Embarking on your cooking journey can be exciting, but sometimes overwhelming. Meal kits emerge as a fantastic solution, especially for beginners. They deliver pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes right to your door, simplifying meal preparation and reducing food waste. If you’re looking to Compare Meal Kits and find the perfect starting point, we’ve analyzed some of the top options tailored for beginners, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the best fit for your needs.
HelloFresh
Pros of HelloFresh:
- HelloFresh excels in providing consistently good recipes with pre-portioned ingredients, making it a reliable choice for delicious home-cooked meals. Dishes like pork tenderloin with honey butter offer a wholesome, balanced family meal experience that’s often skipped on busy weeknights due to time constraints.
- Vegetarian options are not only simple to prepare but also highly satisfying, ensuring vegetarians are not left with limited or uninspired choices.
- Recipe instructions are exceptionally clear and detailed. They serve as a mini-cooking class, guiding novice cooks, such as recent college graduates, through essential cooking techniques and methods, building confidence in the kitchen.
Cons of HelloFresh:
- While convenient, HelloFresh doesn’t drastically reduce cooking effort compared to using online recipe resources like Epicurious. You’re still responsible for all the ingredient preparation, from chopping vegetables to pickling onions. Manage expectations if ultimate ease is your primary goal.
Our Favorite HelloFresh Menu Items:
- Szechuan Pork Noodle Stir-Fry with Carrot, Scallions, and Peanuts: An Asian-inspired dish packed with flavor and texture.
- Caramelized Onion Meatloaf Sandwiches with Potato Wedges and Horseradish Dijon-Mayonnaise: A comforting and elevated take on classic meatloaf.
- Sweet Ginger Pork Chops with Buttery Rice and Roasted Green Beans: A balance of sweet and savory with simple yet delicious sides.
- Saucy Pork Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice, Salsa Fresca, and Smoky Crema: A customizable and vibrant Mexican-style bowl.
HelloFresh stands as a dominant force in the meal kit industry, holding a significant market share. They offer diverse plans including classic, vegetarian, and family-friendly options, catering to a wide range of preferences. HelloFresh is particularly effective at enhancing simple recipes with small, flavorful additions. For example, scallion-infused oil can elevate plain sticky rice, and an apricot glaze adds sophistication to roasted chicken breast. Vacuum-sealed ingredients ensure freshness and extend shelf life, providing flexibility in meal planning. While HelloFresh includes vegetarian options, it’s worth noting that vegetarians have pre-set choices compared to omnivores who enjoy a broader selection of 15 menu options.
HelloFresh is best for: Individuals in any life stage who are eager to learn cooking fundamentals and expand their culinary skills.
Pricing: Meals start at approximately $8.99 per serving.
Availability: HelloFresh delivers nationwide across the US and also operates internationally, making it widely accessible.
Green Chef
Pros of Green Chef:
- Green Chef has a unique ability to make even less favored ingredients, like green bell peppers, surprisingly appealing. Their recipes transform common vegetables into enjoyable parts of the meal.
- Step-by-step instructions, enhanced with visual aids, are exceptionally user-friendly. They effectively teach new cooking techniques, making it easy for beginners to learn and improve their skills.
- “Meals for two” are generously portioned, often providing enough leftovers for a satisfying lunch the next day when cooking for one. This is excellent for solo cooks looking to maximize their meal kit.
Cons of Green Chef:
- Ingredient repetition can occur over time, making it best to use Green Chef a couple of times per week rather than relying on it for every meal. This helps maintain variety in your diet.
Our Favorite Green Chef Menu Items:
- Cantina Chicken and White Bean Soup with Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream, Cholula Sauce, and Tortilla Chips: A hearty and flavorful soup with customizable toppings.
- Harissa Barramundi and Kale Grain Bowls with Roasted Chickpeas, Creamy Vinaigrette, Dates, and Pistachios: An adventurous and nutritious bowl with global flavors.
- Almond-Crusted Salmon in Tomato Cream Sauce with Summer Squash and Green Bean Medley: A sophisticated seafood dish with a delightful creamy sauce.
- Parmesan Linguine with Shrimp and Bacon, Broccoli, Creamy Mushroom Sauce, and Parsley: An indulgent pasta dish balancing seafood and savory flavors.
Green Chef’s suitability for beginner home cooks aligns with its parent company, HelloFresh, which owns Green Chef. However, Green Chef distinguishes itself by focusing on certified organic produce and ingredients. As the first USDA-certified organic meal kit company, it also caters to various dietary needs, including keto, gluten-free, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan options. Recipes lean towards simplicity, featuring dishes like roasted pork loin and Caesar salad, but are elevated with interesting flavor combinations. Examples include orange and fennel fronds adding zest to roasted vegetables or Parmesan frico as a unique alternative to croutons in salads. Recipes generally adhere to a 30-minute or less prep time. The use of organic ingredients naturally leads to a higher price point compared to many other meal kits, which is a trade-off for organic quality.
Green Chef is best for: Beginner cooks who prioritize organic ingredients and are interested in exploring health-conscious and diet-specific meal options.
Pricing: Meals start at approximately $11.99 per serving, reflecting the cost of organic ingredients.
Availability: Green Chef delivers nationwide, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of Louisiana.
Blue Apron
Pros of Blue Apron:
- Blue Apron’s instruction format is particularly commendable. It emphasizes preparing all ingredients before starting to cook, a crucial technique for efficient cooking. The instructions are considerably more detailed than typical recipes, fostering good kitchen habits.
- They consistently offer high-quality proteins. Standout ingredients include excellent salmon and cod fillets each week. Premium options even feature scallops, making it a valuable service for those seeking butcher-quality meats and seafood without the shopping hassle or intimidation.
- Blue Apron provides a variety of simple yet special meal options. These recipes are approachable for beginners but still deliver a sense of accomplishment and culinary delight.
Cons of Blue Apron:
- Some of the more appealing and unique meals come with additional charges and are often available only for two servings, not four. This can limit options for larger families or those seeking budget-friendly choices across the entire menu.
Our Favorite Blue Apron Menu Items:
- Seared Chicken and Sherry-Maple Pan Sauce with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Carrots: A classic comfort meal with a sophisticated sauce.
- Chimichurri Salmon with Barley, Peppers, and Tomatoes: A vibrant and healthy dish showcasing fresh flavors.
- Potato Hash and Eggs with Kale, Cheddar, and Hot Sauce: A hearty and satisfying breakfast-for-dinner option.
- Baked Tofu and Creamy Tomato Curry with Brown Rice and Peanuts: A flavorful vegetarian curry dish with a creamy texture.
Blue Apron distinguishes itself by introducing more innovative and globally inspired recipes compared to other meal kits. You’ll find dishes like honey chipotle hot chicken, hoisin duck and peanut udon, or tofu katsu, expanding your culinary horizons. Despite these more novel recipes, pantry staples are rarely required, ensuring convenience and reducing extra shopping. While Blue Apron recipes might take slightly longer to prepare than some basic meal kits, they remain beginner-friendly due to picture-rich, step-by-step instructions. Calorie information is provided for each recipe, catering to health-conscious users. Blue Apron also offers add-on services like wine delivery and a market section for purchasing kitchen tools. Beyond weekly boxes, they provide seasonal boxes for special occasions, such as a complete Thanksgiving dinner or holiday roast for larger gatherings.
Blue Apron is best for: Individuals looking to build foundational cooking skills and learn repeatable, reliable recipes while exploring slightly more adventurous flavors.
Pricing: Meals start at approximately $7.99 per serving, with a shipping fee of $9.99.
Availability: Blue Apron offers nationwide delivery across the United States.
Purple Carrot
Pros of Purple Carrot:
- Purple Carrot introduces new and exciting vegetarian recipes that can be seamlessly integrated into a regular weekly cooking routine, making plant-based eating more accessible and appealing.
- Packaging is minimal and environmentally conscious, with clear instructions on how to properly dispose of each component. This is a significant advantage, especially compared to meal kits with excessive or confusing packaging, particularly concerning ice packs.
- The finished meals consistently deliver on taste and quality, proving that vegan cuisine can be both flavorful and satisfying.
Cons of Purple Carrot:
- Fresh produce occasionally arrives less than perfectly ripe. While understandable given the logistical challenges of nationwide vegetable delivery, it’s worth noting for those who are highly selective about produce ripeness.
Our Favorite Purple Carrot Menu Items:
- Crispy Brussels Sprout Tacos with Cherry Orange Salsa and Peanut Sauce: A creative and flavorful taco option with a unique combination of textures and sauces.
- One-Pot Mafaldine with Tomato Cream and Winter Greens: A comforting and easy pasta dish with a rich tomato cream sauce.
- Minted Spinach Soup with Ras El Hanout Carrots and Yogurt: A refreshing and aromatic soup with Moroccan-inspired spices.
- Almond Butter Tofu with Swiss Chard and Carrots: A protein-packed dish with a savory almond butter sauce and nutritious greens.
Although Purple Carrot is exclusively a vegan meal kit delivery service, its quality and variety are compelling enough for anyone, including those who consume dairy and eggs. While testers noted it might not be a significant time-saver due to ingredient preparation like peeling vegetables, it effectively introduces a wealth of innovative vegan culinary ideas. Featuring vegetables that might be less familiar, like romesco, Purple Carrot recipes skillfully combine flavors and textures in impressive ways. They also introduce cooking techniques often specific to vegan cuisine, such as caramelizing tempeh with sugar to enhance its texture. Purple Carrot offers different plans: the Quick and Easy plan for simple, beginner-friendly dishes; the Performance Meals plan with meals containing at least 20 grams of plant protein per serving; and the Chef’s Choice plan, providing the broadest range of dinner options.
Purple Carrot is best for: Individuals specifically seeking vegan meal kits, vegetarians open to fully plant-based meals, or anyone interested in exploring creative and flavorful vegan cuisine.
Pricing: Prices vary by plan, starting around $11 per serving, with potential discounts for larger orders or subscriptions.
Availability: Purple Carrot delivers across the contiguous United States.
Choosing the right meal kit can significantly simplify your entry into home cooking. By comparing these top meal kit services, you can select one that aligns with your dietary preferences, cooking goals, and lifestyle, making your culinary journey enjoyable and successful from the start.
