10 Best Family Meal Delivery Services 2023: Affordable Picks
If one of your most ardent dreams is healthy, affordable, and delicious meals delivered every week to your doorstep, I can help make your dreams come true. And yes, I’m talking about meals everyone will love – including the pickiest of kids.
I know parenthood is a stressful period in everyone’s life so I decided to find the best meal delivery services for families. With our team of specialists, I looked for those services that offer a varied menu, options especially designed for kids, generous sizes, and all of that on a budget.
My list starts with Home Chef because it has one of the most customizable and affordable menus on the market. But you don’t have to stop here – my list contains a lot of other names, so make sure to read until the end!
Short on Time? Here Are the Best Meal Delivery Services for Families
Home Chef – Best customizable menu that fits everyone’s taste
Green Chef – Great for health-conscious families
Marley Spoon – Best Martha Stewart-approved recipes for your family
Blue Apron – Great gourmet meals for the entire family
Fresh and Easy – Best service for easy home cooking
The Best Meal Delivery Services for Families Reviewed
1. Home Chef – Best Customizable Menu that Fits Everyone’s Taste
Key Features
Options for everyone, including people on a diet
30+ unique recipes per week
Meal kits and oven-ready meals
Current deal: Get 60% off your first three boxes
Home Chef really stands out from the crowd with the “Customize It” feature because you can upgrade, swap, or double up proteins on select meals. This way, if junior doesn’t eat fish, you can just swap it for chicken or something more to their taste.
You can order up to six meals per week for six 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. And, as stated by my colleague in their detailed review, some Home Chef meals are quite fancy!
I also like that you can plan ahead how much time you’ll spend cooking. If you’ll have a busy week, you can order from the 15 minutes Meal Kits column or apply the under 30 min filter. Of course, the oven-ready options are the fastest.
2. Green Chef – Great for Health-Conscious Families
Key Features
Sustainably-sourced farm ingredients and restaurant-quality meals
A USDA certified organic company
30+ recipes every week
Current deal: Get $250 off + free shipping
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.
While working on a detailed Green Chef review, my colleague found it to be on the pricier side. However, I like that you do get quality ingredients and healthy meals.
The Balanced Living plan is best suited for families, and you can order three or four meals per week for up to six people.
Unfortunately, you can’t mix and match between plans. You’ll have to use the keto + paleo meal plan for gluten-intolerant family members and the plant-powered meal plan for vegetarian and vegan ones.
3. Marley Spoon – Best Martha Stewart-Approved Recipes for Your Family
Key Features
Each recipe takes only six steps to cook
40 unique recipes per week
You get Martha's favorite spice blends with each recipe
Current deal: Get $270 off your first 8 boxes!
Marley Spoon partnered with Martha Stewart to create delicious recipes that the whole family can enjoy. And, while there are no options for customization, the menu is large enough that anyone can find something delicious.
You’ll find a delightful combination of cuisines from American and European to Asian and Middle Eastern. Also, both vegetarians and meat-eaters are welcome to try the service. Recipes like the Sri Lankan Coconut Dal or Tex-Mex Beef Stuffed Peppers make things interesting for everyone.
The meal plans are built around couples (two person menu) and families (four person menu), and you can order up to six meals per week on either plan. There’s also the option to make the entire order vegetarian.
4. Blue Apron – Great Gourmet Meals for the Entire Family
Key Features
Clear instructions that make even fancy recipes look easy
19 unique recipes per week
Three dietary options including vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, and weight loss
Current deal: Enjoy $110 off across your first 5 orders
Blue Apron gets your attention with premium dishes, carefully selected ingredients, and meals that look fancy but don’t take too long to cook. And, as my colleague says in this amazing Blue Apron review, there’s something for everyone.
For families, Blue Apron offers the Signature for Four plan, where you can order four recipes per person, per week. The meals are more family-oriented but equally health-conscious.
While the number of menu choices is a bit limited, there are options 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 to make dinner more enjoyable.
Overall, Blue Apron turns your meals into an exquisite experience! That’s why I think it best fits foodies who like to be adventurous and enjoy trying new things.
5. Fresh and Easy – Best Service for Easy Home Cooking
Key Features
Calorie and carb-conscious meals
Options to customize your recipes
30+ recipes every week
Current deal: Get 60% off your first three boxes!
Fresh and Easy offers the same options as Home Chef (it’s part of the same brand) but 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 beneficial for your pocket. The prices are similar to Home Chef, but you spend less time in the kitchen and the result is a freshly-cooked meal.
Plus, not everything is destined for the microwave. There are plenty of oven- and grill-ready recipes, entree salads, and 15-min meal kits. This way, you still have options even if you’re not a fan of microwave meals.
6. HelloFresh – Fresh and Affordable Meal Kits
Key Features
Good menu variety
25+ unique recipes per week
Four dietary options including vegetarian, calorie-conscious, and pescatarian
Current deal: 18 free meals + first box ships free + 3 surprise gifts with code DR18HF
HelloFresh is a meal kit delivery service and it’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!
As my colleague mentioned in this HelloFresh well-detailed review, there isn’t much room for customization. However, the offer is diverse and the family-friendly plan includes kid-tested recipes designed to appeal to the younger, usually picky, eaters!
With HelloFresh 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.
7. EveryPlate – Best Budget-Friendly Service
Key Features
Six steps recipes
17+ unique recipes per week
Estimated cooking time: 10-40 min
Current deal: $1.39/meal on your 1st box
EveryPlate is a no-fuss affordable meal kit delivery service best for families on a budget. The company doesn’t try to lure you in with fancy meals or extras, which is why it manages to keep prices low without skimping on quality.
The list of dishes is short, but includes several classic crowd-pleasing recipes, as highlighted in this review. So if you enjoy a Creamy Mushroom Stake or a Gravy Lover’s Meatballs, EveryPlate is a great option.
I like that there’s a family-friendly plan, with kid-approved meals. But I also like the EasyPlate plan where you can find quick and easy recipes that even kids could help with.
8. Purple Carrot – Veggie-Forward Meals for Kids and Adults
Key Features
Options for meal kits and prepared meals
Around 15 unique recipes per week
Free shipping on all orders
Current deal: Get $30 off with code carrot30
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 (who doesn’t like that?).
Your family can enjoy healthy 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 one step further and get some snacks. Purple Carrot also has a menu of prepared meals that are ready to eat after only two minutes in the microwave.
Overall, Purple Carrot is a fantastic option for both vegetarians and meat lovers as it opens your taste buds to new experiences!
Quick Comparison Table
Top Plans | ||||||||
Top Plans |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Our Rating | ||||||||
| Our Rating | ||||||||
| Starting Price | ||||||||
| Starting Price | $5.74 Per Serving | $3.32 Per Serving | $5.99 Per Serving | $6.99 Per Serving | $1.49 Per Serving | $8.50 Per Serving | $6.99 Per Serving | $2.99 Per Serving |
| Minimum Order | ||||||||
| Minimum Order | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 3 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 3 meals for 2 people | 3 meal kits for 2 people/6 prepared meals | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people |
| Meal Types | ||||||||
| Meal Types | 20 - 60 min. meal kits | 20 - 30 min. meal kits | 30-minute meal kits | Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready, prepared | 30-minute meal kits | Meal kits, prepared meals | Oven- & grill-ready, kits, prepared | 30 min. meal kits |
| Prep Time | ||||||||
| Prep Time | 5-45 min | 15-40 min | 25-40 min | 5-50 min | 20-45 min | 3-40 min | 15-30 min | 20-40 min |
| Active Deals | ||||||||
| Active Deals | ||||||||
Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Service for Families
When it comes to finding the best meal delivery service for your family, you have to consider everyone’s different preferences. This can be difficult, especially with so many companies on the market. But, you can narrow things down by keeping in mind a few 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.
Price: 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. However, don’t forget to add the shipping cost since most services also charge for that.
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.
Ease of Cooking: Look for recipes that don’t take too long to prepare. It will turn mealtime into a more pleasant experience and you can even involve the kids in the preparation process.
Servings: Most meal delivery services have plans for couples (two people) and families (four people) and you can choose the number of recipes per week.
Bottom Line: Are Meal Kits Delivery Services A Good Fit for Families?
Yes! Setting aside the time and money saved with trips to the store, shopping, and meal preparation, meal delivery services also offer diversity. You can expose the children to a variety of cuisines without having to spend on restaurants.
Plus, most meal delivery services offer meals for different preferences. This means that you can order meals for the adult who’s on a diet and for the kid who doesn’t like veggies. Overall, meal delivery services just make life easier and better for busy parents.
FAQs
How much does HelloFresh cost for a family of 4?
If you choose the Family Friendly plan and select two recipes for two people (a total of four servings), you’ll pay $47.96 plus shipping ($11.99/serving). If you choose the maximum number of recipes per week (six for four people), the order will amount to $191.76 plus shipping and you’ll pay $3.32 per serving.
Which meal delivery service is easiest?
Fresh and Easy offers a wide range of simple and fast recipes that are easy to cook while providing all the benefits of fresh ingredients. But it’s not the only one – all services on my list promote easy meals for both prepared meals and meal kits.
