Dinner Kit Reviews
Okay, if I come home after work and I already have a good idea of what I am cooking and have all the groceries I need in the house plus the kitchen is clean, that’s a no-brainer. But seriously, how often does that happen? Cause I’m telling you that the failure of just one of those things can throw a wrench into the whole works! Sometimes the mere thought of stopping at the store on my way home (full disclosure: there is a large grocery store right next to the building where I work) is enough to waylay my best laid plans. I know. I’m pitiful. But somehow I don’t think I’m alone and that is where dinner delivery kits can really save the day! Most of them do have a minimum of two different dinners each week but that usually works for us.
What I really like about dinner kits is the way it brings us together in the kitchen since no one person is owning the process and it exposes my family to new flavors and combinations. It makes us all better in the kitchen!
I’ve used dinner kits off and on for the past five years and decided to commit to doing a comprehensive review of what’s out there and even ordering from different companies so I can create a series of actual reviews for my readers.
Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, my reviews are based on ordering 2 or 3 meals per week for two people so special offers may vary if ordering more.
Companies are listed in alphabetical order to make it easy for you to find the one you want to know more about.
All products featured on this site are independently selected by me and I have not received any freebies; however, if you order something through one of my affiliate links, I may (or may not) receive a commission. I appreciate the support!
Blue Apron
Launched in 2012, Blue Apron keeps it simple by focusing on vegetarian, weight watchers freestyle or signature dishes. In addition, they have monthly wine packages as well as cheese boards from their market. They are not particularly allergy-friendly so this may not be a good fit if that is an issue. Perfect for people who don’t want complicated solutions but wouldn’t mind a wine pairing during the week.
Price per serving for two servings: $9.99
Cost of shipping: $7.99
Introductory Offer: $20 off for first three weeks
Available: Contiguous U.S.
What sets Blue Apron apart? They offer a glass or two of wine with your dinner
Daily Harvest
Since 2015, Daily Harvest has chosen a different approach to the dinner-kit space. Consumers can mix and match from their selections of plant-based smoothies, harvest bowls (veggies + grain), soups, dessert bites, oat bowls, chia bowls and lattes ( 3 single-serve pods). You can choose from 9/12/24 cups (or servings) starting at $6.99 per selection. 95% of their ingredients are organically sourced and most cups include some sort of “superfood”. The prep time couldn’t be easier since you only have to heat, blend or brew the ingredients in the cup it comes in. Perfect for people on the go who need quick and healthy solutions.
Price per serving for two servings: Starting at $6.99 per cup (24 pk)
Cost of shipping: none
Introductory Offer: $25 off first box if you use code below
Available: Most of Contiguous U.S.
What sets Daily Harvest apart? Mix & Match cups is a great idea for the health-conscious person who is always on the run.
Sign up for Daily Harvest here
Dinner A’fare
Started in 2004 as a meal assembly business, Dinner A’fare morphed into meal delivery and does things a bit differently by offering 3, 6 and 12 dinner packs with the price-per-meal set for 1, 3 or 6 people. They suggest that all of their dinners, sides and desserts are freezable so you can thaw out as you are ready to use. Plus they do all the chopping for you! They allow some customization and have a gluten avoidance menu each month as well as limited vegetarian options but are not particularly vegan-friendly.
Price per serving for two servings: $9.98 but their minimum order is for 2-3 people and billed for 3. Sides and desserts are extra.
Cost of shipping: n/a
Introductory Offer: $25 off first $125 order
Available: Most of Contiguous U.S.
What Sets Dinner A’fare Apart? Offers Single Servings as well as a fundraising option
Sign up for Dinner A’fare here
Dinnerly
Marley Spoon spinoff Dinnerly steps in with a more affordable option, claiming they can serve quality food at lower prices due to using digital recipe cards, fewer ingredients per dish, fixed weekly menus, simpler packaging and less marketing. Although they offer vegetarian dinners, they don’t offer a lot of customization, making vegan and allergy-free options pretty limited. Perfect for families who prefer simpler dinner menus and have access to online
Price per serving for two servings: $4.49
Cost of shipping: $8.99
Introductory Offer: $10 off first three boxes
Available: Most of Contiguous U.S.
What sets Dinnerly apart? Affordability and online recipe cards
Everyplate
Everyplate, which is owned by Hello Fresh, makes dinner easy and affordable but that comes with limited options. With only eight meal options weekly and no special dietary considerations, Everyplate keeps their menus fairly traditional and very affordable. Perfect for families with kids who don’t like to experiment with their food.
Price per serving for two servings: $4.99
Cost of shipping: $8.99
Introductory Offer: $30 off first order plus free shipping
Available: Most of Contiguous U.S.
What sets Everyplate apart? Kid-friendly menu and affordability
Factor
Offering keto, paleo, high-protein and low-carb choices, Factor says their meals are nutrient dense, grass-fed, pasture-raised, preservative-free, antibiotic and hormone-free, soy-free and gluten-free. Plus they only use non-GMO ingredients and organically grown produce. And they accommodate several food allergens, including dairy. Factor sends 4, 6, 8, 12, or 18 fully-cooked meals that will stay fresh in your fridge for up to a week. All you have to do is heat them up.
Price per serving for two servings: $12.83
Cost of shipping: none
Introductory Offer: $40 off first two weeks
What sets Factor apart? Meals come fully prepared and more customizable than most.
Available: All of Contiguous U.S.
Freshly
Since 2015, Freshly has offered single-serving meals that arrive pre-cooked, are gluten-free, peanut-free, refined sugar-free and don’t contain artificial colors or flavors. You just have to heat them up. You can order 4, 6,9 or 12 meals weekly and can filter out dairy, tree nuts and shellfish, among other things. Vegetarians should be able to find what they need but vegans might be a little harder-pressed.
Price per serving for two servings: $9.99
Cost of shipping: none
Introductory Offer: $30 off first two weeks
Available: Most of Contiguous U.S.
What sets Freshly apart? They list around 90 banned ingredients on their site to show their commitment to healthier options.
Gobble
Gobble offers 15-minute dinner kits as well as Sunday meal-prep ingredients that make up 6 servings for lunch boxes. These can all be gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb or vegetarian. Dinner kits are pre-chopped and ready to throw together and you can select “from the ranch”, “from the range”, “from the sea” and “vegetarian” options. For the lunchbox meal-prep, you select your preferred grains and proteins and they send along with veggies and from there, you batch cook your lunches for the week.
Price per serving for two servings: $11.99 for dinner and $5.99 for lunch
Cost of shipping: $6.99
Introductory Offer: $30 off plus free shipping on first box
Available: Most of Contiguous U.S.
What sets Gobble apart? The Sunday meal-prep lunchbox concept is pretty original in this space.
Green Chef
Certified organic and non-GMO, Green Chef offers a tailored approach where you select Keto, Paleo, Balanced Living or Plant-based and then make customizations. Purchased by Hello Fresh in 2018, this company targets a specific clientele with its emphasis on dietary specialization and these upgrades do come at a cost.
Price per serving for two servings: Varies according to selection
- Keto $12.99 per meal
- Paleo $12.99 per meal
- Balanced-Living $11.99 per meal
- Plant-Powered starting at $9.99 per meal
Cost of shipping: $7.99
Introductory Offer:
Available: Most of Contiguous U.S.
What sets Green Chef apart? They cater to specialized diets
Hello Fresh
Founded in 2011 and based in Berlin, Germany, Hello Fresh is the largest meal-kit provider in the U.S. A limited level of customization is possible but they don’t make any allergy-free promises. There are several vegetarian options each week that can be morphed into vegan with the removal of the dairy component but again, they don’t commit to vegan. As an add-on, Hello Fresh offers a curated monthly shipment of 6 bottles of wine to make dinner taste even better.
Price per serving for two servings: $10.99
Cost of shipping: $6.99
Introductory Offer: $40 off first week, $30 off second week and $10 off next two weeks
Available: Most of contiguous U.S.
What sets Hello Fresh apart? They offer college students a 15% discount as well as free shipping. All the time.
Home Chef
Home Chef began operations in 2013 and now delivers to 98% of the U.S. With its culinary (read upgrade) collection, home chef express meals ready in 15 minutes , easy prep oven-ready line that includes pan, entree salads and a selection of protein pack add-ons, this company fills the dinner niche nicely. While vegetarian is easy to achieve, vegan is not but the personal taste profile does allow users to customize.
Price per serving for two servings: $9.95
Cost of shipping: $9.95
Introductory Offer: $20 off first week
Available: Most of contiguous U.S.
What sets Home Chef apart? The protein packs are a nice add-on.
Martha and Marley Spoon
Martha Stewart jumped into the dinner kit market in 2016 with this partnership with German-founded Marley Spoon. The following meal tags are available: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Low Carb, One Pot Meal, Under 30 Minutes, Low-Calorie and Family-Friendly and Vegan is possible with some customizing. There is a rather clever option called 2-in-1 meals where the leftovers are turned into their own packable lunch menu for the following day. One of their tag lines is “How does 6 steps and less than 30 minutes sound for a chef-worthy meal sound?”
Price per serving for two servings: $10.25
Cost of shipping: $8.99
Introductory Offer: $15 off on each of the first four weeks
Available: Most of contiguous U.S.
What sets Martha & Marley Spoon apart? Why, Martha, of course!
Read my personal review of Martha & Marley Spoon here.
Sign up for Martha & Marley Spoon here
Plated
Founded in 2012 and now owned by the grocery chain Albertsons, Plated offers a variety of options: brunch, appetizers, desserts, family-friendly, stovetop-only. They also allow selections for gluten-free, low-carb, low-calorie but I don’t see the option for dairy free which makes choosing vegan difficult. One cool option for small-space dwellers is their stove-top meals.
Price per serving for two servings: $11.95
Cost of shipping: $7.95
Introductory Offer: 25% off for first four weeks
Available: deliver to 95% of U.S.
What sets Plated apart? Apps, Desserts and Brunch add-ons
Purple Carrot
All-vegan menus with gluten free, soy free, nut free, low carb and high-protein customizations, Purple Carrot fills a growing niche in the dinner kit space. Started in 2014 by Andy Levitt who had turned to a vegan diet to help with his Crohn’s disease, Purple Carrot offers lunches and breakfasts as well. Even if you aren’t a vegan, you may want to mix it up with Purple Carrot’s plant-based options.
Price per serving for two servings: $11.99
Cost of shipping: none
Introductory Offer: $30 off first week
Available: Contiguous U.S.
What sets Purple Carrot apart? Their commitment to clean vegan eating at an acceptable price point
Read my personal review of Purple Carrot here.
Sign up for Purple Carrot here
Sakara
Founded in 2011, Sakara is more of a lifestyle with a strong emphasis on eating organic, wholesome vegan meals free of chemicals and processed foods. Their weekly meal kits include probiotics, detox tea and depending on the level you order, additional detox offerings. Sakara sets the menus after you register your preferences and the meals are delivered already prepared with heating optional. They sell supplements, snacks, teas and water through their Clean Boutique. There is an aura of exclusivity to Sakara Life and their pricing will be an obstacle for many, but then again, maybe you are worth it!
Price for one person: $239 per week for entry-level Signature program (includes 3 meals for 3 days) and $450 for a monthly Detox Program (includes 5 meals for 5 days).
Cost of shipping: none
Introductory Offer: $50 off first program if you use the link below
Available: Contiguous U.S.
What sets Sakara apart? Definitely next level
Splendid Spoon
Completely vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO, Splendid Spoon does the dinner kit thing a little differently, mainly because they don’t offer dinner at all! Founder Nicole Centeno believes that a diet centered on more veggies, more hydration, and simplicity, provides the foundation for a less stressful, more productive work week and a stronger, more resilient body and mind. You choose smoothies for breakfast and soup and grain bowls for lunch, all ready to eat. You can also opt for the one-day reset menu add-on. Splendid Spoon does allow some customization to account for allergies or food avoidances.
Price per serving: $9.50 for entry level 5 breakfast/5 lunch and $13 for 5 lunch-only option
Cost of shipping: none
Introductory Offer: $50 off first order by using link below
Available: Contiguous U.S.
What sets Splendid Spoon apart? A solution for breakfast and lunch rather than dinner
Sign up for Splendid Spoon here
Sun Basket
With a drop down menu of Chef’s Choice, Carb-Conscious, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Lean & Clean, Vegetarian, Vegan, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Diabetes-Friendly and Quick & Easy, Sun Basket hits just about every demographic. Founded in 2014, they offer family friendly menus as well as add-on breakfast and lunch items, snacks, proteins and pastas. Touting organic produce and ethically sourced meats and working towards increasing those standards, the only thing they don’t commit to is being a good fit for those who have serious food allergies.
Price per serving for two servings: $12.99
Cost of shipping: $6.99
Introductory Offer: $35 off first order
Available: Contiguous U.S.
What sets Sun Basket apart? They really do hit every demographic at a decent price
Trifecta
Trifecta was founded in 2015 with a mission to help America get back into shape by offering science-backed meal plans designed to help you lose weight and add muscle. You can choose from Keto, Clean, Paleo, Vegan, Classic and Vegetarian with some further customization. They use all-organic and gluten-free ingredients and allow you to exclude 2 of 8 listed allergen foods. The meals come vacuum-sealed so you can store in fridge or freezer.
Price per serving: $15.49 for minimum order of 5 dinners
Cost of shipping: none
Introductory Offer: none on their site
Available: Contiguous U.S.
What sets Trifecta apart? “Eat like you train” mantra
