10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Denver in 2023

Meal delivery services can help you avoid grocery shopping and take the hassle out of choosing meals and prepping ingredients. Some will even deliver fully prepared meals to fill your fridge for the week.

I’ve curated a selection of the best meal delivery services in Denver, so all you have to do is choose from the list. You’ll find a selection of the best meal kit and microwave-ready meal delivery services that cover a wide range of dietary needs and cuisine preferences.

Factor is my overall pick for its overall great service features and healthy prepared recipes. And have no fear, every service here has tasty food for hungry Denverites. Check out my full list and learn how you can eat faster, better, and healthier!

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Denver Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Healthy Microwave-Ready Meals

Factor’s microwavable meals are designed and approved by a team of registered dietitians. This ensures each recipe has a healthy balance of macronutrients. So all you busy Denverites can rest easy eating Factor's meals on those on-the-go days when you only have a few minutes to prepare your meals

What’s on the Menu?

Factor’s meal plans cover a wide range of diets. The 6 plans include High Protein, Keto, and Vegetarian, which you can mix and match as you prefer. Meals are prepared by professional chefs and delivered fresh – never frozen. The menu changes weekly and includes 35 recipes and 40+ add-ons each week.

Just like the main menu, add-ons fit several dietary needs, such as keto, vegetarian, vegan, carb-conscious, calorie-smart, and protein plus. Factor's extras include desserts, meal bundles, cooked recipes, freshes, breakfasts, and smoothies with milk bases.

Each recipe is tagged according to which of the 6 plans it best accommodates. My colleague found the colored tags on the menu really easy to navigate when they reviewed Factor.

What Makes It Special?

Factor’s ingredients are always humanely and sustainably sourced. Each recipe is made with non-GMO and mostly organic produce. Poultry products like chicken and eggs are always cage- and antibiotic-free. Other types of meat are grass-fed and pasture-raised, and seafood like salmon is sourced in sustainable ways.

Plus, Factor's recipes are integrated into the most popular food tracking apps, such as LoseIt, Carb Manager, and MyFitnessPal, so you can easily record your Factor macros. 

Lastly, you can schedule a complimentary session with a registered dietitian (RD). Most services only allow you to do this after you order, but with Factor, you can speak with an RD before. This free consultation is great for those of you who need to ensure that Factor's meals are right for your dietary needs.

3. HelloFresh – Best Diverse Meal Kits For Denverites

HelloFresh is one of the world’s largest meal delivery services. This service lets you select from 6 meal plans. These are Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Quick & Easy, and Pescatarian. You can mix and match plans for a greater variety of options.

What’s on the Menu?

You’ll find 60+ meal kit recipes on the menu each week. These are primarily American cuisine with some Mediterranean and Mexican influences. Recipes range from crowd-pleasing favorites like Mushroom and Chive Risotto to date night-worthy premium picks like Garlic Herb Butter Shrimp and Lobster Tails.

Most recipes take about 30 minutes to prepare, but prep times range from 10 to 50 minutes. For busy nights, HelloFresh also offers One-Pot Wonder and Quick & Easy meals, which only take 10 to 15 minutes of prep time.

You’ll also find 4 or 5 recipes tagged “10-min lunch” each week, which are usually salads and sandwiches. The BBQ Pulled Pork Sando with Gouda, Pickles, and Slaw only takes 10 minutes to prep, which isn’t only time-friendly for busy families but also a crowd-pleaser for kids.

What Makes It Special?

Ingredients arrive pre-portioned and separated according to each recipe. You’ll still have to take care of most prep like cutting and washing produce or mixing up sauces.

HelloFresh labels its most popular recipes with a yellow Hall of Fame tag and lists them at the beginning of each weekly menu. If you’re unsure what to choose on your first order and are open to trying something new, you can fill your order with these top-rated options after you’ve created your account.

If there’s a problem, HelloFresh’s customer support team is there to help. Our reviewer tested HelloFresh’s service and found that the customer service was as good as you’d expect from a company of this size.

Is It Good Value?

HelloFresh provides a wide range of recipes with fresh ingredients at a competitive price point. This makes it a good value for those who enjoy cooking and want to explore different cuisines without the hassle of meal planning and grocery shopping.

HelloFresh’s minimum order is 2 recipes for 2 people per week, and you can get up to 6 recipes for 4 people per week. Pricing for the biggest order starts at $3.32 per serving.

4. Home Chef – Best Meal Kit Delivery Service in Denver

Home Chef is particularly beneficial for busy individuals and families who want to enjoy home-cooked meals without the hassle of extensive meal planning and grocery shopping. 

What’s on the Menu?

The menu spans from classic American comfort foods to exotic international dishes, making sure that there's something to tantalize every palate. This variety not only introduces you to new flavors but also provides familiar favorites, making it ideal for both adventurous eaters and those with more traditional tastes.

The meal kits offered by Home Chef are designed for ease and convenience. They range from quick, simple recipes that can be prepared in about 30 minutes to more elaborate culinary experiences for those who enjoy spending more time in the kitchen. 

For those with specific dietary needs, Home Chef provides a range of options. This includes low-calorie, low-carb, and vegetarian dishes, among others. Each recipe is clearly labeled with dietary information, making it easy for customers to find meals that fit their nutritional requirements.

What Makes It Special? 

Home Chef’s customization feature is its biggest draw. It lets you upgrade or substitute the protein options in many recipes. You can get chicken breasts instead of pork tenderloin, double up on your portion of steak, or replace white fish with salmon.

Our reviewer found that customized proteins typically come with an upcharge, so be sure to double-check your order total. This happens because of the premium upgrades you can get to your proteins. Filet mignon is a more expensive protein than chicken breast, for example. 

While you can customize proteins, you can’t exclude or exchange other ingredients. This is why Home Chef is best for omnivores who have no allergies or special dietary needs.

Is It Good Value?

Home Chef’s prices, variety, and customizations are just as competitive as HelloFresh. While it’s hard to beat HelloFresh’s offering of 60+ recipes per week, Home Chef still offers 40+ meal kits of primarily American comfort food with some internationally inspired dishes.

Prices start at $7.99 per portion, and you can order 2 to 6 recipes per week for 2, 4, or 6 people. That gives you 4 to 36 portions per week. This is among the largest order sizes offered by any meal delivery service.

5. Fresh and Easy – Best Quick Prep Meal Delivery Service

Fresh and Easy is part of Home Chef, including its easiest recipes. It’s a great option for Denverites who are short on time. It’s among the services with the easiest meal prep options next to meal delivery services like Factor, which only offer microwave-ready meals.

What’s on the Menu?

Fresh and Easy specializes in providing an ultra-convenient meal experience designed for simplicity and ease. The menu features a variety of dishes from classic American fare to global cuisine, offering a chance to indulge in familiar tastes or experiment with new culinary delights.

These recipes typically take 15 minutes or less to prep. You can choose between oven-ready meals that can be simply popped into the oven, grill-ready options for barbecue enthusiasts, and entree salads for a lighter fare. 

The emphasis is on minimal preparation time, with most meals requiring little to no chopping or prep work. Our Fresh and Easy reviewer found that they saved loads of time and hassle.

What Makes It Special?

I love that you can still get recipes from Home Chef’s full menu if you want to prepare a more in-depth meal. With just a single account, you’re free to mix and match Fresh & Easy and Home Chef meals and add any extras.

Fresh and Easy also gives you the power to customize proteins in most recipes, just like you can with Home Chef.

Is It Good Value?

Fresh and Easy is great for individuals or families seeking the convenience of pre-prepared meals without sacrificing the quality of fresh, home-cooked food. It's an excellent service for those with hectic schedules, limited time for meal preparation, or for those who prefer to minimize time spent in the kitchen.

Your minimum order is also the exact same as Home Chef – 2 recipes for 2 people per week, and the maximum is 6 recipes for 6 people. Prices are the same as Home Chef’s and start at $7.99 per serving if you go with the maximum order.

6. BistroMD – Calorie-Conscious Plans Designed by Dietitians

All BistroMD meals are designed by a Ph.D. dietitian with more than 20 years of experience helping people lose weight and her team of registered dietitians who customize your weekly meal plans. BistroMD is ideal for individuals hoping to transition to a low-calorie diet.

What’s on the Menu?

Meals are designed to complete a 1,200- or 1,400-calorie-per-day meal plan. Each meal is around 400 to 450 calories, with calorie counts and nutritional information labeled clearly on each meal. Check out my colleague’s deep dive into BistroMD’s complete meal delivery service in her review.

Sadly, you can’t make any ingredient swaps since each meal is designed to be part of a strictly planned and portioned calorie-conscious diet. BistroMD also doesn’t focus on ingredient sourcing, so you won’t find wild-caught, grass-fed, or organic options on the menu like you might with a service like Green Chef. 

Despite these limitations, you’ll get balanced, low-calorie meals made of whole foods. Each meal contains proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats with macro balances according to the meal plan you choose.

What Makes It Special?

BistroMD’s menu is crafted by registered dietitians, ensuring that you get nutritionally balanced and supportive meals that meet your health goals. This expert involvement adds a layer of trust and reliability to the entire offering.

Additionally, all meals arrive fully prepared and frozen in individually portioned packages, so all you have to do is defrost, heat, and eat. I like how convenient this is since all decisions about food consumption are removed from your daily trips to the fridge.

However, what’s not clear is how long the meals are frozen before they arrive. For this reason, I’m not a fan of services that rely on freezing food. I prefer receiving fresh and never-frozen meals, like with Factor.

Is It Good Value?

The pricing of BistroMD reflects its specialized meal plans and dietitian-designed menus. While it may be pricier compared to some other meal delivery services, the value lies in its tailored dietary options and the convenience of having healthy, balanced meals readily available.

For each plan, you can choose 2 or 3 daily meals for 5 or 7 days. If you choose 3 meals for 7 days, that’s 21 meals per week, which removes any thoughts about whether you’ll have a diet-friendly meal in your freezer or fridge. Pricing for the maximum plan of 21 meals comes out to $8.24 per serving.

7. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service in Denver

Everything on Purple Carrot’s menu is 100% plant-based. The Mile-High City has a good vegan restaurant scene, but avoiding unwanted animal products in your food can still be a challenge. Purple Carrot easily meets this challenge with meal kits, prepared meals, and easy-prep kits.

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is smaller than most meal kit delivery services, but all recipes rotate each week, so you still get fresh weekly recipe options. There are 12+ meal kit recipes, including 5-minute breakfasts, easy 15-minute lunches, and dinners that are ready in just 30 minutes.

Despite the smaller menu, I find the cuisine options varied and more for adventurous palates. You’ll find a mix of Mediterranean, Indian, Asian, and Southeast Asian-inspired recipes every week. Each meal kit is packed with veggies, herbs, and spices, and features veggies as the star flavors of each dish.

What I appreciate about Purple Carrot’s menu is its prepared meal options. You’ll find 8 recipes that rotate each week, as well as snacks and pantry staples in the Plantry. That means you can try a different prepared recipe each day of the week, every week.

What Makes It Special?

I like that Purple Carrot doesn’t rely on meat substitutes for flavor or protein. Instead, it brings vegetables to the foreground with creative plant combos like Hoisin Tofu Steaks with Sticky Rice and Spinach Poppy Seed Salad. After trying Purple Carrot, our (omnivorous) reviewer praised its “diverse collection of recipes inspired by cuisines around the world.”

Purple Carrot also offers High Protein meals, which have at least 20 g of protein per serving. Finding enough protein on a plant-based diet can be tough, but Purple Carrot’s High Protein plan makes it heat-and-eat level easy.

Is It Good Value?

Purple Carrot is a bit more expensive than some general meal kit services, but its pricing is comparable to other specialized, plant-based options. The cost reflects the niche market it serves and the quality of ingredients used.

Pricing for the maximum order starts at $8.50 per serving, while the prepared meals are $13, regardless of the number you order. You can order a minimum of 3 meal kits for 2 people and a maximum of 3 meal kits for 4 people per week. Prepared meals come as single portions and can be ordered in bundles of 6, 8, or 10 meals per week.

8. Trifecta – Great Build-Your-Own Meals

Trifecta offers meals that are macro-nutrient balanced, catering to those who track their macronutrient intake. This feature is particularly appealing to those with specific fitness or health goals, such as building muscle, getting leaner, and so on.

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is divided into 4 meal plans – Clean, Keto, Paleo/Whole30, and Plant Based. Each plan offers breakfasts and entrees that can be eaten for lunch or dinner. Plus, each meal is individually and conveniently portioned in microwave-ready trays.

The meals have zero preservatives and artificial, processed, or refined ingredients, and the produce is rotated seasonally, so you get the freshest produce available. If you want more details on meals and menus, our review covers unboxing Trifecta’s different meal plans in more depth.

You get prepared meals with each plan, but there’s also a build-your-own meal plan called Meal Prep. You can create meals from meat and fish, complex carbs like brown rice, and veggies like broccoli and asparagus, which arrive fully prepped using simple ingredients like olive oil, garlic, onion, thyme, and rosemary.

What Makes It Special? 

Trifecta stands out for its emphasis on meals tailored for fitness enthusiasts and athletes. The meals are designed to support various fitness goals, whether it's muscle building, weight loss, or simply maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

There’s also an a la carte menu called Classics, from which you can choose 18 recipes that include breakfasts. Some recipes rotate each week and include breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

Plus, you get a nutrition-tracking app, which is great for all you health-conscious Denverites who want to track meal macros. All recipes are integrated into the app for easy nutrient tracking, and you can scan barcodes of other products you might add to your meals.

Is It Good Value?

The service provides a range of diet plans, making it versatile for various dietary preferences. This means that customers with different dietary needs can find suitable options.

The maximum order of servings you can have with Trifecta is 21 per week (14 entrees and 7 breakfasts). However, make sure to keep the price in mind, as this can be one of the more expensive services on this list. For a full week of 7 breakfasts and 14 entrees, you’ll pay over $300 per week.

9. Marley Spoon – Learn to Cook Like Martha Stewart

If you want plenty of easy and delicious home-cooked meals, you’ll be satisfied with this menu curated through the partnership between Marley Spoon and Martha Stewart. Most meals are classic American comfort foods, but you’ll find a nice balance of internationally inspired recipes for the more adventurous palates.

What’s on the Menu?

Marley Spoon’s menu boasts 100+ recipes each week, which is well above the average of all the meal delivery services I’ve reviewed! The menu includes entrees, sides, Premium meals, microwave-ready meals, and desserts. 

Recipes arrive as meal kits with all ingredients measured and pre-portioned, so you’ll get exactly what you need. You’ll still need to perform some basic prep like chopping, dicing, and slicing, but cooking instructions are easy to follow.

If you feel like getting fancy, you can select Marley Spoon’s Premium meals (around 10 each week). These include higher-quality cuts of meat, organic ingredients, and richer flavors. However, keep in mind that the entire menu is potentially subject to allergen cross-contamination (no allergy-specific meals). 

What Makes It Special?

What’s impressive about Marley Spoon is its attention to being environmentally friendly. First, meals are designed to reduce food waste by providing the exact amount of ingredients each recipe needs. This means less packaging use, less garbage production, and less food waste. My colleague’s in-depth review shows how this service is able to do just that.

Second, Marley Spoon’s service is 100% carbon neutral. Being carbon neutral means that any carbon-based materials used to fuel Marley Spoon’s service are 100% offset by carbon-eliminating projects like planting trees. 

Marley Spoon has also recently introduced recipe customization. This is not as extensive as Home Chef, but you now have a chance to exchange certain ingredients (usually proteins).

Is It Good Value?

Marley Spoon offers high-quality ingredients and a diverse menu in collaboration with Martha Stewart. The menu is diverse and the recipes flavorful and easy to follow, even if you are a busy person.

The per-serving prices start at $2.99, and you can order 2 to 6 recipes per week for 2 or 4 people. Given Marley Spoon’s type of cuisine and maximum order amount, this can be a great service for couples or small families.

10. Blue Apron – Best for Beginner Chefs in Denver

Blue Apron promises easy meal kits for gourmet recipes that taste and look like a professional chef cooked them. Its offer includes a wide range of options, from family-friendly meals to Fast & Easy, and most of the recipes are based on in-season ingredients.

What’s on the Menu?

Blue Apron’s Signature menus are available for 2 and 4 people, and these are great for omnivores. Blue Apron also offers health-conscious meals and a Vegetarian menu for couples. It also has a great Wellness plan that makes dieting much less of a chore. The restaurant-quality meals come in at just 530 calories per serving.  

Most recipes need about 25 to 30 minutes of prep time, but you can also choose from microwave-ready meals from the Add-Ons menu. Prepared meals include all the same high-quality ingredients as Blue Apron's meal kits, with recipes like Miso-Sesame Chicken with Brown Rice and Vegetables.

Blue Apron prioritizes ingredient quality by ensuring proteins are humanely sourced and produce is sustainably farmed. So you can eat high-quality recipes without worrying about added hormones or antibiotics in your food.

What Makes It Special?

My colleague who reviewed Blue Apron found it one of the best services for beginners. You can find the complete recipe on the website and read through each step in advance, or click the Cook Along button for a slideshow version of your recipe – with pictures. There are even some videos available.

There are some customization options available, but they could be better. Usually, you’ll just get the choice to swap a protein. Customizing recipes for allergies or other diets like paleo, keto, or gluten-free isn’t possible unless you want to make swaps from your own pantry.

The company is focused on using recyclable packaging materials, whenever possible. Additionally, the ingredients are pre-portioned for each recipe, which means you'll have little-to-no food waste.

Is It Good Value?

Blue Apron is a good value for those looking for a balance between cost, quality, and culinary adventure. However, even though there is a separate vegetarian meal plan, I found the overall plant-based offer a bit limited (around 4 options per week).

Blue Apron's minimum order is 2 meals of 2 servings each per week, but you're free to order as many as 5 meals of 4 servings each per week. Pricing starts at around $5.74 per serving for the maximum order.

Bonus: Nutrisystem – Best Weight Loss Meals in Denver

Nutrisystem is a popular weight loss program that offers prepackaged, portion-controlled meals designed to simplify calorie counting and promote healthy eating habits. The program is structured around a 28-day plan, and focuses on balanced nutrition for steady weight loss and maintenance.

What’s on the Menu?

Nutrisystem offers an extensive menu (130+ options) that spans pizzas, stews, soups, and pastas, across 6 different meal plans, ensuring that your food routine never becomes mundane, and every palate, from the comfort-food lover to the gourmet enthusiast, is catered to. Learn more about this huge menu in our official Nutrisystem review.

The meal plans are developed to be relevant and accessible for both men and women, whether you’re a young adult or in a mature stage. You’ll receive meals for all times of the day, along with snacks and desserts, meticulously crafted to facilitate weight loss through strategically managed intake.

The menu features a combination of culinary influences. Most notably, you’ll find American and Mediterranean cuisines, offering you nutritional variety and the thrill of taste exploration.

What Makes It Special?

With Nutrisystem, every meal and snack is calorie-controlled. This fits well with a busy lifestyle, as your calorie intake is properly managed without compromising on taste or portion sizes.

The meals are ready-made and frozen for freshness, so all you have to do is pop them in the microwave or oven. Plus, some meals don’t need any heating at all – just unwrap and enjoy!

Nutrisystem also makes it easy to track your meals and stay on top of your goals through the NuMI app. This app allows for seamless tracking of food and water intake and physical activity, and grants access to additional resources like recipes and challenges.

Is It Good Value?

Nustrisystem isn’t just a meal delivery service focused on weight loss. It’s also designed to dynamically adjust your calorie goals, aiming to prevent weight loss plateaus and continually align with your progress. This ensures that your journey to a healthier you remains simple and customized.

Prices start at $8.54 per day, which includes essential ready-made meals and access to the NuMI app.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Service in Denver

Since Denver is a dense metropolitan city, you have lots of meal delivery services options. Here are some professional pointers for choosing the meal delivery service that’s right for you.

• Consider your dietary preferences: For instance, if you're a vegan, you might prefer Purple Carrot, a completely plant-based service, over Factor, which primarily serves omnivores and only offers a few vegan options each week. However, in my experience, services that cater to more niche diets often cost more, so you will need to balance your dietary needs and preferences with your budget.
• Find the right balance between flavor and cost: Tasty meals are worth investing in. While sticking to your budget is important, so is enjoying your meals. If the tastier service costs an extra $0.50 per serving compared to the cheaper service, that's just $6 a week extra on a 12-serving plan. For me, paying $6 extra a week for really tasty food is definitely worth it.
• Consider your culinary skill level: You may want to start with easy prep meals if you’re a complete beginner in the kitchen. Home Chef’s and HelloFresh’s recipes are famously easy to follow and will walk you through cooking basics like chopping, dicing, frying, and baking. Otherwise, you can try Green Chef’s kits that require a bit more culinary experience.
• Try different services: All the options on my list have simple ways to cancel. If you're wondering about another service or not happy with your current one, go ahead and switch. You’ll be eligible for new customer discounts when you change, so it can be a good way to save. For example, Home Chef is one of my top services this year. It features a diverse menu of global cuisines sure to please various taste preferences – plus it offers several kid-friendly meals, too.

FAQ

What’s the best meal delivery service in Denver?

Factor is my pick for the best meal delivery service in Denver thanks to its high-quality ingredients and healthy prepared meals. It’s a great choice for busy Denverites who want to eat healthily but are pushed for time. Plus you can choose from a range of niche diet plans.

What’s the best prepared meal delivery service in Denver?

Factor is the best fully prepared meal delivery service in Denver. You can choose from a range of healthy, microwave-ready meals each week across several diets.

What is the most affordable meal delivery service in Denver?

Starting at just $2.99 per serving, Marley Spoon is the most affordable option on my list. For this price, you’ll get 100+ recipes per week, mostly American comfort cuisine, and decent vegetarian options.

What’s the best paleo meal delivery service in Denver?

Trifecta is the best paleo meal delivery service in Denver since it offers a dedicated Paleo plan using all the high-quality ingredients it offers throughout its entire menu. All meals arrive fully prepared and fresh – never frozen – so you can heat and eat them as soon as they arrive at your doorstep.

What is the healthiest meal delivery service in Denver?

Green Chef is the healthiest meal delivery service in Denver if eating organic is your version of healthy. You can choose from 8 meal plans to match your diet that include Keto, Plant Based, Mediterranean, Gluten-Free, Quick & Easy, and a few more.

Best Meal Delivery Service in Denver in 2023 — Final Score