10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston 2021

From overwhelmed UH students and those commuting long hours into the Loop to those with demanding dietary needs and limited time, more people in the Space City are hopping on the meal delivery service train every day. 

But with so many new companies popping up all the time, choosing the service that’s right for you can be as daunting as...getting in the kitchen and cooking your own meals! Do you go for a meal kit or ready-made meals? Are more expensive services worth the money? Which company is best for your unique needs? 

Have no fear, fellow Houstonians! With your precious time and energy in mind, our experts have put together a comprehensive list of the 10 best meal delivery services in Houston, taking into account everything from price and packaging to delivery and deliciousness. 

Short on Time? Here Are the Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston for 2021:

• Home Chef – Most personalized meal kits in Houston

• Sunbasket – Best healthy and organic meals in Houston

• HelloFresh – Most family-friendly meal kits for Houstonians

• Comparison table
  

• FAQ

What’s the Difference Between Meal Delivery and Food Delivery?

Both meal and food delivery services make it their mission to bring food to your doorstep, but the way they work is actually quite different. Meal delivery services are divided into two categories: meal kits and ready-made meals. Companies that deliver meal kits, such as Home Chef, provide all the ingredients and instructions you need to put together a meal in your own kitchen. 

Those that provide ready-made meals, such as Freshly, offer either fresh or frozen prepared meals that you just need to heat and eat. Users subscribe to a weekly plan directly from the vendor and receive regular deliveries at least once a week. 

Food delivery services, on the other hand, serve as a go-between, partnering with local restaurants and supermarkets to bring you meals or groceries. Companies like Grubhub work exclusively with restaurants, while others, like Postmates, also bring you goods from grocery stores and other retailers. Users make one-time orders through the food delivery company on an as-needed basis, as opposed to signing up through a subscription model. 

While both options offer amazing convenience, meal delivery services are a long-term setup that help you integrate healthy, balanced meals into your lifestyle, without the hassle. 

Our Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston Reviewed

1. Home Chef – Most Personalized Meal Kits in Houston

Home Chef Best Features 

• Ideal for meat lovers – Double up proteins for any meal

• Personalize your plate – Swap and upgrade ingredients 

• Tons of choice – Choose from 14+ weekly meals 

• Available at grocery stores – Buy extra ready-made meals from Kroger 

Home Chef in a Nutshell 

Home Chef is by far the most customizable service – from what you eat to how long it takes to prepare. For every dish, you can swap out ingredients or double up on extra protein. So if you prefer shrimp to chicken or are in the mood for a sirloin steak, Home Chef allows you to get what you want, when you want it. Learn more about how this works in our our in-depth review. 

Home Chef offers a variety of prep times for its meals, 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, making Home Chef extra appealing to larger families. 

If you want to pick up extra dishes to keep on hand, Home Chef has partnered with Kroger to offer ready-made fresh and frozen meals at 10 Houston locations. 

2. Sunbasket – Best Healthy and Organic Meals in Houston

Sunbasket Best Features 

• High-quality ingredients – 100% organic produce, hormone, and antibiotic-free meat

• Environmentally friendly – Eco-friendly packaging, sustainably sourced ingredients

• Plans for every diet – Vegan, paleo, keto, gluten-free, and more 

• Meal kits and premade meals – Quick meals with little to no prep 

Sunbasket in a Nutshell 

If you take your own health and that of the planet seriously, Sunbasket is the best meal delivery service for you. Its meal kits are made up of organic, responsibly sourced ingredients, including in-season produce straight from the farm, wild-caught seafood, and hormone and antibiotic-free meat. Plus, the packaging is made from completely recyclable and compostable materials. 

 Learn more in our expert Sunbasket review. 

No matter your dietary needs and preferences, Sunbasket offers dietitian-approved meal plans for you – including vegan, gluten-free, paleo, diabetes-friendly, and carb-conscious options.

And for those who are worried about compromising on flavors, Sunbasket has an adventurous menu as culturally diverse as Houston itself, including Indian, Middle Eastern, and Asian cuisine. All of these delicious meals take less than half an hour to prepare, plus there are even quicker options, like 20-minute recipes, one-pot meals, and Fresh & Ready dishes, which you can heat and eat in six minutes. 

3. HelloFresh – Most Family-Friendly Meal Kits for Houstonians

HelloFresh Best Features 

• Tons of menu variety – 22+ delicious meals to choose from each week

• Kind to the planet – With sustainable packaging and a mission to reduce food waste 

• Family-friendly menu – Quick and kid-tested meals for four

HelloFresh in a Nutshell 

HelloFresh is one of the most popular meal kit delivery services thanks to the great meals it offers at affordable prices. With Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Calorie Smart, Family Friendly, and Quick & Easy plans, HelloFresh 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 our detailed HelloFresh review. 

It offers more than 22 meals every week for each of its plans, all tried and tested for taste and simplicity more than 45 times. HelloFresh’s meal kits come with easy-to-follow recipes and super fresh, pre-portioned ingredients. 

With a mission to feed you while protecting the environment, the company sources its ingredients responsibly, uses sustainable packaging, and does everything it can to reduce your food waste and carbon footprint. 

4. Blue Apron – Diverse Flavors and Easy Recipes

Blue Apron Best Features 

• Free shipping – When ordering at least three meals per week

• Exciting yet familiar – Your favorites, with a culinary twist

• Diverse cuisine – Flavors from around the world

• Wine and dine – Optional wine deliveries with pairing instructions

Blue Apron in a Nutshell 

Designed by chefs, Blue Apron’s meal kits invite you into a world of gourmet meals, with international flavors such as togarashi, za’atar, and coconut lemongrass mixed into the classic dishes you know and love. 

Don’t get intimidated, though. These quick meals are ready to eat in up to 40 minutes, delivered with easy-to-follow recipes and pre-portioned, sustainably sourced ingredients, packaged in eco-friendly recyclable containers.  

Learn more about the different options in our expert Blue Apron review. 

Blue Apron has both regular and vegetarian plans for either two or four people, with lots of diabetes-friendly meals and wellness options in conjunction with WW (WeightWatchers). You can enjoy these delicious meals two to four times a week, with free shipping starting from three weekly meals. 

5. Freshly – Delicious Ready-Made Meals for Houstonians

Freshly Best Features 

• Just heat and eat – Premade meals, served in three minutes flat

• Gluten and peanut-free – So you can relax and enjoy

• Upgraded comfort food – Healthier versions of the meals you love

• High-protein, low-carb plan – Paleo and keto inspired meals

Freshly in a Nutshell 

As opposed to the services listed above, which focus on meal kits, Freshly delivers fresh, ready-made meals to your door, packaged in microwave-safe containers for the ultimate convenience. Choose from 4, 6, 10, or 12 single-serving meals each week, with the price dropping as you increase the number of meals. For all the delicious details, see our comprehensive Freshly review. 

Freshly brings you healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods, swapping out things like pasta for whole grain or veggie alternatives. While the entire menu is peanut and gluten-free, it doesn’t accommodate for other allergies and offers few vegetarian options. 

However, if you’re as athletic as the Coogs or simply love long, sunny walks in Hermann Park, the FreshlyFit plan is full of carb-conscious, high-protein meals, designed to boost your energy and optimize your performance.

6. Green Chef – Healthy, Organic Meal Kits in Houston

Green Chef Best Features 

• Healthy foods for almost every diet – With keto, paleo, and vegan plans

• 100% organic ingredients – With no nasty stuff added

• Eco-friendly packaging – Made from innovative materials

Green Chef in a Nutshell 

Green Chef allows you to choose from three different meal plans, each catering to a different diet – Keto & Paleo, Plant-Powered (vegan and vegetarian), and Balanced Living (regular, healthy food). 

Each plan features tons of exciting, adventurous cuisines, with meals like Harissa Tofu Couscous Bowls with turmeric-spiced cauliflower, carrots, tomato, and tahini sauce.

Find out more about Green Chef’s healthy plans in our expert review.

With meal kits starting at $9.99 each and many costing a few bucks more, Green Chef is the River Oaks of companies we’ve reviewed so far. That being said, its prices may be justified by super high-quality, certified organic ingredients, environmentally friendly packaging, and a wide range of dietary options. 

7. EveryPlate – Houston’s Most Affordable Meal Kits

EveryPlate Best Features 

• Budget-friendly – Meal kits from just $4.99

• Personalize your plate – Swap sides and proteins to suit your tastes

• Pump up the protein – Order extra chicken breast or ground beef to keep on hand

• Delivering flexibility – Serve two or four people three to five meals each week

EveryPlate in a Nutshell 

Perhaps the exact opposite of Green Chef, EveryPlate is all about keeping it simple and affordable in order to bring delicious meals to as many people as possible. 

Just as its attractive cost of living has helped turn Houston into the fourth largest city in America, EveryPlate is recommended by 9,000 families, partly because it’s by far the cheapest meal delivery service out there. The company keeps both your wallet and belly full with basic ingredients, fewer meal choices, and minimal packaging. Learn more about EveryPlate’s affordable options in our expert review.

EveryPlate has just one weekly menu, full of tasty, satisfying, basic meals, like Turkey Shepherd's Pie with Garlic Mashed Potatoes. If you’re a true Texan and like your food fiery, you’ll love the option to specifically select spicy dishes. You can easily swap out both side dishes and mains if you’d prefer chicken to pork or green beans to broccoli. 

However, if you have allergies or any specific dietary preferences or restrictions, EveryPlate probably won’t cater to your needs. 

8. Veestro – Enjoy Nature’s Bounty

Veestro Best Features 

• 100% healthy, vegan food – Fuel your body with plant power

• Pre-cooked, frozen meals – As nutritious as they are easy

• Only the best ingredients – Non-GMO, almost all organic

• Go bulk or order a la carte – Stock your freezer with goodness 

Veestro in a Nutshell 

If you’re trying to stick to a plant-based diet, you know how time-consuming it can be to prep all those veggies and make sure you’re getting enough protein. 

Veestro saves the day with ready-made vegan meals made from high-quality produce with lots of healthy, natural proteins. While picky eaters may get scared away by this, Veestro is about as family-friendly as Houston, creating vegan versions of well-loved favorites, like a very convincing vegan mac and cheese. 

Veestro operates differently than other services, delivering either 10, 20, or 30 frozen meals at a time, which can be stored in your freezer for up to 10 weeks and your fridge for up to five days. It also offers a special plan catered for weight-loss, which comes with either 15 or 21 meals per box, and the option to order individual meals a la carte, either as a one-time order or as a subscription. Find out how it works in our complete Veestro review. 

You can easily select additional dietary preferences, such as high-protein, gluten/nut/soy-free, and even kosher. Veestro’s focus on keeping it natural goes beyond ingredients; its meals come in 100% compostable trays or 100% recyclable BPA-free plastic pouches, and although they can be microwaved, Veestro recommends heating them up in the oven or on the stovetop.  

9. Grubhub – Best Food Delivery in Houston

Grubhub Best Features 

• Unlimited options – Featuring more than 9,000 Houston restaurants

• Commitment-free – One time orders, whenever you’re hungry

• Convenient, intuitive app – Eat with the click of a button

• Extra perks – Save money with special deals and rewards

Grubhub in a Nutshell 

In contrast to the meal delivery services listed above, Grubhub is a food delivery service, meaning it serves as the middleman between you and thousands of local Houston eateries – everything from Carrabba’s to TexMex or your favorite taco truck. You don’t sign up in advance for weekly meal plans, but rather open up your app to order fast for those moments when it’s 10 pm and you’ve not eaten dinner yet.

You have access to every food imaginable at the touch of a button, with the ability to easily filter through your options by selecting the cuisine you’re craving, the area you live in, or jump straight to your restaurant of choice. You can even search by dish, if you know you need Viet Cajun Crawfish immediately – and, yes, we tried.  If you want to get food from a place that doesn’t deliver, you always have the option to order through the app for pick up.

While Grubhub is a fun service with tons of options, if you’re looking for a healthy lifestyle with balanced meals planned out in advance, then stick with meal delivery services. 

10. Postmates – Food, Groceries, & More, Straight to Your Door in Houston

Postmates Best Features 

• One-stop-shop – Groceries, meals, pharmacy, household products, alcohol, and more 

• Endless menu variety – All your favorite coffee shops, fast food chains, and restaurants

• Available 24/7 – Everything you want at your fingertips

• Special offers and giveaways – When you sign up for the Unlimited plan

Postmates in a Nutshell 

Like Grubhub, Postmates is a delivery service that makes it easier for you to order goods online.

Yet while Grubhub only partners with restaurants, Postmates brings you restaurant meals and snacks from thousands of Houston eateries, as well as any products sold at your local Walgreens and Stripes, including groceries, snacks, beauty products, alcohol, cleaning products, electronics, medicine, and basically anything you could ever want or need! 

Despite the massive amount of products available, you can sort through it all relatively easily with advanced search-and-filtering functions based on cuisine types, product names, location, and more.

While the Uber-owned app is free to use, it charges between 99 cents and $3.99 for delivery from partnered restaurants and $5.99 to $9.99 for all other retailers, with additional “Blitz Pricing” delivery fees at extra busy times. If you use this service often, it may be worth paying $9.99 per month or $99.99 a year for its Unlimited plan, which gives you free delivery on orders of more than $12 and extra giveaways and offers. 

If all you’re looking for in life is fresh and healthy meals delivered to your door, Postmates is both way more and way less than what you need. You may find yourself overwhelmed by the on-demand accessibility, and the possibility of eating a juicy Rodeo Goat hamburger late at night. If you love ordering online and want to limit the number of services you’re signed up for, you may enjoy the convenience of getting everything through one centralized app. 

Best Meal Delivery Services in Houston: Comparison Table

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

If you don’t have the time and energy for meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning up, meal delivery services are the perfect solution to help you eat well at home. 

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

Whether you’d rather a meal kit to prep in your own kitchen or a ready-made meal that you just need to heat and serve, there are enough services out there that you’ll be able to find one that suits your dietary and lifestyle needs. 

FAQ

What is the best prepared meal delivery service in Houston?

If you’re specifically in the market for ready-made meals, Freshly is your best option, offering 4, 6, 10, or 12 single-serving meals to your door each week – delivered fresh in microwave-safe containers. If you’re careful to eat organic or have a special diet, check out Sunbasket’s Fresh & Ready menu. If you’re on a strict vegan diet, Veestro is a dream come true. 

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

Veestro has a special Weight Loss Plan that includes three ready-made vegan meals per day, for a total of about 1,200 daily calories, at $175 per week for a five-day plan. Blue Apron has a special Wellness track, in conjunction with WW (formerly WeightWatchers), with recipes that factor in calories, sugar, saturated fats, and protein to help you choose the most nutritious meals. 

Many of the other meal delivery services, including Home Chef, Sunbasket, and HelloFresh, allow you to select low carb or calorie-conscious meals. 

What is the cheapest prepared meal delivery service in Houston?

The cost of meal delivery services depends on your unique dietary preferences and how many meals you’re ordering each week. EveryPlate is by far the cheapest meal delivery service on the market, with meals starting at just $4.99 each. If your budget is the number one factor, it’s a no-brainer. 

However, if you want more menu variety or have specific dietary restrictions, Home Chef may be a better option. Meals start at $6.99 each, depending on your plan, with the option to customize your plate for an added cost. 

What is the healthiest food delivery service in Houston?

When it comes to food delivery services, it’s up to you to make healthy choices. With an endless amount of options, ranging from greasy fast food to boutique cafes offering all-organic raw vegan meals, you have access to any restaurant at any time. While a food delivery service like Postmates partners with grocery stores as well as restaurants, allowing you to order fresh produce and healthy ingredients to cook up your own meals, it also gives you easy access to unlimited packaged junk. 

If a healthy lifestyle is important to you, meal delivery services are a better way to go – allowing you to sign up in advance for weekly meals that suit your dietary needs and preferences. Sunbasket is definitely one of the healthiest meal delivery services, using fresh, high-quality ingredients, including organic produce and hormone and antibiotic-free meat. It offers dietitian-approved meal plans for every diet – including vegan, gluten-free, paleo, diabetes-friendly, and carb-conscious options.