Delivery of meal kits the services are supposed to make your life easier. And they do, once you choose one. But with the rapid expansion of the service field 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 looking to get your legs in the kitchen, there’s probably a service that meets your needs. Some meal kits send you prepared meals, while others send ingredients associated with recipes, and a few others are grocery delivery services. All aim to make the meal planning and preparation process more convenient, and their effectiveness varies.
I’ve tested more than two dozen meal kit delivery services over the past several years and retested several in this guide to ensure accuracy. Few are downright bad, so choosing the right one for you depends on your lifestyle. I’m an experienced home cook and don’t have any dietary restrictions or picky eating preferences, but I have sought out plant-based meals as well as more omnivorous options. I also had help from longtime vegans, finicky kids, and my cat (by accident) to taste test. Considering recipes, ingredients, ease of use, amount of packaging waste, and the fact that every home chef has different needs, below are the best meal delivery services.
Updated January 2025: We’ve added Gardencup and new Gobble photos, as well as rechecked links and prices.
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PRICE: Despite all marketing claims to the contrary, meal kits cost more than buying groceries. However, they generally cost less than takeout and are healthier. If you want to evaluate whether the trade-off is worth it, the good news is that, just like mattress-in-a-box companies, meal kit companies typically offer a few organize promotions. Most meal kit pricing models offer bulk discounts: the more meals you purchase per week, the lower the price of each serving. We detail dietary restrictions and subscription fees below. If you ever want to skip a week or cancel, you can find this information in the account section on the website of your chosen service.
WIRED: Meal kits are convenient; I didn’t have to worry about planning dinner, grocery shopping, or panic-eating junk food after forgetting to eat a proper meal during the day. Learning to cook with one of the best meal delivery services can inspire confidence and impart basic knowledge. If you’re busy or don’t mind, meal kits may 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, work non-traditional hours, hate knowing what to make for dinner, want to stop ordering in all the time, or are trying to expand your culinary skills.
FATIGUE: Nothing beats learning to cook the old fashioned way, so be sure to try that too. It’s cheaper and you learn more if you pick fruit yourself or break down a whole chicken for $5. You just don’t get that experience if everything arrives at your door and the chicken pieces are prepackaged. Planning and shopping at the grocery store is an integral part of the art of cooking. Meal kits are also generally more expensive than traditional home cooking and often more expensive. Meal kits may be a bad choice for you if you’re on a tight budget, cooking for a large household, or want tighter control over the specific ingredients you’ll use.
What should I do if I have allergies, a specific diet or if I go on vacation often?
You’re probably covered. Most meal kit services have a way to filter for common allergens or dietary preferences, and most recipes include specific nutritional information so you’re always informed. And if you travel a lot, it’s usually easy to go into your account settings and skip a week, pause your plan, or cancel it altogether. These factors vary by service, but we’ve listed some details below.
For each serving below, I tested a minimum of three meals, following the recipe instructions exactly. I primarily prepared them for dinner and prioritized testing a protein blend and the required cooking skills (e.g. testing a skillet meal in addition to a more complex protein-containing meal, side dish and pan sauce). My goal was to test a variety of dishes that would appeal to many people, including vegetable-based options and meals that would be quick to prepare for a family versus meals that would be good for a date night. .
