10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Maryland 2023: Top Picks

Meal delivery services can reshape your life. It can be challenging to find the time and inspiration to cook up fresh and healthy meals every day of the week, but meal delivery services give you the chance to enjoy tasty and nutritious home-cooked food without having to forward-plan or shop for groceries on the way home from work. 

After some serious research, I’ve rounded up the 10 best in Maryland this year. I evaluated each service based on menu variety, quality of ingredients, customization options, convenience, affordability, and more. The result is something for everyone on this list, no matter what your dietary preferences, lifestyle, or budget.

For me, Blue Apron is the top choice. With a wide variety of chef-designed meal kits and prepared meals, all made using high-quality, sustainable ingredients, it’s rivaled by few – if any – other services. It also offers add-ons and market items, so you can shop for more than just dinner in one go. Yes please! 

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Maryland Reviewed

1. Blue Apron – Best Overall Meal Delivery Service in Maryland

Blue Apron’s chef-designed meal kits and prepared meals feature exciting international flavors. As well as comfort-food classics like craft burgers, barbecue pork chops, baked pasta, and tacos, you’ll find lots of global-inspired dishes like Indian-Style Paneer Wraps (pictured) and Honey-Ginger Shrimp and Rice, some of which can be customized. 

All the recipes come with clear instructions. There’s even cook-along guides on the website and the Blue Apron app. Most meals will take around 30-40 minutes to cook, while the service’s selection of prepared meals are great for super-speedy desk lunches or those nights you don’t have time to cook. You’ll find around 6 of these on the menu each week.

There are around 4-5 vegetarian options to choose from each week, plus a dedicated Wellness menu that features low-calorie and low-carb options. These meals are also approved by WW (formally Weight Watchers), making it easy for dieters to track their Smartpoints. There are family-friendly options, too, though Blue Apron’s gourmet-style dishes might not appeal to particularly picky eaters, so a crowd-pleasing service like Dinnerly or HelloFresh could work better in that case. 

The ingredients are incredibly high quality. The meals use only sustainably raised, hormone-free proteins, and everything is sourced from small, family-run farms and ranchers. Everything arrives fresh, chilled, and ready to store in the refrigerator. 

Blue Apron’s wine delivery service is a great way to elevate your dinner times, as our reviewer discovered. The subscription allows you to pick from exclusive varieties at great prices, and you get tasting notes and pairing tips with every bottle. 

In addition to meal kits and prepared meals, you can choose from a ton of extras. Weekly-changing add-ons include brunch dishes like PB&J-Stuffed French Toast, desserts, sides, protein bundles, and more, while the online Market allows you to shop seasonal holiday bundles, wine boxes, spice mixes, pantry items, kitchen utensils, and more.

Blue Apron prices start from $5.74 per serving. This is based on the largest plan of 4 meals for 4 people per week and puts it on par with a number of other meal delivery competitors. The minimum order per week is 2 meals for 2 people. Don’t forget that extras, customizations, and add-ons will affect your total cost. 

2. Factor – Best Healthy Prepared Meals in Maryland

Factor is a great choice for those short on time since it only offers prepared meals. The menu boasts a wide variety of cuisines that cater to different tastes and dietary preferences, though the service is widely known for its excellent keto-friendly meals. The dishes take just minutes to heat in the microwave, making them perfect for a desk lunch or as post-gym fuel.

As well as high-protein options, you’ll find some veggie, vegan, and low-calorie dishes. When you sign up, you can pick the plan that works best for your lifestyle and dietary preferences, or you can choose to mix and match across the wider menu. All the meals are single-serving, which means this service is probably best suited to individuals. 

Factor’s ready-made meals are unlike anything you’ll pick up at the grocery store. The focus on high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients – plus the fact that they’re chef-prepared – means they taste great and super fresh, as my colleague discovered when they tried Factor at home.

Factor is particularly good for those looking to meet specific health goals. You’ll get a free 20-minute virtual consultation with one of the company’s in-house dietitians when you sign up, with optional nutrition coaching programs that can help you form healthier eating habits. These come at an extra cost but could be useful if you find yourself wanting to eat better. 

You can also add a range of add-ons to your box each week. From smoothies and cold-pressed juices to high-protein breakfasts (Sticky Pecan Pancakes, anyone?) and even keto-friendly sweet treats, there’s lots to choose from. 

There’s plenty of pre-cooked protein add-ons, too. Pick from bratwurst, pan-seared salmon, chicken wings, shrimp, chicken breast, and more. These are great for anyone bulking up or who wants extra portions to see them through the week.

Factor’s meals start from $6.19 per serving, based on the largest order of 18 meals per week. You can choose from a box of 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18 meals per week, and the price you pay per dish will increase the fewer meals you order. Those wanting just 6 meals a week can expect to pay $13.49 per serving, though anyone who prioritizes convenience and high-quality ingredients may find it worth the cost. 

3. Green Chef – Best Organic Meal Kits in Maryland

Green Chef is a meal kit service that caters well to a wide range of dietary needs. You can choose between the Keto, Vegetarian, Vegan, Mediterranean, Gluten-Free, Fast and Fit, or Protein-Packed plans, or mix and match the tasty, nutritionist-approved recipes across the wider menu to fit your lifestyle. 

Green Chef promises only high-quality, certified-organic produce – and it really delivers. You’ll find organic produce and eggs, plus organic, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef and chicken, and wild-caught seafood in your box each week. Plus, every ingredient is sourced from local family-run farms and craft economies to ensure your convenient meal delivery is offering as green a footprint as possible. 

The menu is varied and exciting and packed with colorful and flavorful combinations that you might not have tried before. Plus, cooking these sophisticated meals is easier than expected, thanks to the clear recipes and Green Chef’s prepared ingredients, which include chopped and portioned veggies and ready-mixed seasonings and marinades. Most of the dishes take 30-40 minutes to make, though the Fast and Fit meals promise to be ready in 25 or less. 

The recipe cards can be found online and in your box and include all the relevant nutrition information, as well as a list of the ingredients that are organic, the essential pantry items you’ll need to complete the dish, and the prep and cook times. Our reviewer, who tried Green Chef for themselves at home, was super impressed with how their meals turned out each time.

There are extras to order each week, too. You can pick up breakfasts for the entire week (think Southwest Potato Breakfast Bowls, Apple-Cinnamon Dutch Baby Pancakes, Blueberry Oatmeal, and Banana Nut Muffins), as well as brunch dishes, colorful salads, keto cookies, and extra proteins like wild-caught salmon and organic ground beef. 

Green Chef prices start from $5.99 per serving. You can order 3 or 4 meals per week for 2, 4, or 6 people, making Green Chef a great option for families. There’s also the option to order just 2 recipes per week on the 4-person plan. 

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

HelloFresh offers a huge range of hearty yet healthy meals that even the pickiest of eaters are sure to love. The menu boasts 35+ meal kits each week, but there are often many more than that, especially when you take into account that some of the dishes can be customized. 

Subscribers can choose from 6 plans, including Family Friendly, Fit and Wholesome, Quick and Easy, and others. However, these are designed purely so HelloFresh can recommend recipes to you – you’ll always be able to choose from the full menu, no matter which plan you choose. My colleague tried HelloFresh and praised its “balanced yet crowd-pleasing comfort food dishes”.

There are options to suit many dietary needs, too, including low-calorie and low-carb meals, and options for vegetarians, vegans, and pescatarians, though HelloFresh isn’t suitable for those with serious allergies since all the meal kits are prepared in the same facility.

Many of the meals are American fare with a twist – think Cheesy Smashed Burgers with Roasted Asparagus, Caramelized Onion and Special Sauce, or Chicken Sausage Pomodoro Penne Bake with Mozzarella and Herbed Ricotta. That said, you will find a range of cuisine types to choose from each week, including Japanese, Middle Eastern, and French-inspired. 

As mentioned, some of the meals can be customized. The HelloCustom feature allows you to swap or remove the protein on some entrees, as well as switch out some of the sides. For example, you might want to swap potatoes for a healthy portion of broccoli instead or add steak or chicken to an otherwise vegetarian pasta dish. You can do this on around 12+ recipes each week. 

HelloFresh subscribers have access to the HelloFresh Market, which offers grocery items like fresh proteins, spices, produce, and desserts. These kinds of extras, combined with HelloFresh’s extensive menu, means you might not even need to set foot in a grocery store to complete your weekly shop. 

Prices at HelloFresh start from $3.32 per serving, when you sign up to the largest plan of 6 recipes per week for 4 people. However, you can choose from 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 meals per week for households of either 2 or 4. Whichever you choose, it’s still one of the most competitively priced services on the meal delivery market. 

5. Home Chef – Best Customizable Meal Delivery in Maryland

Home Chef is great for anyone wanting easy-to-cook, crowd-pleasing meals. Its wide range of meal types means you can flex your kitchen skills with a Culinary Collection recipe like the Balsamic Rosemary Beef Burger (pictured) or stick with something simple like an oven-ready meal or 15-minute meal kit for those nights when you need something fast. 

The menu boasts a range of tasty-sounding dishes – everything from tacos and meatballs to rice bowls and quesadillas. After cooking several Home Chef meals at home, our reviewer declared it one of the most versatile meal delivery services out there.

Home Chef’s Customize-It feature is where this service really shines. If you don’t like steak, you can replace your filet mignon with mahi-mahi, salmon, or chicken breast, for example. In some cases you can also upgrade to organic or USDA-choice meats, and you also frequently have the option to double-up on the protein if you want bigger portions. Customize-It is available on almost all Home Chef’s entrees, so it’s easy to get the meal you crave.

There are some calorie- and carb-conscious offerings, but Home Chef doesn’t accommodate specific dietary needs well. You’ll find few – if any – plant-based offerings, and the number of vegetarian meals varies from week to week. 

You can choose to omit some ingredients from a limited list when you sign up, but you’ll find that most meals contain common allergens such as gluten and dairy, so if you do this, you may find your menu choices somewhat reduced. That said, most Marylanders without dietary needs will find consistently delicious, varied, and satisfying meals.

There’s a solid number of sides, snacks, and desserts available, too. Expect indulgent treats like the Red Velvet Cookie Skillet, as well as cheesecakes, mac and cheese side dishes, crunch rolls, garlic bread, smoothies, soups, and even canned coffee products like ready-to-drink lattes. Much of the menu is kid-friendly. 

Home Chef prices start at $7.99 per serving, however this is just a general guide price. Unlike other meal delivery services, Home Chef’s meals are priced individually, which means your total cost each week could vary. The minimum order is 2 meals for 2 people per week, with the option to order for up to 6. 

6. Fresh and Easy – Best for Quick, No-Prep Meals

Fresh and Easy is essentially a collection of Home Chef’s most time-saving meals. While Home Chef allows you to access a wide range of meal types, the Fresh and Easy plan focuses on those recipes that are the simplest and quickest to prepare. 

This makes Fresh and Easy great for those who are often short on time but still want to enjoy healthy, home-cooked lunches and dinners. The low-prep options include Fast and Fresh meals that can be popped into the oven or microwave, Oven- and Grill-Ready recipes that come with prepped ingredients and an oven-safe tray or grill bag, speedy 15-Minute Meal Kits, and more.

You’ll find a range of entree salad dishes that include pre-cooked proteins, too, so all you have to do is assemble everything together and serve. And if you do find yourself having more time to spend in the kitchen, like on weekends for example, you’ll always be able to order from the wider Home Chef menu.

You’ll also have access to Home Chef’s popular extras, including its snacks, desserts, sides, protein bundles, and drinks – something our reviewer appreciated when they put Fresh and Easy to the test for themselves at home.

Look for helpful tags, including Plus and Family, which indicate meals that have been made with premium proteins and more complex sides or which come in family-sized portions, respectively. The service also uses the same high-quality ingredients as Home Chef, so there’s absolutely no compromise there.  

Home Chef’s Customize-It feature also applies to most Fresh and Easy meals. You can choose to swap, upgrade, or double-up on the protein in your dish, based on your dietary preferences or taste. The only meals you can’t do this on are the Fast and Fresh microwaveable meals since they come prepared and ready to cook. 

Fresh and Easy prices start from $7.99 per serving. However, like Home Chef, the meals are individually priced so your total cost can vary from week to week. The minimum order is 2 meals for 2 people per week, with the option to order for households of 6. 

7. BistroMD – Best Weight Loss Meals in Maryland

BistroMD offers portion-controlled meals that are specifically designed for weight loss. This service could be a great option for anyone who needs to lose weight in order to help manage a specific medical condition, but who has previously struggled with calorie-counting and dieting in the past. The meals arrive prepared and flash-frozen for convenience. 

BistroMD offers plans for 5 or 7 days a week. This means you could account for every single meal of the week, so you’ll never even have to set foot in a supermarket. The 7-day plan is ideal for those who want to make a more significant change to their eating habits, though you’ll get one night off a week where you can make your own choice for dinner. 

The meals are designed to be low in calories but balanced in nutrients. The doctor- and dietitian-designed menu boasts more than 150 dishes, which are rotated weekly. Plus, you can make some swaps if there are certain dishes you don’t enjoy. American classics like meatloaf, roasted turkey, and barbecue pork are all lunch and dinner mainstays, alongside high-protein breakfast options like waffles, omelets, and frittatas. 

You can also pick up a wide range of snacks to help maintain blood-sugar levels and keep you full in between meals. There are more than 45 options on the snack menu to choose from, including whey protein bars and shakes, granola, nut mixes, protein chips, keto-friendly cheesecakes, and more. 

There are plans to suit a range of medical conditions and lifestyles, too. The signature programs include options for both men and women (since their recommended calorie intake is often different), but you can also select from others including the Heart Healthy, Gluten-Free, Keto-Flex, Diabetic-Friendly, Vegan, and Menopause programs. You can find out more about what each plan includes in my colleague’s in-depth review. 

BistroMD prices start at $8.24 per serving, based on the Full Plan of 3 meals per day for 7 days a week. However, you can choose from 2 or 3 meals per day (omitting breakfast if you only want 2) for either 5 or 7 days a week.