and Sausage Soup, and Ricotta Beef Meatball Penne.
That said, Home Chef also offers pre-portioned, oven-ready meals for those days you don’t want to cook. These meals include options like Garlicky Peppercorn Sirloin with Mashed Potatoes and Tortilla-Crusted Chicken with Fajita-Style Vegetables and Rice.
Prices start around $8/serving*
*Prices may vary. Please check the company website for current information.
Meal kits provide pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step instructions, making it easy to create restaurant-quality dishes at home
4. Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot meal kits show that plant-based cooking doesn’t have to be flavorless or boring. These kits are perfect if you follow a vegan diet, but their recipes are also great if you’re looking to cut down on your meat consumption or eat more veggies.
Many recipes highlight seasonal vegetables, ancient grains, or legumes. Even if you’re unfamiliar with some ingredients, detailed instructions make it easy to create tasty recipes like a Bali BBQ tofu sandwich or a butternut squash bisque.
They offer both meal kits and ready-to-eat dishes, including meals like General Tso’s Tofu with Quinoa & Broccoli, Sesame Carrot Soup with Crispy Chickpeas & Apricot Chutney, and Gnocchi Al Pesto with Charred Green Beans & Lemon Zucchini.
This is a great service to use if you’re interested in learning more about plant-based cooking, which is a growing sector in the restaurant industry. Since Purple Carrot meal kits are plant-based, they typically produce a lower carbon footprint than a standard American meal. So, if a more sustainable lifestyle is one of your top priorities, Purple Carrot is a good brand to try.
Prices start around $11.00/serving*
*Prices may vary. Please check the company website for current information.
5. Green Chef
Green Chef keeps dietary preferences in mind, with meal kits that fit into keto, paleo, and plant-based diets. They’re also great if you’re concerned about the environment, since their kits are certified organic, their packaging is eco-friendly, and the company offsets their carbon emissions. Sustainability is a major industry trend, and these kits highlight eco-friendly practices that future chefs may want to be aware of.
Recipes are easy to prepare and include options like Beef Tenderloin with Cherry Sauce, Greek Salad Flatbreads, and Cranberry BBQ Turkey Burger.
Prices start around $12.00/serving*
*Prices may vary. Please check the company website for current information.
6. EveryPlate
EveryPlate is known for being one of the most budget-friendly options for meal kit delivery services. While they still provide fresh ingredients and flavorful recipes, there are fewer customizable options than some of the other meal delivery services.
They provide around 35 meals to choose from each week, including options like Saucy Chicken & Pepper Stir-Fry over Ginger Rice, Smothered and Stuffed Meatloaves with Potato Wedges, and Cheesy Corn Bisque with Garlic Bread.
EveryPlate can help you discover ways to maximize flavor while using less expensive ingredients.
Prices starting around $6.00/serving*
*Prices may vary. Please check the company website for current information.
7. Sunbasket
When you open a Sunbasket box, you’ll feel like you just took a trip to the farmers’ market. At least 99% of their produce, eggs, and dairy are certified organic, and all meat is free from hormones and antibiotics.
The recipes themselves are health-focused and have a seasonal twist. You don’t need to be a professional cook to follow the instructions, but it does help to have some kitchen confidence since recipe cards don’t include step-by-step photos. Meal choices include options like Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry with Udon Noodles, Prosciutto Pizzas with Fresh Mozzarella and Arugula Salad, and Japanese Mushroom Rice with Green Beans in Sesame Dressing.
However, they also have pre-made meals such as Homestyle Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese and Sichuan Style Pork Dan Dan Noodles with Bok Choy.
Sunbasket boxes provide an opportunity to work with ingredients that you may find in a farm-to-table restaurant setting. In addition, they also allow you to add on individual grocery items like sourdough bread, cauliflower crisps, and raw chocolate bars. While these items are optional, this feature can help you save you a trip to the store.
Prices start around $12.00/serving*
*Prices may vary. Please check the company website for current information.
More Meal Kits for Aspiring Chefs to Explore
Not seeing a meal kit service that seems like the right fit for you? Don’t be afraid to try different ones until you find one that works for your budget, time, and taste. Here are some honorable mentions:
- Marly Spoon: Features recipes from Martha Stewart, helping you produce meals elegant enough to impress dinner guests. Menu examples include dishes like French Onion Chicken Breast, Turkish Beef Lahmajoun Flatbread, and Creamy Vegan Harissa Pasta. Prices start around $9/serving*.
- Hungry Root: Focused on healthy, customizable meals, Hungry Root features dishes like Blackened Pork Loin and Roasted Carrots, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Taco with Guac, and Yuzu Baked Salmon and Asparagus. Prices start around $9/serving*.
- CookUnity: Featuring chef-prepared meals that come fresh, never frozen. All you need to do is reheat and eat. Options include dishes like Pan Seared Cajun Salmon, Sesame-Ginger Tofu Poke Bowl, and Steak Suya and West African Kale. Prices start around $11-$12/serving*.
- Dinnerly: Focusing on easy to prepare and affordable meals, Dinnerly offers dishes like Pork Fajita Tacos, Creamy Mushroom Ravioli, Chicken Pot Pie. Prices are significantly lower than competitors, starting at $4.99/person*.
- Factor: Focusing on dietician-approved, fresh meals, Factor features dishes such as Smoky Gouda Chicken, Shredded Chicken and Pesto Creamed Spinach Tortellini, and Sesame Teriyaki Filet Mignon. Prices start around $11/serving*.
*Prices may vary. Please check the company website for current information.
Meal kits can help bring seasonal flavors to your table, like this rich and velvety squash soup with fresh herb garnishes.
Why You May Want to Use a Meal Kit Delivery Service
Meal kit delivery services can take the stress out of mealtime while potentially helping you save time and money. You might also reduce food waste, as you only get the ingredients you need, so nothing sits around unused in the fridge (we’re looking at you, celery).
On the professional side, you can also see how portion control and sourcing impact food costs. Cutting back on takeout, delivery fees, and impulse grocery buys can make a noticeable difference in your budget. In some cases, the meals themselves may even be cheaper than if you buy the ingredients at the store and make it yourself.
Are Meal Kits Bad for the Environment?
Research has found that meal kits can produce 33% fewer emissions than cooking from grocery store ingredients. Here’s why:
- Less food waste – Pre-portioned ingredients mean you use what you get, while grocery shopping often leads to buying more than needed. Food waste accounts for 25-33% of food-related emissions.
- Fewer cars on the road – Meal kit deliveries are bundled, reducing the number of individual trips to the store.
- More efficient than restaurant delivery – Takeout drivers often deliver one order at a time, leading to more emissions per meal.
While packaging can be a downside, the overall environmental impact of meal kits is often lower than grocery shopping or takeout.
Culinary Professionals Are a Crucial Component of Successful Meal Kits
While the meals may be quick to prepare, these meal kit services don’t pop out of thin air; each company relies on a team of talented professionals. From chefs, recipe developers, food photographers, food stylists, and other culinary professionals, the meal kit industry relies on culinary professionals.
Following meal kit recipes won’t replace the skills and knowledge you can discover in culinary school. But they’ll help you put balanced, flavorful meals on the table in a fraction of the time it takes to make them from scratch. By ordering your favorite meal kit, you’ll also get the chance to explore new dishes while saving time in the kitchen.
If you want to turn your passion for food into a career, a culinary education can help open doors to opportunities, including those beyond the kitchen. Contact us to explore how Escoffier can help you build a career in the culinary world.
OTHER ARTICLES ABOUT THE WORLD OF FOOD & DRINK YOU MAY FIND INTERESTING:
- How to Start a Meal Prep Business
- 15 Culinary Careers Outside of the Kitchen
- 4 Advanced Cooking Methods for Every Chef
This article was originally published on January 24, 2022, and has since been updated.
