10 Best Meal Delivery Services in New York 2021: Eat Better

Planning meals ahead is often the key to healthy eating. However, local supermarkets and bodegas are so often overwhelmed with delivery orders, you might not get a slot for weeks. That’s why it might be time to look into meal delivery services. These life-changing companies will not only significantly cut your time at the grocery store but keep you on track with eating better, too.

From grab-and-go prepared meals to quick lunchtime solutions, organic meal kits to specialized diet plans, these meal delivery services cover all bases.

Just set the number of people you're cooking for, decide how many meals you'd like each week, et voilà, you’ll receive prepared meals or portioned ingredients, ready for you to assemble and cook.

Short on time? Here Are The Best Meal Delivery Services in NYC for 2021

• Home Chef – Best overall meal delivery service in NYC

• Blue Apron – Best gourmet meal kit delivery service in NYC

• Sunbasket – Healthy meal kits and recipes for New Yorkers

• See 7 more meal delivery services

• Comparison table

• FAQ

The Difference Between Meal Delivery and Food Delivery

The basic concept is the same – meals delivered to your door – but there are a few fundamental differences.

A meal delivery service lets you subscribe to a weekly, biweekly, or monthly plan, sending you all the meals you require in that timeframe. Your order automatically renews until you pause or cancel your plan.

Some plans, such as those on Freshology , will deliver meals prepared by chefs that are then either chilled or frozen. Other meal delivery services, such as Home Chef and Blue Apron , deliver the portioned ingredients and step-by-step instructions for you to cook the dishes yourself.

Food delivery services (for example, Grubhub ) connect you with local restaurants, fast-food joints, and even convenience and liquor stores to get you your favorite dishes, snacks, and beverages.

Our 10 Best Meal Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Home Chef – Best Overall Meal Delivery Service in NYC

Home Chef Best Features

• Good variety – around 20 meals to choose from each week

• Completely customizable – swap, upgrade, or double-up on protein

• Meals to suit your schedule – premium dishes to oven-ready options 

• Special discount available – Get $80 off plus free shipping

Home Chef in a Nutshell

Home Chef is hands down one of our favorite options for both prepared meals and meal kits in NYC. 

With 30+ recipes on the menu each week and the option to swap, upgrade, or double-up on protein (something not seen in other meal delivery services), there’s a lot to love about it. 

There’s enough variety here to ensure you don’t end up eating the same things. For the ultimate lowdown, check out our Home Chef review .

Another great feature is the range of cooking and prep options available – from super-simple  15-Minute Meal Kits and Oven-Ready dishes to the Culinary Collection of recipes which take around 40 minutes to get on the table. 

2. Blue Apron – Best Gourmet Meal Kit Delivery Service in NYC

Blue Apron Best Features

• High-quality ingredients – sustainable seafood, exclusive spice blends, and more

• WW- and diabetes-friendly – a dedicated Wellness plan to keep you on track 

• Monthly wine pairings – available to purchase through the site 

• Special discount available - Get $110 off 4 Boxes

Blue Apron in a Nutshell

With around 14 recipes on the menu each week, Blue Apron offers an impressive array of dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world. Choose from either the Signature plans (for either two or four people), the Vegetarian plan, or the service’s dedicated Wellness plan, which includes WW-approved and carb-conscious offerings .

Learn more about Blue Apron in our full-length Blue Apron review .

What sets Blue Apron apart for many diners is the option to add wine to your box, either as a one-off or as part of a monthly subscription.

The pairing-sized wines are just enough for two people to share, and come with tasting notes and tips. Romantic at-home dinner date on the balcony of your apartment, anyone?

3. Sunbasket – Healthy Meal Kits and Recipes for New Yorkers

Sunbasket Best Features

• Always organic where possible – including responsibly sourced proteins  

• Caters to a variety of lifestyles – vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and more  

• Online marketplace – pick up fridge fillers like veggies, cheese, and sauces 

• Special discount available - Get $90 off and 4 free gifts

Sunbasket in a Nutshell

Sunbasket is our top choice if you’re looking for organic and healthy meal kits or prepared dishes. And if you’re on any kind of food regimen – such as keto , paleo , or gluten-free , you can bet that Sunbasket has options to meet your needs. 

Before you try it out for yourself, take a look at our Sunbasket review .

Among the 10 different plans available, Sunbasket offers an extensive dinnertime menu as well as add-ons such as breakfast, healthy snacks, specialty meats, fresh pasta, sauces, and more. In fact, once you fall down the rabbit hole that is Sunbasket’s online marketplace, you might not even need to do a grocery shop! 

The diverse menu is made up of organic ingredients (where possible) and the freshest, farm-to-table produce. The meat and fish are always sustainably sourced and non-GMO. 

4. Hellofresh – Best Family-Friendly Meal Delivery Service

HelloFresh Best Features

• Varied menu – 23 or more new recipes each week 

• Full of family favorites – classic dishes even the kids will love  

• Focused on reducing food waste – no more throwing out food past its best 

• Special discount available - Get $80 off and free shipping

HelloFresh in a Nutshell

With menus that cater to everyone, from families to vegetarians, dieters to busy professionals,  New Yorkers are definitely spoiled for choice with HelloFresh.

The menu offers around 23 new recipes each week, with a good mix of meat and veggie dishes and comfort-food classics that you can plan up to six weeks in advance if you need to. The company makes it really easy to customize your box at checkout. Explore all your options in our HelloFresh review .

HelloFresh takes pride in sourcing its meat and fish sustainably and using local suppliers where possible. And while not all its ingredients are organic, the focus is certainly on fresh produce that tastes as good as it looks. It’s also committed to reducing unnecessary food waste by ensuring everything is perfectly portioned. 

5. Purple Carrot – Best for Vegan Meal Delivery

Purple Carrot Best Features

• Good-sized menu – choose from eight main meals each week 

• More than just dinner – pick up breakfast, lunch, and snacks too 

• Plans to suit you – High-Protein, Gluten-Free, Quick & Easy, and more 

• Special discount available - Get $20 off and free delivery

Purple Carrot in a Nutshell

One of the only all-vegan meal delivery services available in NYC right now, Purple Carrot offers a good selection of vegan meal kits and prepared meals straight to your door. 

While its menu may be smaller than some others on this list, it’s still varied and adventurous. It’s particularly great if you’re trying a vegan diet for the first time and are struggling to plan recipes and find vegan alternatives or hard-to-source ingredients from elsewhere.

If you find yourself hungry for more, the service also offers breakfast items, quick lunch solutions, and snacks to keep you going. For more about the menu, read our in-depth Purple Carrot review .  

Purple Carrot’s detailed recipe cards will guide you through the cooking process and help you learn the best tricks in the kitchen to make vegetables tasty! A pretty important skill to have if you’re on a plant-based diet, right? 

6. Freshology – Best Weight Loss Meal Delivery in NYC

Freshology Best Features

• Good for weight loss – dishes are calorie-controlled and nutritionally balanced

• Prepared meals – simply heat and eat in minutes

• Dietitian-approved plans – Balance-Diabetes , Keto Carb30 , and more

• Special discount available - $100 off your first five weeks

Freshology in a Nutshell

If you’re looking to stay on track with weight loss goals and not be tempted by myriad unhealthy takeout options, Freshology could be the service for you.

Thanks to its prepared, nutritionally balanced, and calorie-controlled meals, it's a fantastic option for diet meal delivery in NYC.

Its extensive menus are rotated over five weeks, so you’re not likely to get bored by what you find – you can try every single dish if you really want to. For more details, check out our Freshology review .

The prepared meals will have been flash-frozen and have a shelf-life of seven days in the refrigerator, which is where you should store them once they arrive. They can be enjoyed either hot or cold – just like your favorite takeout leftovers!

7. Marley Spoon – Martha Stewart Recipes

Marley Spoon Best Features

• Good variety – 29 recipes every week

• Family-friendly – crowd-pleasing dishes on the table in 30 minutes

• Great price point – from $6.99 per serving

• Special discount available - Get $100 off your first 4 boxes

Marley Spoon in a Nutshell

Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon brings you the easy way to get cooking without the stress of shopping, planning, or time-consuming meal prep. Each meal comes with perfectly portioned ingredients and a six-step recipe that includes photos. Just don your apron and get cooking!

Find out more in our in-depth Marley Spoon review .

The menu boasts kid-friendly dishes like Fried Chicken Tacos with Charred Corn Salsa & Chipotle Mayo, and Cheese Tortellini Marinara with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs & Salad. That said, there are a range of categories to choose from, including Vegetarian & Vegan, Health & Diet, and more .

Despite its budget-friendly price point, the company promises to use only the freshest, seasonal, high-quality ingredients in its kits from family-run producers and local farmers.

8. EveryPlate – Cheapest Meal Delivery Service in NYC

EveryPlate Best Features

• Great for families – home-style meals and extra protein packs

• Super affordable – $4.99 per serving, whatever your order size

• Easy-to-follow recipes – clearly states what store-cupboard essentials are needed

• Special discount available - $80 off your first three orders

EveryPlate in a Nutshell

While so many meal kits come with a premium price tag, EveryPlate’s dinners are just $4.99 per serving, whatever your order size. Unfortunately, the low price does mean this is a service that keeps things simple, and special dietary requirements aren’t catered for. You won’t even find many veggie options on the menu.

Find out more in our EveryPlate review .

However, if you’re not a picky eater, this meal kit delivery service really is a budget-winner. It’s great for families, with extra protein packs available. But even if you live alone, the two-person plan offers up easy lunch solutions – it’s a win-win! Everything comes portioned and measured, so there won’t be any unnecessary food waste, either.

EveryPlate offers 14 meals per week. It’s easy to find the ingredients list, nutritional info, and even the step-by-step instructions for every dish on the website before you order.

9. Grubhub – Best for Every Type of Food Delivery in NYC

Grubhub Best Features

• Endless choice – partnered with thousands of local NYC restaurants

• Awesome app – filter, track your order, plan ahead, and get exclusive perks

• Frequent promotions – including $10 off your $30 order

Grubhub in a Nutshell

Grubhub likely needs no introduction: it brings New Yorkers dinner to their door from more than 27,000 restaurants and takeouts. With handy filters to help you find exactly what you want, including the option to search by cuisine type, price, delivery times, and more, it’s just a great option if you’re looking for something to eat right now.

If you find you’re using the service a lot, you might want to consider a Grubhub+ membership, which offers unlimited free delivery on orders over $12 for $9.99 per month.

Grubhub also has your back when it comes to frequent promos – check out the restaurants offering coupons and save on your order while supporting your fellow New Yorkers. Hey, we’ve all got to eat, right?

10. Seamless – Best for Restaurant Food Delivery Across NYC

Seamless Best Features

• Great way to support local restaurants – hundreds of options, and counting

• Easy-to-use app – track your order, save your order history, and more 

• Membership available – sign up for a free trial of Seamless+

Seamless in a Nutshell

Don't feel up to cooking? You're not alone. Much like its sister site, Grubhub, Seamless is a go-to for restaurant takeout that’s delivered to your door. And delivery is – well, indeed, seamless (see what we did there?).

The app is easy to use – simply filter restaurants by minimum order, wait time, or type of food. Find something to eat in just a couple of scrolls and clicks – then wait for your speedy delivery, New-York-minute-style!

Seamless also doesn’t leave you hanging just because you’re traveling to another state. The service operates nationwide. That’s some hassle-free food delivery, right there!

Best Meal Delivery Services in New York: Comparison Table

Bottom Line: Are Meal Delivery Services in New York City Worth It?

Meal delivery services offer so much more than your standard restaurant food. They allow you to enjoy healthy, nourishing food at home made with quality ingredients, and they’re designed to work with your lifestyle, accommodating both your dietary preferences and schedule. 

They also tend to work out as the far cheaper option than straight-up takeout, and help reduce unnecessary food waste compared to usual grocery shopping. So it’s safe to say, we’re on board! So much so, we compiled a complete list of the Best Meal Delivery Services for 2021.

FAQ

What is the most affordable meal delivery service in New York?

EveryPlate claims to be “America’s best-value meal kit,” and it doesn’t lie! It’s the most affordable option on our list at just $4.99 per serving. As a result of that, however, it doesn't cater to diners with specialized dietary requirements.

What is the best family meal delivery service in New York?

For a family of four, it’s a tie between HelloFresh and Blue Apron. From just $7.49 per serving, HelloFresh is a great option. The meals are healthy and full of flavor, and it even encourages families to cook together with information on the recipe cards about how to get the kids involved. 

Blue Apron’s Signature for Four plan is also a strong contender, and the cost per meal works out the same as HelloFresh.

What is the best diet meal delivery service in New York?

Freshology’s prepared meals are calorie-controlled, nutritionally balanced, and ready in minutes. 

When it comes to meal kits, Sunbasket and HelloFresh are in tight competition for second place. Sunbasket features not only dedicated Paleo, Diabetes-Friendly, and Lean & Clean plans but also vegan dishes. HelloFresh has a Calorie-Smart menu, although there are slightly fewer options available.

What is the healthiest meal delivery service in New York?

If you’re looking for healthy, home-cooked food without the hassle of prepping and planning, Sunbasket’s meal kits and prepared meals are the answer. You can mix and match between menus and all ingredients are non-GMO and organic where possible. For those looking to eat a healthy plant-based diet, check out Purple Carrot’s vegan offerings.