10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Tampa 2023: Updated List

Meal delivery services make it easy to prepare high-quality meals for the whole family. As an experienced food enthusiast, I've explored a wide array of meal delivery services. I’ve curated this top 10 list for Tampa to help you find the perfect service for your lifestyle and preferences. 

Blue Apron is my top meal delivery service on our list, since it offers chef-designed gourmet recipes, an indulgent wine delivery service, and even some microwaveable prepared meals for extra-lazy nights. 

Read on to discover the 10 best meal delivery services in Tampa. Whether you're a busy professional, a parent with a packed schedule and growing kids, or simply someone who enjoys great home-cooked food, there’s something on this list for you.

The Best Meal Delivery Services in Tampa Reviewed

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

Blue Apron is well-known for delivering high-quality meal kits with dishes you could find at a restaurant. Each shipment comes with straightforward recipes that are easy to cook at home. You’ll find at least 16 dinners each week, tagged with various prep styles:

• Chef Favorites – most popular recipes

• Ready to Cook – pre-chopped ingredients included

• Fast & Easy – ready in 30 minutes or less

• Family-Friendly – classic American comfort food

• Craft – elevated recipes at a small upcharge (usually $6.99 extra per serving)

• Premium – complex dishes with upgraded proteins ($11.99+ extra per serving)

I particularly enjoy that Blue Apron posts its menu for the next 4 weeks. Since each week has a new set of recipes, I like being able to plan in advance. This is especially useful for holidays like Mother’s Day or Thanksgiving, when special seasonal meals are on offer.

The range of cuisines includes American, Mediterranean, and Asian-inspired recipes. My colleague's detailed review delves further into Blue Apron's menu selections. Despite the range of exotic flavors, many of the recipes are family-friendly and suitable for kids, too.

Blue Apron has 4 similar meal plans:

• Signature – the core menu (serves 2)

• Signature for 4 – core menu with a minimum of 4 servings per recipe

• Vegetarian – meat-free recipes for 2

• Wellness – WW-aligned recipes for 2 curated by nutritionists

Wellness and Vegetarian are subsets of the Signature plan, meaning they don’t have any unique dishes. Signing up for either just means Blue Apron will only recommend those dishes for your weekly subscription. As a result, these menus are smaller with around 4-5 recipes per week.

You can check out the Market to enhance your recipes and prep process. You’ll find kitchen tools and pantry items like custom spice blends. The Market also has extra meal kits, microwavable prepared meals, and food bundles.

Another feature that sets Blue Apron apart is its Wine Delivery service. You can find wine bundles in the Market or subscribe to the monthly wine delivery service. You’ll even receive guidance on how to pair wines with your Blue Apron recipes.

Blue Apron’s biggest drawback is its limited dietary and allergen accommodations. While you can choose from a few diet plans and prep styles, you can't exclude common allergens like gluten, nuts, or dairy. If you have severe allergies or dietary restrictions, check out Green Chef’s diverse diet plans.

Around 10 recipes each week offer customization options, including protein swaps/upgrades and the Make it Vegetarian feature. For instance, you can replace the ground beef with a red pepper pattie from Actual Veggies in the Pimento Cheeseburger to make it veggie-friendly. 

You can choose to order 2 to 4 weekly servings for either 2 or 4 people. Pricing starts at $5.74 per serving for the largest weekly plan of 4 servings for 4. Keep in mind that fewer servings result in a higher price per serving, and a $9.99 shipping fee will also apply to each delivery.

2. Factor – Best High-Quality Fully Prepared Meals in Tampa

Factor stands out as a top pick for nourishing, protein-rich meals. Scrolling through its weekly menu, you'll spot a variety of dishes featuring a "Protein Plus" label. These meals are perfect for those leading an active lifestyle and participating in intense workouts. The meals are delivered fully cooked, allowing you to heat and enjoy them within minutes.

There’s no gluten added in all Factor recipes across its 5 diet plans:

• Chef's Choice – recipes from each diet plan

• Keto – low carb, high fat, and moderate protein recipes

• Calorie Smart – recipes with 550 kcal per serving or less

• Vegan & Veggie – meatless meals with a range of plant-based options

• Protein Plus – meals with at least 30 g of protein per serving

Each meal is tagged to show diet accommodations and potential allergens. For example, Factor's Santa Fe Beef Bowl is suitable for Keto, Calorie Smart, and Protein Plus plans. You'll also find a list of ingredients, nutritional information, and heating instructions as you browse the page.

On the menu, you’ll find classic American fare as well as internationally-inspired flavors from the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia. The variety of flavors is impressive, and the meal quality is excellent – especially for a microwave-ready service. 

The "New" label highlights first-time debuts of Factor recipes, which is great if you appreciate variety. Make sure to grab these dishes if they align with your dietary preferences. "Gourmet Plus" meals offer recipes with higher quality proteins but incur an extra fee, so be aware of your budget when ordering.

Factor also offers a great selection of add-ons like smoothies and protein packs. While there’s a Vegan & Veggie plan, most add-ons cater to the keto crowd. You’ll find keto cheesecakes, cookies, picnic bundles, and more. For an in-depth look into Factor’s service and ingredients, you can check out my colleague’s comprehensive review.

You can easily plan ahead, since Factor posts its menu for the next 4 weeks. If you prefer even more time, consider HelloFresh’s service with 6 weeks of menus posted at a time. This feature can make meal planning much simpler for those following specific diets.

Factor’s customer support is super responsive and reliable. There are desktop and mobile apps, and you can reach representatives 24/7 via phone or live chat during business hours. I also found its chatbot and FAQ section easy to navigate and highly informative.

The service’s biggest downside is probably its limited customization options. You can't swap proteins or change vegetable sides in any dishes. However, all dishes are gluten-free and safe for those without severe allergies. If you have serious allergies, you may want to explore a more allergy-accommodating service like Green Chef.

The minimum order is 6 meals and the max is 18 per week, with per-meal prices decreasing as you order more. While prepared meals typically cost more than meal kits, Factor offers competitive pricing – the cost per serving starts at $6.19.

3. Green Chef – Best Organic Meal Kits in Tampa

Green Chef's best features are its dietary accommodations and use of organic ingredients throughout its entire menu. Pioneering as a predominantly organic meal delivery service, Green Chef employs only USDA-certified and CCOF-certified organic produce in its dishes, ensuring that all ingredients are hormone and antibiotic-free.

Each week, you'll find 30 recipes spanning 7 plans:

• Keto – low carb, moderate protein, high-fat dishes

• Gluten-Free – recipes without added gluten

• Vegan – meals free of animal products

• Vegetarian – meatless dishes

• Protein-Packed – high-protein meals ideal for omnivores

• Fast & Fit – calorie-conscious keto & veggie meals ready in under 25 minutes

• Mediterranean – dishes featuring mainly veggies, fish, and healthy fats

Many recipes are suitable for several diets, and each is labeled with helpful tags. For example, Green Chef's Barramundi Over Carrot-Ginger Salad is part of the Gluten-Free, Keto, and Fast & Fit plans. 

Meal plans are flexible and allow you to mix and match recipes, giving you access to the full menu. As someone who enjoys Mediterranean food but primarily adheres to a Keto diet, I like the option to choose recipes like Green Chef's Mediterranean Chicken (pictured above). It’s available on the Keto, Gluten-Free, and Mediterranean menus.

Green Chef’s meal kits are easy to put together. The ingredients arrive fresh along with premade sauces and spice blends. Some vegetables arrive pre-washed and chopped, saving you prep time compared to dealing with whole veggies.

The average prep time is about 30 minutes per recipe, though there are easy prep meals and 10-minute lunches on the menu. Green Chef doesn’t offer microwave-ready dishes. If you want ready-to-eat prepared meals, check out Blue Apron’s heat-and-eat range or Factor’s entire menu.

Green Chef also has a great add-on menu that partially rotates each week. You’ll find breakfast items, proteins, side dishes, and some desserts. You’ll also find that most add-ons are better for omnivores and keto-eaters, as there are few plant-based or vegan-friendly items.

If eating organic is your dietary priority – Green Chef is the best service on this list. However, Green Chef is a premium service, so you’ll want to double-check the price before you buy. When my colleague tested out Green Chef at home, they discovered that the first-rate ingredients led to more flavorful meals.

Prices start at $5.99 per serving based on a maximum order of 24 meals per week. The minimum order is 6 meals per week, or 3 recipes for 2 people, and standard shipping is $10.99 per delivery.

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

HelloFresh excels as a family-friendly meal delivery service. It offers a great balance of quality ingredients and affordability. The menu has over 60 recipes to choose from each week, including Hall of Fame favorites and globally-inspired dishes.

There are 6 menus available, and you can select as many of them as you want:

• Meat & Veggies – primarily protein and vegetable recipes

• Veggie – vegetarian staples

• Family-Friendly – crowd-pleasing dishes for kids and adults

• Fit & Wholesome – calorie-conscious dishes ready in under 25 minutes

• Quick & Easy – meals prepared in under 25 minutes

• Pescatarian – meat-free options and Mediterranean cuisine

As you look through the menu, keep an eye out for "Hall of Fame" recipes. These are HelloFresh’s most popular dishes. They regularly appear on the menu due to customer demand, making them an excellent choice for your initial order.

Navigating HelloFresh’s site and finding meal information is a breeze. However, the absence of filters can make it challenging to pinpoint specific recipes, requiring you to manually scroll and search the whole menu. Check out my colleague’s review of their experience testing HelloFresh’s service at home.

As someone with a particular diet, I found the menu fairly difficult to navigate. I avoid gluten, sugar, and simple starches, and I had to read through every ingredient list to find meals that would work for me. Green Chef has better filters and more allergy-friendly options for people like me.

HelloFresh’s recipes are clearly marked with preparation time and skill level information. Prep times are labeled on the main menu recipe cards, and clicking a meal image reveals ingredients, nutritional information, and allergen details. Prep times range from 15 to 50 minutes, with most meals taking around 30 minutes to complete. 

HelloFresh offers an array of international cuisines beyond traditional American fare. You'll discover Mexican, Indian, French, Middle Eastern, Korean, Mediterranean, and more. Its cookbook boasts over 2,500 past recipes and is available online for free. 

The service's comprehensive FAQ section is a convenient resource for quickly finding the information you need. It had answers for many of the questions I had about delivery, billing, order placement, ingredients, and more.

HelloFresh's customer support is available 24/7 and is highly responsive. You can contact representatives through chat or phone. Additionally, the company offers a top-rated app for download on Google Play or the App Store.

You have the option to order 2-6 recipes per week for either 2 or 4 people. Prices start at $3.32 per serving, but ordering fewer meals may result in a higher cost per serving.

5. Home Chef –  Great Protein Customization Options in Tampa

Home Chef lets you order up to 36 meals each week, making it ideal for larger families. Additionally, you can supplement your weekly menu with add-ons like breakfasts and desserts.

What distinguishes Home Chef is its Customize It feature, which lets you switch or double-up the proteins in many dishes. For example, you can replace chicken breasts with ground beef, add an extra serving of tilapia, or exchange ground pork for ground chicken.

Bear in mind that protein customization often usually means an upcharge, as my colleague discovered. Check out our detailed review for more information on available menu options.

The menu primarily consists of American cuisine that caters to a wide range of tastes. The French Onion Beef Meatloaf, for instance, is a crowd-pleaser perfect for children. You can also customize this dish with alternative proteins like ground pork or ground turkey.

For an elevated dining experience, Home Chef provides premium meat options like sirloin steak or filet mignon as protein upgrades. If you love experimenting with your cooking skills, you can also order ingredients from the Extras menu, including proteins, vegetables, and sides.

A unique feature of Home Chef’s service is that you can choose different serving sizes for individual recipes. Most services make you get the same serving size for each recipe in your weekly order. This lets you increase your order of familiar favorites, and add a few servings of new recipes you’d like to try.

However, Home Chef is not the best choice for dietary concerns. Although you can customize proteins, other ingredients cannot be excluded or swapped. As a result, Home Chef is most suitable for people without dietary limitations. For niche diets, Green Chef is a better option.

A feature I value in Home Chef is the option to select a delivery day. Depending on your zip code, you’ll be able to choose any delivery day between Monday and Friday. You can stay updated on your delivery status through text message notifications from the carrier or Home Chef's mobile app.

Home Chef meals start at $7.99 per serving, but each meal is individually priced. You can order 2 to 6 recipes per week for 2, 4, or 6 people, meaning you can get up to 36 servings per week. This is much more than the average meal delivery service!

6. Fresh and Easy – Easy Prep Meals from Home Chef’s Menu

Fresh and Easy is a fantastic choice for busy Tampa residents. This assortment of Home Chef's most straightforward recipes comes chopped, pre-portioned, and ready to cook. Additionally, you'll find a variety of oven-ready options delivered in convenient heat-safe trays, eliminating the need for pots and pans.

Most meals on this menu take no more than 15 minutes to prepare. The Philly-Style Cheesesteak Tostadas with cheddar-jack sauce (pictured above), for example, are ideal for a special night in and can be prepared in just 15 minutes. You can check out my colleague’s review of Fresh and Easy for more on its menu.

Fresh and Easy subscribers can still order from Home Chef's complete menu. Most of these meals require around 30 minutes or more for preparation, allowing you to mix and match Fresh and Easy with Home Chef dishes as desired.

You can also add extras from Home Chef's primary menu, featuring fully prepared items like premixed salads, soups, sides, breads, breakfasts, and beverages. You'll even come across microwaveable desserts and snacks like Blueberry Crisp Cakes and White Cheddar Mac & Cheese.

Fresh and Easy offers the same Customize It feature as Home Chef’s, so you can personalize your proteins. This means you can switch out fish for meat in certain dishes, offering more versatility in your meal planning. In the Philly-Style Cheesesteak Tostadas recipe shown above, you have the option of swapping steak strips for diced chicken breasts and sliced pork.

Similar to Home Chef’s menu, Fresh and Easy doesn't accommodate specific dietary needs like some other meal delivery services, such as Green Chef. If you follow a vegan, gluten-free, or keto diet, you’ll have to read ingredient cards and nutrition facts to ensure each recipe is right for you.

The minimum and maximum orders for Fresh and Easy are consistent with Home Chef's – 2 recipes for 2 people per week, and 6 recipes for 6 people per week, respectively. Each item is individually priced, starting at $7.99 per serving.

7. BistroMD – Calorie-Conscious Heat-and-Eat Meals

BistroMD’s menu includes 7 curated menus of low-calorie, dietitian-designed meals. Recipes arrive in an insulated package, frozen and fully-prepared. All you need to do is make freezer or fridge space, then heat in the microwave when you’re ready to eat.

BistroMD's recipes are designed for a 1,200- or 1,400-calorie diet. Each meal has an average of about 300 kcal each but ranges from 280 to 500 kcal per serving. Calorie counts and nutritional information are clearly displayed on the website as well as on each meal’s packaging. For more details about ordering, you can check out my colleague's thorough review of BistroMD's entire meal delivery service.

Ingredient substitutions are not available for any recipe on the menu. Each recipe is designed to be eaten as is, in order to help you stay on track with your weight loss goals. While having a fridge full of heat-and-eat meals is super convenient for maintaining any diet plan, the lack of ingredient substitutions can be a dealbreaker for some. 

BistroMD has meal plans to accommodate several different diets. You can choose from Signature, Gluten-Free, Heart Healthy, Keto Flex, Diabetic, Vegan, and Menopause plans. Be aware that the Keto flex plan is essentially a low-carb, medium-fat program and won't induce ketosis. 

Despite its customization restrictions, BistroMD serves balanced meals made up of whole foods. Each meal contains proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats with macro balances corresponding to the meal plan you choose.

All meals arrive fully cooked, frozen, and individually portioned for your convenience. So, this service is best for individuals wanting to get a jumpstart on a low-calorie diet. This service handles all meal choices, making it ideal for individuals who have difficulty deciding what to eat while on a diet.

I’m always skeptical of frozen meal delivery services, since you don’t know how long the meals have been in storage. That’s why I prefer the prepared meals from Factor, which ships everything fresh and never frozen.

You can choose 2 or 3 meals for 5 or 7 days per plan, allowing you to select up to 21 meals per week. That means BistroMD can supply all of your weekly meals for a truly comprehensive diet plan.

The maximum plan of 21 meals costs $8.24 per serving. The price per serving goes up for smaller plans, so keep that in mind when budgeting. Overall, BistroMD is a convenient diet meal delivery service, but it’s best suited for people trying to lose weight.

8. Trifecta – Best Prepared Meals for Fitness

Trifecta offers high-quality microwavable meals with clean ingredients like meat, fish, complex carbs, and vegetables. The food arrives fully prepared, seasoned with simple ingredients such as olive oil, garlic, onion, thyme, and rosemary. Recipes are totally free from artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, processed foods, and preservatives.

My colleague found that Trifecta is a great service for athletes or anyone who wants help meeting their fitness goals. Our dedicated Trifecta review goes into greater detail about the service and its personalized, performance-minded meals. 

Trifecta provides a variety of dietary plans, including:

• Classic – popular recipes using Trifecta’s high-quality ingredients

• Keto – high fat, moderate protein, low carb meals

• Paleo – dairy-free and grain-free meals

• High Protein Vegetarian – protein-conscious meals without meat

• High Protein Vegan – great for vegans needing more protein

• Whole30 – meant for a portion-controlled 30-day dietary reset 

As a bonus, Trifecta’s entire menu is gluten-free! You can choose 5, 7, 10, or 14 entrees per week and even add breakfasts to each plan (except when selecting 5 entrees, in which case 5 breakfasts are automatically included).

The meals are delivered in microwave-ready trays, portioned for individual servings. I find the use of microwave-ready trays quite handy, as it simplifies food storage and allows for tray repurposing. It also simplifies meal planning, since I can just reach into the fridge and grab any meal to pop in the microwave.

Unlike most services, Trifecta doesn’t let you pick your own recipes on most plans. Instead, its chefs curate your weekly menu based on your taste and dietary preferences. If this doesn’t sound appealing, Trifecta’s Classic plan lets you pick from a small list of 9 recipes.

The service includes a handy nutrition-tracking app, which enables easy macro tracking for your meals. The app integrates all of the recipes and permits barcode scanning for other products you might add to your dishes.

It's important to mention that Trifecta is one of the pricier services on my list. For instance, a full week of 7 breakfasts and 14 entrees can exceed $300. The cost per serving begins at $6.00.

9. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Meals in Tampa

Purple Carrot is the only service on my list that offers 100% plant-based meals. It offers both meal kits and microwave-ready options, but you can’t mix and match. If you subscribe to the meal kit plan, however, you’ll get access to Purple Carrot’s line of Less Prep meals as well.

I love that Purple Carrot relies on fresh veggies rather than processed meat substitutes. The pictured Mushroom Patty Melts use – you guessed it – fresh mushrooms to mimic the meaty texture and savory flavor of a traditional patty melt. Even meat eaters will enjoy this hearty dish.

Every week, there are over 12 meal kit recipes to choose from, including some 5-minute breakfasts and 15-minute lunches in addition to the standard dinner menu. My colleague tested out Purple Carrot for themself and was pleased with the variety of recipes, even though the menu is smaller than other services like HelloFresh.

The diverse range of cuisines offered by Purple Carrot caters to adventurous taste buds. Each meal kit showcases a variety of vegetables, herbs, and spices, making veggies the main focus. The menu includes Mediterranean, Indian, Asian, and Southeast Asian-inspired recipes.

Purple Carrot’s ready-to-eat meal options are a more convenient way to eat plant-based. This separate menu has 8 recipes each week, suitable for lunch or dinner. These single-serving meals are ready in as little as 2 to 3 minutes, making them perfect for vegans on the go.

The microwaveable meals come in recyclable packaging and span various cuisines. There’s everything from vegan Mac n’ Cheese to the Indian-inspired Palak Cauliflower. I like that the menu is diverse and interesting whether you opt for meal kits or prepared meals.

Purple Carrot isn’t fully organic, but it provides local, seasonal produce when possible. Most non-produce items (beans, nuts, tofu, etc.) are certified organic, and the company is working to overcome shipping constraints to offer more organic and non-GMO products.

Purple Carrot starts at $8.50 per serving, but the pricing depends on your plan. You can order 3-4 meal kits per week for 2 people or 2-3 meals for 4 people. Single-serving prepared meals come in bundles of 6, 8, or 10 meals per week.

10. Dinnerly – Best Budget-Friendly Meal Kits in Tampa

Dinnerly stands out as the most wallet-friendly meal delivery service on the market. It’s easily the cheapest meal kit on my list, but don’t let the low price fool you. Dinnerly actually has a large menu and many upgrade options.

On average, meals take between 30 and 45 minutes to prepare, and the recipes are suitable for chefs of all skill levels. Dinnerly also offers a small selection of ready-made meals that can be heated in the microwave or oven. Regardless of your culinary experience, Dinnerly meals are easy to put together.

Dinnerly is owned by Marley Spoon, so you’ll see quite a few meal and service similarities – including a commitment to sustainability. Check out my colleague’s comprehensive review about Dinnerly’s service, including how Dinnerly reduces paper and plastic waste in its shipping and delivery process.

The main menu displays various dietary tags on each recipe card. These include Spicy, Low Cal, Low Carb, Dairy Free, No Gluten Added, and many others. Unfortunately, you can’t filter the menu by diet. If you have specific allergies or other needs, you'll need to scroll through and scan for recipes that suit your diet.

Given the affordable price, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of cuisines available. Dinnerly’s menu features classic American fare, Mexican, and Italian dishes as well as Indian, Asian, and Mediterranean-inspired recipes.

Despite the budget-friendly price point, Dinnerly offers a Customizable feature for certain recipes. This gives you the option to upgrade proteins or sides for a small upcharge. An extra $0.49 per serving can get you sweet potatoes instead of russets, while protein upgrades range from $1.49 to $5.99 per serving.

Dinnerly’s menu also features extras and add-ons to round out your weekly order. You’ll find sweet and savory breakfasts as well as a range of dessert items like brownies and pudding. I was impressed with the overall selection, especially for a budget service.

Dinnerly's minimum order is 3 meals for 2 people per week, but you can order up to 6 meals for 4 people. With most meals being kid-friendly, this makes Dinnerly an excellent choice for families. Pricing starts at $2.12 per serving but varies depending on your order size.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in Tampa

When choosing a meal delivery service, finding one that meets your specific needs and preferences is essential. Here are 4 tips to help you make the best choice:

• Consider dietary requirements: Assess each meal delivery service's ability to cater to your dietary needs, such as vegetarian, gluten-free, or keto options. For plant-based diets, try Purple Carrot.

• Consider the quality of ingredients: Opt for a service that prioritizes fresh and high-quality ingredients to ensure delicious and nutritious meals. Green Chef, for instance, is renowned for its use of organic and sustainably-sourced ingredients.
  

• Consider convenience: Evaluate how easy it is to prepare meals and how much time you're willing to spend in the kitchen. This will help you find a service that fits your schedule and cooking abilities. For ready-made meals, consider Factor.

• Consider budget: Determine how much you're willing to spend on meal delivery and choose a service that fits within your budget. Dinnerly is a budget-friendly option worth considering as it has features and premium upgrade options that compete with premium services.

FAQ

Are the meal delivery services in Tampa suitable for special diets?

Yes, many meal delivery services in Tampa cater to special diets. Green Chef is the top meal kit service for niche diets on my list, and it offers 7 diet-specific plans such as Keto, Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Protein-Packed.  

Can I get organic ingredients from meal delivery services in Tampa?

Yes, some meal delivery services in Tampa prioritize organic ingredients. Green Chef, for example, is known for using organic and sustainably-sourced ingredients in its meal plans, ensuring high-quality and environmentally-friendly options.

Are meal delivery services in Tampa budget-friendly?

Dinnerly is the most affordable meal delivery service in Tampa on my list, but each service offers a range of price points to suit different budgets. Be sure to compare the prices and features to find meals that fit your budget and don’t forget to calculate shipping costs for each delivery.

10 Best Meal Delivery Services in Tampa in 2023 — Final Score