Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services

CookUnity offers the best prepared meals

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Our list of the best prepared meal delivery services is full of stand-out companies delivering meals that are as tasty as they are convenient. This list includes options for everyone, from those who want to manage health conditions to the budget-conscious, and even those who want to feed their family.

All of the kits on this list were put to the test by our panel of experts and have earned a spot on our table.

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services of 2023

Best Overall : CookUnity


Key Specs
  • Starting Price: $10.39 per serving
  • Delivery Area: 39 states
  • Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It

Our testers loved that CookUnity brings a restaurant-level experience into your home with zero cooking required. 

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Chef-curated meals

  • Large menu of options

  • Restaurant-quality food

Cons
  • No customization

  • Limited delivery area

Overview

CookUnity is designed as a chef collective, with regional kitchens located throughout the United States, so availability and menus vary by location. Overall, the company’s focus is on high-level culinary execution with a wide variety of cuisines on offer. And with convenient menu filters for certain dietary restrictions, it can also work for a lot of different eating styles. Meals are delivered fresh, not frozen, and the service is subscription-based, so it’s a lot like having your favorite restaurants on pre-order every week.

Learn More: Read Our CookUnity Review.

Pricing and Plans
  • 4 meals per week: $12.69 per meal
  • 6 meals per week: $11.39 per meal
  • 8 meals per week: $10.89 per meal
  • 12 meals per week: $10.49 per meal
  • 16 meals per week: $10.39 per meal
Meals We Tried
  • Coconut lime hanger steak
  • Carnitas street tacos
  • Butternut squash ravioli
  • Chili roasted shrimp

Best Organic : Daily Harvest


Daily Harvest
Daily Harvest.

Daily Harvest 

Key Specs
  • Starting Price: $6.79 per serving
  • Delivery Area: 49 states
  • Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It

Daily Harvest’s organic, plant-based meal delivery service gave our testers quick, convenient meals packed with nourishing ingredients.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Varied menu of options

  • Frozen meals offer extended shelf life

  • Focus on organic ingredients

Cons
  • No customization options

  • Portions are often small

Overview

Daily Harvest stands apart from other prepared meal delivery services with its use of organic fruits and vegetables. The company offers a somewhat less traditional assortment of meal options with its smoothies, grain bowls, soups, flatbreads, and bakes that all go from freezer to plate in minutes. Additionally, the entire menu is plant-based and gluten-free.

Learn More: Read Our Daily Harvest Review.

Pricing and Plans
  • Lattes: $5.99
  • Forager Bowls: $6.79
  • Mylk & Bites: $7.99
  • Smoothies & Soups: $8.49
  • Scoops: $8.99
  • Harvest Bowls & Flatbreads: $9.79
  • Harvest Bakes: $11.99

Volume Discounts

  • 9-11 items: $5 discount
  • 12-23 items: $10 discount
  • 24-26 items: $25 discount
Meals We Tried
  • Mint and cacao smoothie
  • Mango papaya smoothie
  • Hazelnut and chocolate bites
  • Tomatillo and pepper flatbread
  • Portobello and pesto flatbread
  • Sweet potato and wild rice hash
  • Brussels sprouts and tahini harvest bowl
  • Spinach and shiitake grits
  • Tomato and zucchini minestrone soup

Best Gluten-Free : ModifyHealth


Modify Health
Modify Health.

Modify Health 

Key Specs
  • Starting Price: $12.95 per serving
  • Delivery Area: 48 states
  • Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It

ModifyHealth works in tandem with registered dietitians to create meal plans that are safe for those with gluten sensitivities.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Free shipping

  • Dietitian support available

  • Organic ingredients used whenever possible

Cons
  • Full meal program can be pricey

Overview

Featuring a menu that's entirely gluten-free and low in sodium, ModifyHealth is specifically geared toward those with gluten sensitivities and gastroenterological conditions, including IBS and celiac disease. The company teams up with dietitians to create chef-made prepared meals that fit into Low-FODMAP and Mediterranean Diet plans. Sign up for the full plan and you'll receive complimentary dietitian support, as well.

Pricing and Plans
  • Breakfasts: start at $9.95 a serving
  • Entrees: start at $12.95 a serving
  • Full program packages: start at $180 a week, which includes 14 entrees or 21 breakfasts and entrees
Meals We Tried
  • Greek chicken and rice
  • Longevity stew with black-eyed peas and kale
  • Shrimp chimichurri with black beans and rice
  • Lemon thyme chicken with tahini cauliflower and za'atar quinoa
  • Blackened salmon with quinoa, broccoli, and red bell pepper
  • Roasted pistachio salmon with white beans and kale

Best for Kids : Nurture Life


Nurture Life

Nurture Life

Key Specs
  • Starting Price: $6.99 per serving
  • Delivery Area: 48 states
  • Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It

With its focus on recyclable packaging and sustainably-sourced ingredients, Nurture Life is a great choice for ready-to-heat kids' meals.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Organic ingredients

  • Recyclable packaging

  • Veggies included in every meal

Cons
  • Shipping costs extra for small orders

Overview

If you've got picky eaters at the table, Nurture Life is the perfect remedy. The company crafts tasty heat-and-eat kids' meals that incorporate veggies into every plate, often in creatively hidden ways. Nurture Life puts a special focus on organic produce and responsibly-sourced proteins, and the majority of its packaging is recyclable. Additionally, the online menu includes convenient filters that weed out common allergens, ensuring the meals are safe for your kids.

Pricing and Plans
  • 6 items per week: $7.99 per serving
  • 9 items per week: $7.99 per serving (plus free shipping)
  • 12 items per week: $7.19 per serving (plus free shipping)
  • 15 items per week: $6.99 per serving (plus free shipping)
Meals We Tried
  • White mac and cheese 
  • Chicken and mac 
  • Beef taco pockets 
  • Tortellini Bolognese 
  • Chicken dumplings 
  • Pesto and cheese ravioli

Best for Seniors : Magic Kitchen


Magic Kitchen

 Magic Kitchen

Key Specs
  • Starting Price: $10 per serving 
  • Delivery Area: 48 states
  • Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It

Magic Kitchen's variety of nutritionally-balanced frozen meals, along with the helpful menu filters for various dietary needs, make this service a great choice for seniors.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Extensive menu with flexible ordering options

  • Meals can be filtered by multiple dietary needs

  • Dedicated "senior meals" section of the menu

Cons
  • Does not deliver to Alaska or Hawaii

  • Shipping costs extra

Overview

Magic Kitchen features an extensive menu of senior-friendly meals that can be sorted by multiple dietary needs, including low sodium, low carb, dairy-free, gluten-free, and diabetic-friendly. Choose from dozens of entrees, snacks, side dishes, breads, desserts, and more. You can order meals à la carte whenever you need them, or sign up for a meal program to have them delivered on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, or twice-monthly). And, since the meals arrive frozen, you can stock up and store them in the freezer for up to six months before use.

Pricing and Plans

Magic Kitchen's meal pricing will largely depend on what you order. Most meals average around $10 to $14 each, and there are discounts applied if you sign up for a meal program. Sample pricing is as follows:

  • 1 meal per day (choice of breakfast, lunch, or dinner): $82 to $90 for 7 days
  • 2 meals per day (choice of breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner): $164 to $180 for 7 days
  • 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): $246 to $275 for 7 days
Meals We Tried
  • Vegetable caponata with orzo and spinach
  • Beef and broccoli over noodles and vegetable blend
  • Balsamic glazed chicken with roasted potatoes and green beans
  • Chili with beans with carrots and broccoli florets

Best Allergy-Friendly : The Good Kitchen


The Good Kitchen

The Good Kitchen

Key Specs
  • Starting Price: $11.50 per serving
  • Delivery Area: 50 states
  • Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It

The Good Kitchen's menu of sustainably-sourced prepared meals can be conveniently filtered by multiple allergens and aversions.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Farm-fresh ingredients

  • Rotating weekly menu

  • Accommodates multiple allergies and dietary preferences

Cons
  • Must order a minimum of six meals

  • Not many plant-based options

Overview

With a motto of “Real Food, Real Easy,” The Good Kitchen makes it known that the company cares about where its food comes from. Boasting a rotating menu of premade gluten-free meals, The Good Kitchen works with trusted farmers and producers to uphold high sustainability standards. Meals cater to a variety of dietary preferences, including paleo, keto, and Whole30, and there’s a helpful menu filter that can weed out items that contain allergens like shellfish, tree nuts, eggs, and dairy. You can also filter out aversions like garlic, onions, mushrooms, and even nightshades.

Pricing and Plans

The Good Kitchen’s volume-based price system means that the meals get cheaper the more you order. You can order meals in increments of six, eight, 10, or 12 per week, with prices ranging from $11.50 to $15 each.

Meals We Tried
  • 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 vegetables and cilantro cauliflower rice
  • Miso glazed wild boar meatballs and hibachi zucchini
  • Tomato, asparagus, and spinach frittata with Yukon potato hash

Best Keto-Friendly : Factor


Factor

Factor

Key Specs
  • Starting Price: $11 per serving
  • Delivery Area: 48 states
  • Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It

With its ever-changing menu of hearty low-carb and keto-friendly prepared meals, Factor proves that following a keto diet doesn't have to be difficult.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Menu changes every week

  • All meals arrive fresh, never frozen

  • Complimentary 20-minute dietitian consultation available

Cons
  • Few plant-based options

  • Shipping costs extra

Overview

Looking for the easiest way to kick-start a keto diet? Enter Factor, which boasts a rotating weekly menu of hearty, flavorful heat-and-eat entrées, from blackened salmon to chorizo chili to chicken marsala. You can order up to 18 meals every week, so you can keep your fridge stocked with all your keto-friendly favorites. And all it takes is two minutes in the microwave to enjoy these mouthwatering meals.

Learn More: Read Our Factor Review.

Pricing and Plans
  • 4 meals per week: $15 per serving
  • 6 meals per week: $12.83 per serving
  • 8 meals per week: $12.38 per serving
  • 12 meals per week: $11.50 per serving
  • 18 meals per week: $11 per serving
Meals We Tried
  • Mango salsa salmon with coconut rice and black beans
  • Creamy parmesan chicken with broccoli and tomatoes
  • Vegetable ratatouille with mascarpone polenta
  • Smoked tofu almond stir-fry with edamame succotash

Best Plant-Based : Mosaic


Mosaic Foods

Mosaic Foods

Key Specs
  • Starting Price: $7.99 per serving
  • Delivery Area: Major metro areas on East and West coasts
  • Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It

Mosaic's menu of vegan and vegetarian meals wowed our testers with its impressive flavor and texture.

Pros and Cons
Pros
  • Entirely plant-based menu

  • Recyclable packaging

  • Family-sized meals available

Cons
  • Shipping costs extra

  • Doesn't deliver to all states

Overview

Mosaic's selection of plant-based frozen meals hit a major home run with our testers in terms of flavor and texture. Offerings include grain bowls, oat bowls, soups, pastas, pizzas, smoothies, and casseroles. There's even a special "Mosaic+" menu featuring gourmet creations crafted by New York City's top chefs, like Einat Admony, Pierre Thiam, and Pierce Abernathy.

Pricing and Plans

Pricing varies by type of dish and by how many you purchase at a time. Here are some examples of meals and pricing:

Meals

  • Smoothies: $7.99
  • Pizzas: $11.99
  • Veggie bowls: $9.99
  • Soups: $8.99
  • Oat bowls: $5.99
  • Mosaic+ chef-crafted meals: $11.99
  • Family meals (4 servings): $19.95

Volume Discounts

  • 12 items: free shipping
  • 18 items: free shipping + $10 off
Meals We Tried
  • Spicy dan dan noodles
  • Buffalo cauliflower pasta bake (family size)
  • Mac and greens
  • Pozole verde
  • Veggie kebab platter
  • Coconut chickpea curry

Final Verdict

The world of prepared meals has come a long way from frozen TV dinners, and CookUnity represents the best of what’s current in the marketplace. The service has a large menu with a diverse set of dishes, all chef-crafted, and many of them can meet your dietary restrictions. We loved the freshness of the food, the bold flavors, and, of course, the doorstep delivery. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How Much Do Prepared Meal Delivery Services Cost?

    Costs can vary across prepared meal delivery services depending on ingredients, portion sizes, packaging options, and other variables. On average, prepared meals range from around $10 to $15 each, although the per-serving price will often fluctuate depending on how many meals you order. It’s also worth considering that shipping cost is not included for some services.

  • What Are Prepared Meal Delivery Services?

    Prepared meal delivery services offer the convenience of a meal kit, made even easier with the cooking done for you. There’s a lot to choose from: fresh meals, frozen, meals designed for a diet, and food focused on flavor. These services usually run on a subscription basis and are delivered right to your door, so you’ll have even less work to do when it comes to deciding what’s for dinner. 

  • What Diets Are Included With Prepared Meal Delivery Services?

    Most prepared meal delivery services offer food that may work for certain medically necessary diets, such as allergen-free meals and those designed for diabetes management. Other services may be more geared toward the lifestyle needs of active individuals, or those who wish to try eating a certain style, such as Mediterranean, vegan, or paleo.

  • Are Prepared Meal Delivery Services Worth It?

    If you’re interested in the ultimate low-effort eating experience, we think prepared meal delivery services can be worth the cost. Most are single serving size and may work better for individuals or pairs, but if you can find the right fit, they can really take the guesswork out of mealtimes. 

  • How Do I Choose a Prepared Meal Delivery Service?

    When selecting any meal delivery service, whether it’s a kit or prepared meals, it’s important to narrow the options down to those that suit your needs. This may mean taking into account the following: 

    Price: If you’re on a tight budget, consider that as you order a larger volume, most companies become less expensive per serving. Also, consider whether individual meals are the right choice if you’re looking to feed a large group. 

    Preparation: While most prepared meals only take minutes to heat up in the microwave, consider that some kits may have alternative instructions for stovetop heating, may require defrosting if frozen, and more. You can usually learn more about this by exploring the recipes as you select them for your order. 

    Sustainability: If you’re looking to prioritize the planet with your prepared meal delivery service, consider researching the company’s sustainability platform on its website. You may be able to find information on sourcing, animal welfare requirements, farming partners and practices, and even details on how to properly dispose of all the packaging so that you can minimize your impact. 

    Dietary Needs: Some prepared meal services are designed with dietary requirements in mind, while others are less so. If you’re looking to accommodate medically necessary restrictions, thoroughly check out each service’s offerings and dietary accommodations.

Methodology

We ordered, cooked, and evaluated meals from 40 different meal delivery services to rate each one’s offerings, nutrition profiles, prices, sustainability, and, of course, flavors. We contacted the customer service teams at each of the companies, collected data, and rigorously reviewed each one.

Our Verywell Fit writers are all registered dieticians who relied on their research and its resulting data to inform their reviews.

Young Woman Eating Delicious Takeaway Food At Home

Oscar Wong / Getty Images

By Tori Martinet, MS, RD
A licensed registered dietitian and culinary nutritionist, Tori Martinet works with individuals and brands on all things food and nutrition. She holds a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular neuroscience and a master’s in nutrition and exercise physiology.