{"id":315330,"date":"2025-11-01T00:12:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T21:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dana.nwar.uk\/sa\/the-6-best-meal-kit-delivery-services-of-2025-tested-and-reviewed\/"},"modified":"2025-11-01T00:12:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T21:12:42","slug":"the-6-best-meal-kit-delivery-services-of-2025-tested-and-reviewed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hameed.nwar.uk\/sa\/the-6-best-meal-kit-delivery-services-of-2025-tested-and-reviewed\/","title":{"rendered":"The 6 Best Meal Kit Delivery Services of 2025, Tested and Reviewed."},"content":{"rendered":"
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With more and more workers returning to the office, meal kits are making a comeback. Whether you\u2019re cooking for just one or your whole family, the best meal kits take all the guesswork, shopping, and ingredient prep out of making dinner. The result is a service that falls somewhere between takeout and cooking from scratch, with a price to match. All of the meal kits we\u2019ve tested clock in at between $8 to $20 per serving \u2014 less than delivery, but more than you\u2019ll pay at the grocery store.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve tested dozens of meal kits and meal delivery services to find the ones worth your money. Our top pick is Blue Apron<\/a>, which offers customizable, flavorful meals. If you\u2019re feeling less culinarily inclined, check out Factor<\/a>, our top pick for prepared meals on the go.<\/p>\n

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Here are the best meal kits we tried<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Best overall: <\/strong>Blue Apron<\/a><\/p>\n

Best for quick dishes: <\/strong>HelloFresh<\/a><\/p>\n

Best pre-made: <\/strong>Factor<\/a><\/p>\n

Best for special diets: <\/strong>Sunbasket<\/a><\/p>\n

Best for variety: <\/strong>Home Chef<\/a><\/p>\n

Best vegan: <\/strong>Purple Carrot<\/a><\/p>\n

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Best overall<\/h2>\n
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\n Blue Apron Meal Delivery Service
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\n If you\u2019re looking for creative recipes, thoughtful kit design, and the inspiration necessary to start cooking more for yourself, Blue Apron is the way to go.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The most recognizable name in meal kits still delivers. <\/strong>Blue Apron offers well-composed, flavorful, and creative dinner ideas featuring high-quality ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes. Over the last few years, every delivery we\u2019ve received has been on time, completely accurate, and neatly packaged.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A varied, crowd-pleasing menu with solid portions.<\/strong> <\/em>The sizable weekly menu is filled with delicious and thoughtful recipes that make it difficult to choose just a few a week. There are plans and options for omnivores, vegetarians, and health-conscious eaters. The portions are decent, and sometimes there are enough for leftovers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Customizable plans with lots of add-ons. <\/strong>We love that the service is customizable, with meal plans for two-person and four-person families and add-ons like meat and seafood bundles, spice blends, and premium meals from celebrity chefs. One downside to all the extra options is that there seems to be a regular upsell from the base $7.99 per serving, and you can quickly spend double that if you factor in premium meals and shipping. The service is flexible, however, and you can skip an upcoming order if you don\u2019t need it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Best for quick dishes<\/h2>\n

Fast, reliable meals perfect for busy schedules.<\/strong> <\/em>Of the many meal kits we tested, HelloFresh had the most accurate estimated preparation times, and they rarely exceeded 30 minutes. For cooks with busy schedules, the service makes it easy to squeeze in a full and complete home-cooked meal.<\/p>\n

Quick recipes that don\u2019t compromise on flavor. <\/strong>Even though you won\u2019t be spending that much time cooking, the final meals are interesting and delicious. For example, the Tuscan Shrimp and Orzo was easy to prepare, requiring nothing but shrimp, orzo pasta, and roasted tomatoes, but it was still a flavorful meal that took less than half an hour to cook.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Chicken\n <\/div>\n

\n We prepare a HelloFresh meal \u2014 Jerk Chicken and Peach Skewers with Curry Rice Pilaf.<\/p>\n

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Tyler Lauletta\/Business Insider<\/p>\n

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Flexible menus and extras for every type of cook. <\/strong>Like its competitors, HelloFresh has a recipe archive where you can get the instructions for all your favorite meals (not just the ones that are on the docket this week). And if you have dietary restrictions, HelloFresh lets you select a veggie-friendly menu right from the get-go, helping to avoid sifting through recipes that you won\u2019t be able to eat.\u00a0The service also has some add-ons, including snacks, desserts, pantry basics, and produce.<\/p>\n

Read our full HelloFresh review.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Best pre-made<\/h2>\n
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\n Factor Meal Delivery Service
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\n Factor provides healthy, flexible, and delicious meal plans designed by dieticians, for people with busy lives.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Our top pick for pre-made meals overall. <\/strong>We tried 56 pre-made meals from eight different services, and Factor came out on top. The meals tend to have generous protein portions and be lower in starches and carbs. You can also choose from calorie-smart, keto, vegetarian, or vegan meals. The brand also recently introduced a \u201cGLP-1 Balance\u201d menu aimed at providing low-calorie, high-protein options for those taking GLP-1 medications like Zepbound and Ozempic.<\/p>\n

Fresh, not frozen \u2014 but freezer-friendly if needed. <\/strong>Unlike some pre-made meal services, Factor meals don\u2019t arrive frozen and are meant to be eaten within seven days. They are freezer-friendly, though the final product can lose some texture. When I froze one dish, I ended up with a wonderful garlic pork tenderloin but a watery Asiago cauliflower mash.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Two\n <\/div>\n

\n Factor meals are easy to make. Just pop them in the microwave and enjoy.<\/p>\n

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Lily Alig\/Business Insider<\/p>\n

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Designed to taste great when reheated. <\/strong>The Factor chefs are well aware of the limitations of reheated food. Instead of including crunchy elements, a texture almost impossible to get in the microwave, the meals contain foods that do well when reheated. For example, you\u2019ll see things like creamed spinach, polenta, and shrimp in a cream sauce. Overall, this made for a more successful menu.<\/p>\n

A varied and storage-friendly menu. <\/strong>Two to three new meals are added to the menu every week, so there\u2019s a good variation for regular customers. Also, these meals are easy to store because they\u2019re flat on the bottom and top \u2014 great for stocking your freezer.<\/p>\n

Check out our full Factor meal delivery review.<\/p>\n

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Best for special diets<\/h2>\n
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\n Sunbasket Meal Delivery Service
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\n Sunbasket impresses from start to finish. It sources organic produce and pays attention to details, including oft-neglected meal components like flavorful sauces.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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A leader in organic and responsibly sourced ingredients. <\/strong>As a USDA-certified organic company, Sunbasket stands out for its use of organic produce and clean ingredients. Over 99% of the produce it sources is organic, and it takes seasonality seriously when developing its recipes. In addition, it provides responsibly raised meats and poultry, focusing on antibiotic- and hormone-free meats, pasture-raised or grass-fed animals, and wild-caught seafood. Sunbasket will impress anyone who takes sourcing seriously and wants to eat more responsibly and sustainably.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flexible plans for nearly every dietary preference. <\/strong>When you sign up for Sunbasket, you can choose a pre-curated plan based on certain dietary preferences, such as paleo, pescetarian, or diabetes-friendly. You can also mix and match meals yourself. The menu is easy to sort by features like soy-free, dairy-free, or ready in under 20 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Convenient prep with standout sauces and shortcuts. <\/strong>When it comes to the actual cooking process, Sunbasket looks to make things as easy as possible and takes care of some of the more tedious components for you. For example, butternut squash will come to you pre-cut, and cauliflower rice comes pre-ground so you don\u2019t have to pull out your food processor. The sauces are also premade, not to mention the tastiest of all the meal kits we tested.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Goes beyond dinner with healthy grocery add-ons. <\/strong>Sunbasket is much more than an organic meal kit service. It provides add-on options like egg bites, yogurt drinks, and granola from vetted brands that tend to be paleo, gluten-free, vegan, and\/or Non-GMO Project Certified<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read our full Sunbasket review.<\/p>\n

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Best for variety<\/h2>\n
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\n Home Chef Meal Delivery Service
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\n Home Chef makes dinner more interesting without the complication. Its weekly rotating menu has more than a dozen recipes, which include customization options, easy-prep meals, and protein packs.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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A versatile meal kit for adventurous eaters. <\/strong>Omnivores who love eating anything and everything can appreciate Home Chef\u2019s large and diverse menus. The range of cuisine and ingredients should appease even the pickiest of eaters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Best for flexible households, not strict diets. <\/strong>Although there are ways to make the recipes vegetarian, Home Chef isn\u2019t the best for people with certain dietary restrictions, but it does work well with everyone from couples to large families (you can order up to six servings) who enjoy exploring all types of food.\u00a0<\/p>\n

User-friendly and highly customizable. <\/strong>The online experience feels streamlined and intuitive, so even newcomers to the meal kit world will feel immediately at ease. You can skip meals and add or substitute protein options without any trouble, plus filter recipes of cook time and meal type.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A dependable, no-frills meal kit with great variety. <\/strong>All in all, Home Chef is simply a consistent and enjoyable meal kit experience. It doesn\u2019t have extra frills like snacks, breakfast, or wine, but you never feel like you\u2019re sold short regarding recipe variety. If you need a meal immediately, you can even find Home Chef microwavable meals at your local Kroger store.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read our full Home Chef review.<\/p>\n

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Best vegan<\/h2>\n
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\n Purple Carrot Meal Delivery Service
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\n As plant-based diets become more popular, Purple Carrot steps in with delicious and hearty meals that never compromise nutrition, taste, and creativity.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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An easy entry point to plant-based eating. <\/strong>It\u2019s easy to join the plant-based lifestyle, thanks to all the new brands cropping up and services like Purple Carrot that cater to these specific needs. Plant-based diets are healthy and better for the planet because growing ingredients requires less water and produces fewer carbon emissions than raising cows and other livestock.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Creative, flavorful meals for plant-based beginners. <\/strong>Purple Carrot is especially great for people who are transitioning to a more plant-based diet or aren\u2019t sure how to cook meat or dairy. It shows you how there are always creative workarounds and flavor combinations, resulting in filling, delicious recipes like Warm Japanese Yam & Shiitake Salad and Parmesan Gnocchi with Melted Summer Squash & Basil. Plus, most of its non-produce items are organic, though all other ingredients can vary on organic or non-GMO status.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Inspiring, approachable meals that encourage long-term change. <\/strong>Changing your eating habits is never easy, but Purple Carrot makes the shift just a little more manageable. I\u2019m not strictly plant-based, but I am trying to eat less meat, and Purple Carrot gave me nice inspiration for how I could continue eating this type of diet, even if I don\u2019t personally continue the subscription.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Requires a few extra tools and cleanup time. <\/strong>Unlike other meal kits I\u2019ve tested, Purple Carrot often requires blenders and food processors to make its sauces, so make sure you have these appliances on hand and are prepared for a little extra cleanup afterward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

*Price at the time of publication<\/em><\/p>\n

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What to look for in a meal kit delivery service<\/h2>\n

Meal kits vs. prepared meals:<\/strong> Already prepared meals save the most prep time because you just heat them up and enjoy. However, meal kits give you more flexibility in what ingredients you choose to include. Plus, the meals tend to taste better as they are freshly cooked, so you have a better chance of getting a delicious meal sight unseen. In our guide to the best meal delivery services, we found that the reheated texture and taste varied widely. If you\u2019re not sure what type is right for your needs, consider a service that provides both.<\/p>\n

Pricing:\u00a0<\/strong>Most of the services we looked at cost about $10 per serving, plus or minus $3. You can usually save a few dollars by ordering more meals each week or by signing up for a long-term contract. Also, you can often find discounts and promo codes when trying out a new service.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dietary needs: <\/strong>Many services have menus that cater to common dietary needs, but it\u2019s not always a robust selection. If you eat a vegan, gluten-free, low-sugar, keto, or other diet, look for a service that has plenty of weekly menu items that will meet your needs. Purple Carrot and Sunbasket are geared specifically for dietary restrictions.<\/p>\n

Flexibility: <\/strong>You want to be able to change your meal plan as you travel or your needs change. Look for a service that lets you pause for a week or two and adjust the number of meals you receive. During a particularly busy week, you might not have time to cook even from a kit, so consider your schedule and how willing the service is to accommodate.<\/p>\n

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How we test meal delivery kits<\/h2>\n

Whenever we tested a new service, our first priority was that the meals tasted good. Any service that didn\u2019t pass our taste test was not included in this guide. The rest of our criteria evaluated how easy it was to prepare and customize the services, as well as the menu variety.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ease of preparation:<\/strong> Meal kits are intended to make cooking at home easier, so we noted which brands have recipes that require more work to prepare. We considered whether recipes require kitchen tools beyond basic pots and utensils, whether the kit provides whole or prepped ingredients, and how much time passes from start to finish.<\/p>\n

Menu variety:<\/strong> If you\u2019re going to order from one of these services regularly, you\u2019ll want a variety of options. We noted which services had rotating menus or frequently added new meals and if there were multiple portion sizes available.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Delivery:<\/strong> We looked for services that delivered to a large geographical area, as well as how easy it was to skip, pause, or change scheduled deliveries.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Customization:<\/strong> People have different mealtime needs and wants, so we evaluated the customization of each meal kit. We looked at available add-ons, like wine or side dishes, and whether you could curate your box of meals or if there were pre-made bundles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dietary restrictions:<\/strong> We looked for meal kits that can be enjoyed by most people, regardless of dietary restrictions. Below, we listed each of our top picks and the dietary options they offer.<\/p>\n

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Meal kit delivery service FAQs<\/h2>\n

Are meal kit delivery services worth it?<\/h3>\n

A meal kit delivery service is worth the price if you want to skip the hassle of searching for healthy recipes, creating a shopping list, and shopping for ingredients. As a busy person, the time these services save makes them worth it. Other benefits include reducing your food waste with pre-portioned foods and helping you discover new recipes and cooking skills.<\/p>\n

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What are the cons of meal kit delivery?<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the biggest con of meal kit delivery is the price. With rising grocery costs, you may not save much money buying ingredients yourself, especially when you factor in food waste. Speaking of waste, the kits\u2019 packaging is substantial and not always made of eco-friendly materials.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meal kits also require preparation time, though many services also offer freshly prepared meals. Lastly, the services have limited customization options, which may be hard for picky eaters or individuals with unique dietary needs.<\/p>\n

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What are the different types of meal kit delivery services?<\/h3>\n

The standard meal kit contains ingredients and a recipe with varying levels of preparation required. It ranges from pre-cut ingredients that you just toss in a bowl and season, to essentially a curated grocery order that you chop and prep. While kits are still popular, a new common option is freshly prepared meals that you just pop in the microwave or oven. Some brands even offer frozen meals. There are also hybrid meals that require minimal preparation and are mostly ready-to-heat.<\/p>\n

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\"Connie<\/p>\n

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\n Connie Chen is a former senior reporter on the Insider Reviews team, where she led coverage of home textiles, home entertaining, and food and drink.<\/span>
\n While at Insider, she specialized in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable bed sheets and fluffy pillows to cool online wine clubs and bartender-approved cocktail shakers. She combined rigorous testing methods, conversations with professionals, and active knowledge of the home and kitchen space to help readers get the most out of their money.<\/em><\/span>
\n When she\u2019s not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest snacks, drinks, and\u00a0food gifts. You can see more of her testing process and other behind-the-scenes of being a product journalist on her Instagram @connayreviews<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>
\n Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail.<\/span>
\n Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large.<\/span>
\n Read some of her work:<\/span>
\n The 4 best cocktail shakers in 2021<\/span>
\n The 7 best women\u2019s bathrobes in 2021<\/span>
\n The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021<\/span>
\n The 5 best bed sheets we tested in 2021\u00a0<\/span>
\n The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021<\/span>
\n 12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives<\/span>
\n 8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes<\/span>
\n Even chefs experience cooking burnout \u2014 here\u2019s how they get re-inspired in the kitchen<\/span>
\n How businesses create successful virtual experiences<\/span>
\n 50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home<\/span>
\n Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.<\/span><\/span>
\n Learn more about how we test kitchen products.<\/span><\/span>\n <\/div>\n