Meal package delivery services should make your life easier. And they do, when you choose one. But with the field of services expanding rapidly in recent years, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. Whether you’re going vegan, cooking for a family of six, or just want to find your feet in the kitchen, there’s likely a service to meet your needs. Some meal packages send you ready-made meals, while others send ingredients combined with recipes, and a few more are grocery delivery services. They all aim to make the process of planning and cooking meals more convenient, and how well they succeed varies.
I’ve tested more than two dozen meal package delivery services over the past few years, and retested a few in this guide to ensure accuracy. Few are outright bad, so choosing the right one for you comes down to lifestyle. I’m an experienced home cook and have no dietary restrictions or picky eating preferences, but I was looking for plant-based meals with more options for omnivores. I also had help with taste testing from lifelong vegans, picky kids, and my cat (accidentally). Considering recipes, ingredients, ease of use, amount of packaging wasteand the fact that every home cook has different needs, you’ll find the best meal delivery services below.
Updated January 2025: Added Gardencup and new Gobble photos, plus double-checked links and prices.
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PRICE: Despite all marketing claims to the contrary, meal packages cost more than buying groceries. However, they usually cost less than takeout and are healthier. If you’re looking to gauge whether the trade-off is worth it, the good news is that it’s similar mattress-in-a-box companies usually have cutlery some conducting promotions. Most meal kit pricing models offer bulk discounts: The more meals you buy per week, the lower the price of each portion. Below we go into detail about dietary restrictions and subscription costs. If you ever want to skip a week or cancel, you can find that information in the account section of your chosen service’s website.
WIRED: Meal packages are convenient; I didn’t have to worry about dinner planning, grocery shopping, or panic eating fast food after forgetting to eat a proper meal during the day. Learning to cook with one of the best meal delivery services can instill confidence and impart basic knowledge. If you’re busy or just don’t want to be bothered, meal kits can be just what you need to cook, and cooking at home is never a bad thing. Meal kits may be right for you if you cook for a small household, if you work non-traditionally, if you hate figuring out what to make for dinner, if you want to stop ordering out all the time, or if you’re trying to develop your cooking skills.
TIRED: Nothing beats learning to cook the old fashioned way, so definitely give it a try. It’s cheaper and you learn more if you pick your own fruit or crack a whole chicken for $5. You simply don’t get that experience if everything arrives at your door and the chicken parts come packaged. Planning and grocery shopping is an integral part of the art of cooking. Packaged meals are generally more wasteful than traditional home cooking, and often more expensive. Meal kits may be the wrong choice for you if you are on a tight budget, if you are cooking for a large household, or if you want tighter control over the specific ingredients you will be using.
What if I have allergies, a specific diet or go on vacation often?
You’re probably covered. Most meal package services have a way to filter out common allergens or dietary preferences, and most recipes have specific nutritional information listed so you’ll always be informed. And if you travel a lot, it’s usually easy to go to your account settings and skip a week, pause your plan, or cancel it entirely. These factors vary by service, but we’ve outlined some details below.
For each serving below, I tested at least three servings, following the recipe directions exactly. I mostly made them for dinner and prioritized testing the protein mix and the culinary skills required (for example, testing a one-skillet meal alongside a more complex meal with a protein, side dish, and pan sauce). I intended to test a variety of dishes that would appeal to many people, including vegetarian options and meals that would be quick to prepare for the family versus meals that would be good for a date night.