9 Best Meal Delivery Services in Tuscaloosa 2023 (Updated)
There’s so much that Druid City has to offer, from the downtown scene to the great outdoors. So, grab your bike and fishing rod and go have a blast at Lake Nicol. The food’s been taken care of.
Simply choose one of the best meal delivery services in Tuscaloosa in 2023. My colleagues and I have put together this list taking into consideration affordability, taste, and convenience, among other criteria.
Home Chef is the winner and here’s why. It offers a versatile menu at a great price, and will be a good match for singles and families alike.
Take a look and see which meal delivery service works the best for you, and enjoy the free time it saves you!
Short on Time? Here Are the Best Meal Delivery Services in Tuscaloosa
Home Chef – The best overall meal service for Tuscaloosa
Blue Apron – The best combo of meals and wine in Tuscaloosa
Purple Carrot – The most creative plant-based dishes in Tuscaloosa
HelloFresh – The best family-friendly meal kits straight from the farm
Sunbasket – The best healthy meals for all kinds of diets and preferences
The Best Meal Delivery Services in Tuscaloosa Reviewed
1. Home Chef – The Best Overall Meal Service for Tuscaloosa
Key Features
Great price – starting at $7.99 per portion
Family-friendly – an order feeds up to eight people
New recipes all the time – thanks to the weekly rotation
Current deal: Get 18 Free Meals (50% off your first 4 boxes)!
Home Chef brings Tuscaloosa residents the perfect balance between easy and healthy.
Whether you want something fancier, like the above-pictured Smoked Almond and Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast from the Culinary Collection, or simple 15-minute tacos, you have plenty of options to choose from.
With the Fast & Fresh meals, you can save even more time as they’re ready to pop in the microwave. With your extra time, you can go for a walk along the River Side or take it with you for a nice picnic at Capitol Park.
What’s cool is that you can customize the protein in your recipes. Want a veggie patty for your burger? No problem. Fancy some salmon instead of pork chops? Yes, sir. Or even double the meat, if you feel so inclined. You can read more about the customization options in my colleague’s review..
Besides the Vegetarian, Carb-conscious, and Calorie-conscious plans, you can also order desserts, breakfasts, or protein bundles.
2. Blue Apron – The Best Combo of Meals and Wine in Alabama
Key Features
Marketplace – order kitchen utensils and unique spice blends
Microwave-friendly – three prepared meal options each week
Eco-friendly – recyclable packaging
Current deal: Enjoy $180 off across your first 6 orders
Blue Apron offers Signature, Wellness, and Vegetarian plans for two people, and a Signature for Four which is perfect for small families in Tuscaloosa. Read more about the plans in our dedicated review.
The weekly-changing menu features meat, fish, Beyond Meat™, WW™ recommended, and diabetes-friendly options. Some are more crafty, like the gourmet burgers, and some are labeled Premium and feature more sophisticated ingredients – these both cost a bit extra.
But most of the menu is suitable for the whole family, like the Fig-Balsamic Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Vegetables. And you also have the prepared meals, which are ready in five minutes in the microwave to save you extra time.
If you don’t want to get a weekly subscription straight away, you can order bundles of meal kits in the Market section on the website. You can order wine boxes the same way, or you can get a separate wine subscription to perfectly complement your exquisite meals.
3. Purple Carrot – The Most Creative Plant-Based Dishes in Tuscaloosa
Key Features
Breakfast and lunch options – ready in 5-15 minutes
Plantry – pantry items, but vegan
Healthy recipes – to help you keep cholesterol and sugar in check
Current deal: Get $30 off with code carrot30
Whether you follow a strict vegan diet or you just want to eat more healthy, Purple Carrot’s recipes are an easy way to incorporate more veggies into your diet, while satisfying your taste buds and your tummy alike.
Look at this colorful Sticky Apricot Seitan, for example. It features green beans and quinoa-speckled rice, has under 600 calories, and is high in protein. Plus, it’s under the Nut-Free label, in case you have allergies.
Other labels on the menu include Gluten-free, Soy-free, and Chef’s Choice. More on this in my colleague’s review.
If you’re worried about time, almost all meal kits are ready in under 35 minutes. And if you’re super busy (or lazy, like most of us), you’ll be happy to hear Purple Carrot also offers 12 prepared meals per week.
They’re ready in two minutes, max, and come in microwave-safe containers. The recipes are labeled as dinners, but they can make great lunches as well.
What’s more, shipping is free to Tuscaloosa residents on all orders. Yay!
4. HelloFresh – The Best Family-Friendly Meal Kits Straight from the Farm
Key Features
Easy to plan ahead – you can see the menu six weeks in advance
Premium Picks – options for more sophisticated dinner nights
Well-tested recipes – including a Hall of Fame of customer favorites
HelloFresh is great for families, thanks to its crowd-pleasing recipes, from One-Pot Wonders to tacos and pasta dishes.
You can order up to six weekly recipes for two or four people, so you don’t have to worry about what to cook for dinner during the week. It’s perfect for couples and small families alike.
You can choose from recipes under numerous categories including Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Quick and Easy, and Veggie.
My colleague’s review expands more on what’s offered from each category, but the good news is that the plans aren’t set-in-stone plans. You can choose anything from the 25+ weekly recipes in your order.
You can even change up the recipes if you like. Chicken in the Roasted Veggie Kale salad sounds good, but what if I told you you could choose steak instead? You can also switch side dishes, so if crispy potatoes sound like too many carbs for you, simply select broccoli instead.
5. Sunbasket – The Best Healthy Meals for All Kinds of Diets and Preferences
Key Features
Diversity – choose from 10 different plans
Premium quality – organic produce, responsibly-sourced meats and seafood
Convenience – order grocery items available as well
Sunbasket is a wonderful choice if you’re particularly health-conscious or follow a specific diet. There’s something for everyone: vegans, vegetarians, followers of the paleo diet, people with allergies to soy or dairy, and people with diabetes.
More on the plans in our in-depth review.
The menu has a Mediterranean vibe, with lots of recipes inspired by European and Asian cuisines. The Shakshuka with Spinach, Feta, and Toasted Pita, which is featured in the Lean & Clean and Vegetarian categories has only 530 calories per serving.
There are meal kits as well as prepared meals on Sunbasket’s menu, and that’s not all. There’s a huge Market section filled with everything you can imagine, including breakfast and lunch options, juice, coffee, pasta, sauces, proteins, and cheese slices.
Just a small note: while Sunbasket has a Gluten-Free-Friendly meal plan, if you suffer from a serious allergy you should check out a service like Green Chef instead, which has a certified gluten-free plan.
6. Marley Spoon – Inspired Recipes from Martha Stewart
Key Features
Kid-friendly recipes – recipes the whole family can enjoy
Tons of choice – with 40+ unique recipes per week
Sustainability – commitment to carbon neutrality
You can take a glimpse into Martha Stewart’s kitchen with these carefully curated meal kits. They include unique flavors thanks to the proprietary spice blends, and make use of ingredients in creative ways.
But don’t worry, they’re still super accessible to the average cook, like our detailed review shows. Some of the recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less, and all of them require just six simple steps.
This is why all recipes are labeled easy, from one-pot meals to the Spice-Crusted Steak pictured above. No hassle.
You can choose from five categories: Health & Diet, Vegetarian & Vegan, Meat & Fish, Under 30 Minutes, and Family-Friendly.
The menu has an international feel with Mexican, Asian, European, or classic American fare. You’ll be sure to get a nice tour of different cuisines.
I think it’s nice that one of the priorities of Marley Spoon is sustainability. While carbon emissions are unavoidable, it counteracts them with carbon offset projects, like planting trees. Plus, the packaging is 100% recyclable.
7. Green Chef – All-Organic Meal Kits for Special Diets
Key Features
USDA-certified organic – for the highest quality
Chef-crafted recipes – that make you feel like a pro
Good for celiacs – with a special gluten-free plan
What makes Green Chef shine is that it’s 100% USDA-certified organic. All ingredients are sustainably sourced from trusted farms to ensure the highest quality.
There are 12 recipes on the menu each week, so you won’t feel overwhelmed by choices. But they still cater to different dietary needs and preferences, from the Keto + Paleo dishes to the Plant-Powered vegan and vegetarian meals.
Some of the recipes are Mediterranean-inspired, while others are labeled Fast & Fit thanks to the low calorie count per portion.
Many recipes feature proprietary sauces and spice blends. For example, the keto-friendly Grilling Cheese pictured above comes with premade creamy chimichurri. The premium Beef Tenderloin in Coconut Aminos recipe comes with a Shichimi Togarashi spice blend and a Spicy Ginger-Lime Aïoli.
All this comes with a price, of course. You can read our expert review to see if everything that Green Chef offers is worth this price for you.
8. EveryPlate – The Most Affordable Meal Delivery Service in Tuscaloosa
Key Features
Unbeatable price – from $1.49 per portion
Well-seasoned recipes – with complex flavor profiles
Protein packs extras – chicken breast and ranch steaks
EveryPlate is the best solution if you’re on a tight budget. An order can feed a couple or a family of four for five days per week, so it’s a great help in the kitchen.
The names of the plans are pretty self-explanatory: EasyPlate, VeggiePlate, FamilyPlate, and ClassicPlate, but you can read about the plans in our dedicated review.
The recipes feature simple ingredients and they’re more limited in number, in order to keep costs low.
But even so, the addition of spices and aromatics in each meal kit keeps things exciting, and the flavor profiles are far from boring. Umami, sweet and tangy, and spicy are just a few of the tastes on the weekly menu.
Plus, there are at least a couple of steak and seafood recipes every week in the Premium category if you crave something more sophisticated, like the Smoky Tomato Shrimp with Roasted Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes pictured above.
9. Grubhub – The Best Food Delivery Service in Tuscaloosa
Key Features
Grubhub+ – subscribe to get free deliveries
Local restaurants – your favorite takeout without leaving the house
Easy and quick – order from the app or on the website
Grubhub is a food delivery service that brings you freshly prepared food from your favorite restaurants and pubs in Tuscaloosa, including Southern Ale House and Catfish Heaven.
You simply browse the menu on the app or website, select, and hit order. Then, track the food from the restaurant to your home to see exactly when it arrives.
There’s also a new Grubhub Perks feature where you can earn rewards for your loyalty and get free food from several different restaurants. How cool is that?
Delivery fees are usually around $3-$6 per order. But you can get rid of them by signing up to Grubhub+. It costs $9.99 a month and gets you unlimited free delivery on orders of $12 or more.
It’s especially useful if you work or study from home and find yourself ordering a lot (I know I do). You can test it for free for 14 days, with zero commitment.
Top Plans | |||||||||
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| Our Rating | |||||||||
| Our Rating | |||||||||
| Starting Price | |||||||||
| Starting Price | $7.99 Per Serving | $5.74 Per Serving | $8.50 Per Serving | $3.32 Per Serving | $4.27 Per Serving | $2.99 Per Serving | $5.99 Per Serving | $1.49 Per Serving | |
| Minimum Order | |||||||||
| Minimum Order | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 3 meal kits for 2 people/6 prepared meals | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meal kits for 2 people/4 prepared meals | 2 meals for 2 people | 3 meals for 2 people | 3 meals for 2 people | Varies by supplier |
| Meal Types | |||||||||
| Meal Types | Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready, prepared | 20 - 60 min. meal kits | Meal kits, prepared meals | 20 - 30 min. meal kits | Fresh & Ready meals, 30-Min Meal Kits | 30 min. meal kits | 30-minute meal kits | 30-minute meal kits | Prepared |
| Prep Time | |||||||||
| Prep Time | 5-50 min | 5-45 min | 3-40 min | 15-40 min | 3-40 min | 20-40 min | 25-40 min | 20-45 min | 0 |
| Active Deals | |||||||||
| Active Deals | |||||||||
Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in Tuscaloosa:
There are some fool-proof criteria to choose the best meal delivery services available in your area. Here are some of them that me and my team used in the selection process:
Budget: Whether you want to splurge on a premium dish and feel like a fancy chef or cut back on meal costs, look for a service that fits into your budget. Many of the services on this list have options for both cases.
Diets: Every member of the family should have options on the menu, so you should look for a company that provides meals for your specific needs and preferences. Low-carb, low-cal, vegetarian, keto, or diabetes-friendly, you’ll find some great variety on this list.
Flavor: Let’s be real, no one wants to eat bland food. Even if you prefer a plant-based diet, you’re on keto, or opt for a cheaper option with fewer ingredients, the recipes should include a lot of aromatics and spices, not just salt and pepper.
Flexibility: You need to be able to skip deliveries, pause your subscription, and cancel any time you want. Luckily, I’ve only put flexible delivery services on this list, to save you some trouble.
Bottom Line: Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It?
Yes, very much so. Meal delivery services help you have control over what you eat, reduce takeaway costs, and even help you become a better chef.
It’s easy to find meals that align with your specific dietary needs and you won’t need to wander around grocery stores for hours anymore. You can spend that time sunbathing at Lake Lurleen or going to a concert at the Amphitheater instead.
You can check out my top choice for Tuscaloosa to see if the menu inspires you. But no matter which meal delivery service on this list agrees with your taste, you’re in good hands.
FAQ
What is the most affordable meal delivery service in Tuscaloosa?
EveryPlate is the most affordable meal delivery service in Tuscaloosa. With meals starting at $1.49 per serving, it caters to all types of budgets. You can also use our special discount code to save even more on your first few orders.
Home Chef also offers affordable meals that can help you save money and time, as many of the dishes are low- or no-prep. Read more about Home Chef’s menu, which includes vegetarian, low-calorie, and low-carb dishes.
What is the best healthy meal delivery service in Tuscaloosa?
Sunbasket is the best healthy meal delivery service for Tuscaloosa residents, with both meal kits and prepared meals that feature organic ingredients. You can read more about Sunbasket’s many plans above.
What is the best diet meal delivery service in Tuscaloosa?
Home Chef delivers low-calorie and low-carb meal kits to Tuscaloosa customers. You shouldn't have to break the bank or move mountains to follow a healthy and easy diet, which is why Home Chef is an excellent choice and top of my list.
What is the best vegetarian meal delivery service in Tuscaloosa?
Purple Carrot is the best vegetarian meal service in Tuscaloosa. With both meal kits and prepared meals, it features exotic recipes that are high in protein and overall super healthy. Read more about Purple Carrot’s menu, including its quick breakfast and lunch options and plant-based pantry items.
