Busy families need a meal-time solution the most, and a meal kit might just be the answer.
If you're in a never-ending quest to simplify weeknight meals, there's a good chance you've heard of meal delivery services — companies that send ingredients (or fully prepared meals) straight to your doorstep. It can be a smart way to cut down on the mental work required to come up with weekly menus, especially if you're constantly on the go.
Carolina Schneider, MS, a registered dietitian and nutrition adviser for Daily Harvest, says meal services can help families enjoy balanced meals with less prep, giving parents “flexibility to their routines” and easing the daily pressure of cooking. Rebecca Blake, RD, of Fay Nutrition, agrees that healthy meal delivery services are ideal for “busy, over-programmed” families and adds they’re “a great way to introduce kids to cooking.”
But how are you supposed to know which is right? The key is finding the best meal delivery service that fits your family’s needs — from dietary restrictions to picky eaters — so dinner arrives at your door planned, prepped and stress-free.
Our nutritionist-led team researched, tested and tasted over a dozen family-friendly meal delivery services — from keto meal delivery services to vegan meal kit services — evaluating cost, variety, freshness, sustainability and ease of use to help you find the best fit for your household.
Update, July 7, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick for the best meal delivery service for families remains unchanged.
Meal type: Meal kits and prepared meals | Number of servings per meal: Two to four or single-serving prepared meals Weekly menu options: 80+ | Dietary options: Chef favorites, wellness, family friendly, fast and easy, vegetarian
Our top pick for families, Blue Apron, stands out because its renowned chefs create flavorful, family-friendly recipes made with high-quality ingredients. Blake recommends the service for its versatility; "Blue Apron has one of the most robust systems in which families can choose the level of preparation or cooking that suits them best," she says. This is because you can choose from meal kits you make using preportioned ingredients or freshly prepared meals that you simply heat and eat on busy nights. Additional items such as breakfast and lunch kits, frozen single-serve meals, sides and desserts are also available.
Each week, you'll select two to five dinners for two to four people from over 80 menu options. Available add-ons include breakfast burritos, warm sandwiches, prepared frozen meals, salads and even charcuterie boards for entertaining. Everything you need for each meal comes in the meal kit, including butter and sesame oil for Asian dishes. Another feature we love is the ability to customize the meals with your preferred proteins, including swapping red meat for fish or shrimp. It's also easy to skip a week or two if you're going on vacation.
You can choose from flexible pricing plans with meals ranging from $8 to $12 per serving. For instance, for four people eating five meals per week, the cost is $170.79 plus shipping. I don't know about you, but that cuts my grocery budget in half, and with this, you don't have to think about how much food you need to buy. Blue Apron portions everything for you. There are also introductory offers that make trying Blue Apron more affordable.
Blue Apron provides easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions with images, so even if you're just learning how to cook, you have specific directions from Blue Apron chefs. You can also opt to follow along with a video from the website if you're more of a visual learner.
Blue Apron uses recyclable and compostable materials for its packaging wherever possible.
Blue Apron is also a favorite of Yahoo's former Senior Health Editor, April McCormick: "I've been subscribing to Blue Apron for years. Each week, there are plenty of family-friendly meals to choose from, so we never get bored with the selection. The ingredients arrive fresh, the recipes are easy to follow and most meals are ready in under 30 minutes." Read our full review of Blue Apron.
Meal type: Meal kits and groceries | Number of servings per meal: Two, four or six | Weekly menu options: 34 recipes | Dietary options: Customer favorites, 25 minutes or less, vegetarian, vegan, omnivore, pescatarian, family faves, quick and easy, nutrish and delish (650 calories or fewer)
"So many families find that one of their biggest challenges in following a primarily healthy whole foods based diet is the time it takes to grocery shop, prep and cook homemade meals," shares Blake. But tight budgets can make meal delivery services feel out of reach. EveryPlate helps close the gap by offering a balance of affordability, variety and convenience. The service provides a wide range of familiar flavors inspired by global cuisine, making it a crowd-pleaser for families. Blake says this helps families become less reliant on highly processed convenient foods and takeout meals without having to do all the heavy lifting that a home-cooked meal requires. EveryPlate kits come with easy-to-follow instructions and preportioned ingredients that simplify meal preparation, making it a great choice for busy households.
You can choose from various meal kit delivery plans that range in size and preferences, so it's easy to find one that suits your family's needs. The pricing is budget-friendly, with meals starting at $6 per serving. We do want to point out that during testing, we found that meal prep often took longer than EveryPlate said it would, although they do provide easy-to-follow instructions with images.
You can choose from 34 menu options weekly, with familiar flavors inspired by global cuisines such as Italian, Tex-Mex, Greek and American classics. Although EveryPlate does not cater to specific dietary restrictions, some vegetarian and plant-based recipes are available. You can filter recipes in a number of ways, including quick and easy (ready in 30 minutes or less) or "nutrish and delish" (each serving is 650 calories or fewer) with an order maximum of six servings for up to five meals per week.
Read our full review of EveryPlate.
Meal type: Meal kits and groceries | Weekly menu choices: 80+ menu selections; add-on breakfasts, lunches, sides and snacks | Number of servings per meal: Two, four or six | Dietary options: Calorie-smart, gut and brain health, gluten-free, keto, Mediterranean, plant-based, protein-packed, quick and easy
Green Chef is our top pick for the best organic meal delivery service for families for its broad menu of flavorful organic dishes suiting different dietary needs while still exploring new flavors. This is a major benefit of this service, according to Schneider. Owned by Hello Fresh, Green Chef offers over 80 weekly menu options, with each meal kit containing individually packed ingredients, including proteins, organic vegetables, seasonings, sauces and organic fresh herbs. You'll also find step-by-step instructions with images in every box.
Green Chef is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and holds a California Certified Organic Farmers accreditation, so unless stated otherwise, all produce in your meal kit is organic. Pricing varies and doesn't include shipping, so be sure to factor that into your budget as you start building your boxes. We found the meals tasty and satisfying, with reasonable portion sizes. However, it's worth noting that Green Chef does not allow you to specify allergies, and premium meals come at an extra cost.
With eight dietary programs, including quick-and-easy meals for busy family nights, Mediterranean and keto selections, low-calorie meals, plant-based meals, protein-packed meals and gluten-free options, you'll easily be able to find a menu that fits your lifestyle. Prepared meal choices such as breakfasts, heat-and-eat lunches, sides, proteins, snacks and desserts are also available as add-ons.
Green Chef uses recycled, reusable and/or compostable materials in its packaging.
Read our full review of Green Chef.
Meal type: Meal kits and prepared meals, plus grocery and pantry add-ons | Weekly menu options: 16, along with additional options for breakfast and lunch | Number of servings per meal: Two or four | Dietary options: Under 600 calories, gluten-free, high protein, low sodium, high fiber, nut free, soy free
Coming highly recommended by Blake, Purple Carrot is our unanimous choice for the best overall vegan meal kit for families. It offers an outstanding level of quality, flavor combinations, menu options and convenience, plus a weekly vegan cookbook complete with vibrant photos and step-by-step instructions making this service especially ideal for those new to plant-based diets. Purple Carrot serves fresh vegan meals that are nutritious and incredibly delicious, making it an ideal choice for long-standing vegans and those new to the lifestyle. Its diverse menu and high-quality ingredients are impressive enough that even the biggest carnivores shouldn't have a problem ditching animal products in their diets a couple times a week.
Ordering meals that suit your flavor and dietary preferences is easy. There are plentiful selections for breakfasts, lunches and dinners, plus a range of "Plantry" add-ons — things like cold brew coffees, fresh juices, instant lentils, homestyle chili, plant-based crab cakes, juice shots, chocolates, nuts, crackers and vegan cheeses, which Blake praises as a convenience factor for vegan families. Pricing varies depending on which plan you choose, starting at $11 and rising to $13 per serving for meal kits and $13 for single-serving heat-and-eat prepared meals. There are menu options suitable for various dietary preferences, including high-protein, soy-free, nut-free and gluten-free.
Our tester praised Purple Carrot's meals for convenience, flavor and freshness, saying all meals won over her family. She was especially impressed by the creamy dairy-free dressings and sauces. Everything was so tasty that she got her unabashedly omnivore family to regularly enjoy two vegan meals a week, which she called true win.
The company uses recyclable shipping and packing materials wherever possible.
Read our full review of Purple Carrot.
Meal type: Meal kits | Weekly menu options: 100+ recipes | Number of servings per meal: Two or four | Dietary options: Low carb, low calorie, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, kid-friendly, one pot, omnivore, pescatarian, under 30 minutes, breakfast, appetizers, desserts, family-friendly
Kids are notoriously picky, which can make meal time frustrating. "Meal services introduce healthy ingredients in a kid-friendly way, encouraging children to try new, nutritious dishes that appeal to a variety of tastes and dietary needs," says Schneider. With over 100 weekly menu options, Marley Spoon is our top pick for the best meal kit delivery service for picky eaters as there is a high likelihood of finding meals that everyone will like.
Meals are delicious and satisfying, with decently sized portions created by Martha Stewart's culinary experts. However, some recipes may be too complex for beginner chefs or those who need quicker, simpler meal prep, making this service more suited to those comfortable in the kitchen.
Marley Spoon's packaging is mostly recyclable, and the company provides clear recycling instructions on its website.
Read our full review of Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon.
Cost: Consider the price per serving and the number of servings you'll need for each meal. Meal delivery services for families should offer plans that cater to larger groups. Prices typically range from $7 to $13 per serving and decrease as you order more meals per delivery. It's important to compare the cost per serving across different services while also considering how the service suits your family’s dietary preferences and tastes.
Ease of use: Meal delivery kits for families should be easy to use, save time and reduce mealtime stress. They should have a simple ordering process, clear cooking instructions and a convenient delivery schedule. Some services offer prepared meals that only need to be heated, while others provide ingredients and recipes for you to cook the meal yourself. Still, others offer add-on sides, snacks or additional meals. Services that cater to families often offer meals that are easy to prepare and are kid-friendly.
Menu choice: A good variety of recipes and ingredients make it more likely that your family will enjoy meals without waste. Look for a service that offers a range of recipes that fit your family's dietary needs and tastes, especially if you're following a particular diet or have a weight loss goal. "For people with dietary restrictions, meal delivery services can make it easier to get adequate nutrition while following diets like vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free," says Schneider. The ingredients should also be fresh and high quality.
Taste: Above all, the meals should be delicious; otherwise, uneaten dishes mean wasted money and food. Taste can be subjective, so it's a good idea to read reviews or try a few different services to find one that suits your family's palate.
Eco-friendly packaging: Consider the type of packaging the meal delivery service uses, including how it's shipped and whether you can reuse or recycle the packaging. Many services try to reduce their environmental impact by using recyclable or compostable packaging. This is especially important for families who want to shrink their ecological footprint.
Every meal kit we reviewed has different strengths and weaknesses. Some are very easy, others offer more variety; some are great for families with picky eaters and special diets, others are geared toward vegans and vegetarians. We also tested some heat-and-eat meal options (remember when we used to call them TV dinners?) to throw into the mix for busier families.
To narrow down the list of the best meal delivery services, an in-house culinary expert and Yahoo testers and editors collectively tried 15 of the top delivery services with their families. We evaluated the services according to the number of weekly menu choices, quality and freshness, ease of cooking, cost, eco-friendly packaging and — most of all — taste.
Green Chef and EveryPlate offer boxes for up to six people and are some of the best meal delivery services for large families. However, you can always double up on boxes or individual meals to reach the necessary number of servings for your household. Choose a meal delivery service that balances price with flavor and variety since feeding a larger family costs more.
Meal delivery services can benefit families with picky eaters since they offer a range of meals suited for different dietary preferences, making it easier to find meals that everyone in the family will enjoy.
While meal delivery services seem expensive up front, they can help families save money in the long run. They reduce food waste by providing preportioned ingredients, and they can save time spent on meal planning and grocery shopping. If you regularly rely on takeout, delivery or other more expensive, convenient options, these delivery services can save you money and provide more nutritional meals.
Many meal delivery services offer plans catering to larger groups, including families of five or more, though some serve only up to four. The specific number of servings will depend on the particular service and the meal plan. Green Chef and EveryPlate have options for up to six people, but you could also double up on a specific meal if you have a larger family and save any leftovers for lunches.
Most meal delivery services have flexible subscriptions that allow you to cancel anytime. Specific cancellation policies are unique to each service, so be sure to research these when choosing a plan.
Carolina Schneider, MS, registered dietitian and Nutrition Advisor for Daily Harvest
Rebecca Blake, registered dietician at Fay Nutrition.