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10 Prepared Meal Delivery Services So Good, You’ll Never Sweat Dinner Prep

They’re basically the Hail Mary of mealtime….

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Not to be dramatic or anything, but meal planning is the bane of my existence. Having to come up with a dinner idea that tastes good, doesn’t take hours to make, and is (mostly) nutritious EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. really makes me appreciate my mom even more. Half of the time, I'm missing a key ingredient (because who really has fresh mint just lying around?!) or entirely forget to pull meat out of the freezer in enough time for it to thaw. My unpreparedness and rock-solid, frozen chicken breast typically lead to a less-than-desirable bowl of cereal for dinner and a small tear of self-pity.

As sad as the scene I am setting may be, there is a saving grace to my kitchen hardships—the mealtime Hail Mary, a true gift from the heavens, aka meal delivery services. Although meal kits by mail might not be an entirely new concept, they are very much new to me, tyvm. As a meal-delivery virgin, I was skeptical to the claims of freshness and convenience. Could food the USPS guy dropped off on my porch actually taste delicious? Are the ingredients really that fresh? Is it possible for food from a cardboard box to be wholesome and healthy? Surprisingly, yes to all the above!

To help you avoid the dreaded cereal dinner, I rounded up some of the most-satisfying, easy-to-make meal delivery kits and prepared meals (many of which adhere to dietary needs and preferences). Hope you brought your appetite, because we're eating good tonight, bb!

1
Best Hybrid Meal Kit

Hungryroot

Hungryroot
Credit: Courtesy

Pros

  • Quick and simple meals
  • Option to add individual grocery items
  • Customizable for dietary needs

Cons

  • Only delivers to continental US (sorry Alaska and Hawaii!)

Grocery shopping low-key stresses me TF out. The aimless walking in hopes you don’t forget an ingredient, harsh fluorescent lighting, a small child in the next aisle having a full meltdown. It can be A LOT. Hungryroot tackles my personal hell by combining the ease of meal kits with the convenience of grocery delivery. Tasty, healthy recipes and the option to include additional high-quality grocery items to your order, means less time pushing a squeaky shopping cart around. Plus, most Hungryroot recipes take less than 20-minutes to make, so you'll have your plate wayyyy before that UberEats order could ever be at your doorstep.

Pricing: Starts at $70 per week.

Packaging: Hungryroot is committed to helping Mother Earth thrive. Groceries ship in 100% recyclable packaging, including the ice packs.

Delivery: Orders ship out weekly with the options to skip a week, pause your plan, or cancel whenever.

Glowing review: I get up at 5am for work and at the end of the day, I’m beat. I love having Hungryroot because it saves me a trip to the grocery store after work. We have just the right amount of ingredients for several meals per week, plus snacks, and the food is delicious. I look forward to our box every week and I’m grateful for the help. I don’t have the bandwidth to meal plan or prep, and now I don’t have to!

2
Best Munchies

DeliciousDoor

DeliciousDoor
Credit: DeliciousDoor

Pros

  • Gluten-free and plant-based
  • Mix of sweet and salty
  • Always something new to try

Cons

  • Cannot swap items in your box

Snacks might not technically be a meal, but they are the main reason I get through the hours between lunch and dinner without turning into a hangry demon. DeliciousDoor will send you a box jam-packed full of plant-based goodies for when those munchie moments hit. Each of the 12 tasty snacks are full size and free of the yucky stuff (aka GMOs, artificial sweeteners, and artificial dyes). So, be a snack and have a snack, babes!

Pricing: DeliciousDoor’s best deal is their 12-month delivery plan, with each month costing $32.00.

Packaging: Snacks ship in a cardboard box -- no word on whether packaging can be recycled.

Delivery: Order as you want or opt for a monthly subscription. You can skip, pause, or cancel monthly plans at any time.

Glowing review: I like to finish each workout with a nutritious snack, but my budget was hurting from buying individual snacks from the health food aisle at Whole Foods. Now with DeliciousDoor I can use the snacks for my post workout treat and save money too, so it's a win-win. But the biggest bonus for me is I'm getting to try snacks that I didn't know existed.

3
Best Variety

Freshly

Freshly
Credit: Freshly

Pros

  • Fully prepared meals
  • Heat and serve in under five minutes
  • High-quality ingredients
  • New meals added monthly

Cons

  • Not a lot of plant-based choices

You know what they say, “Variety is the spice of life.” And when your diet (or your bedroom) lacks that ~spice~, eating can become just another mindless motion in your day. Freshly updates their huuuuge menu each month, bringing excitement back to your plate and joy to your lil’ taste buds. Meals are made fresh (hence the name) and take less than five minutes to heat up in the microwave.

Pricing: Freshly offers plans ranging from 4–12 meals per week, starting at $9.58 per meal.

Packaging: Freshly says they “work hard to reduce our environmental impact as much as we can” and ship with eco-conscious packaging.

Delivery: Pick a day that works best for you and your Freshly box will be delivered on a weekly basis. You can make changes, skip, or cancel your order before the weekly deadline.

Glowing review: This is not a diet. It’s just good wholesome nutritious food that is balanced and freaking delicious!! Obviously it’s fresh not frozen so you only need 3 minutes to heat up and you’re ready to eat! There’s veggies in all the meals, it’s hearty and satisfying, the app is really easy to use which gives you all the info about what’s in the food. They use clean wholesome ingredients, have a wide variety of dishes and new fun meals are added often… I always look forward to ordering and trying new dishes weekly. My husband and I are Freshly addicts and customers for life!

4
Best Gluten-Free Meal Kit

Splendid Spoon

Splendid Spoon
Credit: Splendid Spoon

Pros

  • All meals are vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO
  • Ready-made and super convenient

Cons

  • Depending which plan you select, can be a lil pricey

As someone whose mom and sister are gluten-intolerant, I SEE YOU MY GLUTEN-FREE FRIENDS. Whether it is by choice or doctor’s orders, going GF can be frustratingly difficult. Splendid Spoon meals “do not include refined white flour or other gluten-containing grains.” So basically, happy tummy and very yummy. And for those who have commitment issues (hi!), Splendid Spoon offers a subscription-free, “On-Demand” box.

Pricing: Meals start at $9.99.

Packaging: Splendid Spoon uses 100% recyclable packaging.

Delivery: Choose to receive your box weekly, every other week, or once a month. You can skip or cancel anytime.

Glowing review: I have been eating Splendid Spoon for three weeks now and feel great! Being a busy working mom it is hard to cook from scratch and I love meals loaded with veggies. These meals help me get my veggies in and I love the variety I have to choose from. I would never be able to cook such a varied menu myself, so the cost is totally worth it for me. And it tastes just like homemade, truly does. Smoothies are also a great way to start my day. I give the entire service an A plus for sure.

5
Best Budget Meal Kit

Dinnerly

Dinnerly
Credit: Dinnerly

Pros

  • Super affordable
  • New recipes added weekly
  • Quick and easy recipes
  • Choose between prepared meals and meal kits

Cons

  • Not a lot of options for people with strict dietary needs
  • Not all ingredients are included

What if I told you a meal from Dinnerly costs less than your go-to Starbucks drink?! That’s right, we are balling and dining on a budget, bb! Depending on the plan you choose, your serving could be as low as $4.99, which is WILD. Dinnerly keeps all the quality ingredients but cut cost (and paper waste) for you by using no-fuss packaging and digital recipe cards.

Pricing: As low as $4.99 per serving + $11.99 shipping.

Packaging: Dinnerly’s uses Earth-friendly packaging which can almost entirely be recycled.

Delivery: Dinnerly ships out weekly (which BTW you can pick the delivery day), with the option to skip, pause, or cancel service anytime.

Glowing review: I've been very happy with the quality of the ingredients and the variety of the recipes, most of which I have been able to prepare easily and have been very tasty. I'm also definitely saving money on my weekly groceries. And everything is ready to go each week, with very little time and effort on my part in the preparation, which gives me time and energy for the other things in my life.

6
Best Plant-Based Meal Kit

Purple Carrot

Purple Carrot
Credit: Purple Carrot

Pros

  • Offers both prepared meals and meal kits
  • Flavorful
  • Completely plant-based

Cons

  • Meal kits can be a bit time-consuming to prepare

Mom always said to eat your vegetables, which even as an adult can still be difficult. If you're trying to incorporate more greens (and less dino nuggets) into your diet, or maybe you want to go full vegan, Purple Carrot is the 100% plant-based meal service that needs to be in your kitchen ASAP. In addition to the multitude of health benefits, plant-based diets are AH-MAZING for the planet. According to their website, “each Purple Carrot meal kit results in 72% less carbon being released into the atmosphere as compared to the standard American meal.” Okay, veggies!

Pricing: Depending on which plan you select, the cost can be as low as $11 per serving (lol, I can’t even go to Sweetgreen for $11).

Packaging: Most of Purple Carrots packaging can be recycled. They have included a super helpful guide to make sure you dispose of everything with the planet in mind.

Delivery: Purple Carrot ships out weekly with the option to skip a delivery or cancel anytime.

Glowing review: I've been using Purple Carrot for a few months now and I just love it. I'm a vegetarian who is often super bummed out by the offerings from other meal kits…With Purple Carrot, I'm getting REALLY tasty vegan meals, which if I want to I supplement with cheese or eggs when I feel like it.

7
Best Meal Kit For The Home Cook

Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon

Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Credit: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon

Pros

  • New recipes added weekly
  • Add-on options
  • Vegan and vegetarian friendly meals available
  • Both prepared meals and meal kits are available

Cons

  • Some meal kits are more involved

When I found out Martha Stewart had a meal delivery service, I audibly gasped. You KNOW Martha doesn't play around when it comes to cooking. The queen of lifestyle and all things tasty collabed with the international food delivery service to bring you amazingly fresh, high-quality ingredients sure to bring out your inner chef.

Pricing: Plans start at $63.95 + $11.99 flat shipping.

Packaging: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon is a carbon neutral service that has the good of Earth in mind. Almost all of their packaging is made from recycled materials, and can be recycled after use.

Delivery: Pick a delivery day that works for you, with boxes shipping out weekly. Skip, pause, or cancel delivery at any time.

Glowing review: I have to say, Marley Spoon gets an A+. The recipes, the quality of vegetables and meats, the way it comes packaged, the specific instructions on how to prepare... it is far superior to anything out there. With the other meal services, so many of the meals I've prepared are just 'okay', nothing to rave about. But so far, we have literally said out loud at every single meal, "Omg this is absolutely delicious!"

8
Best Organic Meal Kit

Sunbasket

Sunbasket
Credit: Sunbasket

Pros

  • Lots of variety so you’ll never get bored
  • Amazing customer service
  • Choose between premade meals and meal kits
  • Can add items to your order

Cons

  • Not available in some US states
  • Shipping isn't included after your first order

Knowing what's in your food and where it comes from is so effin’ important. Sunbasket takes the mystery out of the meal by offering a minimum of 99% USDA-certified organic produce. The company works closely with farmers to deliver organic, responsibly-sourced ingredients that will nourish your body and make you say “wait, this is actually pretty good?!” Sunbasket also has an online cookbook where they post delish, chef-approved recipes absolutely free of charge. Now you def know what’s cookin’, good lookin’. ;)

Pricing: Meals start at $9.99 per serving with free shipping on your first order

Packaging: Kits are delivered in eco-friendly packaging, with most materials being recyclable, compostable, or reusable.

Delivery: Delivered to your doorstep weekly, but feel free to skip a week or cancel your subscription anytime.

Glowing review: Sunbasket has been a wonderful experience for several years now. The organic food is the highest quality. The variety of items is always changing with favorites thrown in for good measure. If I have an issue the customer support is very responsive and quickly resolved.

9
Best Heat-and-Eat Meal Kit

CookUnity CookUnity

CookUnity
Credit: CookUnity

Pros

  • Delivered fresh
  • A+ customer service
  • Chef-crafted meals completely prepared

Cons

  • Delivery is limited to certain parts of the US

Whether after a looooong day of work or a tipsy night out, at some point, you’ve probs reached for that frozen pizza in the back of the fridge out of sheer hunger-induced desperation. You know, the kind of pizza that tastes like cardboard topped with watery sauce and plastic-like cheese? Not very enjoyable, and def not nutritious. For those days (or nights) where you only have energy to preheat the oven, CookUnity is THE premade meal delivery service you need.

Chef-made meals are delivered fresh from the kitchen and are ready to eat when you are. So, I guess this means you can tell everyone you have a private chef now?!

Pricing: Choose to have 4, 6, 8, 12, or 16 meals per week, with plans starting at $11.09 per serving + $9.99 shipping.

Packaging: Meals arrive in compostable, recyclable, or reusable packaging.

Delivery: CookUnity offers flexible weekly delivery. You can change your delivery day, add, pause, or reschedule as needed.

Glowing review: We are thrilled with this food service! We are notified just prior to delivery, so we aren't waiting around all day for it. The food has been excellent and we are enjoying the variety of options. This has given us our evenings back! I don't have to cook after a long day's work and my husband doesn't have to do any dishes. Restaurant quality food to enjoy in pajamas in the comfort of my own home for a fraction of the price.

10
Best Protein-Packed

ICON Meals

ICON Meals
Credit: ICON Meals

Pros

  • Can choose meals based off your health goals
  • Premade and quick to prepare

Cons

  • May not accommodate some dietary restrictions
  • Not a ton of variety

Sometimes when I want a spoonful of peanut butter, I rationalize the temptation by telling myself “It’s protein.” Which although kinda true, a mouthful of Jif is not exactly a well-balanced meal. If you are craving insanely easy to make, protein-packed meals (that don’t come from a red-lidded plastic jar) then the “Build Muscle” plates from ICON Meals should be on your doorstep ASAP. Heat, eat, and repeat! BTW, don’t skip out on the protein pancakes.

Pricing: Their 12 meal “Bulk Box” costs $199.99. Meals can also be bought a la carte.

Packaging: Each meal comes in a 100% recyclable food container and is delivered in a recyclable box.

Delivery: Icon Meals doesn’t offer weekly or monthly subscriptions, so you can order as often as you want and need.

Glowing review: I’ve been using Icon since I started prepping for my first bodybuilding comp in 2017. They are my go-to for work travel. I have food delivered right to hotel. And occasionally for home to save time on meal prep and stay on track when super busy. The food is great and service on point.

Lettermark

Olivia Wagner is a freelance writer whose interests include LGBTQ+ issues, fashion, and mental health advocacy. She/her. Find her on Instagram at @liviewags. 

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