While meal delivery services for singles can be convenient, many meal plans are a better fit for couples and small families. If you’re single, it’s more difficult to find meal plans that won’t result in food waste or paying for multiple servings that you don’t even need.
That’s why I’ve tested and studied today’s top meal delivery services. I’ve worked to find meal plans that offer easy meal kits that work great for one more leftover. I’ve also searched for single-serving prepared meals for even easier meal prep.
Spoiler alert: Home Chef’s wide selection of meal kits and prepared meals ranked number one on my list.
Home Chef – Best meal delivery service for singles in 2022
HelloFresh – Simple menus, preparation instructions and reusable packaging
Fresh n’ Lean – Best for specialized, diet-friendly meals
Sunbasket – Best for those who want organic ingredients.
Blue Apron – Best for chef-created meals
Home Chef Potato Chip Crusted Chicken with Sour Cream and Onion Crema
Home Chef’s Customize It feature lets you choose exactly the meal you want
25 different menu options each week + Protein Packs and extras
Menus include Carb Conscious, Calorie Conscious, Vegetarian
Current deal: Get 16 Free Meals!
Home Chef makes healthy, home-cooked meals easy. The combination of calorie counting, great instructions, customizability, and reliable delivery is the reason Home Chef is the top entry on our singles meal delivery service list.
Home Chef offers a wide variety of meals, but its filters let you zero in on the recipes that best suit your dietary needs. Options include Vegetarian, Carb Conscious, and Calorie Conscious. And Home Chef’s Customize-It feature makes it easy to swap salmon fillets for chicken breasts or Impossible Burger for ground beef.
Our reviewer gave Home Chef high marks across the board, simply because Home Chef does so many things well. Whether you’re looking for a Culinary Collection meal kit to make a special dinner with a friend, or want an Oven-Ready meal on a busy night, Home Chef is there for you.
HelloFresh Crispy Parmesan Chicken
HelloFresh has superb customer service and a wide-ranging menu
35 different menu options each week
Menus include Family-Friendly, Quick & Easy, Fit & Wholesome
Current deal: 16 Free Meals + 3 Gifts + Free Shipping
HelloFresh has an avalanche of rave reviews (including one from our HelloFresh reviewer) and some of the best prices in the singles meal delivery services industry.
Want to cancel the service for a week? No problem, the commitment-free setup means you can skip weeks and resume without jumping through hoops. Each recipe has been tested to ensure it’s delicious and simple to cook.
While not all ingredients are organic, HelloFresh builds its meal kits around seasonal, farm-fresh produce and uses local suppliers whenever possible. HelloFresh donates most edible unsold ingredients to local organizations fighting food insecurity.
Singles can use Hello Fresh to learn how to cook and mix up their alone time at home. The chef-created meals start from $3.79 per meal, which is completive compared with alternative meal delivery services.
Fresh n’ Lean’s Cage Free Chicken Parmesan
Ideal for singles on specialized diets like keto or paleo
13-16 different menu options each week
Menus include Keto, Paleo, Vegan
Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders
Fresh n’ Lean delivers fully prepared meals you simply heat up in a microwave or oven before eating. The setup is perfect for busy single professionals that don’t have time to cook. Our reviewer said Fresh n’ Lean’s pre-made breakfasts, lunches, and dinners “take the stress and worry out of meal prep.”
Choose a meal plan that caters to your specific requirements. The options include Protein+, Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Whole30, and Bulk. Quality singles meal delivery services don’t always cater to specific requirements, but Fresh n’ Lean delivers what you need.
Each meal is neatly packaged, which saves space in the fridge. Heat up meals in the packaging or place them on a plate. You’ll love the simplicity of the delivery and meal preparation process.
Sunbasket Chicken Tagine with Currants, Spinach, and Artichokes
Sunbasket offers certified organic meals and meal kits for a wide range of diets
30+ meal options + breakfast, lunch, and snack items each week
Menus include Diabetes-Friendly, Mediterranean, Carb-Conscious
Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders
Sunbasket caters to a wide range of specialized diets. Single fitness buffs eating Lean & Clean, Paleo, people on the hunt for dairy- and grain-free meals, and Mediterranean dieters will all find healthy and delicious Sunbasket meal plans.
Sunbasket offers both meal kits and prepared meals made with fresh, organic produce and hormone and antibiotic-free proteins. Sunbasket also offers a selection of breakfast and lunch entrees so you can eat three healthy meals a day. Our reviewer said Sunbasket’s menu was “by far one of the best I’ve seen.”
Even if you’re not dieting, Sunbasket offers an adventurous selection of healthy meals that expand your culinary horizons, not your waistline. Sunbasket is one of the more expensive services on our list, but a Sunbasket subscription is an investment in your health.
Blue Apron Grilled Steaks and Sweet Potato Wedges with Green Goddess Slaw
Blue Apron recipes and app videos are great for singles learning to cook
Menus include Vegetarian, Wellness
19 menu options each week
Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders
Blue Apron is a great way to improve your cooking skills. The recipes are easy to follow, and the Blue Apron app provides videos so you can see what you’re supposed to do at each step of the process.
Blue Apron’s menu offers a great selection of global-inspired recipes. In addition to its Signature and Vegetarian plans, Blue Apron offers a Wellness plan that aligns with WW SmartPoints.
Blue Apron also offers wine subscriptions. Our reviewer was quite impressed with Blue Apron’s international wine selection, noting that it offers ”top wines and affordable pricing”.
While Blue Apron is famous for its meal kits, it has recently added some prepared meals to the menu. Prepared meals are great for singles who don’t like to cook, or for a tasty nutritious lunch at the office.
Purple Carrot’s Japanese Yam Sushi Bowls with Sesame Spinach and Citrus Aioli
A delicious and widely-varied selection of 100% plant-based meals
Eight dinner options weekly + breakfast, lunch, Plantry items, and prepared meals
Options include <600 Calories, High-Protein, Nut-Free
Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders
Purple Carrot is a good meal delivery service for health-conscious singles, with meals packed full of nutrients and flavor. The step-by-step instructions have been thoroughly tested. Singles with no cooking experience can choose Purple Carrot to start learning.
Hate cooking? No worries. Purple Carrot also offers a selection of 100% plant-based prepared meals. Pull your dinner from the refrigerator, pop it in the microwave, and you’ve got a delicious vegan meal for one.
The menu is constantly changing so you won’t get bored. Once the food is on the plate you’ll feel like it’s a piece of art. Learn more in our detailed Purple Carrot review.
You don’t have to be a vegan or even a vegetarian to love what Purple Carrot has to offer for singles. The food quality will open your mind to a healthier way of eating.
Fresh and Easy’s 15 Minute Apricot Mostarda Pork Chop
Fresh and Easy is Home Chef’s spinoff line of easy-to-prepare meals
Eight dinner options weekly + Protein Packs and extras
Menu options include Calorie Conscious, Carb Conscious
Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders
Fresh and Easy is delivered by Home Chef, so it’s a reliable service with lots of experience. Singles will love the grill and oven-ready meals you simply throw in the oven or on the grill. Also, there are 15-minute kits for singles who don’t want to be in the kitchen for too long.
Fresh and Easy offers the high-quality ingredients and customization features that make Home Chef great but puts its focus on easy-prep meals. Our reviewer found that with Fresh and Easy ”getting a meal on the table was completely hassle-free.”
Ingredients come prepped and pre-portioned so there’s no washing, weighing, peeling, slicing, or dicing! Many meals also come with a disposable oven-ready container so you can get cooking within a few seconds without worrying about dishes.
Nutrisystem Bistro-Style Toasted Ravioli
A weight-loss plan with a long track record
Over 150 menu options to choose from
Menu options include Diabetes-Friendly, Vegetarian
Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders
Nutrisystem is a weight loss-focused service that offers a full three-meal plan (plus snacks) for either five or seven days a week. This jumpstarts your diet with nutritional low-calorie meals and helps you safely drop pounds while learning healthier eating habits.
Nutrisystem also provides free access to the NuMi app. NuMi lets you monitor your food, water, and activity and provides challenges and prizes. Our Nutrisystem reviewer found the NuMi app’s suggestions for low-calorie side dishes helped her with meal planning.
Nutrisystem offers diabetic-friendly and vegetarian menus. The tried-and-tested Nutrisystem diet plans have been around for nearly half a century, which gives this meal delivery service an edge over many of its competitors. And as you continue on the plan, Nutrisystem also provides guidance in buying healthier foods and keeping off the pounds you’ve lost.
Factor Spicy Turkey Poblano Bowl with Roasted Broccoli "Rice" and Scallion Sour Cream
Ongoing support and nutrition coaching programs available
29+ menu options weekly + Factor+ soups and wellness shots
Menus include Vegan & Veggie, Keto, Calorie Smart
Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders
When you sign up to Factor, you get a free 20-minute consultation with a registered dietitian. You also get access to Factor’s nutrition coaching programs. Not only do you get tasty prepared meals, you even get professional help in meeting your health and weight goals!
Factor has an especially strong selection of Keto meals that are low in carbs but rich in protein and healthy fats. It's Vegan & Veggie menu draws from a number of international cuisines. All Factor meals are free of antibiotics, hormones, genetically modified ingredients, and gluten.
In addition to singles on a diet, our Factor reviewer recommended Factor for busy people who want to eat balanced meals. If you’re committed to healthier eating, Factor gives you everything you need to eat better and live healthier.
Cajun Salmon with Braised Greens and Bacon
Healthy, protein-packed meals that come in at 600 calories or less
30+ unique recipes per week
Dietary options include Whole30, Paleo, Low Carb
Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders
Eating well on a keto or paleo diet can be challenging. (Why does so much tasty food have to be bad for you?) But Snap Kitchen’s meals aren’t just healthy, they’re delicious. Our reviewer said Snap Kitchen offered “a sophisticated blending of flavors that you … would never expect from a diet-focused meal delivery service.”
Compared to other fitness-focused meal delivery services, Snap Kitchen’s six-meal plan at $75.99 ($12.67/meal) with free shipping is a positive bargain. Snap Kitchen offers High Protein, Keto-Friendly, Paleo, Low-Carb, and Whole30 plans to suit your dietary needs.
If you’re trying to stay on a specialized diet but don’t have time to plan meals and cook, Snap Kitchen delivers tasty carb- and calorie-conscious meals to your door. Fitness-focused eating never tasted so good!
Top Plans | ||||||||||
Top Plans | ![]() | |||||||||
Our Rating | ||||||||||
Our Rating | 9.8 | 9.5 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 8 |
Starting Price | ||||||||||
Starting Price | $6.99 Per Serving | $3.79 Per Serving | $7.93 Per Serving | $5.99 Per Serving | $3.24 Per Serving | $8.32 Per Serving | $6.99 Per Serving | $8.54 Per Serving | $5.50 Per Serving | $9.25 Per Serving |
Minimum Order | ||||||||||
Minimum Order | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 5 prepared meals | 2 meal kits for 2 people/4 prepared meals | 2 meals for 2 people | 3 meal kits for 2 people/6 prepared meals | 2 meals for 2 people | 6 meals for 4 days | 4 prepared meals | 6 prepared meals |
Meal Types | ||||||||||
Meal Types | Kits, oven- & grill-ready, prepared | 20 - 30 min. meal kits | Prepared meals | Fresh & Ready meals, 30-Min Meal Kits | 20 - 60 min. meal kits | 30-minute meal kits | Oven- & grill-ready, kits, prepared | Prepared meals, shelf-stable food | Prepared meals | Prepared meals |
Prep Time | ||||||||||
Prep Time | 5-50 min | 15-40 min | 3 mins | 3-40 min | 5-45 min | 3-40 min | 15-30 min | 0-3 min | 2-3 min | 1-2 min |
Active Deals | ||||||||||
Active Deals |
Here are some pointers on finding the meal delivery service best suited to your needs.
Consider your budget, but be flexible: If you’re on a plan of four meals per week, a $1.50 difference per serving adds up to $6 a week. If the cost of a medium latte is all that stands between a meal plan you like and one you love, you’re worth the splurge.
Don’t compromise on your dietary needs: If you’re on a specialized diet, you may be able to cobble together a few meals every week from a general meal delivery service. But you’ll be much happier with a service that has a dedicated menu.
Weigh your cooking skills: If you enjoy cooking, you’ll love meal kits that save you the trouble of shopping and planning. If you’re a klutz in the kitchen, prepared meals let you put tasty food on your table just by popping it in the microwave.
Don’t be afraid to switch: You may go through a couple of meal services before you find the one that’s just right for you. The meal delivery services I listed have easy cancellation policies and excellent discounts for first-time customers.
Meal kits from delivery services can provide you with a tasty supper and a great lunch. With the services recommended, you’ll love leftovers more than ever.
If you’re short on time, cooking skills, kitchen equipment or all of the above, many services deliver prepared single-serving meals you simply heat and eat. And if you can’t make up your mind between meal kits or prepared meals, many meal delivery services offer both.
Bottom line: if you’re single, hungry, and want to eat better, meal delivery services are worth it.
Home Chef is the best meal delivery service for singles because of the low price per meal and flexible plans. It means singles on a budget can choose the plan they want with good customization. Also, reusable packaging helps reduce waste from regular deliveries.
With over 50 years in operation, Nutrisystem may have the longest track record of any diet meal delivery service. Nutrisystem’s 5-day and 7-day plans keep away hunger with six small servings a day.
Eating healthy with limited kitchen equipment can be challenging. Fresh n’ Lean provides healthy prepared meals that you heat and eat in five minutes or less. So long as you have a refrigerator, you can enjoy fitness-friendly meals tailored to Keto, Paleo, Vegan, or Whole30 diets at home or at the office.