Meal kit delivery services are an excellent way to save time on grocery shopping and avoid the hassle of meal planning. But they sure aren’t cheap.
Or are they?
If you dream of using a meal kit service, but just can’t swallow the high price tag, then you’re in the right spot. We’ve tracked down the most affordable options and hashed out the major differences between them. Find out which of these budget-friendly meal kits makes the most sense for you.
Company | Ideal For | Cost Per Plate | Shipping | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EveryPlate | Those who appreciate predictability and large portions | $4.99 USD - $7.49 USD | $10.99 USD | USA | Visit Site |
Dinnerly | A fancy twist on everyday meals | $4.99 USD – $7.04 USD | $11.99 USD | USA | Visit Site |
Hungryroot | Vegetarians and Vegans who don’t love cooking | $9.69 USD - $11.39 USD | Free on orders over $70 USD , or $6.99 USD | USA | Visit Site |
Home Chef | Simple meals with lots of dietary options | $6.66 USD – $11.99 USD | $10.99 USD | USA | Visit Site |
Chef’s Plate | Hungry Canadians | $8.99 CAD - $11.99 CAD | $4.99 CAD - $7.99 CAD | Canada | Visit Site |
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The cheapest meal kit delivery services:
The low-cost version of HelloFresh, EveryPlate offers a smaller variety of recipes, but for a very competitive price: $6.49 including shipping. There are two plan options; 3 meals for two or 3 meals for 4.
Each week, there are 4 hearty meal options to choose from such as Tuscan Herbed Chicken
Over Creamy Tomato Linguine, plus one Premium option for an additional cost. While choice is limited, the portions are large.
Available across the US, EveryPlate is great for people who don’t like too many options and want a predictable, but tasty and hearty meal kit service.
Contents
Dinnerly
Like their big brother, Marley Spoon, this affordable kit focuses on putting a fancy twist on everyday meals. With only six ingredients in every recipe, total prep and cook time is kept to under 30 minutes.
Starting at $5.49 per serving including shipping ($4.99 per serving, plus $8.99 shipping), you can have affordable weeknight dishes delivered to your door anywhere in the contiguous US. Choose from 8 meals each week like the Shawarma Chicken with Tomatoes & Toasted Pita. Most meals cater to low-cal, low-carb, and picky-eater diets.
Dinnerly deliveries don’t have printed instructions included so you have to use the online guide while cooking. But they offer delivery of up to 5 meals each week. This makes them best for the digitally inclined budget eater who wants a meal kit most nights of the week.
Hungryroot
Hungryroot delivers near-ready (mostly) vegan meals to your door, all across the US. The unique ingredients and sauces only need to be mixed together and heated, so you can enjoy a meal in 10 minutes or less.
Plans are organized on number of items, rather than number of meals. They are based around 3 2-serving meals for 1, 2, or 4 people. The total cost averages out to about $8.30 per serving with free shipping.
Everything they make to is plant-based, with a focus on a balanced diet, including fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. All items, like the cauliflower rice, have detailed nutrition information available, along with cooking instructions. They also offer a variety of snack options and healthy desserts, too.
If you love Purple Carrot, but need a faster or more budget-friendly meal kit service, Hungryroot is just the ticket.
Home Chef
This meal kit is all about options. Home Chef focus on simple-to-follow, quick recipes for novice chefs. They offer meals for 2, 4, or 6 people up to 6 times per week. Home Chef charges $7.99 per serving, plus $10 shipping on orders under $45 and delivers all across the US.
Instead of meal plan options, you can pick from 18 recipes each week, à la carte. You can add smoothies, seasonal fruit baskets, 5-minute lunches, and swap proteins as needed. There are also premium meals like Lamb with Red Pepper and Jelly, available at an extra charge for special occasions.
Tons of specialty diet options are available, including:
- Gluten-free
- Vegetarian
- Dairy-free
- Low-calorie
- Low-carb
- Nut-free
- Soy-free
- Wheat-free
- Dairy-free
If you have a lot of people to feed, or folks with diet restrictions to consider, but still want variety and convenience, Home Chef is a strong meal kit contender.
Chefs Plate
This one’s for the Canadians who need a budget-friendly, quality meal kit. Chefs Plate is said to be the Great White North’s most affordable meal kit, starting from $8.99 per plate with $6 to free delivery.
Menu options include:
- Classic – $9.99 per serve
- Family – $8.99 per serve
- Vegetarian – $9.99 per serve
Chefs Plate is highly committed to fresh, quality ingredients and recipes. They partner with local, small-scale farms and Ocean Wise to make meals like Sticky Maple Glazed Chicken truly farm-to-table.
Conclusion
Meal kits don’t have to be an expensive luxury. With each of these five affordable meal kits, you can enjoy the convenience of meals delivered to your door without breaking the bank.
Which one of these cheap meal kits sounds like the best fit for you? Let us know what you think in the comments below!