10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Philadelphia 2023: Dig in!

Philadelphia has a well-deserved reputation as a culinary hotspot. Pretzels, hoagies, water ice, and (of course) cheesesteaks are just a few of the many fine foods to be found in Philly. But how do you keep things exciting in your own kitchen?

I’ve compiled the 10 best meal delivery services in Philadelphia to help you do just that.  Whether you’re an individual who’s always on the go, a couple, or a large family wanting a service that caters to a range of diets and tastes, there’s something for you on this list. 

Blue Apron is my top choice, thanks to its restaurant-quality meal kits. You’ll also find a great array of extras and add-ons, including prepared meals, pantry items, and an optional wine delivery service. The sheer variety means everyone from dieters to vegetarians to families will find something to love. Read on to find out more. 

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Philadelphia Reviewed

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

Blue Apron offers restaurant-quality meal kits and step-by-step recipes that make dining and cooking at home a joyful experience. You’ll find easy-to-follow recipe cards in your box, alongside helpful tools and follow-along videos via the website and app to help you master all the techniques you might need. 

The ever-changing menu covers a huge range of cuisine types every week, from hearty Italian pasta and orzo dishes to stir-fries, salads, and rice bowls. Look out for tasty-sounding options like Garlic Shrimp with Spanish-Style Potatoes, Pepper and Onion, or the veggie-friendly Oven-Baked Butternut Squash dish (pictured). 

For busy nights and super-quick lunches, there’s a limited number of prepared meals. Our reviewer loved having the option to include one or two Heat & Eat meals in their box “for particularly busy weeks”. Much like the meal kits, these dishes don’t compromise on flavor – you’ll find meals like the Cheesy Truffle Cavatappi, which feature the same high-quality ingredients.

In addition to its signature menus, Blue Apron offers Vegetarian and Wellness plans. The nutritionist-designed Wellness plan includes WW-approved options for anyone wanting to make low-calorie swaps or track their WW Smartpoints. However, it's worth noting that Blue Apron isn’t able to accommodate allergies since all the kits are prepared in the same facility. If you need to avoid ingredients, you'll have to make those adjustments in your own kitchen.

One of Blue Apron’s distinguishing features is its add-ons and Market, where you can purchase everything from desserts and special seasonal dishes to extra proteins, microwave meals, custom spice blends, wine, and kitchen utensils. The wine delivery is a particularly loved service, thanks to its comprehensive tasting notes and pairing tips – plus you get access to a huge array of exclusive wine varieties for a very reasonable price point. 

Blue Apron takes ingredient quality seriously, sourcing only sustainably farmed proteins and seasonal produce, including some organic ingredients where possible. This commitment to quality ensures that you can enjoy delicious recipes without worrying about added hormones or antibiotics in your food.

Blue Apron's prices start from $5.74 per serving, when you order the maximum number of meals. Order 2, 3, or 4 recipes per week for either 2 or 4 people. 

2. Factor – Best Prepared Meals in Philadelphia

Factor’s prepared meals are delivered fresh and just require heating and eating. These are so much more than the average TV dinner you might find in a supermarket – each one contains only antibiotic- and hormone-free proteins, sustainably sourced fish, and non-GMO ingredients in utterly delicious combinations.

Factor also caters to those with specialized dietary needs. You can choose from a wide selection of keto, high-protein, vegetarian, vegan, and low-calorie meals each week, or mix and match across all the categories to enjoy a healthy and more varied diet. The service is known especially for its keto options, which include tasty entrees like the Ranch Baked Chicken with Cheesy Broccoli “Rice” and Roasted Mushrooms (pictured).

These meals pass the taste test, too. When my colleague tried Factor for themselves, they found the meals to be “of high quality and really tasty”. It’s testament to the level of the ingredients used, and the fact they are chef-prepared and delivered fresh rather than frozen. 

You’ll also find extras which can be added to your box each week. These include items like smoothies and juices, pre-cooked proteins, high-protein breakfast options such as pancakes and frittata cups, and keto-friendly snacks like cheesecake and keto cookies. There’s even bundles like the Keto Picnic Pack which come ready to eat – perfect for a post-wokout lunch.

Factor's recipes are integrated with popular calorie-tracking apps like MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and Carb Manager. This makes it a breeze to log recipes, keep track of your food intake, and maintain a dietary regimen. It’s particularly beneficial if you’re adhering to a diet that necessitates specific macro intake or monitoring, such as keto or vegan diets.

The customer service provided by Factor is also top-notch, making the process of ordering, managing your subscription, and modifying your order incredibly easy. You’ll also get a free 20-minute virtual consultation with a dietitian when you sign up, with further nutrition coaching packages available for an extra fee. 

Factor isn’t cheap, with prices starting at $6.19 per serving, but fitness-conscious Philadelphians may find it a great investment in their health. You can order between 6 and 18 single-serving meals each week. 

3. Green Chef – Best Organic Meal Kits in Philadelphia

Green Chef is one of the more premium services on this list, but much like Factor, the focus is on high-quality ingredients and healthy, balanced meals, so diners might expect to pay a bit more. Green Chef’s produce and sustainably raised proteins are always sourced from local farmers, and the service is certified organic. 

Green Chef accommodates special diets well, too. It has 7 plans to help the service make the right meal recommendations to you, but you’ll always be able to order from the wider menu. These plans include Protein Packed, Vegetarian, Vegan, Mediterranean, Keto, Fast and Fit (balanced meals that take 25 minutes or less to make), and Gluten-Free. 

Many of the kits arrive with ready-mixed sauces and seasonings, and portioned ingredients, to help make the cooking process as quick and easy as possible. For example, you can prepare the Boom Boom Shrimp and Bacon Bowls (pictured) in 30 minutes. My colleague gave this service a go at home and loved the resulting dishes. 

The focus on a balanced diet means the menu covers a wide range of cuisines. You’ll find a healthy mix of complex carbs, healthy fats, lean proteins, and colorful veggies in each dish, covering everything from classic American with a twist to Mexican, Asian, and – of course – Mediterranean. Additionally, you can add some of Green Chef’s premium meal kits to your box each week; these come with even higher quality cuts of meat and more deluxe, prepared ingredients 

Green Chef has add-ons, too. You’ll find handy bundles like Breakfasts for the Week (which include on-the-go options such as cinnamon muffins, oatmeal with plant-based milk, sandwiches, and egg bites), plus 10-minute lunches, and extra proteins like wild-caught salmon fillets, organic ground beef, and chicken breasts. 

Green Chef's prices start at $5.99 per serving, based on the largest plan size. You can order 3 or 4 meals for 2, 4, or 6 people each week – making it a great option for larger households. The 4-serving plan also allows you to order just 2 meals per week.

4. HelloFresh – Best Family Friendly Meals in Philadelphia

HelloFresh is the world’s most popular meal delivery service, and it’s easy to see why. With its huge menu, wide range of cuisines, and excellent customer service, this company has meal delivery down to a science.

HelloFresh offers 6 flexible plans, so there’s usually something for everybody. For personalized meal recommendations, you can choose from menus including Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Fit and Wholesome (carb- and calorie-conscious meals), Family-Friendly, Quick and Easy (recipes ready in less than 25 minutes), and Pescatarian. Otherwise, you’re always welcome to order from the full list. 

It doesn’t cater to those with allergies, but most households will find a lot to love. For those with more severe dietary restrictions – particularly those with a gluten allergy – I’d highly recommend HelloFresh’s sister company, Green Chef. Otherwise, meals like the Pork Fajita Bowls with Blue-Corn Tortila Chips and the Firehouse Cheeseburgers with Fried Onions and Garlic Asparagus are sure to be a hit. 

The company promotes 30+ dishes each week, but the number is usually much higher. The best way to search the vast menu (which you can do up to 6 weeks’ in advance!) is by using the tags under each recipe. Categories such as Calorie Smart or Vegan show you diet-specific meals, while tags like Easy Prep and Easy Cleanup ensure you only get the meals that suit your lifestyle or schedule. 

There are some customization options, too. You’ll find these on around 12+ meals each week, with basic swaps like changing a potato side for a portion of broccoli, or adding protein to an otherwise vegetarian dish. Keep in mind, however, that customization incurs an additional cost of $0.99-$3.49 per serving, depending on the swap. 

The recipes couldn’t be easier to follow. HelloFresh even encourages you to get the kids involved with helpful hints and tips on its recipe cards. After trying the service, our reviewer declared HelloFresh’s recipes to be “foolproof”.

HelloFresh prices start from $3.32 per serving. You can order between 2 and 6 recipes per week for households of either 2 or 4. 

5. Home Chef – Best Customizable Meal Delivery in Philadelphia

Home Chef offers a wide range of meal types to suit your schedule, alongside some of the best customization options in the meal delivery business. Its extensive variety and easy-to-cook options make it one of the most popular services across the US.  

You can swap the protein in almost any Home Chef dish. If you’re a seafood lover, you can order the Chesapeake-Style Shrimp Pot Pie (pictured) with a double portion of shrimp. If you love pot pie but not seafood, you can swap in boneless chicken breasts, and even save time with pre-diced chicken. In some cases you can upgrade to organic, while others allow you to make veggie-friendly swaps with plant-based Impossible Burger. 

Keep in mind that swaps incur an additional fee per serving, with prices varying depending on the protein. Premium options – like the filet mignon – can cost at least $15 per portion. 

Home Chef’s Culinary Collection is great for weekends and special occasions when you feel like cooking up something more elaborate. Again, these come in at a higher price point, but feature higher quality cuts of meat, deluxe sides, and more complex cooking techniques. For those busier nights when you want something quick, the Express meal kits and Oven-Ready meals can be on the table in 15-30 minutes. 

You can filter the menu for Carb-Conscious, Calorie-Conscious, and Vegetarian recipes, but Home Chef doesn’t cater particularly well to those with specific dietary needs. You can omit some ingredients when you sign up (and you won’t be shown the recipes that contain them) but the list is limited and it may also limit your choices each week. 

Home Chef features a good selection of add-ons to build your box each week. These include fridge and pantry fillers like bread, smoothies, soup, and snacks, as well as extras to help you build your own meals, like mac and cheese sides, pre-mixed salads, and extra proteins. These versatile offerings were something our reviewer loved when they tested Home Chef. 

Ordering is simple via the user-friendly website or mobile app. The menu provides clear difficulty ratings and spice levels for each dish, helping you select recipes that match your cooking skills and preferences.

Prices start from $7.99 per portion, but unlike other meal delivery services, Home Chef meals are individually priced. Uniquely, you can also order different portion sizes for different recipes (for example, if you have guests coming over). The minimum order is 2 meals for 2 people per week, and the maximum is 6 recipes for 6. Note that customizations and extras will affect the total cost. 

6. Fresh and Easy – Best For Fast, Easy-to-Prepare Meal Kits

Fresh and Easy is Home Chef’s line of quick, easy-prep meals. If you’re a busy Philadelphian who’s regularly looking for fast dinners that require minimal steps, Fresh and Easy could be perfect for you – plus you get all the benefits of a Home Chef subscription, too. 

You can pick up everything from microwave meals to 15-minute meal kits. There are also Oven- and Grill-Ready options which only require you to assemble everything in the recyclable oven-ready tray or grill bag that comes in your box, so prep couldn’t be easier. You’ll find entree salads on the menu, too, which come with pre-cooked proteins. 

Cleanup is also a breeze since everything is pre-portioned and prepared. As my colleague said in their review – if you sign up for Fresh and Easy, “you’ll save loads of time and hassle.”

Moreover, you’ll always be able to access Home Chef's wider menu, including premium recipes from the Culinary Collection for nights when you crave a more hands-on cooking approach. This access offers a broader range of dishes to suit both laid-back and busy lifestyles.

Like Home Chef, you can customize the proteins in your dishes. For instance, you can order the Southwest-Style Chicken Caesar Lettuce Wraps (pictured) and swap the chicken for shrimp. The menu covers a broad range of cuisine types, with everything from burgers and stuffed peppers to tostadas and hearty bowls of fettuccine.  

Fresh and Easy is great for families, too. It’s rare for a service that focuses so much on convenience to cater to bigger households and anything other than single-serving meals, but Fresh and Easy allows you to order up to 6 helpings on some recipes. Just look out for the Family Meal tag on the menu which shows the meals that come in family-sized portions. 

Much like Home Chef, Fresh and Easy doesn’t cater extensively to specialized diets, making it less suitable for those following strict regimens such as keto or vegan. Nonetheless, most Philadelphians in search of quick and delicious meals will find that a Fresh and Easy subscription simplifies dinnertime considerably.

Prices begin at $7.99 per serving. Similar to Home Chef, the meals are priced individually, and you can order between 2 and 6 recipes for 2, 4, or 6 people each week. 

7. BistroMD – Best Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss

BistroMD could be a great option for Philadelphians looking to lose weight or manage a specific health condition. This service delivers low-calorie, fully-prepared, microwave-ready breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to your doorstep, simplifying food tracking, cooking, and weight loss.

Alongside the signature plans for both men and women, there are 6 dietary programs designed to support 1,200-1,600 calorie per-day diets. These include Gluten-Free, Heart-Healthy, Diabetic Friendly, Menopause, Keto-Flex, and Vegan. My colleague goes into more detail about what you can expect from each one, in their review of BistroMD.

Each dish contains around 300-450 calories per portion. The single-serving meals arrive flash-frozen to preserve the nutrients and to keep them cold and safe during transit. Adjusting to a low-calorie diet can be challenging, but the meals are designed to be high-protein and high-fiber to help keep you feeling full. Alongside your daily meals, you’ll also get regular dietary and fitness support from an in-house team. 

While the addition of a vegan plan will be welcome to many, BistroMD isn’t able to customize its dishes. You can make swaps on meals that you don’t like, but since the dishes are prepared, you can’t swap or avoid particular ingredients. This service is best suited to those who want the sheer convenience of having their meals chosen, prepped, and delivered for them. 

BistroMD also offers a wide range of snacks to help you avoid the temptation of the grocery store aisles. These calorie-controlled options include things like whey protein bars and shakes, granola and nut mixes, protein chips, and even sweet treats like keto-friendly cheesecakes and cookies! 

BistroMD prices start at $8.24 per serving, when you subscribe to the maximum order of 3 meals per day, 7 days a week. However, you do have the option to choose 2 or 3 meals per week (2 meals omits breakfast), for 5 or 7 days per week. 

8. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service in Philadelphia

Purple Carrot is a purely plant-based meal delivery service, which means vegans and vegetarians can order with total freedom. There are no soy burgers or faux chicken to be found here, just meals like the Roasted Red Pepper Shakshuka (pictured) that you might easily find in a high-end vegan restaurant.

In addition to its exciting and colorful meal kits, Purple Carrot offers prepared meals. These are just as tasty and varied as the kits, with options like Thai Peanut Noodles with Tofu and Ginger Butter Green Beans, or Portobello Tortelloni with Creamy Leeks and Peas. All you need to do is whizz these in the microwave for 2 minutes for a quick and easy dinner, or an al desko lunch. 

For something in between a meal kit and a prepared meal, check out the Less Prep options. These are kits that take 25 minutes or less to cook, thanks to their pre-made sauces, chopped and washed veggies, and fewer cooking steps – resulting in fewer pots and pans to clean up, too. You can find out what my colleague thought of these when they gave Purple Carrot a try at home.

In fact, you can get plant-based breakfasts and lunches, too. Look out for dishes like the Kale and Smoky Tempeh Scramble, or the Lemon-Poppy Overnight Oats with Dried Blueberries and Almonds, which change every week. There’s even a “Plantry” with vegan-friendly snacks and sides, including cookies, crackers, and truffle burgers. 

You can also choose from high-protein, gluten-free, and soy-free meals. The high protein dishes guarantee at least 20g of protein per serving from sources like quinoa and legumes. There are some nut-free options, too. Although Purple Carrot can't ensure complete avoidance of cross-contamination, the service does its best to provide meals safe for those with gluten, soy, and nut allergies.

Purple Carrot is a premium service and is priced as such. Prices start at $8.50 per serving when you order the maximum number of meals per week. You can choose from 3 or 4 meal kits recipes for either 2 or 4 people, or you can order single-serving prepared meals in bundles of 6, 8, or 10 per week.

9. Trifecta – Best Prepared Meals for Athletes & Fitness Buffs

Trifecta caters to athletes, keen gym-goers, and anyone who wants to shape up but who rarely has the time to shop, cook, or count macros. The prepared meals are designed to be healthy and balanced, and feature only high-quality ingredients to ensure maximum nutrition. All you need to do is heat and eat! 

Trifecta uses only unprocessed, seasonal ingredients without preservatives. Plus, the proteins present in the meat dishes are always antibiotic- and hormone-free, with many organic options. In the interest of flavor, the meals are always delivered fresh and never frozen, something our reviewer really appreciated.

Customers can choose from a number of set dietary plans, including Keto, Paleo, Clean, Whole30 Approved, High-Protein Vegan, and High-Protein Vegetarian. These plans are “chef’s choice”, however, which means your meals are chosen for you each week. While this is great for anyone who wants to put healthy eating on autopilot, for others who prefer to choose what they fancy, Trifecta may not be the best choice. 

You can also pick from a select number of ready-meals on the Classics menu. These can be ordered a la carte alongside everything on the Meal Prep menu, which features a mix of high-quality proteins, carbs and veggie sides to allow you to compile your own meals. However, this option tends to work out more expensive – plus you’ll be in charge of having to count your own macros. 

Trifecta offers tons of community support alongside its daily meals. The app is a great way to track your progress and stay motivated – it even allows you to scan barcodes of other products you might eat in a day for effortless nutrient tracking. You’ll find online forums filled with likeminded individuals to talk all things food and fitness, too, plus have access to resources like nutrition articles and fitness challenges.

Trifecta prices start at  $6.00 per serving, making it one of the more premium services on this list. The minimum order is 7 entrees per week, which you can enjoy for lunch or dinner, or you can order anywhere up to 21 meals, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 7 days a week. 

10. Dinnerly – Most Affordable Meal Kits in Philadelphia

Dinnerly is Philadelphia’s most budget-friendly meal delivery service, offering a boast-worthy starting price of $2.12 per serving. Despite the low price point, you’ll still find a wide range of meals to choose from each week, and high-quality ingredients that include humanely raised proteins and some organic produce. 

Dinnerly is owned by Marley Spoon and shares many similarities with its Martha Stewart-approved parent company. The quality of the ingredients is the same, plus you’ll spot things like the same menu tags, a similar website format, and the Ready Made! microwave meals. 

How this service differs is largely down to the complexity of the recipes. Many of the meals comprise only 5 or 6 ingredients, with fewer cooking steps and items to prepare. This is one reason Dinnerly is able to keep its prices so low. 

Expect plenty of family favorites like meatballs, pasta dishes, quesadillas, and chicken and biscuits, plus some more unexpected options like Banh Mi and koftas. There’s a good number of veggie and pescatarian dishes to choose from each week, too, plus some vegan meals. 

You can customize recipes tagged with the Customizable icon on the menu. This includes swapping proteins, adding dessert to your meal, or swapping pasta for a gluten-free version. Since some premium services don’t even offer customizations, this feature is quite impressive for the price point.

Once you sign up, you can also order from Dinnerly's market. You’ll find an assortment of pantry staples, produce, and proteins. You'll also find breakfasts and desserts such as the Warm Skillet Rocky Road Blondie or Denver Omelet Muffin Cups. My colleague was super impressed by the variety. 

You won’t find recipe cards in your box – these are found online only. In fact, cutting back on packaging is another way Dinnerly manages to stay so affordable, so you’ll find many of the ingredients bundled together loose in your box. While this might be slightly inconvenient in terms of knowing what goes with what, it’s certainly a more eco-friendly move. If you prefer more visual guidance, my top pick is without doubt Blue Apron.

Dinnerly prices start from $2.12 per serving. You can order 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 meals per week for households of either 2 or 4.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in Philadelphia

As you explore Philadelphia’s world of meal delivery services, finding one that suits your dietary needs and lifestyle is essential. With so many options, structuring your decision can be a bit daunting. Here are four tips to help you make the right choice:

• Consider dietary preferences: Look for a meal delivery service that caters to your specific dietary needs or preferences. For instance, if you follow a plant-based diet, Purple Carrot offers an entirely vegan menu that also caters to high-protein and gluten-free diets.

• Take meal variety into acccount: When considering meal variety, HelloFresh stands out by consistently offering a diverse menu with a rotation of recipes. This ensures that you'll always have exciting and varied options to choose from, keeping your meal plan interesting and enjoyable.
  

• Consider convenience: If you're looking for meals that require minimal time and effort, consider choosing a provider that offers prepared microwave meals. Factor is known for its prepared healthy options that cater to various dietary requirements.

• Consider eco-friendliness: For those who prioritize environmentally friendly practices, opt for a meal delivery service that focuses on sustainability. Blue Apron stands out for its commitment to using sustainably and locally sourced ingredients, and consistently improving the eco-friendliness of its packaging.

FAQ

What’s the best meal delivery service in Philadelphia?

The best meal delivery service in Philadelphia is Blue Apron. Blue Apron stands out for its high-quality ingredients and thoughtful, gourmet recipes which come in at a really reasonable price. You can also purchase extras like pantry staples, desserts, seasonal specials, Blue Apron’s custom spice mixes, and subscribe to its wine delivery service.  

Are there meal delivery services in Philadelphia that cater to specific diets?

How much do meal delivery services in Philadelphia typically cost?

Prices per serving range from as little as $5 to $15 on this list. For the best premium service offering prepared meals, you might want to choose Factor, with its high-quality recipes and ingredients. For the best budget-friendly service, you may want to check out Dinnerly.

Do any Philadelphia meal delivery services use locally-sourced ingredients?

Yes, many meal delivery services in Philadelphia use locally sourced produce from family-run farms. Such companies include Green Chef, which prioritizes locally-sourced organic ingredients. It works with local farmers and suppliers to ensure fresh, high-quality ingredients while supporting local communities.

Can I customize my meal plan with Philadelphia meal delivery services?

Yes, many meal delivery services on this list offer different customization options. Home Chef has a great Customize It feature that allows you to upgrade proteins in certain recipes.

Best Meal Delivery Services in Philadelphia in 2023 — Final Score