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Written by: Chelsea Legay on May 21st, 2023

10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Raleigh 2023: Updated List

Grocery shopping and meal prep can take up valuable time, but I have a solution. Meal delivery services help you save time in the kitchen. You can have pre-portioned ingredients or even fully prepared meals delivered to your door.

As someone who has reviewed various meal delivery services, I've put together a list of the top 10 services in Raleigh to help you find the perfect one that fits your diet and lifestyle. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a busy parent, or just someone who appreciates a delicious home-cooked meal, there's something on this list for you.

My top pick is Blue Apron since it offers restaurant-quality recipes at an affordable price. Blue Apron’s follow-along cooking steps make it easy for anyone to cook, and it has a great market of products from utensils to wines.

Read on to discover more of the 10 best meal delivery services in Raleigh.

Short on Time? Here Are the Best Meal Delivery Services in Raleigh

  1. Blue Apron – Best overall meal delivery service in Raleigh

  2. Factor – Best high-quality heat-and-eat meals

  3. Green Chef – Best organic meal kits in Raleigh

  4. HelloFresh – Great menu selection for omnivores and vegetarians

  5. Home Chef – Great customization options

See 5 more Meal Delivery Services in Raleigh

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Raleigh Reviewed

1. Blue Apron – Best Overall Meal Delivery Service in Raleigh

Blue Apron's Mexican-Spiced Tilapia & Barley with fresh tomato salsa and creamy cilantro sauce.

Blue Apron's Mexican-Spiced Tilapia & Barley with fresh tomato salsa and creamy cilantro sauce.

Key Features

Blue Apron is known for its restaurant-quality meal kits with easy-to-follow recipes. It offers a selection of 16 main dishes per week as well as a marketplace where you can purchase extra items. Blue Apron’s menu features a number of tags:

  • Chef Favorites – most popular recipes

  • Ready to Cook – includes pre-chopped ingredients

  • Fast & Easy – ready in 30 minutes or less

  • Family-Friendly – familiar comfort foods

  • Craft – more complex recipes at a small upcharge

  • Premium – more and higher-quality ingredients at a larger upcharge

One of the features I appreciate is the preview of menus for the upcoming 4 weeks. You’ll see that the menu rotates on a weekly basis, so you can plan in advance. Cuisines on offer include Italian, Greek, Thai, and Mexican dishes, among others. My colleague’s comprehensive review delves deeper into Blue Apron's menu offerings. 

There are 4 distinct meal plans provided by Blue Apron: 

  • Signature – the main menu (2 servings)

  • Signature for 4 – the main menu offered in a minimum of 4 servings per recipe

  • Vegetarian – meat-free recipes for 2 people

  • Wellness – WW-aligned recipes for 2, designed by nutritionists

Each plan offers a variation of the main menu. The Signature plan caters to general dietary preferences and includes all the dishes on the Vegetarian and Wellness menus. The Signature for 4 plan has expanded recipes suitable for families.

Blue Apron’s Market offers extra items for your cupboard and kitchen. You’ll find a selection of microwavable prepared meals alongside appetizers, sides, breakfasts, and desserts. You’ll also find high-quality cooking utensils like frying pans, spatulas, and a variety of measuring tools. 

There’s also a wine delivery service designed to complement Blue Apron’s meals. You can sign up for a monthly wine subscription or simply order bottles and bundles à la carte from the Market. I love that the recipe cards include a recommended wine pairing, too.

The biggest downside of Blue Apron is the lack of dietary and allergen accommodations. While you can choose from the vegetarian or WW menu, you can’t select typical allergen accommodations like gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free. Those with serious allergies or dietary concerns may want to check out Green Chef’s 7 diet plan options.

Each week, about 10 recipes will have customization options. Some dishes let you Make it Vegetarian while others offer a protein swap option. For example, you can choose to upgrade from tilapia to salmon in the above-pictured Mexican-Spiced Tilapia & Barley.

You have the option to order 2 to 4 weekly servings for either 2 or 4 people. Pricing starts at $5.74 per meal for the largest weekly plan of 4 servings for 4. Keep in mind that fewer servings result in a higher price per serving. There's also a $9.99 shipping fee to consider.

2. Factor – Best High-Quality Heat-and-Eat Meals in Raleigh

Factor's Santa Fe Beef Bowl with Green Chile Cheese Sauce & Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Factor's Santa Fe Beef Bowl with Green Chile Cheese Sauce & Mexican Cauliflower Rice is suitable for the Keto, Calorie Smart, and Protein Plus plans.

Key Features

  • Free nutrition consultation with a subscription

  • 35 microwave-ready recipes and 40+ add-ons each week

  • 5 plans including Vegan & Veggie and Protein Plus

  • Current deal: Up to $276 off!

Factor is an excellent choice for nutritious, protein-packed meals. Browsing through its weekly menu, you'll notice that many dishes come with a "Protein Plus" label. These meals are ideal for active individuals who engage in rigorous training. All meals arrive fully cooked, and you can quickly heat them up in just a few minutes.

Every recipe is gluten-free throughout the complete list of diet plans, which includes:

  • Chef’s Choice – recipes from all plans

  • Keto – low carb, high fat, moderate protein recipes

  • Calorie Smart – recipes of 550 cal per serving or less

  • Vegan & Veggie – meat-free and plant-based meals

  • Protein Plus – 30 g of protein or more per meal 

Each meal is tagged for easy identification of common allergens and diet accommodations. When you choose a meal, you'll also find a list of ingredients, nutritional information, and heating instructions as you scroll down the page. The pictured Santa Fe Beef Bowl, for example, fits the Keto, Calorie Smart, and Protein Plus plans.

Factor's talented chefs craft a variety of international cuisines beyond classic American. If you enjoy Mediterranean, Thai, Mexican, or Indian food, you'll appreciate the selection. 

The Top-Rated label showcases popular dishes among Factor's customers. These tend to sell out, so be sure to grab them if they suit your dietary preferences. "Gourmet Plus" meals provide a luxurious dining experience, but they come with a higher price tag, so be mindful of your budget when ordering.

Factor also allows you to order add-ons to complement your main dishes. These include protein packs, smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, sides, and more. Add-ons are mostly keto-friendly, but vegans and vegetarians won’t find many options aside from the juices and a smoothie or two.

Factor publishes its menu 4 weeks in advance, giving you ample time to plan. If you prefer planning even further ahead, consider HelloFresh, which shows recipes 6 weeks in advance. For those following a specific diet, this makes meal logistics a lot easier.

Navigating Factor's website is a breeze, both on a computer and a mobile device. For added convenience, you may want to download its app from the App Store or Google Play. You can order from Factor, manage your subscription, or change any order details via the mobile app.

I found Factor’s customer service to be efficient and friendly. You can engage in a live chat with its representatives 24/7 or call during business hours. I also found the FAQ section easy to navigate and quite extensive. My colleague wrote a full review of Factor, including their experience with its complete service.

One of Factor’s biggest drawbacks is its lack of recipe customization options. You can’t substitute proteins or swap veggie sides in any recipes. However, all recipes exclude added gluten and are safe for those who don’t have serious allergies. If you do have serious allergies, you might want to check out a more allergy-accommodating service life Green Chef.

You can choose 6-18 meals weekly, with per-meal prices decreasing as you order more. While prepared meals typically cost more than meal kits, Factor offers competitive pricing – the cost per serving starts at $6.19.

3. Green Chef – Best Organic Meal Kits in Raleigh

Green Chef's Pork Chops with Southwest Crema zucchini, bell pepper, cabbage, cotija, toasted pepitas

Green Chef's Pork Chops with Southwest Crema zucchini, bell pepper, cabbage, cotija, toasted pepitas.

Key Features

  • Hormone-free, and antibiotic-free ingredients

  • 30 recipes each week

  • 7 dietary options including Gluten-Free and Vegetarian

  • Current deal: Get $250 off + free shipping

Green Chef stands out by accommodating many diets and using organic ingredients. The HelloFresh-owned service uses USDA-certified and CCOF-certified organic produce, ensuring all ingredients are hormone and antibiotic-free. Green Chef’s meal kits are also free from preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and processed ingredients.

Green Chef offers 30 recipes each week that span 7 diverse diets:

  • Keto – high fat, low carb, moderate protein dishes

  • Gluten-Free – recipes without added gluten

  • Vegan – meals free of animal products

  • Vegetarian – meatless dishes

  • Protein-Packed – high protein meals ideal for carnivores and pescatarians

  • Fast & Fit – calorie-conscious keto & veggie meals ready in under 25 minutes

  • Mediterranean – dishes featuring mainly fish, healthy fats, and veggies

You’ll see that each recipe is tagged according to the respective diet it accommodates. For example, Green Chef's Baked Ricotta Chicken with Pesto Green Beans is included in the Gluten-Free, Keto, Mediterranean, and Fast & Fit plans.

The meal plans offer flexibility, allowing you to combine recipes from all menus. As someone who mainly follows a gluten-free keto diet, I enjoy selecting options like Pork Chops with Southwest Crema zucchini (pictured above), which is part of the Keto and Gluten-Free menus.

Green Chef has an impressive add-on menu with new extras each week. You'll find meats, fish, side dishes, desserts, and some breakfasts. Most add-ons cater to omnivores and keto-eaters, with limited vegan or plant-based options besides oatmeal. 

Green Chef delivers ingredients fresh, but kits still feature some premade ingredients. Pre-portioned produce, seasoning blends, and sauces help cut down on prep time. There are also some easy-prep options like 10-minute lunches, but there aren’t any fully prepared or microwave-ready dishes.

Most meals take 30+ minutes to prepare, so Green Chef is best for people who want to save grocery shopping time but still enjoy a bit of cooking during the week. For super-fast meals without any prep, explore Factor’s complete menu or Blue Apron’s microwavable meal add-ons.

Green Chef is my top recommendation for anyone who prioritizes organic eating. When a colleague sampled Green Chef at home, they found that the exceptional ingredients resulted in more flavorful meals. However, as a premium service, Green Chef also charges a premium price.

Plans start at $5.99 per serving, with a maximum order of 24 meals per week. The minimum order – which has a higher per-serving cost – has 6 meals per week or 3 recipes for 2 people, with standard shipping at $10.99 per delivery.

4. HelloFresh – Great Menu Selection For Omnivores and Vegetarians

HelloFresh's Spicy Kale Caesar with Chicken tossed with guacamole, tomato & tortilla chips.

HelloFresh's Spicy Kale Caesar with Chicken tossed with guacamole, tomato & tortilla chips.

Key Features

  • Weekly meal kit recipes posted 6 weeks in advance

  • 70+ recipes each week

  • 6 plans including Vegetarian and Pescatarian

HelloFresh shines with its extensive menu, providing a variety of crowd-pleasing dishes at an attractive price. Boasting over 70 recipes each week, you'll enjoy a blend of American classics and internationally-inspired recipes.

You have 6 meal plans to mix and match between:

  • Meat & Veggies – primarily protein and vegetable-focused recipes 

  • Veggie – vegetarian essentials 

  • Family-Friendly – beloved favorites for all 

  • Fit & Wholesome – calorie-aware dishes ready in under 25 minutes 

  • Quick & Easy – meals prepared in under 25 minutes 

  • Pescatarian – meatless choices and Mediterranean cuisine

While browsing the menu, watch for Hall of Fame recipes. These are customer favorites that regularly reappear on the menu due to high demand. This a great place to start if you’re ever unsure what to select for your order. You can also let HelloFresh recommend dishes for you.

HelloFresh makes it easy to find information on all of its menu items. The main menu includes prep times for each recipe, and clicking on a recipe shows its ingredients, nutritional data, and allergen information. Most recipes take around 25-35 minutes to prepare. Read my colleague's review of their HelloFresh experience at home.

However, the lack of filters can make it difficult to locate diet-friendly recipes. You have to manually scroll and search through the entire menu, which can be tedious. There are some helpful tags like carb-conscious, low-calorie, and vegan, but there aren’t many other dietary tags. You also can’t filter by tag.

As someone with specific dietary needs, I found the menu challenging to navigate. I primarily consume vegetables, fish, and meat, while avoiding gluten, sugar, simple starches, and processed foods. To identify suitable meals on HelloFresh, I have to examine the ingredient lists and nutritional information for every dish.

Nonetheless, I found a few recipes each week that cater to my diet of gluten-free, (mostly) sugar-free, and predominantly meat and vegetable preferences, such as the Spicy Kale Caesar with Chicken (pictured above). However, I’ve only ever found about 1 recipe each week. 

This service is best for individuals with no allergies or dietary restrictions. To be fair, meal kits give you the power to adjust ingredients as you see fit. You can omit or swap out ingredients that you don’t want and control things like sodium levels. This is an extra step, but it’s still more convenient than doing all your meal planning and shopping yourself!

HelloFresh's customer service is available around the clock and is very responsive. Representatives can be reached via chat or phone, plus there’s a mobile app on Google Play and the App Store. You’ll also find an extensive FAQ page that offers a quick and easy way to find basic information.

The minimum order is 4 recipes per week, and the maximum is 24 meals. Prices begin at $3.32 per serving for the maximum order, and increase for smaller orders.

5. Home Chef – Great Customization Options

Home Chef's Pork Gyro's with cucumber crema.

Home Chef's Pork Gyro's with cucumber crema includes protein swap options for diced or whole chicken breasts.

Key Features

  • Meal kits with twists on classic American recipes

  • 30 recipes each week with many add-ons

  • Limited dietary accommodations including vegetarian and low-carb

Home Chef is a great choice for families since you can order up to 36 meal kits per week. This is much more than most meal delivery services allow. You can also enhance your weekly menu by adding breakfast, dessert, or side options from the extras menu.

A distinguishing feature of this service is that you can swap and upgrade proteins, which significantly increases menu variety. About half the menu’s weekly recipes have this option. Look for the green Customize It button on the recipe card so you can view the protein swap options. Swaps depend on what proteins are available that week.

My colleague thought the swaps were pretty expensive in their tested Home Chef review. Some upgrades had extra fees as high as $17.99/serving, but it largely depends on the protein. Upgrading chicken breasts to filet mignon costs more than simply replacing ground beef with ground turkey, for example.

The cuisine is primarily classic American with crowd-pleasing options. For example, Home Chef's Pork Gyros are Greek in origin but are also popular in most American cities. By the way, you can customize this recipe to include beef or diced chicken breasts instead of pork.

Another unique feature is the choice to have different portions for each recipe you order. Most services require you to choose the same serving size for every recipe in your weekly order. With Home Chef, you can order family-sized portions for some meals and smaller servings for others.

Despite its protein customization options, Home Chef doesn’t support most diets. You can filter the menu by carb-conscious, calorie-conscious, and vegetarian, but other diets like gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, or keto are not available. As a result, Home Chef is best suited for people who don’t have dietary restrictions. Check out Green Chef for better dietary accommodations.

I appreciate Home Chef's option to choose your own delivery day. Based on your zip code, you can select a delivery day between Monday and Friday. To stay informed about your delivery status, you can opt to receive text message updates or use Home Chef's mobile app.

Home Chef meal prices begin at $7.99 per serving, but meals are priced individually. You can order 2 to 6 recipes per week for 2, 4, or 6 people, totaling 4 to 36 servings per week. This provides around 12 more servings than the average meal delivery service!

6. Fresh and Easy – Easy Prep Meal Kits from Home Chef’s Menu

Home Chef's Creamy Kale and Artichoke Chicken Thighs with penne

Creamy Kale and Artichoke Chicken Thighs
with penne includes the option to swap chicken thighs for shrimp or whole or diced chicken breasts.

Key Features

  • Almost all meals are ready in under 30 minutes

  • 20 recipes each week

  • Limited dietary options including low-calorie and low-carb

Fresh and Easy by Home Chef is an ideal choice for busy Raleighans. This collection of Home Chef's simplest recipes arrives pre-portioned, chopped, and ready for cooking. You’ll also find a selection of oven-ready recipes that come in aluminum trays you can easily pop in the oven – no extra dishes necessary.

The impressive part is that these recipes typically require 15 minutes or less for prep. Consider the Creamy Kale and Artichoke Chicken Thighs with penne (shown above), which is perfect for a special evening and can be made in just 15 minutes. You can check out my colleague’s review for an in-depth look at Fresh and Easy’s complete service.

You’ll still have access to Home Chef’s full menu, which includes longer and more in-depth recipes. The effort is applied in the prep times of most meals, which are typically ready in 30 minutes or more. This broadens your culinary horizons and enables you to combine Fresh and Easy with Home Chef meals to your liking.

Additionally, you can include extras from the Home Chef menu, like premixed salads, breads, frittatas, soups, and side dishes. You'll even find desserts like the ready-to-bake Snickerdoodle Cookie.

Like Home Chef, Fresh and Easy lets you customize the proteins in many recipes. This gives you more flexibility when planning your meals. In the Creamy Kale and Artichoke Chicken recipe pictured above, you can swap the chicken thighs for shrimp or chicken breasts.

However, Fresh and Easy doesn't cater to specific dietary requirements like some other meal delivery services, such as Factor. If you adhere to a keto, gluten-free, or vegan diet, you might need to browse through ingredient cards on the main menu to find appropriate recipes. 

The minimum and maximum orders for Fresh and Easy align with Home Chef's offerings – 2 recipes for 2 people per week, and 6 recipes for 6 people per week, respectively. Meals begin at $7.99 per serving, but each item is individually priced.

7. BistroMD – Low-Calorie Microwave-Ready Meals

BistroMD's Green Chili Pork with Southwest Salsa

BistroMD's Green Chili Pork with Southwest Salsa is available on each diet plan.

Key Features

  • Meals for weight loss and other dietary needs

  • 100+ recipes across 7 meal plans

  • 7 diet plans including Heart Healthy and Keto Flex

BistroMD offers dietitian-designed meals for weight loss. These fully-prepared recipes come frozen, so all you need to do is clear some space in your freezer or fridge, then defrost or microwave when you're ready to enjoy.

With BistroMD's recipes, you follow a comprehensive 1,200 or 1,400 calories-per-day diet. As my colleague found in their BistroMD review, this is based on the different caloric needs of men and women. 

Each meal averages around 300 cal but can range from 280 to 500 cal per serving. Calorie counts and nutritional information are clearly displayed on each meal and the website. 

Ingredient substitutions aren't available for any menu item, which is the case for most prepared meal delivery services. Each recipe is designed to be consumed as-is to help keep you on track with your weight loss objectives. Diet services like BistroMD prioritize health over flavor and variety.

However, BistroMD has various plans to cater to specific diets:

  • Signature – non-specific low-calorie meals

  • Gluten-Free – (not certified) no gluten added meals

  • Heart Healthy – low sodium recipes

  • Keto Flex – low carb, moderate fat, moderate protein recipes

  • Diabetic – carb-conscious recipes

  • Menopause – same menu as Diabetic

  • Vegan – featuring plant-based meals

Despite the limitations in customization, BistroMD delivers balanced meals composed of whole foods. Every meal features proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats, with macro balances tailored to your chosen meal plan.

All meals arrive fully cooked, frozen, and individually portioned for your ease. This service is perfect for those who want to kick-start a low-calorie diet and have trouble deciding what to eat.

BistroMD doesn’t make it clear how long its meals stay in storage before delivery. I’m always cautious about meal delivery services that rely on frozen food. I personally prefer receiving fresh, never-frozen meals, as offered by Factor.

You have the option to choose 2 or 3 meals for 5 or 7 days per plan, allowing you to select up to 21 meals per week. This guarantees that diet-friendly meals are always within reach.

The largest plan comes out to $8.24 per serving, with higher per-serving prices on smaller plans. While it lacks menu variety and customization, BistroMD is one of the most convenient ways to stick to a low-calorie diet.

8. Trifecta – Best Healthy and Clean Microwave-Ready Meals

Trifecta's Pesto Chicken Breast with roasted potatoes and broccoli

Trifecta's Pesto Chicken Breast with roasted potatoes and broccoli is an example of what you might receive with the Whole30 plan.

Key Features

  • Fully prepared, protein-conscious, high-quality meals

  • A la carte, build-your-own, and diet-specific plans – all gluten-free

  • 5 diet plans including High Protein Vegan and High Protein Vegetarian

Trifecta delivers well-balanced, fully prepared meals with only the cleanest ingredients. That means these microwavable meals are free from artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, processed foods, and preservatives.

This service is optimized for athletic singles. Meals are individually prepared and packaged, and Trifecta includes enough protein in each recipe to support active lifestyles. For more information on the various meal plans offered by Trifecta, you can take a look at my colleague's review. 

Trifecta provides an assortment of dietary plans, including:

  • Classic – popular recipes using Trifecta's premium ingredients

  • Keto – high fat, moderate protein, low carb meals

  • Paleo – dairy-free and grain-free meals

  • High Protein Vegetarian – protein-focused meatless meals

  • High Protein Vegan – perfect for vegans seeking additional protein

  • Whole30 – designed for a portion-controlled 30-day dietary reset

  • Meal Prep – build your own meals with Trifecta’s super clean ingredients

In addition to these plans, the entire menu is gluten-free. Trifecta's Pesto Chicken Breast (pictured above) is an example of what you might receive with the Whole30 plan. You can select 5, 7, 10, or 14 entrees per week and even include breakfasts in each plan. The smallest plan of 5 entrees is for breakfast only.

The Meal Prep plan is a great option for people who want more control over their menu. You can choose from 11 proteins (meats and fish), 4 carbs, and 4 veggie ingredients to build your own meals. All ingredients arrive fully prepared, so all you have to do is choose which you’d like to plate, then heat them in the microwave.

The meals are conveniently packaged in microwave-ready trays, portioned for individual servings. I find these trays incredibly useful for simplifying food storage and repurposing. Plus, they make meal planning a breeze, as I can just grab a meal from the fridge and microwave it. 

Trifecta's most unique feature is its chef’s choice menus. Most plans don’t give you the option to choose your own meals. Instead, your weekly menu is curated based on your dietary needs and preferences. Some may find this convenient, while others may prefer a service like Factor, which lets you pick your meals in advance.

This service also has a useful nutrition-tracking app, which makes it easier to track your macros and other stats. The app incorporates all of Trifecta’s recipes, and it supports barcode scanning for any additional products you might include in your diet.

Trifecta is a premium service and is one of the most expensive on my list. The starting price per serving is $6.00, but a full week of 7 breakfasts and 14 entrees can surpass $300. 

9.  Purple Carrot – Best 100% Vegan-Friendly Meals in Raleigh

Purple Carrot's Mango Poke Bowls with Macadamia Nuts & Nori

Mango Poke Bowls with Macadamia Nuts & Nori feature mango where sashimi is typically featured.

Key Features

  • Meal kits and prepared meals both available

  • 20 unique recipes every week

  • Diets accommodated include high protein and no gluten added

Purple Carrot is the only 100% vegan service on my list. It offers meal kits as well as microwave-ready options. Meal kits come in servings of 2 or 4, while prepared meals come individually packaged and portioned. This means Purple Carrot can work for singles, couples, and small families alike.

The culinary team often transforms meat-centric recipes into plant-based versions. Purple Carrot's Mango Poke Bowls are a vibrant vegan take on a trendy Hawaiian dish. While traditional poke has raw fish, Purple Carrot’s version features mango as a tasty alternative.

Every week brings 12 new meal kits to choose from, including breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Purple Carrot's plant-based menu may be less diverse than other meal kit services, but it keeps things fresh with a weekly-rotating selection of creative recipes.

My colleague praised Purple Carrot’s worldly menu in their dedicated review. You’ll find everything from classic American dishes to Mediterranean, Southeast Asian, and other cuisines. The meal kits themselves showcase a number of interesting ingredients like miso, hemp seeds, and nuts.

There are also 8 prepared meals on the menu each week, but note that you can’t mix and match between these and the meal kits. You have to subscribe either to these single-serving meals or to the cook-it-yourself meal kits.

Purple Carrot's microwaveable meals are just as diverse as its meal kits. These fully prepared dishes arrive in recyclable trays and just need a couple minutes in the microwave. Some prepared meals, like a Chilled Ras el Hanout Chickpea Salad, are ready to eat straight from the fridge.

Compared to other vegan companies, Purple Carrot focuses more on whole foods. It celebrates vegetables and plant products for what they are rather than depending on processed meat substitutes.

This isn’t exactly the cheapest service on my list. Purple Carrot’s prepared meals cost $13 each, and its meal kits aren’t much cheaper. You’ll get the best rate – $8.50 per serving – if you choose the maximum order.

Order sizes include 3-4 meal kits for 2 people or 2-3 kits for 4 people per week. Prepared meals are single portions available in bundles of 6, 8, or 10 meals per week.

10. Dinnerly – Great Budget-Friendly Kits

Purple Carrot's Mango Poke Bowls with Macadamia Nuts & Nori

Mango Poke Bowls with Macadamia Nuts & Nori feature mango where sashimi is typically featured.

Key Features

  • Family friendly and kid-approved recipes

  • 80+ kits each week including some microwavable meals

  • Dietary options include dairy-free, low-carb, and no gluten added

Dinnerly is the most budget-friendly meal kit service available, but it still offers great features and plenty of upgrade options. The service – owned by Martha Stewart and Marley Spoon – represents an amazing value for people trying to save money.

Meals take an average of 30 to 45 minutes to prepare, with cooking skills appropriate for chefs of all levels. Dinnerly also offers a few ready-made meals that can be heated in the microwave or oven. Whether you’re a novice or more experienced in the kitchen, Dinnerly meals are approachable.

You'll find informational tags on each recipe card on the main menu. Tags like Poultry, Spicy, and Nutritious clue you in to certain ingredients, flavors, and diets. While these can be helpful, my colleague found the menu overall difficult to navigate in their dedicated Dinnerly review.

I loved how diverse the menu was, especially considering the low price point. While largely American, the menu also has flavors inspired from cuisines around the world. You’ll find everything from Steak Sandwiches and Chicken Noodle Casserole to Ginger Pork Shogayaki and Chicken Schnitzel. 

Dinnerly offers customization on some recipes. This feature allows you to modify dishes like the Smoky Pan-Roasted Steak (featured above) by upgrading to an organic sirloin steak. Customizations come with an upcharge depending on the ingredients, but Dinnerly’s low starting price makes them more accessible.

There’s also a good selection of extras and add-ons like breakfasts, desserts, and appetizers. I was impressed by the add-ons and the size of Dinnerly’s menu in general. You don’t have to compromise on variety to take advantage of this budget-friendly service.

Dinnerly's minimum order is 3 meals for 2 people per week, but you can order up to 6 meals for 4 people. Since most meals are kid-friendly, this makes it an excellent option for families. Pricing starts at $2.12 per serving, but is higher on smaller orders.

Quick Comparison Table

Top Plans
Top Plans
Blue Apron logo
Factor75 logo
Green Chef logo
Hello Fresh logo
Home Chef logo
Fresh & Easy logo
BistroMD logo
Trifecta logo
Purple carrot logo
Dinnerly logo
Our Rating
Our Rating
9.7
9.6
9.6
9.5
9.4
9.3
9.2
9.0
9.1
8.8
Starting Price
Starting Price

$5.74 Per Serving

$6.19 Per Serving

$5.99 Per Serving

$3.32 Per Serving

$7.99 Per Serving

$7.99 Per Serving

$8.24 Per Serving

$6.00 Per Serving

$8.50 Per Serving

$2.12 Per Serving

Minimum Order
Minimum Order

2 meals for 2 people

6 prepared meals

3 meals for 2 people

2 meals for 2 people

2 meals for 2 people

2 meals for 2 people

10 prepared meals

7 meals

3 meal kits for 2 people/6 prepared meals

3 meals for 2 people

Meal Types
Meal Types

20 - 60 min. meal kits

Prepared meals

30-minute meal kits

20 - 30 min. meal kits

Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready, prepared

Oven- & grill-ready, kits, prepared

Prepared meals

Prepared

Meal kits, prepared meals

30-minute meal kits

Prep Time
Prep Time

5-45 min

2-3 min

25-40 min

15-40 min

5-50 min

15-30 min

2-3 min

0-3 min

3-40 min

20-45 min

Active Deals
Active Deals

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in Raleigh

Finding the ideal meal delivery service can be daunting given the variety of options and features each offer, but these 4 tips will help you make the right choice:

  • Consider dietary preferences: Think about your specific dietary needs or restrictions, and find a service that has a plan dedicated to your diet. Green Chef is a great option since it offers 7 diet plans from vegan to keto.

  • Consider cooking time: Each service offers different prep styles and amount of time required. Ensure you’re choosing a service with kits or prepared meals requiring the amount of time you can dedicate to meal prep. Factor offers fully prepared meals, while Home Chef offers meal kits that average 30+ minutes in prep time.

  • Consider ingredient quality: Consider whether you prefer organic, hormone-free, preservative-free ingredients in your meals. Higher-ranked services like Blue Apron emphasize the use of quality, responsibly-sourced ingredients.

  • Think about variety and customization: Each service provides different cuisines and frequency of recipe rotation. HelloFresh offers over 60 recipes, though without a vast variety in cuisine. Purple Carrot provides 20 meal kits and ready meals that completely change every week.

FAQ

What are some of the best meal delivery services in Raleigh for 2023?

Blue Apron makes top of this list for its gourmet recipes and high-quality ingredients. Factor, HelloFresh, Green Chef, and Home Chef are other excellent meal delivery services to consider for their diet accommodations and restaurant-quality recipes.

Can I find meal delivery services in Raleigh that cater to specific diets like keto, vegan, or paleo?

Yes, Trifecta offers 6 diet plans, including Keto, High Protein Vegan, and Whole30. Purple Carrot offers 100% plant-based meals, and all Factor meals are gluten-free. Green Chef also offers organic ingredients fit for people who only eat unprocessed, macro-balanced meals.

How much do meal delivery services in Raleigh typically cost?

Meal delivery services range from about $8 to $17 per serving, not including shipping. Dinnerly is the most affordable service on my list, while Trifecta is on the pricier end. Costs of meal delivery services in Raleigh vary depending on the service, meal plan, the number of servings, and shipping fees. Shipping ranges from $8.99 to $19.98 per delivery, though some services offer free shipping.

Are there ready-made meal delivery services in Raleigh?

Yes, several services on this list offer fully prepared meals, such as Factor, Purple Carrot, Trifecta, BistroMD, and Dinnerly. Factor and Trifecta are your best bet since their ingredients are super high-quality, and their meals are delivered fresh – never frozen.

Can I find locally-sourced and organic meal delivery services in Raleigh?

Green Chef only uses USDA-certified and CCOF-certified organic produce and prioritizes sourcing its high-quality ingredients from local family-run farms. You’ll find similar sourcing and partnerships made by Blue Apron.

Best Meal Delivery Services in Raleigh in 2023 — Final Score

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