Tired of the same-old, same-old when it comes to what you're eating these days? There may be a solution to the well-worn rut you're in. We scoped out companies that deliver ready-to-eat meals, plus meal-kit subscriptions that send the ingredients for you to cook different recipes each week. Here are food-delivery services to consider while you hunker down — or when you just need a break from cooking.
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Availability: Most of the continental U.S.
Price: $5-$6 per serving (weekly three-meal minimum)
Love the idea of meal kits, which deliver exactly the ingredients you need to make a tasty dinner, but not the price? Dinnerly aims to make the whole concept a lot more affordable, with options that are half the price of competitors’. Recipes are definitely a simple affair, but otherwise, the concept is the same: You choose a recurring weekly delivery of three to five meal kits with two or four servings each. Shipping is $10 per order.
Sample dishes: Lemon-pepper chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans; cheeseburger calzones and pickle chips; fried shrimp and slaw
Options for special diets: Low-calorie, low-carb, dairy-free, vegetarian
Availability: Continental U.S.
Price: Varies, but options start around $4 a serving
Though better known for its family-style favorites, Schwan’s also offers a range of single-serve meals that are shipped frozen. You can order both online and directly from sales representatives during their deliveries. No monthly commitment or minimum order is required. Smaller-portion single meals start around just $5 to $6 each. Delivery on orders of $50 and over is free; there’s a nominal fee for smaller orders.
Sample dishes: Quesadillas, beef pot pies, sesame chicken, lasagna
Options for special diets: Gluten-free, no-sugar-added, low-sodium, low-calorie, vegetarian, heart-healthy
Availability: Most of the continental U.S.
Price: $5 per serving (weekly three-meal minimum)
Like Dinnerly, EveryPlate aims to win over those who think most meal kits are too expensive, but its weekly menu is a bit smaller than Dinnerly’s and offers no special-diet options. You can choose from a recurring weekly plan of three to five meals with two or four servings each. Shipping is $9 per order.
Sample dishes: Creamy smothered pork chops with crispy home fries and roasted carrots; chicken and pepper quesadillas with Southwest crema; Tuscan herbed chicken linguine with creamy tomato sauce
Options for special diets: Vegetarian
Related: 50 Cheap and Easy Chicken Recipes
Availability: Continental U.S.
Price: $8 per meal (12-meal minimum)
This budget-friendly service offers a small but robust seasonal menu of frozen breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. While it’s a Medicaid-approved provider in several states, it also sells directly to the public. No contracts are required, but you must order at least 12 meals at a time. Shipping is just under $20 per order.
Sample dishes: Turkey and noodles with veggies; broccoli-stuffed chicken breast, pasta, and peas; chicken enchiladas with corn and rice
Options for special diets: Low-carb, gluten-free, low-calorie, low-fat, renal-friendly, low-sodium
Availability: Continental U.S.
Price: $7 to $10 per serving (weekly three-meal minimum)
One of the biggest meal-kit companies in the country, HelloFresh provides crowd-pleasing meal kits for either two or four people, and you can choose a recurring order of three or four meals a week from the robust rotating menu. Shipping is $10 per order.
Sample dishes: Cheesy onion crunch chicken; El Paso pork burgers; carne asada tacos
Options for special diets: Low-calorie, vegetarian
Related: 40 Cheap Air Fryer Recipes to Cut Calories Not Flavor
Availability: Most areas within the continental U.S.
Price: $9 to $12 per meal (four-meal minimum)
Freshly delivers ready-to-eat meals that are refrigerated, not frozen. To order, you must sign up for a recurring weekly plan of four, six, 10, or 12 meals. Meals stay fresh up to five days from delivery. Shipping is roughly $1 a meal.
Sample dishes: Steak peppercorn with sauteed carrots and French green beans; sausage-baked penne with broccoli; pork carnitas with Latin-style rice and beans
Options for special diets: Gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, high-protein, low-calorie, low-carb
Availability: Continental U.S.
Price: $8 to $12 per serving (weekly two-meal minimum)
Chief HelloFresh competitor Blue Apron has earned a reputation as a good option for more confident, adventurous home chefs who like to cook with more interesting ingredients. You can choose two, three, or four meal kits each week with two or four servings each. Shipping is $10.
Sample dishes: White bean pita flatbreads with saffron, tomatoes, and olives; dukkah-spiced chicken and orange salsa with brussel sprouts and farro; seared salmon with a sweet chili glaze, rice, and sauteed veggies
Options for special diets: Low-calorie, low-carb, vegetarian, diabetic, Mediterranean
Related: 20 Dishes Every Meat Eater Should Try at Least Once
Availability: Nationwide
Price: $11 to $15 each with a 6-meal weekly minimum. Shipping is free.
These dietician-designed, chef-prepared meals from Factor_ are fresh and never frozen, and all of the choices (which change weekly) are gluten-free. The service says "you won't believe they're healthy" of the meals, which come with clearly-stated ingredients and calorie counts.
Sample Dishes: Honey-Mustard Chicken, Tuscan Tomato Chicken, Pesto Salmon
Options for Special Diets: Keto, plant-based, low-cal, low-carb
Availability: Most of the continental U.S.
Price: $9 to $13 per serving (weekly two-meal minimum)
Martha Stewart devotees, here’s your meal kit. The fare is mostly middle-of-the-road recipes with a bit of Martha flourish, and they’re designed to be ready in no more than six steps and 30 minutes each. Choose from a recurring plan of two to six meals a week with either two or four servings each. Shipping is $10 per order.
Sample dishes: Lemon-rosemary chicken with almond-herb gremolata and green beans; seared steak and brown-butter pan sauce with roasted carrots and potatoes; berbere-spiced roast pork tenderloin with honey butter-glazed butternut squash
Options for special diets: Low-carb, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian
Availability: Nationwide
Price: Varies (many options around $10 per serving)
Omaha Steaks may be better known for meat, but the company also sells frozen meals that include single-serve entrees and one-step or skillet-cooked family-style options. You can order what you want, when you want it — there are no contracts or minimum orders. Pricing varies, but hovers around $10 a serving for meals that serve one or two (larger portions are cheaper). Standard shipping is free on orders of $169 or more; otherwise, it ranges from $10 to $20 per order.
Sample dishes: Chicken and noodles; shepherd's pie; shrimp fried rice
Options for special diets: Gluten-free
Related: 25 Best Gluten-Free Finds at Costco
Availability: “98% of the United States”
Price: Starting at $9 per serving (weekly two-meal minimum)
With Home Chef, you can get classic, ready-in-30-minutes meal kits (or even faster low- or no-prep meals from the Fresh & Easy menu), but there are other options including 15-minute meals, slow cooker meals, oven meals, entree salads, and a high-brow “culinary collection.” Choose a recurring weekly plan of two to six meals with two, four, or six servings each. Shipping is $10. Want to pick it up? The meals are also available at all Kroger supermarkets.
Sample dishes: Honey-mustard glazed salmon with apple-potato hash; teriyaki-charred broccoli and shiitake mushrooms with sesame noodles; fish tacos with pineapple and bok choy
Options for special diets: Low-carb, low-calorie
Related: 19 Best Frozen Foods at Aldi to Stock Your Freezer for Less
Availability: Nationwide
Price: $15 to $29 for lunch and dinner entrees
There are no contracts required with HomeBistro, which bills itself as a gourmet service and ships frozen meals to your door. Meals can be purchased individually or in meal packs as small as six meals or as big as 20 meals. If you want breakfast or snack options, look elsewhere; options are limited to traditional lunch and dinner entrees. Shipping varies; we were quoted $30 plus a $3.15 shipping insurance charge for a 10-meal order.
Sample dishes: Peri peri pork tenderloin with orzo and broccoli; Tunisian shrimp with harissa sauce; chargrilled salmon and honey-roasted carrots
Options for special diets: Paleo, heart-healthy, vegetarian, diabetic, Mediterranean, and Body Shred
Related: 15 Popular Restaurant Dishes You Can Find in the Freezer Section
Availability: Continental U.S. except Montana. Limited service in Kansas, Nebraska, and New Mexico.
Price: $12 to $14 per serving (weekly three-meal minimum)
Gobble sets itself apart from the meal-kit crowd with a promise that your dinner will be ready in 15 minutes or less. That’s because Gobble chefs do the annoying prep work, like chopping and peeling — but that convenience means you’ll pay more per serving, of course. You can receive a weekly delivery of either three or four meal kits for two or four people. Shipping is free.
Sample dishes: Pasta arrabiata with asparagus caprese salad; Louisiana-style shrimp with white cheddar grits; brown sugar-spiced chicken with sweet potato and pepper hash
Options for special diets: Gluten-free, low-carb, vegetarian
Related: 25 Delicious Dump-and-Bake Recipes That Can Be Prepared in Minutes
Availability: Eastern U.S., Texas, and some portions of the Great Plains and Southwest
Price: $11 to $14 meal (six-meal minimum)
Watching your calories? Snap Kitchen makes staying on track easy, because meals are 500 calories or under. You must choose a recurring weekly delivery of either six or 12 meals from a rotating menu. Meals are delivered refrigerator-ready and should stay good anywhere from four to six days. Shipping is free.
Sample dishes: Bison quinoa hash; creamy mushroom fusilli; shrimp and cauliflower grits
Options for special diets: Gluten-free, low-carb, high-protein, paleo, vegetarian, keto
Related: Here's How Long You Have to Safely Eat 25 Unrefrigerated Foods
Availability: Most of the continental U.S.
Price: $10 to $13 per serving (weekly two-meal minimum)
If you want to eat organic and are willing to pay a bit more to do it, Green Chef could be the meal kit for you. A certified organic company, this HelloFresh-owned service also emphasizes eco-friendly packaging. It sends three meal kits a week that serve up to six people, making it a good pick for bigger appetites, families, or anyone who appreciates leftovers. Shipping is $8 per order.
Sample dishes: Bavarian pork with mustard aioli and quinoa-kale salad with apples, cabbage, and carrots; Italian beef stuffed peppers with basil pesto, rice, kale, and sunflower seeds
Options for special diets: Keto, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free
Related: 30 Vegetable Recipes for People Who Hate Vegetables
Availability: Nationwide
Price: $8 per meal (10-meal minimum)
Prefer an affordable, ready-to-eat option that’s not frozen? Mom’s Meals might be worth a look. This Medicare- and Medicaid-approved provider also sells directly to individuals. Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners must be ordered in batches of 10, 14, or 21, but no contract is required. Meals last for up to two weeks in the fridge. Shipping is just under $15 per order.
Sample dishes: Corn chowder and peaches with cherries and a fudge round; Mexican-style beef macaroni and cheese with fiesta blend vegetables, an orange, and oatmeal cream pie; sweet and sour chicken with stir-fry vegetables and white rice, grape juice, and a cookie
Options for special diets: Cancer-support, diabetic, gluten-free, heart-friendly, low-sodium, pureed, renal-friendly, vegetarian
Availability: Nationwide
Price: $12 to $14 for lunch and dinner entrees
Like Silver Cuisine, Magic Kitchen caters to seniors and doesn’t require any contracts or any minimum orders. These frozen meals can be ordered in bundles or individually, and you can opt for either single-serve entrees or two- to four-serving dishes. Breakfast, snacks, and desserts are also available. Shipping starts around $19 per order and varies based on weight and distance.
Sample dishes: Beef stroganoff with noodles and creamed spinach; spinach and mushroom lasagna with herb focaccia; crab cakes with brown rice and mixed vegetables
Options for special diets: Diabetic, low-sodium, low-carb, low-fat, renal-friendly, dialysis-friendly, gluten-free
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Availability: Nationwide
Price: Starting at $10 a day
If you're looking to lose weight, NutriSystem makes that possible — and if you're diabetic or pre-diabetic, there's a choice specifically for you. NutriSystem D provides fiber-rich pre-made meals and snacks that have low-glycemic carbs, lean proteins, healthy fats, and limited sugar.
Sample Dishes: Chicken paella, mac and cheese with a green salad, double chocolate muffin, lasagna with meat sauce
Options for Special Diets: Diabetic
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Availability: Continental U.S.
Price: $10 to $16 for lunch and dinner entrees
This senior-focused frozen meal service doesn’t require any contracts or any minimum orders, and has a wide variety of over 100 meals, including breakfasts and snacks. Shipping is free for orders of $99 or more; otherwise, expect to pay about $20 per shipment.
Sample dishes: Merlot meatballs with grits; grilled salmon with creamy pesto; four-cheese ravioli
Options for special diets: Heart-healthy, gluten-free, diabetic, low-sodium, low-carb, dairy-free, Mediterranean, menopause, vegetarian
Related: SNAP and Other Low-Income Relief Programs for Seniors
