Green Chef vs. Purple Carrot 2024: Mixed or Vegan?

Meal kits are a blessing for busy lifestyles, offering hassle-free meal preparation. Not only are they convenient, but you also get the satisfaction of enjoying a wholesome, home-cooked meal. Green Chef and Purple Carrot are 2 popular options for healthy meal kits.

To help you decide which one is right for you, I’ve thoroughly researched both brands. I’ve considered menu variety, customization options, and how healthy the meals are to choose my preferred option.

With a focus on organic ingredients and diverse dietary options, Green Chef stands out. It prioritizes sustainably sourced ingredients and caters to various dietary preferences, making each meal delicious, environmentally conscious, and inclusive. Read my comparison for all the details.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety

Winner: Green Chef

Green Chef’s more expansive menu makes it the clear winner of this category. It has a weekly rotating menu of over 45 dishes. It also allows you to pick recipes from the entire menu whichever plan preference you select. This gives you plenty of options if you eat a range of foods and don’t have any dietary requirements, such as needing exclusively gluten-free.

The Plant Based options are unique and sure to tempt even meat-eaters. Dishes range from Roasted Garlic & Fennel Flatbreads to the Maple Cauliflower Power Bowls. There are definitely enough interesting recipes to keep plant-based eaters satisfied.

I like that there’s a good range of items you can purchase as add-ons with Green Chef. You can choose from proteins, including Sustainably Raised Atlantic Salmon Fillets, Keto-Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies, and even bundles. For example, you can get a Brunch & Lunch Favorites for when you can’t decide which one you want to eat.

It’s good to see some easier-to-cook recipes on the Green Chef menu. Although most meals can be made in around 30 minutes, I like being able to choose some that take less time. The Quick & Easy plan includes dishes that are ready in under 25 minutes and there are always a few 10-Minute Lunches on the menu.

Purple Carrot offers exclusively plant-based, vegan dishes. On the weekly menu, you'll see a total of 12 recipes – 8 dinners, 2 lunches, and 2 breakfast options. 

The mains definitely make creative use of plant-based proteins like chickpeas and tofu. For example, the Roasted Red Pepper Shakshuka is a vegan take on a classic African dish using tofu and vegan cream cheese instead of eggs.

You’ll also find a small range of sweet treats and snacks in the Plantry. Some examples include Deep Chocolate Brownie Bites and Peanut Butter Soft Baked cookies.

Purple Carrot has prepared meals on the menu, too. These are good options if you don’t feel like cooking, or if you know you are going to be busy but still want to eat healthily. 

Unlike Green Chef, you can only access the current weekly menu on Purple Carrot. I prefer to be able to see menus in advance. With Green Chef, you can view the menu for 3 weeks ahead, which makes it easier to plan your meals, edit your selection, and get excited about the recipes to come!

Meal Customization

Winner: Green Chef

Green Chef is the clear winner here as it’s super easy to tailor its menu to your needs. Green Chef meals can be easily customized with the plan you choose. It has a whopping 8 plans to choose from! This is great news if you have a special dietary requirement.

While all Purple Carrot meals are vegan and vegetarian-friendly, there are more options. You can select your menu preference if you choose the 2-Serving Plan. Here, you can select meals that are High-Protein, Gluten-Free, or Low Prep. This means that if you don’t edit your meals, you will be sent ones that suit your dietary preferences. 

Although you can’t filter the menu by allergen, the recipes are clearly marked with tags. These include Nut-Free, Soy-Free, and Gluten-Free. This means you can swap meals if an allergen is present or check to see whether you could replace an ingredient at home. The downside here is that with only 8 mains on the menu, your alternative options are more limited.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing

Winner: Green Chef

Green Chef takes the top spot with an easy ordering process and more delivery dates. Although both services have an app, Green Chef makes ordering and updating your orders super simple as all changes can be made on your online account or on the app.

There are plenty more options for delivery dates with Green Chef. In fact, the only day you can’t get a delivery is Sunday. This makes it much more convenient than Purple Carrot, which only delivers boxes on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Your delivery day could be affected by your location, so check before ordering if this is a concern.

Green Chef handily packs each recipe in a separate paper bag. This makes it really easy to find ingredients for each recipe when you are ready to get cooking. Although some ingredients are individually wrapped in plastic packaging, it’s recyclable number 4 plastic.

Purple Carrot’s weekly delivery box is recyclable just like Green Chef’s. However, it does state that some of the plastics used to pack individual ingredients may not be recyclable where you are. So it’s best to check this out first if this is an important issue for you.

I like that the ingredients are labeled clearly and recipes are included in the box. In fact, Purple Carrot delivers recipes for all 8 dinner options and the 2 breakfast and lunch dishes on the weekly menu, which can help inspire you with your own home cooking. However, if you are looking for meal kits, I definitely prefer the individual recipe cards provided by Green Chef.

Meal Prep

Winner: Purple Carrot

Purple Carrot just takes the lead here because it does have prepared meals available. This means prep time is as little as 5 minutes heating in the microwave. However, both services have low prep options for meal kits.

Green Chef and Purple Carrot send their meal kit ingredients in an organized fashion, so you don't have to spend much time sorting. You can pretty much just dump all the bags into the fridge as they are and take them out as and when you plan to cook each recipe.

As for prep and cooking times, you are looking at an average of 30 minutes for both. Many of the ingredients are chopped for you, and the sauces and seasonings come mixed and portioned. Times will vary depending on the complexity of the recipe and your level of cooking skills, so keep this in mind when choosing your recipes.

Both services send kits with detailed, easy-to-follow recipe cards. Green Chef also includes additional tips and tricks for more difficult steps. 

Customer Support

Winner: Green Chef

It’s a win for Green Chef here as it has more options for accessing support. You can call and speak to an agent Monday to Friday between 6am to 11pm EST, and on weekends between 7am and 7pm. You also have the option to email or use the Live Chat Monday to Sunday between 9am and 7pm EST. 

Green Chef’s Virtual Assistant, Olive, was able to help instantly with my query. It also has a comprehensive FAQ section where you can find the answers to most things. If not, you can request to be connected to a Live Agent using the chat feature.

But, the best thing about Green Chef’s support options is the nutrition coaching. You can book a free 20 minute consultation with an expert nutritionist who will be able to answer all your queries. 

Purple Carrot has more limited options to contact customer services. You can text, email, or use the chat function. Unfortunately, I couldn’t locate a number to call and speak to someone about my query. 

The chat is available Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm EST. Outside these hours, your question will be automatically emailed. I asked about customization options and I received a reply the next working day. This makes Green Chef much more efficient in terms of customer service.

Pricing

Winner: It’s a tie

It’s a really close call in Green Chef vs. Purple Carrot in terms of pricing. You are looking at a difference of only $0.99 as Green Chef’s price per serving is slightly more than Purple Carrot’s. 

Generally, the more recipes and portions you order, the lower your price per serving is. This means with Purple Carrot, if you order 2 servings of 4 meals per week, prices are $8.50 per serving. 

Green Chef and Purple Carrot offer add-ons for an additional cost. Green Chef’s proteins, breakfasts, and lunches average $9.99 per serving. Purple Carrot’s add-ons range from $3.50 for an Oatmeal Cup to $7.99 for a Truffle Burger. 

Shipping fees are also similar between the 2 services. Green Chef charges a flat shipping rate of $9.99 per delivery. Purple Carrot charges $10 for all orders under $99, but your first delivery is free. So overall, pricing is very similar between them. 

Green Chef vs. Purple Carrot – Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Green Chef

Green Chef stands out as the top service in this comparison. It prioritizes organic ingredients and sustainability, offering a diverse array of dietary options. The service emphasizes a comprehensive approach to meal planning.

Its commitment to quality is notable. Green Chef crafts meals that accommodate various dietary needs without compromising on taste. This inclusivity is a testament to its understanding of diverse food preferences.

Purple Carrot has a dedicated plant-based approach. While it offers a unique vegan perspective, Green Chef combines organic ingredients with a broader range of meals. This makes it versatile for different dietary needs.

The Plant Based plan by Green Chef deserves mention. This showcases its effort to provide varied and health-conscious choices. It's one of the many plans that illustrate its adaptability.

For those leaning towards vegan options, there's more to explore. A roundup of top vegan meal delivery services is available. It gives an unbiased view of vegan-centric culinary services in the market. 

FAQ

What makes Green Chef different from Purple Carrot?

Green Chef stands out with its commitment to organic ingredients. It prioritizes high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients, ensuring a focus on both taste and environmental consciousness. Green Chef caters to various dietary preferences, including keto, vegan, and vegetarian, offering a versatile selection to accommodate individual needs and preferences.

Can I customize my meals with Green Chef and Purple Carrot?

Green Chef offers more customization options than Purple Carrot. Green Chef provides flexibility in choosing the number of meals and serving sizes that suit your needs. It also caters to specific dietary preferences, offering plans like Keto, Plant Based, Gluten Free, and more. Purple Carrot allows customization in terms of its recipe choices.

Which meal kit service is healthier, Green Chef or Purple Carrot?

Both Green Chef and Purple Carrot prioritize nutritious meal kits that are easy to prepare. The definition of "healthier" may vary depending on individual dietary preferences and needs. Green Chef focuses on organic ingredients and offers a diverse range of dietary options. Purple Carrot exclusively offers plant-based meals, catering to vegans and vegetarians.