10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston 2023 (Updated)

From overwhelmed students and those commuting long hours into the Loop, to those with demanding dietary needs and limited time, more people in Space City are hopping on the meal delivery service train every day. But choosing a service that’s right for you can be just as daunting as battling the supermarket.

With your time and energy in mind, I’ve put together a list of the 10 best meal delivery services delivering to Houston, taking everything from pricing and packaging to delivery and deliciousness into account.

Home Chef is my top choice, thanks to its Customize-It feature and wide range of meal types. But every service on this list has something to offer hungry Houstonians… 

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston Reviewed

1. Home Chef – Most Customizable Meal Kits in Houston

Key Features

• Swap, upgrade, or double-up on protein

• 25+ recipes available per week

• Dietary options include carb-conscious and calorie-conscious

• Current deal: 75% Off Your 1st Box + 60% Off Your 2nd and 3rd Boxes! 

Home Chef offers one of the most personalized services out there. On almost every dish, you can swap-out or upgrade your protein choice, and even double-up if you want bigger portions. 

So, if you prefer shrimp to chicken or are in the mood for sirloin steak, Home Chef allows you to get what you want, whatever the recipe. 

Home Chef also offers a variety of meal types and prep times – from the turbo 15-Minute Meal Kits to the Culinary Collection of gourmet dishes that take around an hour to make. 

You can order two, four, or six servings of each recipe, too, making Home Chef extra appealing to larger families. And, after giving Home Chef a try for themselves, our reviewer reported “a pretty perfect experience”.

Finally, if you want to pick up extra dishes to keep on hand in the fridge or freezer, Home Chef has partnered with Kroger to offer prepared meals at up to 10 Houston locations.

2. Blue Apron – Best for Diverse Flavors & Easy Recipes

Key Features

• WW-approved meals let you track SmartPoints

• 19 recipes available each week

• Dietary options include vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, and low-calorie

• Current deal: Enjoy $130 off across your first 6 orders 

Designed by pro chefs and perfect for those who like to host, Blue Apron’s meal kits invite you into a world of gourmet recipes and international flavors, combined with some of the classic dishes we know and love. 

Don’t get intimidated, though. These tasty meal kits are delivered with easy-to-follow recipes and simple-to-prep ingredients. In fact, our reviewer had high praise for Blue Apron’s variety of cuisines and ease of cooking.

As well as offering a signature plan for either two or four people, Blue Apron offers a vegetarian menu and a Wellness plan that features diabetes-friendly dishes and recipes approved by WW (formally known as Weight Watchers). There’s also a limited selection of prepared meals each week, plus some oven-ready additions. 

You can enjoy Blue Apron’s meals between two and four times a week. And, if you like a glass of wine with dinner, check out its wine subscription for bottles professionally paired with your meal choices.

3. Green Chef – Best for Healthy, Organic Meal Kits in Houston

Key Features

• USDA-certified organic

• 30 recipes available each week

• Dietary options include keto, paleo and plant-based

• Current deal: Get $250 Off + Free Shipping 

With meal kits starting at $5.99 per serving, Green Chef is the River Oaks of all the companies I’ve reviewed so far. That said, its prices are justified by the high-quality, organic ingredients it offers, not to mention the wide range of dietary options. 

Green Chef’s eco-friendly packaging keeps everything organized and the prepared ingredients – including chopped veggies and ready-to-use sauces and seasonings – make cooking healthy meals easier than you might expect. 

For example, you could prepare Green Chef’s Moroccan Turkey Tagine (pictured) in just 30 minutes.  

Our expert reviewer was particularly impressed by the service’s keto offerings, declaring it “one of the best Keto + Paleo menus in the game”. Meanwhile, Green Chef has two plant-forward menus, one for vegetarians and one for vegans. 

4. HelloFresh – Best Family-Friendly Meal Kits in Houston

Key Features

• Discover tried and tested customer favorites 

• 30+ recipes on the menu per week

• Dietary options include carb-smart, vegetarian, and pescatarian, and more

• Current deal: Get 25 free meals + free shipping + 3 surprise gifts 

HelloFresh is one of the most popular meal delivery services across the US, thanks to its huge variety and affordable prices. With Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Fit & Wholesome, Family Friendly, and Quick & Easy plans, this service has an eye on both your dietary preferences and your busy, day-to-day schedule. 

Get the full scoop on each plan and more in my colleague’s tried-and-tested review.

HelloFresh advertises more than 30 meals on the menu each week, but in reality there are often many more when you take into account its HelloCustom options, which allow you to change some of the sides and proteins in selected dishes. 

Families and couples alike love it for its wide-ranging menu and easy-to-follow recipes, which include everything from pasta dishes to grain bowls, tacos to burgers, as well as its mission to help cut down on food waste and plastic use. 

5. Purple Carrot – Houston’s Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service

Key Features

• Meal kits and prepared meals

• Around 16 dishes on the menu per week – plus extras

• Dietary options include gluten-free, nut-free, and high protein

• Current deal: Get $30 Off with code carrot30

Sourcing plant-based meals can be a challenge in meat-loving Houston, but thanks to the likes of Purple Carrot, you don’t have to worry. Everything on the menu is 100% vegan.  

And even if you’re not strictly vegan, you’ll still find a lot to love about Purple Carrot. Dishes like the Mango-Glazed Brussels and Chickpeas (pictured) are a delicious way to add more vegetables to your diet. 

In fact, our omnivore reviewer tried Purple Carrot for themselves and praised its “delightfully diverse collection of recipes.”

Many other meal delivery services rely on plant-based meat substitutes like tempeh or soy burgers for their vegetarian and vegan options. Purple Carrot focuses on nutrient-dense ingredients, with recipes that showcase vegetables and their natural flavor. Eating more plants has never been easier – or tastier!

6. Marley Spoon – Best for Houston’s Home Cooks

Key Features

• Wide selection of Martha Stewart-curated recipes

• 45+ meal kits to choose from per week

• Dietary options include vegetarian, vegan, no-added-gluten, and more 

• Current deal: Get $190 off Your First 4 Boxes!

You might expect Martha’s meal delivery service to challenge your culinary skills. In fact, Marley Spoon is really family-friendly and great for aspiring home cooks. 

And, after testing it for themselves, our reviewer revealed that “the step-by-step methods made it easy to create Martha Stewart-level dishes in my own kitchen.” 

In addition to sophisticated fare, like the Seared Steak with Gremolata or the Lemon and Dill Salmon, Marley Spoon offers family- and kid-friendly meals, as well as vegan, vegetarian, and low-carb options. With more than 45 meal kits to choose from every week, you’re sure to find entrees that meet your needs.

For everything it offers, Marley Spoon is very reasonably priced, with meals starting at just $2.99 per serving. Whether you’re looking to improve your culinary game or feed your hungry family, you’ll find a lot to love here! 

7. Freshly – Best Prepared Meals in Houston

Key Features

• Prepared in a gluten- and peanut-free facility

• 40+ prepared meals on the menu 

• Dietary options include low-carb, low-calorie, and plant-based

• Current deal: Get $175 off your first 7 boxes!

While most of the companies on my list so far focus on meal kits, Freshly delivers convenient, chef-prepared meals to your door that take just a few minutes to heat in the microwave.

Choose between four and 12 single-serving meals each week, with the price-per-serving dropping the more meals you order. 

On the menu, you’ll find plenty of healthier versions of your favorite comfort and takeout foods, including chicken tikka masala, buffalo chicken, and burrito bakes. They all promise to be high in protein and low in carbs, thanks to simple swaps like rice for cauli-rice or pasta for lentil pasta. 

Almost all the dishes are gluten- and peanut-free – and those that are, are prepared in certified gluten-free kitchens, too. For all the delicious details, check out my colleague’s Freshly review.

If you’re a keen gym-goer or you just love long walks in Hermann Park, Freshly’s protein-packed meals are perfect for keeping you fueled while on the go. 

8. Factor – Best Prepared Keto Meals

Key Features

• High-quality ingredients in every dish

• 30+ prepared meals each week

• Dietary options include keto, veggie, plant-based, and more

• Current deal: Up to $276 Off!

With prices starting at $6.19 per serving, Factor is one of the more expensive meal delivery services on my list. But if you’re someone who lives a particularly active lifestyle or you’re trying to stick to a specific diet – like keto – you may find Factor’s prepared meals a worthwhile investment. 

Our expert reviewer found Factor meals to be “of high quality and really tasty”. Plus, every subscription includes a free 20-minute consultation with an in-house dietitian, and Factor is linked with numerous fitness apps to let you track your meals and macros. 

Browse the menu to choose from a wide selection of keto, low-carb, vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free meals. Keto choices include tasty entrees like Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Zucchini Noodles (pictured), and you can also order add-ons such as protein packs, smoothies, soups, and wellness shots.

9. EveryPlate – Houston’s Most Affordable Meal Kits

Key Features

• From $1.49 per serving

• 21 meals per week, plus extras like desserts and salads

• Dietary options include vegetarian 

• Current deal: $1.39/meal On Your 1st Box
  

Just as its attractive cost of living has helped turn Houston into the fourth largest city in America, EveryPlate is loved by families who enjoy its affordable, hearty comfort-food dishes. When it comes to value for money, this is a service that keeps both your wallet and your belly full… 

So, how does it keep its prices so low? Our reviewer discovered it’s all thanks to pared-back recipes and minimal packaging – there’s certainly no compromise on the quality of the ingredients. 

Expect plenty of filling recipes such as Turkey Shepherd's Pie with Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Loaded Pork Potato Wedges. There are some veggie dishes available but keep in mind that there are few (if any) options for vegans, and limited meals for those on special diets, such as keto. 

10. Grubhub – Best Food Delivery in Houston

Key Features

• Free delivery on orders over $12 with Grubhub+

• Get meals from more than 500 Houston restaurants

• Vast array of menu options

Grubhub is a food delivery service, meaning it serves as the middleman between you and hundreds of local Houston eateries, from popular restaurants like Niko Niko’s to your favorite taco truck. 

Grubhub offers immediate access to almost every food imaginable, with filters that let you search by cuisine, area, or dish. And if your favorite restaurant doesn’t deliver, you can even use the Grubhub app to place a pick-up order.

Grubhub is a great service with tons of options, particularly when you have a food craving that only takeout can satisfy. However, if you’re looking for an easy way to maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular, balanced meals, I recommend you stick with meal delivery services!  

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston

With so many choices, picking a meal delivery service that caters to the Houston area can feel overwhelming. Here are some things you need to consider before signing up: 

• Know what you want from your service: Does it have a menu that caters to your dietary needs or allergies? Does it offer the right number of weekly meals that you need? Do you see enough variety when you scan the menu? Consider your top priorities and work from there…   

• Price is important, but it’s not the only thing: If the difference between meals that you and your family love and meals that they tolerate is just $0.50 a serving, your dinnertime happiness is worth a few extra pennies! 

• Know your culinary limits: If you want to expand your horizons in the kitchen, meal kits like those from Home Chef are a great way to do that. But if you have limited time, equipment, or patience (!) you may be happier with a prepared meal delivery service, like Factor. 

• Don’t be afraid to switch: It may take a few tries before you find the perfect meal delivery service. Luckily, all the services on my list have liberal cancellation plans, so switching is easy. And trying a brand new service can be affordable if you use a new customer discount code like the ones in my table above.  

Bottom Line: Are Meal Delivery Services in Houston Worth It?

If you don’t have the time and/or energy to plan meals every week, go grocery shopping, cook, then clean up, meal delivery services are the perfect solution to help you eat well at home. 

While Houston is home to tons of drool-worthy restaurants, meal delivery services such as Home Chef are a healthier and more cost-effective way to eat fast regularly. 

Whether you’d prefer meal kits or prepared dishes that just need to be heated and served, there are plenty of options out there to suit your lifestyle and dietary needs. 

FAQ

What is the best meal delivery service in Houston?

I gave Home Chef the award for best meal delivery service in Houston. With its Customize-It feature and wide-ranging menu, Home Chef offers something for almost everyone, including individuals, couples, and families.

What is the best prepared meal delivery service in Houston?

Freshly wins my award for Houston’s best prepared meal delivery service. Freshly offers healthy, tasty prepared meals designed by dietitians that are low in sugar and processed ingredients but loaded with nutrients and flavor. Almost all the meals are gluten- and peanut-free, too, and are prepared in certified gluten-free kitchens. 

What is the cheapest meal delivery service in Houston?

EveryPlate is the cheapest meal delivery service I found in Houston. With meals starting at just $1.49 per serving, EveryPlate keeps its prices low by offering family-friendly comfort foods with simple ingredients.