I spent three months eating nothing but meal kits, and I have thoughts.
Specifically, I have very strong opinions about which ones are worth your money and which ones should be avoided at all costs. My wallet is lighter, my kitchen skills have Meal Kit Services improved, and I never want to see another recipe card again.
But hey, at least you won’t have to suffer through this experiment yourself. Let me save you some money and disappointment.
Why I Did This Insane Experiment
The meal kit industry has exploded over the past few years. Every week, there seems to be a new service promising to revolutionize your dinner routine. But which ones actually deliver on their promises?
I decided to find out by subscribing to twelve different services over three months, cooking and eating everything they sent. That’s roughly 150 meals total, with varying levels of success, frustration, and occasional food poisoning scares.
Here’s what I tested: HelloFresh, Blue Apron, Home Chef, Dinnerly, EveryPlate, Green Chef, Sunbasket, Gobble, Factor, Purple Carrot, Hungry Root, and Marley Spoon.
The criteria: taste, ease of preparation, ingredient quality, packaging waste, actual cost per serving, and whether I’d actually want to cook these meals again on my own.
Let’s get into it.
The Rankings: From Best to Worst
#1: Home Chef (9/10)
Price: $8-$10 per serving Best for: People who want customization without complexity
Home Chef won because they found the sweet spot between quality and convenience. Every recipe I tried actually worked—nothing burnt, nothing raw, nothing disgusting. That sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many meal kits fail this simple test.
The customization options are fantastic. You can swap proteins, upgrade to premium options, or adjust portion sizes easily. I could make a recipe vegetarian with one click, or add extra meat if I was particularly hungry.
Ingredient quality was consistently high. Vegetables were fresh, meat was properly packaged and fresh-smelling, herbs actually had flavor. Nothing arrived Meal Kit Services spoiled or sketchy in three months of deliveries.
The only downside? Some recipes felt a bit too simple. If you’re an experienced cook, you might find yourself thinking “I could have made this without instructions.” But that’s not necessarily a bad thing—the simplicity means you’re not struggling at 7 PM when you’re tired and hungry.
According to consumer reviews compiled by Consumer Reports, Home Chef consistently rates highly for ingredient freshness and customer satisfaction, confirming my personal experience.
#2: HelloFresh (8.5/10)
Price: $8-$12 per serving Best for: Beginners and families
HelloFresh comes in second, and honestly, it was close. They’re the most popular meal kit service for a reason—they’re just really solid all around.
The recipes are approachable without being boring. I made things I’d never attempted before (proper risotto, homemade tortillas, decent curry) but never felt overwhelmed. Instructions are detailed with photos, timing is accurate, and portions are generous.
Protein quality was excellent. The chicken actually tasted like chicken, the beef was tender, the fish wasn’t previously frozen mush. This matters more than you’d think—bad protein ruins an entire meal.
Why not #1? Two reasons: less customization than Home Chef, and they occasionally have weird ingredient combos that don’t quite work. I made one recipe with pickles and honey that was… a choice. But 95% of meals were winners.
Similar to learning basic cooking techniques, HelloFresh excels at teaching fundamental skills that translate to your own cooking.
#3: Green Chef (8/10)
Price: $11-$13 per serving Best for: Dietary restrictions, health-conscious eaters
Green Chef is the best option if you have specific dietary needs. Every meal is clearly labeled—keto, paleo, vegan, gluten-free, etc. And unlike some services that just slap a label on regular food, these recipes are genuinely designed around those diets.
I’m not on any special diet, but I tried their keto and vegan weeks. The keto meals were surprisingly satisfying despite having basically no carbs. The vegan meals were the best vegan cooking I’ve experienced—actual flavor and substance, not just sad vegetables.
Organic ingredients are standard, which explains the higher price. Everything felt premium quality. The downside is definitely the cost—this is meal kits for people with bigger budgets.
#4: Gobble (7.5/10)
Price: $12-$14 per serving Best for: Busy people who want speed
Gobble’s whole thing is that meals take 15 minutes to prepare. I was skeptical, but it’s actually true. They pre-prep a lot of stuff—sauces are made, vegetables are chopped, marinades are ready.
This is great when you’re exhausted and just want food fast. But it also means you’re not really “cooking” in the traditional sense. You’re more like assembling and heating. Some people might prefer that, but it felt a bit like cheating to me.
Food quality was good, not great. Everything tasted fine but rarely exceptional. At this price point, I wanted more wow factor.
#5: Blue Apron (7/10)
Price: $8-$12 per serving Best for: Adventurous eaters who want variety
Blue Apron is the OG meal kit service, and you can tell they’re trying to be more gourmet. Recipes are interesting and international—I made Korean bibimbap, Tunisian shakshuka, and Vietnamese banh mi bowls.
The problem? Instructions sometimes assume you know more than you do. They’ll say “sauté until fragrant” without explaining what fragrant looks like to someone who’s never cooked before. For experienced cooks, this is fine. For beginners, it’s frustrating.
Also had occasional ingredient freshness issues. Nothing spoiled, but herbs were sometimes wilted and vegetables were starting to turn. Not deal-breaking, but annoying at this price point.
#6: Sunbasket (6.5/10)
Price: $11-$15 per serving Best for: Health-focused individuals, organic preferences
Sunbasket markets itself as the “healthy” option with organic ingredients and nutrition-focused Meal Kit Services recipes. On paper, this sounds great. In practice, many meals were bland.
I think they’re so focused on being healthy that they forget food should also taste good. Low sodium, minimal oil, lots of vegetables—which is fine, but flavor suffered. Every meal needed extra salt and seasoning to be enjoyable.
That said, if you’re specifically trying to eat cleaner and don’t mind adding your own seasoning, the ingredient quality here is excellent. Everything is organic, sustainably sourced, and thoughtfully packaged.
#7: Purple Carrot (6/10)
Price: $10-$12 per serving Best for: Committed vegans
Purple Carrot is entirely plant-based, which I respect. As someone who eats meat, I tried to approach this fairly. Some meals were genuinely great—the mushroom bolognese and chickpea curry were delicious.
But about half the meals felt like they were trying too hard to replicate meat-based dishes rather than celebrating vegetables. “Cauliflower steaks” and “jackfruit pulled pork” don’t actually taste like steak or pork, and pretending they do is disappointing for everyone.
If you’re vegan and looking for interesting plant-based cooking inspiration, this could work. If you’re trying to reduce meat intake but not eliminate it, there are better options.
#8: Marley Spoon (5.5/10)
Price: $9-$12 per serving Best for: Martha Stewart fans, I guess?
Marley Spoon partners with Martha Stewart, which should mean elevated recipes and beautiful presentations. Unfortunately, I found the experience just mediocre across the board.
Nothing was terrible, but nothing was memorable either. Recipes were fine, ingredient quality was okay, packaging was whatever. For similar prices, other services offer more value and better results.
The recipe cards were nice to look at though. Very Martha Stewart aesthetic. That’s about the most positive thing I can say.
#9: Hungry Root (5/10)
Price: $9-$13 per serving Best for: People who hate cooking
Hungry Root isn’t really a meal kit in the traditional sense. They send you groceries and pre-made components that you combine into meals. It’s more like a customized grocery delivery service.
The concept is interesting, but execution was hit or miss. Sometimes the combinations they suggested were good. Other times I was staring at random ingredients wondering what meal they thought I was making.
Also, a lot of it felt like repackaged grocery store items at premium prices. The “homemade” sauces tasted store-bought. The “fresh” pastas seemed like they came from the refrigerated section at Whole Foods.
#10: Factor (4.5/10)
Price: $11-$15 per serving Best for: People who don’t want to cook at all
Factor sends fully prepared meals that you just heat up. This isn’t really meal kit cooking—it’s meal delivery. But I tested it anyway for completeness.
The main issue: reheated food never tastes as good as fresh-cooked. Everything had that microwave texture even when heated in the oven. Vegetables were mushy, proteins were tough, sauces separated.
For the price, you could order takeout and get better Meal Kit Services results. The only advantage is convenience and portion control if you’re watching calories.
#11: EveryPlate (4/10)
Price: $5-$6 per serving Best for: Very tight budgets
EveryPlate is the budget option, and you get what you pay for. It’s cheap, but the quality shows. Ingredients were the lowest quality of any service I tested—vegetables were often bruised, meat was the cheapest cuts, herbs were dried instead of fresh.
Recipes were extremely basic. We’re talking “cook ground beef, add sauce packet, serve over pasta” level simple. If you’re learning to cook, this won’t teach you much. If you’re experienced, you’ll be bored.
That said, if money is extremely tight and you need something cheaper than takeout, this technically works. Just adjust expectations accordingly.
#12: Dinnerly (3.5/10)
Price: $5-$7 per serving Best for: Nobody, honestly
Dinnerly is EveryPlate’s main competitor in the budget category, and somehow it’s even worse. The ingredient quality was the lowest I encountered—vegetables looked sad, meat was sketchy, portions were small.
I had two meals arrive with spoiled ingredients. The cucumber in one box was literally rotting. The chicken in another had an off smell that made me throw it away. Customer service was slow to respond.
For just a few dollars more, you can get dramatically better quality elsewhere. This is a false economy—you’re not saving money if you have to throw food away or order pizza because dinner was inedible.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
All these services advertise prices per serving, but the actual cost is higher when you factor in:
Delivery fees: Usually $7-$10 per box unless Meal Kit Services you hit minimum orders Tips: If you want to tip your delivery driver Food waste: Recipes send exact portions, so you can’t save money buying in bulk Time: Even “quick” meals take 30-45 minutes start to finish Energy: Using your oven/stove costs money too Cleanup: More dishes than ordering takeout
When I calculated true cost including all these factors, most meal kits were only marginally cheaper than good takeout or meal prep. The real value is in the convenience and variety, not in saving money.
Packaging Waste: The Elephant in Every Box
Every single meal kit service generates insane amounts of waste. Even the ones claiming to be “eco-friendly” send tons of plastic, ice packs, cardboard, and individual portion packaging.
One week’s delivery from HelloFresh filled my entire recycling bin. The ice packs are supposedly recyclable but require cutting them open and draining gel down your sink—most people just throw them away.
Green Chef and Sunbasket at least use recyclable materials, but that doesn’t change the fundamental waste problem. If environmental impact matters to you, meal kits might not align with your values.
Who Should Actually Use Meal Kits?
After this exhaustive testing, here’s who I think genuinely benefits from meal kits:
People learning to cook: They teach techniques and build confidence. Learning basic recipes becomes easier with guided instruction.
Busy professionals: If you’re working 60 hours a week, meal kits save mental energy even if they don’t save much money.
People in food ruts: If you cook the same five meals on rotation, kits introduce variety and new ideas.
Couples/families wanting to eat together: They make coordinating dinner easier than individual meal prep.
Who shouldn’t use them? People on very tight budgets, environmental minimalists, experienced cooks who already meal prep efficiently, and anyone who genuinely enjoys grocery shopping and menu planning.
My Final Verdict and Recommendations
If you’re going to try one meal kit:
- Best overall: Home Chef
- Best for beginners: HelloFresh
- Best for dietary restrictions: Green Chef
- Best value: Actually just cook yourself and save the money
If you try meal kits and decide they’re not for you, don’t feel bad. They’re a tool, not a solution for everyone. I’m personally going back to regular cooking, but I learned a Meal Kit Services bunch of new recipes and techniques that I’ll keep using.
The biggest value wasn’t the convenience—it was expanding my cooking repertoire and realizing I’m capable of making things I thought were too complicated. That knowledge is worth more than the subscription cost.
Have you tried any meal kit services? Which ones did you love or hate? I’d love to hear your experiences because I’m clearly not alone in having strong opinions about this!
