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A high-protein meal delivery service offers meals for people who want to follow a high-protein diet, often to support their health and fitness goals, such as weight loss, muscle gain, or overall health and wellness. High-protein meals typically contain ingredients like grilled chicken, lean beef, fish, tofu, legumes, and other protein-rich ingredients, alongside more moderate amounts of fat and carbohydrates.
There are several factors that can make a high-protein meal delivery service stand out from the rest. Services that use high-quality, whole-food ingredients and offer a variety of meal options always rise above the competition. Some services distinguish themselves by allowing for customization, offering nutritional support or guidance, or catering to additional dietary requirements. Finally, an intuitive shopping experience and solid customer service are absolutely essential.
The 9 Best High-Protein Meal Delivery Services of 2023
- Best for Keto: Factor
- Best Variety: Hungryroot
- Best Organic: Green Chef
- Best for Fitness: Trifecta
- Best for Paleo: Pete’s Real Food
- Best Gourmet: Territory
- Best Gluten-Free: Snap Kitchen
- Best for Vegans: Fresh n' Lean
- Best Prepared Meals: The Good Kitchen
Best for Keto : Factor
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- Starting Price: $11
- Number Of Recipes: 25
With meals, snacks, shakes, and sweets, Factor delivers the most for your keto lifestyle.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Nice variety of add-ons
Nutrition coaching available
The service could be more transparent about ingredient sourcing
Meals sometimes sell out
Factor stands out for its large selection of keto products, which include meals, snacks, and even shakes. A day with Factor might look like this: a keto sausage and egg skillet for breakfast; a Key lime pie keto shake and a pack of biltong for a light lunch; top-rated Indian butter chicken with cilantro lime cauliflower rice for dinner; and a square of chocolate raspberry keto cheesecake for dessert. Factor can deliver up to 18 meals per week, plus add-ons, so you can stay in ketosis while enjoying snacks and desserts. And if you have any questions, you can book a complimentary nutrition coaching session with one of Factor’s registered dietitians.
- Creamy Parmesan chicken with broccoli and tomatoes
Best Variety : Hungryroot
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- Starting Price: $9.69
- Serving Sizes: 2 - 4
- Number Of Recipes: 3000
Ingredients plus creativity equals endless variety, and with Hungryroot on your team, you’ll have plenty to work with.
Delivers a nice variety of groceries
Large collection of recipes
Free shipping on orders over $70
Some might find recipes to be too basic
Few organic items
Hungryroot is an all-in-one grocery and recipe delivery service. The company administers a quiz, uses the results to build your food profile, and then fills your cart each week with groceries and recipes that align with your preferences. Your cart is fully editable, and you can tweak your profile anytime. And because you’re getting groceries rather than meal kits, you’re free to riff on the suggested recipes.
- Spinach artichoke and mushroom tortelloni
- Roasted salmon and sweet potato on Brussels sprouts
- Southwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacos
- Thai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry
Best Organic : Green Chef
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- Starting Price: $11.99
- Serving Sizes: 2 - 6
- Number Of Recipes: 31
Green Chef gets high marks for sustainability with organic produce and eggs and high animal welfare standards.
Large menu with a good selection of add-ons
A good choice for sustainability
Suitable for families
Extra charges for premium recipes
Few organic proteins
Green Chef is a certified organic meal kit service that delivers down-to-earth dishes that explode with color and variety. The menu has over two dozen weekly options, plus a smaller selection of add-ons, including a handful of breakfast dishes, salads, and extra proteins. There are seven meal plans — including a high-protein plan — but no matter which plan you’re on, you always have access to the full menu. Green Chef delivers up to four six-serving kits per week.
- Harissa-spiced shrimp
- Sesame ginger bavette steak and shrimp
- Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls
- Maple-glazed carrots with figs
Best for Fitness : Trifecta
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- Starting Price: $14.80
- Number Of Recipes: 60
Trifecta’s food is great, but the company’s comprehensive support for your whole fitness journey is what makes it really stand out.
Integrated mobile app
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Live chat customer service
Expensive relative to alternatives
You can’t choose your own meals
If you’re looking for a high-protein meal delivery service to aid you on your fitness journey, Trifecta is an excellent choice. Not only does the company offer a variety of meal plans for diets like keto, paleo, and Whole30, but there’s also an integrated mobile app that helps keep you accountable to your personalized plan. The company can deliver all your meals for the entire week, making it easy to stick to your diet and accomplish your goals.
- 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
Best for Paleo : Pete’s Real Food
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- Starting Price: $15.60
- Number Of Recipes: 10
No meal delivery service is more committed to the paleo ethos than Pete’s Real Food.
A good choice for sustainability
Gluten-free facility
No subscription necessary
Pricey food
Expensive shipping
Pete’s Real Food was previously known as Pete’s Paleo, and although the service has added keto and vegan options to its menu, its paleo meal plans are stronger than ever. The company offers prepared meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and extras like paleo bacon and organic bone broth. There’s even a menu of kids’ lunches. The service is very flexible; you can subscribe or place one-time orders, and subscribers can receive up to 30 meals per shipment — as often as every week or even just once a month.
- 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 Gourmet : Territory
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- Starting Price: $11.95
- Number Of Recipes: 35
Territory delivers top-quality gourmet meals from local chefs, and its color-coded menu makes it easy to hit your macro targets.
Meals by local, independent chefs
Menu filters for many different diets
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and à la carte items
Limited delivery area
Pricey
Territory delivers an extensive menu of gourmet meals created by a diverse group of independent local chefs. The company’s freshly prepared meals are made with sustainably sourced ingredients and are free of dairy, refined sugars, and gluten-containing components. The chefs design their meals in collaboration with Territory’s dietitians and nutrition experts to ensure your food is both healthful and delicious. The company delivers up to 12 meals twice weekly.
- Beef birria de res with salsa rojo
- Salmon and spinach croquette with arugula salad and lemon caper vinaigrette
- Chicken shawarma quinoa bowl with pickled red onions and tahini sauce
- “Sattvik” red dal kitchari with coconut yogurt and turmeric cauliflower
Best Gluten-Free : Snap Kitchen
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- Starting Price: $11.34
- Number Of Recipes: 35
Snap Kitchen’s meals are simply delicious, and its entire menu is totally gluten-free.
Free shipping
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Good menu design with helpful filters
Relatively small menu
Menu only changes every six to eight weeks
Snap Kitchen offers a small but diverse menu of tasty oven-ready dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a handful of à la carte sides and proteins. All of the company’s meals are 100% gluten- and soy-free, designed in collaboration with a registered dietitian. Snap Kitchen delivers up to 12 meals per week. There’s also a handy mobile app to order your meals on the go.
- Baked ziti with Italian beef sausage
- Stir-fry chicken and broccoli with garlic sauce
- Chicken vermicelli bowl with Vietnamese dipping sauce
- Herb butter steak with bacon-roasted Brussels sprouts
- Shawarma chicken bowl with lemon tahini sauce
- Peach BBQ brisket with loaded cauliflower
Best for Vegans : Fresh n' Lean
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- Starting Price: $8.49
- Number Of Recipes: 59
Fresh N Lean gives you not one but two vegan meal plans, including breakfast.
Offers both standard and low-carb vegan plan
Ninety-nine percent organic ingredients
Dietitian-approved and nutritionally balanced meals
Relatively small menu
Extra charge to choose your delivery day
Fresh N Lean is a health and fitness-focused prepared meal delivery service that can provide you with breakfast, lunch, and dinner either five or seven days a week. The company offers two vegan meal plans: standard and low-carb. You’ll find breakfast items like the tofu scramble with Impossible Sausage and pineapple coconut chia bowl and lunch or dinner entrées like chimichurri Beyond Meatballs with garlic thyme red skin mashed potatoes. You can also add a variety of snacks, like smoky BBQ almonds and vegan chocolate almond butter cups, to any meal plan.
Best Prepared Meals : The Good Kitchen
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- Starting Price: $11.50
- Serving Sizes: 1 - 4
- Number Of Recipes: 31
The Good Kitchen stands out for its high-quality, locally made prepared meals.
Offers both subscription and one-time orders
Meals made by local chefs
Large menu with plenty of variety
Pricey
No free shipping
The Good Kitchen is a prepared meal service delivering fresh, single-serving meals created by its network of nearly three dozen local chefs. The company divides its extensive menu into seven categories: paleo, low-carb, plant-based, keto-friendly, Whole30, Mediterranean, and “performance meals,” which have at least 25 grams of lean protein and often nearly double that amount. With twice-weekly deliveries of up to 12 meals, The Good Kitchen can easily cover most of your meals, including breakfast. And if you want to host a few friends, there’s even a modest number of family-style dishes that serve up to four people.
- Beef shepherd’s pie
- Bison and beef sloppy Joe with potato leek gratin
- Chicken satay with cilantro rice and broccoli
- Chili lime chicken with fajita veg and cilantro cauliflower rice
- Miso-glazed wild boar meatballs and hibachi zucchini
- Tomato, asparagus, and spinach frittata with Yukon potato hash
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the market for a high-protein meal delivery service, each of the companies on this list can provide you with a ton of value. If you’re seeking the best flavor and quality, check out Pete’s Real Food, Territory, The Good Kitchen, and Green Chef. Snap Kitchen, Trifecta, Factor, and Fresh N Lean could be a good fit for specific dietary needs. And for the most DIY approach with endless variety, Hungryroot is the way to go.
Compare the Best High-Protein Meal Delivery Services
Company | Starting Price | Delivery Area | Products Arrive | Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? | Free Shipping |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for Keto Factor | $11 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Best Variety Hungryroot | $9.69 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | Yes, for plans over $70 |
Best Organic Green Chef | $11.99 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | Yes |
Best for Fitness Trifecta | $14.80 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | No |
Best for Paleo Pete’s Real Food | $15.60 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | No |
Best Gourmet Territory | $11.95 per serving | 27 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Best Gluten-Free Snap Kitchen | $11.34 per serving | Varies; check website for options in your area | Fresh | Yes | Yes |
Best for Vegans Fresh N Lean | $8.49 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | Yes |
Best Prepared Meals The Good Kitchen | $11.50 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | No |
How to Choose the Best High-Protein Meal Delivery Service
Factors to Consider
- Price/Cost Per Meal: Some high-protein meal delivery services can be quite expensive, while others may be more affordable. It is important to consider your budget and how much you will spend on prepared meals. Some meal delivery services may offer discounts for signing up for a subscription or ordering in bulk, which can help to reduce the cost per meal. Ultimately, the cost per meal is an important factor to consider, but it should not be the only factor. You should also consider the quality of the meals, the variety of options, and the level of convenience offered by the meal delivery service to determine if it is the right fit for your needs and budget.
- Number of Meals Per Delivery: The number of meals per delivery can vary between different services, and it is important to choose a service that offers the number of meals that will meet your needs. If you are looking for a meal delivery service to provide all of your meals for the week, you may want to choose a service that offers a larger number of meals per delivery. However, if you only want to supplement your meals with high-protein options, a smaller number of meals per delivery may be sufficient.
- Flexibility: Flexibility can refer to several different aspects of the service, like customization, delivery options—such as the ability to choose your delivery day or time or the option to pause or cancel your deliveries if needed—and menu variety, which can prevent boredom and help you stick to your dietary goals. By considering these factors, you can choose a high-protein meal delivery service that provides the flexibility you need to meet your individual needs and preferences.
- Menu Selection: Menu selection is important when choosing a high-protein meal delivery service. A meal delivery service with a wide assortment of high-protein options can help you meet your dietary goals while preventing boredom with your meals. Also, consider whether the meal delivery service provides meals that meet your specific dietary restrictions or preferences. For example, if you are following a vegetarian or gluten-free diet, look for a service that offers high-protein options that meet those requirements.
- Nutrition Goals/Dietary Restrictions: The meal delivery service should offer meals that align with your nutritional needs and restrictions so that you can achieve your health and fitness goals while still enjoying tasty and satisfying meals. Look for a meal delivery service that offers high-protein meals that align with your macronutrient needs. For example, if you are following a high-protein diet for weight loss, you may want to look for meals with a lower carbohydrate content. Finally, evaluate the calorie content and portion sizes of the meals to ensure that they are compatible with your nutrition goals.
Are High Protein Meal Delivery Services Right for You?
Whether or not high-protein meal delivery services are right for you depends on your needs, goals, and preferences. A high-protein diet can benefit you if your health and fitness goals include weight loss or muscle gain. On the other hand, some services can be more expensive than preparing meals at home, so consider whether the cost is within your budget. Overall, high-protein meal delivery services can be an excellent option for those who want the convenience of having healthy meals delivered to their door and want to follow a high-protein diet. However, it is important to consider your individual needs and preferences before deciding whether a high-protein meal delivery service is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It?
Depending on their specific needs and circumstances, meal delivery services can be worth it for some people. These services can save busy folks time and effort by eliminating the need to plan, shop for, and cook meals. Moreover, many meal delivery services use high-quality ingredients and employ professional chefs to prepare their meals, which can result in better-tasting and healthier meals. If you value convenience and variety and have the budget to accommodate it, meal delivery services can be worth it.
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How Do You Know How Much Protein You Need?
The amount of protein you need depends on several factors, including your age, sex, weight, activity level, and overall health. General recommendations are only guidelines, and your individual needs may vary. If you are more physically active, have a higher muscle mass, or are trying to build muscle, you may need more protein. On the other hand, if you have certain health conditions, such as kidney disease, your protein needs may be lower. It is important to consult with your healthcare provider to determine your individual protein needs.
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Are High-Protein Meals Good for Weight Loss?
High-protein meals can benefit weight loss because protein is more satiating than carbohydrates or fat, which can help you feel fuller for longer and reduce your overall calorie intake. Additionally, protein requires more energy to digest than carbohydrates or fat, which can increase your metabolism and help you burn more calories. Studies have shown that increasing protein intake can lead to weight loss and improvements in body composition, particularly when combined with exercise. However, it is important to note that you must still consume fewer calories than you burn and maintain a healthy and balanced diet to lose weight.
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Can Prepared Meals Help You Gain Muscle?
Yes, prepared meals can help you gain muscle, especially if they are high in protein and tailored to meet your nutritional needs. To gain muscle, you need to consume more calories than you burn and ensure that you are consuming enough protein to support muscle growth and repair. In addition to consuming enough protein and calories, resistance training is essential for building muscle. Ensure you incorporate weightlifting or other resistance training into your fitness routine to maximize your muscle-building potential.
Methodology
Our team of experts assessed more than 40 meal delivery services to find the ones with the best high-protein plans. We considered factors like quality, flavor, meal selection, the overall shopping experience, sustainability, and customer service. Our process assigned each service an overall score, allowing us to rank order the results.
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