Meal planning, grocery shopping, and making dinner can be tedious for anyone, including busy singles. However, meal delivery subscription services can streamline the process.
These subscription-based services offer fully-prepared, heat-and-eat meals or meal kits that you can cook yourself.
While most services cater to two or more people, there are options that offer meal kits for one person. Here are the best meal kits for singles.
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Which Meal Delivery Service is Best for One Person?
It is more difficult than you’d expect to find single-serving meal delivery services. Not every company sells them, but there are some quality choices available.
We tried an array of recipes from each company below. Not all of them were individual meals, but each service we tested offers meals for one person.
As a preview, here’s a quick look at the best meal kits for singles.
Company | Price Per Serving | Best For | Try |
---|---|---|---|
Purple Carrot | $9.99+ | Plant-based diets | Try |
Green Chef | $10.49+ | Home cooked meals | Try |
Dinnerly | $4.99+ | Affordability | Try |
Daily Harvest | $5.99+ | Quick meals | Try |
Trifecta | $11.24+ | Getting fit | Try |
EveryPlate | $4.99+ | Affordability | Try |
Fresh n' Lean | $10.32+ | Specialty diets | Try |
Hungryroot | $65+/box | Vegan groceries | Try |
These are the top one-person meal kits.
1. Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot is a vegan meal kit service that offers pre-made single-serving meals or meal kits for two that can be used as a one-person meal kit with leftovers.
Overview
Purple Carrot is a 100 percent plant-based meal kit service that caters to vegans and vegetarians.
It offers traditional meal kits for two or four people, along with single-serving heat-and-eat meals.
While the cooking process can be a little complicated for some meals, they do offer a Quick and Easy filter so you can see the easiest meals to prepare.
You can also add breakfasts, lunches, and grocery items from their “Plantry” to each order.
Pricing
Purple Carrot meal kits start at $11.00 per serving. Prepared meals are a flat $12.99 per meal. Shipping is free.
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 vegetarians who want the flexibility to choose between single-serving meals and meal kits.
Keep in mind that the portion sizes can be on the small side.
Read our Purple Carrot review to learn more.
2. Green Chef
Green Chef offers flavorful recipes made with organic ingredients. The meal kit company has a focus on healthy living.
Overview
Green Chef is a traditional meal kit service that offers healthy recipes. When possible, every item on its ingredient list is completely organic.
They also cater specifically to health-conscious people by offering several new recipes per week for keto, paleo, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian eaters.
I enjoyed their meals and thought they were easy to prepare. With Green Chef, singles should consider choosing the two-person meal plan so that they can have leftovers.
Pricing
Green Chef’s prices start at $11.99 per serving.
Servings Per Week | Total Cost with Shipping |
---|---|
Keto + Paleo 6 servings | $87.93 |
Keto + Paleo 8 servings | $109.91 |
Keto + Paleo 12 servings | $153.87 |
Keto + Paleo 16 servings | $193.83 |
Keto + Paleo 18 servings | $216.81 |
Keto + Paleo 24 servings | $285.75 |
6 servings | $81.93 |
8 servings | $101.91 |
12 servings | $141.87 |
16 servings | $177.83 |
18 servings | $198.91 |
24 servings | $261.75 |
Shipping is $9.99 per box.
*For a limited time, Frugal Rules readers can take advantage of Green Chef’s Offer and get $250 off across your first five boxes, plus the first box ships free!
Best For
Green Chef is the best choice for single people who like home-cooked meals made with high-quality ingredients. However, these meals are more expensive than other meal kits.
Read our Green Chef review to learn more.
3. Dinnerly
Dinnerly is a budget meal kit company that offers a wide variety of recipes that you can choose from each week.
Overview
One of the main draws of Dinnerly is that it is affordable for a meal kit service. It also offers well over 30 menu options to choose from each week.
As a single person, you can choose the two-person plan with three to six meals per week. This would provide you with two servings from each meal.
To stay eco-friendly (and keep prices low), Dinnerly doesn’t send recipe cards. Instead, you’ll need to access recipes on the service’s website or app.
The company does compare well against EveryPlate. Read our Dinnerly vs. EveryPlate analysis to learn how they stack up.
Pricing
Dinnerly meals start at $4.99 per serving, but the two-person plan costs $5.99 per serving. Shipping is $9.99.
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 promotion, but it’s wise to watch for one so that you can reduce costs.
Best For
Dinnerly is ideal if you’re on a budget but still want to choose your meals from a large weekly menu.
However, the service doesn’t provide recipe cards. You have to use the app or the website.
Read our Dinnerly review to learn more.
4. Daily Harvest
Daily Harvest’s easy-to-prepare meals are a good fit for people on special diets like vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free.
Overview
Daily Harvest is pretty unique among meal kit services. It offers a fixed menu of completely plant-based and gluten-free single-serving freezer meals.
These even include:
- Smoothies
- Bowls
- Flatbreads
- Ice creams
- And more
Most of their meals only require minimal prep, like blending or microwaving.
With Daily Harvest, you can choose nine, 14, or 24 items per week.
Read our guide on other top gluten-free meal delivery services to see how Daily Harvest stacks up.
Pricing
Daily Harvest’s items range from $5.99 to $11.99 each. Shipping is free.
You can get a $10 discount each week on a 14-item box or $20 off of each 24-item box.
Menu Item | Price |
---|---|
Smoothies | $7.99 |
Harvest Bowls | $8.99 |
Harvest Bakes | $11.99 |
Flatbreads | $8.99 |
Soups | $7.99 |
Forager Bowls | $5.99 |
Oat Bowls | $5.99 |
Chia Bowls | $5.99 |
Scoops | $8.99 |
Bites | $7.99 |
Lattes | $5.99 |
Mylks | $7.99 |
Right now, you can get up to $40 off of your first box as a new subscriber.
Best For
Daily Harvest is the best meal delivery for one person if you’re following a gluten-free or vegetarian diet. Nevertheless, the fixed menu options may get old fast.
Additionally, if you want meals you can eat on the go, Daily Harvest is an excellent choice.
Read our Daily Harvest review to learn more.
5. Trifecta
Trifecta’s ready-to-heat meals are made with fresh ingredients and delivered straight to your home every week.
Overview
Trifecta is a healthy meal prep service that offers pre-made meals and prepped ingredients.
The subscription-based service has single-serving meals that are all high in protein. It offers gluten-free, paleo, keto, vegan, and vegetarian meal plans.
Additionally, it only uses organic ingredients and high-quality, sustainably-sourced meats.
Trifecta even has an app that provides weight loss and fitness support. The meals are easy to reheat in the microwave, but they taste and look better if you reheat them on the stovetop.
Trifecta operates similarly to another single-serving meal plan – Factor. You can read our Factor vs. Trifecta comparison to identify which service is best for you.
Pricing
Trifecta’s meals start at $11.24 per serving for vegetarian meals. But, they could cost as much as $15.79 per meal depending on the meal plan you choose and how many meals you receive.
Shipping is free.
Servings Per Week | Total Cost with Shipping |
---|---|
7 | Vegan/vegetarian: $99.99/week, Others: $110.99/week |
10 | Vegan/vegetarian: $134.99/week, Others: $157.99/week |
14 | Vegan/vegetarian: $179.99/week, Others: $219.99/week |
15 | Vegan/vegetarian: $189.99/week, Others: $234.99/week |
20 | Vegan/vegetarian: $239.99/week, Others: $299.99/week |
21 | Vegan/vegetarian: $249.99/week, Others: Others: $319.99/week |
28 | Vegan/vegetarian: $314.99/week, Others: $414.99/week |
New customers currently receive 40 percent off their first order.
Best For
Trifecta is ideal for single people with dietary restrictions, like gluten-free, vegan, or keto.
However, their meals are expensive, and you can’t choose your own meals with a basic meal plan.
Read our Trifecta Nutrition review to learn more.
6. EveryPlate
EveryPlate is an inexpensive meal delivery service that offers classic American flavors. Each meal has a generous portion size.
Overview
EveryPlate stands out from other meal kits because it is very inexpensive, starting at just $4.99 per serving.
This service keeps prices low by offering a limited selection of classic American family favorites each week, including Broccoli Cheddar Bisque and Cajun Chicken Sausage Hash.
A two-person meal plan could be a good choice for those looking for individual portions. The serving sizes are generous, so you’d have leftovers from each meal.
Pricing
EveryPlate meals start at $4.99 per serving. Shipping is $8.99 per box.
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 |
The company also offers extras, such as premium meals that include fish or nicer cuts of steak. These are available for an additional $3.99 per serving.
*For a limited time, Frugal Rules readers can get $1.49/meal on their first EveryPlate order.
Best For
EveryPlate is great for picky eaters on a budget, but its meal choices may get repetitive after a while.
Furthermore, if you’re a new cook, you may find EveryPlate a good service to help you improve your culinary skills.
Read our EveryPlate review to learn more.
7. Fresh n’ Lean
Fresh n’ Lean’s chef-inspired meals arrive fully prepared and suit a variety of different dietary needs.
Overview
Fresh n’ Lean is a meal prep service that offers all organic meals for a number of different diets.
The service’s meal plan offerings include:
- Protein+ (high protein)
- Keto
- Paleo
- Standard Vegan
- Whole30
- Low Carb Vegan
- Mediterranean
It also offers bulk-cooked ingredients, so you can build your own meals. Plus, Fresh n’ Lean has breakfast entrees and add-ons like snacks.
You can’t choose your meals for the first week. Luckily, after that, you can edit which meals you’ll receive.
Pricing
Fresh ‘N Lean meals start at $10.32 each, and shipping is free.
However, breakfast and lunch options are less expensive. This can impact the overall cost.
Meals Per Week | Price With Shipping |
---|---|
5 | $77.45 |
7 | $101.43 |
10 | 129.90 |
14 | $160.86 |
15 | $162.35 |
21 | $216.79 |
*Right now through January 13th, you can get 25% off your order with Fresh N’ Lean!
Best For
Fresh n’ Lean is a great meal kit for someone who is trying to lose weight or follow a special diet.
Unfortunately, the heat-and-eat meals may not be as nice-looking as home-cooked meals.
Read our Fresh n’ Lean review to learn more.
8. Hungryroot
Hungryroot offers healthy recipes and grocery delivery. Its meals require minimal prep time and are made with only three to five ingredients.
Overview
Hungryroot is a flexible, hybrid service that allows you to choose meal kits, groceries, or a combination of both each week.
All of the foods and meal kits are healthy and free of processed additives. Each meal kit is simple with minimal ingredients.
Hungryroot offers hundreds of meals to choose from, and it has several different meat or plant-based meal options.
I also had a great experience with Hungryroot’s customer service when I had an issue with my order.
Pricing
Based on how much food you need, you’ll be assigned a set number of credits each week. You can spend these however you’d like.
Credits are roughly $2.12 each, and meals start at about eight credits per recipe. Grocery items start at 0.25 credits per item.
Right now, new members can get 30 percent off their first order. Plus, they get a free gift in every box.
Best For
Hungryroot is the ideal option if you want flexibility between ordering meal kits and groceries. However, the service’s simple meals may get repetitive after a while.
Read our Hungryroot review to learn more.
Bottom Line
If you’re flying solo, meal delivery kits can make it easier to get a healthy and balanced dinner on the table each night.
Whether you prefer fully prepared meals or you’d rather cook yourself, these services offer meal selections that can complement any lifestyle.
What’s your favorite one-person meal kit 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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