10 Best Easy to Cook Meal Delivery Services

Meal delivery services were created to make it easier for people to get dinner on the table. While many claim to offer dishes with easy-to-follow recipes, we all have different standards! You don’t want to sign up for a service only to find out that you don’t have the kitchen gear, time, or culinary experience required.

Whether you’re a busy working parent, an overwhelmed student, or can’t tell the difference between a butter knife and a steak knife, we’ve found the 10 best easy-to-cook meal delivery services. 

Taking into account everything from how organized the ingredients are upon arrival to how much prep time is required, we’ve done all the legwork to make your life as easy as possible.

Our Best Easy to Cook Meal Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Blue Apron – Quick & Simple Meal Kits

Blue Apron Best Features 

• Simple recipes – only five steps each

• Convenient app – for managing orders and culinary tips

• International cuisine – adventurous food made simple

• Special discount – save $110 on your first four boxes

Blue Apron in a Nutshell 

Blue Apron’s chef-designed meal kits take just 20-45 minutes to get on the table, with the prep time clearly marked on each recipe. Choose from four meal plans – like Signature for 4 and Vegetarian for 2 – and you can change your menu each week. Find out more about each plan in our full-length Blue Apron review.  

With pre-portioned ingredients, you’ll receive a beautifully designed recipe card, featuring pictures of each ingredient and illustrated cooking instructions. Need more guidance? You’ll love the how-to videos on the Cook Along feature on the app. 

Blue Apron keeps things interesting by featuring special collections on the menu. Take  the current menu, with a Summer Grilling label on barbecue-friendly meals. Every season comes with exciting new menu options.

If you’re trying to drop a few pounds or get healthy without the hassle, check out the Wellness Plan, full of low carb, calorie-conscious, and WW-approved meals. 

2. Home Chef – America’s Most Customizable Meal Kits

Home Chef Best Features 

• Ready-made meals – available for pick-up in select stores

• Make every dish your favorite – simply swap or upgrade ingredients

• Intuitive app – for the ultimate convenience

• Special discount – save $80 over your first four orders

Home Chef in a Nutshell 

Home Chef’s motto is “Simplify Dinner” – and from its menu options to cooktimes, I think it does just that. Learn more in our Home Chef review. 

Each recipe is ranked Easy, Intermediate, or Expert. Of these deliciously simple recipes, choose from 15-Minute Meal Kits, Easy Prep, and Grill/Oven-Ready, with the option to filter the menu for meals that take less than 30 minutes to prepare.

It’s as easy to choose the meals as it is to cook them! 

Each recipe features a list of required pantry items and cooking utensils, and a Before you cook section with things to get out of the way before you get deep in the prep work. 

Meal prep is done in up to five steps, and sometimes just one! I found a dish of pre-cooked pasta that’s entirely microwave-friendly, including steaming the broccoli. This dish comes in a tray that’s microwave-safe, which saves on washing up, too. 

3. Sunbasket – Easy, High-Quality Meals

Sunbasket Best Features 

• Meal kits and premade meals – prep as little as you want!

• Caters to almost everyone – paleo, gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, and more

• More than just dinner – enjoy breakfast, lunch, and snacks

• Special discount – get $90 off + four free gifts

Sunbasket in a Nutshell 

Sunbasket not only offers a ton of options for different dietary needs and meal types, the easy-to-navigate website also makes it simple for you to find what you’re looking for. Jump through the menu using a side navigation bar to see options like meal kits, premade meals, breakfasts, to name a few. 

You can easily filter recipes by prep time (like less than 20 minutes), allergens, and more. Also, each meal is clearly labeled with tags like Spicy and Family-Friendly. See all of your options in our thorough Sunbasket review. 

Sunbasket’s Fresh & Ready meals are the ultimate in convenience, ready to eat in as little as three minutes! The breakfast and lunch options require little to no prep – think smoothies for breakfast, and ready-made grain bowls for lunch. 

Despite the emphasis on convenience, Sunbasket doesn’t compromise on quality: the company uses GMO-free produce, hormone- and antibiotic-free meat, and wild-caught seafood.

4. Freshly – Best Premade Meals

Freshly Best Features 

• Tons of menu variety – choose from around 40 meals per week

• 100% gluten and peanut-free – stress-free eats

• Clear nutritional info and ingredient list – know what you’re eating

• Special discount – save $60 (Promo Code: LAUNCH15)

Freshly in a Nutshell 

No matter how clear the instructions are in your meal kit, when it comes to simplicity, nothing can compete with ready-made meals. Freshly delivers fresh, premade meals to your door, in microwave-safe containers. All you need to do is heat and eat.

Freshly also uses a very simple subscription model. Whereas most meal delivery services ask you to choose the number of servings you want and how many times a week, with Freshly, you simply order 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 individually packaged, single-serving meals to enjoy at your convenience. Find out exactly how it works in our detailed Freshly review.

Filter Freshly’s huge menu using a drop-down list with five different options: Crafted Classics, Signature Collection, FreshlyFit, Takeout Twists, and Proteins & Sides. Although you can easily find low-carb, calorie-conscious, and dairy-free options, there are little to no vegetarian dishes on the menu. 

5. HelloFresh – Most Family-Friendly Meal Kits

HelloFresh Best Features 

• Affordable meal kits – starting at just $7.49 each

• Great menu variety – around 25 meals per week

• Eco-friendly – environmentally-friendly packaging

• Special discount – get $80 off + free shipping

HelloFresh in a Nutshell 

HelloFresh makes it easy for you to choose meals based on your dietary needs and your lifestyle. You can sign up for two or four servings of the Quick & Easy, Family Friendly, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, or Calorie Smart plans 2-6 times per week. Find out everything you need to know in our expert HelloFresh review. 

Prep times are clearly listed on each recipe – ranging from 15-40 minutes each – along with tags for meals with easy clean-up, easy prep, and no oven. Among the tasty, simple meals on the menu, you’ll always find a few one-pot, one-pan, or sheet-pan dishes for those super-busy nights. 

HelloFresh also has a good selection of kid-friendly recipes, tried and tested many times over for both deliciousness and ease. 

6. Veestro – Delicious Ready-Made Vegan Meals

Veestro Best Features 

• Endless options – more than 50 entrees plus seven breakfasts

• Many meal plans – including weight-loss, high-protein, soy/gluten/nut-free

• Kid-friendly dishes – like “chick’n” nuggets and mac and “cheez” 

• Special discount – get $40 off (Promo Code: AOWERPLANT30)

Veestro in a Nutshell 

As healthy as it is, planning and preparing plant-based meals can be exhausting. Enter Veestro – with pre-cooked vegan meals to your doorstep, flash-frozen to maintain freshness.

Veestro’s subscription model is also extremely simple. While many other services require you to sign up and manage weekly orders, Veestro offers 10, 20, or 30 meals at a time that you can store in the fridge or freezer until you need them. 

That means, you can make a one-time order for 30 meals and not think about dinner for an entire month! Find out how it works in our full-length Veestro review. 

Veestro uses non-GMO, 96% organic ingredients, and delivers all meals in compostable trays and recyclable pouches that are safe on the stove-top or in the oven. Although the website does not specify how long it takes to heat each meal, every dish arrives with clear instructions for how to heat it for the best results. 

7. Purple Carrot – Best Plant-Powered Meal Kits

Purple Carrot Best Features 

• Eat well all day – three meals a day plus snacks

• Free shipping – on every order

• Delicious, healthy food – 100% vegan

• Special discount – get $20 off

Purple Carrot in a Nutshell 

Purple Carrot offers both meal kits and fully prepared meals. You can prepare a Quick & Easy meal like Thai Tempeh Khao Soi with Bok Choy in 30-40 minutes or put a prepared meal like Sticky Apricot Seitan with Jasmine Rice in the microwave and eat in five minutes or less.

Purple Carrot also offers breakfasts and lunches (ready in 5-20 minutes), and some healthier, sweet snacks when you need a little treat. Prep time, allergens, and calories are clearly listed for each dish on the menu, plus other labels like Quick & Easy, Nut-Free, and High Protein. Learn more about Purple Carrot in our full-length review. 

Purple Carrot’s cooking instructions are very clear and are written in short, concise sentences. Each recipe begins with a list of which kitchen tools are required, and any ingredients not included in your box are clearly labeled (things like salt and olive oil). 

8. Factor – Chef-Prepared Ready-Made Meals 

Factor Best Features 

• Plans of all sizes – choose from 4, 6, 8, 12, or 18 meals per week

• Caters to many diets – like keto, paleo, and high-protein

• More than dinner – order shakes, desserts, picnic packs and more

• Special discount – $90 off over your first three orders

Factor in a Nutshell 

With fresh, chef-prepared meals that you can heat in the microwave or oven in just a few minutes, Factor is here to make your life as easy as possible. The website is easy to navigate: filter dishes for your dietary preference using a convenient drop-down menu, or just scroll through using the cute icon labels as your guide. 

 Find out exactly how it works in our full-length Factor review. 

While you can obviously choose your own meals, if even that feels like too much work (or you just like a good surprise!), allow Factor’s expert chefs to hand-craft your order based on your meal history and preferences.

9. EveryPlate – The Most Budget-Friendly Meal Kits

EveryPlate Best Features 

• Clear, fuss-free recipes – with pictures every step of the way

• America’s cheapest meal kits – starting at $4.99 each

• Extra protein packs – stock up on chicken and beef 

• Special discount – save $80 on your first three deliveries

EveryPlate in a Nutshell 

If you want to simplify dinner on a budget, look no further. EveryPlate’s mission is to keep both your appetite and bank account satisfied with affordable meal kits that use basic, well-loved ingredients and recipes that take only six simple steps to put together. Get all the info you need in our expert EveryPlate review. 

EveryPlate offers less choice than other services, with just one weekly menu of 14 balanced, delicious meals. But if having too many options stresses you out, this will be a breath of fresh air. Vegetarian and spicy dishes are clearly labeled, but if you have specific dietary restrictions, you may need to look elsewhere.

While EveryPlate is popular with individuals and families of all ages and stages, it’s especially loved by students as there are often exclusive student discounts that bring the price down further. 

See EveryPlate’s Affordable Plans

10. Green Chef – 100% Organic Meal Kits

Green Chef Best Features 

• Caters to unique diets – keto, paleo, and vegan plans

• Premium ingredients – clean, organic, and responsibly-sourced

• Great for families – order up to six servings

• Special discount – get $80 off + free shipping

Green Chef in a Nutshell 

Green Chef focuses on adventurous, gourmet meal kits that are healthy, delicious, and eco-friendly. The recipe cards are thorough and detailed, with pictures guiding you every step of the way. Each dish takes between 15 and 30 minutes to make, with the cook-times clearly labeled on the weekly menu.

Green Chef makes it simple to get meals that suit your diet, boasting Balanced Living, Keto & Paleo, and Plant-Powered plans. Find out more about each plan in our detailed Green Chef review. 

While Green Chef is one of the more expensive meal delivery services on the market, if you take your own health and that of our planet seriously, it may be worth the price tag. 

Best Easy-to-Cook Meal Delivery Services: Comparison Table

What We Look For in the Best Meal Delivery Services

There are tons of meal delivery services on the market, and sorting through them all to find the one that works for you can be overwhelming. Here are a few things to keep in mind on your journey.

• Meal kits or premade meals – Want a service that delivers microwave-ready meals like Freshly, or would you rather receive a meal kit with ingredients you can prepare, like Blue Apron? If you’d rather keep all your options open, consider Sunbasket, which offers both. 

• Ease of use – Make sure the process of signing up, choosing meals, and ordering is simple and streamlined. If you want to manage your account and choose your meals using a mobile app, for example, check out Blue Apron and Home Chef. 

• Types of meals offered – Consider whether you’re looking for more than just dinner. For example, Blue Apron has an online market where you can purchase wine, kitchen tools, and more, and Sunbasket offers breakfast, lunch, snacks, and many grocery items. 

• Dietary preferences – Have allergies, food sensitivities, or religious/ethical principles that impact your diet? Find a service that has appropriate meals for you. Sunbasket is well-loved by those with specific diets. Some services, like Home Chef, allow you to avoid particular ingredients, while others, like Green Chef, offer specific menus geared toward strict diets. 

• Pricing – Compare companies and plans to find a service that fits your budget. The range is significant, beginning with EveryPlate’s $4.99 meals and climbing up to Factor at $11 per dish.

How Easy to Cook Meal Delivery Services Work

At the end of the day, all meal delivery services help hungry people who don’t have the time or inspiration to cook a lot! Users sign up for the plan that works for their diet and lifestyle, and – voila – food arrives on their doorstep.

When sorting through the options, you’ll see a lot of nuance. For example, Blue Apron offers only meal kits, while Sunbasket also provides ready-made meals. Freshly’s premade meals are delivered fresh, while Veestro’s are flash-frozen. EveryPlate is super simple and affordable, Green Chef is gourmet and more pricey.

The Difference Between Regular Meal Plans & Meal Delivery Services

While regular meal plans provide tried-and-tested recipes or nutritional coaching, you’re still left with a lot of tasks to complete yourself – think grocery shopping, food prep, and clean-up! 

Meal delivery services do all of the hard work for you, delivering meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes or premade meals you just need to heat and eat.

Easy to Cook Delivery Service Plans Explained

The subscription models do vary, but for the most part, you sign up for a plan based on your diet and the number of servings/meals you want per week. 

Some services like Blue Apron have a convenient app to manage your plan, and get fun video cooking tips. When it comes to choosing meals in your plan, Factor offers the option of having its expert chefs choose the menu for you!

Freshly does things slightly differently by offering plans based only on the number of individually packaged, single-serving meals you want to order. 

Easy to Cook Meal Delivery Service Prices

Because meal delivery services can be a long-term lifestyle change, price is important. Luckily, there’s a huge range available, starting at EveryPlate’s affordable $4.99 meal kits, climbing right up to Factor, starting at $11.

Several factors contribute to the price per meal, and you often get what you pay for. For example, if you’re on a specific diet or only want premium, organic ingredients, Sunbasketmay be worth the money. 

Ordering multiple meals per week? Watch the price per meal drop as you add more meals to your cart. It’s fun! We promise!

How Easy to Cook Meal Service Shipping Works

Find a service with delivery that’s available to your location, with a schedule that works for you. For example, if you like to cook on the weekends, make sure you can get a Friday delivery. 

Most companies let you track your order via the website or app, or with the delivery company. Luckily, you don’t need to be physically present to accept your order. 

Your box is fully insulated with ice packs, so your food won’t get ruined on your doorstep.

Most companies claim to have sustainable packaging, but some do a better job than others. Sunbasket leads the way in this regard. 

How to Pause, Skip, or Cancel Your Orders

When signing up for a meal subscription service, you want to make sure it’s easy to change your orders. If you don’t like the food, are going on vacation, or want to try another service before committing, check the fine print regarding skipping a week, changing your order, or canceling.

While most companies make this easy, there’ll be a cut-off time – often at least five days before your upcoming delivery. You can usually manage your account through the app or website, but in some cases you need to email or call in. 

Bottom Line: Why choose an Easy to Cook Meal Delivery Service?

Simply put, a meal delivery service that offers easy-to-cook recipes can change the way you eat. With plenty of options for easy and recipes for the entire family, you can benefit from chef-prepared meals or fresh home cooking, without breaking a sweat.

Even the most complicated meal delivery services save you precious time and energy on meal planning, prep, cooking, and cleaning. The whole industry is designed to make your life easier. So, what are you waiting for?

FAQ

Are meal delivery kits worth it?

Meal kits save you so much time on meal planning and grocery shopping while helping you fine-tune your cooking skills in a fun and easy way. 

All meal delivery kit services send you pre-portioned ingredients and a recipe card with step-by-step instructions. Blue Apron’s cooking instructions are accompanied by pictures, and Home Chef ranks each recipe by difficulty level. Many companies also allow you to filter your menu choices to see only the quickest meal kits. 

What is the easiest to cook meal delivery service?

With meals that take 20-45 minutes to get on the table, Blue Apron is one of the easiest-to-cook meal delivery services. Along with the pre-portioned ingredients, your delivery comes with a recipe card, which includes pictures of each ingredient and pictures to accompany each step of the instructions. 

For more guidance, see the how-to videos on the Cook Along feature on the app.

What is the healthiest easy to cook meal delivery service?

Blue Apron offers a dedicated Wellness Plan, full of low carb, calorie-conscious, and WW- approved meal kits. Sunbasket’s meal kits and ready-made meals are made from premium, organic ingredients, and the menu caters to many diets, including gluten-free, carb-conscious, diabetes-friendly, vegan, and more. 

If you’re willing to pay a bit more for organic ingredients, consider Veestro’s vegan prepared meals or Green Chef’s meal kits, including keto, paleo, and plant-powered meal plans.