10 Best Family Meal Delivery in 2023: Affordable Picks

Imagine having healthy, affordable, and mouthwatering meals delivered right to your door. Your dreams are about to become a reality. And the best part is that these meals are guaranteed to please everyone in your family, even the littlest members of your tribe.

In recognition of the stressful journey of parenthood, it's my mission to help. I’ve discovered the ultimate meal delivery services tailored for families. With a team of experts, I’ve scoured the market for services that offer a diverse menu, specially curated options for kids, and generous portion sizes, all while keeping your budget in mind.

At the top of my list sits Factor, the ultimate champion of healthy and affordable menus. However, don't just stop there – my comprehensive list includes many other options, so be sure to read on to find out more.

The Best Family Meal Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Healthy and Prepared Meals for Families

For families with super busy lifestyles, Factor’s prepared meals are ideal. When time is at a premium, it’s easy to reach for convenient options. The trouble is, most of these are going to be unhealthy. Factor solves this problem with its fresh, prepared meals.

Finding the time and energy to prepare nutritious meals can be a daunting task. Fortunately, Factor can cater to the needs of modern families, ensuring that you can enjoy healthy, delicious meals without compromising on precious family time.

Factor has a strong focus on health and wellness. It offers a wide selection of nutritionally balanced meals that cater to diverse dietary preferences and requirements. Whether you're looking for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, or low-carb options, there’s something for you.

With its team of expert chefs and nutritionists, each meal is thoughtfully crafted to deliver essential nutrients and flavors that both kids and adults will love. Plus, single servings mean nothing has to go to waste. Choose your favorites from the menu, and each person can enjoy exactly what they want.

Factor's greatest strength lies in its unmatched convenience. You can avoid the hassle of making meals from scratch because it handles meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking for you. Factor delivers fully prepared, chef-inspired meals – simply heat them up, and they're ready to enjoy.

The options from Factor are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. From familiar favorites like Roasted Garlic Chicken to BBQ Pork Sloppy Joe, your kids can decide what they’d like to try each week. If you do have picky eaters at home, why not check out our Best Meal Delivery Services for Picky Eaters.

You can add extras to your order, including breakfasts and desserts. There are even juices and smoothies for a healthy option when on the go. There are also bundles to help you make some savings, such as the Breakfast Bundle and the Beverage Bundle.

Factor prioritizes sustainable ingredients whenever possible, ensuring that your family receives meals of exceptional quality and taste. Additionally, Factor takes dietary considerations seriously and lists all common allergens in every recipe. Our in-depth review has even more details about Factor’s service.

You can order as many as 18 meals per week, with prices starting at $6.19 per serving. If you don’t get through them all, you can freeze some to use at a later date.

2. Green Chef – Best for Health-Conscious Families

Green Chef prides itself on its clean recipes and focuses on creating well-balanced meals for every taste. I do appreciate the care for organic ingredients, but I’m more drawn in by the variety of options for different health-conscious lifestyles.

There are 8 plans available, including Plant Based, Keto, and Gluten Free. The best thing about it is that you can mix and match between plans. So you can check out the whole menu to find the perfect recipes for the whole family.

It’s an excellent choice for families seeking wholesome and eco-conscious dining options. Green Chef ensures that every family member can find meals they love. This versatility allows you to cater to individual preferences while still enjoying the convenience of a shared family mealtime.

It partners with local suppliers who adhere to high standards of sustainable agriculture and responsible farming practices. By prioritizing organic ingredients, Green Chef ensures that your family receives meals that are free from harmful chemicals, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.

Each meal kit comes with pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipe cards that are easy to follow, even for novice cooks. This means you spend less time on meal prep and more time enjoying quality moments with your family. Most recipes are ready in around 30 minutes, plus there are 10-Minute Lunches like Pesto Caprese Sandwiches.

Green Chef's commitment to sustainability extends beyond organic ingredients. The company also focuses on minimizing waste and reducing its carbon footprint. It uses eco-friendly packaging materials, including recyclable and compostable components, to ensure that the environmental impact is kept to a minimum.

While working on their Green Chef review, my colleague did find it to be on the pricier side. However, I like that you do get quality ingredients and healthy meals. 

You can order 2, 3 or 4 meals per week for up to 6 people. Prices start at $5.99 per serving based on larger orders.

3. HelloFresh – Best Fresh and Affordable Meal Kits

HelloFresh is a meal kit delivery service that’s best for families who like to cook together. The recipes are fun and easy to cook, and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. This is an experience that even the kids will enjoy!

With HelloFresh, you can forget about grocery shopping and tedious meal preparation. The service delivers pre-portioned, fresh ingredients along with easy-to-follow recipe cards right to your doorstep.

The menus feature a mix of classic favorites and exciting new dishes, allowing you to expand your family's culinary horizons while still offering familiar and comforting meals. There’s also a whole Cookbook of recipes available if you want to get even more creative in the kitchen.

You can learn how to cook delicious recipes like Pork Stir-Fry Tacos or Steakhouse Beef Tenderloin. Plus, there are many healthy recipes for burgers and other foods kids love to eat.

HelloFresh prides itself on sourcing high-quality, fresh ingredients to ensure maximum flavor and nutrition in every meal. The company works with trusted suppliers to provide seasonal produce, sustainably sourced meats, and fresh herbs and spices. This is good news if you’re concerned about where your meals come from.

There isn’t much room for recipe customization, as my colleague mentioned in their tried-and-tested HelloFresh review.

However, the menu is diverse, and the Family Friendly plan includes kid-tested recipes designed to appeal to the younger, usually picky, eaters! Plus, you can switch out ingredients at home for ones you know will be a hit.

You don’t even have to worry when the kids pester you to buy takeout. HelloFresh now has recipes tagged as Better Than Takeout. So you can ease those cravings in a healthier way. These recipes include Fully-Loaded Tofu Taquitos, and Pork Egg Roll Rice Bowl.

You can order up to 6 meals per week for 2 or 4 people. Prices start at $3.32 per serving, and you can easily make changes to your plan or adjust recipes on your account.

4. Home Chef – Best Customizable Menu for Adaptable Meals

Home Chef really stands out from the crowd with its Customize It feature. This means you can upgrade, swap, or double up proteins on select meals. This way, if a family member doesn’t eat pork, you can just swap it for chicken or something more to their taste.

During the signup process, you can also opt to exclude certain ingredients. So if your little ones have a specific aversion to mushrooms or shellfish, for example, you can remove these recipes from your menu.

There’s a great range of cuisines on the menu, from Mexican to Japanese. And, as stated by my colleague in their detailed review, some Home Chef meals are quite fancy!

There’s even a new Family Menu that makes choosing your meals even easier. Here you can see some family favorite recipes including Juicy Lucy Turkey Burgers, Tuscan-Style Sausage Penne, and a tasty looking BBQ Chicken-Cutlet Sandwich.

It’s great that you can also add bundles and extras to supplement your order. In the bundles, you can find things like pizza, salads, soups, and desserts. The extras include smoothies, snacks, and plenty of extra proteins. These are useful for creating a more substantial meal for teenagers having a growth spurt.

I also like that you can plan ahead for how much time you’ll spend cooking. If you have a busy week, you can order from the Express Kits or apply the under 30 minutes filter to the menu. Of course, any of the Oven-Ready options are the fastest meals to prepare.

Some meal kits do take longer to prepare than the average 30 minutes. Make sure you check beforehand, so you know what to expect. I also like to check the recipe complexity. A lot of options are easy to prepare, but you do get some intermediate level ones in the family-friendly recipes.

You can order up to 6 meals per week for 6 people – up to 36 portions. With such a large order, you can keep the whole family fed for a week and have extras for when the in-laws come to visit. Prices start at $7.99 per serving.

5. Fresh and Easy – Best Meal Delivery for Easy Home Cooking

Fresh and Easy offers the same options as Home Chef because it’s part of the same brand. The big difference is that it’s focused on delicious meals that are low or no-prep. This makes it perfect for busy parents who want to choose healthy and fresh options for the meals they enjoy at home.

Based on my colleague’s Fresh and Easy in-depth review, it’s also very affordable. The meals are similar to those from Home Chef, but you spend less time in the kitchen, and the result is a freshly-cooked meal.

And don’t worry, not everything is destined for the microwave. There are plenty of Oven-Ready, Grill-Ready recipes, entree salads, and 15-minute meal kits. This way, you still have options even if you’re not a fan of microwave meals.

Fresh and Easy is a great option for families with younger children. If your little ones aren’t quite ready for solid food or large portions, having quick meals ready to make means you can have a healthy meal even when time is tight.

It’s also great that you can browse Home Chef’s full menu, too. This means that you have a wider choice of recipes. Plus, if you get a break from the kids 1 night, you can make a more complex dish. 

Just because the meals are easy to prepare doesn’t mean there’s less cuisine variety. Some of the delicious looking options include Tropical Maui-Style Mahi-Mahi Tacos, Cauliflower Curry Rice Bowl, Deluxe Pepperoni Pizza Pasta, and Chesapeake-Style Scallop Chowder. I think there’s enough variety to suit everyone’s palate.

Prices are the same as Home Chef and start at $7.99 per serving. You can order a minimum of 2 servings per week for 2 people up to 6 meals for 6 people. So it’s a good option whatever your family size.

6. Purple Carrot – Veggie-Forward Meals for Kids and Adults

Purple Carrot is the perfect option when you want to convince children to eat their veggies. The menu is 100% plant-based and the recipes are diverse and tasty. Plus, the service promotes a healthy lifestyle and extra care for the environment, both of which are very important.

Your family can enjoy healthy vegan versions of classic recipes, such as Crispy Mushroom Chick’n Sandwiches or the Lumache Bolognese. But you also get to try more exotic dishes like Tamarind Curry Noodles.

The meal kits menu offers options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can go 1 step further and get some snacks in the Plantry. Dinners take around 30 minutes to prepare, which is about the average for meal kits. The lunches take around half this time, making them convenient to prepare.

Purple Carrot also has a menu of prepared meals that are ready to eat after only 2 minutes in the microwave. These are a great option for hectic evenings when time is precious. To find out more about the ordering process, be sure to read our in-depth Purple Carrot review.

I like that you can mix and match meal kits and prepared meals. Once you’ve selected either a meal kit or prepared meal plan, you can make changes and add dishes from your account. It’s great to have a variety of meal types so you can match your meal to your schedule.

Most of its packaging can be recycled, either curbside or at recycling centers. Plus, it has some ingenious tips on its website about how to reuse any plastic pots. Get creative with the kids and transform pots into herb garden planters or storage containers. The possibilities are endless.

Overall, Purple Carrot is a fantastic option for both vegetarians and meat lovers, as it opens your taste buds to new experiences! However, if you’d prefer to take a more omnivorous approach to mealtimes, I recommend Green Chef as a good alternative.

Prices start at $8.50 per serving, and you can order a minimum of 2 servings of 3 meals per week or 6 prepared meals. Don’t forget, you can also add Plantry items to your order that include crackers, snacks, and desserts.

7. Dinnerly – Budget-Friendly Meal Delivery for Families

Dinnerly takes a budget-friendly approach without compromising on taste or quality. With Dinnerly, you can enjoy scrumptious family dinners without breaking the bank. This affordability opens the door to culinary adventures that won't strain your wallet.

Its recipes are designed to be easy to follow, allowing even the youngest aspiring chefs to get involved in the cooking process. With clear step-by-step instructions and pre-portioned ingredients, Dinnerly turns cooking into an enjoyable activity that sparks creativity and cultivates a love for food.

Just remember that recipes aren’t included in your weekly box. You need to access them digitally instead. Not only does this help keep costs low, but it also reduces the amount of paper waste. 

Its menu features a wide range of options, from classic family favorites to globally-inspired dishes. Dinnerly provides a variety of choices that’ll please even the most discerning palates. To find out more about what’s on the menu or how the ordering process works, read my colleagues' full review which goes into much more detail about all things Dinnerly.

I like that you can customize your meals by changing proteins or main ingredients. There are lots of pasta dishes that can be made with gluten-free pasta instead. This level of customization means there are even more recipes on the menu to try.

For families with vegetarians, you’ll find enough choice to keep mealtimes interesting. Some of the veggie options include Roasted Red Pepper Panini, Saucy Mushroom Stroganoff, and Crispy Tofu and Broccoli. There are very few vegan options each week. I’d recommend an alternative like Green Chef if vegan meals are important to you, as it has a bigger vegan selection. 

Dinnerly is a great option for larger families. You can order up to 6 meals for 4 people per week. Prices start at an affordable $2.12 per serving.

8. Marley Spoon – Best Martha Stewart-Approved Recipes for Your Family

Marley Spoon partnered with Martha Stewart to create delicious recipes that the whole family can enjoy. And the menu is large enough that anyone can find something delicious and nutritious to try.

You’ll find a delightful combination of cuisines from American and European to Asian and Middle Eastern. Recipes like the Sri Lankan Coconut Dal, Tex-Mex Beef Stuffed Peppers, or Chicken Tikka Masala make things interesting for everyone. I like that lots of recipes are customizable, too. You can opt for jasmine or brown rice with the Chicken Tikka dish, for example.

Every recipe is designed with 6 steps or less, allowing even the most beginner chefs to create delicious masterpieces effortlessly. Dinnerly ensures that each step is easy to follow to encourage every member of your family to take part in the cooking process.

Both vegetarians and meat-eaters are welcome to try the service. You can even choose to make your full box vegetarian when you sign up. Our in-depth review has all the details on the subscription process.

It’s great that you can view all the details of each recipe including ingredients, allergens, and nutritional information, before you sign up too. This can help you decide if it’s right for you. Note that meals are packaged in facilities that contain gluten products, so if you’re celiac, I recommend Green Chef instead for its certified Gluten Free plan.

Marley Spoon offsets the carbon emissions generated during transportation, making every meal delivery a climate-conscious choice. By embracing carbon neutrality, Marley Spoon not only brings delicious and convenient meals to your doorstep but also contributes to a greener future for your whole family.

The meal plans are built around couples (2 person menu) and families (4 person menu), and you can order up to 6 meals per week on either plan. Prices start at $2.99 per serving.

9. EveryPlate – Affordable Family Favorites

EveryPlate helps cater to your family's needs while keeping your budget intact. With its focus on affordability and straightforward recipes, EveryPlate offers a range of options that are based on comforting family favorites like burgers, tacos, and pasta dishes.

EveryPlate stands out as a wallet-friendly offering from HelloFresh. The affordability of EveryPlate can be attributed to its limited menu and emphasis on simple recipes. This approach not only keeps costs down but also ensures that the meals are suitable for the whole family.

It offers 5 different plan options, including a dedicated Family Faves plan. This plan features kid-approved recipes that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning young palates. However, if you prefer a broader selection, you can opt for the ClassicPlate plan, but it’s easy to explore the full menu by scrolling through all the available meals.

The family friendly recipes are sure to please everyone at the table. I like the look of the Chicken Sausage and Tomato Linguine, the Sweet ‘N’ Smoky Pork Chop Sandos, and the Bacon and Caramelized Onion Risotto.

EveryPlate understands the demands of family life and provides Quick & Easy recipes that are specifically tagged as 15 minutes or less, as well as recipes with Easy Cleanup. These options are designed to make your life in the kitchen more manageable, ensuring that you can whip up a delicious meal for your loved ones even on the busiest of days. 

My colleague commented on the recipes being a little more complex than 6 basic steps. So if you’re a novice chef, I recommend reading all the instructions before you begin your meal prep. Get all the details in the full EveryPlate review.

I was impressed to see some Big Batch meals, which contain double the servings. This allows for plenty of leftovers that can be conveniently saved and reheated for another day, simplifying your meal prep routine.

Similarly to other services, you can find add-ons such as soups, sides, and proteins, allowing you to enhance your meals with additional options. However, it's worth noting that EveryPlate may not be the best fit for individuals following niche diets such as vegan, low-carb, keto, or gluten-free. For those, Green Chef may be a more suitable choice.

You can order a minimum of 3 EveryPlate meals for 2 people per week. For the best value of $1.49 per serving, you can order up to 6 meals for 4 people per week.

10. Blue Apron – Easy Recipes for Families

Blue Apron has a good plan for a family of 4, and the recipes are so easy to follow that everyone in the family can become a chef in no time.

It offers premium dishes and carefully selected ingredients. The meals look fancy but don’t take too long to cook. And, as my colleague says in their Blue Apron review, there really is something on the menu for everyone.

For families, Blue Apron offers the Signature for Four plan, where you can order recipes that come with 4 servings. The meals are more family-oriented but equally health-conscious. Some examples of meals on this plan include Oven-Baked Chicken Tacos, Pork Chorizo Enchiladas, and BLT Prime Beef Cheeseburgers.

There are recipes from American, Italian, and Asian cuisine, with a focus on healthy foods and tastes. Plus, there’s a wine menu that the adults can use to order their favorites and make dinnertime even more enjoyable. Check out our Blue Apron Wine Delivery review for more.

It's a great way to introduce the younger ones to a wide variety of recipes. Some recipes tagged as Family Friendly include the classic Three Cheese Pizza, as well as more adventurous options like Seared Steaks and Soy Pan Sauce.

Some of its meals are customizable in terms of proteins and sides. There are a few customization choices each week. Note that if you upgrade a protein, this will incur an additional cost. If you’re feeling creative, all Blue Apron recipes are stored in the Cookbook, so you can practice all those cooking skills you’ve learned. 

There’s no more planning meals, grocery shopping, or prepping ingredients. Blue Apron does all the hard work for you. Each week, a box filled with fresh, high-quality ingredients and chef-designed recipes is delivered straight to your door. The ingredients are pre-portioned to reduce prep time, allowing you to focus on what matters – quality time with family.

Understanding the dynamic nature of family life, Blue Apron offers flexible subscriptions that cater to your schedule and preferences. You can order 2 to 5 recipes per week for 2 or 4 people and easily skip weeks whenever needed. Prices start at $5.74 per serving, making it an affordable option.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Family Meal Delivery Services

I can help you narrow things down with a few of my top tips:

• Quality of ingredients: You want what’s best for your family, so make sure to choose a service that works with fresh, organic, responsibly sourced ingredients. Green Chef uses humanely-raised meat and produce from sustainable sources.

• Affordability: Feeding an entire family can get costly, but there are services that offer affordable meals without dropping the quality. Also, some companies will give you a better price on a larger order. So although Dinnerly and EveryPlate have the cheapest price per serving, you could get discounts on larger orders elsewhere.

• Ease of cooking: Look for recipes that don’t take too long to prepare. It’ll turn mealtime into a more pleasant experience, and you can even involve the kids in the preparation process. Home Chef has lots of dishes that are ready in 15 minutes.

• Variety of recipes: Select a company that has a bit of everything so each member of your family can enjoy the meals. If your children are picky eaters, it helps to look for services that have kid-friendly meals on the menu, such as HelloFresh.

FAQ

Which meal delivery service is best for families?

Green Chef is a great meal delivery service for families. It has an interesting range of family-friendly meals and clear instructions, so that everyone can get involved in the whole cooking process, from prepping to cooking and even washing up.

What is the easiest meal delivery service for families?

Fresh and Easy takes the top spot for the easiest prep meals. There are a range of dishes that can be heated in the microwave or meal kits that can be prepared in 15 minutes. This makes it a good choice for families with hectic or busy lifestyles.

What’s the most affordable meal delivery service for families?

Dinnerly has 1 of the lowest prices per serving, making it a budget-friendly option. Remember to take into account any shipping costs when you choose a meal delivery service. And don’t forget to use our special discounts for even more savings.

Best Family Meal Delivery Services in 2023 — Final Score