10 Best Meal Delivery Services 2022 – Ranked by Our Experts

With a veritable smorgasbord of meal kit delivery services on the market, choosing just one may feel like an overwhelming task. 

With services offering everything from prepared meals to plant-based recipes, gourmet dining experiences to family-friendly menus, and more, how do you decide which one is right for you?

My colleagues and I have spent the year eating our way through the most popular meal kits to help you find the perfect match for your palate. And with our combined experience, we’ve selected 10 of the very best meal delivery services for 2022. 

Whether you need help sticking to a diet, feeding a picky family, or just want to save time in the kitchen, there’s a service for you!

The Best Meal Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Home Chef – Best Meal Delivery Service for Customization

Key Features

• Accessible and easy-to-follow recipes

• Choose from both prepared meals and meal kits

• Order up to eight servings of every dish

• Current deal: Get 16 Free Meals!

Home Chef is one of our favorite meal delivery services thanks to its highly customizable menu and variety of preparation options. Our in-depth review goes into more detail, but suffice to say, Home Chef gives you the power to choose your culinary destiny! 

Our team found Home Chef’s 15-Minute Meal Kits and Fast & Fresh prepared meals to be perfect for people needing quick and easy solutions for weeknight dinners.

But that’s not all Home Chef has to offer. Meals from the Culinary Collection – like the Honey-Ginger Salmon pictured above – feature premium ingredients and more elaborate cooking techniques. 

You can also customize Home Chef’s recipes to suit you by swapping, upgrading, or doubling-up on the protein in each meal. 

2. HelloFresh – Best Family-Friendly Meal Kits

Key Features

• Crowd-pleasing recipes, including Easy Prep and Cook Together options

• Sustainable, farm-fresh ingredients and recyclable packaging  

• Plans include Fit & Wholesome, Pescatarian, Veggie, and more

• Current deal: 16 Free Meals + 3 Gifts + Free Shipping

In many ways, HelloFresh is the gold standard for meal kits. It offers easy recipes and fresh ingredients at an affordable price, making it an ideal service for just about anyone. This detailed HelloFresh review has the full scoop on why it’s so popular across the US.

Our experts also found HelloFresh to be the best meal delivery service for families with picky children. The menu is full of modern takes on beloved North American dishes, and you can even choose the dedicated Family Friendly plan to ensure you only receive tasty, kid-friendly meals.

HelloFresh offers an ever-changing menu, but the service doesn’t shy away from bringing back its most popular dishes either. The Hall of Fame meals – like the Black Bean and Poblano Flautas pictured above – are guaranteed to be a hit.

3. Blue Apron – Best Meal Delivery Service for International Cuisine

Key Features

• Healthy WW-approved recipes

• Offers both meal kits and prepared meals

• Optional wine subscription service

• Current deal: $110 off across your first 5 boxes!

My experience with Blue Apron has shown that it offers a somewhat unrivaled combination of quality ingredients, stress-free recipes, and tons of variety, with everything from no-hassle one-pan dishes to more adventurous meals, and plenty of global-inspired flavors.   

My colleague’s review offers a closer look, but dishes like the Crispy Paneer Cheese (pictured above) are sure to both satisfy your tastebuds and introduce your palate to unique twists on classic dishes.

But the best part of this service is Blue Apron’s pricing. Though I expected such a varied and exciting menu to come with a premium price tag, I was pleased to discover that plans start at just $3.24 per serving.

4. Sunbasket – Best Organic Meal Delivery For Any Diet

Key Features

• Pick up breakfast, snacks, specialty ingredients, and more

• Internationally inspired dishes for adventurous palates

• Offers meal kits as well as prepared Fresh & Ready meals

• Current deal: $90 off Plus a Free Gift!

Sunbasket does a brilliant job of catering to a range of different diets, with plans that include Diabetes-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Paleo, and more.

You can also mix and match across the plans – including adding the brand’s Fresh & Ready meals to your box for those particularly busy lunchtimes or weeknights. 

Our Sunbasket review goes into greater detail on all of this service’s many menus, but the Pinto Bean and Hominy Pozole Rojo pictured above is a great example of Sunbasket’s flavorful offerings. Not only is it suitable for a range of diets (including vegetarian and gluten-free) it can also be whipped up in 20 minutes!

5. Marley Spoon – Most Sustainable Meal Delivery Service

Key Features

• Martha Stewart-approved recipes and signature spice blends 

• 40 recipes on the menu each week 

• A sustainable, carbon-neutral company

• Current deal: Get $120 off Your First 5 Boxes

At first, I thought Marley Spoon’s biggest draw would be its partnership with homemaking guru Martha Stewart. However, I quickly found a lot more to love! 

As my colleague’s Marley Spoon review discusses, the collaboration allows diners to enjoy a range of Martha-approved recipes and her signature sauces and spice blends. This service’s benefits, however, reach far beyond its celebrity ambassador.

Marley Spoon’s most impressive feature is its commitment to reducing its global footprint. On the website you’ll find detailed information on packaging, including the sustainably sourced cardboard it uses for its shipments, and how the company reduces emissions. 

The company is dedicated to carbon neutrality, easily making Marley Spoon one of the more eco-friendly meal delivery services.

6. EveryPlate – Best For Meals on a Budget

Key Features

• Comfort-food classics, including seafood and veggie dishes

• 17 meals to choose from each week

• Plans include EasyPlate, FamilyPlate, and more 

• Current deal: $40 OFF throughout your first 3 boxes

It can sometimes feel like you’re spending a lot of money when you buy a week’s worth of meals at once. With EveryPlate, though, this isn’t the case.

With tasty, high-quality dishes starting from just $4.99 per serving, EveryPlate is one of the cheapest meal delivery services out there – and worth every cent. I wrote more about my experience in this dedicated review.

Of course, you don’t get to be the most budget-friendly meal delivery service without some compromises – for example, it’s not great for people who have allergies or specific dietary needs – but I did enjoy having the option to add premium meals to my order for an extra fee. 

EveryPlate’s affordable prices make it easy to save money, so I loved being able to splurge on the occasional gourmet meal, like the Tomato Garlic Scallops pictured above. 

7. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service

Key Features

• Free shipping on all deliveries

• Pick your own meals or let Purple Carrot decide for you

• High-Protein, and Gluten-Free options available

• Current deal: Get $25 Off & FREE Delivery

Though many of the services on this list cater to plant-based lifestyles with a limited selection of vegan meals, Purple Carrot stands out for its purely plant-based menu and ability to coax amazing flavor into its dishes. 

You can read more about my own experience of this service in this Purple Carrot review.

The Japanese Gnocchi (pictured above), with its unique combo of Italian and East-Asian flavors, is a prime example of everything I love about Purple Carrot. Whether you’re a dedicated vegan or just trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet, you’ll view veggies and vegan food in a whole different light when you sign up!

In my opinion, Purple Carrot offers the best vegan meal kits you can buy. It offers prepared meals, too, so you can enjoy amazing vegan dishes even if you don’t have time to cook from scratch.

8. Freshly – Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Service

Key Features

• Almost all the meals are gluten- and peanut-free

• Order between four and 12 meals each week

• Individually packaged meals are easy to store

• Current deal: Save $125, Promo Code: SAVE125AFF

Freshly’s food philosophy involves cutting the sugar, preservatives, and processed ingredients often found in ready meals in favor of fresh, nutritious food. Each single-serving meal promises to be tasty, healthy, and easy to prepare.

Our dedicated review discusses Freshly’s mission in greater detail – but I think the menu speaks for itself! 

Choose from a range of categories, including FreshlyFit, Purely Plant, and the Signature Collection, all of which feature microwavable meals that are completely gluten-free. 

You’ll find healthy takes on comfort-food classics, like Chicken Cordon Bleu and Pork Chile Colorado (shown above), as well as paleo-friendly, high-protein and low-carb dishes, perfect for those with active lifestyles. 

9. Green Chef – Best Certified Organic Meal Delivery Service

Key Features

• Ingredients arrive peeled and chopped for painless prep

• Low-carb and plant-based plans available 

• USDA-certified organic 

• Current deal: Get $130 Off + Free Shipping

At $6.00 per serving, Green Chef may be on the pricier end of the scale, but it stands out for its commitment to organic, ethically sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. 

This makes it a great meal kit option for anyone striving to eat cleaner and healthier. Our in-depth review goes into more detail on the qualities that make Green Chef the best organic meal kit delivery service. 

Personally, I love Green Chef’s simple and delicious menus. The Plant-Powered plan features both vegan and vegetarian recipes, while the Keto + Paleo menu is filled with low-carb options.

The Balanced Living plan is just as you would suspect – healthy, tasty, balanced meals. Green Chef’s streamlined plans make it easy to try out healthier eating habits – and stick to them.

10. Nutrisystem – Best Meal Delivery Service For Weight Loss

Key Features

• Studies show an average weight loss of 15lb in two months

• Partner Plan features meals and snacks for two

• A convenient way to meet your health goals

• Current deal: 50% Off All Plans + Free Shipping!

If your goal is not just to be healthy, but specifically to lose weight, then Nutrisystem may be the best service for you.

Nutrisystem’s plans are all-encompassing daily menus that seek to replace your favorite dishes with healthier alternatives. This includes both frozen and shelf-stable meals and snacks – and while it’s great for calorie counting, it’s probably not the best choice for someone who craves fresh ingredients.

My colleague’s review dives deeper into Nutrisystem’s offerings and what you can expect on the menu, but look out for plenty of guilt-free offerings that are low in calories yet high in fiber and protein. 

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Service

Based on our shared experiences, we’ve narrowed down the top markers for high-quality meal kits. Here are a few things to look for when picking the best meal delivery service for you:

• Flexible plans: You don’t want to get penalized for skipping a week if you’re going out of town, right? The best services make it easy to tailor your subscription to your needs.

• Menu variety: Nobody wants to eat the same thing every day. The best meal delivery services offer varied menus with plenty of choice, or dynamic menus that change every week.

• Support for dietary preferences: Whether you’re gluten-free or pescatarian, you should be able to order meals that cater to your needs without stress or uncertainty.

• Affordability: While it’s fun to splurge on a fancy meal, overpriced subscriptions aren’t a great long-term solution. Look for the perfect balance of quality and cost-effectiveness.

• High-quality ingredients: Everything in your box should be ethically sourced and fresh. Bonus points for organic and non-GMO options!

• Stress-free prep: Whether you’re following a recipe or reheating a prepared meal, you should be able to enjoy your food in as little time as possible.

Bottom Line: Are Meal Delivery Subscription Boxes Worth It?

Yes! Taking away the stress of planning, grocery shopping, and prep are the obvious benefits of having your meals delivered regularly to your door, but it can save you money, too. 

Plus, you can use the time saved to spend more precious time with your loved ones. Bonding over cooking a fun meal kit with your family, or trying out a new weight loss plan with your partner may be just the thing to bring you closer.

FAQ

What’s the cheapest meal delivery service?

The most affordable meal delivery service on my list is EveryPlate, at $4.99 per serving. With EveryPlate, you can order up to five meals a week from its classic, vegetarian, or family-friendly plans. 

And – even better – this low cost per portion remains the same, no matter the size of your order. 

Check out this discount to save even more – it gets you $80 off across your first three boxes! 

What’s the best vegan meal delivery service?

Purple Carrot is the top vegan service on my list. It offers plant-based meal kits and prepared meals. With a weekly-changing menu, the recipes are always creative and fun – veggies have never tasted so good! 

What’s the healthiest meal delivery service?

I found Sunbasket to have the most diverse range of healthy diet plans, and it uses only organic ingredients where possible. From vegan to low-carb to gluten-free, both its meal kits and prepared meals contain healthy, fresh, and premium ingredients. 

Green Chef is another great service that made my top ten, which offers nutritious, veg-packed recipes. It’s also 100% certified organic and features veggie, keto, and paleo plans.