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If you savor restaurant-quality meals or want to refine your palate, you're in luck. Thanks to gourmet meal delivery services, you and your loved ones may explore exciting and elevated cuisines in the comfort of your kitchen without obtaining a culinary degree or footing the bill for a fancy dinner out. Meal delivery services are a convenient and delicious way to enjoy meals at home in just a few steps, with fresh ingredients shipped to you and a little assistance from the tools and pantry items you already have in your kitchen.
Our team of researchers tasted and sampled dozens of gourmet meal delivery companies in search of the best available choices. From budget-friendly finds to plant-based meals to family-favorite comforts, we've rounded up a list for you to discover the best gourmet meal delivery services for your epicurean household.
The 11 Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Services of 2023
- Best Meal Kits: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
- Best Budget Pick: EveryPlate
- Best for Beginners: HelloFresh
- Best for Families: Blue Apron
- Best Organic Meals: Green Chef
- Best for Weight Loss: bistroMD
- Best Plant-Based Meals: Mosaic
- Best Prepared Meals: CookUnity
- Best Paleo Meals: Pete's Real Food
- Best for Breakfast: Splendid Spoon
- Best for Athletes: Trifecta
Best Meal Kits : Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
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Martha Stewart and Marley Spoon
- Starting Price: $8.69 per serving
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
Have a memorable dinner on the table in minutes, thanks to culinary matriarch Martha Stewart. This meal kit service carefully sources seasonal, farm-fresh ingredients for elevated and sustainable gourmet-inspired meals.
Recipe customizations
Diverse menu options
Transparent sourcing
Count on $11.99 for shipping
It's no surprise that Martha Stewart and Marley Spoon's meal kits are delicious. The service prides itself on thoughtful sourcing, sustainability measures, food testing, and specific certifications from vetted suppliers for guaranteed fresh ingredients. Select from over 100 recipes per week with premium premeasured ingredients and spices for flavor-forward, gourmet entrées. Meals can accommodate two or four servings and two to six meals per shipment. And with a variety of preferences, such as pescatarian, meat, vegetarian, vegan, fast, healthy, family-friendly, low-carb, and gluten-free, there are plenty of options for all foodies.
- Greek chicken gyro with chopped salad and garlic sauce
- Broccoli Reuben, Russian dressing wedge salad
- Oven-fried beef taquitos, tomatillo salsa, and jalapeños
- Gochujang turkey ragu with fresh udon, cilantro, and scallions
Best Budget Pick : EveryPlate
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Every Plate
- Starting Price: $4.99 per serving
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
EveryPlate will keep you satiated and your wallet happy with hearty, comfort food favorites that won't break the bank.
Affordable price point
Family-friendly
Minimal prep time
Menu can become redundant
Meals tend to be on the heavier side
EveryPlate's weekly menu features over 25 recipes for easy-to-craft meal kits. Each recipe arrives with preportioned ingredients and instructional recipe cards that outline your meal in six easy steps, so dinner is ready in about 30 minutes or less. Meal plans are designed for two or four people with three to six meals per shipment. Select from various meal plans that include meat and vegetable, vegetarian, family favorites, quick and easy, nutritious and delicious, and a handful of add-on options such as snacks and grab-and-go meals. However, if you prefer your meals on the lighter side, note that the recipes tend to focus on classic and heartier meals such as meat and potatoes, pasta, burgers, and filling sandwiches.
- Crispy Caesar chicken
- Steak frites
- Blackened shrimp salad
- Hotel butter barramundi
Best for Beginners : HelloFresh
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HelloFresh
- Starting Price: $8.99 per serving
- Delivery Area: 50 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
HelloFresh creates approachable gourmet meals with detailed recipe instructions and photographs for novice or beginner cooks who want to test out their iron chef skills in the kitchen.
Menu available weeks in advance
Delivery available in select ZIP codes in all 50 states
Robust, rotating menu
Does not cater to many dietary restrictions
HelloFresh is one of the long-standing pioneers in the meal delivery kit space, showcasing over 40 unique menu items each week. With premeasured ingredients, minimal prep, and easy-to-follow recipe cards, HelloFresh's meal kits and ready-made foods are attainable and convenient for home cooks at all levels. Recipes are created in six steps or less and ready in roughly 30 minutes. Meal plans feature meat and vegetables, vegetarian, pescatarian, fit and wholesome, family-friendly, and quick and easy, with serving sizes available for two or four people and featuring two to six recipes per week.
- Crispy buffalo-spiced chicken
- BBQ cheddar burgers
- Tex-Mex pork with mango salsa
- Pork sausage rigatoni rosa
Best for Families : Blue Apron
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Blue Apron
- Starting Price: $7.99 per serving
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
Touting family-friendly-sized entrées and meals for four, Blue Apron has plenty of variety to keep everyone in your home satiated.
Large, varied rotating menu
Meal kits and heat-and-eat meals
Plenty of meal preferences
Add-ons and extra options
Does not offer many dietary restrictions
Family dinners just got a little more fun with meal inspirations from around the world, featuring flavors and spices from Mexico to Vietnam. Blue Apron is a versatile meal kit service that creates enticing and health-conscious meals for the whole family to enjoy. Ingredients arrive preportioned alongside a colorful instruction recipe card, making it easy to follow along step-by-step to craft a gourmet, home-cooked meal. Or skip the meal prep altogether and opt for ready-to-cook meals featuring up to four servings. The company offers two or four serving sizes with two to four weekly meals. Blue Apron has a bevy of meal plans: chef's favorites, family-friendly, vegetarian, wellness, fast and easy, and plenty of add-on options, from smaller meals, snacks, proteins, heat-and-eat meals, and even wine.
Meal Kits
- Togarashi shrimp and vegetable fried rice
- Space Ranger chicken enchiladas
- One-pan white bean and poblano shakshuka
- Baked meatballs and romesco mayo
Heat and Eat
- Sweet and spicy beef bowl with rice, peppers, and edamame
- Chicken Alfredo pasta with peas
Best Organic Meals : Green Chef
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Green Chef
- Starting Price: $11.99 per serving
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
With transparency at its forefront, Green Chef sources sustainable proteins and USDA certified-organic produce for healthful and nourishing meals with options to mix and match menu preferences, so you can simultaneously help support Mother Earth and maintain a nutritious diet.
CCOF-certified organic
Mix-and-match menu
Up to six serving sizes
Mission-driven company
On the pricier side
Limited to four meals per week
Extra fee for shipping
Green Chef believes eating well and supporting farmers should be both easy and attainable. The company works directly with farmers and upholds strict food-sourcing practices. Meal kits arrive in eco-friendly packaging, and ingredients are preportioned so dinner is ready in 30 minutes or less. Select from over 30 meals a week, with options to mix and match menu preferences, such as gluten-free, fast and fit, Mediterranean, keto, vegan, vegetarian, and protein-packed. And with options for two, four, or six servings and three or four recipes per week, your entire household can enjoy nutrient-dense meals on a busy weeknight or feast on leftovers the next day.
- Harissa-spiced shrimp
- Sesame ginger bavette steak and shrimp
- Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls
- Maple glazed carrots with figs
Best for Weight Loss : bistroMD
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BistroMD
- Starting Price: $11.99 per serving
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Products Arrive: Frozen
BistroMD is a weight loss meal program created by a physician and designed to support personalized nutrition goals with a complete week's worth of meals and access to a personal registered dietitian.
Dietitian support
Offers women's and men's plans
Customized portal access
Must call for customized plans
Not suitable for families
BistroMD is a science-backed nutrition plan designed to support weight loss and rev up your metabolism in conjunction with nutrition coaching. The program includes a comprehensive plan for both men and women with a daily selection of meals for five or seven days. For customers looking for specific meal plans, the bistroMD team can create a plan tailored to your goals (though this must be done over the phone). New subscribers complete a detailed quiz and gain access to a portal to customize a meal plan from over 150 meals. Customers can also communicate directly with a registered dietitian. Dietary plans feature signature, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, menopause, and heart-healthy-focused plans.
- Chicken, rice, and cheddar casserole
- Salmon with dill mustard sauce
- Turkey breast with cranberry apple chutney
- Oven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauce
- Baked pasta marinara with chicken sausage
- Meatloaf with honey bourbon glaze
- Mojo pork with black beans and rice
- Chicken pad thai
- Grilled salmon with creamy pesto
- Lasagna with garden marinara
Best Plant-Based Meals : Mosaic
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Mosaic Foods
- Starting Price: $10.99 per serving
- Delivery Area: Major metro areas on East and West Coasts
- Products Arrive: Frozen
Eating your vegetables is simple with Mosaic. This plant-based meal company creates frozen vegetarian meals ready in minutes and boasts at least four servings of vegetables per meal, so it's easy to reach your daily fiber goal.
Plant-based plan
Variety of meal options
Recyclable packaging
Next-day shipping
Subscription-based-only model
Mosaic is a vegetable-centric meal service with single-serving and family-friendly meals. Boxes feature six, 12, or 18 meals per shipment with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The menu features smoothies, soups, pizzas, veggie bowls, and family meals that include at least four servings of vegetables.
Mosaic meals arrive frozen and are preservative-free, so keeping your meals in the freezer is your best bet. Meals last approximately three months in the freezer, and each meal has a corresponding ''best by'' date sticker to make it easy to keep track. Mosaic is a subscription-based service, and while the company doesn't offer one-time orders at the moment, customers can pause, skip, or cancel easily.
- Spicy dan dan noodles
- Buffalo cauliflower pasta bake (family size)
- Mac and greens
- Pozole verde
- Veggie kebab platter
- Coconut chickpea curry
Best Prepared Meals : CookUnity
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Cook Unity
- Starting Price: $11.09 per serving
- Delivery Area: 47 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
CookUnity curates award-winning, chef-crafted upscale meals to be savored in the comfort of your home without the fuss of going out to dinner.
Famous chef-made meals
Easy to heat
Order up to 16 meals per week
Single-serving size not ideal for families
Based in New York, CookUnity partners with renowned chefs who design mouthwatering, small-batched restaurant-style meals for you to dine in style (or in your PJs) at home. Meals are freshly prepared, single-serving, and can be heated up in the oven (or in the microwave if you're in a hurry). Plug in your food and dietary preferences on the company's website, and peruse hundreds of globally inspired meals from Israel to Morocco to Korea. Select as few as four or as many as 16 meals per week, and CookUnity will populate meal suggestions or let you take the reins and select your ideal meals for up to two weeks in advance.
- Coconut lime hanger steak
- Carnitas street tacos
- Butternut squash ravioli
- Chili roasted shrimp
Best Paleo Meals : Pete's Real Food
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Pete's Real Food
- Starting Price: $14 per serving
- Delivery Area: 50 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
Pete's Real Food touts paleo-centric gourmet meals for the entire family along with mouthwatering extras such as bulk-cured bacon.
Rotating menu
Paleo-friendly
Kids' lunch menu
Mix-and-match plans
Cannot choose the delivery date
Meals are on the pricey side
Pete's Real Food is a San Diego-based paleo meal service founded by classically trained chef Pete Servold and his wife, Sarah. From paleo, keto, and vegan meal plans to options for mixing and matching and even menus for kids' lunches, Pete's Real Food is a healthful option for the whole family. Customers may select five, seven, or 10 breakfasts, lunches, and dinners and bulk meal plan bundles with delivery available weekly or every two, three, or four weeks. Add-ons include nitrate- and sugar-free bacon and bone broth. Meals are ready-to-heat, preservative-free, and may be stored for up to 10 days in the fridge or six months in the freezer.
- Grilled chicken with sautéed cabbage and green goddess potato salad
- Chicken chili with oven-roasted tomatoes and spaghetti squash
- Beef stroganoff over sweet potato noodles
- Chicken meatballs with cauliflower mash and sweet potato fries
- Turkey burgers with lemon garlic asparagus and roasted purple potato wedges
Best for Breakfast : Splendid Spoon
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Splendid Spoon
- Starting Price: $9.99 per serving
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
Enjoy Splendid Spoon's plant-powered juices, smoothies, wellness shots, and more. Packed with nutrients and wholesome ingredients, Splendid Spoon's ready-made meals are designed to keep you feeling satiated and glowing all day without any prep or cleanup.
Plant-based
Ready-made meals and snacks
Detailed and diverse dietary search options
Some meals were bland
Certain items may not be very filling
Splendid Spoon creates ready-to-enjoy, nutrient-rich, plant-based meals and snacks for convenient nourishment. Each week, select from over 65 smoothies, juices, wellness shots, soups, noodles, and grain bowls designed by chefs and dietitians. Meals and snacks arrive fresh and fridge-ready but may also be stored in the freezer for up to 30 days. Create a custom box or let Splendid Spoon curate a shipment for you with seven, 14, or 21 meals. All items are plant-based, gluten-, dairy-, and egg-free, and dietary search filters feature high fiber and protein along with the option to choose meals low in sodium, sugar, carbs, and calories. Furthermore, you may drill down to identify specific ingredients, taste and texture, and health benefits for ultra customization.
Smoothies
- Cacao almond
- Blackberry basil
- Green matcha
- Power greens
- Raspberry cacao
Soups
- Red lentil dal
- Green tomatillo chili
- Lentil and kale
- Kimchi fried quinoa
- Cauliflower tikka
- Cauliflower potato
- Butternut turmeric
- Garden minestrone
Best for Athletes : Trifecta
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Trifecta
- Starting Price: $13.99 per serving
- Delivery Area: 50 states
- Products Arrive: Fresh
Designed to boost your athletic performance, Trifecta creates nutrient-dense meals created by dietitians to keep you fueled and fit. Plus, with access to a community of peers, you'll receive extra support to keep on track.
Access to community support
Variety of meal preferences
Up to 14 entrées per week
Minimum order of at least 7 entrées
Trifecta is a nutrition and weight loss program that is designed to help you reach personalized fitness and health goals. Meals are crafted by dietitians, and Trifecta subscribers can connect with a community of peers for motivation and support.
There is a bevy of meal plans and preferences that feature classic meals, keto, high protein, vegan, vegetarian, Whole30, clean, paleo, keto, and a meal prep option for mixing and matching proteins, starches, and vegetables. Customers may select five, seven, 10, or 14 entrées with the option to add on breakfasts and may avoid up to two ingredients to create a tailored health plan.
- Kung pao grilled chicken with broccoli and roasted sweet potato
- Beef skillet with roasted sweet potato and marinated cabbage
- Herb-roasted cod with walnut basil pesto and vegetables
- Slow-cooked rosemary thyme beef with root vegetables
- Salmon Mexican bowl with tomato salsa and vegetables
- Ginger shrimp with herb-marinated sweet potato
- Cajun chicken andouille sausage and roasted vegetables
Compare the Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Services
Company | Starting Price | Delivery Area | Products Arrive | Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? | Free Shipping? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon Best Meal Kits | $8.69 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
EveryPlate Best Budget Pick | $4.99 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
HelloFresh Best for Beginners | $8.99 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Blue Apron Best for Families | $7.99 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Green Chef Best Organic Meals | $11.99 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
bistroMD Best for Weight Loss | $11.99 per serving | 48 states | Frozen | No | No |
Mosaic Best for Plant-Based Meals | $10.99 per serving | Major metro areas on East and West Coasts | Frozen | Yes | Yes, with minimum |
CookUnity Best Prepared Meals | $11.09 per serving | 47 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Pete's Real Food Best Paleo Meals | $14 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | No |
Splendid Spoon Best for Breakfast | $9.99 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | No | Yes, with a minimum order of 10 items |
Trifecta Best for Athletes | $13.99 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | No |
Guide to Choosing the Best Gourmet Meal Delivery Service
Factors to Consider
- Price/Cost Per Meal: Think about your budget; usually, meal delivery services charge a recurring fee each week, and the more meals your order, the less the cost is per serving. In addition to meal charges, there may be an upgrade charge for premium meals or protein, and shipping costs are typically extra as well.
- Number of Meals Per Delivery: Consider how many meals suit your household best. Are you looking to feed your family of six for the entire week, or do you wish to have a few meals ready in a pinch?
- Flexibility: How flexible is the service, and what works best for your household? Can you indicate a preferred shipping date or easily skip, pause, or cancel the subscription?
- Menu Selection: Do you prefer to select your favorite meals from a wide menu or delight in being surprised each week? Some services create rotational menus for you to pick and choose from, while others focus on long-standing favorites and may offer fewer options. Consider what sort of menu appeals to you.
- Diet and Variety: Many meal delivery services offer various dietary and allergen options. Make sure to look at search tag filters, read up on the FAQs, and always reach out to customer service for any specific ingredient or allergen questions.
Who Should Consider Gourmet Meal Delivery Services?
Gourmet meal delivery services are a great option for adults and families who appreciate restaurant-quality meals without the price tag of dining out. These services can cut down on meal planning, grocery shopping, and even tedious prep and kitchen cleanup. For those who like to don a chef apron and practice creating culinary experiences, gourmet meal delivery services are a wonderful choice for foodies and adventurous eaters.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How Do Gourmet Meal Delivery Services Work?
While each gourmet meal delivery service operates differently, you can count on some factors remaining steady across the board. Plan on inputting your delivery information and credit card details before ordering, as well as a plan type, number of meals, and serving sizes. You may have the option to input dietary restrictions and allergens. Most gourmet meal delivery services offer weekly menus and have customers select or edit preferred meals based on household preferences. Once your order is placed, just sit back and wait for your meals to arrive.
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How Much Do Gourmet Meal Delivery Services Cost?
Gourmet meal delivery services range in cost depending on the service, meal quantities, and serving sizes. Typically, the more meals and servings you order, the less the cost is per serving. On the lower end, gourmet meal delivery services may cost $4.99 per serving and up to $14 per serving on the higher end. Don't forget about shipping fees and add-ons. In addition, some gourmet meal companies will offer first-time promotions, and others may have a rewards club, which can help with cost savings.
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Are There Any Gourmet Meal Delivery Services for Weight Loss?
Yes, there are gourmet meal delivery services that will help support your weight loss goals. Some companies even offer dedicated nutritionists and dietitians as part of the service. However, speaking to your primary care physician or a registered dietitian is always advised when it comes to creating a personalized diet plan.
Methodology
Our testers ordered from, cooked, and rated dozens of different meal delivery services. We carefully scored each one based on meal selection, nutritional information, sustainability, customer service, and the flavor, freshness, and quality of each meal and ingredient. Our Spruce Eats tester panel includes dietitians, chefs, and longtime food writers who are all passionate and knowledgeable about food.
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