The 6 Best Meal Delivery Services for Families (2026)

We worked with a certified nutrition coach to select and test options that make weeknights smoother, whether your household prefers ready-to-heat dishes, quick meal kits, or a mix of both. When you’re busy juggling projects and deadlines while still ensuring nutritious meals and time with the family, these services can help.

Best Meal Delivery Services for Families of 2026

• Best Meal Delivery Service for Families Overall: Home Chef
• Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Families: Tempo
• Best Meal Delivery Service with Variety for Families: Factor 
• Best Organic Meal Delivery Service for Families: Hungryroot
• Best Budget Meal Delivery Service for Families: Forkful
• Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service for Families: HelloFresh

Best Meal Delivery Service for Families Comparison Table

Meal delivery service	Diet Types Available	Average Prep Time	Meals per week options	Meal Type
Home Chef	Gluten-smart, keto-friendly, and more	30-40 minutes	2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Prepared, meal kits
Tempo	<500 calories, <25 net carbs, and more	3 minutes	6, 8, 10, 12	Prepared, meal kits
Factor	Fiber-filled, high-protein, and more	3 minutes	6, 8, 10, 12	Prepared
Hungryroot	Anti-inflammatory, high protein, and more	15-20 minutes	8, 10, 12, 16	Prepared, meal kits
Forkful	Gluten-free, GLP-1, and more	3 minutes	6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20	Prepared
HelloFresh	Pescetarian, family friendly, and more	30-40 minutes	2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Meal kits

Home Chef
Diet Types Available	Gluten-smart, keto-friendly, and more
Average Prep Time	30-40 minutes
Meals per week options	2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Meal Type	Prepared, meal kits
Tempo
Diet Types Available	<500 calories, <25 net carbs, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Meals per week options	6, 8, 10, 12
Meal Type	Prepared, meal kits
Factor
Diet Types Available	Fiber-filled, high-protein, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Meals per week options	6, 8, 10, 12
Meal Type	Prepared
Hungryroot
Diet Types Available	Anti-inflammatory, high protein, and more
Average Prep Time	15-20 minutes
Meals per week options	8, 10, 12, 16
Meal Type	Prepared, meal kits
Forkful
Diet Types Available	Gluten-free, GLP-1, and more
Average Prep Time	3 minutes
Meals per week options	6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
Meal Type	Prepared
HelloFresh
Diet Types Available	Pescetarian, family friendly, and more
Average Prep Time	30-40 minutes
Meals per week options	2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Meal Type	Meal kits

Best Meal Delivery Service for Families Overall: HomeChef

Our Thoughts on Home Chef

Home Chef is our pick for the best overall meal delivery service families because of its wide variety of more than 60 weekly dishes, ranging from ready-to-heat meals to step-by-step kits perfect for cooking together. The brand’s “Customize It” feature allows parents to swap proteins or adjust ingredients to meet different dietary preferences, making it easy to please everyone at the table (even the picky eaters).

Kayla tested this meal kit and found the website easy to use, rating it a 5 out of 5 for her general ordering experience. “You can change the cadence of how often you get the meals, like bi-weekly, weekly, or monthly. You can customize your meals and swap out protein types and different ingredients,” she said. “It’s super easy to skip deliveries via the website. The user experience is great.”

Our tester found the preparation process and the directions easy to follow, rating it a 4 out of 5 in this category. “I love the booklet with the instructions,” she said. “The prep time does seem very quick for the number of steps, but nothing is hard to do. I also love that the instructions help you time manage.” Kayla said that the prep took about 20 minutes. For this meal (the truffle cream tortellini), she didn’t have much to do because everything was pre-portioned and she only had to cut chives and mushrooms. All in all, it was a pretty seamless prep process. 

When it comes to portion size, Kayla rated it a 4 out of 5: “The portion could be a little bigger for two people. I think it’s perfect for one person to have some leftovers, but I don’t think two people would be satisfied and feel full, even though it is meant for two people.” That said, for a kid, these portion sizes would be perfect, Kayla mentioned. Overall, she loved the many options to choose from week to week. Kayla also liked that there are menus available weeks in advance, so you can plan ahead.

She loved the taste of the meals she tested, rating the flavor an overall 5 out of 5. “This was so good!” Kayla said. “It was something I would 100% make and eat again. It really tastes like restaurant quality—I’m super impressed.”

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Families: Tempo

Our Thoughts on Tempo

Tempo is our pick for the best prepared meal delivery service for families who need ultra-fast dinners, offering fully prepared, chef-crafted meals that go from fridge to table in about two to three minutes. The focus on protein-rich, veggie-forward recipes helps parents serve something more nutritious than takeout, while single portions make it easy to mix and match meals to different family members’ tastes.

I got to test Tempo hands-on and rated my experience of navigating the website and placing my order as a 5 out of 5. I found the website easy to use—there is also an app available, which I didn’t use. I’ve ordered from other meal delivery brands in the past, and having an app for meal delivery makes it so much easier and seamless when ordering, changing things up, delaying orders, and more.

One of the meals I tried was the “Marry Me Salmon,” which I gave a 3 out of 5 score for taste. The salmon tasted good, but the texture was more like a cooked-from-frozen salmon filet, which wasn’t the most ideal mouthfeel. I honestly loved the broccoli in this dish: it was fresh, tasty, and bright and nicely seasoned with garlic and parsley. 

For all of the sauces included in this meal (alfredo sauce, basil pesto butter, tomato cream sauce, and sun-dried tomato pesto) I expected a bit more flavor and richness. I felt the orzo, broccoli, and alfredo sauce portion fell a bit flat and didn’t meet my expectations for a tasty and satisfying pasta side. Overall, it tasted like it needed more salt. 

I also tried Tempo’s chimichurri filet with potatoes and cauliflower, which I rated a 5 out of 5 for flavor. The steak was cooked medium and served with the chimichurri sauce, both of which I thought were delicious. The cauliflower was fresh, and the potatoes were a good texture. I loved this meal and would order it again.

For both meals, the portion size was overall a good fit. The salmon was the right portion size and I was glad the side of pasta wasn’t overflowing/overstuffed into the container. So, after eating I felt full, but not too full. I did feel ready for a snack about two hours later, however.

Best Meal Delivery Service with Variety for Families: Factor

Our Thoughts on Factor

Factor is our pick for best meal delivery service with variety for families because its ever-changing menu and global flavors help keep weeknight dinners interesting for both kids and adults. The ready-to-heat meals make it simple to serve something different each night without extra planning, so families can spend more time together and less time cooking.

Taylor tested Factor, rating his general ordering experience as a 4 out of 5. “I gave this a four only because I don’t like that I can’t select my meals before putting in my payment information,” he said. “You can see the menu on the first page but I wanted to see individual pricing before making a commitment. Sometimes with meal delivery they will lock you in on a price but then upcharge you for meals like steak and I think it be more helpful and transparent to see that pricing before paying.” Overall, though, Taylor found it easy to cancel, skip, and navigate the Factor website.

On taste, Taylor rated Factor a 4 out of 5. “These meals are flavorful for a frozen prepared meal,” he said. “The meals were well seasoned and they weren’t soupy or watery like I’ve experienced with some other meal delivery options.” Taylor liked that some of the meals had a sauce or butter added, which can help enhance the flavor, especially if you have picky kids. “Sometimes you need a little extra seasoning or sauce to make it really tasty, and Factor did a good job of that,” he said.

Taylor rated his feelings of fullness and satisfaction after eating a Factor meal as a 3 out of 5. “The portion size was decent, however, it seems better for a smaller person, not someone who is 210 pounds,” he said. “The meals ranged in calories but most were in the 400 to 600 calorie range, which is good for lunches, but perhaps not sustainable for dinners.” One of these meals would likely be plenty for a younger kid, though, for adults we recommend paying attention to portion sizes when you order. 

Best Organic Meal Delivery Service for Families: Hungryroot

Our Thoughts on Hungryroot

Hungry Root is our pick for the best organic meal delivery service for families because it combines the flexibility of a grocery service with easy, mix-and-match organic meal kits that help you get dinner on the table fast. The initial quiz flags dietary needs, cuisines, and flavors the family loves, as well as ingredients to avoid, making it easier to plan around picky eaters, allergens, and different nutrition goals in one weekly order.

Meredith tested Hungry Root and found the ordering process to be a positive experience, rating it a 4 out of 5. “The website had a good UX and was very easy to navigate,” she said. “You can simply get started by selecting your plan, providing any restrictions you may have, and then selecting your menu. It’s simple to skip a meal or pause your membership if need be.”

After trying her first meal, Meredith was sold on the flavor. She rated the taste a 5 out of 5. “The super crunch veggies and Thai coconut chicken was delicious! There were a variety of ingredients that contributed to this great flavor and texture: crunch from the super veggie blend, savory from the chicken and lentils, and a tangy coconut sauce,” she said. 

She found the meal very filling, and the recipe provided plenty of food for her home, so she rated her satisfaction and fullness a 5 out of 5. “I was pleasantly surprised by how much food I ended up with,” she said. “There were minimal leftovers with this meal, and it was perfectly portioned.”

Best Budget Meal Delivery Service for Families: Forkful

Our Thoughts on Forkful

Forkful is our pick for the best budget meal delivery service for families because the tiered pricing structure lowers the per-meal cost as you increase your order size, making it more affordable to purchase multiple lunches and dinners. Ordering in bulk means parents can keep the fridge stocked with ready-to-heat meals for everyone. 

Kate tested Forkful, rating her general ordering experience as a 3 out of 5. She didn’t like that before seeing the meal selections, you have to create an account and put in your payment information. Many other meal delivery services are the same in this way, and we understand the frustration. She did like that there are lots of different dietary options to choose from when ordering, such as a GLP-1, paleo, plant-based, high-protein, low-carb, and more.

Our tester rated the taste and flavor of the meals she tried as a 4 out of 5. “The meatballs were really good! The cauliflower wasn’t as good, but the quality was strong,” Kate said. “This was very impressive for a microwaved and pre-prepped meal. This is a strong contender for someone who is always on the go but wants good quality food.”

When it comes to feeling satisfied and full, Kate rated Forkful a 4 out of 5. “These are good lunch portions,” she said. “If I was someone looking to bulk up, it probably wasn’t enough food.” The meal she tried was under 400 calories, which is a bit lower for a meal. However, this would be great as a lunch option for both adults and kids, especially if it’s packed with an extra snack or two.

Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service for Families: HelloFresh

Our Thoughts on HelloFresh

HelloFresh is our pick for the best vegan meal delivery service for families because it offers a wide range of family-friendly, kid-tested recipes with flexible customization options. Not only can you tweak components when building your plate and opt for quick-prep dishes for kids, but HelloFresh also provides vegetarian and some plant-forward meals that can suit vegan or mostly vegan households with simple swaps. The brand additionally offers double portions for certain meals, making it easier to feed bigger families without extra planning.

Gwen tested HelloFresh, rating her ordering experience a 5 out of 5. “The HelloFresh website is incredibly easy to use and navigate,” she said. “The pages are clean and well-designed.” She also loved that you can edit your box until a certain date and time ahead of the order, and the website reminds you of this.

After tasting a few recipes, she rated the flavors a 5 out of 5. Though Gwen’s particular selections were not vegan, HelloFresh provides a wide range of plant-based recipes. “The flavor was really impressive,” Gwen said. 

Actually, let’s add your suggestion to that: Our tester tried two different recipes, noting, “Both tasted like something I would order at a takeout spot. Everything also tasted pretty fresh.” She was particularly impressed with the freshness of the veggies included in her orders.

“There was a good amount of prep involved with the meals I chose,” Gwen said, rating the preparation process and ease of following the directions as a 3 out of 5. “I had to bread chicken for one of the meals and do both baking and frying elements at the same time.” This option is great for parents who want a fresh meal and have a little extra time to cook.

Other Meal Delivery Services for Families We Tested

We tested over 10 meal delivery services total, including the most popular brands on the market. Here are a few that didn’t make our list, and why.

• Purple Carrot: Our tester liked some of the dishes, but most of them lacked seasoning or the texture was off
• EveryPlate: Our tester thinks the portion size for two people is too small
• Green Chef: Our tester noted that the meals took longer than the 35 minutes listed to cook the meals

How We Tested and Selected the Best Meal Delivery Services for Families

Families need options that fit real life: tight schedules, different taste preferences, and a range of budgets. Here’s how we focused on services that make it easier to get balanced, kid-friendly meals on the table without adding more work to parents’ plates.

Plans & Customization

When evaluating plans, the priority was how easily a household can tailor meals to everyone at the table, from adventurous eaters to picky kids. Services that offer flexible serving sizes, family-style portions, and clear ways to swap proteins or exclude certain ingredients scored highest.

Taste

Because no plan works if your family won’t eat the food, taste testing focused on flavor, texture, and how well meals held up after heating. Extra points went to services with sauces, seasonings, and kid-approved options that kept dinners from feeling repetitive.

Meal Variety 

Families often juggle different preferences, so variety across cuisines, proteins, and prep styles was essential. Services that offered “family-friendly” or kid-focused recipes, along with options for picky eaters and more adventurous adults, ranked better.

Ordering Process

The ordering experience needed to be simple enough to manage between school drop-offs and work meetings. Intuitive websites and apps, easy ways to skip weeks, and clear cutoffs for editing orders were key criteria.

Ingredient Quality

Ingredient lists were reviewed for freshness, recognizable components, and limited artificial additives. Services that leaned on whole foods, plenty of produce, and thoughtful sourcing were favored, especially for families looking to build healthy habits.

Value

When considering value, we place a higher value on brands that source fresh and clean whole food ingredients, and have certifications, such as USDA-certified organic.

Meal delivery service	Prepared or meal kit?	Average price per serving
Home Chef	Both	$9.99
Tempo	Both	$10.99
Factor	Prepared	$11.99
Hungryroot	Both, plus groceries	$9.99
Forkful	Prepared	$8.60
HelloFresh	Both, focus on meal kits	$9.99

Home Chef
Prepared or meal kit?	Both
Average price per serving	$9.99
Tempo
Prepared or meal kit?	Both
Average price per serving	$10.99
Factor
Prepared or meal kit?	Prepared
Average price per serving	$11.99
Hungryroot
Prepared or meal kit?	Both, plus groceries
Average price per serving	$9.99
Forkful
Prepared or meal kit?	Prepared
Average price per serving	$8.60
HelloFresh
Prepared or meal kit?	Both, focus on meal kits
Average price per serving	$9.99

How to Find the Best Meal Delivery Service for Your Family

Choosing the right service means balancing convenience, nutrition, and what your kids will realistically eat. Start by thinking about how many nights a week you want help with dinner and how much cooking you’re willing to do.

Dietary Variety and Meal Options

Look for menus that clearly label family-friendly, kid-approved, or picky-eater options, as well as common dietary needs like vegetarian, dairy-free, or gluten-free. The best services let you mix and match meals so younger kids, teens, and adults can all find something they like.

Ingredient Quality

Scan ingredient lists for whole foods, lean proteins, and plenty of vegetables, and check whether the service uses organic or responsibly sourced items when that matters to your family. If you’re feeding younger kids, you may also want to review sodium levels and added sugars.

Cost

For most families, price per serving adds up quickly, so it’s important to compare the true weekly cost, including shipping. Look for services that offer lower prices when you order more servings, and consider whether they can realistically replace multiple takeout nights or last-minute grocery runs.

Prep Process

Busy parents benefit most from meals that minimize chopping, cleanup, and time at the stove. Decide whether your household prefers ready-to-heat meals, quick meal kits, or a mix of both, and look for services with prep times that fit between activities, homework, and bedtime.

Benefits of Meal Delivery Services for Families

There are plenty of benefits of using a meal delivery service to feed your family. Here are a few:

• Reduces daily “what’s for dinner?” stress by giving families a clear plan
• Saves time on shopping, planning, and cooking so parents can focus on kids and activities
• Cuts food waste with pre-portioned ingredients or single-serve meals
• Supports healthier eating with balanced recipes and easy access to nutritious options

Frequently asked questions

What is the best meal delivery for families?

The best meal delivery service for families is one that fits your budget, offers meals your kids will actually eat, and matches how much time you want to spend cooking. Our pick for the best meal delivery service overall is Home Chef, which boasts a variety of more than 60 weekly dishes, ranging from ready-to-heat meals to step-by-step kits, perfect for cooking together.

Is it cheaper to buy groceries or meal kits?

Buying groceries and cooking from scratch is usually cheaper per serving, especially for larger families. However, meal kits and prepared meals can reduce food waste, cut down on impulse purchases, and save time, which some households find worth the added cost.

How long do meal deliveries take to make?

Most prepared meals heat up in about 2–10 minutes, while many family-focused meal kits are designed to be ready in roughly 15–30 minutes. Exact times vary by service and recipe, so it’s helpful to filter for “quick” or “under 20 minutes” options if your evenings are especially busy.