After Months of Testing Prepared Meal Deliveries, These 5 Services Came Out on Top
We’ve tried the most popular services available nationwide—these are our honest thoughts. By July 22, 2026
After years of testing dozens of different meal kits, we consider ourselves genuine experts on the subject. For people who love to cook, the best of these services make doing so more seamless while introducing us to new recipes, techniques, and ingredients. But not everyone wants to cook from scratch all the time. Prepared meal delivery services are fully premade meals that require just a short trip to the oven or microwave—no slicing, dicing, or sautéing needed. Looking for the most convenient way to get meals on the table, without ordering takeout? This is it.
The Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service Overall: CookUnity
Who is CookUnity best for? A convenience-first eater who still has exacting standards about their food, especially if they like a variety of cuisines.
About: CookUnity is a prepared meal delivery service that partners with professional chefs to bring their recipes straight to your fridge. The focus isn’t so much on calorie counting or hitting macros as on flavor, exploring global cuisines, and making weeknight meals feel restaurant-quality.
Tested and reviewed by: Alaina Chou, senior commerce editor
The ordering process: The hardest part about ordering a week of meals from CookUnity is narrowing down what you want to eat. As of writing, there were over 400 meals available for the week, covering everything from breakfast burritos to hearty dinners. If you forget to pick your own by the cutoff date, CookUnity will auto-fill your box based on your preferences or past orders. With a chef-forward menu, CookUnity meals come from a variety of globe-spanning cuisines: Ghanaian, Indian, Mexican, Italian, covering six continents. Most meals are regularly available, but there are new ones rotating in and out. Some meals are marked “Premium” (such as Maryland-Style Crab Cakes and Lobster Tail & Steak Surf & Turf), costing a few dollars more. Each dish has a user rating out of five stars, along with comments from other customers. I found the reviews super helpful and ended up only choosing meals rated 4.3 and above.
What we love
As a food editor, I never thought I could like a prepared meal delivery service—until I tried CookUnity. If you properly plated some of my CookUnity meals they really could pass as something I’d order at a restaurant. The quality, cook, and flavor of each dish makes it clear that they’re developed by real chefs—people like José Garces and Esther Choi. The meals arrive fresh, not frozen, so you can either dig in straight from the fridge or heat them up in the microwave for two minutes. You can choose anywhere from 4 to 16 meals a week, and the menu spans breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, snacks, and even “protein-only” options. Thanks to their modified atmosphere packaging, the meals stay fresh in the fridge for 4 to 7 days. Each dish also comes with a full nutritional breakdown. I found most meals to be pretty balanced in terms of protein and carbs, though a few clocked in around 1,000 calories. Portion sizes also felt more generous than most other meal delivery services, especially when it came to the amount of protein.
What we’d leave
While there’s a wide range of cuisines, it was surprisingly hard to avoid rice. Each of the six meals I ordered came with some kind of rice or pilaf. Honestly, I had such a good experience with CookUnity that I’ve already recommended it to friends, family, and coworkers after just a few meals. The food is genuinely delicious, the variety is impressive, and the convenience is hard to beat.
- Plan options: 4, 6, 8, 12, or 16 meals per week
- Average meal price: $11–$14, depending on plan size
- Shipping fee: Yes (price varies per plan size and location)
- Meal types: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, dessert, extra proteins, juices
- Example meals: Mission-Style Breakfast Chorizo & Egg Burrito with Salsa Verde & Crema; Sesame-Ginger Tofu Poke Bowl with Pickled Cabbage and Yum Yum Sauce; Shrimp Moilee Coconut Curry with Tomato Pepper Chutney & Curry Leaf Rice; Almond Butter Energy Bites with Chocolate Chips & Coconut
Best for a Semi-Homemade Experience: Tovala
Who is Tovala best for? Someone who doesn’t love the idea of prepared meals but still wants the ease they offer.
About: My issue with “prepared” meal kits is that, because they are typically precooked and reheated, the results fall somewhere between an acceptable Lean Cuisine and an MRE. Tovala solves typical issues by sending prepared-ish meals. Proteins are all raw, produce uncooked. But getting meals from box to plate involves little more than plopping preportioned ingredients into aluminum trays and scanning a QR code. Tovala began in 2015 by developing a smart toaster oven. Every Tovala meal gets prepared in the Tovala oven, which comes at a 77% discount ($69) if you order Tovala meals. You get to keep the oven if and when you stop using the meal delivery. Using a mixture of steam baking, convection roasting, and broiling, the Tovala oven turned out delicious meals in 20 minutes with juicy chicken, flaky salmon, or creamy sweet potatoes.
Tested and reviewed by: Noah Kaufman, senior commerce editor
The ordering process: Once you sign up and get your oven order squared away, picking meals is quite easy. Whatever plan you sign up for (a minimum of four meals a week) will come with a preset menu, but you can swap with more than 30 options, all labeled with dietary specifications like “vegetarian,” “high protein,” or “GLP-1 balanced.”
What we love
Every Tovala meal tasted better than every other prepared meal I’ve tried—textures came out much closer to what I’d get if I was cooking from scratch, flavors were robust. While there is more work involved than peeling back a plastic seal, the fact that everything cooks at the same time in the company’s oven makes the process feel fast and effortless. The meals are like better versions of all the frozen Trader Joe’s meals. Ingredients, even risky ones like salmon and shrimp, arrived surprisingly fresh.
What we’d leave
While I had no complaints about the food, the prep felt very assembly line. It just doesn’t feel rewarding to put a chicken breast in a tiny disposable tray and push go. However, if you’re choosing to go the prepared meal kit route, you either already like that sort of process or you’re probably ready to embrace it.
- Plan options: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 16 meals per week
- Average meal price: $12.99
- Shipping fee: Yes; $10.99
- Meal types: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Example meals: Sweet Sofrito-Braised Prime Rib with Cheddar Grits, Lime Crema & Corn Nut Crumble; Eggplant Parmesan Lasagna; Falafel & Golden Rice Wrap; Panko Herb-Crusted Salmon with Sweet Potato Mash & Mustard Cream Sauce
Most Balanced Macros: Factor
Who is Factor best for? People looking to meet specific wellness goals, or busy people who want relatively healthy and balanced meals—no meal prep required.
About Factor: Factor positions itself as a nutritious, dietitian-approved meal delivery service with meals “designed to support your wellness goals.” Each meal is packaged in a segmented plastic tray that you microwave until heated through.
Tested and reviewed by: Alaina Chou, commerce writer
The ordering process: After entering your zip code, you’ll select up to three wellness goals, choose meal preferences from dietary preferences like Calorie Smart, Fiber Filled, or I Eat Everything, select whether you eat spicy food, and choose how many meals per week (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18). Factor will prompt you to register before presenting that week’s menu with labels like “Protein Plus,” “Carb Conscious,” or “Vegetarian.”
What we love
Factor designs its meals for specific wellness goals. The clear nutritional labeling makes this a particularly good option for anyone tracking their macros, following low-carb, low-calorie, high-protein, or keto diets. Despite looking sad in their plastic trays, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor. The chicken breast in the Green Chile Chicken was shockingly juicy even after two minutes of heating. Everything was well seasoned. Factor meals often follow a formula of main protein plus carb and vegetable sides, which felt balanced and satisfying. Meals couldn’t be easier to prepare: just two to three minutes in the microwave. This made them especially convenient as office lunches.
What we’d leave
Some meals were less successful. The Honey-Mustard Pork Chop was incredibly tough and by far the worst dish. Side dishes were repetitive and some vegetables became waterlogged after heating. Portion sizes may feel a touch small depending on your appetite. Factor meals are above average for microwave fare, but can’t compare to homemade. After two weeks I was ready for a break. Good for occasional use on busy weeks or for specific wellness goals.
- Plan options: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18 meals per week
- Average meal price: $12.49–$14.99, depending on plan size
- Shipping fee: Yes; $10.99 after first order
- Meal types: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, smoothies, extra proteins, juices
- Example meals: Blackened Barramundi with Smoked Gouda Grits, Tomato-Andouille Gravy & Lemon Butter Green Beans; Smoky Garlic Filet Mignon & Broccolini with Cheese Tortellini, Summer Squash & Garlic Basil Butter; Miso Butter Shrimp with Cauli Rice Blend & Sesame-Ginger Veggie Medley; Shredded Chicken Taco Bowl with Roasted Corn Salsa & Cilantro Lime Sour Cream
Best for Wellness-Focused Folks: Sakara
Who is Sakara best for? Wellness-focused people or those with specific dietary needs.
About Sakara: Sakara is a prepared meal delivery service focusing on nutrient- and plant-rich meals made with whole foods, all gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. They have two programs: a five-day “detox” and their Signature Nutrition Program.
Tested and reviewed by: Emma Laperruque, associate director of cooking
The ordering process: Choose between a plan with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or just lunch and dinner. Sakara rolls out a new set menu every week with no substitutions allowed. You can choose weekly subscription or prepay for 1, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at a time.
What we love
All meals were straightforward and quick to prepare. Many required no heating at all (e.g., parfait for breakfast or salad for lunch). While breakfasts veered toward sweet, they were super balanced. Favorites included pumpkin pie parfait with maple-cinnamon granola and coconut praline granola with cacao mylk. Sakara’s salads are excellent—generously portioned, thoughtfully designed with a range of textures and colors. Dressings were especially good. Dinners were tasty, though maybe a bit small depending on appetite.
What we’d leave
Gluten-free baked goods were hit or miss. The main downside is pricing: $140–$465 per week depending on plan. But if you prioritize wellness and see food as nourishment, you’ll like what you get. Great option for gluten-free or vegan individuals.
- Plan options: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner or lunch and dinner, 5 or 3 days per week
- Average meal price: $140–$465 per week
- Shipping fee: No
- Meal types: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Example meals: Full Heart Brassica Bowl; “Butter” Chickpea Curry w/ Seasoned Basmati Rice; Endless Summer Granola w/ Pink Strawberry Mylk; Sesame-Citrus Glow Salad
Best High-Protein: Tempo by Home Chef
Who is Tempo best for? People who want balanced meals and are fine with eating the same kinds of things on repeat.
About Tempo: Tempo is a spin-off of Home Chef dedicated solely to single-serve heat-and-eat meals that are “Dietitian-Approved.”
Tested and reviewed by: Alaina Chou, commerce writer
The ordering process: After inputting goals, dietary preferences, and delivery info, select from a menu of around 20–30 options. You can add on breakfast, snacks, dessert, or drinks, though options are limited.
What we love
After two weeks, I was pretty impressed. Each dish looked and tasted relatively fresh, especially for a microwave meal. Every meal came with a decent serving of veggies. Food was well-seasoned; texture of protein and veg was usually on point. Contributor Francesca Krempa noted that “all my proteins were well-seasoned and tender, vegetables retained texture, sauces were bright and flavorful.”
What we’d leave
Like many microwave meals, Tempo dishes started to feel repetitive after two weeks. I wished for more adventurous options and a more fleshed-out breakfast and grocery offerings.
- Plan options: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16-plus meals per week
- Average meal price: $11–$16 depending on plan size
- Shipping fee: $11
- Meal types: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks
- Example meals: Chipotle Chicken Tinga Rice Bowl; Salsa Verde Grilled Chicken; Braised Red Wine Beef; Salmon and Dijon Garlic Sauce
How We Tested Prepared Meal Delivery Services
We’ve been testing meal kits and delivery services for years. We relied partially on intel from previous testing and conducted new testing for services not recently reviewed. When testing each service, we unboxed deliveries in our homes, noted packing quality, tasted meals over multiple weeks, and evaluated ease of reheating, ingredient freshness, and taste. Many services are designed for a particular kind of eater, so we factored how well brands met their target consumers’ needs into our final evaluation.
Other prepared meal delivery services we tested include: HelloFresh Ready Made Meals, Fresh Meal Plan, Gardencup, Forkful, Territory, and Cumin Club.