8 Best EveryPlate Recipes 2023: Greatest Food on a Budget?

EveryPlate is known for its super approachable and super affordable recipes. Starting at $1.49 per portion, it’s no wonder why it’s such a hit. But this low cost also translates to fewer ingredients, so I was very surprised to discover how good the recipes are at making the most out of less.

The menu has something for everyone, including some low-calorie dishes and a good portion of vegetarian-friendly recipes. It features influences from all over the world, from local to Italian to North African fare. And if you’re very particular about your food, the Premium and Premium+ category will certainly appeal to your exquisite taste.

Now let’s see the best of what EveryPlate brings to the table (wink):

The Best EveryPlate Recipes Reviewed

1. Zesty Herb-Rubbed Salmon with Green Beans & Potatoes – Best Premium Recipe

Key Features

• Featured in the Dietitian Win category with only 620 calories per serving

• Premium+ ingredients (even more premium than Premium)

• Ready in the oven in just 30 minutes

• Current deal: $1.49/meal on your 1st box + 20% off next 2 boxes!

This recipe is the winner for me, firstly because it makes you feel like a fancy chef with only seven top-notch ingredients. Talk about simplicity! And they complement each other really well.

The dreamy combination of flaky salmon that melts in your mouth and the tender herb-roasted Yukon gold potatoes makes for a nourishing, but calorie-conscious meal.

The charred green beans and the creamy lemon-garlic sauce add a little fiber and fat to make it nutritionally complete. The Italian seasoning works really well with the zestiness of the lemon in both the sauce and the salmon.

But what seals the deal for me is that you don’t have to put in much work in order to make this wonderful feast (the oven does most of the job for you) and there’s not much to clean up after. That’s right, everything cooks on just two baking sheets, so there will be little to no mess involved.

2. Southwest Beef & Bean Chili with Sour Cream – Best Comfort Food

Key Features

• A popular recipe (in the Customer Fave category)

• Tex Mex paste and Southwest Spice included

• Ready in 30 minutes or less

• Current deal: $1.49/meal on your 1st box + 20% off next 2 boxes!

You can’t go wrong with this recipe. It’s simple, quick, and perfect to warm you up from the inside. Of course, the cool sour cream dollop added at the end balances the spiciness and literal hotness of the dish, so you can enjoy the flavors without being overwhelmed by them.

The garlic and onion provide the perfect aromatic base in which the ground beef and the black beans simmer while they absorb the sweetness of the tomatoes in the rich beef stock, as well as the myriad of spices in the mix. Yum!

I like that even though this is comfort food, it’s not unhealthy by any means. At just 620 calories, a bowl provides a complete meal and will make your tummy (and heart) full.

Did I mention that it only takes half an hour to make? After prepping the ingredients, you simply stir everything in a pot until it’s cooked. So, only one pot to clean at the end.

3. Garlicky White Sauce Flatbread With Tomato & Zucchini – Best Vegetarian Meal

Key Features

• Features two types of cheese

• With Italian spices

• Ready in 30 minutes or less

• Current deal: $1.49/meal on your 1st box + 20% off next 2 boxes!

Everybody loves pizza, but this recipe is elevated because it uses flatbread instead. It’s thinner, crispier, and therefore has fewer carbs and makes for a lighter meal. A portion has only 600 calories, so you can eat it anytime, no need to wait for a cheat day.

What makes this meal great is the topping. It combines both traditional mozzarella and a sauce made with butter and rich cream cheese, while the zucchini and tomatoes add a juicy, fresh element.

The Italian seasoning adds depth to the flavor and goes really well with the garlic, which comes in the form of both roasted cloves and powder. And I mean… the more garlic in a recipe, the better, right?

This recipe involves a bit of multitasking from the oven to the pan, but it’s certainly not complicated. And as you don’t have to make the flatbread from scratch, it saves a lot of time and it can be ready in under half an hour.

4. Cheesy Steak & Caramelized Onion Sandos with Wedges & Aioli – Best Decadent Dish

Key Features

• With melted gouda cheese

• Features roasted garlic aioli

• Ready in 30 minutes or less

• Current deal: $1.49/meal on your 1st box + 20% off next 2 boxes!

Now, this is a recipe for your cheat day (or a very hearty dinner). At around 1000 calories per portion, this sandwich unites steak, caramelized onions, a roasted garlic aioli, and melted gouda on top. Plus some roasted wedges on the side.

I love how the diced steak cooks together with the caramelized onions in the stock, infusing the roux.

The aioli is made with mayonnaise and mashed roasted garlic. You’re instructed to brush the insides of the buns with melted butter and toast them before you spread them with the aioli, thus adding an extra level of smoothness.

You’ll need to multitask for this recipe to be ready in 30 minutes, so you won’t really have time to rest between steps, but trust me, it’s far from hard labor.

You can use ketchup or your dipping sauce of choice for the wedges. Or, if you want to be extra decadent… You can put some cheese slices on top before taking them out of the oven.

5. Mushroom & Bean Quesadillas with Pepper Jack & Jalapeño– Best for Takeout Lovers

Key Features

• With shredded spicy Pepper Jack cheese

• 730 calories per serving

• Ready in just 20 minutes

• Current deal: $1.49/meal on your 1st box + 20% off next 2 boxes!

This is a healthy, plant-forward twist on the beloved quesadillas you’d usually order on a chilled weeknight. Great news: you can finish preparing them faster than it takes the delivery guy to pick up your order. Maybe even eat them, too.

Clean-up is super quick, too, as you’ll only use a cutting board, a pan, and a small bowl to pickle the jalapeños. Yes, you can brag to your friends that you pickled them yourself (it’s really no big deal, but it sounds like a pro move).

The button mushrooms and the black beans serve as the flavorful proteins, and the tomato, sour cream, and lime add acidity to balance the spiciness of the jalapeños and Pepper Jack.

Speaking of which… This is listed as only one ingredient on the list, but it's actually a cheese laced with several spices and herbs, so it adds a complex flavor profile to the dish. Just like the smoked paprika. It’s a vegetarian meal, but it’s far from boring.

6. Moroccan Chickpea & Apricot Tagine with Garlic Couscous – Best for Exotic Flavors

Key Features

• Sweet and tangy combination

• 730 calories per serving

• Ready in 35 minutes

• Current deal: $1.49/meal on your 1st box + 20% off next 2 boxes!

Yet another Customer Fave recipe on EveryPlate’s menu, this Moroccan-inspired bowl features some very interesting ingredients and flavor combinations, especially if you’re not used to Northern African cuisines.

This is basically a stew, so it has two big advantages: it’s easy to cook and clean up, and it’s perfect to warm you up on a cold day. Or any day, really. Plus, it’s ready in just over half an hour, making it a quicker version of the original.

You’ll get to experience saucy spiced chickpeas in combination with sweet dried apricots, a tangy lemon sauce, and garlicky couscous, with some tender zucchini and onion bringing the mix of aromas and textures to the next level.

To finish it up, you’ll also receive some fresh cilantro as garnish, which, combined with the sour cream and lemon sauce, will balance out the Tunisian spices. Now that’s a complete meal in both nutrients and flavors.

7. Tunisian Turkey Bowls with Rice & Greek Salad – Healthy & Mediterranean Vibes

Key Features

• 690 calories per serving

• Tunisian Spice blend included for the aromatic turkey

• Ready in 30 minutes or less

• Current deal: $1.49/meal on your 1st box + 20% off next 2 boxes!

This is another North African recipe, this time with more Mediterranean influences. Namely, the Greek feta salad on top. I don’t know about you, but I think feta cheese makes everything better. And in this case, it’s used both in the salad and the lemony sauce. Mmmm.

The fluffy basmati rice serves as a base. The salad, which goes on top, is made with cucumber and onions, and along with the tasty feta, brings an explosion of freshness to complement the spiciness of the meat.

The turkey simmers with garlic, onion, and Tunisian spices, ensuring that it draws in all the flavor and becomes super aromatic. The drop of butter you add at the end takes it up a notch.

I like how simple the steps are for this one. The rice cooks by itself, and the other steps take around 5 minutes each, so it all goes very smoothly. Very neat, very quick.

8. Sweet Soy Ramen Stir-Fry with Bell Pepper – Light Meal with Asian Influences

Key Features

• Only 570 calories per serving

• Can be made vegan by omitting the egg

• Ready in 35 minutes

• Current deal: $1.49/meal on your 1st box + 20% off next 2 boxes!

This is a cute take on a classic Asian dish. It has all the important components of good ramen, minus the water. But even though it’s not in soup form, you can still slurp on the noodles. No judging.

If you’re looking for a light meal that’s still nutritious and full of flavor, this is a great choice. You can omit the egg and make it 100% plant-based. I personally prefer the egg on top, but if you forgot to buy eggs last time you went to the store, it’s not a big deal.

The bouncy noodles are glazed with a sweet soy sauce. EveryPlate also provides rice wine vinegar, cornstarch, and sweet Thai chili sauce for an authentic taste.

The garlic, scallions, and ginger add aroma and extra spiciness, while the sugar snap peas and bell pepper add juicy tenderness and fiber.

In case it wasn’t obvious from the “stir-fry” in the title of the dish, it’s super easy to make and you won’t have much cleanup to do at the end. Phew.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best EveryPlate Recipes

Here are some of the criteria I used for selecting the best recipes on the menu:

• Macros: Whether you’re eating lunch or dinner, you need to have a balanced meal that contains all important nutrients. The combination of protein, veggies, and healthy fats is great if you want to maximize the food’s nutritional benefits.

• Flavor: The best food is the one that can make you feel something, besides satiated. The combination of flavor profiles in a way that makes sense, but still manages to surprise you is essential if you want to avoid bland, boring meals.

• Ease: You need to be able to cook your own meals without taking cooking classes or frantically searching How-To videos on Youtube. The instructions need to be clear, detailed, and well organized.

• Time: When you’re hungry, the last thing you need is a long recipe that has you making everything from scratch. I only selected meals that can be ready in 35 minutes or less.

Bottom Line: So, Is EveryPlate Food Good on a Budget?

Yes. It’s good even if you’re not on a budget. The recipes are varied enough that you won’t get bored from one week to the next, and they’re quick and easy enough for anyone to make.

If you want something fancier, like seafood or steak, there are a few Premium meals available as well, but I find the rest of the menu impressive enough as is. It’s big on comfort food, but there are plenty of healthy and calorie-conscious options, too.

Plus, most of the menu is family-friendly, so you can cook for the whole crowd. Overall, I’d say it’s well worth it.

FAQ

What kind of meals does EveryPlate have?

EveryPlate offers a variety of meals inspired by different international cuisines. You’ll see tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, and melts, but also stir-fries, different types of pasta, meatloaves, flatbreads, and chicken pot pies.

Besides being affordable, they’re mostly family-friendly and super easy to make. If you crave seafood or steak, you can also opt for the Premium recipes of the week, like this Zesty Herb-Rubbed Salmon with Green Beans & Potatoes.

What are the best EveryPlate meals?

This depends on your personal taste, but luckily, EveryPlate has something for everyone. From American Cheesy Steak & Caramelized Onion Sandos to Moroccan Chickpea & Apricot Tagine with Garlicky Couscous, you’ll find my selection of the best meals in the article above.

How much is EveryPlate?

EveryPlate is the most affordable meal kit out there, starting at $1.49 per portion. This is the case with most recipes on the menu, such as the Southwest Beef & Bean Chili with Sour Cream, which appeals to the whole family.

For the two or three premium recipes available each week that feature steak or seafood, you’ll have to pay a few extra bucks per portion.