9 Best Meal Delivery Services in Knoxville in 2024

Meal delivery services are a great alternative to takeout or endless grocery shopping. But with so many Knoxville meal delivery services available, finding the right one can be a challenge. Luckily, I’m here to help. 

I’ve put together a list of the best meal delivery services in Knoxville that’ll save you time, effort, and money. From meal kits to prepared meals, I’ve found a wide range of services that will suit every skill level and diet in Knoxville. Plus, every service on this shortlist has been tested at home by me or a colleague. 

Factor comes on top of my list thanks to its great selection of prepared meals and range of international cuisines. Once you try Factor’s healthy and delicious meals, you’ll be hooked, as there’s so much to choose from. Read on to browse my list of the highest-quality meal delivery services in Knoxville.

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Knoxville Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Dietitian-Designed Ready-Made Meals in Knoxville

Factor is an ideal service for busy people who want delicious, ready-made meals. As we found in our tested Factor review, the meals are designed to be nutritious, catering to those who lead an active and fitness-centered lifestyle.

What’s on the Menu?

Factor meals only use premium ingredients obtained from a network of trusted suppliers. All the meals are prepared by professional chefs and designed by dietitians. Once cooked, the meals are chilled (never frozen) for transport. This way, each order arrives fresh and full of nutrients at your doorstep.

Even though the menu isn’t huge, I was impressed by its variety and flexibility. You’ll find plenty of options for different diets, including keto and high-protein. There are several options for vegetarians and vegans, but possibly not enough to support a week’s worth of meals without repeats. 

Factor isn’t just about lunch and dinners, there are add-ons too. You can spice things up with smoothies, juices, healthy sweets, and snacks. This way, you could start your day with a delicious Chocolate Brownie Keto Shake and end it with a keto-friendly Goat Cheese and Romesco Baked Chicken.

What Makes It Special?

Factor can help with weight loss since most recipes range from 350 to 900 calories, with an average of 600 calories per meal. Many recipes are tagged Calorie Smart, but nutritional facts and ingredients for each meal are available on the menu. In addition, the Factor subscription comes with a 20-minute free nutrition consultation with a registered dietitian.

The meals arrive in individual, microwave-safe plastic containers wrapped in a paper sleeve that contains information on allergens, nutrition, ingredients, storage, and the best-by date. Factor's packaging strategy results in less waste compared to traditional meal kit services. The plastic containers and cardboard sleeves are fully recyclable.

Is It Good Value?

You can choose between 6 and 18 meals per week. The larger the order, the lower the cost per meal. For example, its best-value box gives you 18 meals for just $103.41 on your first order if you use our link.

A shipping fee of $10.99 applies to each delivery.

Factor has a money-back guarantee. If you’re dissatisfied with the delivery or the meal quality, you’ll be given appropriate compensation, ensuring a risk-free experience for customers.

2. Green Chef – Best Organic Meal Kits for a Clean Diet

Green Chef sources its ingredients sustainably and offers healthy, chef-created meal kits that fit different dietary needs. The service pledges to deliver organic, farm-fresh produce and premium proteins for all of its meal kits, so if you’re looking for top-notch quality – you’ve found it!

What’s on the Menu?

I like the menu variety and flexibility as you get options across 8 meal categories including Mediterranean, Calorie Smart, Quick & Easy, Plant Based, and Protein Packed. Most Green Chef meals are certified gluten-free by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). However, the Green Chef facility works with other allergens, so I highly recommend that you read each recipe if you suffer from allergies.

There are around 10 non-meat recipes per week. If you’re not on a plant-based diet, Green Chef gives you lots of choices, as you can mix and match foods across different dietary categories.

The ingredients arrive pre-measured and categorized by recipe, so all you have to do is prep everything and then cook. The cooking instructions are detailed, and you get text descriptions and images for every step. We tested Green Chef at home and found the recipes creative and easy to follow.

What Makes It Special?

As well as the dietary categories, Green Chef has lots of tags on the main menu with additional info about each recipe. Some tags you’ll see are Sodium Smart, Low Added Sugar, and Dairy Free.

Green Chef’s recipes may be premium, but this isn’t reflected in the prep times. There are plenty of 20-minute recipes on the menu, and more recently, Green Chef added several 10-minute lunch recipes to its menu each week.

Is It Good Value?

If you want more, Green Chef also has a solid offer of add-ons that includes breakfasts, healthy desserts, extra protein, salads, and wraps. However, the add-ons are separate from the core menu, and you don’t have a maximum or a minimum order.

For the core menu, you can order for 2, 4, or 6 people, but only 3 or 4 servings each. As usual, if you order for more people, you get a better deal. For instance, you get the best value for your buck ($9.99 per serving) with 4 meals for 6 people.

3. Blue Apron – Best Gourmet Meal Kit Recipes in Tennessee

Blue Apron offers both meal kits and prepared meals. It features a Family Friendly plan on its meal kit menu. This features kid-approved favorites such as Three Cheese Pizza and Seared Chicken with Creamy Italian Dressing.

What’s on the Menu?

Most meal kits take between 30 and 45 minutes to prepare and cook, but some meal kits require more prep than others. Ready To Cook meals don’t take too long to assemble; however, as they are oven meals, you’ll have to let them cook for about 30+ minutes. 

On the other hand, the Fast & Easy meals don’t need much chopping, and often everything goes in 1 pan. But if you prefer food you can just heat and eat, go for the Prepared & Ready recipes. You can serve those in less than 5 minutes.

The meals are well-balanced and support a healthy lifestyle. Each weekly menu features a range of international tastes. You’ll find dishes inspired by Asian cuisines, such as the Spiced Pork Roast with Bok Choy and Carrot Fried Rice, as well as Mediterranean and South American cuisines.

What Makes It Special?

Blue Apron works with a carefully selected network of family-run farms, fisheries, and ranchers. This way, all the ingredients are high-quality, hormone-free, and according to high standards. You can find more about meal plans and ingredients in our tested Blue Apron review.

Blue Apron is focused on taste and quality. The menu isn’t quite as large as HelloFresh, but you can always spice things up with the add-ons menu, where you’ll find healthy desserts, ready-made meals, extra protein, salads, and even breakfast options. 

When it comes to being environmentally friendly, Blue Apron makes a big effort. Many of the packaging materials are recyclable or reusable, but there’s still plenty of plastic from individually wrapping each ingredient. Although, in my experience, Blue Apron isn’t the only meal delivery service guilty of this.

Is It Good Value?

You can order between 2 and 5 meal kits for 2 or 4 people or 4, 6, 8, or 10 single-serving ready-to-eat meals per week. Note that you can add more of both at any time. 

You can also buy both meal kits and prepared meals at the same time; you can add prepared meals from the add-ons menu to a meal kit order. What’s more, you can switch between individual plans week by week. Prices start at $4.00 per serving and increase for the minimum order.

4. HelloFresh – Best Family-Friendly Meal Kits Straight From the Farm

HelloFresh delivers hearty meal kits that can feed families of all sizes in Knoxville. Rest assured – the family-friendly recipes have been approved by kids as well as adults.

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is accessible to people with different dietary options, such as Veggie, Vegan, Calorie Smart, Carb Smart, and Protein Smart. You can read about all of the dietary preferences HelloFresh caters to our tried-and-tested HelloFresh review.

Even though it’s kid-friendly, HelloFresh’s menu is far from basic. Whenever you want to feel fancy, you can check out some of the gourmet recipes on offer, like the Organic Beef and Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie. HelloFresh offers 8 higher-priced Premium Picks meals, each week that include top-of-the-line ingredients.

Most of the recipes are ready in under 30 minutes, which is great for people looking to get a home-cooked dinner on the table quickly. You’ll also find meal kits that take about 45 or 50 minutes to prepare and cook, and there are even quick lunch options, ready in about 10 minutes. 

What Makes It Special?

Each meal kit comes with a well-designed recipe card. Everything is explained in easy-to-understand steps that contain pictures and written instructions.

HelloFresh is committed to reducing food waste and helping the environment through innovative, sustainable packaging. Around 90% of the packaging is recyclable (cardboard boxes, ice packs, paper bags, and labels). However, there are some plastic bags and containers that may not be recyclable, depending on your community’s rules.

Is It Good Value?

HelloFresh offers the flexibility to order between 2 and 6 recipes each week, catering to either 2, 4, or 6 people. While the service doesn’t offer single serving meals, if you’re comfortable with enjoying leftovers, you may find the 2-person plan a suitable option.

5. Home Chef – Best All-Rounder Meal Delivery Service in Knoxville

Home Chef offers quality, reliability, and super-quick recipes, from grill- and oven-ready meals to 15-minute meal kits. There’s even the option of prepared meals on its lunch menu that are ready to pop in the microwave. This works well for Knoxvillians on the run.

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is mostly made up of American-style recipes, but there are a few Asian, Mediterranean, and Mexican influences as well. You’ll find a wide range of options, from the Garlicky BLT Burger to Greek-Style Zucchini Tostadas (to name a few). Since the meals rotate weekly, it’s a great chance to try new flavors and ingredients.

Even the more complex recipes are easy to prepare for novices, such as Beef Stroganoff or Mediterranean-Style Sirloin with Whipped Feta. You can see how we got on cooking Home Chef meals in our tried-and-tested Home Chef review. 

Home Chef includes 3 or 4 premium Culinary Collection meals each week for diners who enjoy a fancy meal from time to time. For a small upcharge, these recipes offer higher-quality ingredients and more indulgent recipes.

What Makes It Special?

Home Chef’s Customize It tool lets you swap the protein in most meals. You can order the BBQ Pork Cheddar Melt Sandwich with sliced pork, diced boneless skinless chicken breasts, or steak strips.

Home Chef categorizes its meal kits on difficulty levels, from Easy to Expert. Meal kits generally take 30 to 50 minutes to prep and cook, but if you don’t know your way around the kitchen, it may take a bit longer.

Is It Good Value?

Home Chef has many Family Meals that are designed with picky eaters in mind. These are usually easy-to-prep, one-pot, comfort food options that appease any appetite and require very little cleanup. 

6. BistroMD – Weight Loss Meal Plans Designed by a Doctor

BistroMD is great for Knoxvillians who want to lose weight healthily or have strict dietary preferences. The company features several meal plans (Men’s and Women's weight loss, Heart Healthy, Gluten Free, Keto Flex, Diabetic Friendly, Vegan, and Menopause) designed by a doctor and put together by professional chefs.

What’s on the Menu?

Each meal plan features recipes that meet the restrictions required for each diet. For instance, if you opt for the Heart Healthy Program, you’ll only receive meals that follow the American Heart Association recommendations for calories, sodium, total fat, and saturated fat.

Since the meals are flash-frozen, I had some concerns regarding the taste and texture. When we tested BistroMD's meals at home, we found them to be well-thought-out but often lacking in flavor. The meals are easy to heat up and retain their nutrients pretty well.

The menu is predominantly American cuisine, but there are a few Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, and Asian dishes. There’s also a good selection of healthy snacks designed to help you keep your cravings in check throughout the day.

What Makes It Special?

BistroMD subscribers get coaching from dietitians to guide them on their weight loss journey. This assistance helps individuals stay at their ideal weight after they drop the excess pounds and encourages healthier lifestyle habits. 

BistroMD manages to keep the plastic wrapping down with its packaging. True, all the food containers are still made of plastic, but you can recycle them, just like the rest of the packaging materials.

Is It Good Value?

BistroMD isn’t exactly budget-friendly. With prices starting at $6.59 per serving, it can be a bit on the pricey side. However, you can choose whether you want to order a Full Program with breakfast, lunch, and dinner or a Lunches & Dinners program. 

In both cases, you can order meals for 5 or 7 days each week. If someone you live with is also on a weight-loss plan, you can save 15% on meals after your first order by contacting customer services.

7. Purple Carrot – Great Flavors in Plant-Based Meals for Knoxvillians

Purple Carrot has every meal of the day covered with its vegan meal kits and prepared meals, so it’s a great option for Knoxville residents who love plant-based food! Also, if you want a bit more from your plant-based diet, Purple Carrot has an extra section called Plantry, where you can find shelf-stable desserts, snacks, and spices.

What’s on the Menu?

You sign up for either meal kits or prepared meals. However, you can mix and match between both in each order. The meal kits are available predominantly as dinners, but there is a small selection of breakfasts and lunches. If you’re ever in a hurry, you can choose the Less Prep kits that are ready in under 25 minutes.

Of course, you can save even more time with the prepared meals menu, which you can read all about in our tested Purple Carrot review. But I can tell you now that it takes less than 5 minutes to have a delicious dinner ready that’s usually under 600 calories per serving!

Overall, the menu feels fairly international, with recipes like Spicy Gochujang Rice Noodles with Japanese Yam and Sesame Cabbage or Sage Walnut Pesto Penne with Crispy Broccolini and Cranberries. Some recipes are vegan versions of classic meals, such as Mac N Cheese or Cauliflower Shawarma.

What Makes It Special?

Both meal types feature tofu, tempeh, and beans as sources of protein. The ingredients are non-GMO, and Purple Carrot constantly reworks its supply chain to source higher-quality ingredients.

I really like the comprehensive recipe booklet included with every delivery. This provides the ingredients and recipes for all the meal kits featured on that week's menu, not just the ones selected for your order. Essentially, it serves as a quality, printed collection of vegan recipes that can be a valuable addition to your personal recipe library.

Is It Good Value?

At $11.00 per serving, Purple Carrot isn’t the most budget-friendly option. Still, for a 100% plant-based menu, I think it’s worth it for vegans. You can order for 2 or 4 people on the meal kit plan or in single-servings if you choose the prepared meals. 

With meal kits, you can order 3 or 4 meals per person, while you can order 6, 8, or 10 prepared meals per order. Don’t forget, you can add meal kits and prepared meals to the same delivery by making the changes in the easy to use customer account page.

8. Marley Spoon – Easy to Prepare Meal Kits

Marley Spoon prides itself on its high-quality ingredients and well-tested recipes. It also has a huge menu with 100+ dishes!

What’s on the Menu?

The weekly menu includes recipes from international cuisines (such as Italian, Asian, Mediterranean, or Thai), but it also has plenty of kid-friendly recipes, such as burgers and tacos. You can also enjoy plenty of gourmet-style dishes, like Shrimp Fajitas with Poblano Peppers and Lime Crema.

Each meal can be on the table within 30 to 50 minutes, thanks to Marley Spoon’s simple, 6-step recipes. You can read more about the menu and how we got on with cooking the recipes in our in-depth Marley Spoon review.

I like that Marley Spoon uses plenty of tags to help you find the meal kits you want without having to browse the entire menu. For instance, if you want low-prep meals, look for the Under 30 Minutes or the One Pot Meal tags. Other useful tags are No Added Gluten, Dairy Free, Low Carb, and Low-Calorie.

What Makes It Special?

Keep in mind that each Marley Spoon meal kit requires some preparation since the produce arrives whole. This means you’ll have to do the washing, peeling, chopping, dicing, and slicing. I don’t mind this bit of extra work since I know everything is fresh and most ingredients are organic and locally sourced. If you’re looking for just prepared meals, try Factor.

I also like the minimal packaging, which supports Marley Spoon’s claim of being carbon-neutral and sustainable. Besides some unavoidable plastic wrappings, everything in the box is recyclable or reusable. The website provides extensive information about how to recycle packaging materials.

Is It Good Value?

Marley Spoon is great for couples and families since you can order for 2 or 4 people, between 2 and 6 meals per person. Plus, if you order the maximum amount, you get great value ($4.99 per serving).

Marley Spoon does require you to have a more stocked pantry than other meal delivery companies. Essential ingredients such as flour, eggs, and various others aren’t included in the kits. This does mean that you'll need to ensure your pantry is well-supplied to make the most of its meal kits.

9. Dinnerly – Budget-Friendly Meal Kits for Knoxvillians

Dinnerly’s offer is perfect for people who aren’t interested in following a specific diet. The meal kits featured here are budget-friendly and easy to make since most recipes are ready in 5 steps or less.

What’s on the Menu?

Still, this doesn’t mean you have to settle for basic flavors. I was impressed by some of the creative dishes on the menu, such as Honey Ginger Pork Chops or Tunisian-Spiced Chicken. 

There are several premium recipes on each weekly menu. These cost a little more, but they’re made with premium ingredients and can be more complex to make. Recipe cards are included with all recipes and have detailed cooking instructions. We tried Dinnerly at home and had no trouble following the recipes.

Dinnerly takes care to clearly mark allergens on its recipes, although it requires users to review each recipe separately, a process that may require a bit of time. Dinnerly does not guarantee the prevention of cross-contamination, as all meal kits are prepared within the same facility.

What Makes It Special?

Dinnerly offers some limited customization options, but not as many as Home Chef. However, I think the large menu and the tags on each meal are a great way to help you find your way around. You’ll find plenty of veggie-based meals, too (between 20 and 30) and around 7 fish dishes each week.

Some of Dinnerly’s ingredients are organic, and the protein is humanely raised and free of antibiotics whenever possible. Plus, all of the meat used in Dinnerly recipes comes from local suppliers. There are a few exceptions, but only because the meat isn’t usually available in the US (like high-quality, grass-fed Australian beef).

Is It Good Value?

Dinnerly is one of the most affordable meal delivery kit services, with prices starting at just $2.12. It’s also great for families and couples since you can order 3 to 6 meals per person for 2 or 4 people.

Dinnerly has Saver tagged recipes each week. These include economical and delicious options like the Chicken Keema Curry and delightful desserts such as the Lemon Snacking Cake. Whether you're in the mood for a savory dinner or a sweet treat, Dinnerly's saver options ensure you don't have to spend a lot to enjoy a good meal.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in Knoxville

Knoxville is a city with great access to meal delivery services, but it can be difficult to choose. If you feel a bit lost, here are a few tips to help guide your choices:

• Look for culinary diversity: Meal delivery services like HelloFresh provide a substantial menu, offering at least 100+ options each week. This variety ensures that you won't become bored with your meal choices within the first 3 weeks of your subscription.

• Pay attention to dietary preferences: Even if you’re not following a diet now, you may want to in the future, so check to see if there are options for popular diets such as keto or Mediterranean, which you get with Green Chef.

• Consider the costs: Price shouldn’t be the only guiding factor, but if you don’t pay attention, the costs can add up (especially if the service has add-ons or expensive shipping). Choose a service that’s affordable for you and doesn’t cut costs on quality. The most affordable service on my list is Dinnerly.

• Meal kits or ready-made meals: Determine the amount of time you're willing to devote to cooking. Meal kits are excellent, though they require about 30 minutes of kitchen time. If that doesn't appeal to you, it's advisable to opt for ready-made meals, similar to those provided by Factor.
  

FAQ

What is the best meal delivery service in Knoxville?

Factor is my pick for the best meal delivery service in Knoxville.  Factor’s healthy and delicious prepared meals made it our top choice for hungry Knoxville natives who want supper in a hurry.

What is the most affordable meal delivery service in Knoxville?

Dinnerly is the most affordable meal delivery service for Knoxville residents. The prices start at just $2.12per serving, and you can also use our special discount listed above for greater savings.

What is the best diet meal delivery service in Knoxville?

BistroMD is my top choice for Knoxvilleans seeking a diet meal delivery service. BistroMD’s menu is designed by medical professionals and provides fresh flash-frozen prepared meals that are low in calories but high in nutrition and taste.  

What is the healthiest meal delivery service in Knoxville?

Green Chef’s meals are made with premium-quality proteins and organic produce. Plus, Green Chef was the first CCOF-Certified Organic meal kit company and supports a wide range of diets, such as Keto, Gluten Free, Calorie Smart, Mediterranean, and Plant Based.

Best Meal Delivery Services in Knoxville — Final Score