Meal kit services have been popular with time-strapped individuals who crave delicious meals without the hassle. These subscription services help you bid farewell to tedious meal planning, exhausting grocery store runs, and time-consuming meal prep. Whether you’re a culinary novice or simply want to learn how to have a gourmet touch in the kitchen, meal kits can empower you to effortlessly master your chef skills and savor mouthwatering recipes at your convenience.  

Blue Apron, founded in 2013 by Matt Wadiak, Ilia Papas, and Matt Salzberg has been a popular choice as a convenient meal kit option offering pre-prepared fresh ingredients and a variety of healthy, oven-ready meals. Blue Apron is known to offer a range of recipe options from weight watchers to family-friendly meals alongside tasty wine pairings on their weekly menu. However, if you’re eager to explore new horizons that align with your unique dietary preferences and lifestyle, or if you’ve tried Blue Apron and realized it’s not for you, it’s only natural to wonder if there are better alternatives out there. 

But, how do you go about picking the best alternative for you? In this guide, we'll dive into some of the top Blue Apron contenders in the meal kit industry as well as alternatives to meal kit delivery services that you might have not considered until now! We'll provide valuable insights to help you make the most informed decision, so get ready to embark on a culinary adventure and discover the perfect meal kit service tailored to your unique tastes!

Blue Apron Alternatives To Consider

Hungryroot: Best Overall Alternative

Best for: Those who crave variety, want (or need due to dietary restrictions) to have customizable  options and are budget conscious, and/or have a large family to feed.

Hungryroot is the ultimate solution for time-conscious individuals seeking quick, healthy, and delicious meals that cater to the whole family. Hungryroot goes above and beyond by providing a wide selection of good-for-you groceries and a collection of over 2000+ chef-created recipes to make sure you can curate meals to your heart’s content. 

With Hungryroot, you’re in complete control! Their service is fully customizable and caters to a diverse set of dietary restrictions. Hungryroot allows you to handpick exact groceries and recipes that align with your preferences. With their intuitive mix-and-match filters, navigating through specific dietary requirements has never been easier. Whether you follow a gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, or any other specialized diet, Hungryroot has got you covered. 

While most meal delivery services like Blue Apron provide you with prepared meals and pre-portioned ingredients, Hungryroot offers a comprehensive meal planning and grocery platform fused into one seamless experience. Hungryroot curates plans tailored to your dietary preferences. But it doesn’t stop there. Alongside these thoughtfully crafted plans, Hungryroot delivers a trove of recipes, organic groceries, and delightful snacks for the entire week. With their easy-to-follow recipe cards, you don’t need to worry about complicated cooking techniques and can enjoy their easy and tasty meals in no time.

Interested in getting started with Hungryroot? Take their personalized quiz to get healthy food and recipe recommendations tailored just for you!

HelloFresh: Good For people who need less options

Best for: Those who are looking for a general, simple meal kit service and have no specific dietary requirements.

HelloFresh is another popular meal delivery company that has a global presence. With their team of chefs and nutritionists, HelloFresh curates a selection of over 30 fresh recipes every week. Their recipes feature pre-portioned ingredients sourced from local farms, ensuring a farm-to-table experience from the comfort of your kitchen.

Compared to Blue Apron, HelloFresh takes pride in their approachable and beginner-friendly recipes making them a good choice for novice chefs. They simplify the decision-making process with helpful recipe labels such as calorie smart, carb smart, easy prep, easy clean, spicy, and more. These indicators provide valuable insights to determine whether a meal is right for you. However, it’s important to note that HelloFresh doesn’t cater in detail to specific dietary requirements. If you follow a specific diet, you’ll need to review each meal’s nutritional panel to determine if it aligns with your health goals.

Their meals start as low as $7.49 but can go up to $12.49 if you're ordering for fewer people and fewer meals a week.

Overall, HelloFresh might be a fit for you if you're looking for a general, simple meal kit service but have no specific dietary requirements. However, if you crave more customization and variety, it’s worth exploring Hungryroot’s exceptional healthy grocery delivery service. With Hungryroot, you’ll gain access to an extensive selection of wholesome groceries that transform into delicious recipes all on an affordable budget. To start your journey, take their personalized quiz to get tailored recommendations just for you.

Home Chef: Good For Simple Recipes

Best for: Omnivores looking for easy meals and don't mind less customization.

Home Chef is a popular meal kit service that focuses on simple-to-follow, quick recipes for new chefs. While Home Chef meals are not as customizable as alternatives like Hungryroot, where you have full control over your grocery and recipe choices, Home Chef offers a curated weekly selection of over 30 meals and 18 extras or add-ons to choose from.

Home Chef prioritizes ease of use and generally healthy meals, making sure that even novice chefs can enjoy their recipes. They provide a diverse range of options including oven-ready meals, family-size portions, and kid-friendly choices. However, it’s important to note that Home Chef may fall short in catering to specific dietary needs. While they offer customization by allowing protein substitutions, they may not have as extensive options for those who follow specific diets. Vegetarians can find protein substitutions available for some meals, but Home Chef may not be as comprehensive as other meal kit services in this regard.

Home Chef allows you to order 2, 4, or 6 meals a week and pricing can vary from $8.99 to $12.99 a meal depending on any customizations along with $9.99 shipping. Their minimum order requirement per week is $49.95.

If you’re seeking a convenient and beginner-friendly meal kit without strict dietary requirements, Home Chef could be a good fit for you.

Martha & Marley Spoon: Good for Gourmet Recipes

Best for: Those looking to master their chef skills with gourmet-style recipes.

Founded by Fabian Estrada and Till Neatby in 2014, Marley Spoon partners with Martha Stewart to deliver you gourmet, fresh meal recipes. Unlike other pre-prepared meal delivery services, Marley Spoon offers 100+ recipes each week curated by Martha Stewart to fit your culinary expertise and budget.

Marley Spoon offers a range of dietary preferences to accommodate different lifestyles, including options for vegetarians, low-carb enthusiasts, families, and those seeking one-pot meals or low-calorie options. However, it’s worth noting that Marley Spoon lacks a dedicated filtering system, making it challenging to easily sort recipes based on specific dietary needs. To determine whether a recipe aligns with your nutritional goals, you’d need to browse through each recipe individually. 

In addition to its diverse dietary options, Marley Spoon also caters to younger audiences with a variety of kid-friendly meals. From delightful shortbread cookies for dessert to stuffed shells for a quick lunch, Marley Spoon makes sure that even the littlest of palates are satisfied.

Marley Spoon understands the needs of families and offers flexible portion options to accommodate different households. With choices of 2 and 4-portion options, Marley Spoon also offers anywhere from 3 to 6 meals a week. Prices per meal can range from $9.99 to $12.99 a meal.

If you’re looking for a meal kit service alternative that surpasses the customization options of Marley Spoon, Hungryroot is the perfect match for you. With a wide selection of 2,000+ recipes ranging from simple to gourmet, Hungryroot empowers you to explore a world of delicious recipes every week. They also deliver a wide range of healthy groceries, including snacks and pantry staples straight to your doorstep! Ready to get started? Take their personalized quiz and get tailored recommendations just for you.

Green Chef: Good for Organic Ingredients

Best for: For those who prioritize organic ingredients and are willing to spend extra.

For those who prioritize organic ingredients, Green Chef stands out as the sole company that offers a 100% USDA-certified organic experience. If quality and organic sourcing are important to you and you’re willing to invest more budget, Green Chef is a good choice.

Green Chef accommodates various dietary preferences, catering to keto, gluten-free, vegetarian, Mediterranean, high protein, and fast and fit lifestyles. With a menu featuring a diverse selection of 32 weekly recipes, you’ll have ample choices to suit your taste and preferences.

When signing up with Green Chef, you first select your dietary preference, followed by portion size and the number of meals per week. Whether you’re cooking for 2, 4, or 6 people, you can customize your subscription accordingly. It’s important to note that Green Chef’s pricing per serving ranges from $11.99 to $13.49, reflecting the high cost associated with their commitment to using organic ingredients.

If prioritizing organic sourcing is a top priority, Green Chef is worth considering despite the slightly higher price point. However, if you don’t want to break the bank but love to eat healthy groceries, Hungryroot offers a more affordable alternative. They carry a wide range of whole foods that transform into delicious, chef-created recipes, so you’ll never get bored! Take their personalized quiz and start your healthy journey!

Purple Carrot: Good for Plant-based Eaters

Purple Carrot is a plant-based meal delivery service dedicated to delivering pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards to your doorstep. With meals starting at $11.00 per serving, Purple Carrot offers an affordable way to embrace a plant-based lifestyle.

Purple Carrot offers a variety of meal options to cater to the different demands of a busy schedule. From frozen meals to prepared meals and meal kits, you have the flexibility to choose based on your availability throughout the week. Their meal selection encompasses breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, making sure you’re covered at every meal.

When browning through Purple Carrot’s offerings, you’ll find helpful labels indicating whether their recipes are gluten-free, high protein, or chef-selected. However, they focus primarily on plant-based meals and may not offer an extensive variety of targeted dietary needs beyond that. 

Pricing varies depending on the type of meal. Snacks can be as low as $4, while prepared meals can go up to $13 per serving.

If you're focused on living a plant-based lifestyle but want more variety, check out Hungryroot's 2,000+ recipes where you can easily filter by plant-based, vegan, and vegetarian-friendly options. Take their personalized quiz to share your dietary desires, and watch Hungryroot curate mouthwatering recipes tailored just for you, week after week. You'll never get bored and you'll stick within your budget!

Picking the Best Meal Kit Service Alternative For Your Needs

When you’re on a quest to find the best meal kit delivery service, it’s crucial to consider the factors that hold the most importance for you. Assess your budget and seek a service that aligns with your financial goals. If you have specific dietary needs such as gluten-free, vegan, or low-carb, prioritize meal kits that cater to those needs. Determine how important customization, variety, and ingredient quality are to you since all these factors are important to help you evaluate your best options!

The reality of meal kit services, such as HelloFresh or Purple Carrot, is that they deliver pre-portioned ingredients or oven-ready meals. It’s important to recognize that this approach inherently limits the variety in your weekly meal planning. The pre-portioned nature of these services can restrict your meal options and potentially result in higher costs. 

Whether through grocery delivery services like Hungryroot or traditional meal planning, embracing a broader approach allows for customization and flexibility in your culinary experience. Go beyond traditional meal kit services and explore the reality of healthy grocery delivery and meal planning with Hungryroot. Hungryroot opens the door to a vast library of over 2,000+ expertly chef-curated healthy recipes while going the extra mile to deliver a selection of wholesome groceries straight to your doorstep. They service customers all over the contiguous United States.

Overall, Hungryroot stands out as an overall more affordable option that provides comprehensive customization to cater to your precise taste and dietary needs. With their commitment to a sustainable supply chain and efforts to reduce food waste, Hungryroot exemplifies a company dedicated to making a positive impact on the planet while keeping you healthy too!

Start your health journey today by telling Hungryroot your taste preferences, allergies, and dietary needs to get tailored recipes and grocery recommendations just for you and your family!