What are the Best Meal Delivery Services?

By Kimberly Hughes | Published on April 27, 2023
Delivery boxes from meal delivery services stacked on a home countertop.
Photo Courtesy: Adobe Images

Meal delivery services offer an effective way to save time on dinner prep and add new recipes into your nightly rotation, while introducing you to new ingredients and cooking methods.

With so many services and solutions out there, it can be overwhelming deciding on one that’s suitable for your lifestyle, budget and dietary preferences. Some services may work better with specific diets such as keto, paleo or Weight Watchers.

1. HelloFresh

HelloFresh is a meal delivery service that provides pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipe cards, along with weekly menus that can be tailored specifically to meet your schedule. You can customize meals based on these elements.

This company provides a range of options that accommodate various dietary restrictions. Their menu features plant-based, vegetarian and low-carb dishes.

2. Blue Apron

Blue Apron is a meal kit service offering fresh ingredient-and-recipe delivery boxes, kitchen tools, pantry items and wine subscriptions.

Blue Apron sources ingredients from an extensive network of suppliers, including local purveyors, farmers and importers. All meat and seafood used in Blue Apron meals must come from farms which meet Blue Apron’s animal welfare policy.

This includes producing free-range, antibiotic- and hormone-free animals. Furthermore, they work closely with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program to ensure their seafood products are sustainable.

The company provides an array of recipes suitable for two people or families of four, such as beef and mushroom stew, pan-fried chicken, Mexican-spiced pork, chili stir-fry, ginger pork burgers, quesadillas salmon and various pasta dishes.

3. Sun Basket

Sun Basket is an award-winning meal delivery service with a strong emphasis on quality. Offering quick ready-to-eat options as well as kits requiring more time and effort, they provide something delicious every time!

They offer customizable menus tailored to meet the preferences of their clients and a facility which is fully capable of managing all eight major allergens.

Gourmet Deli offers delectable recipes using only top-of-the-line ingredients – such as their Mediterranean lemon chicken dish – that make for delicious yet healthful meals on any table.

The company also offers add-ons such as snacks and breakfast items, along with prepared meals such as Mojo Pork Tacos. Each mojo can contain different proteins like chicken, steak, shrimp or even plant-based options.

Sun Basket stands out as a green meal delivery service by using environmentally-friendly packaging materials like recycled denim insulation and compostable fiber-based food trays to produce their food, which generates 25-30% less greenhouse gases than shopping at traditional grocery stores. They even reference research that suggests their services create 25% fewer greenhouse gasses than going directly to grocery stores!

4. Home Chef

Home Chef provides easy meal kits to families in their area. Their daily deliveries take place Monday to Friday and offer 20 menu options that are bookable up to five weeks ahead of time.

Recipes prepared using fresh, high-quality ingredients that are simple and fast to prepare are available through this company, including 15-minute meals and oven-ready options designed specifically to accommodate busy people looking for quick solutions to cooking.

They offer food for every dietary preference and lifestyle imaginable – including low calorie, carb-conscious and vegetarian dishes. Furthermore, this company allows customers to request specific ingredients like pork or shellfish which may cause allergic reactions.

This service is an ideal option for families who lack time or want to save money by outsourcing meal prep. Additionally, this option makes an excellent addition for busy lifestyles or households with food allergies or restrictions that prevent cooking at home.