EveryPlate Review: I Tested 2023’s Cheapest Meal Kit

Overview

EveryPlate makes home-cooked meals accessible to almost everyone. With a low price point and a menu that boasts classic, crowd-pleasing dishes, it’s a great option for any household in search of some easy weeknight dinners.

I tested out EveryPlate not once, but twice to get a full view of how this budget service stacks up against its pricier competition. While it doesn’t quite measure up in terms of quality and variety, EveryPlate excels at its goal of being a tasty and affordable meal kit.

EveryPlate is the budget offering from meal delivery giant HelloFresh, which lends experience and credibility. For those keeping score, HelloFresh also owns Green Chef, which is a more premium meal kit service offering organic dishes.

Overall, it’s exceedingly easy to love EveryPlate. I’ll speak openly about its cons, but it’s hard to argue when you consider how cheap this service is compared to its competitors. For budget-conscious folk like me, EveryPlate is a service I’ll order from time and time again.

Pros

• $1.49 per serving price tag

• Easy-to-follow recipe cards

• Occasional Premium meals

• Current deal – $1.39/meal on your 1st box

Cons

• Simpler recipes

• Limited sides can feel repetitive

• Too much plastic packaging

What’s on the EveryPlate Menu

EveryPlate offers a modest menu of 25 meals per week, which is partly how it’s able to keep its prices so low. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. In the past, I’ve found that some meal delivery services have too many choices, and searching through the menu each week can become time-consuming.

Home Chef is a great example.  It offers over 30 recipes per week, and almost every dish comes with its own customization options. With that many variables, I tend to second-guess myself, and placing my order can take forever. Bearing that in mind, I was actually OK with EveryPlate’s more limited selection.

Meal Options

EveryPlate’s weekly menu features meat and fish entrees and 5 or so vegetarian options. There are also some Premium dishes that include fancier ingredients (salmon or steak, for example) for a few dollars more per serving.

EveryPlate offers 5 different plans:

• ClassicPlate – the full selection of meals

• VeggiePlate – vegetarian dishes only

• FamilyPlate – family-friendly, kid-approved meals

• EasyPlate – easy cleanup dishes and recipes that take 30 minutes or less

• Nutrish & Delish – nutritious meals of 650 calories or less

If you choose any plan besides ClassicPlate, you’ll get a smaller selection of meals. These menus aren’t really different from the main menu: the VeggiePlate, FamilyPlate, EasyPlate, and Nutrish & Delish plans simply filter out dishes from the ClassicPlate menu. Whatever plan you choose, you can select any item on the weekly menu. Meals in your chosen plan (or plans) will be at the top of your menu, but you can scroll down to find other meals.

People with dietary restrictions won’t find EveryPlate a good fit. 25 weekly dishes might sound like a good number, but special dietary needs will limit your options. For example, there may be a veggie plan, but if you don’t eat meat or fish, you only get about 5 choices a week. If you’re vegan, your options are even fewer (if any at all). For plant-based meal kits, check out Green Chef, instead. 

EveryPlate’s recipes focus on simple, filling comfort food. Families with picky eaters will appreciate the pasta, burgers, and other kid-friendly options. However, if you enjoy more sophisticated dishes, you might find EveryPlate’s fare a bit basic for your tastes and you’d be better off with a more gourmet service like Blue Apron.

Preparation and cooking times for EveryPlate kits range between 25 and 45 minutes. If you are in a hurry, look for recipes with the 30 Minutes or Less tag.

EveryPlate has recently introduced Add-Ons like sides, soups, and salad bundles. This is a nice option that can help you stock your pantry and refrigerator and save you extra trips to the grocery store. But while its salads and sandwiches are great for lunch, there are no breakfast entrees listed among the Add-Ons.

Customization

EveryPlate’s menu highlights the important details of each recipe, with clear indicators for spicy and vegetarian dishes, and those that take less than 30 minutes.

What you can’t do, however, is filter the menu for specific allergens. Sure, it doesn’t take too long to manually look through the 25 weekly dishes for the ingredients you can’t eat or don’t like, but a filter would definitely make things easier.

EveryPlate recipes take on a few basic formats – think pasta bowls, rice bowls, tacos, and the familiar “protein + side.” The side dishes are where you’ll find the least variety: about half the dishes on any given week come with either potatoes or carrots.

Sticking to a basic menu and affordable ingredients helps EveryPlate keep its prices low, but it doesn’t feel as restricting as you may think. Yes, you’ll find some sort of burger on the menu every week, but it could be anything from a classic Smashburger to a Vietnamese-inspired turkey burger.

EveryPlate also gives you the opportunity to add some variety with its Premium dishes, of which there are a few per week. These dishes come at an upcharge of $3.99 per serving or more, but you’re promised high-quality proteins like salmon, steak, or barramundi with more exciting sides such as rosemary mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies.

Other services like Home Chef offer more variety and control when it comes to customizing your meals. But, of course, EveryPlate’s selling point has never been about customizability: it’s a service for people on a budget.

Avoiding shellfish? That’s totally doable with EveryPlate. But if you’re subscribing to a vegan diet or living with a gluten allergy, then you’ll be better served by a more specialized service like Green Chef. Having said that, people without dietary restrictions will find a lot to love on EveryPlate’s menu.

Unboxing

EveryPlate’s ingredients arrive chilled in an insulated box with an ice pack. This was more than enough to ensure everything remained fresh and cold in my delivery, and I immediately transferred everything to the fridge.

With EveryPlate, all your ingredients for the week are placed in the same box. More expensive meal kits, such as HelloFresh, separate the ingredients by recipe, but I preferred being able to store my ingredients how I wanted to. Instead of forcing me to keep everything in my tiny New York apartment fridge, this meant I could put the dry ingredients in my pantry, vegetables in the crisper drawer, etc.

Many of the packaged ingredients will come with a HelloFresh logo, which is a funny reminder of EveryPlate’s parent company. I liked seeing this, though: it made me think EveryPlate must use the same quality ingredients as HelloFresh, which is slightly more expensive.

In the past, I’ve had a major bone to pick with EveryPlate – packaging. The more I research meal delivery services, the more concerned I become about sustainable packaging. My first experience with EveryPlate is a prime example of why I’ve become so obsessed with this issue.

Below is a photo of my first EveryPlate box. You’ll notice it’s difficult to see any of the ingredients underneath the massive pile of carrots – each and every one packaged in its own plastic wrapper! This senseless waste really made me hesitant to re-order from this service.

I was pleased to see that this practice had stopped when I reordered from EveryPlate a year later to update this review, all the produce (including the pile of carrots) was loose inside the box.

This minimal packaging also makes it much easier to recycle everything. The box itself is curbside recyclable, and you can follow simple instructions on EveryPlate’s FAQ page to recycle other things, such as the insulated liner.

Cooking (and Eating) with EveryPlate

EveryPlate’s recipe cards remind me of HelloFresh, in that they are clear, informative, and easy to follow. I was surprised, in fact, that EveryPlate came with physical recipe cards, considering that other low-budget competitors I’ve reviewed, like Dinnerly, only offer digital versions.

EveryPlate’s recipes require you to have some pantry ingredients to hand. Most of the recipes only require basic items, like salt, pepper, and oil.

EveryPlate’s approach is best for people who don’t mind repetition in their meals. It makes sense that EveryPlate would want to use inexpensive, no-fuss ingredients as much as possible, but the lack of variety became a big sticking point for me.

As I’ve already mentioned, there are some compromises that come with ordering from a budget service like EveryPlate. Even if, like me, you don’t have any allergies or major food preferences, there’s still a risk of you getting tired of the limited menu.

When I first ordered from EveryPlate, I picked my meals based on protein without really considering the side dishes. As a result, 2 of my 3 meals had the exact same roasted carrot side.

For all of its recipes, EveryPlate advertises “6 simple steps”. But in practice, this means each step includes about 20 different tasks! I see this sort of thing in pretty much every meal kit I’ve tried, though, so I won’t take off points.

I found EveryPlate’s recipes easy enough to make, but I’m also a pretty experienced home cook. I can’t really say if someone less experienced might have trouble following EveryPlate’s recipes, but I’ve definitely seen more complicated meal kits than this.

As far as the quality of the meals themselves, I was consistently satisfied. I don’t tend to eat large portions, so EveryPlate’s 500-1,000 calorie serving sizes were usually more than enough to fill me up.

Shortlist of My Favorite Meals

The Vietnamese-inspired Banh Mi Turkey Burger was easy to prepare and a fun way to enjoy fresh, southeast Asian flavors. The roasted carrots were actually an ideal side dish for this meal. Their sweetness came together perfectly with the mild heat of the Sriracha mayo and the tang of the lime.

This was the most complex recipe in the box, as it required zesting a lime and watching the roasted carrots while making slaw and pan-frying turkey burgers. But the results were worth it!

My other favorite dish was the simple but tasty Apricot Dijon Chicken Legs with (ahem!) Roasted Carrots and Lemon Garlic Couscous. This one was the easiest of my recipes to make: the carrots and chicken both cook in the oven while the couscous simmers on the stove.

The entire meal was simple to make and tasted delicious, and I’ve since found myself replicating the glazed chicken for an easy weeknight dinner.

The Pork and Poblano Tacos with Pico de Gallo and Garlic Sour Cream really delivered on flavor. The vast majority of the work for this recipe is the slicing and dicing of the various veggies like peppers, onion, and tomato. And there was no carrot side dish!

This was the only time I remembered to get my camera out, and I realized tacos are perhaps not the most photogenic of dishes. Even so, they may be the best meal I’ve had from EveryPlate so far.

Prices

EveryPlate is still easily one of the cheapest meal kit delivery services out there, even with its recent price increase. The only service that comes close is Dinnerly.

The company’s pricing used to be $4.99 per serving, no matter the size of your box, but smaller orders now come at a slightly higher cost per serving. The minimum order of 3 meals for 2 people, for example, now costs over $7 per serving.

A family of 4 enjoying 3 EveryPlate meals a week will pay $71.88, ($5.99 per serving). If this family orders the same amount of food from HelloFresh, the weekly total is $113.88, or $9.49 per serving.

So EveryPlate costs $3.50 less per serving than HelloFresh, which is already marketed as a pretty affordable meal kit service, and yet EveryPlate is nearly half the price. This leaves a lot of room in your budget for other things – even if you indulge in some of its Premium meals, which cost an extra few dollars per serving.

EveryPlate’s price difference compared to other services is so great that the company even has an FAQ explaining how it stays so affordable! 

Shipping & Delivery

I was able to choose any day of the week for my deliveries. When I first ordered from EveryPlate a year ago, I only had 3 delivery day options, so I appreciated the extra flexibility.

However, since I live in New York City, delivery options for me are generally quite vast. My colleagues in smaller cities and towns don’t always have the same flexibility – so your mileage may vary. I set my delivery for Saturday, which was most convenient for me.

Once the order was shipped, I received an email with a tracking link, which provided status updates on my box. If you download the EveryPlate app, you can also follow your package’s journey from there.

It was all very straightforward, but you’re paying $10.99 each week for shipping. There are some companies that ship at no extra charge (or work this charge into the overall price), so this eats into your “savings” a bit.

How EveryPlate Works

As a subsidiary of HelloFresh, signing up is streamlined and pretty painless. If you have any experience with meal delivery services, EveryPlate’s signup process should look familiar.

How to Sign Up

1. Select your plan: You can choose to see the full ClassicPlate menu or narrow down your options with the other choices. Note that smaller box sizes have a higher cost per serving.

2. Create your account: You’ll have to input your email address and create a password to continue.

3. Enter your address: Your delivery day options will depend on your zip code.

4. Choose a delivery day: I had the option to choose any day, but you may have a more limited selection.

5. Input your payment info: The option to pay with ApplePay or PayPal is a nice touch for convenience.

6. Pick out your meals: Now for the fun part…

Managing Your Subscription

You can do most things in your online account. This includes rescheduling a delivery, pausing your subscription, and canceling.

Canceling my EveryPlate subscription was quick and painless. I was able to unsubscribe with just a few clicks, so I didn’t have to call or email anyone. It still surprises me how many services make you jump through hoops just to cancel your subscription, so I commend EveryPlate for making cancellation easy.

Customer Service

EveryPlate offers 2 customer support channels: 24/7 live chat and a US landline, available Monday through Friday, 6 am to 11 pm EST. EveryPlate also has a good FAQ page with answers to many common questions about shipping, billing, food safety, and other issues.

I hate talking on the phone, so I tried the live chat first. I had some questions about the new shipping fees and found conflicting reports in my searches. I wanted to check with EveryPlate for a definitive answer. The chatbot put me in touch with a customer support agent, and I got that answer in under a minute.

With the EveryPlate app, you can handle many issues without contacting customer service, like skipping weeks, changing your address, or canceling your subscription. If you need to cancel your EveryPlate plan, my quick and easy how-to guide walks you through the whole thing.

How EveryPlate Compares to Other Meal Delivery Services

• EveryPlate vs Dinnerly: Dinnerly’s prices are comparable to EveryPlate, and it has a similar focus on simple recipes with high-quality ingredients, but Dinnerly offers a wider selection of over 100+ weekly recipes to EveryPlate’s 25.

• EveryPlate vs HelloFresh: HelloFresh, EveryPlate’s parent company, offers a larger menu with greater variety and has more adventurous dishes than EveryPlate. However, this comes at a cost, with its meals costing around $2.50-$3.00 more per serving. 

• EveryPlate vs Green Chef: With meals starting at $11.99 a serving, Green Chef (another HelloFresh company) is more than twice as expensive as EveryPlate. But this service is the better choice for those following vegan, keto, high-protein, or Mediterranean diets. It’s also a more suitable service for those with certain allergies, and people who want USDA-certified organic ingredients.

The Bottom Line: Is EveryPlate Worth It?

EveryPlate is fantastic for any household looking for a budget meal kit delivery service. You’ll find tasty recipes, an easy-to-navigate service, and a good number of delivery options, all for a low price point.

EveryPlate is one of the cheapest meal kit services out there, but you still get good value for your money. If you’re on a tight budget, or if you’re just looking for simple filling dinners at a very reasonable price, EveryPlate is definitely worth a try! And if EveryPlate doesn’t suit you, check out our list of the best cheap meal delivery services.

But if you’re a fussy eater or have any dietary preferences, EveryPlate isn't for you. You tend to get what you pay for, and if you’re looking for customizable meals or plans that cater to specialized diets, those, unfortunately, come with a higher price tag, and you’ll be better off trying HelloFresh or Green Chef, instead.

FAQ

How much does EveryPlate cost?

EveryPlate’s pricing starts at $$1.49 per serving, but it goes up for smaller orders. Slightly more expensive Premium recipes are available each week as optional upgrades. But even with the occasional upgrade, EveryPlate is one of the most affordable meal kit services around.

Are EveryPlate meals healthy?

EveryPlate meals are balanced and fresh. The nutritional information for each dish is provided on the recipe card, so you can select dishes that meet your health goals. And EveryPlate’s new Nutrish & Delish menu offers meals at or under 650 calories for calorie counters.

How do you cancel your EveryPlate subscription?

Canceling your EveryPlate subscription is quick and painless. Go to your account settings and click Deactivate Account. The entire process takes just a few seconds. Read our step-by-step guide and we’ll walk you through the whole thing.

Is EveryPlate owned by HelloFresh?

EveryPlate is HelloFresh’s budget meal delivery service. EveryPlate is considerably cheaper than HelloFresh, but it has a smaller selection of meals and is geared more toward family-friendly comfort food made with simpler ingredients.

Does EveryPlate come frozen?

EveryPlate meal kits arrive chilled in an insulated box designed to keep meals cool for up to 48 hours until you can get them into your refrigerator. This ensures that your EveryPlate ingredients stay fresh until you are ready to start cooking.