The Best Budget-Friendly Meal Delivery Services to Try

A lot of people find themselves in a tough spot when it comes to food - they want to eat healthy, but they don't have the time or money. And that's where meal delivery services come in! Here are five of the best budget-friendly meal delivery services on the market today so you can make sure your next home-cooked dinner is delicious and nutritious without breaking the bank.

What Are Meal Delivery Services?

Meal delivery services like Blue Apron, Sun Basket and HelloFresh send you packaged ingredients and recipes to make a meal at home. Every ingredient is fresh and pre-measured to help you whip up healthy, delicious meals in your own kitchen - no chef training required!

What's Great About Meal Delivery Services? There are actually a ton of advantages to using them:

1. Save time and money, while eating healthy meals

Meal delivery services provide fresh ingredients and pre-measured portions which save you the hassle of going to the grocery store - it's like having your own personal shopper! Plus, they'll give you step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a delicious meal.

2. Reduce your environmental footprint

When you sign up for one of these services, you're ensuring that less waste is going into landfills and oceans - after all, millions of pounds of food are wasted every year. So when you use a meal delivery service, you're doing your part to reduce that waste.

3. Experience new food options

When you sign up for a meal delivery service or even just go to a local restaurant or farm, not only are you getting the best ingredients possible, but also an adventure! That's because there are tons of different types of cuisine out there that you might not have tried before.

Can Meal Delivery Services Really Save You Money?

The big question: is a meal delivery service a budget-friendly option?

First of all, check out the below list of some popular services and their prices. Prices range depending on the service you're using and how many people you are trying to feed. That said, the biggest cost-saving benefits come into play when you consider far fewer trips to the grocery store, far less food waste, and the decreased desire to go out to eat when you're not sure what to put on the table.

Most people, when cooking for a family, tend to make multiple trips to the grocery store to get proper ingredients or because they forgot an ingredient. With meal delivery services, you get everything you need in one fell swoop, delivered right to your front door. In addition, most of these services are designed to make enough food for several meals, so you won't have to worry about throwing out leftovers because there's no way your family will eat them.

Not sure how to use an ingredient or what else to do with it? Rather than digging around looking for a recipe online, you can simply follow the instructions provided with your meal kit to make tasty dishes your whole family will love.

On top of all that, if you don't have time to go grocery shopping or spend hours in front of the stove, meal delivery services can certainly save you money on takeout and dining out bills that rack up quickly.

5 of the Best Services to Try

Every Plate

Have you ever eaten in a restaurant and ordered the salmon only to find that it's overcooked, dry, or flavorless?

With Every Plate, this won't happen - because at Every Plate they understand that even when you are on a budget, your food should still taste amazing. They plant an organic garden in their backyard so all of their ingredients are always fresh, then they work with local farmers & ranches to ensure that their meats are humanely raised.

What do you get? During the week, you'll receive two recipes along with all the pre-measured ingredients and instructions for each recipe (enough for 3-4 servings). You can choose how many people you want to feed - whether it's two, four, or six.

This service starts at $2.50 per meal for 2 servings. So if you enjoy the meals and need more than 6 dinners, you can bump up to 4 servings for $3.75 or 6 servings for $5 each. That means you'll save even more money with Every Plate.

Blue Apron

Blue Apron has a great selection of organic ingredients and they don't contain any added hormones or antibiotics. Plus, their meals are perfect for adjusting to all eating styles - whether it's low-carb, high-protein, vegan, or gluten-free.

What do you get? With Blue Apron, you'll receive step-by-step recipe cards and all of the pre-measured ingredients. The meals are loved by kids and adults alike, so it's perfect for the whole family to enjoy together. Blue Apron is great for those who like to cook but don't want to spend hours with three different box types: Classic (feeds two), Veggie ( in the kitchen.

Each meal costs $8 per serving (2 servings per meal).

HelloFresh

Despite its low cost, HelloFresh offers a huge selection of delicious meals that are easy to prepare. They offer great-tasting creative and classic recipes along with responsible ingredient sourcing and packaging.

What do you get? With HelloFresh, you'll receive pre-proportioned ingredients right to your doorstep with simple recipe cards. They offer great options for vegans, vegetarians, or those who crave meaty dishes. Plus they offer family-friendly recipes, so the whole family can enjoy.

Every week you'll receive 3 recipe options that each serves 2 people. You can choose between Classic (feeds two), Veggie ( feeds two), Family Box (feeds four) or Gluten-Free Box (feeds two). Every box serves enough food for three meals - perfect when you don't want to eat the same thing for every meal.

Each box is only $9 per serving (2 servings per recipe).

Home Chef

HomeChef’s Fresh and Easy plan offers delicious meals that require little to no prep at a competitive price.

What do you get? Every week you'll receive 3 recipes with easy-to-follow instruction cards. They have a great selection of meal options so the whole family will be able to find something they enjoy - from seafood, to chicken, to pasta dishes and more.

With Home Chef, you can choose between 1 Person Box (serves one), 3 Person Box (serves three), or Family Plan which serves four. Every order will come with everything you need to prepare the recipes, including pre-measured ingredients and spices - so there's no waste and nothing goes to waste.

Each box is only $8 per serving (2 servings per recipe).

Dinnerly

Dinnerly is the most affordable meal kit service on the market with unfussy recipes that make dinner a snap. They ensure that their recipes are fuss-free with cooking times under 30 minutes and the highest amount of prepared ingredients to save you time in the kitchen.

What do you get? With Dinnerly, you'll receive 3 easy to follow meal kits with pre-measured ingredients so there's no waste and nothing goes to waste. They offer great selections like Seafood, Italian, Asian fusion and Vegan options. Plus, they give you the option to choose between two different meal types: Veggie (dietary request) or Classic (feeds a family of 4).

Every week you'll get three different menu options that feeds four people. Each box is only $9 per serving (4 servings per recipe).

Bottom line: No matter what your budget, you're sure to find a meal delivery service that fits. So worry less about dinner and more time with the ones you love! Check out some of these options for yourself to see which one is right for you.