Classic Meal Kit Services
The original cook-at-home model. A box shows up with pre-portioned raw ingredients and a recipe card, you do the chopping and the stove work, and dinner takes 25 to 45 minutes. These are the biggest names in the category, the ones you've probably seen advertised on a podcast.
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The biggest meal kit in the US by subscriber count, with 20-plus recipes a week and per-serving prices that run from about eight to eleven dollars once the new-customer discount ends. Boxes ship in insulated liners with ice packs and cover meat, vegetarian, family, and calorie-smart menus in the same rotation.
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A Kroger-owned meal kit with one of the biggest weekly menus in the category, often 25-plus options including oven-ready trays and 15-minute Express meals. Per-serving cost lands around nine to twelve dollars, and select kits are also stocked in Kroger, Ralphs, and other Kroger-family grocery stores.
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One of the original US meal kit companies, known for recipes that ask a little more of the cook than most competitors, plus wine pairings sold as an add-on. Per-serving prices sit around nine to eleven dollars after the intro rate expires, with two, three, or four recipes a week for two or four people.
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A USDA Certified Organic meal kit owned by the HelloFresh Group, with dedicated Keto, Paleo, Mediterranean, and plant-based recipe lines you pick at sign-up. Per-serving prices run higher than most classic kits, typically eleven to thirteen dollars, which tracks with the organic ingredient sourcing.
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HelloFresh's budget-friendly meal kit brand ships pre-portioned ingredients and simple recipe cards at a lower per-serving cost.
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Hybrid grocery and meal service with AI-personalized recipes and partially pre-prepped ingredients needing 5-15 minutes of light cooking.
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San Francisco meal kit service emphasizing organic produce, responsibly sourced meat and seafood, with multiple diet-friendly options.
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A cook-at-home kit built around a long-running partnership with Martha Stewart, with recipes that skew a bit more restaurant-style than the mass-market kits. Expect roughly nine to twelve dollars per serving and a rotating menu of around 30 dishes a week across meat, seafood, and vegetarian options.
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A meal kit built around a 15-minute promise, since most vegetables arrive pre-chopped and sauces come pre-made in a single tray. It costs more per serving than most classic kits, generally eleven to fourteen dollars, in exchange for cutting the actual cooking time way down.
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Marley Spoon's budget meal kit line cuts packaging and recipe complexity to deliver affordable fresh ingredients weekly.
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Boston plant-based meal kit service delivering vegan ingredients and recipes for home cooks following vegetarian or vegan diets.
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Atlanta, Georgia · since 2013
Atlanta meal kit company featuring Southern-inspired recipes using ingredients sourced from regional Southeastern farms and producers.
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Fresh chef-designed recipes for their WiFi-connected smart oven, meals ready in 20 minutes with minimal prep work needed.
Frequently asked questions
How much do these meal kits typically cost per person?
Prices vary depending on the service you choose. Budget-friendly options like EveryPlate and Dinnerly offer lower costs, while classic kits generally range from eight to twelve dollars per serving. Specialized organic or premium services typically run higher.
I'm in a rush after work. Are there any kits that require very little cooking time?
Yes, several services cater to busy schedules. Gobble provides meals in about 15 minutes because many ingredients arrive pre-chopped, and Home Chef offers 15-minute Express meals. Hungryroot is another fast option since it uses partially pre-prepped ingredients that only need 5 to 15 minutes of light cooking.
Can I find kits that cater to specific diets like vegan or keto?
You have many specialized options. Green Chef and Sunbasket offer various diet-friendly lines, while Purple Carrot focuses entirely on vegan and vegetarian recipes. There are also dedicated Keto and Paleo options available through Green Chef.
Do any of these services offer more advanced or restaurant-quality recipes?
If you want to challenge your cooking skills, Blue Apron offers recipes that require more effort than most competitors. Marley Spoon also provides a more restaurant-style experience compared to mass-market kits.