10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Riverside, CA 2024

Finding the best meal delivery service in Riverside, California can be a bit of a challenge. It’s not always straightforward which one has the meal types you want, like breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, sides, prepared meals, or meal kits. You might also be looking for special diets like veggie, vegan, paleo, keto, or Mediterranean. But don’t worry – there’s something for everyone on this list.

I’ve researched and compared the best meal delivery services in Riverside, CA so that you can make the most informed decision. I’ve also compiled everything for your review. Whether you want prepared meals, to try international recipes, to feed a large family, or to test your culinary skills and make something striking for your family, I’ve got you covered.

Overall, Factor is my top pick for this year. This is thanks to its diverse menu of prepared meals that cater to diets like keto and vegetarian. It’s my favorite, but there are many worthy contenders on my list, so read on!

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Riverside, CA Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Fitness-Oriented Service in Riverside, CA

Factor is all about helping busy individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle. It offers freshly prepared meals, which means no weighing your food, cooking, cleaning, or even tracking your calories and macros. It’s all done for you. Each meal is designed to be 1 serving for 1 adult.

What’s on the Menu?

The meals you’ll get from Factor can serve as either lunch or dinner, depending on your preference. And, some specific cuisines you can pick include Latin American-influenced, classic American, Italian, French, and others.

In terms of calories, you can expect the meals to range from about 350 to 900, though most will fall somewhere in the middle at around 500. Each meal is clearly labeled with all of the macronutrients and calorie information you need to track your daily intake accurately. For someone like me, that’s invaluable.

There are also various add-ons you can choose from. These include breakfast items like quiches, frittata cups, smoothies, Cinnamon Roll Fat Bombs, and desserts like cheesecakes and Keto Macaroons. Tons of proteins like smoked sausages, salmon, chicken, and beef tenderloin (filet mignon) are also available.

What Makes It Special?

Regarding dietary options, I’ve found that Factor has you covered. For instance, it offers special diets like Keto, Protein Plus, Flexitarian, Vegan & Veggie, and Calorie Smart, which are great choices for fitness junkies (like me!). You can also opt for Chef’s Choice.

You can take a free 20-minute online consultation with a qualified dietitian. If this initial consultation is useful, you can enroll in the company's nutrition coaching programs. They come with an additional fee, but can help you improve your diet.

Is It Good Value?

All Factor’s meals are free from gluten, antibiotics, and hormones. Interestingly, every dish is GMO-free and made with mostly organic produce. On top of that, all meats are pasture-raised (or grass-fed), and the salmon is sustainably sourced.

Finally, the minimum order is 6 meals per week, up to a maximum of 18. If you go for the maximum (18), your price per serving will be lower at around $10.49 .

2. Green Chef – Best for Organic Produce and Eggs

I like Green Chef because you can get organic produce and eggs. I don’t see many other competitors offering this, so it’s nice to see these items. You’ll also get over 45 weekly meal kit options, so there’s little chance you’ll get bored over time.

What’s on the Menu?

Green Chef has a wide variety of choices, like chicken, salmon, pork, beef tenderloin, and more. If you’re looking for a specific cuisine, you’ll also get to pick from Cajun, French, Thai-style, Indian-influenced, Greek, Latin American-style, and a few more. Don’t expect the largest selection of Michelin Star-level dishes, though.

Green Chef also pre-preps many ingredients for you, so that when you get to cooking, you won’t have to do much on your own. Since you won’t find prepared meals here, I find this to be a nice touch. Get the full scoop on that in my colleague’s tested Green Chef review.

Though not the largest selection available, you can get quite a few extra items. For instance, you’ll find a respectable number of protein add-ons like beef tenderloin, ranch steak, ground beef, pork tenderloin, boneless pork chops, shrimp, seafood, and chicken. You’ll also get other add-ons and extras like egg bites, edamame salad, oatmeal, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, dutch babies, and more.

What Makes It Special?

There are 8 meal plans you can choose from. And these are Keto, Protein Packed, Plant Based, Mediterranean, Quick & Easy, Gut & Brain Health, Calorie Smart, and Gluten Free. It’s probably best known for its Keto offerings, though, since these are relatively rare to find. The Keto plan has some gluten-free recipes, and the company itself has been certified organic.

Green Chef demonstrates its dedication to sustainability through the use of packaging that's either recyclable, reusable, or compostable. If interested in recycling, find detailed instructions on the website.

Is It Good Value?

Green Chef is suitable for people following various diets. Besides American, it prepares internationally-inspired meal kits. What's more, it's the first organic-certified meal kit delivery company in the USA.

Finally, you’ll be required to order a minimum of 3 meals for 2 people per week, but you’re free to get as many as 4 meals for 6 people. And, if you go with the maximum order, you’ll only pay $9.99 per serving.

3. Blue Apron – Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Service in Riverside, CA

Blue Apron offers a great range of gourmet dishes in the form of prepared meals and meal kits. There's also an add-ons menu with a large list of extras like sides, fresh ready-to-eat meals, and desserts that can be added to any plan. 

What’s on the Menu?

The service has 4 distinct menus – Meal Kits 2 servings, Meal Kits 4 servings, Prepared & Ready 1 serving, and Add-ons (servings vary). Each menu lets you choose between many options, like Ready To Cook, Carb Conscious, Craft, Premium, and 45 g of Protein.

If you’re looking for prepared meals, you’ll find those in the separate Prepared & Ready category and on the add-ons menu. You’ll find a large selection of those like Lemon Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Spanish-Style Beef and Rice, Butter Chicken, and many more.

You get around 80+ weekly meal options, including breakfast, dinner, dessert, appetizers, and even side dishes. Some specific add-ons include ground beef patties, black bean and red pepper patties, boneless and skinless chicken breast pieces, and whole chicken breasts. You may also find rice pudding, salads, cakes, soups, and tons more.

What Makes It Special?

If you’re after international cuisines, Blue Apron also has you covered. It offers lots of those, including Italian, Indian, Spanish-influenced, Greek, classic American, and tons more. You can learn more about the specific options in my colleague’s full Blue Apron review.

Where Blue Apron truly sets itself apart is its offering of Market items. These include meal kits you can try without becoming a member. So, if you aren’t convinced that the meal subscription service’s recipes are right for you, click on Market and try them out.

Is It Good Value?

Blue Apron is a great choice for eco-conscious gourmands. It offers competitive prices, a lot of flexibility, and high-quality meals that provide a big bang for your buck.

You can switch between plans to have meal kits and prepared meals on the menu in different weeks. But if you prefer having both in the same week, simply place separate orders.

Lastly, the minimum order is 2 meal kits of 2 servings per week up to a maximum of 5 meals of 4 servings weekly. If you’re after fresh, heat-and-eat options, you can order 4, 6, 8, or 10 weekly meals per plan. But note that you can add extra dishes to your order. The pricing starts at $3.74 per serving.

4. HelloFresh – Best Family-Friendly Meals in Riverside, CA

HelloFresh is well-known for being family-friendly. This is because it offers a specific Family Friendly meal plan and because most of its meals are less exotic, fancy, and spicy than other services.

What’s on the Menu?

In terms of specific diets, there are quite a few on offer. For instance, you’ll have your pick of Protein Smart, Carb Smart, Calorie Smart, Spicy, Veggie, and even Vegan meals (though there aren’t all that many vegan options).

You can also check the menu for additional labels like Fast & Fresh, 10-Min Lunch, Premium Picks, and Brunch Delights if you’re looking for any of those. This helps you quickly see what’s what since the menu is so large. Unfortunately, there are no menu filters that would help make browsing the menu a bit easier.

There are plenty of market add-ons, too. You’ll find quick breakfasts, sides and compliments, desserts and treats, extra proteins, fresh produce, and a variety of spices and seasonings. Specific examples include garlic bread, egg bites, cookies, chicken breasts, and more.

What Makes It Special?

In addition to Family Friendly, you can pick from 5 other meal plans – Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Fit & Wholesome, Quick & Easy, and Pescatarian. You’re free to mix and match across these plans, too.

HelloFresh offers customization for around a dozen recipes through the HelloCustom feature. This option lets you alter the protein in certain dishes or exchange sides to suit your preferences. For instance, you can replace potatoes with broccoli for a healthier side, or add steak or chicken to vegetarian pasta dishes.

Is It Good Value?

You’ll find only healthy, farm-fresh ingredients in your recipes – and, you can access an online cookbook that features hundreds of recipes for even more inspiration. You can learn about its many offerings in our full HelloFresh review.

Lastly, you’ll have to order at least 2 recipes for 2 people per week, but you’re free to order as many as 6 recipes for 4 people. If you go for the maximum order, you’re looking at a per-serving price of around $3.32, which is quite reasonable in my experience.

5. Home Chef – Best Protein Customization Options

Home Chef is an exceptional meal customization service that offers 4 levels of customization. It lets you tailor your meal plan and substitute ingredients. This Riverside meal subscription service is an excellent choice for a range of dietary needs, suitable for individuals and families alike.

What’s on the Menu?

If you’re looking for meal kits, prep times range from about 10 to 60 minutes. You can pick from different categories like Meal Kits, Express, Fast & Fresh, and more. Find the prepared meals in the Lunch section of the menu.

Another area where Home Chef stands out is in its massive selection of extras. You’ll find all sorts of items like breakfast, salads, desserts, smoothies, coffee products, breads, soups, spreads, mac and cheese, and more.

Specific add-ons include Lobster Bisque, egg bites, pretzel bites, crunch rolls, canned lattes, frittata, quiche, Blueberry Lemon Butter Cake and Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet Dessert Duo, just to name a few. I couldn’t possibly name everything in just a couple of sentences.

What Makes It Special?

Home Chef stands out because of its protein customization feature called Customize It. Many proteins that you see can easily be replaced with something else. For example, take the Panko-Crusted Mahi-Mahi depicted here. You could opt for chicken breast or salmon filets instead.

On top of the Customize It feature, you get access to 4 specific meal plans – Vegetarian, Calorie-conscious, < 30 minutes, and Carb-conscious. Home Chef now also offers some meals with a Keto-Friendly or Gluten-Smart tag. For detailed info on this feature, check out our Home Chef review.

Is It Good Value?

Home Chef accommodates a wide range of dietary needs and cooking time constraints. You should find it suitable if you're looking for quick meals or enjoy a more involved cooking process. The service also caters to dieters with specific dietary preferences and those who need to manage food allergies and intolerances.

One thing I appreciate about the signup process is that you can select your preferences and any ingredients you want to avoid. You can choose calorie and carb-conscious offerings, among others, and whether you want to avoid things like pork, beef, poultry, fish, tree nuts, and more.

The minimum Home Chef order is 2 recipes for 2 people per week up to a maximum of 6 recipes for 6 people. Pricing starts at around $7.99 per serving.

6. Fresh and Easy – Best <15-Minute Meals

Fresh and Easy is a Home Chef brand that focuses on convenience above anything. It helps you create striking dishes that taste great in as few as 10-15 minutes.

What’s on the Menu?

You can get low-effort meals that are oven-, microwave-, or grill-ready, and entreé salads. But this line of quick meals really shines with its 15-minute Express meal kits. What’s more, you get access to the entire Home Chef menu at the same time (which includes Home Chef’s Customize It feature).

The way you can find Fresh and Easy meals is to look for the labels on the Home Chef menu. For instance, the Jalapeño-Popper Chicken with Corn and Zucchini is one of the Express meals and only takes 10-15 minutes to prepare. But there are a few more labels to look out for.

Search for quick or easy-prep dishes in the Oven-Ready and Fast & Fresh menu sections, besides Express. The Express options will be the fastest at around 10-30 minutes. The Oven-Ready options take a little bit more time.

What Makes It Special?

You can also mix and match Fresh and Easy and Home Chef meals in the same order. There’s a bit more to it than that, though – so if you’d like to get the full scoop, check out my colleague’s full Fresh and Easy review.

Most meal kits come with pre-prepped ingredients. In other words, you likely won’t need to cut, peel, chop, dice, or grind food to get it ready for cooking. Besides, you may get some pre-washed ingredients. Oven- and grill-ready recipes come with oven-safe trays and grill-safe bags, minimizing cleanup.

Is It Good Value?

Choose Fresh and Easy for meal kits with quick serving times. The line of speedy meals also caters to people who spend a lot of time preparing food for cooking.

You’ll find cuisines from all over the world. These include Latin American-influenced, Italian, Greek, southern American, classic American, and even French-inspired. I like seeing this much variety on the menu.

Finally, the minimum order is the same as Home Chef at 2 recipes for 2 people per week up to 6 recipes for 6 people. And again, pricing starts at around $7.99 per serving.

7. BistroMD – Best Meals for Weight Loss

BistroMD is very different from the other services on this list. It’s a weight loss-specific meal delivery service for men and women. All its meals are prepared, so you don’t have to spend time cooking or cleaning. You also don’t have to weigh your food or track calories.

What’s on the Menu?

BistroMD has a non-rotating menu with more than 150 dishes. These fall into the Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner, and Snacks categories. Each meal plan has all of these menu sub-categories save Vegan, which has only the Lunch/Dinner option.

It’s nice to see that you’ll find many whole foods-based meals. For instance, the Turkey Breast with Cranberry Apple Chutney and the Jerk Spiced Chicken with Mango Chutney are 2 of the most popular Lunch/Dinner options.

There are plenty of other meal types, too. For example, you can get breakfasts like frittatas, omelets, and waffles and snacks like shakes, smoothies, parfaits, and nutrition bars. Desserts like cheesecake, chocolate chip cookie dough, and cinnamon toast pretzels are also available.

What Makes It Special?

As our main BistroMD review pointed out, there are several specific meal plans, including Men’s, Women’s, Heart Healthy, Gluten Free, Keto Flex, Diabetic Friendly, Vegan, and Menopause. Though its primary focus is on weight loss, it’s nice to see that it’s an all-around health-focused service.

You can get meals for either 5 or 7 days per week, depending on how much you want to spend. The plan for 7 days per week is the most expensive but comes with the lowest price per meal. The one for 5 days per week will cost you less, but the price per meal will be higher.

Is It Good Value?

The website states that certified dietitians design every program and plan to help you along your health and weight loss journey. Any program you buy also includes support from these same dietitians if you need help.

You’ll be required to buy at least lunches and dinners for 5 days. However, there are a few other ordering options. You can get lunches and dinners for 7 days, or the Full Program which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 5 or 7 days. Pricing starts at around $8.24 for the maximum order.

8. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Meal Kits and Prepared Meals

Purple Carrot is a vegan-only, plant-based service delivering prepared meals, meal kits, and more. Unlike other competitors who may offer some vegan dishes, its plant-based meals don’t rely on imitation meats like Beyond products. Instead, it makes the veggies the star of each dish according to our tried-and-tested Purple Carrot review.

What’s on the Menu?

You’re looking at dozens of weekly meal options that include a combination of microwave-friendly prepared meals and meal kits that take no longer than 45 minutes. Dietary preferences include gluten-, nut-, soy-free, and high-protein.

It also offers what it calls Less Prep, which is a series of meals that include pre-made sauces and pre-sliced and/or diced veg and produce, which further cuts down your total cooking time. Purple Carrot also claims that these meals require fewer pots and pans – which means less cleanup, too (which I’m personally a huge fan of!).

Purple Carrot offers plenty of other meal types, too. For instance, you get access to a bunch of breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. Some alternatives are chia pudding, breakfast tacos, veggie bowls, cashew cream cheese, donuts, soft cookies, black bean burgers, and even the famous UFO Burger Sauce.

What Makes It Special?

Purple Carrot excels in sustainability. It uses recyclable and biodegradable packaging and provides disposal instructions. The company reduces food waste with exact ingredient portions. Also, it promotes the environmental and health benefits of having more plants and less animal products via its website.

The menu is heavily internationally inspired. For instance, you can find Thai, Italian, Middle Eastern, Korean, Indian, traditional Mexican, Cajun, and a small assortment of classic American dishes. I’d say that at least 95% of the menu isn’t kid-friendly, though.

Is It Good Value?

Purple Carrot primarily caters to vegans and people mindful of their environmental impact. Still, its meals keep receiving positive feedback from omnivores. So, even if you don't follow a strict vegan diet, you may find the variety and quality of Purple Carrot's offerings satisfying.

The minimum order is 3 meal kits of 2 servings per week, while the largest order is 3 meals of 4 servings. If you prefer prepared meals, you can order 6, 8, or 10 meals. Pricing starts at around $8.50 for the maximum order.

9. Marley Spoon – Best for Eco-Friendly Meals

The Marley Spoon menu offers a diverse selection of home comforts suitable for a range of dietary needs. The meals are simple to prepare, even for novice cooks, and many come with pre-made sauces and spice blends for that gourmet touch.

What’s on the Menu?

What you’re getting here is 1 of the largest menus of meal kits on the market. You can choose from around 100 weekly options. Specific cuisines include Italian to Mediterranean, Korean to Chinese, German, Latin American-influenced, French, Japanese, and a bunch of classic American dishes, too. You can also choose from a few prepared meals.

Most meal kits you’ll find are pretty standard and take around 30 to 60 minutes. But you’ll also find several easy-to-prepare options, like Under 30 Minutes and One Pot Meal, both of which are great for busy nights.

There are also plenty of sides and add-ons like waffles, pork buns, cakes, cupcakes, Cajun Dirty Rice, Pots de Crème, breakfast enchiladas, oatmeal, pot pies, and tons more.

What Makes It Special?

One thing I particularly like is that you’ll see the difficulty level for each recipe directly on the menu. These include Easy, Medium, and Hard. However, I find even the Hard recipes pretty simple once you factor in the easy-to-follow instructions included in each delivery box.

You can learn more about Marley Spoon in our dedicated review. Marley Spoon also has an app you can download and use to keep tabs on your subscription and manage your account.

Is It Good Value?

There’s also no shortage of dietary preferences for you to pick from. Options include Low Carb, Low-Calorie, No Added Gluten, Kid Friendly, Healthy, Nutritious, Dairy Free, Optional Spice, Vegetarian, Vegan, and more.

Finally, the minimum order is 2 meals for 2 people up to a maximum of 6 meals for 4 people per week. If you opt for the maximum order, prices start at around $2.99 per serving.

10. Dinnerly – Best for Budget-Conscious Families

I put Dinnerly on this list because it’s straight-up the cheapest service out there. But it’s not just cheap – it still offers high-quality meals that cater to various preferences (even though you’re mostly getting meal kits here).

What’s on the Menu?

Each meal kit takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to prepare, with most falling somewhere in the middle. Keep in mind that Dinnerly also offers a few prepared meals that you can heat up in the microwave or oven.

There are plenty of dietary considerations you can choose. Some of them are No Added Gluten, Healthy, Dairy Free, Low Carb, Low-Calorie, Meat, Poultry, Nutritious, Spicy, and more. Each meal on the menu is clearly labeled for easy identification.

Finally, you can get a few add-ons and extras. Some of these are cookies, pimento cheese dip, soups, beignets, waffles, oatmeal, rice pudding, omelet muffin cups, and several more. Again, taking into consideration its low cost, I’m impressed overall.

What Makes It Special?

It’s also impressive to see that Dinnerly tries to use high-quality ingredients. For instance, my colleague noticed that Dinnerly only sources sustainable proteins and produce from trusted suppliers. Not all other competitors can say the same (though some can).

For such a cheap service, I was also impressed with the number of cuisines on offer. You can get anything from Italian, French, classic American, Mexican-influenced, Creole/Cajun, Thai, Moroccan (which is quite rare!), Greek, Mediterranean, and even Asian-influenced.

Is It Good Value?

Dinnerly is a great service for the budget-conscious. It sources quality ingredients like Marley Spoon, its parent company. While it doesn't wrap ingredients individually, which makes unpacking a little less convenient, I think it's a good deal given the price of the meals.

Dinnerly’s minimum order is 3 meals for 2 people per week, but you’re free to order as many as 6 meals for 4 people. Since most meals are kid-friendly, that makes it great for families, too. Pricing starts at around $2.12 per serving.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Service in Riverside, CA

While I was choosing the best services in 2024, here are the primary things I looked for. I suggest you keep these in mind when making your decision so you can get the exact meals you’ll be happy with.

• Menu variety: Choose a service that offers a large variety of meals and the cuisines you want, like Mediterranean, Korean, Japanese, Latin American, Italian, classic American, Middle Eastern, Indian, and more. There’s something here for everyone.

• Convenience: Go for the types of meals you want, including prepared breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, or meal kits, depending on your preference. There’s an abundance of premium and fast meal kits, and oven-, grill-, and microwave-ready prepared meals on this list.

• Dietary preferences: Select a company that offers meals that fit your dietary preference. For example, you’ll find everything from keto to paleo, low-calorie, low-carb, veggie, vegan, pescatarian, diabetes-friendly, dairy-free, gluten-free, organic, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.

• Affordability: Choose a meal delivery service that suits your budget, whether large or small. This list includes a broad range of price points that will align with what you're willing to spend.

FAQ

Which meal delivery service is the most popular? 

HelloFresh is one of the most popular services, and for good reasons. It offers a huge menu of high-quality meal kits every week and an abundance of add-ons like breakfasts, sides, snacks, protein packs, and more.

What is the healthiest premade meal delivery service? 

Though the term “healthy” is subjective, Factor could be considered the healthiest. This is because it offers many <600-calorie meals that contain balanced ingredients such as veggies, carbs, and protein. If you’re a fitness enthusiast who takes good care of your health, Factor does a great job helping you along your journey.

What food delivery service is best for weight loss?

For weight loss, specifically, BistroMD is probably your best bet. Its entire business model is based on helping you slim down. All its meals are designed by nutritionists and are made in a way that will help you lose weight without having to weigh your food, track calories, or count macros.

Best Meal Delivery Services in Riverside, CA in 2024 — Final Score