The 5 best cheap meal delivery services: Grocery store optional

Features:

• Cost per serving: Starts at $4.99 per serving
• Shipping cost: $9.99
• Serving size: 2 or 4 people and 3 to 6 meals per week 

If you're looking for simple, fast, and delicious meals, consider Dinnerly meal delivery service. Each Dinnerly recipe has only six ingredients, allowing even the most recipe-challenged person the ability to make an impressive meal.

Dinnerly puts out a 28 recipe meal plan each week to choose from. Meals are tagged to make it easier to choose based on dietary preferences. Choose from options like low carb, kid-friendly, dairy-free, spicy, one pot meal, no added gluten, vegetarian, and ready in under 30 minutes. Dinnerly can keep its pricing low by using digital recipe cards, simplifying packaging, including fewer ingredients in each dish, and not heavily marketing its services. 

After making your weekly meal selection, check out the Market feature, which gives you the option to include smoothies, sides, desserts, or extra protein in your shipment. Everything except the gel inside the ice pack is recyclable, though not all packaging material can be recycled through the curbside collection unless your recycle center will pickup #1 and #4 plastics.

Pros:

• Wide range of dietary preferences
• Each recipe is six ingredients
• Market feature for individual add-ons
• Six meal per week option
• 28 recipe options per week

Cons:

• No printed recipe cards
• Market features cost extra
• No vegetarian option for 6 meal weekly plan

Features: 

• Cost per serving: Starts at $4.99 per serving
• Shipping cost: $9.99
• Serving size: 2 or 4 people and 3 to 5 meals per week 

When you choose EveryPlate meal delivery service, you can customize your meal plan kit based on your preference:

• ClassicPlate: Meat, seafood, and vegetable options

• VeggiePlate: Plant-based and vegetable options

• FamilyPlate: Kid-approved meals fit for the whole family

• EasyPlate: Meals ready in 30 minutes or less

EveryPlate puts out a meal plan with 17 recipes to choose from each week. Pick your preferred meals, add them to your cart and you're on your way to getting pre-portioned meals shipped right to your door. Once you get the box, each recipe takes just six steps to cook.

EveryPlate can keep its pricing low through thoughtful meal planning that keeps ingredient costs affordable and responsible packaging. Boxes, separators, and box liners can be put out curbside for pickup and are 100% recyclable, though the film and cotton interior of the box liners should be thrown in the trash. You can cut open the gel ice packs to dispose of the gel in the trash and then recycle the pack or reuse it for personal use.

If you're brand new to EveryPlate, you can currently get $104 off your first three boxes. This works out to be $1.79 per serving for the first box and $3.99 per serving on the next two boxes, based on a 4-person plan. To get this deal, scroll to the bottom of the front page, click on "Delivery Options" and then click the button to "get $1.79/meal + 20% off your next 2 boxes."

Pros:

• Shop by meal preference
• Easy meals that come together quickly
• Family-friendly meal options available 

Cons:

• Doesn't cater to special diets like keto, gluten-free, or low carb
• Maximum of five meals per week
• Limited weekly menu

Features:

• Cost per serving: $5.99 to $11.99 per serving
• Shipping cost: Free
• Serving size: 1 person 

Daily Harvest is a great option for someone looking for a cheap meal delivery service offering organic, plant-based meals. The pricing is a bit different with Daily Harvest than other meal delivery services. You pay per item, which is between $5.99 and $11.99. You can get a bulk discount of $5 if you order between 9 and 11 items, $10 for 12 to 23 items, and $25 for 24 to 26 items per delivery.

Choose from over 80 different options offered by Daily Harvest, from lattes to bowls to snacks to flatbreads. Daily Harvest even has plant-based mylk and ice cream. 95% of Daily Harvest items are organic fruits and vegetables, delivered to your door weekly or monthly.

All items come packaged in dry ice, and packaging can be recycled or composted. Frozen items can be thawed and enjoyed or microwaved, depending on which item you choose. You can change your preferences inside your Daily Harvest account at any time until 6pm ET the Sunday prior to your next scheduled shipment.

Pros:

• Many options for each meal of the day
• Bulk discount pricing
• Free shipping

Cons:

• Not the best choice for families
• Can get pricey
• Some items may not be sufficient for a meal

Features:

• Cost per serving: Starts at $6.99 per serving
• Shipping cost: $8.99 or $13.99 for 2 people and 2 meals per week
• Serving size: 2 or 4 people and 2 to 6 meals per week 

Home Chef meals start at $6.99 per serving with over 20 meals to choose from each week. If you like to customize your meal delivery service options, Home Chef may be the best choice for you. Dietary preferences are limited to calorie- or carb-conscious, and you can choose to avoid certain foods in recipes, like pork, beef, shellfish, mushrooms, tree nuts, peanuts, and poultry. You can also add meals and edit serving sizes for each recipe when setting up your weekly meal delivery.

When you're selecting your meals for the week, certain recipes will have a "view Customize It options" button underneath. Click and choose your preferred protein, which are carefully selected depending on which works best with each recipe. You can also bundle and save with breakfast or salad bundles, or choose extras like breakfast, dessert, bread, snacks, or protein packs. 

You can search for meal recipes based on your cooking preference, such as oven-ready, microwaveable options, grill-ready, culinary collection, and 15-minute meal kits for those days you need a quick dinner. You can also purchase home Chef meals from Kroger-family grocery stores.

If you sign up for Home Chef now, you can save $90 over your first four deliveries. 

Pros:

• Customizable meal plan
• A la carte options for breakfast, snacks, desserts, etc.
• Can purchase kits at Kroger grocery stores

Cons:

• $13.99 shipping fee for 2 meals twice per week
• Higher cost than other cheap meal delivery service options
• Add-ons can make this option expensive

Features:

• Cost per serving: $7.99 or $8.99 per meal for self-pay
• Shipping cost: $14.95 flat rate
• Serving size: 1 person

Mom's Meals is a company focused on serving nutritious meals for seniors and those who have health conditions that require a specific diet, offering almost 60 meal choices. Each meal costs $7.99 and caters to general wellness, vegetarian, low sodium, heart-friendly, and diabetes-friendly food needs. Pureed, renal-friendly and gluten-free meals are $8.99 per meal. 

Those on Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Long-Term Services and Supports, and Older Americans Act programs may be eligible for Mom's Meals through their insurance. Caregivers and individuals can self-pay for Mom's Meals, receiving a 10% discount for auto-ship or if you're a veteran.

Mom's Meals has breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, and it's easy to choose based on your health condition. Each meal comes pre-made, can be refrigerated for up to 14 days and can be heated in the microwave. Meals can also be frozen, though be sure to thaw them in the refrigerator before heating.

Pros:

• Choose meals based on health condition
• Autoship not required
• No cooking involved, just heat and enjoy

Cons:

• Not all dietary needs are catered to, like paleo or keto diets
• Limited meal options
• High shipping fee