Navigating the abundance of meal delivery services in Tucson can feel overwhelming. Each promises convenience and quality, yet not all fit every lifestyle or taste preference. Tucson's vibrant food scene reflects a diversity of culinary tastes, but finding a meal delivery service that consistently matches this quality and variety is a challenge.
I’ve extensively researched and tested various services across Tucson. I've identified the best options that stand out for their menu diversity, ingredient quality, and customer service. My list focuses on the services that offer the best balance of taste, nutritional value, and convenience.
Factor emerges as my top recommendation for the best meal delivery service in Tucson. It offers chef-crafted meals that cater to a range of dietary preferences. Whether you're seeking keto, paleo, or just healthy, delicious meals, Factor is the go-to choice for busy Tucsonans who don't want to sacrifice quality for convenience.
Factor – Best for busy professionals in Tucson
Green Chef – Best for clean eating and dietary preferences
Blue Apron – Best gourmet meals for home cooks
HelloFresh – Best convenient meal kits in Tucson
Home Chef – Best for customizable recipes
High quality produce and some organic items
35 unique recipes per week, plus add-ons
Dietary options include vegetarian, calorie-smart, keto, and more
Current deal: Enjoy a total of $130 off throughout your first 6 boxes + first box ships free!
Factor is a meal delivery service that specializes in diet-friendly prepared meals. The menu consists of single-serving dishes designed to be tastier and healthier than your average store-bought frozen dinner. In fact, Factor’s meals are never frozen and always delivered fresh.
I like that there are no restrictions, so you can add any meal you want to your box. You can purchase meals such as the classic Potato Leek Mash & Grilled Chicken to more upscale dishes like the Truffle Butter Filet Mignon, which is part of the Gourmet Plus section.
Each entrée is designed to be healthy and nutritious without sacrificing flavor. Plus, the menu rotates weekly to keep your palate entertained. You’ll also find a good selection of vegetarian and vegan options (around 3 options for each category each week), which works well for those with dietary restrictions.
The menu has options from international cuisines, such as Mexican, Mediterranean, and Asian. We tried Factor's meals and loved the overall culinary diversity and authentic taste.
Factor offers limited customization options since all its meals are premade. But you have all the necessary information (allergen info included) with each recipe. This way, you can make an informed decision when adding a meal to your order.
I like that you can book a free nutrition session with Factor, even before signing up. The service connects you with nutritionists for customized dietary advice and can help you improve your eating habits. If you like it, you can book more.
Another feature I love about Factor is the Add-ons section. Here you can find a multitude of items, such as smoothies, juices, shakes, breakfasts, healthy desserts, sides, and cooked proteins. And the items change every week!
Factor pricing varies by order size, with larger orders providing the best savings. For example, you can get 18 meals for $103.41 on your first order with our link.
Organic produce that’s locally sourced where possible
45+ weekly dishes and add-ons
8 meal plans, including Keto, Mediterranean, and Quick & Easy
Current deal: Enjoy 50% Off + Free Shipping + 20% Off For 2 Months!
Green Chef prides itself on providing organic, wholesome, and easy-to-cook meal kits. The company stands out due to its commitment to using sustainable and high-quality ingredients from trusted sources.
This meal delivery service is a CCOF-Certified Organic company. Produce and eggs are organic whenever possible. The meat and seafood ingredients, while not always organic, come from reputable providers that use humane and sustainable methods.
The Green Chef menu caters to various dietary preferences, including keto and vegan. It also features cuisines from around the world, including Pan-Asian, Mediterranean, and South American.
The service provides speedy recipes with useful shortcuts. Most are easy to follow with minimal prep times of 30 minutes or less. This truly impressed us when we tested Green Chef.
Green Chef doesn’t offer meal customization options, but you can choose based on your dietary preferences. Each week, you’ll find at least 25 gluten-free dishes, 10 plant-based meals, and 10 keto recipes. There are also 10-min Lunches as well as brunch options and bundles.
To spice up your order, Green Chef has a well-stocked Add-Ons section. Here, you’ll find essentials like cooked proteins, healthy desserts, lunch and brunch options, and more. But keep in mind that these items are priced separately and are added to your box cost.
Speaking of pricing, Green Chef’s meals start at $9.99 per serving for the maximum order. The service has plans for families (with 4 or 6 members) and couples and lets you order between 3 and 4 servings per person.
Blue Apron offers pre-portioned ingredients and gourmet recipes to cook at home. Its menu of meal kits is packed with creative recipes, and the service has freshly prepared meals for those who prefer not to cook.
The menu changes weekly, so there’s plenty of variety. The recipes are always inventive, and there’s a range of vegetarian, low-calorie, and family-friendly options to choose from. I mean, it’s not every day you get to enjoy impressive dishes like Spanish Shrimp Rice or Curry Butter Chicken & Mango Rice!
Blue Apron's menu has limited customization options, but you can personalize some of the recipes. For instance, the “Make It Vegetarian” label lets you replace the meat. Other options include swapping pork for beef or replacing chicken for salmon. You’ll find at least 7 of these dishes each week.
There are also a few add-ons, ranging from cooked proteins, salads, and lunch options to ready-made meals with up to 2 servings. We tried both the meal kits and the add-ons for our in-depth Blue Apron review and loved the overall ingredient quality and freshness.
Blue Apron also offers a variety of meal kits with different prep times and difficulties. Most meal kits fit in the 20 to 35 minutes prep time, but some take up to 55 minutes. Its recipes are easy to follow and can be broken down into steps using the Cook Along feature, which is really helpful. You can serve Prepared & Ready meals in a few minutes.
Pricing differs depending on the meal type and how many people in your household will be cooking/eating each week. The price per serving starts at $4.00 per serving for meal kits, and you can order for 2 or 4 people, up to 5 meals per week. Prepared meals are somewhat pricier, and you can order 4, 6, 8, or 10 dishes.
What’s great about this service is that you can always add as many extra meals as you need. And you can buy both meal kits and prepared meals in 1 week if you make separate orders. Alternatively, you can switch between plans week by week.
Responsibly sourced, farm-fresh ingredients
100+ weekly recipes
Dietary options include vegan, vegetarian, calorie smart, and more
HelloFresh offers a collection of recipes that are perfect for families, couples, and singles alike. Its plans include Meat & Veggies, Fit & Wholesome, Under 20 Minutes, Pescatarian, and more. These guide your recommendations, but you’ll always have access to the full menu.
Meal choices include fan favorites marked with a Hall of Fame tag. There are also plant-based meals, like the Vegan Street Cart-Style Chickpea Bowls, and fresh seafood options, like the Miso Maple–Glazed Salmon. We taste-tasted HelloFresh for ourselves and were thoroughly impressed with the flavors.
HelloFresh’s extensive menu is varied, including low-prep meal kits and gourmet recipes. The quick-prep recipes take around 20-30 minutes to prepare and are easy to find by following tags like Quick, Easy-Prep, or One-Pan. The fancier gourmet recipes are labeled as Premium Picks, take between 40 and 55 minutes to prep and cook, and come with an additional cost.
The HelloCustom feature is useful if you want to mix things up on the menu. This option is available for around 12 recipes each week, and it allows you to swap proteins and sides to find options that best fit your preferences.
This service also has a surprisingly well-stocked Marketplace section. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of items, such as lunches, breakfasts, ready-made meals, sides, snacks, cooked proteins, kids' lunches, smoothies, bread, desserts, and more. These items are priced individually and come as an extra to your order.
HelloFresh's kid-friendly options include dishes that appeal to younger palates, such as Mushroom & Herb Shepherd's Pie, and quick 10-minute lunches like Crunchy Ranch Veggie Roll-Ups. This variety ensures that even the pickiest eaters have options they'll enjoy.
HelloFresh is affordably priced, especially for larger orders that offer a lower per-serving rate. For example, new users can get 6 meals for 4 people for just $107.75 when using our link.
Different meal kit types to suit your schedule
35+ unique recipes every week and extras
Dietary options include low-carb, vegetarian, and low-calorie
Home Chef’s menu variety and customization options make it perfect for a city like Tucson. The service caters to foodies, families, busy professionals, and anyone who craves a convenient, flavorful meal that takes 30 to 40 minutes to prep and cook. Plus, many of these recipes help you create restaurant-quality meals in the comfort of your home.
The menu includes a wide variety of dishes for all tastes. Home Chef has the Culinary Collection for foodies, where you’ll find premium options. For vegetarians, there are around 5 to 7 entrees each week. And for people on a diet, there are carb- and calorie-conscious recipes.
Home Chef’s recipes are easy to cook, and you can pick meals that fit your skills. For instance, if you don’t like spending much time in the kitchen, the menu features Easy Prep, Oven-ready, and Express meal kits that are ready in under 30 minutes. You can read more about this in our in-depth Home Chef review.
Most recipes let you swap, upgrade, or double up on protein as needed. For example, you can make your Sunday Supper Pot Roast Meatballs vegetarian or swap the beef for pork. This extends your menu options and opens up new horizons for people who have specific dietary needs.
The customization option offered by Home Chef (Customize It) lets you swap or upgrade the protein as needed. As a result, it’s effortless to find meals you like, even if you have to modify the ingredients.
Offering both prepared meals and keto-friendly options, it caters to those looking for convenience as well as individuals following specific dietary plans. This versatility makes Home Chef a good choice for people seeking both ease and meals that suit dietary restrictions.
I like that if you can’t find the right combination of ingredients, you always have the Extras section, which is packed with options for lunch, breakfast, dessert, and more. This means less grocery shopping for meal essentials.
With Home Chef, you can order for couples and families (with 4 and 6 members), and prices start at $9.99 per serving. Each item is individually priced.
Meal plans designed for various dietary needs
150 meals per week, plus snacks
Dietary options, including heart-healthy, gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, and more
If you’re looking to lose weight and enjoy your meals in the process, give BistroMD a try. The service focuses on science-based nutrition to help customers lose weight while having a healthy diet. For this, BistroMD provides chef-prepared frozen meals designed by a doctor in collaboration with registered dietitians.
BistroMD offers 7 meal plans that cater to different needs, including diabetes, gluten-free, and keto. The meals are created based on a very specific formula and include, on average, 400-450 calories per serving. To learn more about BistroMD meals, make sure to check our tested review of the service.
The macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fat) are also carefully controlled for each meal. You can find all the nutrition facts on the dish’s label, so it’s easy to keep track of your intake using your favorite app.
I like that you have lots of options, and you’re not limited to eating chicken breast and broccoli. The menu is extensive, and you can choose from a vast array of ingredients like beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seafood, pasta, plant-based meals, soups, and stews. There are even a few healthy desserts and snacks.
The menu rotates weekly, and there are new items added with each season. However, BistroMD’s menu has few, if any, changes on a weekly basis. Still, due to the size of the menu and the many diets it serves, there is enough variety.
BistroMD emphasizes sustainability with its eco-friendly packaging. This commitment to reducing waste not only appeals to those looking to minimize their carbon footprint but also aligns with the growing demand for sustainable options in the meal delivery industry.
Prices start at $6.59 per serving on the largest plan, that includes all your meals for a week. But you can also choose to get only Lunches and Dinners for 5 days per week (the minimum order).
Overall, BistroMD is a great fit for individuals since the recipes are designed to each be single-serving. If you’re starting a weight-loss plan with a partner or friend, BistroMD offers a 15% discount making it even better value.
Delicious recipes even novice cooks can prepare
100+ diverse recipes each week
Dietary options include vegetarian, dairy-free, low-carb, and more
Marley Spoon is a great service for foodies and families alike. The menu boasts a huge variety of restaurant-quality meals as well as kid-friendly options. You’ll also find low-prep meals and add-ons like appetizers and desserts.
The service is suitable for many diets, with vegetarian, dairy-free, and other options. There are low-calorie and low-carb options to help with weight loss regimens, and there are even meals for less severe allergies.
Marley Spoon’s menu rotates weekly and features a wide range of cuisines. Besides classic American fare, you’ll find dishes inspired by Vietnamese, Mexican, Mediterranean, and more cuisines. For example, just check out the Greek Pork Tenderloin pictured above!
While the service specializes in meal kits, there are also some prepared meals available. Each week, you’ll find around 3 ready-made meals that you can simply heat and eat.
While Marley Spoon is primarily a meal kit service, the service does offer a solid amount of low-prep kits, but if you want a meal kit delivery service with a better selection of prepared meals, check out Home Chef’s menu.
Many of its meals are customizable. You’ll get the option to swap or upgrade your protein or side on select dishes. For example, the Thai Steak Salad comes with sirloin steak by default, but you can swap it for chicken breast, salmon, or organic sirloin steak. Premium swaps, like the salmon and organic sirloin, come with an extra charge.
The service is a great option if you want a family-friendly, affordable, and diverse menu. We were particularly impressed with the quality of the recipes in our well-researched Marley Spoon review. However, be prepared to raid the pantry for additional supplies you’ll need to create some recipes.
With the maximum box size (6 meals for 4 people each week), pricing starts at around $4.99 per serving. I think the per-serving prices are affordable on most plan sizes, but it starts to get expensive with the minimum order of 2 meals for 2 people.
Between 500 and 800 calories per serving
35+ plant-based weekly recipes and add-ons
Dietary options include vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and more
Purple Carrot is a plant-based meal delivery that helps you incorporate healthy, whole foods into your diet. The company offers both prepared meals and meal kits, as we highlight in our tried-and-tested Purple Carrot review.
Its ingredients are sourced from a variety of small farms and reliable suppliers. This way, you can be sure that only the freshest, highest-quality produce possible will end up in your ready-made meals and meal kits.
Purple Carrot’s non-produce items, like tofu and nuts, are almost all organic. Whenever possible, the company prioritizes the use of non-GMO and organic produce, but it isn’t certified organic like Green Chef.
I like that there are no processed meat substitutes in any of these recipes and also plenty of high-protein and gluten-free options. All the meals are put together by professional chefs, so you can expect restaurant-quality meals, whether ready-made or as kits.
Purple Carrot has a diverse selection, including entrees, lunches, and breakfasts. Look for the Less Prep tag for speedy recipes. There’s also a Plantry where you can order add-ons like desserts, snacks, and beverages, as well as shelf-stable items like spices.
In the prepared meals section, you’ll find a variety of single-serving microwave-ready dishes. The recipes are quite interesting and usually range from 500 to 800 calories per serving. Some of the more popular dishes in this section are Thai Peanut Noodles with Crispy Tofu and Chana Masala with Lemon Basmati Rice.
Overall, Purple Carrot's meal kits aim to make healthy eating more accessible for everyone. You can order for individuals, couples, and families, and the price per serving starts at $11.00 for meal kits.
Purple Carrot allows you to select both prepared meals and meal kits in a single order. This approach accommodates different needs and schedules, allowing for a combination of convenience with ready-to-eat options and the experience of cooking a meal from scratch.
Simple recipes with 6 or fewer ingredients
100+ dishes each week
Dietary options include low-calorie, vegetarian, dairy-free, and more
Dinnerly specializes in simple and easy-to-follow recipes that anyone can put together. Its biggest draw, however, has to be its incredibly low prices. This Marley Spoon subsidiary is easily the most affordable service on my list.
I was pleasantly surprised that such a cheap service offers organic ingredients! However, the organic options come with an upcharge, as they’re mostly limited to the more expensive PremiYUM meals. Still, the low overall price means it might be worth the occasional splurge.
Dinnerly even has some customization options to expand on its already-large menu. These cost a bit extra, but you’ll have the option to swap the protein and sides in many recipes to suit your diet and taste preferences.
The ingredients are high quality, even if you don’t upgrade them. Dinnerly sources its ingredients from both local farms and select suppliers. Instead of cutting costs here, it saves money with simplified recipes. For an affordable service with more complex recipes, check out HelloFresh.
Dinnerly's recipes are designed to be quick to prepare and often include no more than 6 ingredients. For instance, this delicious French Onion Pan-Seared Steak comes with potatoes, onions, steak, parmesan, Worcestershire sauce, and granulated garlic. The overall recipe is simple, but as explained in our detailed review of Dinnerly, the taste is restaurant-worthy.
Dinnerly enhances its service with the inclusion of market items. These additional offerings, ranging from pantry staples to unique condiments, provide a convenient way to supplement meal kits and avoids trips to the grocery store.
As another cost-saving measure, Dinnerly doesn’t provide images on its recipes. This could make following them more tricky if you prefer visual cues. But I do like that you can opt out of receiving the physical copies of recipes in your delivery and just read them from your phone.
Dinnerly starts at $2.12 per serving for 6 meals for 4 people each week. You can order for 2 or 4 people, between 2 and 6 meals per week, and you’ll have to pay a fixed fee for shipping. Overall, Dinnerly is the most convenient and affordable meal kit delivery service on my list.
Top Plans | |||||||||
Top Plans | |||||||||
Our Rating | |||||||||
Our Rating | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 9.4 | 9.2 |
Best Offer | |||||||||
Best Offer | $103.41 | $9.99 Per Serving | $4.00 Per Serving | $107.75 | $9.99 Per Serving | $6.59 Per Serving | $4.99 Per Serving | $11.00 Per Serving | $2.12 Per Serving |
Minimum Order | |||||||||
Minimum Order | 6 prepared meals | 3 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 10 prepared meals | 2 meals for 2 people | 3 meal kits for 2 people/6 prepared meals | 3 meals for 2 people |
Meal Types | |||||||||
Meal Types | Prepared meals | 10-45 minute meal kits | 5 - 60 min meal kits and prepared meals | Meal kits, speedy kits, prepared meals | Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready | Prepared meals | 30-60 min meal kits | Meal kits, prepared meals | 30-minute meal kits |
Prep Time | |||||||||
Prep Time | 2-3 min | 25-40 min | 5-45 min | 5-50 min | 5-50 min | 2-3 min | 20-40 min | 3-40 min | 20-45 min |
Active Deals | |||||||||
Active Deals |
Here are some of the most important criteria I used to create my list:
Dinnerly is your best bet when you’re looking for a budget-friendly meal delivery service. Compared to other meal delivery services, Dinnerly offers some of the most budget-friendly options without sacrificing the quality and flavor of their meals.
Factor’s prepared meals are some of the healthiest available in Tucson. It offers many plans suitable for different dietary needs, including keto, vegetarian, and low-calorie options.
Green Chef is definitely worth considering. The service offers a range of options, including gluten-free, keto, and vegan meals. Plus, the menu is diverse and features organic, sustainably sourced ingredients.