We tried the best prepared meal delivery services—because sometimes cooking is just off the table altogether.
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At Taste of Home, we’ve spent years testing the best meal kits, from recipes that take an hour of prep to premade meals that only take a quick spin in the microwave.
Whether you’re a working parent or just don’t love cooking every night, prepared meal delivery services can offer the convenience of takeout without the guilt. The challenge? With so many options, it’s hard to know what’s worth ordering.
One thing to prioritize is nutritional balance. Registered dietitian and food scientist Jennifer Pallian, BSc, RD, says most meal kits deliver enough protein but often fall short on fiber, key vitamins like B1 and calcium, and whole grains—while skewing high in saturated fat and sodium. Her tip: look for meals with legumes, high-fiber vegetables and whole grains to better support everyday health.
With expert guidance in hand, we taste-tested the most popular prepared meal delivery services. These picks stand out for flavor, convenience, consistency and freshness.
Best Overall
Tempo by Home Chef
Pros:
- Easy to microwave, zero prep time required
- Chef-crafted, protein-rich, balanced meals
- Filling portions with plenty of veggies
- Rotating weekly menu offers some variety
Cons:
- Small menu
- A few inconsistencies regarding taste
When dinner can’t wait, Tempo is our go-to meal kit. An extension of Home Chef, the brand offers a curated menu of about 25 rotating meals each week, plus add-ons like breakfast items, snacks, desserts and drinks. Meals can be filtered by preferences such as high-protein, fiber-rich, calorie-conscious and GLP-1–balanced options.
Tempo’s website is refreshingly easy to use, with clear pricing, nutrition details and add-ons displayed upfront. While we didn’t use the app during testing, it shares the Home Chef app—which boasts a 4.8-star rating on Apple—and allows users to browse weekly menus, order meals, plan ahead and personalize dietary preferences like keto-friendly or vegetarian.
The service delivers weekly on the day you choose, with meals arriving chilled (not frozen) in insulated packaging with ice packs. It’s also highly flexible: you can skip deliveries, switch between weekly, biweekly or monthly shipments and view menus up to five weeks in advance. Delivery dates can be adjusted per order, or you can change your default delivery day altogether.
Overall, we were genuinely impressed by both the convenience and flavor. During testing for our Tempo review, I especially appreciated that the meals’ ‘best by’ dates were staggered, which took away the pressure to eat everything at once.
Most meals follow a simple formula (protein, vegetable and grain), but several standout dishes, particularly the meat and seafood options, deliver bold, satisfying flavors. Each single-serving meal takes just two to three minutes in the microwave and averages around 500 calories. Oven-heating instructions are included, too, though the 30-minute cook time somewhat defeats Tempo’s fast, ready-to-eat appeal.
Price: Starting at $10.98 per serving | Shipping cost: $10.99 | Availability: Contiguous U.S. (with a few exceptions) | Menu options: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks | Frequency: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16-plus meals per week | Freezing: Not recommended
Best Variety
CookUnity
Pros:
- Creative menu with wide variety
- Several filter options for different dietary needs
- Meals crafted by notable chefs
- Transparent ratings and review help you make menu selections
- Flexible, easy-to-track delivery
- Generous portions
Cons:
- Less health-focused
- Not quite available nationwide
With more than 300 menu items, CookUnity makes it hard to get bored. These chef-prepared, heat-and-eat meals deliver far more variety and better flavor than anything you’ll find in the frozen aisle.
Product tester Annamarie Higley was immediately impressed by the menu. “I had a really hard time choosing,” she says in her review, thanks to the sheer range of options. Meals can be filtered by dozens of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, seafood, low-carb, keto, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-sodium, high-protein and under-600-calorie options. The cuisines are diverse, and the dishes feel genuinely creative.
CookUnity also rolls out limited-time, seasonal meals throughout the year, like turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving or holiday ham with mashed potatoes. As you browse, each meal clearly displays star ratings, spice level and calorie count.
The website is modern and visually appealing, though it can feel slightly information-heavy. A standout feature is the ability to save favorites. The app mirrors the site and includes an especially useful “Meal Preferences” section, where you can create additional profiles. Annamarie added one for her boyfriend so he could customize his own likes, dislikes and dietary needs—an excellent option for households ordering together.
Meals arrive refrigerated, not frozen, and are typically packed the day of delivery. Packaging is lighter, with minimal ice packs, so use-by dates (especially for seafood) aren’t far out.
The delivery tracking is impressively detailed. “It was a tracking experience like I’ve never had,” Annamarie says. She received real-time updates, could see how many stops remained and even track the driver’s location, Uber-style, with options to call or message if needed.
Each meal includes two heating options: “Chef Instructions” for the oven and “Fast Instructions” for the microwave, with cook times varying by appliance.
If you want restaurant-quality meals with standout variety and creativity, CookUnity delivers. As a bonus, meals can be frozen to preserve them longer if needed.
Price: Starting at $11.09 per serving | Shipping cost: Around $10 (may be more, depending on location) | Availability: Major U.S. regions, excluding states like Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and West Virginia, plus some areas in Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska | Menu options: Dinner, lunch, breakfast, treats, drinks | Frequency: 4, 6, 8, 12, or 16 meals per week | Freezing: Optional
Best Tasting
HelloFresh
Pros:
- Mostly “bowl”-style meals, but very tasty
- Rotating menu with new items added weekly
- Traditional flavors appeal to young palates
- Flexible options—ready-made, oven-ready meals and meal kits can be mixed and matched
Cons:
- Quality may vary dish to dish
- Heat-and-eat meals work well for quick lunches but lack the composed, full-plate feel of a proper dinner
One of the original meal kit brands, HelloFresh, recently revamped its lineup to include premade meals alongside its classic ingredient-based kits. You can now mix and match traditional meal kits, oven-ready options and microwaveable heat-and-eat meals all in one order.
Most of HelloFresh’s ready-made offerings are bowl-style meals (think rice or pasta base with protein and veggies mixed in), but we found them surprisingly tasty and filling. They’re especially well-suited for quick lunches at the office or post-gym meals. That said, the menu isn’t quite robust enough to replace every weeknight dinner, since it leans heavily on bowls rather than more composed plates with distinct sides and proteins.
From the refreshed menu, the vegetarian curry bowl stood out as a favorite—flavorful, hearty and satisfying. The Southwest Chicken Bowl was solid, though standard.
Quality varied slightly from dish to dish. We loved the flavor, texture and presentation of the Tomatillo Pulled Pork with Rice, but some of the chicken bowls didn’t quite hit the same mark.
Overall, we were impressed by the packaging and ingredient quality in our HelloFresh box. From ease and convenience to flavor and reliability, the expanded HelloFresh lineup is tough to beat, especially for families with young kids or picky eaters who want approachable flavors and fast, no-fuss meals.
Price: Typically starts around $10 per serving | Shipping cost: $10.99 (may vary depending on location and meal plan) | Availability: Contiguous U.S. and select areas of Alaska and Hawaii | Menu options: Lunch, dinner, meal kits, oven-ready meals, heat-and-eat meals, smoothies | Frequency: 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals per week for 2, 3, 4 or 6 people | Freezing: HelloFresh does not mention freezing meals, but people have done it with some success
Best Health-conscious
Factor
Pros:
- Dietitian-designed, healthful meals
- Strong meal and add-on variety
- Tasty, chef-crafted recipes
- Optional nutrition coaching program
- Good customer service
Cons:
- Poor delivery tracking
- Sides may feel repetitive due to frequent meal “formula”
Factor offers fresh, never-frozen meals that bring chef-crafted dinners to the table in under 10 minutes. Designed for wellness-minded eaters, the nutrient-dense meals beat the drive-through and feature clear nutrition labels for tracking calories, macros, protein and more.
Meals arrive chilled and ready for the fridge—just reheat and eat. Factor caters to a range of lifestyles, including keto, vegan and plant-based, making it a great option for those who want to eat well without the time commitment of meal prep.
Product tester Annamarie Higley tried a week of Factor meals for her review and was impressed by both the speed and flavor. Ingredients tasted fresh and high quality, with many dishes passing for homemade.
The menu boasts 112 rotating meals each week, though many follow a familiar “healthy plate” formula of protein, vegetables and grains. Reliable and satisfying, some may not find them as adventurous as some of the competitors.
Add-ons are a standout. After choosing main meals, you can select from breakfast bundles, cold-pressed juices, no-heat lunches, keto cookies and much, much more.
Factor allows filtering by dietary needs, such as vegan, high-protein and flexitarian, with spicy and premium meals clearly labeled alongside calorie and carb counts.
The website experience could be smoother. Our tester noticed that meals were automatically added to her cart, so double-check your order before checkout. That said, the app is much more user-friendly. Some of the displays are a bit busy, but it doesn’t feel quite as confusing or distracting as the website.
Overall, Factor impressed us with its speed, flavor and ingredient quality. Despite minor delivery hiccups, responsive customer service and consistent meals make it a time-saving choice for health-focused eaters.
Price: Starts at $12.49 per serving | Shipping cost: $10.99 | Availability: Contiguous U.S. and parts of Canada (menu may vary by location) | Menu options: Lunch, dinner, breakfast, snacks, drinks, desserts, sides, plain proteins, protein powder and frozen foods | Frequency: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 18 meals per week | Freezing: Not recommended
Best for Kids
Little Spoon
Pros:
- Heating and preparing meals is fast and effortless
- Fridge-fresh meals and foods, plus a variety of pantry snacks available
- Includes organic produce and high-quality ingredients
- Tests for 500+ toxins (heavy metals, pesticides, glyphosate, plasticizers, etc.)—only sold if all safety standards are met
- Some meals can be frozen for up to two months
- Meals available for a variety of dietary needs
Cons:
- Quickest heating method involves microwaving plastic, but meals can be warmed in oven
- Somewhat limited selection of meals
If you have a toddler at home, you’ve probably lost a few mealtime battles with the world’s pickiest eater. We’ve been there. It’s frustrating to cook a healthy meal only for it to go untouched. Little Spoon helps take the pressure off on busy weeknights, or whenever you don’t want to spend time prepping food no one will eat—and it’s one of our favorite meal kits for families.
My toddler and I tried the Bitables—Little Spoon’s transitional finger foods—and they were an instant hit. Honestly, Little Spoon was a lifesaver when my one-year-old started solids. The meals were ready in minutes, easy to pick up and chew, and made with ingredients I felt good about. Favorites included the hidden-veggie chicken nuggets (with kale, carrots and cauliflower) and the pancakes with chicken sausage and sweet potatoes.
Little Spoon is known for clean, rigorously tested ingredients and recipes developed with pediatricians and dietitians. The product lineup is broad. Little Spoon offers baby cereals, puffs, and purées, as well as toddler meals, snacks and even big-kid lunches. You can also filter by dietary needs like dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free.
Heating meals is fast and simple. The quickest option is microwaving the tray as is, though those who prefer can transfer the food to an oven-safe dish and warm it in the oven instead.
The Puffs and Veggie Loops passed both the toddler and parent taste tests. They genuinely taste better than many toddler snacks we’ve tried and are made with non-GMO ingredients, hidden veggies and superfoods, little to no added sugar and zero artificial flavors. Bonus: many Little Spoon snacks are available on Amazon and Target—no subscription required.
Price: Meals start at $6.49 per serving | Shipping cost: $10 | Availability: Continental U.S. | Menu options: Lunch, dinner, breakfast, snacks, baby food, baby cereal, pouches and puffs | Frequency: Choose what you get every two weeks or shop individual products | Freezing: Optional
Others We Tested
- Blue Apron: Like HelloFresh, Blue Apron is a household name and longtime leader in the meal kit space. Best known for its chef-designed recipes and traditional meal kits, the brand also introduced Dish, a line of prepared, heat-and-eat meals. While the packaging notes that ingredients were “previously handled frozen for your protection”—a detail that may give some shoppers pause—it also allows you to eat or freeze the meals within five days of delivery. We enjoyed a handful of Dish meals during testing, but the service was unavailable for a period of time due to a product labeling issue. However, it’s currently back up and running and certainly worth a try if you’re looking for a freezable option.
- Sunbasket: Sunbasket offers a mix of healthy meal kits, semi-prepared options and premade meals. Its recipes are developed by chefs and registered dietitians and highlight organic produce alongside responsibly sourced meat and seafood. You can set dietary preferences upfront, and while we didn’t use it during testing, user reviews note that the companion app makes menu selection and delivery scheduling easy. While we were big fans of Sunbasket’s meal kits, the premade meal we tested fell short, with tough meat and flat flavor.
- Tovala: Tovala delivers minimal-prep meals that feel more homemade than standard heat-and-eat options, thanks to its smart oven and foolproof QR code system. While we preferred the flavor and convenience of some competitors, like Tempo, Tovala is a solid pick for anyone who wants fast meals without relying on a microwave. Just keep in mind that the menu can feel limited over time. For more details, see our in-depth Tovala review.
- Purple Carrot: If plant-based meals are your go-to, Purple Carrot offers 100% vegan meal kits and ready-to-eat options. Meal kits come in two- or four-serving portions, with three or four meals per week, while single-serve premade meals are available in six-, eight- or 10-meal plans. While we appreciated Purple Carrot’s creative, plant-forward menu, several other brands offer equally strong vegetarian (and even vegan) options. We were also disappointed by the inflexible delivery schedule and lack of clear pricing transparency.
What to Consider When Shopping for a Prepared Meal Service
When choosing a prepared meal service, Pallian suggests considering:
- Ingredients and labels: Look for clear ingredient lists, no-sodium-added options, and reduced-sodium choices to support overall health.
- Nutritional balance: Prioritize meals with legumes, high-fiber vegetables and whole grains over those high in saturated fat or sodium.
- Portion sizes: Ensure servings match energy needs, with guidance tailored to children, weight management, or individual goals.
- Heating instructions: Clear directions improve food safety and confidence in the kitchen.
- Menu variety: A wide range of vegetables, proteins and cultural flavors encourages dietary diversity—but variety should be nutritionally meaningful. Vegetarian meals, for example, should include legumes and at least two servings of vegetables.
Also, factor in your budget, dietary restrictions, health goals, and delivery flexibility to find the service that fits your lifestyle.
How We Found the Best Prepared Meal Kits
This list is based on our sampling of each of these prepared meal delivery services. We’ve tested dozens of meal kit delivery services at Taste of Home over the years, well beyond what you see here.
While considering the taste and flavors of each premade meal, we also weighed other criteria. This included value, freshness, reheating methods and instructions, recipe variety and more. We also had multiple editors and product testers sample each service to get a variety of feedback and opinions for each brand.
Additionally, many of the meal kits we’ve tested over the years have received feedback from dietitian Nancy Snyder, who has evaluated the legitimacy of recipe labels.
Prepared Meal Delivery FAQ
What is the best prepared meal delivery service?
The best prepared meal service depends on your dietary needs and budget, but we chose Tempo by Home Chef as our top pick for premade meals due to its convenience, simplicity, consistent quality and overall nutritional value. The meals are also tasty, though personal preferences will naturally vary.
What is the healthiest prepared meal delivery service?
The healthiest prepared meal service for you depends on your dietary goals and needs. Generally speaking, many find Factor meals to be relatively healthy and balanced.
How do you reheat a prepared meal?
Most prepared meals can be reheated in the microwave, but follow the specific instructions for each meal, as they can vary even within the same brand. Use a food thermometer to ensure the proper internal temperature. Some meals can also be reheated in the oven.
How much do prepared meal services cost?
Typically, prepared meal services cost around $10 to $15 per serving (or individual meal).
Why You Should Trust Us
At Taste of Home, every meal delivery service review—including all premade meal kits above—is backed by hands-on testing. Our testers’ needs, preferences and budgets closely align with those of the average shopper.
Shopping Editor Mary Henn has years of experience writing about food and testing products. As a working mom of a toddler, she’s always looking for ways to save time in the kitchen, making her the perfect person to test prepared meal delivery services. Because we personally test every service we review, readers can trust our recommendations.
We also consulted Jennifer Pallian, BSc, RD, a food scientist and recipe developer, who shared tips on what to look for when choosing premade meals. Her advice and expertise have been featured in Healthline, Eating Well, Men’s Health, Food Network, USA Today, CBS News and more.
