Best Meal Delivery Services in Bakersfield 2023: Top Picks

Finding the best meal delivery service in Bakersfield, CA can feel challenging. The process of sorting through tens of options, deciding on meal kits or prepared meals, choosing how much time you want to spend cooking, and ensuring you have all the necessary kitchen appliances and tools can take a ton of time.

With all that in mind, just how do you go about finding the best service for this year? Fortunately, I’ve extensively researched and validated the top meal delivery services in your area.

During my testing, I found Home Chef to be the top meal delivery service in Bakersfield for this year. It offers meal kits, “Easy Prep” meal kits, oven- and grill-ready prepared meals, and tons of weekly meal choices, extras, drinks, desserts, and sides making it an excellent all-in-one service.

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Bakersfield Reviewed

1. Home Chef – Best for Meal Customization

Key Features

• Customization – opt to substitute proteins in many of the meals

• Variety – Choose from over 25 weekly recipes

• Diet considerations – opt for either low-carb or low-calorie meals

• Current deal: Get 60% off your first three boxes

It’s no secret that Home Chef is my favorite meal delivery service, especially if you’re in Bakersfield. It offers a massive menu of prepared meals and meal kits along with desserts, sides, drinks, extras, smoothies, soups, and dips. It’s great to see that the proteins in your meals can largely be substituted for something else as well.

There’s a diverse array of <30-minute meal kits, low-calorie, and carb-conscious options if that’s what you’re after. You’ll also get access to oven- or grill-ready meals, 15-Minute Meal Kits, Culinary Collection, and Fast & Fresh.

The menu is also visible for up to five weeks in advance which can give you a good sense of what you might like to order next. If you’re looking to manage your subscription and plan your meals on the go, there’s an app available to you as well in the App Store or Google Play Store.

2. Blue Apron – Best for International Cuisine Selection

Key Features

• Cuisine selection – get access to a wide variety of international meals

• Meal selection – select from more than 19 weekly meals and add-ons

• Dietary options – opt for the Signature, Wellness, or Vegetarian menu options

• Current deal: Enjoy $110 off across your first 5 orders

Blue Apron has the largest number of international recipes of any competitor on this list which is great if you’re looking to get a little more adventurous in the kitchen. You can choose from Spanish, Italian, Latin American, classic American, Korean, Japanese, and Middle Eastern recipes, to name just a few.

Aside from international cuisines, you’ll also be able to choose from tons of plans and diet options. These include Signature for Two, Signature for Four, Wellness, and Vegetarian plans. Recipe and ingredient options also include meat, fish, Beyond Meat, WW (Weight Watchers) Recommended, and Diabetes Friendly.

In terms of cooking, there are plenty of meal kits and prepared meals available to you so you never have to feel limited to one option. If you want to save some time one week, feel free to order prepared meals – and if you want to explore your cooking chops, grab some meal kits the next.

3. Green Chef – Best for Premium, USDA-Certified Organic Ingredients

Key Features

• Certified-organic – get organic produce and eggs

• Menu selection – access 24+ different meal kits every single week

• Diets – choose from any number of special diets like vegan, paleo, and keto

• Current deal: Get $250 off + free shipping

Green Chef offers organic produce and eggs which not all competitors offer. However, it doesn’t guarantee that all its other ingredients are also organic, but it does its best to only source high-quality items.

Everything you get from Green Chef is in meal kit format. The good news, though, is that you’ll be able to prepare all of the meal kits within 30 minutes, at most. I like seeing these quick and simple kits for those who don’t want to spend 60-90 minutes, or more, in the kitchen every day.

You’ll find a good selection of different diets here as well, depending on your needs. Diets include Keto + Paleo, Vegetarian, Mediterranean, Fast & Fit, Vegan, and Gluten-Free. Of course, you’re also welcome to mix and match across plans to your liking. You’re likely to find something for the entire family here as well.

4. HelloFresh – Best for Fastest Prep and Cleanup

Key Features

• Convenience – select from a number of <20-minute recipes

• Cooking abilities – choose recipes that range from easy to difficult

• Customization – replace your carbs or protein options in certain meals

HelloFresh offers blazing-fast and super easy meal kits that take less than 30 minutes to prepare. You’ll find a very large menu selection, and tons of different diets to choose from depending on what you like.

Plans that you can choose from include Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Quick & Easy, and Pescatarian. There’s pretty much something here for anyone in your household with any combination of preferences. You’re also welcome to mix and match your weekly delivery boxes with meals from any of the aforementioned plans.

Each recipe comes with easy-to-follow, six-step instructions. I really enjoy these simple instructions because it shaves down your prep and cooking time by a significant margin. This is great for those in a hurry, or who are otherwise more limited on time.

5. Purple Carrot – Best for Vegan Meal Kits and Prepared Meals

Key Features

• Vegan meals – select from only plant-based, vegan meals

• Convenience – access either meal kits or prepared meals

• Menu variety – choose items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with some add-ons

Purple Carrot is the best meal delivery service for vegans since that’s its entire ethos.. You won’t find any meat products here – only high-quality plant-based ingredients. You’ll find a decent selection of both meal kits and prepared meals here.

What really makes me love Purple Carrot, though, is its commitment to minimalism and simplicity. It’s like the “Apple” of the vegan meal-delivery world, and the quality really shows. Each week you can find around eight dinner meal kits, eight prepared dinners, two breakfasts, two lunches, and four “plantry” items.

This isn’t a massive selection by any means, but the ingredients are top-notch which means you can count on it to be consistently great. It also offers seasonal “Celebration” boxes that are specific to whatever season (or event) is happening whether it be autumn, summer, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

6. Marley Spoon – Best for Large Selection of <30-Minute Meal Kits

Key Features

• Respected brand – access high-quality, top-notch meal kits

• Meal options – select from over 45 weekly meals

• Convenience – choose <30-minute kits in various categories like veggie, meat, and fish

This Martha Stewart-endorsed meal kit delivery service is one of the highest-quality ones I’ve encountered. It has a brand name to uphold, after all, which I found translated nicely to its products and services. Every meal kit you get is pre-portioned and ready to be cooked within 30-35 minutes.

Options for diets include Health & Diet, Vegetarian & Vegan, Meat & Fish, Under 30 Minutes, and Family-Friendly. That’s a pretty respectable selection, especially considering that I haven’t seen this much choice with many other meal delivery services.

If you don’t have much experience or simply don’t like to cook, every meal kit comes with easy and precise six-step instructions along with helpful photos. This is possibly the easiest way to prepare any meal kit I’ve ever personally encountered.

7. Freshly – Best for Prepared Meal Selection and Variety

Key Features

• Convenience – choose tons of prepared meals that are ready in three minutes or less

• Menu variety – select from over 40 weekly meals plus protein sides

• Allergies – opt to exclude common allergens like dairy, gluten, soy, and nuts

Freshly offers a huge selection of prepared meals that take no longer than about three minutes to be ready to eat, depending on your appliances, of course. It’s also able to deliver high-quality, whole foods-based, and low-sugar meals at the same time which I found impressive for a prepared meal service.

Meal options include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there’s a wide variety of protein add-ons that you can add to any order. I like seeing this massive selection, especially for all three regular meal times. Some other competitors really only offer dinner mains which I find to be slightly limiting and not as convenient.

If you’re looking for something specific, Freshly offers a variety of plans including Purely Plant, Signature, and Freshly Fit as well. You can also control what ingredients you’re eating with its gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, carb-smart, and calorie-conscious options.

8. Fresh and Easy – Best for Quick and Simple Meal Kits

Key Features

• Fast meal kits – cook every single meal in 15 minutes or less

• Menu options – choose from over 30 weekly recipes

• Dietary preferences – select from any low-carb or low-calorie options

What I like most about Fresh and Easy is the convenience factor. This is an especially great service for those who are busy, have kids, and lead active lifestyles since all meal kit ingredients are prepped, portioned, and ready to cook. All meal kits can be ready, on your table, in about 30 minutes, and often even less.

But meal kits aren’t the only thing Fresh and Easy offers. It offers a pretty respectable selection of oven- and grill-ready prepared meals that you simply heat-and-eat. Again, I’m a lover of meal kits because there’s no thinking involved, no prep, no cleanup, and no wasting of your precious time. That’s why I usually buy prepared meals.

If you’re someone who likes salads, there are also plenty of those to choose from as well. They’re large enough for a dinner entree. Again, the proteins come pre-cooked, and all the ingredients are already prepped and ready to be combined quickly and effortlessly.

9. EveryPlate – Best Family-Friendly and Budget-Friendly Option

Key Features

• Family-friendly – access the most family-friendly meals on this list for you and your kids

• Variety – choose from over 18 options every week and some extras

• Dietary preferences – select from the vegetarian, balanced, and family-friendly options

If you’re looking for the most affordable meal delivery service in Bakersfield, look no further. Our reviewer said that EveryPlate is a great service if you need to feed more than just a couple of people thanks to its low prices. The next closest competitor starts at around nearly double the price.

Every ingredient that you’ll need comes neatly labeled inside your delivery box with detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to prepare each meal. Everything is insulated and stays nice and fresh until you can either cook the meal or place the ingredients into the fridge or your pantry. 

You’ll need a couple of staples, though, including salt, pepper, and oils of your choice. A few other essentials you’ll need in terms of appliances are a pot, pan, baking sheet, knife, and cutting board. Everything else you need will be included with each delivery.

10. Grubhub – Best for Delivery from your Favorite Restaurants

Key Features

• Lots of restaurants available – choose from over 100 eateries in Bakersfield

• Menu options – get a diverse selection of meals from international cuisines

• Diet preferences – access various specific diets like Mediterranean or vegetarian

Grubhub is a bit of a different service than all of the other competitors on this list. That’s because it’s partnered with your local Bakersfield restaurants to offer same-day delivery of hot-and-ready meals. It’s like ordering from Uber Eats or SkipTheDishes.

If you don’t like wasting an hour or more prepping, cooking, and then cleaning, Grubhub could be a good fit for you. It delivers your favorite meals directly to your address within 60-90 minutes – and most times even less than that. Other meal delivery services on this list are different in that you must preorder your meals at least a few days in advance.

You could also sign up for Grubhub+ which is a monthly subscription (or membership, as Grubhub calls it). With Grubhub+, you can order meals from your favorite restaurants with a $0 delivery fee when you spend at least $12. This could be worth it if you’re often busy, and can’t spend time thinking about dinner until the last second.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in Bakersfield

Below, I’ve outlined the most important aspects I took into consideration while choosing the best meal delivery services in Bakersfield. Feel free to check these out to make an informed decision.

• Affordability: Opt for a meal delivery service that falls within your budget, be it large or small. There are options on this list for small budgets, medium ones, and large ones.

• Convenience: Choose a meal delivery service that’s as convenient as you want – whether that means opting for meal kits, fast meal kits, or microwave- or oven-ready prepared meals.

• Recipe selection: Pick a service with a diverse menu. That way, you’re more likely to find meals that you and your family will like, and you can prevent yourself from getting bored as well.

• Dietary preferences: Select a service with the exact dietary preferences you prefer. This means choosing one with meals fitting different diets including keto, paleo, Mediterranean, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, low-calorie, carb-conscious, and more.

Bottom Line: Home Chef is the Best Meal Delivery Service in Bakersfield

I found that Home Chef is the best meal delivery service in Bakersfield for several reasons. It offers affordable pricing, a large weekly menu selection of mains, desserts, extras, and sides, and excellent meal customization options.

Whether you like to cook or not, Home Chef offers something for everyone. If you like cooking, there are several meals in the Easy Prep category that take around 30-40 minutes to make – many of which are much faster. All heat-and-eat meals can be ready in five to 30 minutes, depending on if you like to use your microwave or oven.

FAQ

Is Home Chef available in Bakersfield, California?

Yes! Home Chef is available in your area. It provides a variety of fresh meal kits, prepared meals, and lots of options for sides and snacks as well. Pricing for Home Chef starts at around $6.99 per serving.

What’s the best prepared meal delivery service in Bakersfield, California?

Freshly offers one of the largest menus in terms of prepared meals. You’ll find lots of ready-to-heat meals across different cuisines like Latin American, classic American, Italian, Japanese, Indian, and more.

What’s the difference between Home Chef and Hello Fresh?

Home Chef also offers prepared meals which HelloFresh does not, though both services offer meal kits. However, if you’re looking to be a bit more adventurous and cook on your own, Hello Fresh offers a variety of meal kits that take 30 minutes or less to prepare.

Best Meal Delivery Services in Bakersfield in 2023 – Final Score: