Tired of the same-old, same-old when it comes to what you’re eating these days? There may be a solution to the well-worn rut you’re in. We scoped out companies that deliver ready-to-eat meals, plus meal-kit subscriptions that send the ingredients for you to cook different recipes each week. Here are food-delivery services to consider while you hunker down — or when you just need a break from cooking.
Related: 21 Grocery Shopping Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
Meal Kit: Dinnerly
Availability: Most of the continental U.S. Price: $5-$6 per serving (weekly three-meal minimum)
Love the idea of meal kits, which deliver exactly the ingredients you need to make a tasty dinner, but not the price? Dinnerly aims to make the whole concept a lot more affordable, with options that are half the price of competitors’. Recipes are definitely a simple affair, but otherwise, the concept is the same: You choose a recurring weekly delivery of three to five meal kits with two or four servings each. Shipping is $10 per order.
Sample dishes: Lemon-pepper chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans; cheeseburger calzones and pickle chips; fried shrimp and slaw Options for special diets: Low-calorie, low-carb, dairy-free, vegetarian
Related: 50 Slow-Cooker Recipes for Families Under $20
Ready to Eat: Schwan’s Home Delivery
Availability: Continental U.S. Price: Varies, but options start around $4 a serving
Though better known for its family-style favorites, Schwan’s also offers a range of single-serve meals that are shipped frozen. You can order both online and directly from sales representatives during their deliveries. No monthly commitment or minimum order is required. Smaller-portion single meals start around just $5 to $6 each. Delivery on orders of $50 and over is free; there’s a nominal fee for smaller orders.
Sample dishes: Quesadillas, beef pot pies, sesame chicken, lasagna Options for special diets: Gluten-free, no-sugar-added, low-sodium, low-calorie, vegetarian, heart-healthy
Related: Hearty Meatless Meals Even Carnivores Will Devour
Ready to Eat: Homestyle Direct
Availability: Continental U.S. Price: $8 per meal (12-meal minimum)
This budget-friendly service offers a small but robust seasonal menu of frozen breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. While it’s a Medicaid-approved provider in several states, it also sells directly to the public. No contracts are required, but you must order at least 12 meals at a time. Shipping is just under $20 per order.
Sample dishes: Turkey and noodles with veggies; broccoli-stuffed chicken breast, pasta, and peas; chicken enchiladas with corn and rice Options for special diets: Low-carb, gluten-free, low-calorie, low-fat, renal-friendly, low-sodium
Related: 17 Tips for Dining Out on a Low-Salt Diet
Ready-to-Eat: Factor_
Availability: Nationwide
Price: $11 to $15 each with a 6-meal weekly minimum. Shipping is free.
These dietician-designed, chef-prepared meals from Factor_ are fresh and never frozen, and all of the choices (which change weekly) are gluten-free. The service says “you won’t believe they’re healthy” of the meals, which come with clearly-stated ingredients and calorie counts.
Sample Dishes: Honey-Mustard Chicken, Tuscan Tomato Chicken, Pesto Salmon
Options for Special Diets: Keto, plant-based, low-cal, low-carb
Meal Kit: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Availability: Most of the continental U.S. Price: $9 to $13 per serving (weekly two-meal minimum)
Martha Stewart devotees, here’s your meal kit. The fare is mostly middle-of-the-road recipes with a bit of Martha flourish, and they’re designed to be ready in no more than six steps and 30 minutes each. Choose from a recurring plan of two to six meals a week with either two or four servings each. Shipping is $10 per order.
Sample dishes: Lemon-rosemary chicken with almond-herb gremolata and green beans; seared steak and brown-butter pan sauce with roasted carrots and potatoes; berbere-spiced roast pork tenderloin with honey butter-glazed butternut squash Options for special diets: Low-carb, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian
Related: 30 Celebrity Chefs Favorite Burger Recipes
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Ready to Eat: Snap Kitchen
Availability: Eastern U.S., Texas, and some portions of the Great Plains and Southwest Price: $11 to $14 meal (six-meal minimum)
Watching your calories? Snap Kitchen makes staying on track easy, because meals are 500 calories or under. You must choose a recurring weekly delivery of either six or 12 meals from a rotating menu. Meals are delivered refrigerator-ready and should stay good anywhere from four to six days. Shipping is free.
Sample dishes: Bison quinoa hash; creamy mushroom fusilli; shrimp and cauliflower grits Options for special diets: Gluten-free, low-carb, high-protein, paleo, vegetarian, keto
Related: Here’s How Long You Have to Safely Eat 25 Unrefrigerated Foods
Meal Kit: Green Chef
Availability: Most of the continental U.S. Price: $10 to $13 per serving (weekly two-meal minimum)
If you want to eat organic and are willing to pay a bit more to do it, Green Chef could be the meal kit for you. A certified organic company, this HelloFresh-owned service also emphasizes eco-friendly packaging. It sends three meal kits a week that serve up to six people, making it a good pick for bigger appetites, families, or anyone who appreciates leftovers. Shipping is $8 per order.
Sample dishes: Bavarian pork with mustard aioli and quinoa-kale salad with apples, cabbage, and carrots; Italian beef stuffed peppers with basil pesto, rice, kale, and sunflower seeds Options for special diets: Keto, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free
Related: 30 Vegetable Recipes for People Who Hate Vegetables
Ready to Eat: Mom’s Meals
Availability: Nationwide Price: $8 per meal (10-meal minimum)
Prefer an affordable, ready-to-eat option that’s not frozen? Mom’s Meals might be worth a look. This Medicare- and Medicaid-approved provider also sells directly to individuals. Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners must be ordered in batches of 10, 14, or 21, but no contract is required. Meals last for up to two weeks in the fridge. Shipping is just under $15 per order.
Sample dishes: Corn chowder and peaches with cherries and a fudge round; Mexican-style beef macaroni and cheese with fiesta blend vegetables, an orange, and oatmeal cream pie; sweet and sour chicken with stir-fry vegetables and white rice, grape juice, and a cookie Options for special diets: Cancer-support, diabetic, gluten-free, heart-friendly, low-sodium, pureed, renal-friendly, vegetarian
