We collaborated with a certified nutrition coach to select and test nearly twenty meal delivery services. Our testers included busy parents, who provided hands-on feedback on how these services worked (or didn’t work) for their families. Check out our list of services that make weeknights smoother, whether your household prefers ready-to-heat dishes, quick meal kits, or a mix of both.  

Why Trust Fortune

Our team of expert testers has tried all of the most popular meal kits on the market today, using our comprehensive meal delivery service methodology to find the best picks for all folks. 

Our Best Meal Delivery Service for Families Overall

After testing nearly 20 meal delivery services, our team found Home Chef to be the best overall meal delivery service for families. 

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

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) with one food subscription box. 

Check out our full review of HomeChef.  

Our Tester’s Thoughts on Home Chef 

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. 

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.” 

What Testers Think Could Be Improved 

“The portion could be a little bigger for two people,” Kayla said, rating portion size a 4 out of 5. “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 likely be perfect, Kayla added.  

“There is nothing really outstanding about the ingredients, but there is nothing bad. It kind of looks like I got it from Aldi, definitely not my backyard. The packaging isn’t the highest quality, which makes the ingredients look less fresh,” she said. 

Specs 

• Cost per serving: $9.99 
• Meals per delivery: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 
• Subscription options: No long-term commitment, weekly subscription that you can modify 
• First time customer offers: Deep discount on first box, then discounts on subsequent next few boxes 
• Dietary restrictions: Gluten-smart, keto-friendly, and more 

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Families: 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. Tempo meals could also be a good option for kids to take to school for lunch, minimizing the time and ingredients needed to pack their lunch. 

Our Tester’s Thoughts on Tempo 

I got to test Tempo hands-on. I found the website easy to use—and 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.  
 
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. 
 
The broccoli was the standout ingredient as the tastiest, freshest, and looked good too. It was steamed appropriately, even when heated up, it was still good to go. The orzo was also well-cooked and tasty.  

What Testers Think Could Be Improved 

One of the meals I tried was the “Marry Me Salmon.” The salmon tasted good, but the texture was more like a cooked-from-frozen salmon filet, which wasn’t the most ideal mouthfeel. It was reminiscent of a frozen salmon fillet I used to eat in college (Gordon’s—the yellow box, ugh!) and so I was a little disappointed by the texture of it. 
 
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. Overall, it tasted like it needed more salt. 
 
That being said, I tried a second meal from Tempo that I loved (rating the flavor and taste a 5 out of 5), so it may just depend on the meals you get. Their chimichurri filet with potatoes and cauliflower was really tasty–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 had a good texture. I loved this meal and would order it again. 

Specs

• Cost per serving: $10.99 
• Meals per delivery: 6, 8, 10, 12 
• Subscription options: No long-term commitment, weekly subscription that you can modify 
• First time customer offers: Deep discount on first box, then discounts on subsequent next few boxes 
• Dietary restrictions: <500 calories, <25 net carbs, and more 

Best Meal Delivery Service with Variety for Families: 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. 

Read our full review of Factor. 

Our Tester’s Thoughts on Factor 

Our tester Taylor gave his ordering experience a 4 out of 5 because he was unable to select his meals before putting in his payment information. “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. 
 
These meals are flavorful for a frozen prepared meal,” Taylor said, rating the flavor a 5 out of 5. “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. 

What Testers Think Could Be Improved

“The portion size was decent, however, it seems better for a smaller person, not someone who is 210 pounds,” Taylor 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.  

Specs

• Cost per serving: $11.99 
• Meals per delivery: 6, 8, 10, 12 
• Subscription options: No long-term commitment, weekly subscription that you can modify 
• First time customer offers: Deep discount on first box, then discounts on subsequent next few boxes 
• Dietary restrictions: Fiber-filled, high-protein, and more 

Best Organic Meal Delivery Service for Families: Hungryroot

Hungryroot 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. 

Check out our full review of Hungryroot. 

Our Tester’s Thoughts on Hungryroot 

Meredith tested Hungryroot 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.” 

What Testers Think Could Be Improved

Meredith’s cooking process was a bit more involved than some folks might like, but not a barrier to making the meal. “It was entirely prepared on the stovetop in one pan. You do have to set aside ingredients after sautéing them (to ultimately mix it all together again), so there are at least a couple of dishes involved, meaning you’ll have more dishes to do. All ingredients were pre-chopped or cooked, so there was no prep work, fortunately,” she said. 

Specs 

• Cost per serving: $9.99 
• Meals per delivery: 8, 10, 12, 16 
• Subscription options: No long-term commitment, weekly subscription that you can modify 
• First time customer offers: Deep discount on first box, then discounts on subsequent next few boxes 
• Dietary restrictions: Anti-inflammatory, high protein, and more 

Best Budget Meal Delivery Service for Families: 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. 

Our Tester’s Thoughts on Forkful 

Our tester Kate 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,” she 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. 

What Testers Think Could Be Improved 

Kate rated 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. 

Specs 

• Cost per serving: $8.60 
• Meals per delivery: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 
• Subscription options: No long-term commitment, weekly subscription that you can modify 
• First time customer offers: Deep discount on first box, then discounts on subsequent next few boxes 
• Dietary restrictions: Gluten-free, GLP-1, and more 

Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service for Families: 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. 

Read our full review of HelloFresh. 

Our Tester’s Thoughts on HelloFresh 

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.  

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. 

What Testers Think Could Be Improved 

“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. 

Specs 

• Cost per serving: $9.99 
• Meals per delivery: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 
• Subscription options: No long-term commitment, weekly subscription that you can modify 
• First time customer offers: Deep discount on first box, then discounts on subsequent next few boxes 
• Dietary restrictions: Pescetarian, family friendly, and more 

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

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 

“Meal delivery services can be a useful tool for families because they reduce common barriers to consistent cooking at home, including time constraints, decision fatigue, and meal planning,” says Johannah Katz, RD, dietitian from Consumer Health Digest. “Like I tell my clients, I am all about the shortcuts that promote consistency. After all, consistency is the name of the game when it comes to healthy, balanced eating habits. I’m a fan of many of these services when they are used smartly,” she says. 

“A recent review of meal kit delivery services suggests that while these products are often marketed as ‘healthy’ or ‘balanced,’ their nutritional quality varies significantly across brands and recipes and may not consistently align with dietary guidelines,” says Katz. “An important takeaway is not all meal delivery services are created equal. Even those marketed as ‘fit,’ ‘clean,’ or ‘macro-friendly’ may still be relatively low in fiber and vegetables while being higher in refined carbohydrates, sodium, or saturated fats depending on the formulation.” 

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.

“Some meal delivery services have options for different medical conditions that require a specific diet, such as IBS, diabetes, heart disease, celiac disease, or even more esoteric conditions like CSID,” says Dr. Asma Khapra, MD, AGAF at Gastro Health. “A few services will even offer a complimentary meeting with an RD before you order, which can be helpful.  

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.

“It’s also good to consider if the meals are made with fresh ingredients without preservatives (check for ingredient origination, food safety handling too) when choosing a meal delivery service,” says Dr. Khapra. 

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.

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.