10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston 2023 (Updated)

Meal delivery services can save you time and trips to the grocery store. Overwhelmed students, tired commuters, and many other Space City residents can all benefit. But with so many different meal delivery choices available, finding the one that’s right for you can be tough.

Because Houston is a busy city, I’ve done the research to save you time and hassle. My list of the 10 best meal delivery services in Houston takes everything you need to know into account. I’ve scanned ingredient lists, studied packaging and delivery dates, weighed prices, and consulted my colleagues to help you save time and eat better.

Blue Apron is my top choice, thanks to its sophisticated recipes and wide range of meal types. But every service on this list has something to offer hungry Houstonians. Read on and you’re sure to find a service that’s perfect for your dinnertime needs.

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston Reviewed

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

Blue Apron is designed by pro chefs and perfect for those who like to host. Its meal kits offer gourmet recipes and international flavors, combined with classic dishes we know and love. The Chicken in Blueberry Thyme Pan Sauce above is a great example of the way Blue Apron adds a sophisticated twist to a classic chicken breast with carrots and mashed potatoes.

Blue Apron’s meal kits come with easy-to-follow recipes and simple-to-prep ingredients. Our reviewer had high praise for Blue Apron’s variety of cuisines and ease of cooking. And if you feel overwhelmed with a recipe, Blue Apron’s how-to videos and online demos can walk you through the steps.

You can choose between 5 different preferences that’ll help Blue Apron select suggested meals. But no matter which preferences you choose, you can always order any Blue Apron recipe on the menu.

• Chef Favorites: The Test Kitchen's top picks

• Wellness: Nutritionist-approved recipes and WW Recommended selections

• Family Friendly: Kid-friendly meals the whole family will love

• Fast & Easy: Includes Quick Prep and Heat & Eat options

• Veggies: Plant-based meals

Blue Apron's Veggie menu is great for Houstonians who prefer meat-free options. The Make it Vegetarian label lets you find meat-based recipes that you can transform into vegetarian meals. And if you like a little meat with your plants, Blue Apron’s Customized feature lets you swap proteins or add meat to a vegetarian meal.

For busy nights, Blue Apron offers a selection of Fast & Easy meal kits that are easier to prepare. And for extremely busy nights, you can choose one of Blue Apron’s Heat & Eat prepared meal options that you simply heat in the microwave or oven. And if you have picky eaters in your household, look for Blue Apron’s Family Friendly meal kits.

Blue Apron’s Market offers its signature spice blends, so you can add a Blue Apron touch to your home cooking. You can also get meal bundles, kitchen tools, and wine bundles. And if you like a glass of wine with your meals, the optional Blue Apron Wine Club sends you personalized pairings that go perfectly with its meal kits.

Blue Apron lets you order 2, 3, or 4 meals for 2 or 4 people, for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 16 servings per week. Pricing starts at $5.74 per serving.

2. Factor – Houston’s Best Prepared Meals

Factor’s pre-cooked meals are ready after just 3 minutes in the microwave. But convenience doesn’t come at the cost of flavor! Our expert reviewer tried Factors meals and found them to be “of high quality and really tasty”.

Factor offers a hassle-free way to improve your eating habits. Perfect for fitness-conscious Houstonians. Working professionals with little time to prep a meal at work can bring a Factor meal to the office for a healthy lunch.

Factor offers the following 5 plans, but you and mix and match between plans:

• Chef’s Choice: Meals to fit any lifestyle

• Keto: Low carb, high-fat meals

• Calorie Smart: 550 calories per serving or less

• Vegan & Veggie: Meat-free meals

• Protein Plus: 30 g or more protein per serving

Factor’s Protein Plus Factor meals are ideal if you’re looking to build lean muscle. With at least 30 g of protein per serving, these meals are great fuel for workouts and recovery. The Calorie Smart menu is also a great choice for those who are looking to lose a few pounds.

Keto dieters will love Factor’s keto menu. In place of carb-heavy ingredients like rice, Factor uses riced cauliflower, and swaps out noodles for zucchini zoodles. See the Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Zucchini Noodles pictured above for an example.

Factor also offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan meals, though those on a strict vegan diet may find Factor’s vegan selection of 3 meals a week is somewhat limited and do better with a purely plant-based meal delivery service like Purple Carrot.

Every Factor subscription includes a free 20-minute consultation with a dietitian, and Factor is linked with numerous fitness apps to let you track your meals and macros. If you find your free consultation helps, you can sign up for additional sessions at an added fee.

You can also order Factor protein packs, smoothies, soups, and wellness shots as well as  other add-ons. I particularly like Factor’s smoothies as a healthier alternative to my usual breakfast pastry.

Factor is one of the more expensive meal delivery services on this list, with prices starting at $6.19 per serving. But if you live a particularly active lifestyle or are trying to stick to a keto diet, you may find Factor’s prepared meals a worthwhile investment. You can choose between 6 and 18 single-serving Factor meals per week.

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

HelloFresh is America’s most popular meal delivery service, thanks to its huge variety and affordable prices. It divides its large menu into 6 categories that cover most mainstream diet choices:

• Meat & Veggies – omnivorous meals

• Veggie – vegetarian and vegan meals

• Family Friendly – kid-approved recipes

• Fit & Wholesome – healthy meals with around 600 calories per serving

• Quick and Easy – easy prep meals

• Pescatarian – meals with seafood and veggies

HelloFresh categorizes its recipes by difficulty level, making it easy to select dishes that match your cooking expertise. Most HelloFresh recipes fall under the Easy or Medium category. If you're short on kitchen space, culinary skill, or cooking equipment, look for Easy Prep and Easy Cleanup recipes for added convenience.

But don’t be afraid to venture outside your cooking comfort zone. Our expert reviewer is a novice chef, but when they tried HelloFresh at home they declared that everything they cooked "turned out looking and tasting delicious.” If you can follow directions, you can cook anything on the HelloFresh menu.

You can also find popular menu items by looking for the Hall of Fame tag. HelloFresh awards this tag to recipes that get a lot of positive feedback from your fellow subscribers. The Firecracker Meatballs pictured above is a Hall of Fame recipe.

HelloCustom lets you change some sides and proteins in selected HelloFresh dishes.  HelloFresh advertises more than 30 meals on the menu each week, but there are often many more options when you take into account HelloCustom options and Market offerings.

Calorie-counting Houstonians will love the Fit & Wholesome plan and find a good selection of recipes tagged as Carb Smart and Calorie Smart. HelloFresh also has a good vegetarian selection, though vegans or people on specialized diets like keto may not find HelloFresh meets their needs for a varied diet.

HelloFresh also scores points for its sustainability initiatives. Its website includes complete instructions on how to recycle every part of your meal box packaging. HelloFresh teams also work to reduce its carbon footprint with responsible sourcing and efficient packaging that lets the company send more packages per delivery vehicle.

HelloFresh offers a variety of serving sizes suitable for families and couples. You can order 2 to 6 recipes of 2 or 4 servings per week, or between 4 and 24 weekly servings. Prices start at  $3.32 per serving.

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

Green Chef offers high-quality, organic ingredients for a variety of dietary needs. With meal kits starting at $5.99 per serving, Green Chef is a bit more expensive than other meal kit companies, but its prices are justified by the quality of its ingredients and the wide range of dietary options.

Green Chef was the first USDA-certified organic meal delivery service. All of Green Chef's produce is 100% USDA-certified organic and free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, while its meat and seafood proteins are responsibly sourced, non-GMO, and free of antibiotics, hormones, and steroids.

Green Chef is also the first meal kit company with an official Gluten-Free certification. Most meals are gluten-free, including everything on the Keto menu. Those that contain gluten like pasta or bread are prepared in separate facilities to avoid cross-contamination. Green Chef is great for those with celiac disease or serious gluten sensitivity.

Green Chef offers 7 plans to fit every dietary need, but it lets you order from the complete menu:

• Keto: carb-conscious, high-protein recipes free of gluten, grains, soy, and legumes

• Vegetarian: meatless recipes focused on plant-based ingredients

• Mediterranean: Mediterranean flavors with lots of veggies and healthy fats

• Fast & Fit: calorie-conscious recipes ready in 25 minutes or less

• Vegan: recipes with a variety of veggies, plant-based proteins, and grains

• Gluten-Free: free from gluten and soy

• Protein-Packed: satisfying recipes high in protein

Green Chef's eco-friendly packaging keeps everything organized, and the prepared sauces and seasonings make cooking healthy meals easier than you might expect. (The Moroccan Turkey Tagine pictured above is ready in just 30 minutes). And Green Chef’s Green Market lets you add breakfast entrees, salads, and protein packs to your order.

I tried Green Chef at home and was highly impressed by the taste and quality of Green Chef’s meals.

You can order between 4 and 24 weekly servings at Green Chef. The minimum order is 3 meals for 2 people per week, and a maximum of 4 meals for 6 people, so Green Chef is a great choice for big households. Prices start at  $5.99 per serving.

5. Home Chef – Most Customizable Meal Kits in Houston

Home Chef’s well-organized website makes it easy to find the meals you want. You can exclude meals containing ingredients like tree nuts, pork, shellfish, or mushrooms with Home Chef’s filters, and look for vegetarian meals or meals requiring under 30 minutes of prep and cooking time.

But Home Chef’s real winning feature is its Customize It option. While many services offer a few customizable meals each week, Home Chef lets you swap, upgrade, or double up on proteins in most of its recipes. If you prefer shrimp to chicken or are in the mood for sirloin steak, Home Chef helps you find exactly the meal you want.

Home Chef marks its recipes by difficulty, with most rated “Easy” or “Intermediate.” The Sticky Orange-Teriyaki Chicken pictured above, a Rachael Ray recipe, is ranked “Intermediate.” Most “Expert” meals appear in Home Chef’s Culinary Collection. These are meals with premium ingredients that cost a few dollars extra per serving.

My colleague cooked 1 of Home Chef’s Expert Culinary Collection meals at home – Salmon and Lemon Herb Beurre Blanc and reported that “it came out perfectly – flaky, moist, and delicate.”.

Home Chef's Fresh Start meals are healthier versions of classic favorites, made in consultation with dietitians and identified with a green tomato icon. The Fresh Start icon and Calorie-Conscious tag are a great help for dieting Houstonians.

It also includes a helpful label indicating how spicy the recipe is. While Texans are famous for loving spicy food, not everybody enjoys the heat. If you’ve got spice-intolerant household members or picky eaters, you’ll be able to choose meals they enjoy.

Home Chef may not be the best option for those with specialized dietary needs. Vegans and keto dieters will have a hard time finding suitable meals on the Home Chef menu, and while you can filter for certain allergens Home Chef prepares all meal kits in the same facility, so those with serious allergies may be at risk of cross-contamination.

Nonetheless, omnivores will find that Home Chef offers a lot to love, with a broad range of meals ranging from family-friendly favorites to more sophisticated options. If you have more specialized needs check out Green Chef.

You can order 2, 4, or 6 servings of each recipe, making Home Chef extra appealing to larger families. Your minimum order is 3 meals of 2 servings per week and your maximum order is 6 meals of 6 servings. Prices for Home Chef meals start at $7.99 per serving.

6. Fresh and Easy – Houston’s Best Simple, Quick-Cook Meals

Home Chef now has a dedicated Fresh and Easy line that caters to busy individuals and families looking for quick dinner solutions. Fresh and Easy meals come prepped and portioned so you can get supper on the table without washing, weighing, peeling, slicing, or dicing.

Some of Fresh and Easy’s quick meal types include:

• Fast & Fresh: ready to heat in the microwave or oven

• Oven-Ready: dishes you assemble in the oven-safe aluminum tray provided

• Express: meal kits ready in 15 minutes or less

• Salads: toss the ingredients together and enjoy fresh salad

• Extras: prepared desserts, bread, protein bundles, and more

For working couples celebrating a special occasion, there’s Fresh and Easy Plus. For a few dollars extra, you get a restaurant-quality meal that uses premium ingredients from Home Chef’s Culinary Collection, but which is ready in 20-30 minutes.

Fresh and Easy offers prepared microwaveable Fast & Fresh dishes for maximum convenience on busy nights. And while most prepared meals come in single-serving sizes, Fresh and Easy offers a few 4-serving Fast & Fresh Family Meals.

My colleague’s expert review praised Fresh and Easy for making things faster and easier for busy families. And Fresh and Easy not only gives you the convenience of fast meals, but it also gives you the flexibility that makes Home Chef such a great meal delivery choice.

You can take advantage of Home Chef’s Customize-It feature with Fresh and Easy. The Chipotle Beef Meatballs Albóndigas pictured above can be ordered with ground turkey or ground pork if you prefer. 

In fact, your Fresh and Easy subscription lets you order from the Home Chef menu. You get a selection of fast and easy meals, but you’re also free to order a meal kit for evenings when you have a bit more time or when you feel like doing some more hands-on cooking.

Fresh and Easy is great for families and individuals pressed for time, but the line doesn’t cater to niche diets and contains wheat and dairy in most of its dishes. If you’re looking for fully prepared meals that have more diet options, and you don’t mind paying a little extra, you may want to take a look at Factor.

Fresh and Easy’s minimum order is 3 meals of 2 servings, with a maximum order of 6 meals of 6 servings each. Prices start at $7.99 per serving.

7. BistroMD – Houston’s Best Diet Meal Delivery Service

Dieting is hard, but BistroMD’s fresh, flash-frozen prepared meals make it easier. Many weight loss meal delivery services send you unappetizing processed food that leaves you tempted to cheat. BistroMD’s healthy low-calorie meals leave you satisfied and teach you healthier eating habits that ensure you keep the weight off after you lose it.

In 2005 bariatric physician Caroline Cedarquist founded BistroMD as an alternative to tasteless diet meals. Since then BistroMD’s team of dietitians and nutritionists, with advice from Dr. Cedarquist’s foodie husband Ed, have expanded the menus to cover other health conditions.

BistroMD offers 6 plans:

• Signature: the basic BistroMD plan

• Gluten-Free: containing less than 20 ppm of gluten

• Heart-Healthy: containing under 600 mg sodium or less

• Diabetic: containing under 25 g net carbs

• Menopause: designed to help with hormonal changes

• Keto Flex: a low-carb program

BistroMD meals have under 450 calories each, but they are designed by dietitians to make sure you get the nutrients you need on a restricted-calorie diet. The Meatloaf with Honey Bourbon Glaze pictured above has just 340 calories but tastes like it has more. BistroMD’s women’s plan offers 1,200 calories a day, and the men’s plan averages 1,400 calories.

All plans include consultations with a dietitian who can help you with your weight and lifestyle goals. Your dietitian can help you with suggestions on stress management, exercise, and menu planning after you’ve reached your desired weight goal.

BistroMD provides a weekly suggested menu to its customers, with an option to swap out any unwanted meals. Although there are a few vegetarian entrees and a selection of seafood recipes, BistroMD meals are best for omnivores looking to lose weight.

You also get Essential and Tasty Snacks, or "EATS," to prevent cravings during the day. These snacks include traditional diet bars and protein snacks, as well as delectable desserts like cheesecake. The Women's plan suggests 2 EATS per day, while men get 3 EATS.

Our expert reviewer found BistroMD was a solid service for those serious about weight loss.

BistroMD’s minimum order is 5 days of lunch and dinner per week (10 meals) and its maximum is 3 meals 7 days per week (21 meals). Prices start from $8.24 per serving when you order the maximum number of meals per week.

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

If you’re an aspiring home cook, Marley Spoon is a great choice. With meal kits curated by uber-hostess Martha Stewart, you’ll get an introduction to a number of new cuisines and cooking techniques, as well as access to Martha Stewart’s Signature spice blends and sauces.

Our reviewer tried Marley Spoon at home and found that “the step-by-step methods made it easy to create Martha Stewart-level dishes in my own kitchen.”

But Marley Spoon also offers family-friendly meals along with sophisticated fare like Seared Steak with Gremolata and Lemon and Dill Salmon. The Cottage Pie with Grass-Fed Ground Beef pictured above will please even picky eaters. Whether you’re looking to improve your culinary game or feed your hungry family, you’ll find a lot to love at Marley Spoon!

Labels on the menu make it easy to find the meals you want, with choices like:

• Under 30 Minutes

• Dairy Free

• Kid Friendly

• Healthy

• No Added Gluten

• Nutritious

• Poultry

• Beef

• Pork

• Low Calorie

• One Pot Meals

The Ingredient Hub lets you easily identify any allergens or unwanted ingredients. This is useful, but it's not as convenient as filters that let you exclude entrees. And because Marley Spoon prepares and stores all meals in a single location, there’s a risk of cross-contamination. Those with severe sensitivities may want to check with their physician before subscribing.

Marley Spoon was the first fully carbon-neutral meal delivery service and is an industry leader in sustainability practices. Its website features comprehensive guidelines on recycling or repurposing each packaging element. And its Climatarian tag helps you spot meals that produced no more than 1.1 pounds (500 g) of atmospheric carbon per serving.

Be advised that Marley Spoon assumes its customers have a well-equipped pantry, as the recipes often call for specialty items like balsamic vinegar, kosher salt, or a microplane grater. Before placing an order, it's wise to review the recipes and double-check that you have all tools and ingredients on hand to avoid last-minute trips to the store.

For everything it offers, Marley Spoon is very reasonably priced, with meals starting at just $2.99 per serving. You can order 2 to 6 meals per week for 2 or 4 people.

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

Everything on Purple Carrot’s menu is 100% vegan. Sourcing plant-based meals can be a challenge in meat-loving Houston, but thanks to the likes of Purple Carrot, you can enjoy 100% plant-based meals without worrying about unwanted animal products.

Even if you’re not strictly vegan, you’ll still find a lot to love about Purple Carrot. Purple Carrot's motto is "Eat what you love, but eat more plants." Our omnivore reviewer tried Purple Carrot for themselves and praised its “delightfully diverse collection of recipes.”

Customers can choose from meal kits, prepared meals, and quick “Less Prep” meals that require 25 minutes or less cooking time. Purple Carrot’s labels let you sort for meals that are:

• High Protein

• Soy Free

• Under 600 Calories

• Gluten Free

• Nut Free

Purple Carrot focuses on nutrient-dense ingredients, with recipes that showcase vegetables and their natural flavor. Dishes like Mango-Glazed Brussels and Chickpeas (pictured) are a delicious way to add more vegetables to your diet and a fantastic alternative to soy burgers and fake meats.

For even more plant-based options, check out Purple Carrot’s Plantry, where you can get a selection of hand-picked staples like cashew cream cheese, snacks, and vegan breakfast and lunch entrees.

I have 1 (vegan) bone to pick with Purple Carrot: it only shows this week’s menu. Looking at upcoming menus is a good way to decide if a meal delivery service offers enough variety for your needs. It would be great if Purple Carrot provided a look at the next several weeks' meals like Blue Apron does.

That being said, Purple Carrot’s menus are fairly consistent and offer a good variety of plant-based food that regularly puts them high on our list of the best vegan meal delivery services.

Purple Carrot also participates in The Farmlink Project. This organization helps deliver excess produce to communities in need, which reduces waste and feeds hungry families with vegetables that would otherwise rot in the fields.

Prices start at $8.50 per serving with a minimum order of 3 recipes for 2 people and a maximum order of 3 recipes for 4 people per week. Purple Carrot’s prepared meals can be ordered as bundles of 6, 8, or 10 meals per week.

10. Dinnerly – Cheapest Meal Delivery Service in Houston

Dinnerly is Houston’s cheapest meal delivery service, with prices starting at just $2.12 per serving. But Dinnerly doesn’t skimp on variety or quality, with a large menu and even occasional kits with organic fruits and vegetables.

You get over 100 menu choices every week with Dinnerly. While some budget meal delivery services offer a limited selection, our reviewer noted that Dinnerly offers more menu choices than many pricier meal delivery services.

Dinnerly meals include vegetarian, pescatarian, and even a few vegan meals. The recipes are simple and use a few basic but high-quality ingredients. And Dinnerly’s Market section also offers seasonal desserts, snacks, and breakfast options like Chocolate Cupcakes or Oat and Chia Pancakes.

You even have the option to customize some Dinnerly entrees. If you’re in a big hurry, you can order the Caramel Chicken Stir-Fr above with pre-cooked rice, which you simply heat in the microwave or on the stovetop. Since many pricier meal delivery services don’t offer this option, Dinnerly once again comes out punching above its budget price class.

Dinnerly and Marley Spoon are owned by the same company, so you'll find many Marley Spoon ingredients in Dinnerly kits. Dinnerly also lets you check meals on the Ingredient Hub, but since all meals are prepped in the same facility cross-contamination risks may make them unsuitable for people with serious allergies.

One way Dinnerly saves money is by avoiding wasteful plastic. While many meal delivery services package each ingredient separately, Dinnerly bundles its ingredients together. And instead of paper recipe cards, Dinnerly keeps its recipes on its website so you’ll need your computer or mobile device handy while cooking.

These cost-cutting Dinnerly measures also help save the environment, which is well worth the minor inconvenience of sorting out ingredients for yourself. Though I do wish that Dinnerly’s website offered pictures with its recipes, which are otherwise very clear and easy to follow. I find images are very helpful in guiding me through cooking unfamiliar recipes.

Dinnerly offers 3 to 6 meals serving 2 or 4 people every week, with a tick box on the sign-up page to easily make your box vegetarian. Prices start at $2.12 per serving.

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:

• Start with your expectations: Ensure that the service's menu meets your dietary requirements or allergy needs. Verify if it provides the right number of weekly servings you require, and if you find sufficient meal variety on the menu. Identify your top concerns and start 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! But if you are on a tight budget, you’ll find lots of variety and great food at Dinnerly, our cheapest meal delivery service.

• Know your culinary limits: If you want to expand your horizons in the kitchen, meal kits 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.

FAQ

What is the best meal delivery service in Houston?

I gave Blue Apron the award for best meal delivery service in Houston. Blue Apron offers a great selection of sophisticated meals, as well as video tutorials and walk-throughs on its website that make cooking easier. Blue Apron also wins points for its optional wine delivery service, well-stocked Market, and selection of prepared meals.

What is the best prepared meal delivery service in Houston?

Factor wins my award for Houston’s best prepared meal delivery service. Factor offers prepared meals that cater to a number of specialized diets, as well as a free 20-minute consultation with a dietitian and links to numerous weight-loss and fitness apps that help you track your macros.

What is the best weight loss meal delivery service in Houston?

BistroMD is the best service for Houstonians looking to lose weight. BistroMD’s flash-frozen fresh meals are tasty and nutritious, yet come in at under 450 calories a serving. BistroMD also offers several weight loss plans for dieters with medical issues, including diabetic and low sodium menus.

What is the cheapest meal delivery service in Houston?

Dinnerly is Houston’s cheapest meal delivery service. With meals starting at just $2.12 per serving, Dinnerly offers a surprisingly broad menu with lots of family-friendly favorites that will help you put nutritious and tasty food on the table without busting your budget.

Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston in 2023 — Final Score