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Whether you are on the search for humanely raised meats from sustainable farms, premium cuts for your kitchen, or jerky snacks, the best meat subscription boxes provide the variety and types of meat you want at a price that fits your budget. Some subscriptions specialize in grass-fed and pasture-raised meats with full transparency about where their products are sourced. Others focus on artisan producers using age-old traditions to cure premium meats.
The variety of meat subscription boxes available can seem overwhelming: Some are customizable, allowing you to select the kinds of meat you prefer, while others choose for you. There are smaller boxes for individuals and couples and those containing over 20 pounds of meat for large families who want to keep their kitchen well stocked. The way in which the products arrive varies by the company as well. With so many options, there is a meat subscription that will match your needs.
Best Meat Subscription Boxes of 2023
- Best Overall: ButcherBox
- Best for Pasture-Raised Meat: FarmFoods Market
- Best for Snacks: Carnivore Club
- Best Restaurant-Quality Meat: Crowd Cow
- Best for Gift-Giving: Goldbelly
- Best for Charcuterie: iGourmet
- Best for Organic: Greensbury
Best Overall : ButcherBox
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Butcher Box
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Free Shipping: Yes
- Products Arrive: Frozen
Each box contains high-quality, humanely-raised and wild-caught meats and seafood with numerous cuts to choose from, and shipping is always free.
Only grass-fed, free-range, and wild-caught products
Custom boxes available
Free shipping
Smallest box is 7 to 8 pounds
Not all products sourced locally in the U.S.
ButcherBox is transparent about the type of meat in its boxes. The company partners with farms and fishmongers that produce grass-fed, free-range, humanely raised meats and wild-caught seafood. There are five options to choose from for your meat subscription box, and boxes can either be mixed meats (such as beef and pork) or a single type of protein (as with the All Beef Box). Cuts typically include steaks, ground, tenderloins, and breasts (for poultry). If you prefer to choose your own, a customized box is also available that lets you select exactly which meat and the cuts you want.
There are two subscription box sizes available: The Classic Box has eight to 11 pounds of meat while the Big Box can have as much as 26 pounds. All products are flash frozen before shipping. Once your meat arrives, it can either be prepped for cooking upon arrival or refrozen until you are ready to use it. Prices start at $146 per shipment, and all boxes ship for free. You can choose a delivery frequency of every four, six, or eight weeks for your meat subscription, and you can pause or cancel your subscription at any time.
Best for Pasture-Raised Meat : FarmFoods Market
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FarmFoods Market
- Delivery Area: 50 states
- Free Shipping: Yes
- Products Arrive: Frozen
With FarmFoods Market, you can review the names and stories of specific farms where the pasture heritage pork, pasture-raised chicken, and grass-fed beef in your boxes are sourced.
Detailed information on farms and ranches
Only grass-fed and pastured-raised meats
Wild-caught fish available
$99 order minimum
If you want to know the origin of the pasture-raised meat in your box, you will appreciate the list of farms explaining where FarmFoods Market sources its products. It’s easily accessible on the website with stories shared through text and videos. You can rest assured that the meat in your subscription box has come from multigenerational, small family farms.
There are five options available that include grass-fed and finished beef, pastured chicken, pastured pork, or a mix of meats. There is also a fish box with three types of wild-caught fish. Most boxes contain 11 to 13 pounds of meat, and there are two larger boxes available that provide double that amount.
Once you’ve selected your meat or fish box, you can choose to have it delivered every two, four, six, or eight weeks. If you want to try some of the products before committing to a subscription FarmFoods Market does sell individual cuts and value packs. There is a minimum order of $99 for efficient shipping and to help maintain reasonable pricing for its high-quality meats. Shipping is included, and FarmFoods Market guarantees your order will arrive frozen or the company will give a full refund.
Best for Snacks : Carnivore Club
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Carnivore Club
- Delivery Area: 50 states
- Free Shipping: Yes
- Products Arrive: Fresh
Each box from Carnivore Club contains jerkies or cured meats that are ideal for daily snacking, party planning, and gift giving.
Each box features an artisan producer or region
Each box is unique from previous shipments
Free shipping
Boxes are not customizable
Whether you want to be well-stocked with jerky for your next hike or you just want to taste some of the best-cured meats from artisan producers, Carnivore Club has a box for you. The most popular Classic Box is $49.99 and contains four to six cured meats such as bacon, salami, and prosciutto. It can be delivered to your door every month, every other month, or every three months. Each box will introduce you to a new producer or region for exceptional cured meats.
Those who want premium jerky snacks can opt for The Jerky Club box or the Snack Box which contains a mix of jerkies and cured meats. Charcuterie board enthusiasts should head straight for the Complete Box. This meat and cheese subscription box delivers cured meats paired with cheeses, jams, mustards, crackers, and pickled products. All boxes can be purchased individually, making this an ideal pick for gift giving as well. Shipping is included in the price.
Best Restaurant-Quality Meat : Crowd Cow
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Crowd Cow
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Free Shipping: Yes
- Products Arrive: Frozen
You can challenge your culinary skills at home with access to restaurant-quality meats like Japanese wagyu beef and wild swordfish steaks.
Environmental sustainability a priority
Access to high-end meats, fish and seafood
Boxes are fully customizable
Free shipping only on orders over $125
Crowd Cow began with a mission to let customers know where their meat comes from. They offer humanely raised meats and wild-caught fish and seafood from producers focused on sustainability and animal welfare. While you’ll find the standard pasture-raised chicken breast, you can also find restaurant-quality cuts of rarer options such as wagyu beef and bison, as well as wild Maine lobster.
Once you either create your own box or order a pre-selected one from Crowd Cow’s website, you can set up a recurring meat subscription and become a member. Members save 5% on recurring orders and free shipping when the order is over $125. You can choose to have your subscription delivered at any interval ranging from weekly to every eight weeks. Before each shipment, you will receive an email showing what is inside. At that point, you can customize your box by swapping out items or adding more. Products arrive frozen in recyclable and compostable packaging. There is a minimum order of $75.
Best for Gift-Giving : Goldbelly
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Goldbelly
- Delivery Area: 50 states
- Free Shipping: Yes
- Products Arrive: Frozen
Gift giving is easy for all of the meat lovers in your life with Goldbelly’s option of a three- or six-month subscription and two types of meat boxes to choose from.
Options for prepared and ready to cook
Short-term subscriptions
Shipping included
Only two types of meat boxes
A meat subscription from Goldbelly is the right choice when you want to keep gift-giving simple. The company specializes in the prepared foods we love from top restaurants around the country as well as top-quality cuts of meat that can be cooked in your own kitchen. There are two meat boxes to choose from. The Monthly Bacon Subscription delivers two to five pounds of specialty bacon with varieties ranging from thick cut double smoked to peppered and sugar rubbed. The Monthly Barbecue Subscription provides a variety of prepared barbecue, including North Carolina pulled pork and Texas-style ribs, from top regions and restaurants around the country and includes enough to serve at least four people.
You can purchase either a three- or six-month subscription when ordering, and the boxes range from $65 to $99 per month. Shipping is free and products arrive frozen with preparation instructions; you can see the expected shipping date on the website when placing your order.
Best for Charcuterie : iGourmet
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- Delivery Area: 50 states
- Free Shipping: Yes
- Products Arrive: Fresh
Everything you need for a beautiful charcuterie board including artisan meats and spreads will be delivered to you each month.
Features gourmet cured meats
Pre-pay or recurring monthly subscription
Shipping included
Only one meat box option
iGourmet offers a number of subscription boxes, but meat lovers should check out the Artisan Charcuterie Subscription. Each month you’ll receive a box that contains fine cured meats from hams, to salami, sausages, and pates. Boxes may highlight one culinary region or feature products from a mix of locations. You’ll receive products to serve with the meats such as pickles, olives, and mustards. Each meat subscription box also comes with wine pairing suggestions.
Boxes ship between the 20th and 23rd of each month. They start at $55 per month for a month-to-month subscription, but you can prepay for three, six, or 12 months and save a few dollars. Shipping is included and you can pause your subscription at any time.
Best for Organic : Greensbury
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Greensbury
- Delivery Area: 48 states
- Free Shipping: No
- Products Arrive: Frozen
In addition to standards like grass-fed beef and free-range chicken, you’ll find lamb, turkey, and pork, all of which are USDA Certified Organic as well as antibiotic-free.
USDA certified organic meats
Six types of meat to choose from
Four subscription box options
Shipping not included
Greensbury partners only with certified organic farms and U.S. fisheries that prioritize animal welfare and environmental sustainability to deliver organic meats and wild-caught seafood in its meat subscription boxes. The company keeps things straightforward with four boxes to choose from which contain different combinations of organic grass-fed beef, chicken, turkey, pork, and wild-caught fish.
Boxes start at $162 for 15 to 20 servings, and you can choose to have them delivered every four, six, or eight weeks. Boxes can be purchased individually, but you’ll save 5% by subscribing to regular deliveries. Products are flash frozen and vacuum sealed before shipping and packed with dry ice, and will stay fresh in your freezer for up to one year. Individual cuts can be purchased, as well as other meats such as their bison and lamb. There is a $50 minimum for each order, and shipping starts at $9.95 per shipment.
Final Verdict
The best meat subscription box overall is Butcherbox due to its wide variety of options including a box that is fully customizable, so you can add the kind of meats and cuts of meat that your family enjoys most. Animal welfare and sustainable practices are a priority when sourcing its meats. Box selection and ordering is straightforward, and shipping is included in the price.
Compare the Best Meat Subscription Boxes
Company | Delivery Area | Free Shipping | Products Arrive | Same- /Next-Day Shipping? | Minimum Purchase |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ButcherBox Best Overall | 48 states | Yes | Frozen | No | $146 |
FarmFoods Market Best for Pasture-Raised Meat | 50 states | Yes | Frozen | No | $99 |
Carnivore Club Best for Snacks | 50 states | Yes | Fresh | No | No |
Crowd Cow Best Restaurant-Quality Meat | 48 states | Yes, orders over $125 | Frozen | Yes | $75 |
Goldbelly Best for Gift-Giving | 50 states | Yes | Frozen | Yes | No |
iGourmet Best for Charcuterie | 50 states | Yes | Fresh | Yes | No |
Greensbury Best for Organic | 48 states | No | Frozen | Yes | $50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Is a Meat Subscription Box?
These boxes contain cuts of meat such as beef, pork, chicken, and seafood along with smoked meats and jerkies that are shipped to you. By signing up for a subscription, you will have the products you select delivered on a regular basis such as every month, every other month, or every quarter. These boxes are ideal for customers who want to know more about where their meat comes from and who wish to keep their kitchen well stocked with meat.
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Are Meat Subscription Boxes Cheaper Than the Grocery Store?
This depends on the type of meat you purchase and how much you purchase with each shipment. High-quality meats from small farms and ranches may cost more than commercial meats sold in the grocery store. But it is possible for subscriptions to cost less overall because most orders are purchased in larger quantities, which may reduce total per-pound prices and allow for free shipping, plus you can save the gas costs for a shopping excursion.
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Do Meat Subscription Boxes Have Grass-Fed Meat?
Yes, many meat subscription boxes contain meat from grass-fed and free-range animals. These boxes allow you to buy this meat sourced directly from small farms and ranches that you may not have in your area. Grass-fed meat can be a healthier option than grain-fed meat. For example, research has shown that grass-fed beef may be lower in total fat and higher in heart-healthy fatty acids and antioxidants than the meat from conventional cattle that are fed grain
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Do Meat Subscription Boxes Include Fresh or Frozen Meat?
The majority of meat subscription boxes contain meat that has been frozen at peak freshness before shipping. While the meat is packed in insulated boxes, it is possible for items to thaw slightly during longer transit times. As long as it is still cold upon arrival, it is safe to use. Some companies invite customers to inquire about fresh shipments, so review the frequently asked questions on the company's website before ordering if you wish to receive fresh meat.
Methodology
We researched 33 companies before selecting our list of the best meat subscription boxes available. Since consumers care about where their food comes from, transparency in the meat source and the practices used to produce were a top priority in our search. Quality and variety were also strongly considered, as some shoppers want all organic grass-fed beef while others wish to have the option for free-range poultry and wild-caught fish in their boxes.
Everyone is looking for something a little different when it comes to meat, so we made sure to include boxes that deliver cuts of meat for cooking along with those that specialize in jerky snacks and cured meats for creating charcuterie boards. Multiple pricing options as well as shipping costs were considered to provide a list of companies offering meat delivery that fit a variety of budgets.
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The Spruce Eats / Design by Amelia Manley