Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to making dinner for your family? Between meal planning, grocery shopping, and actually preparing the meals, it’s easy to feel uninspired in the kitchen.
Meal delivery services for families are a great way to take some of the burden off of your shoulders. However, with so many options available, it can be tough to find the best fit for your family.
In this review, we’ll share our top picks for the best meal delivery services for families.
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Which Meal Delivery Service Is Best for Families?
Choosing a meal kit company can be overwhelming, but looking at the right factors simplifies the process.
For this guide, we used the following four criteria to find the best services:
- Price: We included meal kits with a variety of price points but focused more on services that provide the best “bang for the buck.” Also, each meal kit service listed below can be canceled online at any time, with no need to contact customer service.
- Variety: All of the meal kit services on this list offer at least ten to 15 different menu options per week. In fact, many of them offer significantly more than that.
- Meal options: We chose services that offer several different types of meals (heat and eat, traditional, quick/easy) and a variety of cuisines. We also focused on those that offer nutritionally balanced meals for the entire family.
- Taste: Finally, we considered taste. All of these services have been personally tested by the Frugal Rules team to ensure they are delicious.
As a preview, here are the top choices to consider.
| Company | Price Per Serving | Best For | Try |
|---|---|---|---|
| EveryPlate | $4.99+ | Easy recipes | Try |
| Sunbasket | $8.99+ | Organic ingredients | Try |
| Home Chef | $6.99+ | Easy prep | Try |
| Purple Carrot | $9.99+ | Plant-based diets | Try |
| HelloFresh | $7.49+ | Tasty recipes | Try |
| Blue Apron | $7.49+ | Add-ons | Try |
| Dinnerly | $4.69+ | Affordable meals | Try |
These are the best meal delivery services for families.
1. EveryPlate
EveryPlate is a low-cost meal kit service that offers several kid-friendly meals each week, making it the best meal kit for families on a budget.
Overview
EveryPlate has basic, no-frills meal delivery kits for a low price. The meals they offer are family-friendly and include options like Sweet n’ Tangy Cherry Meatballs and Garlicky White Sauce Flatbreads.
While they offer meals for vegetarians, they don’t accommodate any other special diets.
You can order three to five meals each week for two or four people. Currently, EveryPlate doesn’t sell any add-ons.
Personally, I found EveryPlate meals were easy to prepare. The meals had generous portion sizes, but they all seemed to feature the same three vegetables — carrots, zucchini, and potatoes.
Pricing
EveryPlate meals start at $4.99 per serving, and shipping is $9.99.
| Servings per week | Total cost |
|---|---|
| 2 people, 3 dinners | $38.93 |
| 2 people, 4 dinners | $48.91 |
| 2 people, 5 dinners | $58.89 |
| 4 people, 3 dinners | $68.87 |
*For a limited time, Frugal Rules readers can get $1.49/meal on their first EveryPlate order.
Best For
EveryPlate is the best option for families on a budget. It has the lowest per-price serving of any meal kit.
Keep in mind that their weekly meal options can get repetitive after a while. This could be a deterrent if you like a lot of variety when it comes to meals.
Read our EveryPlate review to learn more.
2. Sunbasket
Sunbasket is a premium meal kit company. It utilizes high-quality, organic ingredients for simple, internationally-inspired meals that are great for special diets.
Overview
Sunbasket is one of the best meal delivery subscription services for people who want the highest quality ingredients.
It’s also fantastic for anyone who needs to follow a special diet. The service has paleo, gluten-free, vegan, Mediterranean, and diabetes-friendly meals.
When it comes to meal selection, you can choose from offerings like Greek souzoukaklia beef skewers with arugula-grape salad and chicken yakitori with broccoli and steamed rice.
Their customizable service allows you to order as many meals as you need each week. Plus, there are breakfasts, lunches, and grocery items for sale in their Market section.
I enjoyed Sunbasket’s flavorful meals and easy prep. Unfortunately, it’s more expensive than many of the other services on this list.
Pricing
Sunbasket’s meal kits start at $8.99 per serving, and their single-serving heat-and-eat meals start at $9.99 per serving.
Currently, new users can get $90 off and free shipping on their first order. They also get a free gift in their first box.
Shipping is $7.99 per box after your first order.
| Servings Per Week | Total Cost with Shipping |
|---|---|
| 2 people, 2 dinners | $63.95 |
| 2 people, 3 dinners | $85.93 |
| 2 people, 4 dinners | $103.91 |
| 2 people, 5 dinners | $117.89 |
| 4 people, 2 dinners | $103.91 |
| 4 people, 3 dinners | $139.87 |
| 4 people, 4 dinners | $183.83 |
| 4 people, 5 dinners | $227.79 |
Sunbasket no longer offers set meal plans. Instead, you choose the meals you want and how many servings you’d like to receive.
You can choose up to 16 servings per meal or up to eight identical single-serving meals.
Best For
Sunbasket is ideal for dietary restrictions, including gluten-free or food allergies. However, the service is more expensive than many of the other options.
Read our review of Sunbasket to learn more.
3. Home Chef
Home Chef is a subscription-based service that specializes in flavorful recipes and easy-to-prepare meals for up to six people. It is a great option for a household with multiple mouths to feed.
Overview
Home Chef offers traditional meal kits, easy prep meal kits (One Pot, Express, 15 Minute, Fast & Fresh, and Oven Ready), and various meals, snacks, and sides available as add-on purchases.
Some of their menu items include Stuffed Chicken Parmesan and Greek-Style Salmon Cakes.
With Home Chef, you can get two to six recipes per week for two to six people. Most meal kits only offer four servings per meal, so Home Chef’s flexibility makes it an ideal fit for larger families or couples.
I appreciated Home Chef’s variety of easy-to-prepare options and all of the meals I tried tasted great.
Pricing
Home Chef meals start at $6.99 per serving. Shipping costs vary based on box size.
| Servings Per Week | Total Cost with Shipping |
|---|---|
| 4 servings (2 people, 2 recipes) | $49.95 |
| 6 servings (2 people, 3 recipes) | $61.93 |
| 8 servings (2 people, 4 recipes or 4 people, 2 recipes) | $79.91 |
| 10 servings (2 people, 5 recipes) | $97.89 |
| 12 servings (2 ppl, 6 recipes or 4 ppl, 3 recipes or 6 ppl, 2 recipes) | $115.87 |
| 16 servings (4 people, 4 recipes) | $151.83 |
| 18 servings (6 people, 3 recipes) | $169.81 |
| 20 servings (4 people, 5 recipes) | $187.79 |
| 24 servings (4 people, 6 recipes or 6 people, 4 recipes) | $223.75 |
| 30 servings (6 people, 5 recipes) | $277.69 |
| 36 servings (6 people, 6 recipes) | $331.63 |
You will notice that pricing is similar to what you will find at Blue Apron. Read our Blue Apron vs. Home Chef review to learn more about how the two companies compare.
Best For
Home Chef is the best meal kit for families who want a home-cooked meal that requires minimal prep time. They offer a variety of meal kits that are easy to make or oven-ready.
However, the service isn’t a good fit for families with special dietary needs.
Read our Home Chef review to learn more.
4. Purple Carrot
Are you trying to feed a vegan household? Purple Carrot is a meal kit delivery service that offers a variety of recipes each week that are 100 percent plant-based.
Overview
Purple Carrot is an exclusively vegan meal kit service that offers veggie-packed family meals like Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches and Kimchi Mushroom Fried Rice.
They offer three or four meals per week for two or four people. Alternately, you can get up to ten single-serving meals per week.
What’s unique about Purple Carrot is that you can also purchase vegan grocery items from their Plantry. Plus, they have breakfast and lunch meal kits available.
I found that some of my Purple Carrot meals were a bit complicated when it came to preparation. Nevertheless, the cooking instructions were clear, and all of the flavors were excellent.
Pricing
Purple Carrot offers free shipping on all orders. Their meal kit prices start at $9.99 per serving, while their single-serving meals cost a flat $12.99 per meal.
| Servings Per Week | Total Cost with Shipping |
|---|---|
| 6 servings | $71.94 |
| 8 servings | $95.92 |
| 12 servings | $79.92 |
| 16 servings | $119.88 |
Best For
Purple Carrot is best for vegans and plant-based eaters.
It’s important to note that many of their meal choices cater to adult palates. As a result, it may not be a good fit for families with younger children.
Read our Purple Carrot review to learn more.
5. HelloFresh
HelloFresh offers over 40 recipes per week, including many simple recipes that make cooking dinner easier for busy parents.
Overview
HelloFresh is probably the most well-known meal kit service. It offers moderate pricing, a huge variety, and flavor-packed recipes like Onion Crunch Chicken and Lemony Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts.
They have some vegetarian and low-calorie meals in addition to their standard fare. You can order two to six recipes per week for two or four people.
In my experience, HelloFresh offers some of the most simple and delicious recipes of any meal kit.
Pricing
HelloFresh prices start at $7.49 per serving, and shipping is a flat $9.99 per order.
| Servings Per Week | Total Cost with Shipping |
|---|---|
| 2 people, 2 recipes per week | $58.95 |
| 2 people, 3 recipes per week | $62.93 |
| 2 people, 4 recipes per week | $80.91 |
| 2 people, 5 recipes per week | $98.89 |
| 2 people, 6 recipes per week | $116.87 |
| 4 people, 2 recipes per week | $80.91 |
| 4 people, 3 recipes per week | $98.87 |
| 4 people, 4 recipes per week | $128.83 |
| 4 people, 5 recipes per week | $158.79 |
| 4 people, 6 recipes per week | $188.75 |
Right now, new users can get up to 16 free meals spread out across their first seven boxes. Plus, they receive free shipping on their first box.
Home Chef is a suitable alternative to HelloFresh. Read our HelloFresh vs. Home Chef review to learn more about how they stack up.
Best For
HelloFresh is best for families who want a huge variety of menu options each week. Additionally, their detailed recipe cards make it a good fit for people who are just learning to cook.
However, the service doesn’t offer options for special diets.
Read our HelloFresh review to learn more.
*Related: Grocery delivery is a great way to save time. Read our guide on sites like Instacart to identify the top choices for your needs.
6. Blue Apron
Blue Apron’s ready-to-make meals feature fresh ingredients, whole grains, and family-favorite foods. For the adults, they also offer a wine subscription with selections that complement the weekly menu.
Overview
Blue Apron is one of the original meal kit services. In fact, they’re similar to HelloFresh. Read our HelloFresh vs. Blue Apron review to see how the two compare.
Blue Apron offers balanced, family-friendly meals with high-end twists. Meal options have included Greek Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki and Arugula-Feta Salad and Three Cheese Pizza with Caramelized Onion.
They have standard, vegetarian, and “Wellness” meals. These are low in calories or carbs. All of their meals are easy to prepare and highlight fresh vegetables.
Blue Apron also sells single-serving meals that only need to be reheated. You can even get add-ons like appetizers, sides, and desserts.
Better yet, you can subscribe to receive wine pairings and purchase kitchen items from the Blue Apron Market.
Blue Apron offers two to four meals per week for two or four people.
Pricing
Blue Apron’s prices start at $7.49 per serving, and shipping costs $9.99 per box.
| Servings Per Week | Total Cost with Shipping |
|---|---|
| 2 people, 2 recipes per week (4 servings) | $49.95 |
| 2 people, 3 recipes per week (6 servings) | $63.93 |
| 2 people, 4 recipes per week (8 servings) | $81.91 |
| 4 people, 2 recipes per week (8 servings) | $81.91 |
| 4 people, 3 recipes per week (12 servings) | $105.87 |
| 4 people, 4 recipes per week (16 servings) | $129.83 |
Additionally, new members can get $110 off their first four boxes and free shipping on their first box.
Best For
Blue Apron is best for family dinners in households that prioritize healthy eating and don’t have any specific dietary needs.
However, the service doesn’t offer many kid-friendly options in its four-serving menu.
Read our Blue Apron review to learn more.
7. Dinnerly
Dinnerly offers a variety of low-cost, nutritionally-balanced meals that are great for everyone in the family, even if you have a picky eater in your midst.
Overview
Dinnerly allows you to choose your meals from over 40 options each week. These include vegetarian, low-carb, and low-calorie meals in addition to desserts, breakfasts, and appetizers.
Some of their family meal options include Fried Chicken & Biscuit with Ranch Slaw and BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza.
Their meals are easy to make but don’t include recipe cards. This is a cost-saving measure to keep their prices low compared to most other services.
With Dinnerly, you can choose three to six meals per week for two or four people. If you want a more complete option, HelloFresh is a suitable alternative. Read our HelloFresh vs. Dinnerly review to learn how they compare.
Pricing
Dinnerly’s prices start at $4.69 per serving. Their shipping fee is $9.99 per box.
| Servings Per Week | Total Cost with Shipping |
|---|---|
| 2 people, 3 dinners | $40.73 |
| 2 people, 4 dinners | $48.91 |
| 2 people, 5 dinners | $58.89 |
| 2 people, 6 dinners | $67.67 |
| 4 people, 3 dinners | $68.87 |
| 4 people, 4 dinners | $88.83 |
| 4 people, 5 dinners | $106.79 |
| 4 people, 6 dinners | $121.55 |
The company doesn’t always offer a new subscriber promotion, but be on the lookout for discounts if you’re interested in trying the service.
Best For
Dinnerly is an ideal fit for families who want both meal variety and a low price.
While their lack of physical recipe cards will appeal to those with an eco-friendly mindset, it can be a hassle to constantly check the app while you’re cooking.
Read our Dinnerly review to learn more.
Bottom Line
Depending on your family’s preferences, dietary needs, and budget, there are many meal kits to choose from. Finding the right one can save you time, hassle, and prep work.
As a bonus, it can introduce some exciting new flavors to make dinner fresh and fun again.
Make sure to take advantage of promotions for first-time customers to save money when trying out each service.
What’s most important for your family when considering a meal delivery service?
SaVanna is a registered dietitian, freelance writer, and recipe developer. She’s a regular contributor for Healthline Nutrition and Greatist, and she blogs about low carb meal planning at SaVannaShoemaker.com. When she’s not writing about food and nutrition, she’s brainstorming ways to make meals that are inexpensive, kid friendly, tasty, and healthy.
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