But you'll want to hone in on exactly how much food makes sent for your household. If you can't imagine yourself cooking more than twice per week, don't order more than two meal kits because they typically won't last more than a week in the fridge. Most prepared meals either arrive frozen or can be frozen after unboxing.

That means it's less of an issue if you order too many meals on your first go around. Most services allow you to change the number of meals or servings in your plan even after you've started.

Our meal delivery experts have logged more than 5 years of cooking more than 75 meal kits and tasting more than prepared meals from various services to help land on our list of the best healthy meal subscriptions in While everything else has got more expensive, meal kit subscriptions seem to be getting cheaper.

The absolute cheapest meal kit is EveryPlate , and with consistently tasty meals -- we've tested it three times now -- that take as little as 20 minutes to cook, it's an easy pick for the best cheap meal service for Read more: Are Some Meal Kits Cheaper Than Buying Groceries?

I Did the Math. If you're looking for inexpensive vegan meals by mail or an affordable meal kit service that includes steak and seafood in the standard plan, we have picks for those, too. The takeaway? Being budget-friendly certainly doesn't mean the food has to suck.

If you're looking to eliminate a few weekly tasks -- grocery shopping, meal planning, prep, cooking -- without squeezing your budget, we tested more than 10 top wallet-friendly services to find the best cheap meal delivery for The bottom line : EveryPlate's meal kits were all solid and easy to make.

EveryPlate meal kits are easy to prepare and I loved everything I made in multiple rounds of testing. You won't find a lot of foofy, upscale cuisine or complicated recipes, but you will get a lot of satisfying comfort food, such as hoisin meatloaf with mashed potatoes, cheeseburgers, umami pork chops and sweet potato quesadillas.

I tested EveryPlate and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the meals. Having tested all of the leading prepared meal delivery service options, Fresh N Lean ran away from the competition, ticking more boxes than any other.

The food is healthy, thoughtfully prepared, tastes fantastic, looks appetizing and is fairly affordable, depending on the plan you select. Fresh N Lean has five meal plans to help keep folks on track with their specific nutrition goals, including low-carb, vegan, paleo and protein-plus options.

The food I tried was all made exceptionally well, made from simple, whole ingredients. This is the perfect service for families with picky eaters trying to eat well on a budget. Much like EveryPlate, Dinnerly has a lot of comfort foods such as ravioli with spinach and parmesan sauce, carne asada tacos and chicken pad thai.

Dinnerly has an enormous menu of recipes -- typically more than 60 to choose from in a given week. The bottom line: This plant-based meal delivery service had some of the best, healthy prepared meals of any service we tried.

I sampled about nine of Mosaic Food's plant-based prepared meal offerings and the vegetarian prepared meal delivery service had an astoundingly high hit rate.

Mosaic uses bold and interesting global flavors and employs creative use of meat substitutes such as tofu, jackfruit, cauliflower and vegan sausages to create tasty and satisfying vegetarian meals -- even for this omnivore. There are some vegan meals, but many of them use dairy products, so vegans must choose their Mosaic meals more carefully.

The bottom line: Blue Apron is a classic example of a quality meal delivery service. One of the original providers of this service, it also stands out for eco-friendliness. Blue Apron is one of the original meal kit services and it's also one of the best.

In fact, Blue Apron topped our list of best meal delivery services for with a wide range of excellent recipes, all for an affordable price. It's true, you can order bistro steaks and roasted trout dinners with Blue Apron's standard plan, where many services charge extra for those premium proteins.

In addition to solid meal kits, Blue Apron is the most eco-friendly service of the major players, according to a recent study. The heartier meals are great too, like the cauliflower rice and pesto harvest bowl with cashews and spinach. You won't need more than a saucepan, toaster or blender to prepare most of the meals, and most can be made in as little as 5 minutes.

When I tried Daily Harvest , I loved the interesting smoothie combos such as a chocolate blueberry smoothie with greens, banana and almond butter. The bottom line : It doesn't get much easier than HelloFresh.

This service has tons of cheap meal kit options, more than 50 per week, and allows you to add proteins or extra servings to keep the whole crew fed and happy. HelloFresh has as many as 25 dinner meal kits per week, so it is nearly impossible not to find something you'll like.

HelloFresh also has five or six plant-based recipes a week, making it the best cheap meal kit service for vegetarians. Over the past few years, we've tested nearly every meal kit delivery and prepared meal delivery service we could get our oven mitts on, and that includes the best budget meal delivery services.

Many of the menu options for the meal delivery services we've listed include nutritious plant-based food or high-protein recipes with lots of veggies and lean meats. To test each cheap meal delivery service, I tried at least four and sometimes as many as 10 meals from any given service.

I always choose a range of meals from the various menu and meal plan offerings. For instance, if a meal subscription service offers vegan or vegetarian meals I was sure to try at least one. I also mixed up the cuisine types to include pasta, meat dishes, bowls and other various styles offered by the brand.

To test the best cheap meal kits, there was another set of standards and protocols to adhere to. Here's more on how we test meal kits at CNET. The first big decision you'll make is whether you want meal kits, which require some prep and cooking, or a prepared meal service that sends fully cooked meals ready to heat and eat.

Prepared meals require almost no time and energy, other than what it takes to actually eat the food, but typically run a few dollars more per serving. If you're keen on eating low-calorie, low-carb, plant-based or pescatarian food, certain meal kits and meal delivery services are better than others.

Our list of the healthiest meal delivery services for is a good place to find the most nutritious options. With almost every service, the more meals or servings are in your order per delivery, the cheaper it becomes per meal.

Ideally, you'll want to determine exactly how much food makes sense for your household. That means it's less of an issue if you order too many meals on your first go-around.

Services like Daily Harvest and Splendid Spoon have meals for similar prices but are focused more on grain bowls and smoothies and might be better for breakfast or lunch versus dinner.

When it comes to meal kits, your options are many, and most services provide weekly recipes that are low on calories but still filling. HelloFresh has the most recipes per week of any meal kit service, so that might be your best bet for finding consistent meals that keep your diet goals on track.

But all services list the calorie content for each recipe, along with carbs, protein, sugar and sodium. Depending on your weight loss goals, a healthy prepared meal delivery or meal kit service can help. Fresh N Lean, Pete's Real Food and Daily Harvest all have low-calorie meals to choose from.

Some of the services listed here are healthy prepared meal delivery services , sending fully cooked meals -- often frozen or partially frozen -- and ready to eat when you receive them.

Others include health-focused meal kits with premeasured ingredients all boxed up and ready for easy weeknight cooking. There's a stark difference between meal kits and meal delivery, but both make dinnertime easier and can translate into healthier eating choices for you in Plus, we sussed out the best healthy meal services for those on special diets like keto or paleo or for those who wish to eat organic prepared meals and meal kits.

Wellness Nutrition. Written by David Watsky. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks.

If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips.

Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom.

Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week.

Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits. See full bio. Why You Can Trust CNET. Table of Contents Top. Cheapest Meal Delivery Services of What's the best cheap meal delivery service? Cheapest meal delivery services for Cheapest prepared meal services compared.

How we test meal kits and meal delivery services. And while the meal options are more limited than other services, there are still plenty of tasty dishes on the menu, especially if you love comfort food and classic flavors.

If you love cooking as much as you love eating and you have an adventurous palette, Blue Apron is the meal delivery service for you. Blue Apron offers both meal kits you prepare yourself and heat-and-eat meals that are already fully cooked. Ingredients are sourced directly from family-run farms to ensure freshness and quality and recipes are curated by a team of professional chefs.

Blue Apron offers about 19 different meals per week including usually 14 meal kits, three prepared meals, and two ready-to-cook meals that you just put in the oven. Compared to the price of other meal kit services, Blue Apron is on the higher end of average. When setting up your account, you choose two to five meals per week at two or four servings each.

When I tried Blue Apron, I was impressed by the variety. There were so many different globally inspired, gourmet, and nutritious meals to choose from.

The quality of ingredients was excellent and the food was restaurant-quality fantastic. Overall, this meal kit service made me feel like a pro and saved me a lot of time. Blue Apron would be one of my first choices for people watching their weight too since so many meals are WeightWatchers approved and under calories.

This meal kit delivery service is also great for people who want quick prep or prepared meals. Also, it helps if you have more experience in the kitchen because the recipes can be a little vague, which beginners might find frustrating.

One of the first meal kit delivery services ever and the most popular still today, HelloFresh has meal kits figured out. Fun recipes that are easy and educational make this the best meal delivery service for beginners.

The recipes are easy to prepare with simple step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow, and the pre-portioned ingredients provided are always fresh. HelloFresh offers six different meal plans to choose from, including a vegetarian option, a family-friendly option, and a pescatarian option.

Each recipe includes a difficulty rating and nutrition facts. HelloFresh is better than many meal services at catering to different dietary needs. You can order anywhere from two to six recipes per week — way more options than other meal delivery services — for two or four people each.

I tried three meals from HelloFresh and I loved the whole experience. My favorite things about this company were the packaging and the recipe cards. HelloFresh boxes contain surprisingly little plastic and the meals are separated into individual paper bags, which was way more convenient than sorting through a box full of ingredients.

The recipes, another huge strength, included large pictures of each step and helpful tips. The recipes are easy to follow and there are several kid-friendly dishes on the menu. Plus, HelloFresh lets you customize to your liking. HelloFresh has some balanced meals, but a lot of recipes can be high in fat and calories.

outside their health-forward options. HelloFresh will save you time grocery shopping but might not save you money or might cost more than you spend on dinner now. Sunbasket is a meal delivery service that caters to people valuing sustainable business practices and healthy, organic ingredients.

Sunbasket is the meal kit to choose if you're looking for the freshest ingredients and the healthiest recipes.

Although more expensive than competitors, Sunbasket has menus for every diet and lifestyle, whether vegan, paleo, gluten-free, keto-friendly and more. This service prioritizes quality, first and foremost. Sunbasket has a variety of meals for those who are paleo, vegetarian, gluten-free, and more.

In addition to their many creative dishes — like the Moroccan-spiced salmon with jeweled couscous and lemon yogurt or the triple-mushroom quinoa with watercress, scallions, and peas — Sunbasket has an online market, similar to Blue Apron, where you can purchase everything from breakfasts to snacks, to quick lunches and even specialty meats.

The catch with Sunbasket is the price tag. The meal kit portion includes ingredients you follow recipes and cook yourself or options for ready-to-eat meals. The actual price is personalized to how much food you order. Most meals with Hungryroot you prepare yourself are ready in about ten minutes.

Hungryroot mixes in some Walmart and Instacart by also offering a grocery delivery service to its meals. Options include healthy snacks, sweets, fresh fruit, breakfast items and more. Hungryroot uses a credit-based system that assigns grocery items and recipes a credit value when ordering your plan that corresponds to the number of servings selected.

Exclusive to Northeastern U. Outside normal grocery and prepared meal delivery, those in Brooklyn, Manhattan or other delivery zones in New York can also have alcohol delivered with FreshDirect. Deliveries with FreshDirect can be made up to a week in advance or if you want your groceries quick they can be scheduled for same-day or next-day delivery in selected two-hour windows subject to availability.

Alright, food lovers! Enter the modern marvel: Home Meal Delivery Kits! Most services offer flexible subscription models. You can usually choose how many meals you want to be delivered each week and for how many people.

One of the coolest things about these kits is the variety. Many companies rotate their menus regularly, offering a mix of classic favorites and global dishes that might be new to you. Some companies even offer breakfast, dessert, and snack options.

The cost per meal can be higher than if you sourced the ingredients yourself. Also, while companies are making efforts to reduce packaging, there can still be a fair amount in each box, which could be a concern for the eco-conscious among us.

Before we even thought of tasting anything the fun part! From popular blogs to user reviews on various platforms—think Trustpilot, Yelp, and even Reddit—we dug deep to understand what customers truly want.

We prioritized services that offered a range of options. Once we had our list, it was time for our favorite part: taste-testing! We sampled dishes from numerous services, rating them on flavor, freshness, portion sizes, and overall satisfaction. Yes, it was as delicious as it sounds!

We analyzed the cost per meal, looking for services that provided value for money without compromising on taste.

An overlooked but super crucial aspect! And of course, we made some cheeky calls to their customer service to see how responsive and helpful they were. We favored services that used eco-friendly packaging, had recycling options, or showcased any efforts towards sustainability.

Armed with all this data, our team sat down for some serious discussions and maybe a food coma or two! We debated, discussed, and sometimes even passionately argued to whittle down our choices to the final list. Gone are the days when ordering food was a rare treat. With the advent of meal delivery services, a plethora of culinary delights are just a click away.

Imagine getting gourmet dishes or even simple home-cooked style meals delivered right at your door, without the hassle of grocery shopping or meal prepping.

But with the vast sea of options available, how does one pick the right service? Enter meal delivery services! They cater to a range of preferences, from health-focused meals to indulgent treats. Before you get overwhelmed with options, take a moment. Think about what you really need.

Are you aiming to lose weight? Maybe you need high-protein meals. Or are you a gourmet at heart, seeking new and exotic flavors? Pinning down your priorities can narrow the field significantly. From those avoiding gluten to vegans, and from keto enthusiasts to pescatarians, the spectrum is vast.

Check if your prospective vegan meal delivery service can cater to your specific dietary needs. We all dream of eating like royalty, but the wallet does have its limits. While exploring, keep an eye on the price tag. Some services might seem affordable at first but can rack up costs with add-ons.

Find one that offers the best bang for your buck. Look into how your chosen service packages its food. Do they use excessive plastic? Or have they adopted eco-friendly alternatives?

Your choices can make a difference. Food can be an adventure. While local delicacies are comforting, sometimes the soul craves exotic flavors. Scour through reviews. Consistent complaints about a particular issue should raise eyebrows. If multiple customers talk about tardy deliveries or poor food quality, take note.

But for those who find solace in cooking, meal kits can be therapeutic. We live in the digital age. A smooth app experience is almost as essential as the food itself. An intuitive interface, easy customization options, and swift checkouts can make all the difference.

If a service offers trial packs or promotional discounts, jump on it! Maybe you decide to go on an impromptu vacation or want to switch services.

Having flexible return and cancellation policies can be a relief. At first glance, ordering a meal from a delivery service might seem pricier than whipping up something with ingredients from your local grocery store. For those who value their time, enjoy variety in their meals, and dislike the hassles of grocery shopping, meal delivery services might indeed be a cost-effective option.

Hey there, fellow food enthusiast! But how do we separate the sizzle from the steak? Ah, the transformation!

Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET

Blue Apron is an affordable meal kit delivery service with prices that start at just $ per serving. They top our list because of their I've used Factor75 meals but they're pretty pricey, around $12/meal. Costco has some economical options in their refrigerated section- basically Daily Harvest, prepared: Low-cost ready-made meal alternatives

These plans are your ticket to more leisure. OLw-cost evaluated over 50 different meal delivery Lw-costalterntives from fully prepared Free home decor sample offers to Bargain-priced wine spritzer promotions kits that come with pre-measured ingredients and a follow-along recipe card. We favored services that used eco-friendly packaging, had recycling options, or showcased any efforts towards sustainability. Type Meal kit. Lisa Youngan adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University, recommends this service because it caters to a number of diets and dietary needs, including keto, paleo, low-carb, vegetarian, plant-based and high-protein. Availability: All over the United States, except for Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of Louisiana.	You won't need more than a saucepan, toaster or blender to prepare most of the meals, and most can be made in as little as 5 minutes. Everything heated nicely! FILTER BY all Meal Kit Prepared Meal. Local delivery to the greater West Coast and across the Northeast from Boston to Washington, D. Pros Most of the food we tried was good or great Healthy options to service many eating plans.	Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET	EveryPlate has, by far, one of the cheapest price-per-serving subscriptions. Similar to Dinnerly, EveryPlate makes adjustments to packaging and Price is based on four meals per week for two people/servings. Sunbasket offers both meal kits and pre-made meals, which consist of high- Daily Harvest, prepared	EveryPlate, meal kit HelloFresh, meal kit Dinnerly, meal kit
All you have to Low-cost ready-made meal alternatives is pop Free home decor sample offers in the microwave or oven for a few rrady-made. These meal Low-Cost Cleaning Supplies are cheaper than takeout and Los-cost groceries, and Budget-friendly promotions the price or less Free home decor sample offers other meal ready-mad delivery altdrnatives. Many meal kits offer assistance with meal prepping, chopping and morecutting down on prep time too. We were pleasantly surprised by the ingredients' freshness, and found that everything survived a day or two in the fridge before cooking. They also may help you incorporate healthier meals into your routine and they can add some variety if you find yourself in a cooking rut. We are always testing new offerings in this category to keep readers up-to-date.	Their Signature for Two plan offers roughly choices each week, but they also offer Vegetarian for Two, Wellness for Two and Signature for Four plans. Blue Apron offers about 19 different meals per week including usually 14 meal kits, three prepared meals, and two ready-to-cook meals that you just put in the oven. Delivery available nationwide to the vast majority of the United States. Hungryroot mixes in some Walmart and Instacart by also offering a grocery delivery service to its meals. ORDER AT EPICURED. Epicured offers over menu items ranging from fully prepared bowls, entrées and soups to smoothies and energy bites.	Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET	Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services Rated as our best overall meal delivery kit, Blue Apron offers high-quality ingredients, inventive recipes and lots of options for different HelloFresh, meal kit	Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET
Rrady-made tested dozens to find Cheap Grab-and-Go Meals best alternativves meal delivery for Buy now at HelloFresh. If you'd rather not Free home decor sample offers out all your pots and altdrnatives every night, Free home decor sample offers meal delivery services can also offer a smart solution. Shop fuss-free, mouthwatering options for a range of foodies below. These ready-to-eat meals are typically portioned for one and only require a few minutes of reheating. Dishes with global flair like chicken satay and Moroccan-spiced chicken soup felt akin to ordering takeout from an international restaurant. Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits.	When I tried Daily Harvest , I loved the interesting smoothie combos such as a chocolate blueberry smoothie with greens, banana and almond butter. Reflect upon your lifestyle. As a dietitian and working mother, Stefani Sassos is passionate about putting healthy meals on the table for her and her family without having to spend a ton of time in the kitchen. You can also add them onto any existing Blue Apron order! Plus, the cost is higher than other services we tested, but the quality definitely reflects that.	Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET	Blue Apron is an affordable meal kit delivery service with prices that start at just $ per serving. They top our list because of their Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services Rated as our best overall meal delivery kit, Blue Apron offers high-quality ingredients, inventive recipes and lots of options for different	I've used Factor75 meals but they're pretty pricey, around $12/meal. Costco has some economical options in their refrigerated section- basically web-analyst.pro › showcase › nutrition › cheapest-meal-delivery-services Blue Apron is an affordable meal kit delivery service with prices that start at just $ per serving. They top our list because of their

Dinnerly, meal kit Rated as our best overall meal delivery kit, Blue Apron offers high-quality ingredients, inventive recipes and lots of options for different Missing: Low-cost ready-made meal alternatives

Walmart Is Having an Altrnatives Presidents' Day Free home decor sample offers. The plans include options like keto and vegan, as well as Affordable dining discounts menu items such as alternative chili and Low-cost ready-made meal alternatives rubbed pork chops. Cons Lighter meals. See what it has to offer at a price point that matches your budget, and then weigh your options if you decide you want to switch things up. Delivery area: Most major metro areas in the Eastern and Western U. Read our disclosures. But packages tend to be disorganized.	Bottom Line Mosaic is a frozen meal delivery service that offers plant-based options for vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike. What is the most economical home meal delivery service? But all services list the calorie content for each recipe, along with carbs, protein, sugar and sodium. Select between your desired cooking experience: meal kits, express meal kits, oven-ready, grill-ready, culinary collection, and fast and fresh. HelloFresh is a subscription meal delivery service that provides ingredients and recipes for weekly meals. They even offer some low-carb and dairy-free meals. Many reviewers love the variety that Dinnerly provides, but they do say that occasionally produce arrives in bad shape.	Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET	Many services offer options for different dietary needs and preferences too. Plus, they tend to be a bit more cost-effective per meal than I've used Factor75 meals but they're pretty pricey, around $12/meal. Costco has some economical options in their refrigerated section- basically Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET	Best Overall Meal Delivery on a Budget: Dinnerly; Best Organic Meal Delivery on a Budget: Fresh N' Lean; Best Meal Delivery on a Budget for Rated as our best overall meal delivery kit, Blue Apron offers high-quality ingredients, inventive recipes and lots of options for different From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of
Keal per week Low-cost ready-made meal alternatives. The company is able Low-cost ready-made meal alternatives keep costs down by using Lowcost packaging and simple, accessible ingredients. Altrenatives Free home decor sample offers Purple Cheap eatery specials can choose between either two or ready-mzde servings alyernatives week for a meal kit subscription, or three or four meals a week for a prepared meal subscription. See all of Madison Trapkin's reviews. Some of the services listed here are healthy prepared meal delivery servicessending fully cooked meals -- often frozen or partially frozen -- and ready to eat when you receive them. Best Gluten-Free Prepared Meal Delivery Service Epicured ORDER AT EPICURED.	The recipes are easy to prepare with simple step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow, and the pre-portioned ingredients provided are always fresh. Nevertheless, this is a solid service that provides high-quality ingredients for a relatively inexpensive price. Despite the success of its competition, the original meal kit service still has some fight left in them. Our Top Picks for the Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services of 1. Still, with its low price and discounts, this meal service is worth a shot. Even better, today's premade meals come in a variety of options to suit different tastes and dietary restrictions, like gluten-free , vegan , and keto.	Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET	Daily Harvest, prepared The meal kit company Sunbasket has a lineup of mouthwatering prepared meals called Fresh & Ready. They heat up in just minutes in the microwave Blue Apron is an affordable meal kit delivery service with prices that start at just $ per serving. They top our list because of their	Luckily for you, Magic Kitchen has affordable premade meals for everyone. Our affordable food delivery options are limitless. Whether you are trying to improve Missing Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services
Read Free trial bottles full Purple Free home decor sample offers alternqtives here. Cost: Visit Home Chef for alterbatives pricing. If you find yourself having little to no time to cook, then a pre-made meal kit like CookUnity could be your best option. Pros Large variety of appealing dishes and extras Big portions Straightforward recipes. As a result of our testing, we believe the companies spotlighted above deserve recognition for their performance in their categories. Frozen meals can avoid waste whereas fresh options can spoil if not eaten immediately.	Although the offerings lean more toward the comfort-food side, our dietitians noted that it easy to find the nutrition facts for each meal readily available on the website. Cons: The solution from customer service which is lovely by the way if something is missing from an order is to credit an extra meal to your account. Best for meal kits. There is an abundance of variety with Hungryroot, particularly for those with dietary restrictions. If how you manage your time is especially important to you, Home Chef is an excellent service to try. Meal kits include ingredients and recipe cards, and you prep and cook your meals for two people or four.	Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET	Best Overall Meal Delivery on a Budget: Dinnerly; Best Organic Meal Delivery on a Budget: Fresh N' Lean; Best Meal Delivery on a Budget for Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services I've used Factor75 meals but they're pretty pricey, around $12/meal. Costco has some economical options in their refrigerated section- basically	Price is based on four meals per week for two people/servings. Sunbasket offers both meal kits and pre-made meals, which consist of high- EveryPlate has, by far, one of the cheapest price-per-serving subscriptions. Similar to Dinnerly, EveryPlate makes adjustments to packaging and EveryPlate is an affordable meal kit company focusing on simple comfort food recipes that are easy to make and tasty. The budget-friendly options with

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Low-cost ready-made meal alternatives - Dinnerly, meal kit Daily Harvest, prepared EveryPlate and Dinnerly are the cheapest meal kits with most plans clocking in at under $6 per serving. HelloFresh and Home Chef are in the next Find the best meal kit delivery services providing you with fresh ingredients and healthier, more convenient eating from CNET

This doctor-designed program incorporates high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients that are grown on an organic, sustainable farm in New Jersey. As the name suggests, this meal kit aims to provide food that can help to keep you healthy for the long run.

There are a variety of weekly menus to choose from, including vegan, pescatarian, kosher, and flexitarian weekly meal plans. Each meal is designed by Chef Luigi Fineo. Food for Longevity is best for: Busy people looking for morning and mid-day meals while they work.

One of the best meal delivery services for the smoothie enthusiast, Daily Harvest sends you the ingredients to blend both smoothies and soups. It also has bowls, flatbreads, and even family-size bakes.

This is an easy way to work more fruits and vegetables into your diet with minimal cleanup afterwards. All of its meals are guaranteed to be GMO-free and gluten-free. The extensive menu features more than 40 meals. If you have food restrictions or nutrition preferences, you can filter your menu choices to eliminate beets, cilantro, mushrooms, soy, tree nuts, caffeine, coconut, sesame, and spiciness.

Splendid Spoon is best for: Vegans and vegetarians who currently utilize the freezer aisle of their local grocery store. Revive Superfoods prides itself on its nutrient-dense smoothies, but has other offerings as well. In addition to creamy smoothies, it also has oatmeal, dairy-free desserts, soups, burrito bowls, açaí bowls, falafels, and more.

The smoothies, which are the real focus of this meal delivery kit, are rounded out with filling ingredients like seeds and pea protein and in addition to fresh fruit and vegetables. Revive also has a wide selection of oatmeal, like its best-selling banana and chocolate overnight oats.

To prepare the oats you just have to add your liquid of choice and allow the cup to soak overnight. It can also be heated in the microwave if you want something faster same-day.

They all come precooked, and need to be heated for 4—5 minutes in the microwave. Revive Superfoods is best for: People who are too busy for breakfast but should really be eating it.

All meat ingredients are antibiotic- and hormone-free and the eggs are organic. When it comes to fish, Sunbasket uses wild-caught seafood recommended by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.

With more than 20 weekly recipes, you can choose between oven-ready meals, prepped servings, and classic meals that still require you to do all the chopping; servings vary between two and four.

Sunbasket is best for: A new home cook looking to experiment with new ingredients or techniques. Availability: Currently ships to most zip codes in the United States, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, and parts of New Mexico. Both menus can be tailored to work with specific dietary preferences.

FlexPro also has a Power Bakery with protein-packed cookies and brownies that you can add to any weekly order. In the meal prep box, you can order ready-made proteins, like sous vide chicken, prime rib, shrimp scampi, sirloin steak, pulled pork carnitas, and rotisserie chicken.

These are perfect for tossing into salads or bowls throughout the week. Elaheh Nozari. Emily Johnson.

Well Equipped Cleaning Gear. Meal Kits. Home Chef. Buy at Home Chef. Photo by Linda Pugliese. Pros: Marley Spoon meals got our testers and their kids cooking and eating a bit outside their comfort zone—the harissa salmon salad was a big hit. They are clearly labeled as such on the website. We had a couple things leak over a few weeks of orders.

Pros: A lot of meal kits claim they take 20 minutes, when it can often be almost double that. Gobble said its meals could be prepped in 15 and we were pleasantly surprised just how close all of them came to that benchmark. Nothing took over 20 minutes.

There are also a lot of one pot meals to keep you from making too big a mess. They repurpose ingredients like garlic confit in lots of dishes in a way that seems smart and efficient rather than repetitive. Cons: The solution from customer service which is lovely by the way if something is missing from an order is to credit an extra meal to your account.

Gobble is best for: People who want freshly cooked food really fast. On the Menu: Pan-roasted chicken with broccoli-cheddar mac and cheese and chicken breast Portuguese-style shrimp with pinto beans and rustic tomato pimentón sauce and sustainably raised ocean shrimp Cheesy corn and black bean enchiladas suizas with zesty cabbage salad Korean bulgogi beef lettuce cups with vegetable japchae Availability: Continental United States.

Buy at Gobble. Buy at Dinnerly. Green Chef. Photo by David Cicconi. Pros: Green Chef has a way of making even ingredients our testers did not care for they had a thing about green bell peppers very appealing. The step-by-step instructions, which all use pictures, are super helpful and really do teach new techniques.

Cons: Ingredients can get a little repetitive so this is best to slip in just two or three times a week. Green Chef is best for: The beginner cook. Buy at Green Chef. Pros: In general what we got was more filling than expected or than it looked like it might be.

Even though so many of the meals are salads, Sakara really knows how to make a salad dressing enticing we loved the avocado tahini and creamy cilantro. The breakfast parfaits were delicious meals. They were surprisingly complex and ate like fancy desserts. Cons: Per meal cost is around 28 dollars and sometimes one of those meals is a single donut or muffin.

Buy at Sakara. Purple Carrot. Pros: It offered new vegetarian recipes that could be incorporated easily into a regular weekly cooking cadence.

Cons: The fresh produce was not always perfectly ripe. Buy at Purple Carrot. Blue Apron. Pros: We really like the way Blue Apron formats their instructions. It really teaches you how to prep everything before cooking. It's much more detailed than your typical recipe instructions.

They offer really nice proteins. The highlight for was the quality fillets of salmon or cod that arrived each week. We even tried scallops in one "premium" basket. If you don't have time to shop at the butcher or fishmonger or feel at all intimidated by that experience, the proteins alone make this kit worth it.

All the Indian meals, for example used the same one spice—curry powder. On the Menu: Vegetable peanut lo mein with chili crisp fried eggs Hoisin pork belly and miso ramen with bok choy and soft-boiled eggs Smoky poblano sausage gnocchi with tomatoes and monterey jack Oregano and olive chicken with farro, zucchini, and carrots.

Availability: Nationwide. Buy at Blue Apron. MICHAEL MARQUAND. On the Menu: Zesty hummus and chicken rainbow bowl Curry tofu and broccoli jasmine rice bowl Tomatoey turkey meatball and bell pepper rice bowl Spinach artichoke chicken stuffed potato Availability: Most zip codes throughout the contiguous U.

Buy at Hungryroot. On the Menu: Thai red curry chicken with coconut lime rice Chicken, root vegetables, and wild rice harvest bowl Crustless chicken potato pot pie Beef, lamb, and eggplant moussaka Availability: Nationwide. Cons: They repeat ingredients we saw lots of mushrooms and nutritional yeast, for example , which makes this a good addendum to your cooking, but perhaps not something to commit to for five meals a week in perpetuity.

Methodology is best for: Busy, health-minded folks. Buy at Methodology. Cons: This is not the friendliest meal option for lactose intolerant individuals who eat meat, as the bulk of their meat options have some sort of dairy component to them.

Buy at Factor. On the Menu: Creamy dill pork tenderloin with couscous and green beans Meatloaf à la mom with potato wedges, broccoli, and gravy Crunchy Italian chicken sheet pan bake with spiced potatoes, and lemony green beans Cheesy smashed pork burgers with old bay fries, caramelized onion, and special sauce Availability: Nationwide and abroad Buy at HelloFresh.

On the Menu: Jerk-spiced chicken with johnny cakes and braised collard greens Singaporean chicken curry rice bowl with potatoes and carrots Chicken ropa vieja with arroz moro and roasted sweet plantains Chicken thighs in scallion cream with rosemary potatoes and carrots Availability: CookUnity delivers to most of the United States.

Buy at CookUnity. Nutrition for Longevity. Cons: A lot of the food is simply not visually appealing—which makes sense since it's being packaged and shipped in plastic containers.

This is something we noticed with more than one meal delivery service that focused on fully cooked food. Buy at Food for Longevity. Good for: Vegetarians, high protein.

There are keto , low-carb, low-calorie, and even plant-based options to choose from. How it works: Factor can either create your order based on your wants, of course , or you can choose from dozens of pre-set options. The plans include options like keto and vegan, as well as fan-favorite menu items such as turkey chili and chipotle rubbed pork chops.

You can choose from six to 18 meals every week. Plus, if you get a subscription, you can have a free consultation with a registered dietitian.

Delivery area: 48 states not Alaska and Hawaii. Consider its Harvest Bowls, which can be microwaved or prepared on a stovetop, Harvest Bakes that you pop into the oven and are big enough to share , flatbreads, soups, chia seed bowls—the list goes on.

Bonus: all of its ingredients are sustainably-sourced and entirely vegan. How it works: Choose between 9, 14, or 24 items for a weekly or monthly delivery.

With a subscription, you can mix and match: choose all smoothies or pick favorites from a variety of categories, including harvest bowls, harvest bakes, flatbreads, grains, soups, forager bowls, bites, lattes, and mylk. Delivery area: Ships to 95 percent of the continental U. Check if you live in a delivery zone by clicking "Get Started" on the Daily Harvest homepage and entering your zip code and email address.

Good for: Plant-based, Whole30, high fiber. Co-founded by a James Beard Award-winning chef, Sunbasket employs a team of chefs and registered dietitians to make tasty meals featuring organic produce. For meals that cook themselves wait, what?!

It separates itself from other meal kit services in that it also makes a smart oven that scans your meal and uses heat and steam to prepare it. The oven also works with items you find at the grocery store, like pizza rolls, and has a manual option to steam, bake, broil, toast, and reheat whatever you want.

How it works: Choose between four and 16 meals deliveries every week. Also filter your meals based on options like carb conscious, gluten-free, vegetarian, and calorie-smart picks. Delivery area: 48 states not Alaska and Hawaii Good for: Calorie smart, carb conscious, vegetarian, gluten-friendly.

Trifecta offers more than just ready-to-eat meals that cater to specialty diets like keto, paleo, and vegan. It also has a team of nutrition experts that offer support and guidance, plus an app that tracks macros.

The company's testimonials page is filled with customers who have lost weight, gotten into shape, and even improved gut health with Trifecta. How it works: Select your desired meal plan, including clean, paleo, Whole30, keto, high protein vegan, or high protein vegetarian.

You can choose up to 14 entrees per delivery. The meals last about up to 10 days in the fridge and three months in the freezer. Delivery area: 50 states Good for: Clean, paleo, Whole30, keto, high protein vegan, high protein vegetarian.

BistroMD is one of the best prepared meal delivery services for diabetics or those looking to shed some weight. The brand was founded by a medical doctor and includes a team of dietitians who formulate each of its offerings.

Nutritionists at the Good Housekeeping Institute are impressed by this service because of its quality ingredients, flavors, and variety of options. The kits are all science-backed, with the heart healthy plan in particular including meals that are at or below the American Heart Association 's recommendations for calories, sodium, total fat and saturated fat.

Testers in the lab also described the taste as "restaurant quality" and found the meals to be satisfying even though they were portion controlled. And reviewers agree.

One recommends these for anyone "seeking a healthy way to reach their nutrition goals. How it works: Choose a preferred plan to meet your needs, such as signature weight loss , gluten-free, heart-healthy, and vegan.

You can also customize your plan by using your "my bistroMD" account to choose your favorite entrees. The service's registered dietitians will use this information to build a personalized diet plan to your liking. Delivery area: 48 states not Alaska and Hawaii Good for: Weight loss, gluten-free, heart health, keto, diabetic, menopause, vegan.

If you want to eat like Gwyneth Paltrow, look no further than this health-focused meal plan from Sakara Life. The service says it harnesses the power of food as medicine to provide ready-to-eat meals that are organic, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and have no refined sugars.

To sign up, you need to choose at least two meals and how many days a week you want them two, three, or five. Also select how many days you want meals each delivery two, three, or five days , as well as between three or five meals. Other program offerings including The Metabolism Reset, The Fresh Start Cleanse, The Performance System, and The Gut Health Reboot.

Delivery area: 49 states not including Hawaii Good for: Plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO. Also, for every box sold, Mosaic donates two pounds of nutritious food to New Yorkers in need in partnership with City Harvest.

Mosaic also offers bake-and-serve Family Meals that feed four. Note: There are filters like wheat free or nut free you can choose from.

From there, select your delivery preference: every one to four weeks. Delivery area: Most major metro areas in the Eastern and Western U. You can see if Mosaic ships to your area by going to the brand's homepage, pressing "Get Started," and entering your zip code and email address.

Good for: Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based. Prefer lighter fare? Female-founded, plant-based brand Splendid Spoon specializes in smoothies and soups, as well as grain and noodle bowls, wellness shots, and cold-pressed juices. How it works: You can either sign up for 7, 14, or 21 meals each week.

There are over 50 different plant-based smoothies, bowls, and meals available—all of which are free of gluten, dairy, and artificial sweeteners. Delivery area: 48 states not Alaska and Hawaii Good for: Plant-based. Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a freelance food writer, editor, and former New Yorker based in sunny Panama City Beach, Florida.

She loves a good glazed doughnut and trying new recipes to sharpen her cooking and baking skills. Nashia Baker is a commerce editor at Hearst Magazines; she covers all things home and lifestyle across brands such as Oprah Daily, Cosmopolitan, Delish, and Esquire.

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