Sunbasket Review 2023: 99% Organic – But Good Value?

Overview

Sunbasket is a certified organic meal delivery service with a healthy and varied menu that caters to a number of dietary restrictions. Alongside its meal kits, it also offers a range of microwaveable Fresh & Ready meals and a ton of extras. 

However, it’s pretty expensive, and I wanted to see if Sunbasket is really worth the cost. Having researched and reviewed dozens of meal delivery services, I know a thing or two about what makes a good meal kit, and in my opinion, Sunbasket tries to do too many things to stand out in any one area.

The quality of the food is certainly good enough, but there are better services out there. Purple Carrot, for example, is my favorite plant-based service, while the organic Green Chef offers an even broader menu of keto- and paleo-friendly meals. In this review, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Sunbasket, but I’ll also share some alternatives that are worth a look.

Pros

• Meal kits and prepared options

• Responsibly sourced ingredients

• Breakfasts, lunches, and snacks available

Cons

• Expensive 

• Few menu options for some diets 

• Pricing model means costs can vary

What’s on the Sunbasket Menu

Sunbasket offers one of the most comprehensive menus, with support for many types of food intolerance. In fact, it was one of the first meal delivery services to really cater to the needs of plant-based, paleo, and other dieters. 

However, Sunbasket doesn’t have a dedicated allergen-free facility. That means every dish is subject to potential cross-contamination with common allergens such gluten, nuts, and soy. Anyone with severe allergies should look for a more specialized service or use with caution.

Another issue is that the more filters you add, the smaller your menu. The same is true if you have several dietary needs. An average week only offers 3 or 4 vegan dishes, for example. So if you’re a plant-based dieter who wants to cover all your mid-week dinners, you’ll find more variety from a dedicated vegan meal delivery service.

In comparison, Green Chef is certified gluten-free and offers a minimum of 5 vegan recipes each week. 

Still, Sunbasket is a great option for people without major dietary restrictions who want to enjoy a variety of balanced recipes. It has one of the most internationally diverse menus I’ve seen, with recipes ranging from vegan Sichuan cuisine to keto-friendly Mediterranean dishes and microwavable comfort food like Chicken Parm with Basil Marinara Penne. Click on any dish as you browse online to see all the relevant information, including nutritional info and cook time. You’ll also see tags, such as “Spicy,” “Dairy-Free,” and “Carb-Conscious”.

Many of the recipes give you the option to customize your protein. Your options range from steak and chicken to salmon, shrimp, scallops, and even tofu. These changes will adjust the price per serving of each dish, however. The customization feature extends to Sunbasket’s Speedy meal kits, though understandably not the prepared meals. If you like this idea, Home Chef is another service that does customization particularly well. 

Sunbasket also has a marketplace packed with various grocery items and snacks. You can add breakfasts, lunches, fresh pasta, proteins, desserts, and more to your order each week. This is a fun feature, and I have to admit, I get a lot of joy browsing these add-ons. Just keep in mind that the items are priced individually, so indulging in these extras can get quite expensive.

Unboxing

Sunbasket offers some of the most sustainable packaging I’ve seen. Most of the packaging is paper-based and recyclable, from the box itself down to individual containers for items such as eggs.

It also uses other sustainable materials to package its ingredients, including recycled denim insulation and compostable, fiber-based food trays. It seems plastic is only used when absolutely necessary, like when wrapping raw meat. 

The cherry on top is Sunbasket’s dedicated Recycle page, which includes information on ways to reuse or dispose of each item. This page also references research that claims meal delivery services generate 25% less greenhouse gasses than shopping at a grocery store, so that’s good to know.

Overall, I haven’t seen a more comprehensive stance on environmental sustainability from any other meal delivery service. Way to go, Sunbasket.

Cooking with Sunbasket

Sunbasket has around 18 meal kits and 14 prepared meals each week. The prepared meals – labeled as Fresh & Ready – can be microwaved in minutes or heated in the oven. The meal kits naturally require more time and effort, but look out for the “Speedy” tag, which identifies meals that take less than 20 minutes to prepare.

Even as an inexperienced home cook, I found Sunbasket’s step-by-step recipes easy enough to follow. You’ll get recipe cards for each dish in your shipment, but the recipes can also be accessed online and via the Sunbasket app. 

The website and app also include bonus recipes as well as a blog with tips and cooking techniques. Some of the posts are more useful than others, but it’s certainly a useful resource if you’re not an experienced chef. 

Perhaps the cutest feature on Sunbasket’s menu is the “Kids Can!” section at the bottom of each recipe. For homes with young helpers, Sunbasket suggests kid-friendly tasks like juicing citrus, stirring ingredients, or setting the timer so you can help little ones develop a love of cooking. 

Whether you’re interested in Sunbasket’s meal kits, prepared meals, or both, any home cook is capable of making and enjoying these meals. 

Shortlist of My Favorite Meals

Sunbasket offers a lot of variety, so there’s something for almost everyone on the menu. The crowd-pleasing Cauliflower Mac & Cheese is a great example of how simple and tasty Sunbasket’s Fresh & Ready meals can be, and it takes just minutes to heat in the microwave.

The cheddar-Gruyère-Parmesan blend provides the perfect creamy texture and savory flavor. It’s also tagged as being vegetarian, soy-free, <600 calories per serving, and Protein Plus. 

Unlike the Fresh & Ready meals, Sunbasket’s meal kits give you the power to customize as you cook. The recipe for these Mojo Pork Tacos suggested I “invite everyone to assemble their own”. I like these little ideas (even though I live alone!)

These tacos are also a good example of the customization options that Sunbasket offers. They’re called Mojo Pork Tacos but you can order the recipe with chicken, steak, shrimp, or a plant-based chicken substitute. Different proteins result in different prices, but it’s great to have options.

Shipping & Delivery

Sunbasket delivers between 8 am and 9 pm, Sunday to Thursday, to most of the continental US. If you’re in Alaska or Hawaii, or some parts of Montana, North Dakota, and New Mexico, you’re out of luck. 

You’ll get a clear yes or no as to whether Sunbasket delivers to your area when you enter your zip code.

Most meal delivery services of this size offer shipping across the entire contiguous US, so it’s a little odd to see Sunbasket’s more limited service area. Maybe that’s testament to the company’s use of organic farms and small, sustainable providers.

Subscription

Sunbasket has a fairly straightforward sign-up process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to set up your account:

How to Sign Up

1. Click Get Started and select your preferences: This includes choosing whether you’d like meal kits or prepared meals, ticking your dietary preferences, and choosing how many servings you want each week. These choices affect the meals Sunbasket recommends to you, but you’ll always be able to order from the full menu.

2. Establish your account and enter your zip code: You can use your email address or a Facebook, Apple, Google, or Prüvit account to save time. Once you enter your zip code, you’ll see if Sunbasket delivers to you.

3. Select your meals and add-ons: Look out for handy tags to identify Pre-Prepped, Speedy, and other dishes. Keep an eye on the prices too, as they vary by recipe.

4. Order and enjoy: Your shipment will arrive on your selected delivery day. Remember to plan ahead if you want to edit or skip any future orders.

Managing Your Subscription

Like the sign-up process, it’s easy enough to make changes to your Sunbasket account. You can edit orders, skip weeks, or cancel your subscription via the My Account menu. You have until 12 pm PT (or 3 pm ET) on Wednesdays to make any changes.

If you want a more detailed walkthrough, check out this blog post on how to cancel Sunbasket.

Customer Service

Sunbasket has a few ways to get in touch with customer support, including a chatbot named Sunny B. The 24/7 automated chat isn’t the smartest I’ve seen, but it’s a useful way to navigate the website for basic information.

If you ask Sunny B. a question it can’t answer, it’ll connect you with a live representative. If you just want to speak to a real person straight away, you can also call, text, or email an agent directly from Monday through Friday, 6 am to 8 pm PT, and on weekends from 6 am to 1 pm PT.

Prices

Price is probably Sunbasket’s biggest drawback. As a specialty, organic meal delivery service, it’s not as affordable as many of its competitors. Other major services, such as Home Chef or Blue Apron have the potential to be much cheaper per serving and are just as enjoyable if you don’t have dietary restrictions. 

My other frustration is that Sunbasket’s pricing can vary from week to week. With most meal delivery services, you can count on the weekly subscription fee to be more or less consistent. With Sunbasket’s individually priced meals, your bill may double from one week to the next depending on what you order!

The company states that its meal kits start at $11.49 per serving, but most dishes exceed that. I saw lots of dishes for $13-15 per serving, and some as high as $17.99 per serving. The same is true for Sunbasket’s prepared meals, while the customizations and add-ons will increase your overall cost, as well.

That said, Sunbasket will be worth the cost for some people. If budget isn’t a major concern, you’ll enjoy Sunbasket’s organic ingredients, its support for specialized diets, and its diverse menu.

Alternatives to Sunbasket

Green Chef is probably Sunbasket’s closest competitor. It’s definitely worth a look if you’re in the market for organic meal kits. It’s a better choice for certain diets as it offers a range of vegan, keto, and gluten-free meals.

Home Chef is more affordable, and its Customize It feature allows protein swaps on most of its menu. It’s a great alternative if you don’t actually need organic or diet-friendly meals but you like Sunbasket’s customization.

Finally, Blue Apron offers cheaper prices and a marketplace to rival Sunbasket’s. It also has an optional wine subscription service, so you can pair the perfect drink with each meal.

The Bottom Line: Is Sunbasket Worth It?

Sunbasket is a solid choice for convenient meal kits and prepared meals. However, it’s one of the more expensive options out there, and its diet-friendly plans may not be suitable for everyone, including those with severe allergies.

If you can afford Sunbasket and find that its organic ingredients and healthy, balanced meals are up your alley, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t try it out.

FAQ

Are Sunbasket meals fully cooked?

Sunbasket meals do not come fully cooked. The meal kits feature raw ingredients that must be prepped and cooked at home, while the chef-prepared Fresh & Ready meals must be heated in the microwave or oven.

Is Sunbasket a good deal?

Sunbasket is not a budget meal delivery service, but its premium features are worth the money if you can afford it. Sunbasket’s meals start at $11.49 per serving, but the pricing structure makes it difficult to predict your weekly fee.

If you’re after a more budget-friendly service, Blue Apron offers a menu of weekly meal kits and a well-stocked marketplace at a much lower price point.

How do you cancel your Sunbasket subscription?

Simply navigate to your account settings, click Manage My Subscription, and select Cancel My Subscription. Canceling your Sunbasket subscription is as easy as that, but you can read a more detailed walkthrough here.