The cheapest meal kit services of 2023
Setting a homecooked meal down on the dinner table is not just an accomplishment. Admit it: It's a bit of a flex. It takes time and a bit of planning to pull this off, especially multiple nights throughout the week, especially if you're cooking for a busy family. And unless you're thrifty at the grocery store, buying individual ingredients can be costly. That's why we advocate for meal kits, with all their time-saving convenience. And get this: They can even be the more budget-friendly dinnertime choice.
"For people who regularly purchase groceries but don't use them, a meal delivery service is a helpful way to reduce food waste," says registered dietician Melissa Darlow. "The meals specify serving sizes, so if something is two servings you can plan for that or freeze whatever you don't finish."
For those looking to save both time and money while still serving up delicious and nutritious meals several nights a week, meal kit services make it easy to plan everything out with ease. Pre-portioned ingredients mean you won't have to worry about using the rest of that homemade sauce or looking up how to make leftover celery last in the fridge (hint: submerge the cut stalks in water in a covered container and they'll last up to two weeks).
If you need another reason to make the switch to meal kits, behold: Families that regularly rely on home-cooked dinners have been linked to reduced food expenses of up to $60 per month. And that's not even factoring in high prices that come with eating out. If you live in New York City, for example, your food budget would likely benefit from a change to meal kit delivery.
"The median price of a restaurant meal in NYC is $46.14; meanwhile a serving of a meal delivery service is less than $10," Darlow says. "Therefore, a meal delivery service or kit can be a great way to save money."
But wait -- we already know your next question: "With so many meal kits out there, how do I pick the best one?" We did the legwork for you and picked out three of the absolute best meal kit services for your budget in 2023. We looked at things like the price per serving, meal options, and bonus savings for first-time customers when deciding on which services would make the cut.
The cheapest meal kits of 2023
Leave your grocery store coupons unclipped, stop factoring in gas prices when tallying up your weekly food budget, and check out these budget-friendly meal kit services instead. We fixed our spotlight on some of the cheapest meal kits that serve up a variety of unique and enticing recipes each week.
- Most budget-friendly: EveryPlate
- Best vegetarian: Dinnerly
- Biggest sign up savings: Blue Apron
Ready to start saving money? Check out our picks for the least expensive meal kit services of 2023 before selecting the best delivery service for you.
Most budget-friendly: EveryPlate
When it comes to price per serving, EveryPlate is tied with another meal kit on our list, Dinnerly, as the cheapest option around. Prices start at $4.99 per serving for both and go up from there, depending on which plan you choose.
To get that lowest price, you would need to select the maximum number of meals per week: six meals, with four servings each.
If you're planning out couples meals -- or live alone -- you might be interested in the minimum weekly box size. This is where EveryPlate takes the lead over Dinnerly: Three weekly meals with two servings apiece boils down to $7.49 per serving for EveryPlate and $8.04 per serving for Dinnerly.
With more than 20 recipes to pick each week, EveryPlate serves up a decent variety with its dishes. You might find a deeper variety with other, more expensive meal kits, but EveryPlate's offerings aim for a sort of mass appeal. From comfort food items with a twist like the Cheesy Tortilla Smash Burgers to zesty options like the Southwest Pork Flautas (pictured above), there's enough here to satisfy even the picky eater.
Total box prices range from $45 to $120 per week depending on serving size and number of weekly meals. Shipping costs are another $10 on top of that. A big draw for most meal kit services is the offer of steep discounts for first-time customers, and EveryPlate is no exception: enter your email when selecting your box size to claim an offer for serving prices as low as $1.49 per meal!
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Why we recommend EveryPlate: This meal kit checks all the boxes for a budget-friendly delivery service: affordable plans, nutritious recipes available at low serving prices, and big-time savings for first-time customers.
Best vegetarian: Dinnerly
Behold, the close runner up (in our books) for cheapest meal kit service: Dinnerly. With serving prices starting at $4.99, this meal kit is a great pick if you want to save on your food budget while enjoying delicious and nutritious dinners throughout the week.
In contrast to that low serving cost, which kicks in when you opt for six weekly meals at four servings apiece, the highest amount you'll pay per serving is $8.04 (two, two-serving meals per week). Either way, you're still enjoying decent savings by signing up for dinners through Dinnerly instead of hunting down your own ingredients at the store or ordering takeout.
"Dinnerly is one of the most affordable meal delivery services of 2023," says Darlow on the topic of pricing. "Three meals per week for four people costs $74, coming out to $6.14 per serving. Dinnerly features more than 100 meal options each week that are dairy free, vegetarian, kid friendly and more."
Where EveryPlate lacks ever so slightly in meal variety, Dinnerly shines with more than 40 weekly recipes at your disposal. Alongside plenty of reliable (if a bit predictable) dishes like the Smoky Pan-Roasted Steak or Crispy Cheddar Chicken plate, you can find less common meals: there's the spicy and dairy-free Pork Vindaloo, for example, or Pesto Primavera made with gluten-free ravioli.
Total costs for each weekly box range from $45 to $132, while shipping costs an additional $12. If you want to save up to 60% off and avoid shipping fees for your first box, don't forget to check out Dinnerly's discount voucher for first-time customers.
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Why we chose Dinnerly: Low prices combined with a decent variety of nutritious recipes each week ensured Dinnerly would have a spot on our list.
Biggest sign-up savings: Blue Apron
Thanks to a whopping 75% discount offer for customers building their first Blue Apron delivery box, one of the most well-known names in the world of meal delivery made our list. Now Blue Apron isn't just known for gourmet meals that are fun to cook -- but also huge savings.
In order to bless your food budget with prices as low as $3.74 per serving, make sure to redeem this lucrative offer when selecting a meal plan. Savings also include free shipping on that first order, as well as additional savings across your next four deliveries.
Blue Apron offers an impressive selection of meals to choose from, with more than 70 recipes to browse each week. This includes low-calorie (500 or less), diabetes-friendly (thanks to a collaboration with the American Diabetes Association), WW-approved (formerly Weight Watchers), and vegetarian choices. You can also find recipes that fit into the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet.
Blue Apron also comes with some noteworthy add-ons and features. There are premium recipes that you can check out if you want access to unique protein combinations or want to learn some flashy new culinary techniques; alternatively, you could avoid these pricier recipes (some cost up to $20 per serving) and still enjoy a wide selection of weekly dinner options. Another perk that may sit outside your food budget is Blue Apron's unique wine pairing service.
We looked at these and other perks during an extensive Blue Apron review. Thankfully, you can still save big by sticking to the no-frills weekly plan. And hey, if you want to splurge on some of Blue Apron's premium services once in a while, who are we to stop you? You deserve it! Blue Apron also makes it easy to pause services or skip a week.
"Take advantage of this feature when you know you won't be able to use the service for a certain period, such as when you're traveling or have other plans," says nutritionist Mary Sabat. This kind of flexibility is key when it comes to long-term savings on your food budget.
The normal price per serving for Blue Apron ranges from $8 (for five meals with four servings each) to $12.50 (for two two-serving meals a week). That comes to total box costs that range from $61 to $171. With that whistle-worthy first-time customer discount applied, you can cut those numbers down to $15 to $125 (and avoid $11 in shipping costs).
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Why we highlighted Blue Apron: Blue Apron is already a popular meal kit known for fun and unique recipes, but a 75% discount for new customers really sealed the deal for this delivery service in our books.
How to choose the best meal kit service for your budget
Choosing the right meal kit for you comes down to a few things. In addition to hunting down the lowest prices per serving, you should always keep an eye out for added discounts. First-time customers can typically find some level of savings right from the plan selection page. Instead of signing up for the first appealing price you see, shop around a bit to make sure there aren't other better deals waiting for you elsewhere.
"Compare prices," says Sabat. "Research and compare different meal delivery services to find the most cost-effective option. Take into account factors such as portion sizes, number of meals per week, and any additional fees for shipping or customization."
That note about shipping fees is worth mentioning again. It's not always easy to see how much a meal kit service charges for shipping until you get into the plan selection process. Keep in mind that the average cost of shipping is around $10 per box and most first-time customer discounts only waive that fee for your first delivery.
How we rank the best and most affordable meal kits
In order to make the best selections possible, we considered a number of factors when choosing the best meal kits for affordability. The biggest ones were:
- Price per serving: We made sure to find the cheapest meal kits with affordable serving costs.
- Sign up bonuses: Don't you just love a good bargain? Us too! That's why we found some of the most impressive first-time discounts to help you save big by switching to meal kits.
- Meal variety: A budget-friendly meal kit service won't mean much if you cancel after a few weeks. That's why we looked for companies that offer an impressive selection of weekly recipes that will keep you coming back for more.
- Flexible plans: Sometimes, life throws you a curveball and you simply have to make some changes to what you're spending money on. Which is why we prioritized meal kit companies that make it easy to pause or skip deliveries whenever needed.
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